Ava Kelly's Blog - Posts Tagged "fantasy"

Alia Terra: Stories from the Dragon Realm - a book of three all-ages queer fairy tales highlighting nonbinary characters, aromanticism, and personal acceptance from Atthis Arts. Written by me, illustrated by Matthew Spencer and edited by E.D.E. Bell, these stories in English and Romanian hold a message very dear to me: Our happiness is our own.



Pre-oder a copy here ! If your inner dragon, wants some hoard, we have art carts, Romanian bookmarks, a custom D20 die and many other goodies.

We appreciate sharing this project! Thank you.

As the Dragon Realm buzzes with news of the three stories, my first update to the project talks about the genders of words and pronouns in Romanian.



Currently, in Romanian, we don't have an official, ungendered, third person pronoun. What we do have is a polite, formal set. Dumneasa, in third person. It means, in literal translation, "their lordship" as it's the modern, compact form of "domnia sa." More about this here.

We are absolutely thrilled to have reached our first goal for Alia Terra! Thank you everyone! Minimum funding gives us one illustration per story, but if you're like me, your inner dragon will want the hoard of pretty drawings to increase! Emily's update talks about what happens next.

Alia Terra's talented illustrator, Matthew Spencer, talks about his process and the stages of our main graphic image here.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Dragon Realm! We appreciate sharing this project!

An update on a Romanian folk tale I remember fondly from childhood, and a Romanian custom of receiving guests. All with photos from the Turda Saltmines in Transylvania. Read about it here.



Have you heard? We reached out first stretch goal and so we're getting bookplates! Signed by me and Matt, their design is not in the works. Thank you everyone! Emily's update talks about what happens next.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Dragon Realm! We appreciate sharing this project!

What do we do when traditional folkwear is available in the eternal men's/women's binary but we have nonbinary characters? We reinvent! An update on the design of characters in Alia Terra with Romanian inspiration. Illustration by Matthew Spencer.



Gender diversity is important in the real world, and through stories we strive to impress this message. Read about it here.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Dragon Realm! We appreciate sharing this project!

Today, an update about the Romanian concept of the Other Realm and how it fits with the Alia Terra stories. I hope you enjoy it. We are so close (so close!) to being able to add a hardcover, so please let people know about our queer, nonbinary, aromantic story project. Emily's fingers are ready to type updates and posts about it; let's get her to work. (^_^) Read here.

Exclusive! The Dragon Realm is buzzing with anticipation as the cast of Alia Terra step onto the stage! In an dazzling appearance, the cast will answer questions in the forest auditorium. Entrance fee is one small rock. Fallen leaves are also accepted. See you there!

As we near the end of our preorder campaign, consider the exclusive add-ons, the hardcover, and letting people (and dragons, and kittens, and critters, and cryptids) about Alia Terra. Read here the character sheets with portraits by Matthew Spencer.

Release day! On Mărțisor, March 1st, we welcome spring and renewal.

Alia Terra is an all-ages illustrated fairy tale book about a different kind of happiness: kindness and self-acceptance.

Find Alia Terra here.