Worldbuilding for Masochists

A white candle in a faceted glass holder, sitting on a wooden table

Show me your writing rituals. I like to use a candle.

Good news: my dragon is now on Netgalley!

It’s a different sort of dragon rider novel: one from the dragon’s POV. He’s just here for the free food, he swears.

If you are an ARC-ish sort, there is a Read Now window open through Friday.

It always warms my heart so much to hear about fellow parents finding themselves in TLHBW! 😊❤️

The covers of six of my books, the Queens of Fate series and Love in Netherford.

My most recent book babies—two trilogies *almost* complete. Can’t wait to share THE GAME OF HEARTS with you.

It’s just like HEATED RIVALRY except it’s not about hockey—it’s Regency, and the enemies-to-lovers are an apothecary and a werewolf. Practically the same. 🤣🤣🤣

Maradaine Saga Logo over main cast for the whole saga, Left to Right: Myriem, Verci, Satrine, Minox, Dayne, Jerinne, Veranix, Asti, Corrie

Pull quotes about The Maradaine Saga: “Maresca offers something beyond the usual high fantasy fare, with a wealth of unique and well-rounded characters, a vivid setting, and complicatedly intertwined social issues that feel especially timely.“ – Publishers Weekly “Marshall Ryan Maresca is one of the most ambitious fantasy authors to burst on the scene in the last decade.“ – Black Gate Magazine “In one fast-paced, funny, highly readable novel after another, Maresca continues to build out every nook and alleyway of Maradaine, which is fast becoming one of the most richly detailed settings in fantasy.“ –Barnes & Noble Sci-fi and Fantasy Blog

A full list of all the books in The Maradaine Saga to date: Thorn of Dentonhill Murder of Mages Holver Alley Crew Way of the Shield The Alchemy of Chaos An Import of Intrigue Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe Shield of the People The Imposters of Aventil A Parliament of Bodies The Fenmere Job People of the City An Unintended Voyage The Mystical Murders of Yin Mara Hultichia The Withered Boy The Assassins of Consequence The Quarrygate Gambit The Royal First Irregulars

THE MARADAINE SAGA

Four intertwined series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the city called Maradaine, filled with murder and magic, misfits and criminals, scholars and sidekicks, conspiracies and deadly danger.

Series info and links at maradaine.com

#WSPit #P #A #F

Book covers for FROM UNSEEN FIRE, GIVE WAY TO NIGHT, and THE BLOODSTAINED SHADE against a white marbled background spattered with gold. All three covers have Roman-style visual elements and vivid colors against dark backgrounds. Text above, gold on a purple text box: The Aven Cycle.

Reasons to Read A richly developed world – You’ll feel like you could step in & walk the streets of Aven Elemental magic linked to Roman gods Cutthroat politics Weaponized snark Swords, sieges, and Big Badass Battle Sequences Large cast full of diverse perspectives Some characters doing their best, and others doing their worst Fiercely determined women Grouchy + sunshine friendship M/F romantic subplot with heaps of yearning Sapphic romantic subplot with maximum adorability

Praise for the Aven Cycle: “A spellbinding tale of political machinations.” – ALA Booklist Starred Review for From Unseen Fire “Rich in detail and intricate in its plotting” – Barnes & Noble SFF Blog Review for From Unseen Fire “It's a story that you won't want to put down - and nor should you” – sfandfreviews.blogspot.com Review of The Bloodstained Shade “‘Rome with magic’ turns out to be exactly the novel I wanted to read. The magic cleverly intertwines with religion, politics, and daily life. The characters appeal, especially the loving portrait of three loyal sisters. There are battles (of course), a budding love story of the illicit kind, some remarkably topical political maneuvering, an awareness of diverse layers of class and ethnicity, and a love of place that shines on the page.” – Kate Elliott, author of Cold Magic and Black Wolves “Brilliantly imagined and plotted. Its world is rich, with no detail left unattended to. ... Readers who are patient enough to let Cass Morris build the world around them will be rewarded handsomely with an amazing ride.” – Bookpage Review of From Unseen Fire "At its heart, From Unseen Fire is a story about a woman discovering the depths of her own power, while overcoming abuse and repression to forge a new path instead filled with purpose and love." – Sirens Review Squad “Especially appealing in the treatment of the mage Latona and her sisters, who exercise hard-won agency in the struggle for their city … The multilayered politics—both mundane and supernatural—will keep readers hooked.” – Publishers Weekly Review of Give Way to Night “Full of fast-paced scenes, and excellent writing, with vastly different characters and places woven together into a brilliant and heart-pounding finale.” – Bookwyrm Reader Review of The Bloodstained Shade

Collage of images evoking the Roman world. Text above, gold on a purple background: Moodboard.

THE AVEN CYCLE

Epic historical fantasy

In an alternate version of ancient Rome, a trio of patrician sisters and an ambitious senator use wit, charm, and magic to realize their dreams for the city they love.

#WSPit #P #A #F #Hi

I have openings in my editing calendar for immediate work and future bookings. I work with novellas and novels, and with many genres. More info here: www.kathowardbooks.com/editing and I'm always happy to answer questions.

This is Delilah's schedule for Emerald City. Friday - 3pm SenLinYu spotlight panel, which I'm moderating, followed by a 5pm book signing at the PRH booth, #20515. Saturday - 11:15am Battle of the Tropes panel followed by a 12:30pm signing at Third Street Books, booth #20627. Sunday - 11am Spotlight with Terry Brooks followed by a signing with Terry at Third Place Books, booth #20627.

Can't believe it's almost time for Emerald City Comic Con, but I can't wait for my yearly pilgrimage to the total opposite side of the country! And if you're a Shannara fan, we should have a very interesting reveal happening right before the show...

Periodic reminder that Hugo Award nominations will close on Saturday March 28, 2026!

We at @worldbuildcast.bsky.social would love your consideration for Best Fancast.

We also encourage you to give some love to *all* the fan & semi-pro categories, which generally get less of it than the headliners.

Hugo nominations are open, and we at Worldbuilding for Masochists (@worldbuildcast.bsky.social) would love your consideration for Best Fancast!

Massive new episode! WORLDS COLLIDING!

Talking about Writing: A Crossover Episode with @SFFAddictspod (Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn, & Greta Kelly)

Listen now: https://worldbuildingformasochists.podbean.com/e/episode-173-talking-about-writing-ft-sff-addicts-adrian-m-gibson-mj-kuhn-greta-kelly/

Hilarious that, right before talking about what to do with your hands while public speaking, I give a great example of what NOT to do as my right hand just does that constant loop thing. 😅

Look, I can control it at a podium, but I'm not used to being filmed during podcasting. 😂

Thanks again to @sffaddictspod.bsky.social for joining us for this crossover episode!

Episode 173: Talking about Writing: A Crossover Episode with SFF ADDICTS (Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn, & Greta Kelly) | Worldbuilding for Masochists There comes a time in the life of every author when they have to do that truly terrifying thing: Talk about their book. In this special crossover episode with SFF Addicts, we talk about talking about ...

There comes a time in the life of every author when they have to do that truly terrifying thing: Talk about their book. In this special crossover episode with @sffaddictspod.bsky.social, we talk about talking about writing!

worldbuildingformasochists.podbean.com/e/episode-17...

PSA: If you've got 50 bucks, you can get a huge packet of media and nominate & vote for the Hugo Awards!

Promotional image for THE MARADAINE SAGA, with nine main characters behind the saga logo.

Cover image for Marshall Ryan Maresca's THE VELOCITY OF REVOLUTION.

Logo for WORLDBUILDING FOR MASOCHISTS

New pinned intro thread!

I’m Marshall Ryan Maresca, fantasy author who works on all sorts of things, including:

-a big interwoven fantasy epic - The Maradaine Saga
-a dieselpunk fantasy of motorcycles and mayhem - The Velocity of Revolution
-a 5x Hugo nommed podcast (@worldbuildcast.bsky.social)

Behind-the-Page: Shattered Souls Calendars | Cass Morris Get more from Cass Morris on Patreon

Today on Patreon: Last week on @worldbuildcast.bsky.social, we talked about building calendars for fantasy worlds, so I thought I'd share the ones I put together for the WIP!

The deadline to register & be Hugo-voting-eligible is January 31st!

We'll be recording later this week! Get your questions in before 3pm EST on Friday, 12/26.

Okay, so now you've Worldbuilt too close to the sun. What do you do now? Our hosts ask the question (and give some answers) about what to do with excess worldbuilding!

NEW EPISODE: Episode 170: Save It for the Patreon

Listen now: https://bit.ly/WFMPOD170

The end of the year approaches! That means it's time for our annual Q&A episode, so if you've got a question for the WFM hosts, respond to this thread, slide into our DMs, or email it to worldbuildcast@gmail.com.

We'll get to as many as we can in an upcoming episode!

The end of the year approaches! That means it's time for our annual Q&A episode, so if you've got a question for the WFM hosts, respond to this thread, slide into our DMs, or email it to worldbuildcast@gmail.com.

We'll get to as many as we can in an upcoming episode!

Anatomy of a Sex Scene: Heated Rivalry Edition - Reading the End Heated Rivalry, AKA the gay hockey show, has been getting a lot of buzz for its explicit(-ish) sex scenes, and a lot of that buzz has been coming from viewers and critics whose experience with the rom...

good morning, I have noticed that some of the critical responses to the Crave show Heated Rivalry have been, let's say, incomplete

sex scenes are craft! goddammit!

One more day for the reprise of the Murderbot, Witch King, and my other fantasy novels Humble Bundle! #booksky

Maradaine Saga Logo over main cast, Left to Right: Myriem, Verci, Satrine, Minox, Dayne, Jerinne, Veranix, Asti, Corrie

The Maradaine Saga:
Deft do-gooder defeats drug-dealers with dextrous derring-do!
Constable colleagues crack cases with competent craft!
Stealthy siblings stop sadistic scheme and seek satisfaction with swindles and stabbing!
Pacifist paladins protects populace from perilous plots!

maradaine.com

Apropos of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, we felt like reminding you that @natania.bsky.social's first appearance on the show was Episode 73: This is Cerulean, Right?: Fashion, Politics & Power

Just. Y'know. In case you were wondering about such things.

Soon people will get to read my novelette! *vibrates with excitement

Cast Your Vote for the Best SFF of the Year! - Reactor Books! Movies! TV shows! Video games! Short fiction! And more!!

Oh hey Reactor best of 2025 poll is open! Go vote for your favorites! (Whether or not they happen to include THE LAST SOUL AMONG WOLVES) reactormag.com/cast-your-vo...

Book cover for FROM UNSEEN FIRE: teal embellishments on a dark background with the central image of a fire in an ancient-style brazier. Text and arrows surrounding: Yearning | Fierce determined women | Elemental magic | Dinner with a side of snark | Cutthroat politics | All this blood | An awful lot of swords.

Graphic: Book cover of From Unseen Fire against a white marbled background spattered with gold. Text: Ebook sale - US $0.99 - Through December 1.

FROM UNSEEN FIRE, Book 1 of the Aven Cycle, is on sale in ebook this holiday weekend!

Historical fantasy set in an alternate ancient Rome: A trio of sisters and an ambitious senator use wit, charm, and magic to realize their dreams for the city they love.

books2read.com/b/from-unsee...

Hyperbole Bookstore A family-owned independent bookstore in College Station, TX

If you want to give/get signed books by me for the holidays, you can place an online order with Hyperbole Bookstore (a family-owned indie) in College Station, TX hyperbolebookstore.com and ask for signature via their email contact for the Murderbot books, Witch King, Queen Demon, anything in print.