Jules Peacock

@julespeacock.com

337 Followers 267 Following

Indie author of the Drazoen Heralds series, book & music lover. Coffee & tea. TV & movies. Flag obsessed. Nail polish hoarder... Did I mention dogs? https://books2read.com/virtuoso https://books2read.com/descant https://julespeacock.com

Quote "None of us is perfect, we are adventures always in progress. Whether you've gotten it right or wrong is measurable moment to moment, and the opportunity to be better is eternally available." - Na Xan; graphic of Descant book cover with an orange frame
Both hands of a manicure featuring the trans flag colors of blue, pink, white one hand all solid colors the second hand solid plus a dotticure. The hands cradle a pin of a heart-shaped progress pride flag with the words you can be yourself with me at the top.
Image of the Pacific Ocean and Lima coastline from the Malecôn
A light gray, dark gray, and pale blue accented speech bubble reads "Wry smile twisting his lips, Thuliso turned to the command center. "Someday, majio; it's the somedays that keeps us going in the nowadays." - Thuliso Image of the cover of the book and icon of book are beside text Descant: Drazoen Heralds Book 2 a sci-fi/fantasy romantic adventure by Jules peacock available now Link in bio
A graphic framing text from the novel reads Katy turned on him, raging. "There's a plan, you ass! She's got it under control, and you just have to trust that a freaking demigod can handle whiny baby fascists!" Cover is featured below the graphic/text with the attribution Descant: Drazoen Heralds book 2 available now Link in bio
Video animated image of a young boy swinging on monkey bars. The text on a gradient green-to-blue translucent box overlay reads Middle School framework for Paul's life: Take gymnastics classes outside school Make sure regular grades stayed good enough he didn't lose extracurricular privileges Be the best gymnast in his academy, even better than older boys Kiss Adriana Van Camp He'd stuck to his plan, and it was working. Adriana had been willing, and liked a boy who could handle the monkey bars like a pro.
“Fighting this, I never had a chance. It’s like they’ve wrapped their hands around my organs and keep squeezing.” Paul hated that, knowing it would push all of Yuhwa’s buttons. As far as he was concerned, no one should be trying to tell her what to do and when. He could only imagine how badly Humans would react to hearing their path in life was set in motion by magic people who bathed in metal sloughed off of dead ancestors. “Whatever you need, me and the rest of us, we’re here.” He debated, then went for it. “You’re pretty much family, if we haven’t made that clear. I regret to say that means you’re stuck with Hurling Days, way over the top holiday celebrations, and refereeing Oran and Katy. Heads up, he’s a biter. But on the plus side every one of the Phelans will fight to the death for you.”
Katy heard various noises just outside, a bustle and energy that reminded her of Heathrow airport, or Frankfurt Central Station (where she’d gotten very lost once). But she couldn’t see anything and it was frustrating. Her anxiety to get out, off, free of the Eternidad mounted. Raisa, beside her, must have felt similarly because she kept raising on her tiptoes trying to peek out the doors. Even before getting off this boat they’d seen another new species! Except for the Krylar who’d been banned and Uilig who opted out, they might get to see all the other species out there. Not to mention the food, clothing and architecture waiting to be admired! It was all so thrilling they could barely restrain themselves.
“We will take your entire family in for questioning if you aren’t more cooperative, Mr. Phelan.” What had this fool said his name was? Something bland. Jim? No. John, wasn’t it? Paul was terrible with names. He moved to position himself so the women could see him through the front windows. “We don’t even know what you’re talking about, man!” He raised his hands and shook them, praying a brush-back gesture translated across species’ lines. “I cannot be any clearer. Our systems picked up communication originating from beyond Earth’s satellites. It came to an IP address located here. In this house.”
Malor was as warm as he’d expected. Where they’d landed was open to the outside, and the air had a metallic scent. Felt a lot like landing in southern California, if he were honest. Paul looked everywhere, impressed with the glasses Mandy had made. They dimmed the painfully bright sunlight but didn’t distort. He could make out the walls and floor covered with tools and machinery, various servicepeople cautiously approaching the shuttle, and the head woman striding confidently their way. Paul knew she was the head because she carried a tablet encased in waja and a stylus of the same material. Unless he had this whole quest deal wrong, he was about to meet a lady who went into a mountain and came out with core tools of bureaucracy. Those were the signs of her life’s purpose. Having run a small business, Paul was well-acquainted with all the various forms and databases governments torture business owners with. This lady was going to be one of the lifers, who lived for the precision of ticking boxes and filing in triplicate.
Waking this time was worse than before. Doubling up whatever drug he’d created wasn’t doing Katy’s system any favors. Her head swam, nothing around her in focus. On her back again, aches letting her know she was painfully alive. Slowly, Yfaun’s hated visage dropped into her field of vision.
“Wake,” he barked, slapping her face. “I want you to see this. To witness.” 
He was coming unhinged now, a zealot about to perform his sacred duty. Katy knew he was going to kill her, maybe brutalize her first. What that would accomplish she didn’t know. Did he think she knew about other heralds? Hopefully not. She didn’t want to die, but better a quick death than prolonged and painful torture. PQ were certain to be experts at that kind of interrogation.
In all her years of reading fairy tales and adventures, she’d never considered what the heroes felt in these moments. The gut-clenching, bowel-emptying, voice-stealing fright.
Kids had stopped coming to his gymnastics academy for the most part. Directly in the wake of Katy fleeing Earth, at least half of every class had immediately dropped. Paul couldn’t blame them; plenty of folks kept their kids home from school and all activities, too scared to let them leave the house. Attendance continued to wither until he’d finally sent a message to parents that classes were cancelled for now. Would have been a hell of a blow to his psyche and wallet if he hadn’t known all this was about to happen. All this, right here. Leaving the atmosphere and landing on a huge damn flying saucer, a process less taxing than a quick run to a convenience store. Five minutes, maybe? Yuhwa, the one with pale purple hair who liked to order them around, showed military jets scrambling to reach them, visible on the shuttle screens. No luck, Chuck! They were astronauts now. Paul felt like there should be a badge for that.
“Is being the first Human gonna work in my favor?” he asked. “Or am I a bureaucratic problem?” Lanu proposed reason. “I suggest we have them look up Sundancer’s proclamation. From descriptions of what took place, Paul will be protected by that. He’s officially part of Sundancer’s close set.” Yuhwa nodded decisively. “Yes, that’s the way. Enough time has passed it will be recorded and transmitted officially. Who’s going to deny her emissary, someone she awarded her line name?”
Paul bent his head so close they could have touched noses. As it was, she felt his breath on her lips. “I never said that! Why do you exaggerate anything I say or do? You are the most aggravating person I’ve ever known!” He took several steps back and threw his arms wide. “I’ve spent the last three days with Quý while you’ve been dragging out finding a replacement majio.” “I am not dragging it out,” she spit through clenched teeth. “The top experts of the dao can’t find a way for someone to do it!” “Then get two or three or twenty! Anything is better than how you keep delaying the inevitable.” His chest heaved with the force of his words. “Quý has explained a lot; he’s feckin’ had to because you keep blowing us off. All the Hunzo have taught me things about pâtexi and the Binding Bath. You aren’t losing anything, Yuhwa, you’re becoming who you’re meant to be.” Stung, Yuhwa whispered, “I’m already who I’m meant to be. Waja or the nawa aren’t going to improve me.” She turned away, ready to retreat inside. This hurt her more than she wanted to acknowledge. “I thought…I thought you understood that.”
Several kaalas passed, Yuhwa clasping the waja tightly, hunched over and unable to let go. More than once she howled soundlessly, chest jerking and eyes burning. But the storm of pain was cathartic. Eventually she calmed, unfolded her clenched body and rose to her feet. Taking care not to rush and disturb the water too much, she waded to the statue. “Thank you,” she said aloud. “You both gave me everything I needed to survive on my own, for that I thank you.” A sob choked her. “And I love you. More deeply than every veṣu I’ve ever crossed, I love you and always will.” One last kiss and she slid the hair sticks into their final resting place.
Holding store copy of Virtuoso in front of sci-fi shelves at local bookstore
When Lanu brought her another cuppa (Golden Jubilee blend in perfect harmony to the quiet night) she nearly dropped it when they handed it to her. Rays of moonlight revealed even more paint on their skin, nearly neon and glowing. “That is so cool!” she burst out. “Did you just do that? Is it blacklight or glow-in-the-dark?” 
Katy reached out, stopping short of touching their face. But she wanted to trace the patterns, same as she’d wanted to do with Bay’s tattoos. It was a subconscious compulsion: would the lines and dots be raised or smooth?
Paul reached out and shook Quý’s hand. At the nawa’s puzzled look Paul grinned. “That’s Human for hello, goodbye and, in this case, good luck.” Back on the shuttle, Paul decided to stop on Jarog plateau. He wanted to explore a little and grab a bite that wasn’t from a replicator. Or just came from a different replicator, he wasn’t picky. Five minutes of research in the shuttle’s recommendations interface and he was dropped off, not far from Yuto Port where they’d first landed. The neighborhood was reputed to be a hive of cultural activity and food options.
I feel like a real writer today and it's nearly overwhelming. My book is in my local library and being checked out - paper and digital. My latest StoryGraph giveaway has gotten me so many messages of how excited they are to win a copy of the book and it just makes a person feel like they're in the pocket, creativity-wise. ✍️
“Cease talking!” Head dude grabbed at Raisa’s arm. She cried out and shrank back from him. Paul hated bullies. “No need for that friend,” he said, even though the words weren’t translating. Maybe the tone would get through. He stepped forward. “Paul, I’m Paul. And you are?” His friendly manner didn’t work. “Var Mutile, secure him.” “Yes, Var Yee.” A second Chitan stepped forward, the space version of a zip tie handcuff dangling from his hand. Inside the rings a yellow glow pulsed.
Her momentary amusement drained as she considered the reality of her life. An alien with big-ass wings had signaled his ship, which was supposed to be on its way to Earth. Another alien, homicidal in nature, was probably going to be hunting them soon, if not already. A third alien ran Earth’s sanctuary, shielded from Human eyes and knowledge. Raisa was, hopefully, still passed out in the backseat recovering, but when she woke up what would Katy say? That Katy was now a cosmic big deal, despite having zero knowledge of what to do or how to proceed? What did a woman do to wake up a fecking dragon? How would she explain just how overwhelming the future gets when you throw prophecies in a blender with regular people’s lives.
This Paɬaˑč’s chosen divers joined hands, dancing, feet kicking sand and silt into the water. From the ancient desert floor that was now a clouded sea, the Tøtimzahler emerged and rose toward the sunlit surface. Carvings of Quiltac’s greatest animals swirled around the cylinder; orcuvig chased schools of inktvis round and round, while a playful zeerhej flared its wings to land on the einlinwal’s horn. All Nine Drazoen were presented in their fullest glory; the colors on the Tøtimzahler remained bright as the day they’d been applied, the chiseled wood unworn despite the kōmilens gone by. No one knew what was inside it or how exactly old it was, just that it took more than thirty Tschuele to circle it, and it was tall enough to stretch one third of a khai beyond the surface of the ocean
I am Earthcaller’s daughter, I wear His gold He has given me to be victorious in battle Strongest of the Gods He is, gleaming and wild Planets yearn to follow Him through the Aoni I am Earthcaller’s daughter, I wear His gold
A man with neon yellow hair stepped forward. He seemed slightly older than the rest, his cocoa skin just a hint softer, looser than Lia or Yuhwa’s. “Wiremu,” he said, bowing to their group. Katy had coached them all about Mikanjo formality. No using nicknames, no touching without permission, never assuming you had the right to do either until expressly and verbally confirmed. She’d also warned them that when the aoiti kicked in, it would blow their minds. She wasn’t wrong. Wiremu jo Bikajo captain of the Eternidad for the last milenyo flashed in his head. Right in his bloody noggin, like it was normal to have microtech broadcasting bot-to-brain. His father’s look of wonder made it obvious everyone had gotten the same blaze he had. Hot damn.
His sister, flanked by her entire family, tilted her head and made a go on gesture. Jeezy Creezy, hopefully that translated well to a species that had no arms. Why hadn’t Lia or Yuhwa stayed to make sure something like this didn’t come up? Shite, Bug. Aren’t you better at this by now? After a slight hesitation, it continued. “Greetings, I am Ihaia Tang, supervisory registrar. Your file has come to me. One buwan ago, you arrived on the Eternidad unable to comply with registration requirements due to ‘malfunctioning’ aoiti. Is this correct?”
A compilation of book covers . The top two labeled currently reading are indigenous Pacific Islander eco literatures, and To the Moon and back. The recently read group includes Ronan boyle, Christmas past, rapport, a perfect storm, son of the morning, Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of fairies, door to the sea, and the rest is history, still life, damned souls and a sangria. Highlighted in blue with white font is the phrase 2026 reads so far!
A screen capture of a story graph personalized challenge dated 01 January 2026 through 31 December 2026 titled 2026 oMFG clean out Purgatory already. There is a partially filled in circle with a graphic inside the circle that says 5% completion 7 /131 books read
“Wonder who that is,” she shouted at Raisa. 
Her friend zeroed in on the woman across the bay. “No tail this time. No wings, no tentacles, no gills, no third eye. Not a levitating ball of interconnecting polyps. That leaves nine other possible species.”
Trust Raisa to have already memorized major traits of the fifteen species registered in the Calling. She giggled. “You’re going to be the ambassador for Humans, out of the two of us. That much is clear.”
Raisa shrugged. “Knowledge is power, all librarians know that.”
As they wrapped up the ancient story, the yptà dove in synchronicity to the ocean floor. They circled a sacred spot: this was where the Drazoen had first set foot on Quiltac, and it was from here the Tøtimzahler would ascend. Yemoja felt her heart start to quicken, but forced it back to a more sedate rhythm. She would be under water a while longer and a faster pulse led to a greater need for breath she couldn’t access.
The nawa’s voices rose above the hushed crowd. Côttru, Côttru, Côttru Five Come home to your people Return, return, return to us We yearn to see you again Côttru, Côttru, Côttru Five Paul jumped when everyone around him started walking. “We circle the Bath,” she said in a low voice. “Just follow.” Moving so many Jadoube in concert took long kaalas, and they would do it five times. Each circuit they paused, looked to Dalchin as the nawa repeated the song, then slowly ambled around again. She sailed so quickly, their adored moon, and by the time the fifth circle was completed, she hung directly overhead.
“I don’t know who I am anymore. Are we even jo Bikajo, now that the Kawakona is found?” Vailillia jo Bikajo, Lia to her newest friends – Humans! – frowned. Orihei’s questions were bold, shooting straight to the heart of things. Just like her oldest friend: direct and germane. Two sals past they’d picked up Lia’s brother, his Kawakona and the Kawakona’s companion from Earth. In the mad rush to get to Bay, Katy and Raisa, then to protect them from a Pu'ulqaari assassin and make their mad flight to Centris, Lia hadn’t stopped to consider the ramifications. What Katy Phelan, Kawakona of Sundancer Orange, meant to not only the whole of the Aoni, but for their lives on the Eternidad. Orihei now voiced what the one hundred and eighty seekers left would wonder themselves. Were they done? Did they return home, a place of which they’d all dreamed and not one had seen with their own eyes. Hunanjanno jo Bikajo had tasked them with uncovering the Kawakona, the beings meant to bring the Drazoen back into the Aoni. Windweaver, unfortunately, hadn’t said if their job ended when one surfaced, or if they were meant to seek all nine heralds before claiming victory. Furthermore, did the requirement include the newly found Kawakona waking her Drazoen, or was it sufficient to have just located Katy? Skeptical people would certainly argue that the Kawakona was only a “possible” herald until she performed her foretold duty. Yet more would say until all Nine returned, they must journey on.
Lanu looked at the Chitan, nodded, and waved her toward the safehouse. “Fumi Ly you are welcomed. In the wake of today’s events we may have to lock down, but you will be safe.”
Fumi tilted her head, shrugged and walked away. No look or last word back in their direction. She approached Yfaun, narrowed her gaze, and brushed against his shoulder. Not aggressive, but definitely testing. In sixty seconds, Fumi had ignored Bay and Katy, insulted Raisa, demanded a place at the refuge and poked at an assassin. Katy could only dream of being that badass.
“I’m no vendor,” he replied, a self-deprecating grin turning his plump lips inward. “I am an importunate collector and enthusiastic shopper only. I saw you this morning, calling the Tøtimzahler to the surface. Very impressive. May I ask your name?” “Yemoja Tahir,” she answered, amused by the suave, casually dressed man. He might be a very good candidate indeed. “And yours?” “Thuliso,” he said, voice low and husky. “Thuliso Maor.”
He was fine, this would all be fine. He could be a cool friend, no problem. A friend who’d heard Yuhwa moan so decadently the richest chocolate in the world would be jealous, but yeah, totally casual. Instead of Friend of Sister, Paul transitioned to Friend with Benefits. FOS to FWB. Previous FWB, not to be repeated, regardless of how well they’d connected. Excellent, he thought as he drifted back into dreamland. I’ve got this under control.