Lina Langley's Blog, page 27

Through a Glass Darkly — Crystal Raine

Ryan has always known that he’s adopted, but it isn’t until recently that he has found what remains of his biological family. He doesn’t know what to expect when he meets his mysterious sibling — and he definitely doesn’t expect to be faced with a man that looks exactly like him. Things get weirder when they go somewhere more private to discuss “clinical” details, as Ryan’s surprise twin brother appears to have questions that are best answered in private.

Before he knows it, though, Ryan real...

Visual Novel: Talk to Me

So, you may not know this, but I’ve recently — like a year ago — started to write games. Particularly visual novels. There were a lot of reasons I wanted to write a game, including creating a more diverse cast, touching on sensitive topics that a linear narrative can’t explore, etc, etc. This article will give you a really good idea of what we were trying to achieve when we created the game.

“In fact, your goal in Talk To Meis fundamentally different from a dating simulator – rather than simp...

Preorder my upcoming Novel!

The Whole Trying Thing

Lucas has always let things happen to him. Even meeting Issam, the gorgeous young man who just happens to be wealthy and totally into him, just kind of happens. But Lucas’s long-term crush on his best-friend, Nick, keeps him from fully committing to Issam.

Believing he’ll never have a chance with Nick, Lucas tells himself everything is fine. Except Nick starts dating Issam’s sister, and Lucas can’t quite hide his jealousy.

When a personal crisis causes Nick and Lucas...

Go Read my Short Story

My short story, “The Way It Should Be”, was featured on Blue Dandelion.

So go read it.

The /Phantom/ Thief

It doesn’t matter how much experience you have as a freelancer. You can still get conned.

Royally conned.

A couple of months ago, I filled out a survey looking for “visual novel writers”, which I found in one of the many writer groups I belong to on Facebook. The survey was rather odd with its poorly phrased questions, but a little language barrier is not enough to put me off potential work. I was interested in the post mostly because a Visual Novel seemed like the next natural step after wo...

Justice for Abby by Cate Beauman Review

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can buy Justice for Abby here.

I’ve never read a Beauman book before, so I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. Also, romance is usually not my jam (which is really weird, I know) so I was a little bit worried I wouldn’t like the story. But I was wrong.

This bookgets a 4/5 from me.

From the below sentence, this review contains spoilers.

I had a few problems with it, but mainly to due with the characters and not the stor...

The Insider’s Guide to Writing Interactive Fiction

What is the big deal with Interactive Fiction?

Interactive fiction is fiction in which the reader has input. Here is what it is, according to Wikipedia.

“Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, is software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literarynarratives, either in the form of Interactive narratives or Interactive narrations. These works can also be understood as a form...

The Boy Next Door is a Ghost: Read my new novel for free!

With the excitement of my upcoming work, I have virtually forgotten to promote my latest novel. The Ghost Next Door is a new adult novel. It is technically a paranormal romance, but if you probably shouldn’t read it if you are a fan of that genre. It reads more like a horror/mystery from what I’m told.

You can read it at Swoonreads for absolutely free.All I ask is that you leave a review. The manuscript has been pretty well received but I could always do with more exposure, obviously.

The Boy...

Development Blog: You Can Talk to Me # 1

For the last few months, I’ve been working on a Twine game called You Can Talk To Me.

The idea

I have wanted to write a game for the longest time, but to be honest, it’s always felt quite difficult and intimidating. I started writing this story based on an idea in a different game. I liked the concept of being able to choose the outcome as the reader.

Because of this, I chose to create a dating Sim.

The process Step 1: Writing

Writing anything is already emotionally exhausting. Writing while...

Review of A Man’s Right to Choose by Brittany Touris

I need to say something before I write this review.

I’m a die-hard feminist.If I ever see a bra, I have to burn it. It’s my genetic mark-up.

Okay, in all seriousness: I am a feminist. A pretty hardcore one. Which is probably why I read A Man’s Right to Choose in one day. See, as soon as the author sent it, I knew that it was appealing to me. So that’s actually the main reason I reviewed it and devoured it. Here is how the author pitched the book to me:

A man has a right to choose… but does a wom...