Beth Alvarez - Author of Epic Fantasy
  • Free planner printable: Hourly block scheduling week on two pages (A5 size)

    Free planner printable: Hourly block scheduling week on two pages (A5 size)

    You ever want something super specific, and you can’t find it anywhere?

    Yeah, that kinda leads into most of what I do. Books, artwork, my dolls…

    Last week, I set up my planner for Q3 of 2021 and found I was having difficulty figuring out how much I could do when because… well, the time of year that straddles the end of summer vacation and the return to school is always weird. Especially since school will look more normal for us this fall.

    I decided a good way to work things out would be using block scheduling on days that are particularly tight, and tracking my time usage on days that don’t go very well so I can figure out what can be done differently to improve things.

    The end result that worked for me is a simple two-page hourly block layout that covers a whole week, 6 AM to 11 PM,  with space for color coding and notes at the bottom. The cells are just big enough for me to write in a note on what needs done, or if it’s something I do frequently, I’ve probably got a color-coordinated highlighter I can just swipe across the space to remind me how I spent that hour.

    Cool.

    There’s also an “ideal day” page that I made and then promptly didn’t use, because I don’t know what my goals are for Q3 just yet. Hopefully I’ll have that figured out next week.

    Either way, if you like it, you can download a printable PDF version right here.

    The paper I’ve been using is super thin (A5 Japanese business paper) but it prints nicely, so I’m sticking with it. Obviously, lines will show through less on something that’s a little thicker.

    Hopefully someone else out there finds it useful.

  • Tea review: Independence Coffee Herbs for Her

    Tea review: Independence Coffee Herbs for Her

    On a particularly yucky spring day, when I found myself in need of a warm pick-me-up and I discovered I was out of my favorite vanilla chai, I decided to dip into my tea cabinet for something else.

    I found the Herbs for Her blend tucked in with my other spiced teas and figured it would work as a substitute. I’d had some breakfast tea that morning, so I rinsed my infuser and put some water on to heat.

    While the name makes it pretty obvious this is an herbal blend and doesn’t actually include any tea, the use of some traditional chai spices make it taste pretty similar. The cardamom and cinnamon are most prevalent, but after that warmth, the sweetness of the raspberry leaves and apple bits make this blend delightfully sweet all on its own.

    The flavors of the ginger and chamomile are more understated, which is good in my opinion, since too much ginger tends to be a turnoff.  As it is, it’s a nice balance between sweet/fruity tones and warm/spicy tones. While I missed the vanilla I’d been craving that morning, it was definitely a comfort, and I’ll probably pull this closer to the front of my tea cabinet for those gray and dreary days.

  • A doll for Tahl

    A doll for Tahl

    After the success I had sculpting a doll head for Rune, I decided to expand and pursue making sculpts for some of my other characters who didn’t seem to suit any ball-jointed doll sculpts currently on the market. First on the list was Tahl. Not for any particular reason, just because I like him, and masculine features are easier for me to capture artistically, so I figured it would be a good learning experience.

    But instead of the methods I used to create Rune, switching between 3D and traditional sculpting, I decided to do all my sculpting digitally in Blender and then just print a complete head to sand and finish. I figured this would be a lot easier for me, physically, and would be faster since I could just leave the sculpt open on my PC and stop by my desk for five minutes here and there to work on it.

    The biggest challenge I faced was not knowing how to use Blender. Sure, I’d used it for the initial sculpt of Rune’s face, and I used it to make his sword previously, but that was something like four years ago and I hadn’t really touched it since then. Everything I’d learned? Yep, that info was gone. Dropped out of my head like a baby bird shoved out of the nest. That roost was empty.

    Fortunately, I was able to re-learn a couple basics just by clicking around, and that got me started; all I needed to start were a joined ovoid and cylinder to use in sculpt mode, both of which had been subdivided into a bajillion faces.

    Okay, the finished sculpt has something like 200,000 faces, but that still seems like a lot–and it wouldn’t have been doable if I hadn’t had my brother-in-law help me build this new computer I got last year.

    After a few days of tinkering, and one miniature print to figure out what wasn’t working, I had something I rather liked.

    3d model for Tahl's head

    Of course, I knew he ultimately wouldn’t look exactly like what I had on the screen. That was something I learned while working on Rune; he could be perfect on the monitor and then super wonky when actually printed. But overall, I was content with his look.

    I was able to do a lot with the head that intimidated me previously, when I worked on Rune. I hollowed the head and the headcap, made recesses for magnets, a slot for the elastic’s S-hook to pass through and a cradle for it to sit in, and beautifully rounded eye wells. At this point, I knew there would be a few more tweaks I’d have to make, but I was ready to test what I’d done.

    So I printed…

    And it took hours…

    And eventually…

    …he was done.

    The print didn’t turn out perfectly, since it was a stormy day, and a couple power flickers messed with the heat of the nozzle, which meant a few extra-rough lines. The tree supports for his ears also didn’t adhere to the print bed well, so the tops of his ears turned out poorly. There were some user issues, too, such as me being a little too eager to start the print, and forgetting to rotate it so the Z seam would be on the back of the head. As a result, he’s got a pretty clear seam line running straight down the middle of his face.

    But on the whole… it’s not bad.

    Tahl test print

    There are plenty of things I see to change–making his magnet recesses bigger and deeper, adding a little more definition to the inside of his ears, and smoothing out the back of his neck because I feel like as pretty as the ridges there are, they’re also very likely to chip or crack off a cast doll, so they should probably go.

    I also plan to add a maker’s mark and sculpt name inside, since in my haste, I completely forgot to include those! I haven’t figured out a naming convention for my sculpts yet–if I’ll name them after the characters or if I’ll call them something else–but I do know I’ll use my double crescent moon for the maker’s mark, so that should be fun to implement.

    For now, this project is shelved, and I’ll get back to it after I knock a few other things off my plate. I probably didn’t need to give myself something else to work on at all, but it was something fun to work on when my shoulder was aching too badly to let me do anything else, and now I’ve got a good head start for when I’m ready to pick him up again.

    Maybe I’ll pursue professional casting this time?

  • What comes next for the Snakesblood Saga

    It’s done.
    A bit over a week ago, the last Snakesblood Saga book launched, and the series is now complete. It’s been my biggest publishing venture yet, and I’m excited to say it’s complete.

    During the last month leading up to the release of Serpent’s Blood, I received a couple interesting questions about the books, the characters, and what I have in mind for the future. I figured I’d take a second to answer the most common ones here, so here goes.

    Will there be hardcover editions of the books? What about audiobooks?

    Ideally, both of these can be answered the same way. Eventually, I want these to happen. Unfortunately, hardcover and audiobook editions are an enormous expense that I can’t foot on my own at this stage in my author career. I get a lot of requests for audiobooks and know they’re really important for accessibility, but unless a publisher expresses interest in the audio rights, it’s not likely to happen in the next few years.

    I’m a latecomer to the series. Is it still possible to get signed books?

    Yes. I keep a small supply of print copies on hand for in-person events. 2020 didn’t have a whole lot of those, but you never know when an opportunity could arise, so I always try to have at least one copy of each book on hand! Readers in the US can order signed copies of my books here, or by following the ‘shop’ link in my site’s navigation menu, while international readers can send me an email to request a signed bookplate or a signed paperback book.

    I’m not a Kindle reader. When will the series be available outside of Amazon?

    Good news if you’re a paperback reader, you can already get the book everywhere! If you use iTunes (or whatever Apple calls their book store now…) or Kobo, though… yeah, the books aren’t available wide quite yet, and unfortunately, I’m not positive when they will be. I choose distribution for each series I write as its needs develop; I try to start in Kindle Unlimited so my KU readers have a chance to get it, because it’s much harder to remove a book from wide distribution and go into KU than to start in KU and then spread out elsewhere. Some German vendors take months to process requests to remove ebooks!

    With most of my series, they usually stay in Kindle Unlimited for about a year after the series is complete; that gives my KU readers plenty of time to binge the series before the books go wide. That said, every series is different, so I don’t know what to expect for Snakesblood just yet. At this point in time, I’m assuming Snakesblood will perform similarly to my other works, so I tentatively expect they’ll begin making their appearance with other vendors in about a year. Time will tell, but I will definitely announce any changes in availability well ahead of time.

    Will there be more books in this series?

    Yes. No. Kind of. There’s a gap in time between the end of book 4 and the start of book 5, and I very much want to write the stories and adventures that happen in that timeframe. In fact, there are at least two books that need to happen in that gap, and those stories have their own name as an upcoming series: Snakesong Serenade. The first Snakesong book is a little ways off, however, as my current schedule demands I finish Spectrum Legacy first. The Snakesong titles will stand alone as their own side series–you won’t have to read Snakesblood to enjoy them–although they’ll be focused on a few familiar characters. Right now, it looks like I’ll start work on the first one somewhere in 2023, since there are still six epic fantasy books I have to complete between now and then.

    Got any other questions? You can leave them in a comment. I’ll do my best to get back to you!

  • Westkings Heist is going wide

    Westkings Heist is going wide

    It’s hard to believe it, but this month is the book birthday for To Steal the Queen. That means the Westkings Heist novella series has been complete for a whole year!

    Now that the series has had some time to mature, it’s time to let it spread its branches a little more. So, this summer, the series will be exiting Kindle Unlimited and will become available through Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and more. Hurrah!

    I mention this now because while the one year mark means most of my Kindle Unlimited readers have already picked it up, a few might have missed it, and I want to make sure all of you have a chance to give it a go on your preferred reading platform. I don’t know if the series will ever go back into Kindle Unlimited, so if you’re a KU reader and haven’t picked it up yet, you’ll want to do it now. In July, the first book will go wide, which means the box set will no longer be available in Kindle Unlimited either.

    And for the readers who aren’t Amazon users… thanks for your patience. The stories are coming soon!

    You can start Tahl’s adventure with To Steal the World, or grab the whole Westkings Heist trilogy now. And don’t forget—the omnibus edition is available as a paperback, too.

    Happy reading!

  • Serpent’s Blood, Book 6 of the Snakesblood Saga, is now available!

    Serpent’s Blood, Book 6 of the Snakesblood Saga, is now available!

    The time is here! Serpent’s Blood, the final book in the Snakesblood Saga, is out today!

    If you preordered the ebook edition, it’ll be on your Kindle or Kindle app now. And if not, you can now grab your copy here, or get started reading with Kindle Unlimited.

    Click here to grab an ebook copy from Amazon.

    If you’re a paperback reader, I also have a few copies left to sign if you want one directly from me. You can fill out this form to request a signed paperback copy! Invoices have been going out and my hand’s cramping from all the signatures, but print books have already started to arrive.

    And that’s it–the main series is now complete. It’s been an amazing journey to get to this point, and I’m so thrilled we’re finally here. This is my second completed fantasy series, and fourth completed book series in all.

    If you need a refresher on what to expect from this installment, keep scrolling…

    As the mad Archmage pushes to expand her authority, refusal of her terms means death.

    Resistance was a mistake. Forced to flee Elenhiise or become the Archmage’s next casualty, Firal and her few trusted friends become refugees in the Triad, where the Royal City braces for a magical attack even it cannot hope to meet head on.

    Envesi’s price for peace doesn’t seem high, but granting the Archmage unfettered power could doom them all. With little power and few choices remaining, Rune leverages every ounce of favor he’s gained for one last chance. To save his people, a trade could be made: Instead of the kingdom, his life.

    The adventure concludes in Serpent’s Blood, the final book of the Snakesblood Saga.

    Thank you all so much for accompanying me on this adventure.

    I’ve gotten a few questions about this series from readers as this moment approached, so be sure to come back on Tuesday to get some important answers…

     

  • Tea review: Adagio vanilla oolong

    Tea review: Adagio vanilla oolong

    I haven’t had a lot of great luck with oolong teas. The people who drink them seem to be passionate about a good oolong, but I’ve never found any that particularly wow me. Most of them are pretty samey, to my taste, and when I got a sample packet for Adagio’s vanilla oolong free with an order I placed, I wasn’t convinced that would be a good combination.

    Adagio vanilla oolong tea

    After trying it, am I convinced?
    I don’t really know.

    Man, I really don’t encounter a lot of teas that give me these feelings. Is it good? Yes. Do I like it? Yes. Did I drink the whole cup straight without adding anything to it? Yes. Would I buy it again, or pick it out myself, knowing it was enjoyable? I have no idea, and that strikes me as really strange.

    Flavor-wise, it was mild and pleasant, softer and sweeter than my favorite black teas and with a hint of greenness best associated with oolong–something right in between the two, just as it should be. The sweetness probably came from the vanilla, which was very understated and non-dominant, and the brew had a very pleasant woody, nutty sort of flavor that I honestly associate more with hazelnut or cocoa nibs than something like this. It was all-around enjoyable, not too strong, perfect straight out of the teapot, and while I can see myself wanting to drink this again tomorrow, I don’t know if I care enough to order it again.

    Is that weird? It’s weird to me. For something to be really tasty, yet not leave enough of an impression to want it to stick around beyond the sample packet. Ultimately, I think part of my feelings stem from the fact that if I want that sort of flavor profile, I get it plus a lot more nuance from something like the Aquarius blend I got from Adagio for my birthday, also for free.

    So, good? Yeah. Worth trying? Yeah. But not positive it offers enough “new” flavor to become a staple on my shelf, if that makes sense.

  • 3D printable neck connectors for Fairyland Minifee and Feeple65 BJDs

    3D printable neck connectors for Fairyland Minifee and Feeple65 BJDs

    Where the heck do I put stuff like this? I don’t really know–at some point, my blog is going to end up being a catch-all for everything I do, just to ensure it goes up somewhere on the internet where someone can find it.

    I’ve been doing a lot of customization work on my dolls again, and when I  mentioned on Instagram that I was making my own neck connector model to 3D print a neck connector for a Minifee, a lot of people expressed interest in having me make it available. The neck connectors aren’t always available–and for some doll lines, like F65, not available at all. So if you have one of these heads and don’t have a complete Fairyland body to put it on, you’re just kind of out of luck.

    I’m very much a novice when it comes to 3D modeling, but Tinkercad helps a lot when I’m just using basic shapes. I tested each design multiple times to get them just right. I’d originally hoped it would be as easy as scaling up the Minifee connector to work with bigger sizes, but nope, the connectors actually have different proportions and are not compatible with other heads if you just print it larger.

    I consulted a friend who has a Feeple60 and the measurements she provided indicate the F65 mechanism SHOULD be compatible with F60 as well, but I don’t have one of my own to tell, so if you test it and find that it works, please let me know so I can add the relevant information.

    The neck key fits inside the connector ring, it has feet so it won’t shift around. The elastic for the body should be looped over the key, then the S-hook for the elastic can stay put or be removed, whatever you prefer. I tried to make one that could hold an S-hook, but the size of S-hooks is too variable for me to ensure it works with everything.

    In the meantime, I have uploaded both STLs to Thingiverse, and you can find them here:

    Feeple65 neck connector

    Minifee neck connector

    They are, of course, freely available for anyone who might need them, but they are licensed as Creative Commons Non-Commercial–which means you may not print these connectors to sell.

    Happy printing!

  • The Ball (doll photos)

    One of my favorite parts of Serpent’s Mark was the masquerade. So it was one of the things I wanted to someday represent with photos, too. I made their clothes and masks, and… well, yeah. I previously shared these on Instagram and thought it would be nice to group them here.

    * * *

    Firal breathed in relief as her escort disappeared among the other dancers. She turned to start back for the banquet when gloved hands folded over her eyes from behind.
    “Guess who,” a familiar voice whispered at her ear.
    She touched the soft leather gloves and resisted the smile that tugged at her lips. “Ran?”
    He chuckled. “Not quite.”

    “You dance?”
    He stifled a laugh. “Uncivilized as your stories portray my people, having rank among them does bring courtly demands.”
    Firal’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”
    “At the moment, I’m enjoying myself.”

    “If you’re here because you think I won’t hold my end of our agreement, you don’t need to worry.”
    “Full of ourselves, aren’t we?” He twirled her underneath his arm and reeled her in, holding her back to his chest. He squeezed her tight and bowed his head beside her ear. “I’m not here to see you.”

     

    That’s all from this set. There were a few other shots, but I think this gets the idea across.

    Now, a bit about the projects. The dress was actually the first thing I ever made for Firal, so it was her only dress for a very long time. I didn’t make her mageling robes until much later!

    Daemon’s outfit came much later. The hardest part ended up being the mask, which was made from craft foam and embossed using my Silhouette Cameo 3. I expected the gold lines to be drawn on with the pen that did the embossing, but it didn’t leave any marks at all and I ended up having to hand paint every line. If I ever make it again, I’d like it to be a little more shaped to fit his face. Her mask was much easier, made with dimensional fabric paint hand-painted onto tulle with a fine brush.

    His outfit was surprisingly easy, save the frustration of the trim I wanted not coming in gold. I ended up laying it out on foil and hand-painting it with gold acrylic. It’s plain cotton lace, otherwise, but I think it gives the implication of embroidery nicely enough. The jacket pattern is loosely based on an Indian sherwani, made shorter, and I actually used my very old pattern for USMC dress blues as a starting point. The sleeves and collar are incredibly similar, but simplified because I didn’t want to use a lining. I’d originally wanted black dupioni silk for the outfit, but it was outside of my price range, so polyester shantung ended up being the fabric of choice… Sometimes I think about redoing that outfit with the fabric I really wanted, and possibly remaking the dress for Firal.

    Maybe something to consider if I ever get that embroidery machine, because I know my hands won’t hold up for doing real embroidery for long!

  • Getting back to Spectrum Blade

    As work on Serpent’s Blood (Snakesblood Saga #6) comes to an end, I’m back to my poor on-again, off-again project. The last Snakesblood book is up for preorder, so all I can do is wait–and get back to writing.

    My goal for this month is to get 30,000 words added to Spectrum Blade. I hope to finish the book by summer, and if I can manage to fit in an hour of writing each day, I should be able to get there. I still hope to get it published this year.

    To some extent, publishing Spectrum Blade will be a really different experience for me. I wrote all six Snakesblood books long before the first reached publication, which meant I had the awesome opportunity to go back and work long-running plot threads in a little more gracefully than if I’d written and published one book at a time. It also meant I had more wiggle room if I veered off my outline, which I usually do a few chapters in.

    But once the Spectrum Legacy books start going out, they’ll be going out before the next book is written, and I’ll have less time and leeway to fix issues as I go along. It’s a little intimidating, but it’s how most authors work. As much as I’d love to be able to write all six Spectrum titles ahead of time like I did with Snakesblood, that would mean not publishing any books at all for the next two to three years, and I don’t feel like that’s an ideal experience for my readers.

    If I’m wrong, of course, you’re welcome to tell me. I definitely appreciate reader feedback as I move forward. There are benefits to doing it both ways, and sometimes being in charge of your own work means making tough decisions over what’s best.

    For right now, assuming Spectrum Blade will go in for editing as soon as it’s done and not be shelved while the rest of the series gets written, it looks like the release date will land somewhere around October. Unlike with the Snakesblood books, I’m not setting hard release dates a long way ahead of time. I’ll write as I can, finish the books when I can, and get them out as time allows. Well, time and budget–independent publishing is incredibly expensive, and I’m not one of those wealthy full-time authors just yet!