Ixtli Dekami 🍕⚾🖖

#WordWeavers 30 Do the people close to you find your writing surprising?

People close to me have no idea I write. Most of them. The few that does try to ignore it and/or think I should use my time in more useful things, like learning how to cook a decent fried egg, for example. Those who had read something I wrote say it's kinda fun, and that indeed surprise them. It surprises me, too, because those people do not read, so I could not say it they're telling the truth…=)

#WritersCoffeeClub 29 Is there something you want to write, but don't think you yet have the skill?

My unauthorized autobiography. I know myself too well to know that I don't know myself that well to write it…=)

That, and and western stories…=)

#WordWeavers 29 What's your MC's least favorite mode of transportation?

You'd think it's "The Borg Queen Car", that weird, wet dog-smelling 1930s looking coupe, but you'd be mistaken. No. Our Hero's loathes using "his" motorcycle, a cursed abomination if there's one. As fast as bad news (perhaps faster), and so small that it makes him look ridiculous (yes, that can happen). It's like one of those "suitcase bikes" you see in movies. Very practical, but you don't want to be seen in one…>=)

#WritersCoffeeClub 30 End of the month roundup: How well did this month go for you?

Bad. Little time, lots of work. You know. The perfect mix to write less than a grocery list…=-\

#PennedPossibilities 1085 What is special about your world or universe?

Magic. Or, the way magic makes people behave, to be precise. You won't see wizards and witches using reality altering spells in the news. But people a) use magic as a power source for everything (their phones, cars, blenders, etc.), and b) magic let people live in semi-numb state that let everyone be who they want to be without much fuss. And let's not forget the fantastic creatures you can visit at zoo! Kids love dragons!

#PennedPossibilities 1084 In your universe, what happens to people when they die?

Their existence ends. There's no afterlife, no other world, no great beyond, etc. When you die, it's over. But that doesn't mean you can't cheat death. You just might not like the results of doing that. Just ask Our Hero. A bomb exploded in his face. A bomb that destroyed half of the building where he used to live, and he's still here, unhappily living in a body he hates, waiting for getting his old body back…=)

#WritersCoffeeClub 01 Workers' Day: What can we do to support and protect other writers, not only now, but in the future as well?

Tell this to every writer you cross paths with: "You can do it". "Never give up, never surrender" works, too…=)

Reject AI "created" works.

Buy directly from the authors if/when possible, and always buy from official sources.

Read, review, recommend all books/stories you like.

#WritersCoffeeClub 18 Does your writing ever get away from you? (plot bunnies…?)

No. I always have ideas. Some of those aren't good enough to develop them into stories, but ideas never stop. What sometimes get away from me is the damn time to write…=)

#TimeTravelAuthors 30 Whatever

—And if pick the right number by chance?
—Pray you don't. If you happen to return to your reality, you'll be erased from existence.
—Why? You said I become part of any reality I go to. I should be a stranger, an alien in my reality.
—Ask the Universe when you see him. Her. Whatever. I don't have all the answers. But I know this: you go back to your place, and you'll cease to exist. I've seen this happen. More than once.
—😐😲😒🤯😠

#TimeTravelAuthors 29 Snippet/Proof

—I have no proof and even less doubts. He killed the captain.
—Prove it.
—Give the time machine keys.
—I'd rather give you a trillion dollars.
—Ok. Cash only.
—I'll send it in coins. Wait for delivery outside the ship. Go.
—Bills. 250 dollar bills. And don't print them. I want the real thing.
—Coins. 25 cents. Take it or forget it.
—Ok.
—Wait for delivery outside the ship.
—Now.
—Tomorrow. Go there and wait. If you're not there in 1 minute deal's off.
—🖕😠
—🙏😎

#WritersCoffeeClub 10 What's something other writers swear by that you just don't get?

Careful, detailed planning.

Every time a try to plan what to write, I just can't do it, and can't imagine how people can do it. I can have the idea of what to do, but I have to pantse (¡?) the writing, or it won't happen…=)

#WritersCoffeeClub 30 How was this month for you, in terms of writing?

Horrible. I had almost zero time to write, and even less to read. I'm still convinced that the universe conspires against me…=-|

#WordWeavers 18 If Dear Villain had to learn a musical instrument, what would they pick and why?

Gen. Torres can play guitar. He doesn't do this anymore because he doesn't have the time, but he can defend himself. He won't play a 30 minute shredding solo, but he can play rhythm guitar once he hears a song. He plays by hear…=)

#PennedPossibilities 988 Tell us about your MC's bravest moment.

What about that time Our Hero fought, unarmed, with three would be kidnappers? Yes, he's technically a trained police officer (and there that means a trained soldier), but those guys had AR15s and two hunter knives. Our Hero is not only brave. He's an idiot. He had to be rushed to ER, but you should see the other guys…=)

#PennedPossibilities 1002 Tell us a random fact (of any kind) about your WIP

The world's facing a heavy ice age, courtesy of the return of magic somewhere in the last century. This made some powers (the gods *AND* other entities, human and not) do things to warm up the planet, and now, heat is a problem everyone must endure. This is bankrupted more than one winter-only clothing business, forced people to use shorter, fresher, and looser clothing, and, still, winters are cold as hell…=-|

#PennedPossibilities 989 Is your MC an immigrant or newcomer in the place where they live?

—I've been living here all my life. Born and raised here in México-Tenochtitlán, and proud of this, no matter what those damn northerners and southeasterners say! What do they know? Some of them are even more northerners than I "am" to them!

Our Hero

#WordWeavers 01 How long have you been working on your WIP?

10 years this year. It began when I was waiting while my then boss was arguing with a mechanic about why said mechanic should not bill my boss for, essentially, rebuild the (dead) electrical system of a truck that one of the drivers fried one day when he should *NOT* have had driven that truck. I took a notepad and started writing about that dream I've told, the one with the guy in the green dress. My boss had to pay, btw…>=)

#PennedPossibilities 1000 Speaking of the changes since this project's start, how do you think you've grown as a writer since this hashtag began? Have you published anything? Have your writing habits changed?

I've grown a lot. These prompts have gave me a lot of ideas, and reading other authors' answers have helped me to fix some problematic ideas…=)

Haven't published anything yet, but that has never stopped me. Lack of writing time do, though. That counts as a change of habits…=-|

#PennedPossibilities 1001 Is your MC confident or not? Tell us why.

—No, and not because of a lack of abilities. Our Hero is a basic trained soldier, whether he likes it or not, so he knows what to do when he's fighting bad guys. But he doesn't want to do this, so this hinders his will to do his job. His superpowers also make him doubt himself. He can't control those as well as the others, so he feels he's inferior. And he's their field leader. Imagine that…

Dr. Apocalypse

#WritersCoffeeClub 09 What is your favourite way to introduce a character's appearance?

Our friend, the Omniscient Narrator, will tell us about characters looks when they appear for the first time, unless that detail must be kept in secret for untold reasons…=)

It can happen like this: "They all looked at her, and, how could they not? She wore a yellow dress brighter than the sun. It clashed with her dark skin, and her orange hair matched her shoes. Her eyes were as black as her plans for us…"

#WordWeavers 19 If your SC was going on a trip, would they pack light or take too much?

In past times, Laura would pack only the minimum. Two or three simple outfits, at most. Now she doesn't need that. The Uniform™ can reconfigure itself into any outfit it's wearer can need. Not that it will do it when the wearer needs to, or something she'd wear. Or maybe she would if she could get drunk to *NOT* think about decency…>=)

#PennedPossibilities 990 Have any of your characters ever been in a fight?

Our Hero: Yes

Laura: Yes

The Old Hag: Yes

Maistro: Yes

Loren: Maybe?*

The Still Unnamed Daughter: Yes

Don Pepe: Yes

Dr. Apocalypse: No*

* This means *YES*

Most of those fights were before the day they were inducted into the crazy stuff they now do for a living, but it's been worse since then…>=)

#WritersCoffeeClub 19 How can prose achieve lyricism without verse structure?

Rhythm and pace. It's hard as hell but it can be done…=)

#PennedPossibilities 998 Tell us about any attributes your SC has.

—Loren, Loren, Loren. That kid has the strength of youth. They're restless, curious, and inquisitive. Too much for their own good, to be honest. A little restrain could help them, but I dare you to teach them that. Go ahead. I dare you. I'll bake you a double chocolate cake if you make it alive…

The Still Unnamed Daughter

#PennedPossibilities 999 How often does your MC bathe or shower? Do others around them consider this to be of normal frequency? Why or why not?

—Every day, at least once. And if there was a hellish day at work, I'll bathe in chlorine and ammonia if I must. Blood, brains, and things like those are sticky. I don't like sticky things. Now, if you ask our dear and lovely friend Laura, she'll tell you that I should bathe in fluoroantimonic acid. I like that idea sometimes…

Our Hero

#TimeTravelAuthors 17 How do you feel about story structure?

What's that? I write what the story demands, and to hell with structure. At least at first…=)

#TimeTravelAuthors 28 Whatever

People will tell you to "trust your gut". But what if you're where you are because you already did that? The use your brain. "It's rotten to the core", some will say. That's great! Those rotten brains can generate solutions that logical brains would never hallucinate about. Think of that dirty, rotten little brain of yours as an asset. Something precious that can save your life. Because you won't have another tool from this point on…>=)

#TimeTravelAuthors 30 Whatever

And guess what? That same infamous and degenerate brain of yours is now fused to a super computer, linked to goddess knows how many AI systems, ready to put it to work to solve the dilemma you are now. AI systems developed by not even goddess knows who, for unknown purposes, with undeclared goals, and those can take control of your body if you lower your guard even for a second. So, enjoy all that power, you, my good rotten brained friend, and get to work…=)

#TimeTravelAuthors 01 Introduce your story (optional: "may")

This is the story of a guy who in the far future will be known as "That *#⚡$%💀! Maistro". This is the tale of how he went from cyborg cop to space pirate to time pirate to almost-immortal, certified madman. He had to steal a lot of things in his time as a pirate/thief. Like one Dr. Bryan MAY's Red Special guitar, for example. The *#⚡$%💀! Maistro's boss wanted *THAT* guitar for reasons unknown, and he got it…

#TimeTravelAuthors 27 Message/moral of your story

Following orders to the letter, no matter how logical or crazy can and will lead to unpleasant results most of the time, so avoid doing this unless you can't. Follow your gut instead. You're screwed anyway, so, things can't get worse. Right?

>=)

#TimeTravelAuthors 19 Any authorities in your story?

Of course, my horse…=)

All Agents respond to The Order*, which is something like the Jedi if they were police instead of warrior monks. And full bodied cyborgs, Ghost in the Shell style…=)

Once that *#⚡$%💀! Maistro starts working for the Engineer full time, he must deal with any authority ruling the worlds he goes to…>=)

* "Order" as in "Law and Order", not so much as a religious/secret order, even if that's how they (somehow) work…=)

#TimeTravelAuthors 18 Whatever

—Did you had to do it?

[SILENCE]

—ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!

[SILENCE]

The Engineer wouldn't say a word for years after that last jump. Maistro had no idea why all the crew but him were so unceremoniously fired (some of them literally) before opening the Reality Barrier. What was that madman's plan?