Tatters! I’m almost done!
Tatters is a triptych about a crime lord, a cop, and a student, pursuing relationships in the empath-haunted Photia City. It is a romance about feelings and corruption and failure to heal.
I really love this setting, a nighttime gaslamp with psychic powers. The ending of Tatters, due within weeks, sets up the political setting.
We have Fortune, the crime lord who grips Tatterdemalion Ward. Piper, the police officer who finds him terribly, terribly fascinating. And, years after their first entanglement, Audrey, who didn’t ask to be sponsored by the Ward’s most feared overlord but who isn’t going to let it go to waste.
Tatters, as a story, is complete in concept. But it is also a prequel to…something. Something comic-booky and noir. Something even bigger than Tatterdemalion Ward, which no one wants, which no one will ever take away.
Tatters is serialized in its own Tumblr. It’s in active endgame development and it’ll have about 160 short chapters in total.
“Have you ever been here?” Fortune said calmly, flipping open a ponderous book on a side table. His pale eyes started a businesslike search pattern.
“Every chance I had growing up in Tatters. Every third Saturday of every month during open house, rain or shine.”
“And what did you do in rain?”
“Looked at the exhibits. It’s amazing what we’ve learned about the solar system even in my lifetime.”
“Hm. I did not discover the place until well into adulthood. Now I come whenever I want to.” He cast a look at Piper like he was getting away with something.
“Perks of being in charge,” said Piper. “They would show planets in the scope. I would wait in line for an hour to go in and get my glimpse of another planet’s moons – and that’s it for the month. Worth every minute.”
“I think I can do more than that for you. In token of our, ah, correspondence. I don’t want to talk business with you, Mr.…Piper. I don’t want to indulge in recriminations or lay great plans for Tatterdemalion, or whatever it is you want.” He brutalized his ‘r’s, like he was caricaturing his own home accent. Piper’s home accent. “I want to show you a telescope that points anywhere I want it to. Then you go back to your station and we resume undercutting one another. Do you understand?”
“I don’t think it has to be that way. I’m authorized to tell you that technicians will be in Tatters next week to install electric lighting down Reilly Avenue.”
Fortune’s eyes never changed, but he said in a near breathless tone, “They should do it with Tatters apprentices. I know some students who are somewhat trained in the trade. Tell Councilor Ingrace, he’ll get the proper people.”
“By which you mean he’ll ask you.”
“I suggest you the palatable course of action. You need not taint yourself by association.”
Piper tilted his head and he knew his smile was coy. “A bit late for that.”
“Anything else, or do you want to get to the stars?”
Tatters is a dear project and I’m excited to be bringing it to a close.
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