Happy Birthday, Icarus!

Two years ago today I did the damn thing! Call Me Icarus book #1 of 3 entered the world, sharing a story that has been simmering in my brain for a long time with the world.

Two years ago, I inflicted Icky baby on all of y'all. More importantly, I inflicted all of [vague gestures] that on Icky baby.

Icarus' story is not one that's easy to tell. It's a tale of love lost, of hardships endured, and of change that can only be implemented when it is actively sought out. I started writing this story with my fears for the state of the world on my sleeve, only to see them come true one after the other in recent years. It's made the writing of books two and three incredibly difficult, as anyone who followed me on tumblr would know. After all, book two was originally supposed to be published today (which obviously isn't happening now so sorry about that I know it's much anticipated).

There's been a lot that's shaped the way book 2 has turned out, pushing it's publication back quite a bit as I accommodate those changes. Thank you guys for being patient with me on this!

Either way, these past two years with Icarus have been might eventful! Let's take a look at what's happened since he made his debut on October 10th, 2023:

• We've disseminated 3,603 copies of ΔΆΙΟΣ!! (granted 3,131 of them were free ebooks for the Dark Mode SYK buT THEY STILL COUNT)
• We earned out on ΔΆΙΟΣ! Even including the (very reasonable) high price I paid for the cover! Icky's free of his debt-bonds!
• Been nominated two years in a row for the Indie Ink Awards
• Been nominated for the Queer Indie Awards
• Had an audiobook recorded by the amazing Orion Auros!
• Inspired fanfic that I know Natsume is hiding from me
• Gone to seven (7) in person events across the country
• Visited five (5) of the US's roughly 200 aquariums in search of horseshoe crabs
• had three (3) horseshoe crab plushies/toys gifted to me
• been sent at least 100 videos of horseshoe crabs
• had one (1) friendship bracelet made for me with Icarus' name on it!! (ty Lycan it's my prize treasure)

And that's just in the first two years!! Look at us go!!

Not only that, but today is also the publishing anniversary of A Sharper, More Lasting Pain by Alex Harvey-Rivas! Happy book birthday, bestie!!! May Nadia and Icky Baby get up to nasty shenaniganery this year!

I'm hoping the next year has big things in store for Icky Baby <3 (I say hoping as if I'm not pulling strings rn for a Big thing™️) Until then, I'm gonna leave y'all with a snippet from the upcoming sequel as well as some photos I've taken and art I've created for the story.

So, Happy Birthday, Icky baby! Wreak some havoc for the two of us <3
Andi

Okay so I didn't realize just how much art and photography I have, so starting with some photography:

And some art I commissioned (not all of it, as I am not at home to get the majority of it from my desktop):

and finally, a small collection of the art I've made for this series (including some snippets at characters yet to be introduced 👀):

okay that's all I've got for now, on to the snippet!!

He couldn’t tell just how long it had been, stopped counting the rise and fall of the sun. Hell, even Apollon had stopped coming by to check on him. There was no knocking on the door, no begging to be let in. Nothing to interrupt Icarus from his thoughts.

When he had locked himself inside his apartment it had seemed like a good idea, but now?

Now Icarus was losing his mind.

He had known this was coming, of course. That’s why he isolated himself. He didn’t want anyone to see him like this. To have to deal with him like this.

At first it hadn’t been that bad! He was still able to keep control of himself after he killed - butchered, massacred, tore into - Sisyphus.

He had completely lost himself back then, but he got better! He was able to shove the little voice in his head begging for more, more, more into a desolate corner of his mind. Left it there to be forgotten.

Only, it was getting louder.

The voice had become white noise in Icarus’ mind. It was always talking, gradually growing louder as it’s darkness started to infest what sanity he had left. Hell, at this point he was starting to see the voices. Little shadow shapes in the corners of his vision at all times. Never letting him breathe, never giving him peace.

Everyone had thought so highly of him. Told him how composed he was as they were searching for Achilles. Talked about how kind he truly was for everything he’s done. Trusted him with their secrets and their safety on the daily. Slept in his home and left themselves unguarded around him as if he was a trustworthy person.

But he’s not.

Icarus is a monster.

He doesn’t know how he’s fooled them into thinking otherwise, but they can’t see him now. He doesn’t want them to see him for the monster he truly is now.

By locking them out they can at least keep whatever positive thoughts they may have of him. His memory won’t be tainted for them this way.

The back of his throat started to ache as tears welled in his eyes. It was all too much. He couldn’t remember the last time he had people in his life who truly cared for him like this and it hurt knowing that he would never be good enough for them.

He couldn’t bear those thoughts, they fueled the voices in his head. They were all fighting for dominance, getting louder and louder and louder until Icarus couldn’t hear anything else as he stared out the bedroom window...

TO BE CONTINUED in book 2? 3? we'll see