Nerdology 101: Juneteenth

Hey, hey! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. This week, we’ll be focused on Juneteenth.

What’s Junteenth?

Juneteenth is a celebration about the freedom of Black people. Following the Emancipation Proclimation, which was made effective in 1863, many enslaved people were not freed. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, two years after, when Union soldiers (remember that Union soldiers weren’t all white. You should not be interpreting this as a bunch of white people “rescuing” Black people) arrived in Gavelston Bay, TX, that the 250,000 Black people still enslaved in Texas were freed. We call the anniversary of that day Juneteenth. It is a national holiday, but tends to go without as much recognition as many others. You can learn more about it HERE.

Oh, that’s cool. It sounds like a great reason to celebrate.

It should be, but celebrating freedom can be a bit hard for Black people given the context of the moment we're living in. Many likely find themselves wondering if they’re free at all.

What context?

Already this June, we’ve seen two horrific situations unfold in a way that deeply impacts the Black community.

Karmelo Anthony

First, we’ll speak about the case of Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old sentenced to 35 years in prison for stabbing someone. For context, both Anthony and the person he stabbed were 17 at the time of the conflict and this happened on school grounds at a track meet. THIS article documents the court trial. Anthony didn’t deny that he stabbed Austin, rather his defense argued that he did so in self-defense. Meanwhile, the prosecution said it was an “unjustified, provoked murder.” In this trial, the jury had the option to lessen the charge to manslaughter too.

Here’s where the problem comes in, though. Anthony’s defense makes some good points. First, the knife Anthony had was like a 6-in-1 tool knife. If you’re premeditating a stabbing, that’s not the knife you grab. Second, Anthony was under the tent first, meeting with a friend he spotted there. Second, it’s clear there was physical conflict prior to the knife being used. The prosecutions own video analyst said it looked like someone was pushed (though who was pushed isn’t a question we can answer). So, what we know from that is that Anthony was in a physical altercation, which is typically when one would feel the need to defend themselves. It was during this physical conflict that Anthony stabbed Austin one time. After, he didn’t try to attack anyone else. He threw the knife away, walked away from the other kids and out of the tent, and did not resist arrest when the police arrived. That doesn’t sound angry. It doesn’t sound planned. It doesn’t sound unjustified. It sounds like a difficult situation that would have triggered fight or flight responses and been difficult for anyone, especially a 17-year-old.

It seems wholly reasonable that this could be self-defense. The fact that it could have been means that the jury shouldn’t have convicted him of murder. We often forget this, but the prosecution is supposed to carry the burden of proof, not the defendant. If there is ANY reasonable doubt, the jury shouldn’t be convicting at all, let alone with a murder charge when they had the option to choose a lesser charge like manslaughter. So, why did they do it? Well, I can’t say. I wasn’t there. What we do know is that the jury was all white, so no matter what happened between the jurors, we know it happened from the perspective of people with different racial experiences, which influences how they would have judged. It also influences their ability, or lackthereof, to understand Anthony’s perspective in any real way. Nevertheless, they sentenced Karmelo to 35 years on June 9th, 2026.

Cyrus Carmack-Belton

The second impactful situation the Black community is dealing with is the trial of Rick Chow, who shot and killed Cyrus Carmack-Belton. For context, this happened in South Carolina. Rick is a 61 year old Asian man and Cyrus was a 14 year old Black kid. There is footage of this entire situation, both inside and outside the store. The situation began when Cyrus entered a store owned by Rick. Rick followed Cyrus around the store from the time he entered. Cyrus opens a fridge, looks around for a minute, then starts to leave. Rick stops him. Cyrus shows Rick that there’s nothing in his pockets despite Rick having no justification for his accusation, then Cyrus walks out of the store peacefully. Rick and two others follow Cyrus out of the store with a rifle in hand. Cyrus spots them following and starts running for his life. In fact, his shoe flies off in the video and he’s still running. With Cyrus’s back turned as he ran away, Rick shot him. Rick was found not guilty by yet another all white jury on account of “self defense”.

I shouldn’t even have to say that this is bullshit. This is the most simple, uncomplicated case possible. There’s video of the whole situation. There’s no room for debate or doubt. In order to be defending yourself, you have to be getting attacked. We know for a fact that Rick wasn’t being attacked because there’s video showing Cyrus running away. It’s so simple that I can’t even say anything else about it because there is literally no other perspective to give. Yet, Rick Chow will face no legal consequences. His court decision was rendered June 1st.

Wow…

Right? It’s striking, isn’t it? One Black kid pleading self defense after stabbing someone he was already actively in a physical conflict with is sentenced to 35 years while another Black kid is dead and his killer will face legal consequences after claiming self defense even though there was no physical conflict and the kid was running with his back turned—the two decisions rendered barely a week apart, both in red states, both by all white juries. The message it sends to the Black community: “You can’t defend yourself in any situation, but we’ll accept any one claiming self defense if they kill you.”

This message is horrifying and unacceptable. How is that freedom? How is that justice? How is that having equal rights? It doesn’t make sense. The racism that left Black people’s ancestors in chains is the same racism that killed Malcom X and Dr. King and the same racism that killed Cyrus and caged Karmelo. It needs to stop. According to THIS article from the Princeton Legal Journal, this is what we’re up against:

1. United States accounts for approximately 25% of the world’s prison population, despite accounting for just 5% of the world’s population overall.

2. Cost of incarceration in the United States of America sits at approximately $80 billion per year for the taxpayer.

3. Corporations within the private prison industry are estimated to bring in an estimated $374 million annually.

Private prison industry is opportunely positioned to make a profit from cheap prison labor. The labor, however, is exploitative not only to incarcerated individuals but also to taxpayers. At play within this legal situation is the profit of corporations complicit in the prison industry, the well-being of incarcerated individuals, and the financial implications for the taxpayer.

That’s called SLAVERY. And its happening to who? Black people. THIS page by Prison Policy Initiative, compiles information from various sources that can show you how we know its happening disproportionally and unfairly to Black people. Rather than explaining that here, I’m going to place a list of ways that you can help this Juneteenth, as well as during all the other days of the year.

How can I help?

Help via financial contribution to organizations. Here’s some suggestions:

NAACP (fights for the Black communities interests in many ways),

The Innocence Project (helps people who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes),

National Bail Out (helps bail out people who are only in jail because they can’t afford the bail).

Help via financial contributions to Black people directly. Here’s some suggestions:

Shop Black-owned businesses like Blerd,

Read books by Black authors,

Listen to music by Black artists.

Help by speaking up. Here’s some suggestions:

Write about it.

Post about it.

Talk to your friends, family, and community about it.

Help by standing up. Here’s some suggestions:

If you are at a protest and you are white, position yourselves at the front of the crowd if you can. I know it’s scary, but you being at the front could actually be the thing that prevents attacks from police and keeps the protesters from being attacked. Not to say it will definitely stop them, but there’s a better chance of them holding back if they see a slew of white people. To be clear, you will be putting your safety at risk. Also to be clear, Black people have had to put their safety at risk to fight against these things for centuries. That’s part of protesting.

Gravitate towards movements you notice are being led, planned, or heavily supported by Black people.

Disrupt stuff. Sorry, but you can’t protest and follow all the rules. I’m not saying you have to be violent. I’m saying you have to be a problem. Examples of extremely diruptive but totally peaceful protestors:

MLK Jr.,

Ghandi,

Mandela.

Shut down roads, train stations, shopping centers, and anything that will make life extremely inconvenient while also costing the people in power a ton of money. That’s disruption. A great example is the vets who staged that sit in at Union Station. That’s effective protest and would work if it happened on a larger scale.

Keep Learning:

Here’s some awesome Black educators who you can learn more about racism, resistance, and intersectionality from:

https://www.instagram.com/theconsciouslee/

https://www.instagram.com/thejaampod/

https://www.instagram.com/hopegiselle/

https://www.instagram.com/diamondpostedthat/

That’s about all I have for today. I hope you learned something from this segment of Nerdology 101. I’ll be back for another next Friday. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: The Magic of Pride

Hey there! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. It’s pride!!!!! In honor of that, I’m dedicating this blog post to pride month. Let’s get into some Nerdology!

History and Relevance

If you don’t already know, Pride Month dates back to the Stonewall Uprising, a protest from LGBTQIA+ that came about because gay bars and other LGBTQIA+ friendly spaces were being attacked by the feds. The uprising was led by Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, and Sylvia Rivera, a Puerto Rican trans woman. It lasted 6 days and on it’s first anniversary, many of those who rose up in those 6 days returned. The celebration they held that day, taking to the streets, was marked as the first Pride.

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were advocates for their community all their lives. Each June, we continue to honor their legacy by honoring the communities they fought so hard to protect. Today, Pride has been distorted in many ways. In part, by capitalism. The involvement of corporate entities led many to forget what Pride is supposed to be about. Instead, to many it’s now reduced to a good time and some rainbow colored merch. It’s important that those who aren’t members of the LGBTQIA+ community do better because it’s our complacency that allows continued attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights. An ally needs to fight with the community in the hard times, not just celebrate with them when it’s convenient. Activism will always require you to be active. Action is important, so today I want to give you a list of action items that will help the community.

Action Items

1. Buy from businesses owned by queer people. Not just during pride. Whenever you can. This also means supporting artists who are members of the community. Books, music, paintings, designers, etc.

2. Donate to organizations helping queer people. These can be local, national, or international. Just make sure they’re actually doing something to help. If you’re from the Eastern Shore like I am, CAMP LGBTQIA+ Community Center is a great choice. They help LGBTQIA+ people find community in Sussex County, DE, Delaware’s most rural and right-leaning county. Other, larger, organizations can include The Trevor Project, Transgender Law Center, and more.

3. Don’t ignore intersectionality. The LGBTQIA+ community is marginalized, period. But as with any marginalized community, there are people within it who fall into other marginalized groups. This includes Black and brown people, women, disabled people, and more. When someone falls into more than one marginalized group, they often face more discrimination and have to fight on more than one front. Don’t overlook them. Find their businesses, their art, their social media, and support them. Listen to them, what they need, and anything else they want to and just listen. There are endless creators that make content to educate people on intersectionality. Don’t take offense. Don’t act like you know more about their experience than they do. It is okay sometimes to just listen, take the feedback, and do the work.

4. Learn. Seriously, do research on your own. Though some LGBTQIA+ people might be fine answering questions you have about their identities, some times it can also be burdensome having to explain yourself constantly. Plenty of educational materials already exist. There’s articles, books, research, and more. It’s great that you want to learn, but try using a library or the internet to do so. Then, once you’ve done some legwork of your own, you can ask individual people about their personal experiences and identity if they feel comfortable with that instead of expecting one person to explain every identity to you.

5. Remember that association with one doesn’t mean you’re safe for all. You can’t call yourself and ally and only be prepared to stand up for gay people or lesbians. You can’t pick and choose which identities deserve rights. If you have a negative viseral reaction to anyone under the umbrella, do the work to be better.

To Members of the Community

For most of this post, I’ve primarily been addressing allies. This is because I felt the best way to support you this pride was to make sure your allies had some clear action items to help them be better allies. Now, though, I want to talk to you directly.

I say this a lot when posting about the community, but I feel its important to repeart. No matter your identity, it’s valid. Being gay or lesbian is valid. Being Bi or pan or omni is valid. Being trans, two spirit, or nonbinary is valid. Being ace/aro is valid. Whether your questioning, not out, or out, your experiences ARE valid. No matter how many times the world tries to tell you it isn’t, it is. The world is wrong. Fuck them. I’m glad you exist.

Also, if you have anything at all you’d like to add, I’m happy to listen and update this post anonomously. I’ll do my best to amplify your voice wherever possible.

Love ya, you wonderful humans!

Conclusion

That’s about it for this segment of Nerdology 101. Check back next week for another. Until then, have a nerdy week and a wonderful pride.

Nerdology 101: Bound & Bottled

Hiiii! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. I’m Maria Levato—indie romantasy author, anime nerd, kinda gamer, mythology and history freak, and all around menace. We’re here today with our 32nd post to discuss my recent exploits (Nope! Not that kind. These ones are more author-y, lmao). Yesterday, I attended Bound & Bottled, a bookish event in Vienna, Maryland, as an author. Copies of my newest book, The Fate of Angels and Demons, filled my table at this fabulous affair and I’m here to give you all the elicit details of how it did at it’s first live event. So, let’s get into some Nerdology.

The Stakes

First, I want to talk a little about what live events like these can mean to an indie author. Selling at events is often more effective than social media marketing for those of us that are masters of the algorithms—not that live pitching your book to readers is easier, but it is a face-to-face interaction that gives you opportunities to connect that may not work as well on socials. So, these live events can be a source of income and outreach that helps us build community more effectively. For that reason, I’m grateful to everyone who came out last night. Whether you bought my book or not, you’re awesome! I’m sure your support made a huge difference to any authors or vendors you did buy from.

The Outcomes

For me, last night was great. I brought 4 special editions and 19 paperbacks with me to the events for a total of 23 copies. One of the special editions I had already planned to give to an influencer who was attending the event at no cost because she had filled out my Influencer Request Form. It’s a type of ongoing marketing program I have for The Fate of Angels and Demons where each month I give out 2-3 free copies of my special edition to influencers so they can read, post, review, and so on (that has had a wonderfully high return so far, an overwhelming majority of the influencers who have requested have also followed through on posting about the book). So, that brings out total to 22 copies, 19 paperback and 3 special editions. Of those 3 special editions, none of them went. For the paperbacks, 4 did, which means about 21% of my paperback stock sold and 18% of my total stock did. Those aren’t bad numbers. It’s enough that it covered my registration for the event, gas, the food I had while I was there, and left me a few dollars—so I’m not complaining.

Here’s the AWESOME part, though. One of those 4 paperbacks I sold was bought by a bookstore owner who also attended the event as a vendor. She wanted to consider it for the shelves at her store. She has placed an order for her store, adding another 5 sales to the overall number of sales related to this event (if not actually at it) and making the total 9 sales and about 40% of my stock. Needless to say, that alone makes this event a huge success for me because that one sale may now have created a long-term partnership that leads to more sales in the future.

Another really cool thing that happened was that the author whose booth was next to mine, Sill Bihagia (you should def check out her book, Red Demon), also added sprayed edges to some of my paperbacks that match the pink ones from my special edition. While, of course, the special edition has other features like character art and a playlist, the sprayed edges are the most eye catching part of it’s external features. Having some paperbacks with them is nice. I posted that the next few paperback sales from my website (this website, STORE page) are going to come with the sprayed edges at no additional cost (Only 2 left now because some of them went to the bookstore order since the copy I originally sold her had them).

All in all, I think Bound & Bottled was well worth attending. If you’re a reader, indie author, or other human on the Eastern Shore, I definitely recommend checking out Ashley, the host of this event, and keeping an eye on her page for future ones.

Conclusion

So, that’s about that for this weeks segment of Nerdology 101. I hope you all enjoyed my little update. I’ll be sure to drop some more as things continue to progress. My next live appearance (currently scheduled, who knows if more will come up before then) is at The New Romantics Bookstore in Orlando, FL on August 29th from 12-2PM. Can’t wait to meet some readers in the area! This will be my first Flordia signing.

Of course, until then, people from anywhere in the world are welcome to stop back in. As always, the Nerdology 101 will have new segments every Friday at 3PM EST. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: It’s Romance Anime Season!

Hey, nerds! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. You know I have a “fire in my belly” (Natsu, Fairy Tail reference) this week because it’s romance anime season! There’s quite a few I plan on checking out this season and so I’m doing a blog post on which ones I’m most looking forward to. To be clear, these have already aired. I wait until it’s near the end of the season and then binge because I’m not masochistic enough to tolerate a weekly release schedule. So, yeah, this is the beginning to my romance anime season. Let’s get into some Nerdology.

1. The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King

   First up, we have The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King. Briefly, it follows Seraphina, the strongest female knight, on her journey down the isle to marry the barbarian king.

   It’s definitely up my alley. The animation style looks great, but it’s interest to me doesn’t stop there. First, it looks like there’s an age gap. If I had to guess, this Seraphina appears to be between 20-25 while the Barbarian King has to be around 50. I like this because, while the age gap is pretty large, Seraphina is framed as a highly skilled warrior, is still an adult woman (and not in that weird way anime’s sometimes do where they say she’s __, but she looks 12). So, it’s an age gap, but not in a super creepy way from way I can gather. Thus, I am definitely looking forward to this anime.

   Reference:

   Title: The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King

   Aired: April 9, 2026

   To learn more: https://myanimelist.net/anime/60028/Himekishi_wa_Barbaroi_no_Yome

2. The Ramparts of Ice

   Next, we have The Ramparts of Ice. This one is giving Toradora, but more love triangle-y. To summarize, it follows Koyuki, a high school girl that seems cold, but is really just insecure. She meets two guys and stumbles into a friendship with them. And so, drama presumably follows.

   What’s appealing to me here is the tropes and vibes that are similar to other animes that I’ve enjoyed. This looks like it’s gonna be super cute and I’m sure I’ll love it.

   Reference:

   Title: The Ramparts of Ice

   Aired: April 2, 2026

   To learn more: https://myanimelist.net/anime/60852/Koori_no_Jouheki

3. An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess

   Now, there’s An Observation Log of My Fiancee Who Calls Herself a Villainess. You already know this one is gonna be the shit because the title is long, but it’s about a very bored prince who is dragged out of said boredom by his self-proclaimed villainess of a fiancee.

   This one gives me 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy vibes. Arnold is forever a favorite anime cruch of mine (I have like 90,000 favorites so I’m not sure that means anything), but I’m thinking Crowned Prince Cecil Glow Alfostar from this new show might make it 90,001 because this anime already has me hooked. It’s probably the one on this list that I’ll check out first. Who can blame me? I’m pretty sure every anime-lover has one of these long-titled anime with starring Victorian-inspired princes that love watch their surprising princess do unexpected things until they fall hopelessly in love with her. It’s a timeless vibe and I one I can’t wait to relive.

   Reference:

   Title: An Observation Log of My Fiancee Who Calls Herself a Villainess

   Aired: April 6, 2026

   To learn more: https://myanimelist.net/anime/61687/Jishou_Akuyaku_Reijou_na_Konyakusha_no_Kansatsu_Kiroku

4. Mao

   Last but not least, we have Mao. This one is supposed to be the new age Inuyasha, written by the same author with a similar story.

   For those who have been following along for a while, you probably know Inuyasha holds a special place, even among my 90,000 and hopefully 1, because

   A. It was the first animes I watched knowing that it was anime when I was watching it.

   B. It was one of my greatest inspirations behind the priestesses (Kikyo was the inspiration, mostly) from The Islands of Rune Universe.

   So, naturally, I have high hopes for Mao, though I am torn between watching it to be the same and wanting it to be different. Somehow, I’m sure the author, Rumiko Takahashi, will deliver on both, as long as the studios consulted with her properly instead of doing that annoying thing they do where they adapt the manga but completely ignore everything that made it good.

   Reference:

   Title: Mao

   Aired: April 4, 2026

   To learn more: https://myanimelist.net/anime/62048/Mao

Anyway, that’s it for this weeks segment of Nerdology 101. I’ll see you back next week for another. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Experimenting

Hey, loves. It’s Maria Levato here and we’re back with another segment of Nerdology 101, the blog where we discuss all my nerdy interests from anime to gaming, mythology to history, and yes, of course, my writing. This week I’m going to be telling you all about a project I started (mostly out of boredom since both of my active manuscripts are in editing).

Is it going to be another romantasy?

Nope! It won’t be a romantasy. I know that’s my usual genre, but I was sitting on an idea for a little something different, so I’m experimenting.

What will it be then?

This project will be a short story in the contemporary romance genre. Here’s some of the tropes I’ll be working within:

• College Romance

• Artist x Business Tycoon

• He Falls First & Harder (always)

• Strangers to Friends to Lovers

Ohh, Tell me more!

Of course I will, darling. This story will center Kyra Nettle and Osiris Carhart, two freshman at ___ University (unamed because I’m still researching whether or not it’s okay for me to use the name of the university the campus and programs were based off of). They’re both communter students who meet the morning classes start due to a tiny car accident in the parking lot sparked by nervousness about their first day. While exchanging information for the insurance claim, they realize their families are in the midst of negotiating a business deal. Planning to succeed his father as head of the company, Osiris pleads for Kyra not to deliver the news about the accident to her father in a way that might make him look reckless or irresponsible. One thing leads to another and a friendship starts to blossom between them by the end of their first week, all the while their underlying attraction leaves them wondering if friends is all they’ll ever be.

Love it! When can we have it?

I just started writing it last night, so it might be a little while. To give you a clear idea of where we’re at, the file is currently titled “Untitled Short Story Thingy” in my computer. As you can tell, I haven’t decided much. As always, though, you’ll be able to find updates on this and all my other WIPs on the Coming Soon page of this website. I do hope you’ll check it out when it’s released in whatever manner I have not yet decided. Probably not on IngramSpark as I usually do because that wouldn’t really serve my goals for this (which is mostly to see how readers vibe with my writing in this genre). If you’re interested in it, drop a comment to tell me your preference here.

1. KU

2. Kobo

3. Submit to Anthologies or Lit Mags

That’s about all for this week’s segment of Nerdology 101. Drop in again next week for another. Until then, have a nerdy week.

Nerdology 101: Writing & Social Media

Hi, loves. Welcome back to Nerdology 101. I’m Maria Levato, indie author, hostess of this here blog, anime nerd, part-time gamer, cat lady, kink guru, and all around queen of the Nerdom. This week I’m going to talk about about the ups and downs of being a writer on social media. To keep it nice and neat, I’ll just go platform by platform. So, lets get into some Nerdologyyy!

Instagram & Other Meta Socials (My Worst)

My author Instagram, @malevato6, is my oldest account. In part, I attribute that fact to why I have such a hard time growing it now. When I started it, I didn’t know much about social media marketing, so I made a few mistakes that made effective use of the platform difficult for me. For the sake of transparency, I’ll start by telling you what those mistakes were.

1. I used my personal account that I barely ever posted on prior to starting my publishing journey instead of creating a new one.

2. I didn’t change my original username to something that indicated what the page was about.

3. I didn’t post regularly when my first book, The Islands of Rune, came out. In fact, I didn’t start posting regularly until my second book, Journey to Rallem, came out. Then, of course, by the time The Fate of Angels and Demons, my most recent book came out, I had become a lot better at making quality posts and I had experimented with making talking reels.

So, obviously, there was a lot I could have done better early on that would have made growth a lot easier, but that didn’t happen so I can only talk about my experience as it is. Right now, I have 445 followers on Instagram. In the past few months, I’ve definitely seen it start to do better. It’s exciting, but nevertheless, the platform is not making it easy to recover. In fact, my average posts only reaches 20-100 people. That makes it pretty difficult to get more substantial growth. As a result, my IG is mostly stagnant and I have to fight for every follower/engagement I get much harder than should be necessary. This sort of unforgiving algorithm makes things extremely difficult for indie authors, who typically learn as they go since most of us don’t start out with a team to help us.

Just this year, I was able to hire a PA, @jazzys_books/@apenandapromise, for the first time. She focused a lot on my IG during my launch for The Fate of Angels and Demons. It was definitely a big help and got me through a barrier I’d been stuck at for a few months. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend hiring someone to help you through moments where you get stuck like that. IG, at several points, has taken up so much of my time and energy that it made it difficult for me to keep up with writing. I’ve heard other authors say the same. Hiring a PA is probably more affordable than you think and having that support there is a pretty big deal. For IG, I think it’s one of the best strategies, especially for those busy periods. A PA can do most anything for your socials except for the reels that require you to be on camera. Even for those, though, you might ask your PA to help you with editing the reel, writing a script, or finding a caption that will help it get seen.

I did also meet the cover and character artist, @sincerrio, I used for The Fate of Angels and Demons via IG. They did great work and I loved working with them. So, IG is good for finding artists if you’re looking for them, but I also feel like there’s a slew of artists on any platform that are easy enough to find if you’re looking for them.

Ultimately, I think IG is a great tool for creating community with readers, but it is also kind of set it its ways and not the most writer friendly social media platform, especially not for indies or people who tend toward the nervous side when it comes to posting reels of themselves. As always though, the readers make it worth while. I love meeting them, seeing what they’re enjoying, and having the connection I do with the few of them that do seem to be deeply engaged with my work. The same applies to other Meta-owned social media platforms.

Biggest IG Pro: Getting to vibe with readers, no matter how many or how few.

Biggest IG Con: Unforgiving of early mistakes.

Bluesky (My Best)

Bluesky has been my largest following for a while now. I started the account about a year and a half ago. My profile, @marialevato.com, has 924 followers at the moment and is the only platform on which I have more followers than following. It gets regular engagement and is overall the platform I’m doing the best on. From my experience though, it’s not a place to make sales. Regardless of the struggles I’ve had with IG, the platform is responsible for more of my sales than Bluesky, where I have more engagement and a larger following.

In my experience, Bluesky is better for connecting with other industry professionals than it is for finding readers. My editor, Robyn, is someone I connected with via Bluesky. Bluesky is also where I connected with Ann Rose, an agent from Tobias Literary Agency, and Despina Karras, the author who hosts PitchDis, both of whom I worked with on an event I put together for Authors Guild as one of the ambassadors for the Washington, D.C. chapter. So, yes, Bluesky is great for me in that aspect. Connecting with other members of the writing and publishing communities is a huge help for me and has led to some pretty awesome things.

Biggest Bluesky Pro: Meeting other industry professionals.

Biggest Bluesky Con: More difficult to connect with readers on the platform.

TikTok (My I don’t know yet cause it’s new to me)

TikTok is my newest social media account. I’ve been on it for less the 2 months. My profile, @authormarialevato, is currently sitting at 53 followers and 56 following, so I’m not off to a bad start. At least, I don’t think I am. I already have at least a handful of followers I’d consider deeply engaged. They engage with more of my content then they don’t. They’re readers too. I won’t judge how TikTok does on actually getting me sales yet since it is still so new, but I will say that I’m hopeful on that front. A already have a fair number of influencers posting about my book on the platform and tagging me. That type of early engagement might make both growth and conversion a lot higher. I can definitely say I get more reach and engagements on my posts than I do on IG. For now, that’s all I can really say about being on the platform as a writer. Hopefully, I’ll have more updates on the TikTok front soon!

Biggest Pro: More reach and engagement, more influencer collaboration.

Biggest Con: Very aggressive about pushing AI features and I’m not a fan of that, but that can be said of pretty much any major social media platform right now. I think TikTok is maybe just a tad more annoying about it than Meta or Bluesky.

Anyway, these are my thoughts on using various social media platforms as a writer. That’s about it for this weeks segment of Nerdology 101. Come back next Friday for another. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Word Choice

Hey, hey! How are you, my lovely little nerds? If you’re new here, welcome to Nerdology 101. I’m Maria Levato. I’m an indie author, anime-lover, mood gamer, regular reader, and a load of other random stuff. This is my blog, Nerdology 101, where I talk about whatever nerdy topic comes to mind. This week, that topic is word choice. So, let’s get into some Nerdology!

What is Word Choice?

Word choice refers to the selection of words for the purpose of amplifying a story. In some cases, this is a line-level tool that keeps the reader engaged. After all, how boring would a romance be if the MMC only ever called the FMC beautiful instead of lovely, ethereal, gorgeous, luscious, etc. In other cases, though, particularly in fantasy, word choice can also act as an immersion mechanism that reinforces world-building. That’s more so what I’m going to focus on today.

Common Alterations in Fantasy Writing

Perhaps the most common instance you see what I’m referring to is when characters say "gods” instead of “god” or “by the gods” instead of “oh my god” because the dominant religion in the fantasy world is polytheistic and therefore common language would have developed to represent that. We also see iterations of this pretty commonly in fantasy where goddesses are centered where language might be altered to say “my goddess” or “by the goddesses” to be represent the world the author is writing in. These choices are important. While world-building certainly requires some thought on the giant, prominent aspects, it’s the decisions like this that make it feel like the world is fundamentally different. If this world abides by different overall norms, that has to be reflected in the small stuff because a world totally different from our own would lead to beings who think and speak differently from how we do. So, sometimes, world-building requires some adjustments on the word choice front.

In My Writing

One decision I made for my The Islands of Rune series early on was that I’d use “hel” instead of “hell” because the dominant religion and magic system were based in Norse mythology. Hel, in Norse mythology, is a goddess who rules over Helheim, one of the nine realms. Hell, in Norse mythology, doesn’t exist. So, in order to accurately reflect the world I was writing in, hel was the better word choice.

I also applied that to common phrases. We say “come hell and highwater” in regards to loyalty and standing by someone even when it’s difficult to do. I could have just changed it to “through hel and highwater” and that would have been fine, I suppose, but I wanted to put in the effort to think about it a little bit more because I felt like I could come up with something more impactful for that phrase than simply dropping an L. So, I used “come Niflheim or Ragnarök”. Granted, I think I only used it once in the book it came up in because it’s not a phrase I needed to use all that often, but using it once in a relevant scenario and using it well was an effective reinforcement of the world and culture I wanted to depict.

Okay, so how did you make those decisions?

Well, in examples like what I mentioned above, I searched the culture for equivalents that worked for the context of I was trying to use it in. I do this for words, phrases, and terms of endearment. Seshen, used in my most recent book, The Fate of Angels and Demons, is sourced from ancient Egypt, which is what that character’s culture was based on. There’s another nickname, used in one of my WIPs, that sourced a term of endearment from the Greek language so it more accurately represented the character I was writing would use. Whenever you need a word and it’s for the purpose of representing the world, look to the source material. Search the mythology, etymology, modern language, and whatever other source material there is on the place that inspired you to create that world. Fantasy is almost always based on the past. Your answers are probably there somewhere.

Other Reasons for Doing This

On top of being an effective writing tool, this also acts as a way to show respect to the culture that inspired you. The difference between appropriation and appreciation often lies in conscious effort. Asking questions like “how does this belief system effect how language develops?”, “How do people in this place refer to this thing?”, “Is there something from the source culture I can use to adjust this and make it more accurate or real?”, and “What terms are actually used in this culture to express the idea I want to base this on?” is a pretty good sign that you’re actually thinking about and admiring the culture your writing is based on, rather than just using it for your own gain without proper consideration for it. Making those small, conscious decisions let people know that even if you did get something wrong—which you will likely do at some point—it wasn’t because you didn’t care enough to try.

Of course, this isn’t to say everyone who doesn’t do this is appropriating a culture. It’s just to say that this is one way of paying homage to a culture that inspired you.

Anyway, that’s about it for this segment of Nerdology 101. I hope you enjoyed it (and that it gave you some additional perspective on word choice). See ya back next week for whatever rant I come up with next. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: My Top 5 Favorite Gods

Heyyy! Welcome back to another week of Nerdology 101. I just realized the blog is 6 months old now. Last week was my 26 week post. Yay meee! I have no real way of telling how many people are actually reading this blog, but I can say it accounts for almost 20% of my website traffic. So, it’s definitely helping with the discoverability issue. Whether you’re new, an occassional visitor, or a regular visitor, I appreciate it a lot.

With that being said, let’s get into some Nerdology! This week I’m going to be going over some of my favorite gods and why I love them so much. As I shared in the post announcement, I’m working on a mythological romance right now. To be clear, these are simply my favorite gods in real life. Some of them may appear in the work when it releases, other’s may not. I’m not telling.

5th Place - Amaterasu (Shinto/Japanese)

Starting off strong with Amaterasu, the Shinto (Japanese) sun goddess, and chief diety of the pantheon. Amaterasu is the only chief diety that will appear on this list. That’s for a reason. While she certainly isn’t the only goddess who has ever been a chief deity, she sticks out to me in a lot of way. For those that don’t know, here’s a quick summary:

Born of Izanagi and Izanami, Amaterasu and her siblings are some of the most central figures in the pantheon. The most famous story about her is one about a conflict she had with her brother, Susanoo, god of seas and storms. She retreated into a cave. That caused some trouble for the other gods and they had to lure her back out in order to convince her to return to her role.

In modern times, Amaterasu is still a highly influential figure. In fact, the imperial family is said to be descendants of her. This is one of my favorite key details and probably the one that makes her a favorite of mine. It’s fascinating to me because, here in the Western world, there was this idea at one time that kings were annointed by by the god the west believed in. This meant that rulers were seen as “chosen” to rule. We see other iterations where a ruler is see as the personification of a diety, like the pharoahs of Egypt. This idea of being descended from a diety, though, is a bit unique (not to say there is no other culture that took this approach. I’m sure other’s existed, but I can only speak in comparison to the ones I’ve researched). It’s just an interesting approach that had impact on how views regarding ancestry, rank, and monarchy formed within the Japanese culture. Thus, Amaterasu became one of my favorite gods because she exposed me to a way of thinking I hadn’t encountered before.

4th Place - Freyja (Norse)

Badassery. I love Freyja for the badassery. In the actual mythology, in every depiction, in everything, Freyja is badass. The balance is amazing because, on one hand, she’s this nurturing sort of maternal figure, but on the other she’s a terrifyingly powerful warrior that you do NOT want to tick off. It’s nice because it’s reflective of the reality of the versatility women can take on. Humans aren’t one-dimensional creatures and sometimes I think the world can forget that, specifically when it comes to women and other historically marginalized groups. Freyja doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s box and, for that reason, I consider to be a feminist sign of adaptability, power, and freedom.

For context, in the mythology, Odin and Freyja married for political reasons. She birthed Thor, Tyr, and Balder—some of the most fearsome gods in the mythology. Odin, like most gods, was an ass. She sought revenge for the abuse and continuously fought to maintain her own identity, freedoms, and power.

As such, many women can identify with her stuggles. She’s easy to connect to and see ourselves in. I consider her a favorite of mine because her story shows us how, for all the changes the world has seen, many of the struggles women knew then have endured.

3rd Place - Buddha (Buddhist)

I think Buddha’s story is great because it calls into question godhood in and of itself. It’s a story that focuses on ascent rather than descent, where who you become is more important than the bloodline you come from. This is important because it throws a wrench in the idea most belief systems adapt where who you were born from determines your position in life. I think it’s origins have a lot to do with why Buddhism is such an adaptable belief system. This sort of fluidity it has is, to me, one of the most realistic approaches to belief because it focuses on things a person can actually do—like training their body and mind, helping others, and other things.

While the Buddha was ultimately a human, not a god, I think I’d be remiss not to count him because of his leadership, impact, and the spirituality he spurred on. Gods, for all intents and purposes, are figures through which we form our beliefs and explain the thoughts behind them. For this reason, Buddha is a god-adjescent figure that headed a spiritual movement still widely practiced in the world today. In fact, that’s probably why I put him at number 3. It’s complex and there’s no clear answer. I like that the existence of the Buddha isn’t clearly defined as one thing or another. Grey areas and contradictions are some of my favorite things—which makes it wasy to understand why I’d see Buddha as a favorite. The entire practice focuses on existing somewhere in between two polar extremes.

2nd Place - Anubis (Egyptian)

The best I can say here is that I think this god is fundamentally misunderstood a lot of the time. Many people have a specific image that comes to mind when they think of any “god of the dead”. That image is likely formed by media depictions more than it is the actual culture or mythology. In most depictions of Anubis from ancient Egypt, he was kind, protective, and comforting. While there’s no doubt he was a powerful god that could do some real damage if you ticked him off, it was more often feroscity that stemmed for a desire to protect the souls of the dead, thus most well-intentioned people/gods had no reason to feel threatened by him.

It’s this misunderstood nature of Anubis that draws me to him, He’s like an OG of the misunderstood badboy archetype. I think I relate a lot to that vibe because A) BookTok, but more importantly, B) it speaks a lot to humanities underlying beliefs about death in general when you compare Anubis to other dieties or figures meant to depict death. I, personally, have never seen death in the way most people seem to. I’ve never understood the obsession with extending ones life as long as possible, even to ones own detriment. Like, we joke a lot about Billionaires uploading their brains to the cloud or escaping to Mars and we see every day people dedicating their entire lives to being as physically healthy as possible. I mean, good for them, if that’s what they want for themselves. I think the people should live the life they want (minus the billionaires because they are actively interfering with other people living the way they want). It’s just not for me. I wholeheartedly accept that I likely won’t like to be ancient. It doesn’t sound like it would be comfortable or enjoyable. Quality of life is more important to me than length of life. As long as I’m generally happy and able to enjoy my life for whatever time I have, I’m cool.

Of course, that means beliefs systems where death isn’t depicted as a villain we’re all supposed to be running from appeal to me. I see death in a similar-ish way to how Anubis is portrayed within his mythology. Thus, he’s a perfect second place to me because I haven’t seen many other concepts or ideas of what being dead might look like that align with my view of death.

1st Place - Thoth (Egyptian)

Two Egyptian gods? Yup, two Egyptian gods. Come on, you seriously thought you were making it through a writers list of favorite gods without encountering a god like Thoth? He’s Egyptian god of wisdom, writing, math, science, and pretty much everything that has to do with being a nerd—if you didn’t know. In fact, my obsession with Thoth runs deep enough that I stumbled into an academic text about him I wanted to read, which was of course only available in academic libraries. So, I called every academic library in a two hour radius of me to try to convince them to let me in. When that failed, I went to my public library and asked them to try to get an academic library to lend it to them to lend to me. They told me they’d ask but that my chances were only 20% and that it might take months. I said okay and they tried. Luckily, the kind people at the University of Vermont ended up shipping the book all the way to Maryland for me to nerd out on for a few weeks. If that story doesn’t tell you why I align so well with Thoth, I don’t think there’s another way to explain it. There is no better god to hold my top spot.

That’s about it for this weeks segment of Nerdology 101. Hope you’ll come through again next Friday! Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Pirating

Hiya! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. I’m Indie Author Maria Levato, author of The Fate of Angels and Demons, anime lover, kinky weirdo, and more. This week I wanted to take some time to discuss pirating. In recent days, there’s been a lot of commotion about the new Avatar the Last Airbender movie, The Legend of Aang, being leaked. I’m not here to make anyone who watched the leaked movie feel bad, but to educate consumers on the impacts of leaking and pirating from the POV of the artist.

What is Pirating?

Pirating, in this context, refers to the distribution or consumption of media through unauthorized channels.

What does Pirating Look Like?

Pirating takes many forms. No matter what medium—television, books, etc.—pirating exists across it all. In literature, we most often see it discussed through the lens of advanced reader copies (ARCs) being leaked or resold or LLM’s scraping pirated books that were distributed on the internet for training. In TV, it more often looks like what we see here. A movie or TV show is posted online without the authorization of the studio that produced it.

Most consumers, when they consume pirated materials, aren’t intending to cause harm. They merely want to read or watch something they enjoy. From the consumers end, this isn’t going to do any real harm to the extremely wealthy studio or publisher that produced the media they’re consuming. That is true to some extent. It’s highly unlikely Warner Brothers or Simon and Schuster go out of business on account of pirating. Media giants like the ones I used in this example aren’t the only ones impacted, though. Behind the production of any type of media, there’s usually a team of creatives who depend on the royalties for their livelihoods. Those creatives are who I’m here to talk about.

What Impact Does Pirating Have on the Artists?

First, I’d like to make clear that when I say artist here, I’m using it as an all-encompassing term. Musicians, animators, writers, and any other type of art of can produce is included in this. Piracy impacts us all.

Artists are usually paid via a system called royalties. Royalties are the percentage of the price that go to the artist. This can look a variety of ways. I can’t speak for all artists, but for authors, this is kind of what it looks like:

1. Bookstores place wholesale orders either directly with us or through a mass distribution platform like Ingram. Our royalties are a percentage of that order.

2. We consign books with a bookstore (shifts the upfront cost of ordering and shipping the books to us) and they pay us a percentage of the retail price when it sales.

3. We order books ourselves at a wholesale/author price and sell them at a mark up (retail price) and the difference is our profit (this is the model my special edition of The Fate of Angels and Demons works on).

4. Our books are distributed to online platforms (Everand, Kindle, Hoopla, Libby, etc.), and we are paid for reads (page reads, borrows, this can look different based on platform).

Other kinds of artists may not have these exact models, but something similar-ish.

The problem this creates for the artist is that, if a piece of media is distributed in a way that isn’t able to be tracked, we never get royalties. Even if, for example, someone bought an ebook from us and we made royalties from that, then they posted it online after the fact for others to read, we’d still not be getting royalties for all those other reads. This isn’t the same as letting a friend or family member borrow a physical book or your kindle/nook to read something. With the internet, we’re talking about hundreds, thousands, and sometimes millions of consumers consuming material we made without being paid for it. Sometimes, pirated versions are consumed more than the legally distributed versions and we’re literally making nothing off the hardwork we put into creating it.

There are even some circumstances so extreme that artists have stopped producing new work on account of it. We see a plethora of examples in the world of indie authors, but we also see it in larger forms of media. Anime, in particular, comes to mind for me. As read in this article, Japan as a whole has lost billions in revenue because of the large scale piracy of anime. While this sucks for their economy, it sucks even more for the artists, writers, and animators who work hard to create these anime. A number of shows have been discontinued because piracy made it so they could no longer afford to produce them. So, not only does piracy harm the aritsts livelihood, it harms consumers of the media because it makes it impossible to produce more of. If you want that next book, next season, next song, whatever it may be, the best way to get it is to make sure it’s worth it to the artist to make.

Wait, so this effects me too?

Yup! It’s not just the artist. It’s you too. How many times do you hear fandoms raving something along the lines of “We want ____ spin-off.”

For Naruto fans, it’s a Minato or Itachi spin-off show.

For ATLA fans, it was an gaang as adults show.

For different fandoms, it looks different, but pretty much every fandom has one.

In ATLA (as an example), they had finally given us what we were asking for. A studio was listening to it’s fans, which we beg them to do constantly. But then someone leaked the movie, which isn’t the fault of the fans, but mass consumption of it that hurts the studios bottomline and the artists livelihood, will discourage this studio and others from listening to their fandoms again because it sets the precedent for future leaks on this sort of large scale that they can’t be sure their fandom will condem.

Luckily, I have seen in, in the case of ATLA, more than a few creators say they support the artists and won’t be watching the leaked movie. Hopefully, ethical influencers have been able to influence enough people away from watching the leaked movie that this doesn’t turn into a giant loss for the studio and artists who worked on it.

What if I already consumed pirated material before I knew the impacts?

Your intent, like most consumers, probably wasn’t malicious. Please don’t feel bad. Instead, focus on doing better. There are a few simple steps you can take going forward.

1. Stop consuming pirated material immediately and fully.

2. Report pirating sites to the copyright owners or their agents. Most authors, publishers, etc. have some sort of method to contact them available. For me, it’s the contact form on this website. You can find it on this page. Some other ways to report it are through publisher websites, through the agent an author has listed, or through a studios website. Once they’re made aware, they can submit a DMCA, as explained here.

3. Buy it. Yes, I know you already watched/read/listened to it, but if you can afford to, buy it so the artists get paid.

4. If you can afford it buy it, borrow it from a legitimate free source. I’ll provide a few in the next section.

5. Review it. If you’ve accidentally consumed pirated material, reviewing it might help legitimate versions get more attention. Goodreads and retailer websites are great places to leave book reviews. While reviewing absolutely does not justify continued piracy, if you genuinely didn’t know how harmful was an consumed it before reading this, reviewing it would definitely help offset some of those damages. Artists depend a lot on reviews, particularly for visibility. The more reviews something has, the more the algorithms will recommend it to other readers who might enjoy it. This is particularly impactful if the material came from a small, up and coming, or indie artist of some kind since they’re already likely to be struggling to get a substantial amount of reviews.

Okay, now what are these legitimate platforms where I can consume media for free while still supporting the artists?

1. Libraries! Libraries! Libraries! They don’t just have books. Go to your local library.

2. Overdrive and associated platforms. Overdrive is a distribution platform. They own Libby, Kanopy, and other platforms. All you need is a library card! It’s a great place to find media that is free to you. They have an assortment of media types too. Music, TV, movies, and of course books (ebook and audiobook).

3. Hoopla. Much like Overdrive’s platforms, Hoopla is a digital service that runs through public libraries. They offer just as many different types of media, but all on one platform!

4. Openstax. While both Overdrive and Hoopla offer plenty of educational media, as well as media meant for entertainment, Openstax is a great place to find free, properly liscenced textbooks. Perfect for AP/college students looking for some extra study, or homeschoolers.

5. Khan Academy. Looking for educational material for the K-12 levels? Khan Academy is free!

6. Library of Congress. The LOC has a whole catagory of “Free to Use” media. These are things in the public domain. There is no longer a copyright holder for them, so you can consume it, or create something new from this media without worry. Most of the things in here are older, but old isn’t always bad.

Conclusion

So, now ya know! I hope this post taught you something about royalties, piracy, or free resources you can use to consume media. I’ll see you back for the next segment of Nerdology 101 next Friday. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: My Top 5 Favorite Quotes From “The Fate of Angels and Demons” as the Author Who Wrote It (and why).

Hi, loves. Welcome back to Nerdology 101. I’m Maria Levato—writer, nerd, bunch of other weird shit. This week, I’m going to tell you what my favorite quotes from my own book are and why I love them so much.

1. “…children whose ribs are entirely too visible forced into labor by men who wear their greed like a badge of honor…”

   I think it’s pretty obvious what group of resource hoarding individuals I had in mind when I wrote this. Let’s not pretend it isn’t. In truth, this quote sticks out to me because it’s relevant. There’s this constant back-and-forth in the bookish community about if books are political (HINT: They are, always.) To that end, here’s another “non-political” quote.

2. “They have every right to be angry at the centuries of oppression directed at them.”

   I know. There’s no possible way this could be relevant to—I don’t know—Black people or any other group of marginalized people, right? I mean, I’m Mixed, but there’s just no way an author’s identity could impact the way they write, right? Hmm… I wonder about that.

3. “Shut up and let me eat this thick fucking ass, Seshen.”

   Oh, come on. It’s just as great line. It encompasses the kink, the spice, the fun, and the pleasure that I love about this book. It’s hot.

4. “Because I’ll do anything,” He snaps. “I will burn every kingdom and torch every village in this gods-forsaken realm, just to get a moment with you.”

   Again, hot. But also… Not to protect her, just to see her for a moment? This is what I love about Michael. He’s understood from the jump that Lilly does not need his protection. The most valuable thing he could give to her as a romantic interest was the consistency and intensity of his love. It was the one thing she didn’t already have and couldn’t attain on her own.

5. “It feels like being told I’m crazy after I told someone I’m crazy, only to go crazier because they make me feel crazy for it.”

   This scene goes to the heart of it all, in a lot of ways. This line in particular is hard to ignore, especially if you’re a woman. There’s a reason gaslighting is such a widespread discussion when it comes to feminism. I think a good amount of us can probably identify with what Lilly is feeling here. We’ve all, at some point, likely questioned our sanity on account of someone who called us “crazy” or “too emotional” or whatever else for simply having emotions they lacked the emotional intelligence to cope with the existence of. It’s all too common an experience and I think it’s what makes Lilly’s character shine so brightly. Her whole thing is that she acts, primarily, based on her emotions. In a way, her character arc revolves around her accepting that it’s okay to lead with heart and fight with mind. It was my answer to this growing thing in fiction where women are only labelled as “badass” if they’re emotionless, calculating, closed-off, etc.

   Note:

   Obviously, the switch element of this book is one of my favorite elements. The reason I don’t favor spicy lines from moments where Lilly is dominant when it comes to marketing is because it is EXTREMELY difficult to convince the algo’s of the internet to push content that displays obvious depictions of femdom because for some stupid ass reason we (collective, as a society) still seem to have a problem with seeing FLR dynamics in any form of media, even if it’s within the context of a switch dynamic where she’s only the one in charge part of the time. I think it’s ridiculous, but the best way to combat it is to market the book based on what will get pushed so people read it and gain the exposure to women-led power dynamics. Thus, if you’re reading this, you should know much of what I don’t market is equally as great as the rest of this.

Nerdology 101: What’s Next?

Nerdy people! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. I’m Maria Levato, your hostess that LOVES to do the mostest. Quick briefing: I’m an indie author and this is my blog. I just released my 3rd book, The Fate of Angels and Demons, on April 1st. It’s part of a series of interconnected standalones. You can find the paperback and ebook at a bunch of major retailers, check linktr.ee/marialevato for that. Or go to the store page of this website for the special edition hardcover. This week, I want to talk a bit about works yet to be released so you know what’s coming next.

The Next Book in this Series

The next book in this series is called The Depths of Bloodshed and Purgatory. It will follow Lilly’s younger brother, Callian, as he faces trials all his own and finds love along the way. I’m planning to self-publish this one like I have the other books in the series. It’ll be the forth book in The Islands of Rune Universe and there’s only one more book in it after it, though there’s some spin-offs of it I could write eventually. I’ll actually be finishing the first draft the same day you read this. After that, I’ll give it a thorough once over on my own before I send it to my editor, Robyn. I am planning to do another special edition of this one with BookVault, which will also be available in the store once it’s released. The paperback will, as always, be available at major retailers through IngramSpark. However, I do plan to switch things up with the ebook a little. I’m not a fan of Amazon, the way they treat authors, or their consistently problematic owner. Thus, it’s unlikely I’ll use KU. There are similar platforms, though. Kobo in particular comes to mind. Is that something you’d like to see, readers? If so, just drop me a comment, DM, or whatever so I know that’s the right direction. If not, tell me what your preferred alternative is. I’m likely to go with whatever is best for readers already engaged with my content.

A New Series

For months now, I’ve been hinting that I’m planning to start another series up. The title of that is going to be The Harem of the Heavens (HOTH). I don’t want to go into too much detail about the plot of it yet, but the title should give you some insights on it. This, I plan to query with, though. The draft is currently in developmental editing with the same editor I mentioned before. I’ll polish it out as much as possible and hopefully start querying it in Fall/Winter. I’m still working on my final comp titles, but think Record of Ragnarok x The Bachelorette for this one. Yes, I know neither of those are books, but they are what I was thinking of when I came up with this idea and they paint a VERY clear picture if I do say so myself.

Conclusion

Plenty of more awesome stuff is on the way. While you wait for it, go ahead and give The Fate of Angels and Demons a read. I’ll see you back next week for another segment of Nerdology 101 too. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Author Transparency Post

Intro

Hey readers, writers, and bookish people of all kinds! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. Today is now our 23rd post and the 1st one to happen after my new dark romantasy book, The Fate of Angels and Demons came out. I’m going to take a moment here to just say YAYYYYYYY! I’ve been so excited about this book release for so long. I’m overjoyed to see it on the market finally! Everything about TFOAAD has been emotional for me, from writing and editing, to design, launch, and release. My body, heart, mind, and soul have been poured into this wonderful story and no matter what these insights look like, I have no regrets about that.

Perspective

For point of reference, I’m going into writing this blog post just as blind as you’re going into reading it. Usually, I write my blog posts the Saturday before they post. This time, however, the topic makes that impossible to do. Instead, I’m writing the intro, perspective, and what to expect sections that I don’t need the actual insights for on Saturday and the insights won’t actually be plugged into it until the day of the post so I can provide you with the most up-to-date, vital information about how my new release is actually doing. This post will go up at the normal time, Friday at 3PM EST, just like every other Nerdology post, but I won’t know what it’s going to say until the morning of. I might be getting on here to tell you all that I’m totally flopping, that I’ve managed the ever-elusive miracle of viral success as an indie, or anything in-between, but I’ve already announced my topic on IG and Bluesky (my two largest followings) so there’s no backing out now. I’m not one to back down from a challenge.

What to Expect

In this section, I’ll go over the catagories of the insights I’ll be sharing:

1. Sales, broken down by edition (ebook not included. I’m unlikely to be able to see ebook sales on the IngramSpark dashboard that soon after release since they take roughly 2-3 weeks to appear in my sales reports).

2. Engagement, how the posts about the book are doing on IG, Bluesky, and TikTok.

3. Reviews, reviews are always available on the reviews page of this website, but I’ll talk about how many I have, the books current ratings, and what that might mean for the books long-term success.

4. Stock, are there any brick-and-mortar stores that have the book or have ordered it to my knowledge?

5. Events, the amount of interest I have from stores/conventions/etc. (This is the only section I know a little bit about ahead of time, obviously, since it requires me to schedule said events. Be ready for a huge announcement in this section).

6. Marketing, what’s working for me and what isn’t?

7. Places where I could use additional support from people who want to help me reach more readers.

8. Conclusion, an overall assessment of how the book is doing.

* Exact place I stopped writing pre-release.

Sales

Okay! Here we are. It’s Friday morning about 10AM now. So far, 4 special editions have sold at $30 each ($120). I haven’t seen any paperback sales come in on Ingram yet, but that’s not entirely surprising for me. The special edition exists as an alternative for people who want a physical copy and I see why most people would opt for it because it’s freakin’ gorgeous. I do know of two ebook sales even though, as I stated in my explanation of this I can’t seem them quite yet. They came who people who tagged me or showed me their orders. At $6 each, that’s an additional $12 . Thus, I’ve made $132 in sales so far. I’d say that’s pretty good. I paid $150 for my cover, so I’ve almost made that back in just a few days. Of course, there’s still a long way to go before I actually make my money back, but we’re off to a great start, in my opinion.

Engagement

Engagement is up! In part, this is due to the fact that I finally got up the nerve to make some reels with me in them. My reach and engagement have gone up since. I still solidly suck at social media, but again, I think we’re moving in the right direction. In the last 30 days, I’m reach 3.3k views on IG with 224 interactions. On TT I’ve at 2k views and 102 engagements, which is awesome since I just started using the platform a week and a half ago. On Bluesky, it’s hard to say what my views or interactions are since they don’t have analytics insights like IG or TT. I can say that it remains my largest following at 912 followers.

Reviews

I sent out 25 ARCs for this book and 6 reviews have gone up on Goodreads, giving me about a 24% rate there (which is normal for an author in similar positioning to myself, from what I can tell). Of those reviews, 2 have rated the book 5 stars, 2 have rated it 4 stars, 1 has rated it 3 stars, and 1 has rated it 1 star. Overall, that’s a 3.67 rating so far for this book. Across all of my books, though, I have 25 ratings and reviews that average to 4.12 stars. This is one of the areas where I can say I’m definitely still struggling a lot. For those who don’t know, Goodreads doesn’t really recommend a book to people until it has 25 reviews (title specific, not overall for the author). Getting more reviews would go a long way toward increasing my natural reach.

Stock

There are no brick and mortar bookstores I know of that have stocked The Fate of Angels and Demons at this time, though this is something my PA and I have recently turned our attention to.

Events

So far, I have two conventions on the books for this year. One is Smoke and Embers in Thunder Bay, ON this October from the 23rd to 25th. The other has yet to announce my attendance officially yet, so I’ll refrain from doing that so we can announce it at the same time. It is a pretty major con, though, so I’m excited about it.

Marketing

I’ve tested a few strategies so far. IngramSpark’s email promotions, BookBub Ads, IG ads, and free marketing opportunities. Of them, not only is the free stuff free, it works better than any of the paid advestising FOR ME. Instead, the highest impact form of marketing that I’ve seen is actually not coming from me at all. As they say, word-of-mouth is the best type of marketing. Posts from platforms like the Indie Author Collective and Little Lost Bookshoppe & Beyond, as well as from individuals, have done me a great deal of good. You can see a lot of the posts others have made about me and my book here in my media and mentions corner where I’ve collected and embedded the posts I’ve seen.

Support

If you’re a reader looking to support me, here's the key takeaways (in order of importance) of how you can best do that.

1. Order the book, in any format.

2. Review the book, whether you loved it or hated it, leave your honest review.

3. Post about the book online. Even if you don’t have a large following, this acts as a vital form of social proof that tells the alghorithms people are talking about the book.

Conclusion

The Fate of Angels and Demons is doing good for a newly released, self-published novel, but there’s still so much room for improvement. I plan to continue working on things from my end, and I hope, dear reader, that you will continue supporting me from yours. Thank you. Hope to see you back next week for another segment of Nerdology 101. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Why Write?

Hello, nerdy beloveds. Welcome back to Nerdology 101. I'm your host, Maria Levato, and this week you’re going to discover the why behind my writing. Let’s get into some Nerdology!

The Official Bio:

Every author has one, here’s mine. As seen on the homepage of this website, this is my official bio:

“Maria Levato is an author, BIPOC woman, and disabled veteran. She has written three books as an indie author, The Islands of Rune (2023), Journey to Rallem (2025), and The Fate of Angels and Demons (2026). Maria also writes the Nerdology 101 blog on this website.

Outside of her writing, Maria serves the writing community in other ways. She’s the chair of the PRO Advisory Committee for the Romance Writers of America and an ambassador for the Washington, D.C. chapter of The Authors Guild.”

You didn’t come here for that today, though, did you? You want the goodies. So, let’s move right along.

The Fun Bio:

Oh, babes, you’re in for it now.

Who I am and what I do are two very different topics. While my work is a huge part of who I am, there’s so much behind the scenes that doesn’t make it into the bio. If you can’t tell by the name of this blog, I’m a nerd. Niches are my thing. Most nerds, being moderately sane human beings, pick a niche and stick to it. I, however, never have and never will claim to be sane. Thus, I have somewhere in the realm of 5,000 niches I consistently obsess over and another 1,000 or so that come and go with the wind. There are certain core ones that, in my mind, are all interconnected and lead back to a single hobby: Culture. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, a national art museum or a ren faire, writing or folding Reese cup wrappers into flowers so I have an excuse to eat a whole bag of minis, deep diving on mythology and history, or passionately raving about current events because I think we should treat people like people, it all comes down to culture for me. I don’t care which culture; I love them all.

Cultures humanize people in a way few other things do. Cultures surrounding race, ethnicity, and nationality are often what we think of when we think about culture, but under each comes a plethora of subcultures that make the experience even richer. Some of the favorite examples in my life now are Black Goth/Alt/Punk/etc. culture (music like Magnolia Park, collectives like Punk Black, events like Blerd Con, etc.), nerdy culture, Irish resistance music (like Chasing Abbey), Indigenous empowerment culture (music like Young Spirit, stores like Eighth Generation, etc.), and even kink/BDSM. Exploring these subcultures has always been what interests me most because it’s such a fun, supportive, and connective way to widen my own perspective. So, there I went, deep into the nerdom where I eventually discovered all of that stuff I love. The books, the anime, the art, the travel, these spaces are where I feel most like myself because so many other people are also free to be themselves in it.

Of course, then I grew up. Life happened; it sucked. Somewhere in there I lost track of who I was. What do we do when we lose something? We retrace our steps. Where had I last seen myself? Why, in the nerdom, of course. After remembering how happy this stuff made me, I was like, “hey, you what sounds like a fun way to cope with life?”

“Writing stories about nerdy shit and sex!” My brain replied.

It wasn’t really what I had in mind, I was thinking something wayyy less demanding, but my brain insisted so that’s what I did and now I love it. Three books later here I am explaining to you how a childhood love of culture resurfaced as the unhinged, smutty coping mechanism I sell to other people who are also fond of unhinged, smutty coping mechanisms. It’s really a full circle kind of thing. I love this life, though. It allows me to be connected to all the awesome things that I love by creating and adding something to the bookish subculture and wider nerdy community.

That’s pretty much the summary of how I became a writer and why I choose to write diverse, creative, outside the box, spicy fantasy books. You should give my newest one, The Fate of Angels and Demons, a read. The special edition can be found HERE and the paperback and ebook formats can be found HERE. Hope to see you back next week for another segment of Nerdology 101. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: The Terminology

Heys! Welcome back, dearest nerdy readers (lol). Thank you once again for joining me. This week, I want to take some time out to go over some standard nerdy terminology. My hope is to make our communities more accessible to those who are curious, but still trying to find their footing. With that being said, let’s get into some Nerdology!!!!

Quick Search Info (as always, listing for anime and books are longer. I’m more personally involved in these nerdoms. I game, but I don’t game nearly enough to know everything about the subject):

1. Terms used in this blog

2. Terms used when talking about Anime/Manga

3. Terms used when talking about Books

4. Terms used when talking about Gaming

Terms Used Frequently in this Blog:

Here’s some general nerdy terms I use (non-specific to the niches that fall under the nerdom):

Nerdom - The nerdy community as a whole. Meant to combine nerd and kingdom.

Nerdology - The name of my blog. Technically, it can mean the study of the nerdom (people, culture, etc.).

Both of these terms are used by others within the nerdom, so they’re good to know.

Anime Terms:

These terms mostly have to do with anime/manga:

Anime - An animated show or movie made by Japanese people.

Manga - A serialized style of story that is often the basis for anime made by Japanese people.

Shonen - Anime or manga targeting young boys. Most of your mainstream anime fall under this umbrella (Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer, My Hero Acadamia, etc.).

Yaoi - Anime featuring a love story between two men.

Yuri - Anime featuring a love story between two women.

Harem - A single male character ends up with multiple female love interests.

Reverse Harem - A single female character ends up with multiple male love interests.

Ecchi - An anime or manga with a lot of fanservice or sexual content.

Isekai - An anime or manga where the main character dies and is reborn into a new world.

Slice of Life - An anime of manga where the story is based in every day life.

Josei - Anime or manga made for adult women.

Seinen - Anime or manga made for adult men.

Mecha - Anime or manga featuring robots.

Shojo - Anime or manga primarily made for young girls.

Note: A lot of these definitions have gendered definitions, but anyone can watch and enjoy any of them. Many do. The only real difference is in the fact that anime targeting boys/men focus on action/adventure and anime targeting girls/women focus on romance/emotion. Many of the action/adventure still have romance in them. Many of the romance/emotion still have action in them. I’ve watched anime that fall under all of these and more at some point or another. Please remember to be inclusive.

Bookish Terms

Romantasy - The combination of Romance and Fantasy, usually in equal parts. (Romantic fantasy and fantasy romance are terms for if the book leans more one way than the other).

Dark Romance - Romance books featuring a lot of dark, potentially triggering content. Dark in this case meaning high spice, kink, and sexually explicit content. (In same cases, like the term Dark Romantasy or Dark Fantasy, people may use the word dark to describe dark storylines, gothic settings, etc, or they might still be describing the spice. For clarities sake, I describe The Fate of Angels and Demons as Romantasy with Dark Romance like spice so there’s no mistaking that I’m talking about the kink/sexual content in it).

HEA - Happily ever after

HFN - Happy for now (usually in reference to a series where the couple ends the book together and happy, but it’s implied that things might not stay that way).

FMC - Female Main Character (there can be two FMC’s in sapphic/WLW romance)

MMC - Male Main Character (there can be two MMC’s in gay/MLM romance)

*I was recently asked about nonbinary characters. Just saying MC since “main character” isn’t inherently gendered might be okay. Alternatively, if you want to specify that the character is nonbinary, NBMC . Ultimately, though, I’m not nonbinary. I can’t decide how they want to be referred to in fiction. These are just options that are available for speaking inclusively in the interim. If a nonbinary person would like to share their preferred term for referring to a nonbinary main character, they’re free to send me a message via the form on the home page of this website and I will update this based on that. The same applies to other gender identities. I do read a range of works written by nonbinary people, but I really haven’t seen a specific term emerge for characters, so please feel free to correct me.

One Bed - A popular book trope where love interests end up at an inn, hotel, shack, or some sort of sleeping place on their journey and there’s only one bed so they just have to sleep together and usually also end up sleeping together.

Enemies to Lovers - A popular book trope where the love interests start out as enemies. Similar terms include friends to lovers, which means the characters start out as friends and become lovers.

Side Character - Character that isn’t the main character.

Smut - Books with a lot of spice. (The word smut does not mean the book lacks literary value, is porn, or anything of the sort).

Spice - Sexually explicit content in books.

ARC - Advanced Reader Copy (Ebooks or physical books sent to readers to encourage early reviews of a title that is not yet released).

ALC - Advanced Listener Copy (An ARC, but it’s an audiobook).

Beta Reader - Early readers that provide an author with feedback early on in the manuscripts development.

NetGalley/BookFunnel/Booksprout - Platforms for distributing, finding, and receiving pre-release ARC’s and ALC’s. Netgalley is best for large publishers and popular books, but is also the place new ARC readers are most likely to be rejected. BookFunnel and Booksprout are cost-friendly alternatives mostly used by indie authors. On all of these platforms, the reader pays nothing.

Indie Author - Independent author. Self-publishers or those with small presses.

Trad - Shorthand for Traditional publishing.

Gaming

TTRPG - Table top roleplaying game (like Dungeons and Dragons)

MMORPG - Massively Multi-Player Online Roleplaying Game (like Genshin Impact).

RPG - Roleplaying game. Game where you assume the role of a fictional character and have a real impact on the storyline and character development.

First-Person Shooter - A game where the primary mechanic is shooting (like Call of Duty).

Open-World - A gaming world where you can wander freely and without restriction.

Sandbox -A gaming world that is inbetween Open and Closed world. You have a degree of freedom, but not total freedom.

Cozy - A relaxed game (like Stardew Valley).

Farming - A game where growing food/materials is the primary focus (like Stardew Valley).

Otome - Romance games, primarily in the anime/manga style (like the Ikemen games).

Okay, we covered quite a few terms here. There are still a lot I haven’t talked about, but these should be enough to help you start connecting with the nerdom and engaging in conversation without feeling totally confused, or start engaging with a part of the nerdom that you haven’t previously. I’ll see you back next week for another segment of Nerdology 101. Don’t forget to stop by the STORE and buy a copy of my book, The Fate of Angels and Demons, coming April 1st. Have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Nerd Culture - Level 1

Nerrrrddddsssss! I missed ya. Welcome back to Nerdology 101. If you’re new here, good. This week is for you. I’m Maria Levato. This is my website and my blog, poke around if you want to get to know me. This week, though, you can call me sensei because I’m going to teach you all about Level 1 of the Nerdom. Want to watch anime, but don’t know where to start? I got you. Want to join the raving lunatics over on BookTok, but struggling to figure out where to start? You’re in the right place. Want to start gaming but aren’t sure what games align with the things you already like? Right this way. Let’s get into some Nerdology and find you the nerdy haven you long for!

What is a “nerd”? Like, what does being a nerd truly mean?

We use the word nerd so loosely. It’s meaning has evolved a ton over time. Depending on who you’re talking to, you could get any of the following definitions:

1. A smart person,

2. A smart person, but specifically one who’s niche is in a STEM subject,

3. Someone who consumes a lot of media (any format), that doesn’t fit into the mainstream,

4. Someone who consumes specific formats of niche media,

Anyone with a niche/special interest.

My answer? All of these people are nerds. Just like any other self-identifier, the word nerd is open to interpretation and the community isn’t a monolith. Personally, I’m a nerd by all but one of these definitions. (I have all the love for you, STEM nerds. Doctors, medicine, research, I’m all for it when done ethically. It’s just not the thing that excites me). For the sake of this blog post, though, let’s focus on the niche media people since I can help you all out the most.

What is “niche media”?

Niche media is something that a majority of people probably haven’t heard of or consumed. For example, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is mainstream. They were giant, blockbuster films that most people have probably come into contact with (or at least that was the case, but post Endgame there was a pretty big dip in Marvel viewership). However, the Marvel comics are where I would say niche starts. Most people, in general, probably know they exist, but don’t read them. Yet, within the comic-reading community, most people have probably read a Marvel comic. This can apply to anything. Anime is pretty mainstream these days, but I’d still consider it niche-ish since it hasn’t become something a majority of people watch yet. Within that, though, there’s a giant difference between Naruto and One Piece, which are substantially closer to mainstream, and Kamisama Kiss, which is niche no matter how you cut it. So, as you can see, there are levels to the concept, but in general, niche media pertains to obscurity. It’s not a perfect definition, but it is one I think makes a solid benchmark definition for someone starting out.

So, where do I start?

Ah, the age old question. Most of these lists, from what I’ve seen, recommend whatever is most popular even if it isn’t aligned with your interests or if it’s just not attainable for someone who doesn’t already do this. I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m going by subject matter. Under each subject, I’ll make a few nerdy recs. You can look at them all, or if there’s a subject you think you’re more likely to enjoy than others, you can just look at it. The subjects will be fantasy, romance, and action.

Fantasy

Books:

Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien (best for those who are okay taking some time to wrap their heads around the world and diving into a series. No romance or spice).

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor - Xiran Jay Zhao (best for those who want an easy, short, single book read. No romance or spice.).

Lore of the Wilds - Analeigh Sbrana (best for those who want a series, but one that’s easier to wrap your head around if you’re new to fantasy. Has romantic element, no spice).

Our Vicious Oaths - N.E./Nia Davenport *author uses both (best for fantasy w/ romance and spice).

Anime:

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Best if you’re looking for a single season, quick watch with minimal fluff).

Seven Deadly Sins (Best if you’re looking for a good balance of action, emotion, and goofiness that has multiple seasons but isn’t too long).

Bleach (Best if you’re looking for something long but also easy to watch).

Games:

Genshin Impact (Best if you’re looking for easy gameplay, open-world, great storytelling, wonderful animation).

Pokemon (Best if you’re looking for easy, digestable, turn based combat w/ open world exploration, low complexity) - Least Challenging.

D&D Online (Best if you want customizable characters and storylines in an open world setting) - Most Challenging.

Romance

Books:

The Love Con by Seressia Glass (Best for no spice & FM)

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters (Best for low spice & MM)

No Boy Summer by Amy Spalding (Best for no spice & FF)

Lights Out by Navessa Allen (Best for moderate spice, dark humor, & MF. This is also the only rec in this section with multiple books).

Anime:

My Happy Marriage (Best for convergence of romance, fantasy, and historical, ongoing, currently 2 seasons. MF).

Sasaki and Miyano (Best for BL, 1 season).

Citrus (Best for FF).

TV:

X.O. Kitty (Best for multiple seasons, romantic ups and downs, teenage loves, and discovering oneself)

Outlander (Best for long watch, multiple elements/crossover, spicy, can be graphic/violent).

Bridgerton (Best for multiple romances across multiple seasons, spicy).

Movies:

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (Best for multiple movies & follow through after the romance is made official, no spice).

After (Best for multiple movies, some spice, and high tension).

Five Feet Apart (Best for emotional damage, no spice).

Action (Not many recs here. Just some anime. Action isn’t really my area of expertise).

Record of Ragnarok (Best for back-to-back brutal battles to the death).

Naruto (Best for if you want awesome fights and you’re willing to wait for them).

Bleach *again (this show has an amazing animation style that makes it’s fights legendary, but again, you have to wait for them).

That’s about all for this week, loves! Hope this list helps you find your way into the nerdom, or if you’re already in it to discover something you haven’t already. See you back next week for another segment of Nerdology 101. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Short Story

Welcome back, nerds! On this weeks segment of Nerdology 101, I’m sharing a little short story I wrote after a trip to Ireland a few years back. It is definitely minature (5400 words), so it should be a quick read that’ll let you get to know a little bit of my style. This piece is paranormal romance. It was better suited than my usual romantic fantasy style since it was never intended to be anything but a way for me to express my love for Dublin after my trip. Still, I thought it might be cool to share it. Also, I never gave it a title. You’re welcome to suggest any ideas you have in the comments.

Story

Stepping off the plane, I relish in the fact that I’m back on Irish ground. It was an eight-hour flight from JFK. I won't deny that I'm exhausted, but that doesn't inhibit my excitement as I rush to grab my luggage off the carousel. I fidget, impatience overcoming me as I wait for it. Luckily, it's only about fifteen minutes before the suitcases full of clothing, hygienic musts, and magical ingredients arrive. After I have it, I step out. There's a line of taxis waiting to load passengers. The yellow sedans are lined bumper to bumper, each with drivers that patiently await travelers. Many of the engines start when the hoard of arrivals I’m surrounded by emerge from the airport. I get into one and my assistant files in the other side, then addresses the driver. "We're heading here."

The driver looks at the written address Shi hands him on a notepad. He must know the place because he starts driving without plugging it into the GPS. As we drive, I stare out the windows at the luscious greenery and beautiful buildings in Dublin. It isn't long before we arrive. When I enter the hotel, there's a bit of apprehension. I wanted to keep most of my money for activities, so I opted to book the cheapest hotel in the area. I hoped that wasn't a mistake.

As the concierge greets me, I look around the lobby, then head over. It doesn't seem too bad at all. I check in and head to my room. It's small, but clean and comfortable. Shi and I will be fine in here. While Shi unpacks, I focus on clearing my mind. I take a long, deep breath. Inhale, one... two... three... Exhale, one... two... three... My intentions become clear to me as the racing thoughts of the day-to-day fade until they're far, far away. My desire is the foremost thought in my stilled mind. Now, I know what materials I need. Wandering around the hotel room, I search for the supplies I need. First, to the bathroom. I collect some fresh water into my silver chalice marked with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs I had inscribed onto the metal. To purify it, I light a match, then toss it inside. I know from experience how effective fire is as a purifier. This isn't the only ingredient I need though. I wander until I spot a cabinet to the left of the hotel’s microwave sitting on the small kitchenette counter. Shi rolls his eyes. "I just put that away, Kita."

I hum. "And now I need it."

He scoffs, but I can hear the smile behind it without even looking his way. I collect rosemary, a protective herb that only allows positive forces into my life. Next, some thyme. It complements the rosemary well since it’s great for spiritual healing and also acts as a secondary safeguard. Of course, I can't forget the cinnamon either.

Finally, I’m done. I add all the selected materials to my chalice and set it on a makeshift altar. I light the candles on the sides of it, then align the two candles and make a triangle from them and the chalice. I choose a rose quartz from my crystal collection and set it meticulously in the center of the triangle.

Having set the altar, I take a few more of those long, deep breaths before chanting a ritualistic blessing over it. "O', I beseech thee, heed my call. Make my will into fate, accept the offering I make on this day."

With that, my altar is set for the day.

After showering, Shi, and I head straight out, ready to explore and get some food. He found this small restaurant about a block away. It was on the same side of the Liffey our hotel was. PHX Bistro was its name. This is our first date. I've known him for years, but this feels different. It's not like I'm just going to hang out with Shi, my childhood friend and present-day assistant. Suddenly, he's a man and I'm a woman. We don't know each other in that sense. Of course, that isn't to say that I don't want to get to know him in this new way. It's exciting. It's just that I wish it were easier. His asking me out seemed so random. It happened on the plane as we crossed the Atlantic. It's as if he just got tired of searching one day and decided to settle for me. He was usually so non-committal, prioritizing attraction and hook-ups. None of the others resembled me in personality or appearance. I can't help but wonder if I'm just the easiest option to pursue now that he's randomly decided he wants to settle down.

I sit down across from him at the candle-lit table, observing the atmosphere of the restaurant. It's not too busy inside, but not too quiet either. The place he chose is nice enough; intimate and romantic. I particularly like the red decor. Red is my favorite color. He smiles.  "Hey, Ki. You look great."

 My heart flutters a bit, but I make sure the only thing he sees is an eye roll. The waitress asks for my drink order before I can reply. After looking over their comprehensive selection, I settle on a wine. After she walks away, I mutter. “Flirt.”

A mischievous smirk graces his face. Has he always been this beautiful? That jawline is so sharp it could pierce vibranium, if it were real.  "That I am, but at least you know that I'll only be flirting with you from here on out."

"I hope so. I'd hate to think that you're just using me as a placeholder until someone more ideal comes along."

His face distorts until nothing but disgust is visible. "I would never. Don't you know you are the ideal."

"I am not."

He laughs so hard it blows out one of the candles as he takes my hand. The soft scent of the vanilla smoke fills the air between us. "You are everything to me, Kita."

I could hear the sincerity in his tone. This was Shi, the man. In that moment, I finally knew that this wasn't a game to him. He wanted me, and damn, did that make me want him.

The waitress returns before I can lose myself in the moment too much. We order food too. Then, a dessert. That was amazing. Everything was amazing. I make a note to habitually recommend it to anyone I know who may visit the area. After that, Shi takes me to the Museum of Literature in Ireland, the place I was most excited to go as we were planning. I was in absolute awe as we made my way there. The architecture is so grand and old. I missed Ireland so much. There's a unique energy here. Everyone is friendly and seems happy. It's a city, but not like back in New York. Here, nature and city life find this balance unlike anything I've ever seen.

When we make it to the museum, my fondness for Dublin further intensifies. I fall in love with it all over again as I wander through the exhibits aimlessly, being sure to carefully observe every amazing piece. From the Gaelic Language Movement and the fight for freedom of speech, to the first copy of the first edition of James Joyce's Ulysses, it is all amazing. Still, there was one piece even more inspiring. Looking up at the ceiling you find pages filled with endless red markings, edited manuscripts from great authors whose names will be remembered for centuries more. I think to myself, "My story isn't bad. It's just unedited."

It's the sentiment I think the piece is meant to give off.

After a while, we return to the hotel and relax some. For all the fun of the day, we were here on witch business and tomorrow wouldn’t be as pleasurable. We rest well in separate, queen beds. Some part of me wonders if some day we will be booking single King rooms instead of Double Queens. It’s a nice thought to dream of while I rest, at least.

The next morning, Shi and I get down to business. Our business involves the Onyx Witch, known for her dark magic and dictatorial rule in her territory. She oppresses quite the number of witches, and our job is to find out what her ultimate goals are and see if we can’t protect those she targets.

We head to Dublin Castle first. To most, this is a gorgeous tourist attraction that commemorates the inspirational history of Ireland. However, those of us with the ancient magic of the Celts coursing through our veins know that there is much more to this palace than meets the eye. As we tour the beauty, we pass a guarded hall, prohibited to most visitors. The guard is one of the Onyx Witch’s own though. He verifies my identity via my magic signature and allows me enterance so I can have an audience with her. He prohibits Shi from entering though. He offers the excuse that lower-ranking magic wielders shouldn’t be allowed on this sacred ground I’m about to enter, but I see it for what it is. The Onyx Witch is up to something, and she wants us separated. I have no choice but to allow her to think she is trapping me though. I give Shi a nod and he settles. “I’ll wait for you here, Kita.”

I nod before heading off down the hall. When I get to the entry way to the Onyx Lair, I open it magically and cross over. I find the Onyx Witch sat upon her throne of ash and bones waiting for me. She wears a black cloth that is barely long enough to be called a dress. At least she bothered to cross her legs. She looks to me, “Kita, what brings you to my domain?”

“I’ve come to demand that you cease your oppression of the Herbal Witches in your territory at once, by order of the Interdisciplinary Council of Witches.”

A scowl forms on her face. “I will do no such thing. Since you’re here though, won’t you do me a favor and die for me?”

She attacks with a force so great it could break the barriers and bring down the palace in the non-magic realm. It would kill many and destroy a vital piece of Irish history. I can’t allow that to happen. I reinforce the barriers with my own magic right away, but I can’t protect myself and hold them at the same time. The energy expenditure leaves me all but defenseless. Shi, being keen enough to sense the magic from across realms, acts from the other side. I may outrank him, but he knows that Onyx is much stronger than even I. Getting a sense for the situation, he takes over holding the barriers to give me half a chance to escape with my life. When I feel the weight lift some, I know it. He’s come through for me. I don’t waste a moment before I launch the best counter spell I can muster with such little time and energy. It doesn’t do much, but it does give me a moment to teleport myself back to Shi.

The Onyx Witches rage increases though, causing the barriers to fracture even further. It’s too much for Shi to hold. It’ll kill him. I grab hold of them with my magic again. It takes everything I have to push her back, but I manage, albeit temporarily. That seal I cast won’t hold her for long and I’ve drained myself too much. Without a doubt, I’ll have a case of magic deficiency, which will likely kill me in no time.

Shi and I retreat back to the hotel, and he wards it the best he can. He tends to me enough to extend my time about twenty-four hours, giving us one day to come up with a solution.

I rise from my hotel bed as pain pumps through my body with an intensity I have never experienced before. Oh, how I long to get my hands on that grimoire. It may be the only way. As I walk out the door again, Shi follows, trembling at my side. “But Kita,” he must have realized by now what I’m thinking, “the grimoire of the Jade Witch is said to hold unspeakable power. It’s too dangerous!”

“It’s too dangerous not to!” I hadn’t meant to snap at him, but we both know what would happen to me if I don’t get it. “That grimoire is my only chance at survival, and without me, what’s to keep the Onyx Witch from killing the rest of the Herb Witches. I only have a day left before the disease takes me.”

He sighs. “Yes, twenty-four hours sounds about right. It was a large spell to cast singlehandedly, most witches would have already died of magic deficiency. I’m amazed that you even have the energy to search for the grimoire.”

I walk alongside him, feeling my body already weakening. “That’s true. I may not, but it’s the only way, Shi.”

He seems absorbed in his thoughts as he fails to respond. My attention falls to the details of our surroundings to distract myself as we walk, heading for the teleportation point at the top of Arthur’s Seat. The endless daisies remind me so much of my younger years, training with my covenant in these very fields. Who would have guessed that I’d grow to be the strongest of us, especially given how horrible I was at practical magic? The memories are bright ones, albeit slightly embarrassing. The sound of our laughter can still be heard with each whistle of the winds. This is my home. Without the grimoire, I will fall, and it will burn. I must try.

“There may be another way, Kita.” Shi starts, interrupting my peace. “The Diamond Witch, what if we went to her. She creates antidotes for Magic Deficiency Disease.”

I think a moment. Shi isn’t entirely wrong, but there’s no guarantee that the Diamond Witch is actually capable of making a sufficient antidote for MDD this severe. Healing is more of a side gig for her than a specialty, whereas I know for a fact that the Jade Witches grimoire has a solution because my predecessor told me about it. “No, Shi. If we do that, we risk being told no. We could just lose time by taking that detour. The grimoire is our best bet.”

He nods, accepting my decision as we approach the teleportation point. Immediately, he summons the space-time portal. It looks quite like a blackhole and can be intimidating for inexperienced witches, so I’m not surprised when he winces at the sight of it. We hop through the portal to the abandoned Jade temple. ‘

This temple is in Cairo, Egypt, where the Jade Witch once lived. She fell many centuries ago, but her work still echoes throughout the world. It is probable that she was the most skilled witch to ever live. Her temple reflects that too, even after all this time that it’s been abandoned, it remains spotless. Her menial cleaning spells must have been powerful enough to survive without her constantly feeding them. It’s amazing. Who knows what else her grimoire may hold. If we manage to find it, it may even tell me how to defeat the Onyx Witch myself. If I recall, Onyx was around back then too. She was one of Jades enemies, as she is mine now. I’m sure whatever magic of Jades still exists here will bless me and help me find the answers I need. After all, if I can stop Onyx, Jade may finally be able to rest in peace.

Shi and I search the temple, top to bottom. Yet, in all the tomes and information, the Grimoire of Jade is nowhere to be seen. We don’t give up though. Instead, we search and search, over and over, until eventually, Shi spots something promising.

“Kita, look!” His exclamatory tone reflects the hope he must be feeling. My eyes dart his way, and I see it, a distorted wall. It’s a magic one. Only the most skilled of witches would have noticed it. I’m proud that he had grown enough to see it. I approach the wall, observing it for a few moments.

“You’ll have to do it, Shi. I can’t. I might kill myself faster if I expend much more magic.”

He removes the magic, and we enter into a library filled to the brim with grimoires. Every last one of them were hers. Finding the one we needed in the twelve hours we have remaining would be challenging, to say the least.

We both start scanning the grimoires. Shi moves through them faster than I because he can use magic to help him, whereas I can’t right now. As the hours pass, we both grow nervous that we won’t find what we need on time. All the while, I grow weaker and weaker until I’m not even able to help.

With only one hour left on the clock and myself barely conscious, Shi calls out. “Kita! Kita! I found it.”

He starts to prepare the spell right away. I fight my weakening body to stay conscious just in case he has to as me anything. He does, a few times, and with just thirty minutes left, he’s ready. Shi heals me using its spell and once again, I can fight the Onyx Witch.

Shi

She stands before me and I’ve never been so happy to see her. Her long, kinky curls flow like a waterfall.

“Kita…” I sound so scared, like I’m the one who was dying. “You’re alive.”

The emotional rollercoaster that is her presence; it tears me to shreds. Yet, that quick-witted mind is somehow oblivious; or perhaps its insidious, using her feigned ignorance to make me delirious. It's like Dionysus intoxicated me with the wine called her soul. Every touch is an unwelcome rush of unbridled lust. I can't live without her; she's a must.

“Yeah, Shi.” She takes my hand. “I’m alive, you did great. Thank you.”

To describe her is to steal the air from my own lungs, a heart attack and a stroke rolled into one.  Every emotion is a more difficult one. So complex that I can't even deny that she's one. She's poetry and literature. She's every beautiful thought that I've ever sought. I'd try to resist her, but it would be for naught. Heavens, how does she make me so distraught?

Kita

            Out of nowhere, Shi kisses me. I have no idea what was going through his mind, but I’m glad it was. He saved my life, but more than that, the way he looks at me is just so intense. How could I not fall for him?

            My lips intertwine with his as I kiss him back. It means everything to me. I don’t know how it escaped my notice for so long that he and I belonged together, but right now, it’s abundantly clear as he takes me into his arms and holds me against his chest.

            We stay like that for quite some time before he finally lets go. “So, now what?” He asks me that as if I have any idea.

            I think a while, then look up at him. “We keep reading. Now that the pressure is off, we read through these grimoires until we find something that will help us stop Onyx. No idea is too out of the box. Theorize about how every single one of these spells could be used against her until we find something that works.”

            For three days and three nights, we did exactly that. It took some work, but in time, we found something. It was a risky spell that could just as easily backfire and kill us, but it was our best chance. Jade called it Sever. The spell is exactly as the name implies. Through the power of twelve witches, a full coven, the spell would sever the tie between the target and their magic. However, Jade noted that if the twelve weren’t strong enough, that the spell could decide to sever them from their own magic instead. That’s the thing about spells, there is always some risk. This one was especially unique though. Not many spells required this much risk. Where the hell would we find twelve witches willing to risk losing their magic? Or ten at least, considering that Shi and I would cast with them.

            “We should make a list of twenty witches we think might. Ten that are ideal and another ten that are possible alternates to the ideal.”

            Shi nods, but I continue before he says anything. “Furthermore, if at least five of the ideal ten don’t consent, we can’t risk it. The plan will be dead in the water, and we’ll have to find another way. We can’t risk our power if we are likely to fail because then we can’t fight her either. So, we need to choose wisely.”

            Shi agrees. “Okay, well… Want to start with the New York convent? We know them best.”

            I shake my head. “And every last one of them is lower ranked than you. That would be pointless. They won't have the amount of power we need. We should start with the Dublin Herb Witches. They are her targets, so they are the most likely to want to take this risk.”

            Shi and I get to work, throwing out everything we know about the witches in the Dublin Herbal Sect. We narrow it down to four possibilities. First, the Head Witch of the Hedge Witches. She’s especially talented and had a history of taking huge risks anyway. The only issue is that this might be asking too much. She’s the only reason her people aren’t already obliterated. She’s their best defense. Asking her to do this would be asking her to risk abandoning them and I’m not sure it’s ethically okay to even put her in this position.

            The second option wasn’t ethically bad, but it was less ideal. This witch was young and while her talent is immense, her lack of experience could be dangerous in these circumstances. Given that Shi was casting too, I worried that having two inexperienced people casting with us on talent alone wouldn’t go over well at all. Besides, it would do little to convince other experienced witches to go along with us.

            The third was better. Experienced. but even younger than the second. He had been casting since a young age, thus experience was there, as was talent, but at only thirteen, we would be asking a child to carry the burden and risks adults should be taking and that doesn’t set right with me at all. It’s even more unethical than asking the Head Witch. In my mind, I knew it’s not a road I could ever bring myself to take.

            Finally, the fourth. He was about our age, less experienced, but not inexperienced. He presented no ethical dilemma either.

            Shi sighs. “I say the Head Witch as first choice and the fourth guy as back up. She is more ideal magically and frankly, that’s what we ought to be making choices based on.”

            As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. “Okay. Put it down.”

            We repeat this process several more times with witches from Japan, Nigeria, Venezuela, Italy, and Bahrain before completing our lists of ideals and alternatives. Geographically, it was all very scattered, so we split up. Shi would work from Egypt out to the east, and I would work from here out to the west. Then, we’d meet back in Dublin to gather the last witch.

            It takes about a week for us to gather them all. We were able to maintain communication throughout it though. Granted, it was all very businesslike and left me missing just being able to talk to him for enjoyment. Besides, we still haven’t had the chance to define our new relationship dynamic and that bothered me more than I’d ever admit out loud. Ultimately, we managed six of our ideal, which I didn’t think was too bad. I decided to focus on that success during the long flight back to Ireland rather than my anxiety about Shi and me.

            Upon our arrival, we all gathered at the Herb Witches hideout in Wicklow, a beach town to the south of Dublin. There, we presented her and our alternative with our idea. “Well, it is bold. You’re right to believe it’s our best shot.” She sighs. “Your point about possibly abandoning my people is well taken, but if this plan has a higher chance of success with me taking part, I must. Besides, I primed my people for my downfall long ago. They know what to do if I fall.”

            With that, we had our full team. We took some time to get to know each other’s abilities better knowing that it would help with breaking down and assigning the many components of the spell we will need to prepare. First, Shi and I explained that we are caster-types from New York and would do best focused on the part of the spell that required us to break down casting dynamics and plans.

            Naturally, the Head Witch of the Hedge Witches was the best choice for herb and plant gathering since it’s her specialty. So, we let her focus on that task. Especially given that I haven’t even heard of most of the plants and herbs listed in Jades grimoire.

            Then, there was the summoning-type witch from Japan. He would be responsible for figuring out the safest way to summon the Onyx Witch into the center of the casting circle to cast the spell. With him, we paired a barrier-type witch from Italy. She’s the daughter of the witch who cast the wards around the Vatican, so I have no doubt that she can figure out how to keep Onyx from attacking us while we cast.

            A spirit-type witch from Nigeria focused on figuring out how to contain the magic energy in this realm alongside a second barrier-type from Venezuela who would help her pin it so it the massive amount of magic energy didn’t leave our immediate surroundings and her people. They would work closely with the previous team as well.

            Finally, the witch from Bahrain who specialized in dark magic would act as a consultant to let the rest of us know how things may differ when dealing with Onyx who also uses dark magic, except much less responsibly. With her, was her assistant, which she never worked without. They reminded me of Shi and I a lot, but with much less annoying romantic and sexual tension interfering.

            Nearly a month passed before preparations were fully completed. All the while, we bore witness to the suffering of the Irish Herbal Witches. It broke each and every one of our hearts to see how our delay had harmed them, costing so many their lives, but we knew we couldn’t be hasty with a spell like this one. We would have but one shot at this, and if we failed, many more would die as a result.

            With the date of casting set, we had a few days while we waited for the new moon. Many assume more powerful spells all require a full moon, but no real witch thinks that way. It all depended on what the purpose of the spell was and for this one in particular, a new moon was perfect since what we wanted was a new beginning for the Herb Witches of Ireland.

            We took the time to rest and prepare ourselves mentally for what was to come. While we did, I thought it best to talk to Shi. If this went bad, I didn’t want to leave any unfinished business. Besides, he deserves to know how I feel one way or another.

            Together, we go on a brief walk for the privacy. Although, I used fresh air as a thinly veiled excuse to create said privacy, I’m sure he, and everyone in our vicinity, knew better. Once we were alone, I spoke. “Shi, there’s something we should discuss.”

            “No. Don’t, please. If you say it now, it’ll feel like a goodbye. I don’t want it to be a goodbye, Kita.”

            “But Shi…”

            He stops me. “But nothing, Kita. You may be my teacher, but I simply can’t listen to you here, gorgeous.” He turns and kisses my forehead. “If things go bad, die knowing I knew what you wanted to say and that I will find you in the next life so we can say it there.”

            Unable to argue, I relent. “Fine. As long as you know.”

            “I do.” He paused, “And you know too, right?”

            I can’t help but smile. “Yeah, Shi, I know.”

            Soon after, we return to the hideout. We ate with the group in the closest thing to a feast the Hedge Witches could offer in this hideout, then partied until midnight before passing out and resting well before the next night came ushering in our potential doom with it.

            The next night, around ten at night, we began the casting. Each of us trying our best to do our part. First, the summoning, followed by the various barriers. Each of which were successful. This was our shot. The herb witch lit the fire and began burning the herbs she gathered. Meanwhile, the dark witch and her assistant began to cast their half of the spell. Shi and I would do the second half when they were done.

            About fifteen minutes passed before that time came. Shi and I stepped up and started casting. We knew it was working when Onyx, yelling irately, began to thrash against the barriers the others were helping to hold in place. She was getting scared.

            Our half of the casting took about another fifteen minutes and then it was done. The Onyx Witch, powerless, fell to the ground. Several of us tested to make sure it wasn’t a ploy before lowering the barriers and calling the Council to take her into custody.

            They arrived within minutes and carried her off with little congratulations. Jerks. Nevertheless, those of us who helps cast gather is a group hug. The Head Witch cried as she realized her people were free again. Once more, they could enjoy the lush Irish greenery and live as their ancestors did. It was for that reason; I knew her tears were of joy and relief.

            After everyone passed around hugs and celebratory words, we went and gathered the herbal witches and escorted them and the Head Witch back to Dublin Castle where they joyously reclaimed their territory. We all stayed the remainder of the night, exhausted from the casting, but the next day, everyone went their separate ways. We would remain close friends, but it was time for us all to return to our own peoples.

            As for Shi and me, we decided not to return to New York. Instead, we petitioned the Council to let us reopen Jades temple in Egypt citing the need for her knowledge and magic if anything like this happened again. They agreed, though not without slapping us with a list of bounds and expectations. It wasn’t like we wanted anything like what Onyx did. Our temple was for the good of all witches, so it didn't bother us much to have to play by their rules.

            One month after opening it, I named Shi’s training completed and certified him to teach others. With that, he enlisted others to train in our temple’s ways. We were doing so well that by the end of the second month, we had nearly one-hundred member witches.

            Then, one night, he and I had dinner to celebrate. To commemorate our first date, we teleported to Dublin and went back to PHX. There, he finally told me he loved me, but he made it worth the wait by doing it on one knee while offering me a ring. Of course, I said yes. We could hardly wait to get married, but there was so much tradition to focus on that it took our temple nearly a year to prepare.

            Impatiently, we waited, and soon enough we were married. Our closest allies, the Herb Witches of Ireland, were perhaps as happy as we were during the wedding. Not that Shi and I could look away from each other long enough to celebrate with them.

End.

There it is! If you enjoyed this piece, I highly recommend checking out some of my books. I have so much more space when writing novels to play with story elements I just don’t in a short story. To get you started, check out The Fate of Angels and Demons! For the special edition hardcover, visit my STORE. For the paperback and ebook, you can find it at just about any major retailer. I’ve accumulated some of the links to those HERE to make it easy. I hope to see you back for next weeks segment of Nerdology 101. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: The Sexualization of Anime Characters

Hello, my readers. Welcome to this weeks segment of Nerdology 101. This week I’m going to be talking about the sexualization of anime characters (yes, this does mean I just went on a week long ecchi binge). Let’s get into some nerdology!

Since the beginning, anime has had a habit of making some pretty hypersexualized characters, but especially female characters. Let me make one thing clear now: I’m not against it. I think sexualized characters can be great. If you’ve been reading my blog, books, or really anything I make, you probably know I consider sex needlessly tabboo and fully support the use of it in media of all forms. My point here pertains to how it’s done, not the fact that it happens at all.

From Rias and the girls in High School DxD to Monster Musume’s band of sexy fiends, there are some pretty iconic female characters that happen to be highly sexualized. I love many of them. However, these harem anime consider hypersexualization a convention of their genre. Let’s think about Kamigami no Asobi or Meiji Tokyo Renka for a moment though. These are reverse harem anime. I love them both just as much as I do the first two I mentioned. The concept of a reverse harem anime is that it’s the same genre with the same conventions, but just reverses the roles by making the story about one woman and multiple men. Yet, we don’t see sexualization happen quite as clearly. Instead, reverse harem anime tend to experience hyperromanticism. This reinforces some gender stereotypes I’m not too fond of. Why is it assumed that women and other male-attracted people don’t also want to see the ecchi portrayals of characters they’re attracted to? There seems to be an understanding that women can want sex because in harem anime the women are often the aggressors, but when the roles get reversed suddenly a strange form of purity culture seems to be implemented.

Don’t get me wrong here, we’ve certainly seen some anime that sexualize both male and female characters with ease. Fairy Tail is actually a great example of that. It was slightly more subtle with the male characters (Grey being the exception, there was nothing subtle about that) than it was with the female ones, but characters like Laxus, Freed, and Jellal all underwent some form of sexualization too, but anything even close to what Mira, Erza, and Lucy did. Still, I think this is one of the better examples of what it looks like to spread the fan service out a little across genders.

In the end, I love my ecchi anime. I just wish, in a way, the distribution of what ecchi entails was a little more even. I think it’d be good to see, especially in harem and reverse harem anime which fall under the wider romance umbrella, both hypersexualization and hyperromanticism being evenly distributed regardless of which audiences are being targeted. My solution is to keep the Mimi Marquez’s (Rent) of anime, but also add a few more Magic Mike’s (Magic Mike).

Another point worth exploring is that we also see a similar phenomenon across forms of media. My focus is just on anime right now because I was binging it. While I did just point out two highly sexualized characters of different genders, I think we can all name a plethora of female characters like this but most likely, far less male ones. It has a lot to do with why smut is far more important than people give it credit for. In good literature, you make the reader think about things they may not have otherwise thought about. I think the way men are portrayed in smut is the only time we see men get sexualized in a genre the same way women do no matter the genre or medium. Contrary to what many would argue, that’s cultural commentary in and of itself.

Sex will always be political as long as the world continues to reinforce this stupid idea that men want it and women are it whether they want to be or not. It is already weird enough that people want to decide who other people are and aren’t allowed to have sex with, what gender they are and how they’re supposed to act according to it, but trying to dictate who’s allowed to want sex and who’s allowed to be sexualized based on their gender only makes it all weirder.

Glad we covered that. I hope it makes you think a little more about how characters are sexualized in any sort of media you choose to consume. While you think on it, why don’t you head on over to my STORE and order yourself a copy of the special edition of The Fate of Angels and Demons. Or, if you prefer, you can also order the paperback and ebook. Click HERE for links to multiple retailers. It’s my new book and, let me assure you, both my FMC and MMC are very sexy switches who do lots of kinky stuff together. See you back next week for a new segment of Nerdology 101. Until then, have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: Decision-Making for Characters

Hey there! Welcome back to Nerdology 101, the blog where no nerd is left unsatisfied. I'm your host, Maria Levato. This week, I thought we'd talk about writing the tough decisions.

Every writer comes across a point where their character must make a decision. They have to go down one road or another, but sometimes they refuse to cooperate. I recently had a character that remained indecisive from the beginning of the draft right up until the end of the story.

Of course, it made for an awesome character arc because the build up to this moment has been quite the journey. However, we reached the point where a decision had to be made. Presented with two options that had similarly good outcomes for her, but potentially devastating ones for those she cares for, my FMC finally had to make her decision about which one of them she was going to hurt. Yet, when it came down to the wire, she went radio silent on me.

It didn't surprise me when she went quiet. She's a stubborn character with a bit of a bratty side. I had expected that she might throw a tantrum when she had to make this decision. So, here's how I dealt with it. Let's get into some Nerdology!

My FMC is quite used to having her way. Not because she's spoiled, but because she's powerful. Quite frankly, most of the other characters are terrified of her! When she gets stuck having to choose between two things she wants, she doesn't know how to cope. As the author, it's my job to coax her back out and help her make the decisions without speaking for her (It works best for me when I see the character as fully autonomous. I'm not sure if all writers do this, but I do.).

To do that, I write everything. It all comes out. Every moment up until the statement declaring the decision gets written. All the emotions, all the things they say and do leading up to it, everything gets on the page. Then, I write the first part of the statement. To oversimplify it, "I choose ____." At which point, all the character actually has to do is give you one answer or another. One I get answer A or B, the why flows post decision.

My point: Don't let the characters decision paralysis stall the story. 

Let them make the decision on the moment because that's probably what's happening on the page. In most instances, you don't need their decision until very last moment. Give them all that time so they can answer intuitively.

Think of it like going to a restaurant. You know you want something from X place but you don't really know what until you get there and look at the menu. You might even order the same thing you always do, but you'll stare at that menu anyway, and you probably won't actually decide until the waitor/waitress walks up and asks if you're ready to order. It's a realistic and relatable thing for a character to do. Don't you agree?

Thanks for stopping by Nerdology 101. Check back next week for another segment. In the meantime, don't forget to pre-order my upcoming release, The Fate of Angels and Demons. Have a nerdy week!

Nerdology 101: The Black Nerdom

Hello, lovely peoples! Welcome back to Nerdology 101. In honor of Black History Month (and in spite of the racist fucks in D.C.), this week I’ll be highlighting some of my favorite Black figures from across the Nerdom. These figures span across the alt/punk scene, the anime & cosplay communities, and the bookish world. They’re all great and I’m excited to do this. So, let’s get into some Nerdology!

Music:

Sleep Theory -

Black frontman,

More than 1 POC in band,

From Memphis,

Fav song by them = Static.

@sleeptheoryofficial on IG

https://sleeptheoryofficial.com/

Magnolia Park -

Black frontman,

More than 1 Black person in band,

From Orlando,

Fav song by them = HIGH,

Politically Active (song called Don’t be Racist, anti-ICE activism, fundraiser for Black Trans people).

@magnoliapark on IG

https://www.magnoliaparkband.com/

Anime:

Cosplay:

@accelgirl (IG)

Favorite cosplay: Raven

@jahara_d (IG)

Favorite cosplay: Maki Zenin

Merch:

@isekawaiiii (IG)

T-shirts, Jewelry, Phone Cases, Notebooks

@chibiservin (IG)

Stickers, Art - Focuses on portraying the anime community and popular characters diversely

Books:

N.E./Nia Davenport

Favorite Book/Series: Our Vicious Oaths

Analeigh Sbrana

Favorite Book/Series: Lore of the Wilds

Amber V. Nicole

Favorite Book/Series: Gods and Monsters

La Purvis

Favorite Book/Series: May Chaos Reign Over You

Kamilah Cole

Favorite Book/Series: Arcane Inheritance

Amy Dubois Barnett

Favorite Book/Series: If I Ruled the World

Finally, if you like these recommendations, you can find plenty more at @punkblack (for cosplay, music, anime on IG) and @melaninlibrary (for authors/books on IG). Without these platforms, I might not have heard of some of those I have listed here. They work year-round to promote Black voices and I highly recommend following both platforms.

That’s all for this weeks segment of Nerdology 101. Hope to see you back next Friday. Until then, have a nerdy week (and show out for some of these amazing Black nerds I just pointed out to you)!

Nerdology 101: The Fate of Angels and Demons

Hey there, Booksluts. Thanks for dropping by! For those who are new here, this is Nerdology 101, my blog. Here, I discuss all the nerdy happenings. My name is Maria Levato. I’m an indie author, anime-lover, self-certified kinklord, mythology obsessor, and more. This week, I wanted to talk a bit about my upcoming release, The Fate of Angels and Demons.

This post is spoiler free!

The Fate of Angels and Demons is a 94,000 word (388 page) romantasy featuring [the spicier] elements of a dark romance. The book comes out on April 1st, 2026.

Here’s the official blurb:

Lilly, a priestess sent to prevent a prophecy that foretold the death of her brother (angel), the heir to Oceanica's throne, from unfolding falls in love with the demon king that is said to be her brother’s killer—and goes even more insane than he is.
Michael, the demon king of Tendu, has long resented the royal family of Oceanica due to the part they played in his father’s downfall—little does he know, his obsession with this priestess might lead to his own.

The book will be available in 3 formats. Paperback and ebook, available at most major retail stores through the Ingram catalog, and a special edition hardcover that will only be available via direct purchase. Retail stores and libraries may purchase it via the direct wholesale ordering form at a discount if they are ordering 20+ copies, and it will be available for individual purchases on this website at launch.

The special edition will include the following:

1. Sprayed edges,

2. 2 pieces of character art, 1 NSFW and 1 SFW,

3. A ribbon page marker,

4. Head and Tail bands,

5. Bonus content.

For readers who just can’t wait to get their hands on a copy, though, I am currently accepting applications for e-ARCs. E-ARCs, for those who may not be aware, are advanced reader copies, a number of distributed copies of a book sent to readers prior to release in the hopes that they might review the book and help build buzz. My ARCs are distributed through BookFunnel as a PDF. The minimum requirements are that the reader must be at least 18 years old (in the U.S., if outside of the U.S., whatever the age of majority is in your country), I must also be able to confirm that you’re human (no bots), and finally, the reader must agree not to re-sell, share, or distribute their ARC. To apply for an ARC, fill out THIS form.

Now, time for the fun part!

What is the spice level in The Fate of Angels and Demons?

This book is on fire. It features 7-ish sex scenes, all of which include some form of kink. The love interests develop a switch dynamic (For the vanilla folk: Sometimes he’s dominant; sometimes she is. It’s about a 50/50 split). My favorite spicy scene is the one that got made into the NSFW piece of character art for the special edition. It’s based on a scene in chapter 5. Needless to say, this book is INTENDED FOR AN ADULT AUDIENCE. Even among adults, its content may be triggering to some readers. I do strongly advise that readers review the trigger list thoroughly prior to starting the books (provided on the ARC sign up form, in the front of the book, and in numerous other locations).

What inspired me to write The Fate of Angels and Demons?

Well, to start, Lilly’s character has been around in my writing for a while. If you’re new to my writing, I write The Islands of Rune universe so it can be read as a series or as standalones. The books are connected, but you don’t have to read them all in order to understand the latest release. In part, I do this because my craft tends to improve drastically from one book to the next (as with anything, even if you’re good, there’s always still room for improvement). I always want new readers to be able to start off reading my best work. So, I actually encourage people to always start with what’s newest.

As for this book specifically, Lilly was always intended to get her own book. I knew it from the moment I introduced her. Her character development, some of the things she’s been through, thinks, and feels, are all deeply personal to me in one way or another. In my writing, I tend to use the enthralling fantasy plots and intense romances to make palpable the more serious topics I address (as do most authors, at least the ones I read). Underneath the fun of the story is a lot of important commentary regarding what life after trauma actually looks like and why its okay if you never go back to “normal” (gag, I hate that stupid word), along with other topics surrounding racism, bigotry, forced labor, poverty, and more. This book came out of me when it did for a reason. With the state of the world being what it is, art and literature are more important than ever. It’s no secret that reading helps people develop a stronger sense of empathy and increases literacy, so I write to make sure people can accomplish those goals in a fun and accessible way. Lilly is the perfect character to help me accomplish that because she has such a unique perspective that allows for both a brutal rage and a kind heart.

Also, though, I love priestess characters.

What sorts of things are you doing to help boost yourself coming up to the release?

So, so many things. Of course, there’s the social media aspect. I hired a PA to help me with content creation. Her name is Jazmine (@jazzys_books & @apenandapromise on IG). She’s been great. Having her helping me out has done wonders in terms of freeing me up so I can A) focus on writing other books, B) focus on contacting bookstores (both previously partnered and new to me), libraries, planning events, and contacting book bloggers/influencers to seek partnerships, and C) managing and distributing ARCs, running ads, and connecting with readers directly. With all of that going on, I’m sure you can see how sparing myself that 3ish hours/week on making posts is actually so helpful (plus I literally suck at coming up with stuff to post. I’m still at that stage in being an author where I freeze up any time I’m asked what my book is about or am expected to speak out loud.) (If you happen to be a more popular author reading my blog, please let me know if and when that will go away? LMAO.)

Anyway, as things happen, you can hear all about them on any of my socials. Here’s my Instagram, my Bluesky, my Threads, and on the home page of this website, you’ll also find a form to sign up for my email list (I won’t spam, I promise).

That’s all for this week! I hope you’ll drop in again next week for another segment of Nerdology 101. Until then, have a nerdy week!