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derekleman.bsky.social
Aspiring Fantasy Author. Realtor in Atlanta. Self-Publishing. Indie Books. Mesopotamia geek. DerekWritesFantasy.com
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Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld. Old Babylonian cylinder seal. Double lion-head scepter. With his foot on a departed soul. Inscription is a dedication to the god by the king of Larsa.

submitted 124 days ago • 3 comments

The Omega sign often found with goddesses in #mesopotamian art. Related to the Omega Nebula, a sign of deity in the sky. It suggests the profound power of Creatrix goddesses. See Vanessa Lavallée, Ancient Goddess Magic.

submitted 126 days ago • 0 comments

Ancient Goddess Magic #3. The Creatrix. www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...

submitted 131 days ago • 0 comments

Religion as theodicy. #mesopotamia Nergal, god of the underworld, instructs a lion-demon in punishing a sinner. A supernatural explanation of illness.

submitted 134 days ago • 0 comments

“We experience life as feelings. . . . It’s funny, then, that so much fiction is written to minimize feelings or leave them out altogether.” — Donald Maass A short essay on Writing Emotion: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...

submitted 135 days ago • 0 comments

“… great storytellers are able to make emotions as compelling as anything else on the page.” - Donald Maass Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...

submitted 135 days ago • 0 comments

Voting for the 2024 Indie Ink Awards is now open. If you enjoyed The World-Maker Parable you can cast your vote using the link below. indiestorygeek.com/story/6594

submitted 135 days ago • 0 comments

The #mesopotamian gods had a minister / attendant. Ninsibur. A clay figurine of Ninsibur was often buried beneath the dais of the cult statue. He was associated with the constellation Orion.

submitted 136 days ago • 0 comments

As spine-chilling as any demon in the AD&D manuals, Pazuzu was a god among demons. #mesopotamia #fantasy #myth

submitted 138 days ago • 0 comments

Throughout the land of Haral, people say, “A witch has cursed us.” When their crops wilt or their wombs shrivel, they believe we have caused it. And they ask, “Where does their spellcraft come from?” The answer seems obvious to them: demons, the very spirits they pray for protection against.

submitted 141 days ago • 0 comments

Promises to be an amazing anthology of sci-fi!

submitted 142 days ago • 1 comment

Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails. In omenology, if entrails looked like the demon face, bad things were about to occur! Will do more posts on demons. Fascinating. #fantasy #myth #divination

submitted 142 days ago • 1 comment

I have hand-drawn this map two dozen times. I have an artist’s rendering as well. But I find the imperfect one to be charming. #fantasy #worldbuilding

submitted 145 days ago • 0 comments

Ancient Goddess Magic #2. A short essay. Practical insights for capturing “dangerous feminine energy” in #fantasy #literature. Pictured: the goddess Inanna (Ishtar) as goddess of war. www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...

submitted 146 days ago • 1 comment

Modern photo, marshlands of Iraq. Very similar to ancient Mesopotamian reed houses. What a #fantasy setting! Can’t believe there are not more Mesopotamia-based fantasy worlds! Mine will debut in 2025.

submitted 149 days ago • 0 comments

The deity Adad making the weather happen from the back of his trusty lion-dragon. #fantasy #mythology #mesopotamia

submitted 151 days ago • 0 comments

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, let me share this ancient image of a bird-hunt. Bird-beast. #mesopotamia #thanksgiving

submitted 154 days ago • 0 comments

Celebrating getting unstuck on this chapter. #amwritingfantasy #fantasy

submitted 154 days ago • 0 comments

Eridu. A real city founded in 5400 B.C.E. Sounds like a #fantasy city. Sumerian legend says it was the first city. By the waters from which creation came. #mesopotamia

submitted 154 days ago • 0 comments

Writing Emotion #2. Maass explains a simple but impactful strategy for compelling readers with the complexity of emotion and the human experience: don't show the obvious emotion, but dig down to the third layer of underlying emotions. See More >>> www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...

submitted 155 days ago • 0 comments

Marduk and his snake-dragon, from a lapis cylinder dated c. 850 B.C.E. The cylinder was supposed to hang from a golden chain about the neck of the idol. #mesopotamia

submitted 156 days ago • 0 comments

The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as Messier 104 (M104) or NGC 4594, located in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, approximately 31.1 million light-years from the Milky Way galaxy. Member of the Virgo II Groups, galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.

submitted 156 days ago • 10 comments