Nick Harkins 🌟 Querying

3/9: screw(ed) #WIPSnips

Kieran spends a lot of time crying in this book but to his credit, it’s not melodrama

even though that thing isn’t necessarily healthy & readers might interpret that ending as being more tragic than bittersweet. to the *character*, though, it’s a “win” 3/3 🧵

endings though. i’d also be hesitant to say that any of them are completely nihilistic either…though the “gain” at the end might not seem like a positive thing to the reader it is to the character. for example at the end of one of my projects, the MC gets what they were after the whole book 2/3 🧵

i write horror almost exclusively & lean bittersweet. usually one of the characters experiences a loss (identity, death, health, safety, self, etc) but gains something else important to them (freedom, identity, courage, love). i’d be hesitant to say any of my stories have traditionally happy 1/2 🧵

Okay, thanks! Sorry, I had one follow-up question about the self-harm. The specifics of the scene I'm referencing in my manuscript is a one-off (as in self-harm isn't reoccurring) and is short, but does involve the use of a sharp object (for non-suicidal purposes). Is that context more acceptable?

My manuscript isn't religious in terms of being "preachy" and it's a made-up religion that pulls inspiration from real life ones, so I just wanted to clarify your interest in something like that!
2) Are stories with mentions of off-page suicide and on-page light self harm a hard no?
Thank you!!

Hi Madelyn! You mentioned not being the best fit for religious or faith-based stories or stories featuring suicide. Two questions related to this:
1) Does this include cult-based religious horror that acts as social commentary critiquing religious extremism (paired with female rage)? 1/2

3/5: destroy -> destruction. this is one of my favorite dialogue exchanges #WIPSnips

A grinning skull sits atop ruffled and purple fabric. There are several hot pint electrode jacks that hover just above the skull. The synthwave colorway is neon pink and purple. A list of story and sound trails authors for SLUGGER Vol. 2.

Pre-orders open for Vol. 2! $12 for physical version + shipping. That's a steal for 13 pieces of original writing and 10 pieces of original interior artwork. $5 for the PDF. Go get it!
ko-fi.com/sluggerficti...

3/3: counter #WIPSnips

i haven’t written quite enough short fiction to have my method down 100% but for longer works i usually focus a lot more on atmosphere, dread, & literary leaning characterization and themes whereas my short fiction tends to lean more commercial/punchy horror!

the protagonist of my horror wip sustains a significant neck injury over the course of the book.

it affects him mostly psychologically, with a few targeted physical moments. i plan on commissioning @silverhalls.bsky.social soon for character art depicting this injury! #Writesky

A neon green slug holding a yellow bat in its mouth. Red blood drips from the bat’s barrel.

Pre-orders open for Vol. 2! Link in bio! Featuring work by @kayv.bsky.social @dreadwrites.bsky.social @jakeiswriting.bsky.social @carsonwinter.bsky.social
@innatelywriting.bsky.social
@beardedbetts.bsky.social and others!

thank you!! i’m actually mostly focused on longer works. i’m casually querying my first novel and almost done drafting my second but i enjoy writing short fiction too and have a few floating around on sub right now.

how about you!

3/2: most <3 #WIPSnips

excited to announce that my short fiction “woman parts” will appear in this issue of slugger! the first issue was great & i encourage anyone interested in short horror pieces to check them out 💙🩸
#Writesky

I imagine in a modern AU, Anaya's Instagram is very clean and aesthetic. She’s a rising star 🌠 (or should I say sun?)
#f #a #w #UnhingedPit

3/1: face 👺 #WIPSnips

Bringer of First light

The old rein King Seven Devils How Villains Are Made Golden Free Lie Devils backbone The other side Outro

Anaya vaeltheir 140, sun elf, Ardësol city of sun “I’ll take good care of your armor, na velora. I’ll try to make this right.” “What am I? I am Álfrëi—Heliorae of Aelthyr!” “Is chivalry dead in this part of the world? You’d have your wolf watch me depants myself, squat behind a tree and release my bladder and bowels? Allow me some dignity.” “Very well, stay cryptic if you must. Can you untie me now?” “Nael’súr! I know what magic feels like and that was dark, Void-touched magic.” “Come to gloat? Remind me all magic is dangerous? We’ll you were right. Seems your monster finally showed her teeth.” Lucien Grey 27 human oakstead I should just kill you now. It’d save me a lot of trouble,” “Magic? No. That wasn’t magic. I—I don’t have powers like that.” “It’s no wonder the Elven Empire crumbled. Such arrogance.” "Nobody’s ever seen an elf like you before. Besides that, you’re wearing armor plated with gold. That alone is sure to fetch a high price on the market.” “I bring you the last Sun Elf of Old Aelthyr.” “Um…braiding your hair?”

🎶 Broadway proudly presents the Bringer of First Light: the Musical! 🎶

Or the musical AU nobody asked for 💃🕺
#F #A #W #UnhingedPit

❤️February is the month of love.❤️

No better time to reimagine my psychological literary horror as a contemporary romance #H #A #W #UnhingedPit

Meet...
❤️KIERAN SHEPHERD, 28❤️
Forensic Scientist
7 miles away
I've blocked my ex on here 57 times. Sorry for late matches
I enjoy drinking to escape reality. JK! But our first date should be @ a bar

Kieran is the "love interest" of my "romance" novel, The Watchful Mr. Shepherd #H #A #W #UnhingedPit

What's In Luke's Bag - Rice (Loose) - Dead Bird - Lubricant (next to a bottle of hot sauce) - Cat Treats - Air Freshener that smells like Kieran - Work Badge (usually missing)

Meet...
❤️LUKE WELLS (Shepherd?), 28❤️
Medical Examiner's Assistant
15 miles away
Swipe left. I'm only here for one person.
Even if I wasn't, we wouldn't match.
Don't be selfish; be an organ donor.

Luke is the protagonist of my "romance" novel, The Watchful Mr. Shepherd #H #A #W #UnhingedPit

The Bringer of First Light A.M. Schmidt

THE BRINGER OF FIRST LIGHT ☀️🌙 ✨

The Elves built an empire on magic and divine providence. For millennia, they believed power proved they were chosen by the Twin Goddesses to lead. But when a schism between Sun and Moon elves divided them, humans found a way to steal their magic.

#WSpit #W #A #F

[On a background depicting a snowy landscape and trees, a gradient of white to red text reads:] E.A HARKINS' THE WATCHFUL MR. SHEPHERD Tag Line: Some People Should Stay Divorced

Meet The Characters Luke Wells/Shepherd - Protagonist - Medical Examiner's Assistant - 28 | gay? | Black Hair, Blue Eyes - Intelligent, Clinical, Numb, Impulsive, Devoted Kieran Shepherd - the love interest? - forensic scientist - 28 | pansexual | dirty blond hair, honey eyes - empathetic, alcoholic, emotional, guilt-ridden [At the bottom of the graphic, over a series of pencil scratches in a smeared, bold red font:] LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID

"Only guilty people over explained, and Luke Shepherd was not guilty." "The people accompanying him were dead...and that made their company all the better." "He struggled to keep the sensation of Kieran's skin against his own close. It'd been so long since Kieran had willingly touched him so softly." "The game was afoot." "Sooner or later...the truth crawled its way out of the grave."

IM THINKING OF ENDING THINGS X EILEEN

Luke can dissect a body without flinching.
Letting go of his ex-husband is another story.

THE WATCHFUL MR. SHEPHERD is a psychological lit. horror featuring:
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ+
🧊unreliable narrator
📱stalking
🩸rising body count
-and a past that bites

#WSPIT #W #H #L #A

2/24: neither #WIPSnips

this project is also definitely a one off which makes me so bummed! i'm about halfway through it now and preemptively mourning writing from luke's perspective but also beyond excited to finish my rough draft and launch into polishing it with revision. 🧵3/3

the novel also takes place over roughly a course of a few weeks / months with tie-ins to past events that are still bearing their teeth and causing problems for luke & his ex-husband, forcing them to work together again before they end up arrested, dead, or worse.🧵2/3

the protagonist of my psychological literary horror wip is luke, a divorced medical examiner's assistant. it follows him intimately, so readers get to live (and fester) inside his head, which has been so fun to write since luke has unusual psychology. 🧵1/3 #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Writing

2/23: science -> forensics! #WIPSnips

A partially revealed cover of SLUGGER Vol. 2. The image reveals a pink and purple colorway and part of a skull.

Stay tuned for a full cover reveal of SLUGGER Vol. 2!