The First Night of Beltane

 © S.K. Lumen From Celtic fantasy series Arcanum of Thorn

Happy new year dears! 💚 Here’s to another year filled with new chapters, writings, magical photography and new oil paintings. Another year immersed in the magic of one’s inner world…

-Lumen

On Writing Modes

Every writer has their own modus operandi when it comes to their books. Some write daily, some have a neat schedule, others are more erratic or write whenever the gut inspiration kicks in.

I stopped trying to fit into either of those when I realized I have 2 writing modes of my own: frenzied ‘mad scientist’ nonstop writing for weeks while my book is the only thing on my mind, or periods of total creative hibernation and disconnect. There is no inbetween.

I don’t do shades of grey, or bits of writing a scene here and there. Writing daily has never worked for me, simply because I need to clear my head, to recharge, step back, distance myself from what I’m creating to have a sense of perspective, bigger picture, to consider all angles and remember where I’m going. It’s either 100% or not at all, simply out of a principle of respect to what I’m creating - and let’s be honest, nobody can sustain a life of being 100% plugged into their imaginative world and foregoing the mundane tasks of reality.

There is a fluid pulse going through the continuity of scenes and chapters, an emotional undercurrent that changes with every day you sit down to write. When the creative wave hits, I ride that emotional current and imbue my writing with as much soulfulness as I can, because that’s what matters most when it comes to my writing: it must carry heart and soul. You know how you can just tell when something is mass-manufactured, copy-pasted, the words or strings to a creation just weaved together in a mechanical, soulless manner? And when they’re handmade, with care, with intent? The same goes for art.

I always have to be in a mood in order to write, to be in a certain mindset; it’s the only way the story will feel raw and powerful, the only way the characters’ emotional dimension will feel authentic. I don’t sit down to write when I’m emptied, tired, when I’m distraught or needing to focus on other parts of my life, because I know I won’t be able to honor my art the way it needs to, that I won’t be able to create something born of patience and my imagination. I sit down and write when I can honor that creative fire and give it all the space and time that it deserves.

News

Here a a few highlights on what I’m working on at the moment:

💚 Lumen

© S.K. Lumen, from Celtic fantasy series Arcanum of Thorns (Book II)

(via arcanumofthorns)

Photography © S.K. Lumen For Celtic fantasy series Arcanum of Thorns

Spread of my favorite art pieces from the past 1-2 years. From left to right: Kaodhan, Diarjole/Xandrias landscapes, Lio in the courtyard, Michael portrait, series of dreamy watercolor paintings of Char.

Art from Celtic fantasy series Arcanum of Thorns © S.K. Lumen

Currently in love with this portrait of Michael, exuding such serenity and softness. // Sketch for an upcoming oil painting.

Wilding of the Aurora Orbisalis Oil on canvas, 40x45.

Underneath the dancing lights of the otherworldly sky, the wanderers wild at heart gaze up at the stars in search of peace.

From Celtic fantasy books Arcanum of Thorns © S.K. Lumen

Welcome to the magical world of Moonrose!

Since the round of new followers, I thought I’d post a quick intro so everyone can catch up with what’s going on.

What is Arcanum of Thorns?

Blog News

So that new followers can easily immerse themselves into the story, I will be posting fun character introductions and explanations in the coming days, alongside articles on general Celtic topics, so stay tuned!

Feedback

Meanwhile, I’m open to feedback regarding the website:

Don’t be shy! Feel free to leave a comment in the askbox or PM me with any questions you might have.

💚 Lumen

You have been dreaming.

It’s time to wake up.

Open your eyes and gaze through the deep fog around you.

You are home. This is the land of mist and magic, where anything is possible.

The mountains, the groves, the scent of crisp, biting air and pinesap. The lulling rush of rain. Everything feels familiar here, like you’ve been here before so many times and deep down you know you can return any time you want. It is a wilful exile you have chosen, to leave this dimension so you may experience what it means to be lost, alone, robbed of all that signifies the relief of belonging, of hearth and home, of community and destiny.

An exile which you can choose to end any moment…

All you have to do is look carefully – there, through the willowy silhouettes shifting in the distance, playing tricks on your eyes like moonlight frittering on a stream. But it is no lie, no deception. They are ghosts, you know them; for they are the spirits of your past, come to welcome you back home.

They beckon you with open arms and open palms, glistening with the half-translucent pallor of the Fae realm. You miss it, the savage magic of it, the way it shoots into your bloodstream like the brightest nectar that not even the blood of the gods can summon. The way it makes you feel ancient, powerful and immortal at the same time. The way it makes you feel kith and kin to the Celts, the Tuatha de Dannan, your family.

Step through the mist, and join them.

The otherworld awaits you.

Keep reading

Which OC takes every precaution in order to hide their scars?

When they first meet, Char is fascinated by Kaodhan’s attitude towards his facial scars, the bold fearlessness with which he wears them, the way it hinders nothing in the way he presents himself to the world. On the contrary, it seems to intensify his drive in hiding nothing of his true self.

Char can do nothing but deeply admire his courage, wishing she could be as strong minded in revealing the deformations of her own skin... perhaps one day. But until then, she feels trapped in a vicious cycle of her own making: desiring to show her integral self, like the universe with all its constellations and black holes alike, but feeling paralyzed at the mere thought of being seen as unnatural, alien, horrifying... by the people she cares most.

This in turn causes her to withdraw back into herself, to return to the familiar routine of all the back-straightening devices, bandages and oversized sweaters.

Reblog if you would read a book with NO romance arc and a female, asexual main character

Someone said no one would ever read my book because there’s no love triangle. Prove them wrong?

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OF COURSE. My female MC is ace and agender too. Though she’s not aromantic, she never lets romantic nonsense stand in her way. So bring on these refreshing stories!