Blaine D. Arden

@blainedarden

enby/ace | Mx/she/ey/em Author of Queer Romantic SFF who sings eir way through life in platform boots. Tech Prince Troubles OUT NOW!! 👽☕

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Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 26d

#WIPSnips: next Michael hoped to find Emma at her flat. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

Emma’s phone lay on the island, next to her lehrab plant in its milky blue pot—the only plant in the flat. I pressed my palm against the scratched screen, but it remained dark and unresponsive, and didn’t even show a holo-message.

That explained why she hadn’t answered.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 27d

This is the perfect time to grab my entire ebook collection at a discounted price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! You can browse all my on-sale books at go.blainedarden.com/smashwords #SWSale2026 #Smashwords

Promotional graphic for Smashwords' July Summer/Winter Sale. The image features summer elements like a lifebuoy and starfish on the left and winter elements like snow and pine trees on the right.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 27d

#WIPSnips: aquire No aquire in my manuscript, so I'm leaving you with earnings... a month's worth at that. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

“We talked about the attraction and the dangers of that place, since he started school.” He uttered a pained laugh. “We compared it to his sprite-dust allergy, and asked him how he’d feel if he infected someone else just by smiling at them. He insisted on wearing an anti-infection filter for weeks.”

Must have been Emma’s idea. She’d spent half a month’s worth of earnings on dodgy undetectable anti-infection mods that didn’t even stop a simple cold, hoping it would shield against our voices.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 28d

#WIPSnips: rush 🔄️ surge This is after Michael first found out his ex-wife and son are missing. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

I tossed and turned all night, drifting into sleep only to jolt awake with a panicked urge to call both numbers. It took me longer each time to count popping posies until my mind finally calmed enough to doze off again, only for the next surge of panic to wake me.

Morning came too soon. I stumbled down the stairs with a massive headache, thumb hovering over the call button of my phone. I wasn’t sure what scared me more: that they’d pick up as if nothing had happened, or that they wouldn’t respond at all.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 29d

#WIPSnips: coach. Well... a cart is a coach, too, right? Visiting a deceased loved one's flat is hard enough, more so when doing so with a man who hated you. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

A quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

Crouching next to Michael, I leaned into the blanket he held and inhaled Emma’s scent. The balcony doors slid open, and the outside world rushed in. Folks chatted below us, the breeze swept between us, and carts rumbled in the distance.

I fought the urge to hide myself in her pillows and crept along the balustrade, catching Michael’s brittle expression in the glass. I sneaked from balcony to balcony while he shook out the blanket to distract nosy neighbours until I reached the stairs.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 29d

𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 is a sp🌶️ cy, slow-burn m/m urban fantasy romance full of mysterious glitches, coffee-fueled flirting, found family, single dad vibes, & an opinionated espresso machine named Gandalf. Runaway Prince Hotel collab series Book 6, where magical royals find 💜 over a cup of ☕.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· 29d

💙 Love is… stealing glances when he's not looking. 👀✏️ Runaway Prince 💙 Single Dad Quiet, Please 💜 Thrives on Chaos Sketches Birds 🤎 Paddles Rivers Tech Mage 🖤 Espresso Wizard go.blainedarden.com/tech-troubles Your next magical MM romance is just a cup away.

Promotional image for Tech Prince Troubles by Blaine D. Arden features a collage with a purple-skinned person with circuit-like face markings, a flying goose at sunset, a man rowing a boat, and a barista operating an espresso machine. A quote at the bottom reads: "The sun hit Sam’s face just right as he slowed his boat. His beaming smile. The twinkle in his eyes. I had to capture the happiness he exuded."

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 14

Looking for a non-KU alternative? Do you have Kobo Plus? ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 Your next amazing MM Romance read is waiting on #KoboPlus. go.blainedarden.com/mm-kobo-plus #MMRomance #RomanceReads #BookPromo #BookSky

Four book covers above a rainbow and trans pride flag with a gender symbol; text promotes MM books on Kobo Plus with a web link and Rakuten Kobo branding.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 11

Blaine's Queer Summer Sale 2026 on Itch-io Single books are 50% off or grab all of them for just $18! Live now at itch_io. go.blainedarden.com/summer-itch

A collage of illustrated book covers featuring people in fantasy and sci-fi settings, with a quote in the center mentioning "Thumper" and "Buttercup, security officer.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 10

#WIPSnips: substitute 🔄️ replacement *snort* Yeah, Lillian does not like talking about her feelings. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

“You want to talk about it?”

*Oh, fuck no!* I took a breath and calmed myself by imagining Emma pulling her arm back, ready to swing at Michael.

Ally’s grin widened. “Yeah. I thought as much.” She patted my knee and checked her watch. “You okay to walk home? I’d drive you, but I need to find a replacement musician for this afternoon.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 10

#WIPSnips: keep It's complicated is the best way to describe Lillian's history with Emma (and Michael). (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

If I hadn’t walked into the local Safety Office all those years ago, if I hadn’t given myself up, Jesper would have grown up without his mother. She’d have gone back to the band—to Vex—to keep him safe. It had been in her eyes, in her voice, in the way she cradled Jesper, even if she didn’t say it out loud.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 8

#WIPSnips: humid I was sure I had humid in this manuscript... turns out, I don't. So, damp it is :) (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden

I brushed my fingers along the lehrab’s stem. Guilt gnawed at me every time I made her the vocal inhibitor potion—for taking away her singing voice. Even if the alternatives were worse.

The soil was damp, but the poor thing was down to a handful of leaves. Emma rarely cut it back this much.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 7

#WIPSnips: quarter No quarters in any shape or form, so I went with a vibe... and ended up with short-term, instead. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

Emma’s coordinates sat on the southwest edge of the city. I’d expected a short-term rental or a lock-up, but what I’d found was a sleek cottage in an upscale district. The property registry listed the owners as Lynn Lessup and Gale Firlenk. A search turned up a ward engineering firm with the same name—the country’s largest. The couple were out west, overseeing a major re-warding in Barrel.

How had Emma ended up in their empty house?

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 7

KU not your thing? Have you checked out Kobo Plus? ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 Your next heartwarming MM Romance read is waiting on #KoboPlus. go.blainedarden.com/mm-kobo-plus #MMRomance #ReadQueer #BookPromo #BookSky

Four book covers by Blaine D. Arden are displayed above a Rakuten Kobo ad promoting MM books on Kobo Plus, with a link to go.blainedarden.com/mm-kobo-plus.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 6

#WIPSnips: stadium 🔄️ venue The only place Lillian is allowed to sing. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

Quote from The Songs We Owe by Blaine D. Arden:

Spread out across the small venue, our audience waited with clenched hands, bouncing knees, and restless expressions. A few leaned forward as if bracing themselves while the musicians prepped their instruments.

I stepped up to the mic, the cool metal soothing against my sweaty palm, counting breaths until the lights dimmed. My first notes rumbled across the floor, vibrated up the walls, and washed over the patients in gentle, healing waves, bolstered by the wards. The acoustics were a sound-engineer’s dream, wrapped in sterile shades of neutral.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 5

#WIPSnips: bench Where Emma's clues lead Lillian and Michael. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

A quote from "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden:

The door whooshed open into a lavish hallway with a low, intricately carved bench on the left, beneath a high-tech, shimmering mirror, and a floating step on the right.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 4

Meet Adri and Sam Runaway Prince 💙 Single Dad Quiet, Please 💜 Thrives on Chaos Sketches Birds 🤎 Paddles Rivers Tech Mage 🖤 Espresso Wizard ☕ Love is… a flawless espresso shot. Except when love is… badly charred toast. 🔥🍞 go.blainedarden.com/tech-troubles

Promotional collage for Tech Prince Troubles by Blaine D. Arden features a golden title over a silhouette of two men at sunset. Other panels show a purple-skinned figure with circuit-like markings, a barista using an espresso machine, slices of burnt toast, and a blue circuit board. Overlaid dialogue reads: “You burned toast? Is that an American expression?” “No. I actually burned toast.” “Oh. That’s bad.”

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 4

#WIPSnips: round How Michael sees Lillian. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

A quote from "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden:

It gave me time to gather my thoughts and reconcile Lillian with the Lily I knew, the Lily I hated. The reckless rocker who’d hidden her heritage with mods I could always see through.

Same face—older, rounder—same braided faux hawk modded with trans colours, same flowy tunics. Same deadly voice. But she’d stopped hiding, had let her horns grow out—long, black, and ribbed—and her energy seemed more settled, calmer. The Lily who’d sacrificed her freedom to save Emma.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 1

Don't forget to check out the whole series. go.blainedarden.com/runaway-prince 🗝️ Your room key is waiting… Covers and logo by the very talented Samrat Acharjee.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 1

𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 is a spicy, slow-burn male/male urban fantasy romance full of mysterious glitches, coffee-fueled flirting, found family, single dad vibes, and an opinionated espresso machine named Gandalf. Includes cameos from the other books in the series. HEA guaranteed.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jul 1

What happens when a single dad barista who thrives on chaos meets a runaway prince looking for some much-needed quiet? Find out in my new M/M Urban Fantasy Romance 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀. go.blainedarden.com/tech-troubles Chibis created by the wonderfully talented Rhys Everly-Lawless

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 28

Have you tried Kobo Plus? Your next amazing LGBTQ+ read is waiting on #KoboPlus. ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 go.blainedarden.com/lgbtq-kobo-plus #ReadQueer #QueerAuthor

Promotional graphic for LGBTQ+ books on Kobo, featuring covers of "How Six Saved the Frogs" and "Tech Prince Troubles" by Blaine D. Arden.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 12

#WIPSnips: gripe (complained) Fenna doesn't get much screen time, but I love writing her. She's Michael's twin and will never let him forget that she's older (by two minutes). (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

A quote from "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden:

Lillian placed two packs on plates, pressed the buttons to activate them, and within minutes they opened and revealed our steaming meals. Simple, nutritious, and not as bland as I remembered.

I wasn’t used to eating in silence. Our family was loud, chatty, and refused to let me eat alone.

“You’d only end up fretting,” Fenna would say when I complained.

I would never admit it to her face, but she was right. Of course she was. I had so many thoughts swirling around in my head, trying to make sense of why Vex was threatening Emma.

Lillian only glanced up from her plate to gaze out the window with a thoughtful expression. She was an only child, and with Emma around, she’d probably never had to speak during meals at all.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 11

Speed Hoop Relay is a timed precision sport played on hoverboards in a standardised indoor court with hoops suspended at varying heights. Teams of six, divided in three pairs. Each pair perform a two-minute relay leg. Winner? The team scoring the most clean hoops. (quote in image and alt-text)

$A quote from the Speed Hoop Relay Rule book, created for "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden: A point is awarded for a clean hoop only. A clean hoop requires all of the following: • The Receiver catches the ball. • Neither the ball nor any player touches or clips the hoop during the attempt. Ball clip: An infraction in which the ball makes contact with a hoop during a throw or catch attempt. Accumulates toward a penalty circuit threshold.$

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 11

#WIPSnips: clip. CW: grief. Clip doesn't appear anywhere in my manuscript, and while I had the word hit, it had a completely different vibe. So, I went with this scene, because I keep seeing Emma catching the ear of the mug in a hurry. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

A quote from "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden:

The island counter was littered. Drawers hung open. Cupboard doors were ajar, releasing a jumble of smells—all Emma. A mug that had stood so neatly next to the sink lay cracked on the floor.

The green floor pillows lay nestled among the orange ones instead of the blues, and the blanket we gave her on her fortieth birthday was folded inside out. And Emma’s phone was gone.

Chills raced up my spine, settling between my shoulder blades. I forced myself to take slow breaths as I ran to Jesper’s room.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 9

#WIPSnips CW: grief. (quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMC

A quote from "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden:
I shouldered open the closest door and froze.

Clothes lay scattered on the floor, on the luxurious double bed, and spilled out of bags I could describe to the tiniest frayed hem. Emma’s bags. The same ones she packed every holiday, and always smelled of the pink dorris and star anise she cleansed them with. I swallowed and turned away to keep from sinking to my knees and burying my nose in them.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 9

#WipSnips The drowsy 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘁𝗵 of the office wrapped around me as I stepped inside, my limbs heavy. (full quote in image and alt-text) #TheSongsWeOwe #QueerMF #TransMc

A quote from "The Songs We Owe" by Blaine D. Arden:
The drowsy warmth of the office wrapped around me as I stepped inside, my limbs heavy. The strap of my bag slipped off my shoulder, the weight jolting my arm and sending my keys skittering across the polished floor. I closed the door and dropped the bag beneath the coat rack.

Early mornings weren’t usually this hard.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 4

#QueerQuarterlyIndieBookSale 100+ authors | nearly 200 books June 2nd-4th ALL e-books listed are .99 on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords & other retailers. Grab your next queer reads here: www.mnbennet.com/pride-promo ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 #mmromance #BookSky #ReadQueer

Silhouetted couple with colorful bokeh background. Text promotes "Queer Quarterly Indie Book Sale," June 2nd-4th, almost 200 books for $0.99. Pride hearts shown at bottom.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 3

#QueerQuarterlyIndieBookSale is live!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 www.mnbennet.com/pride-promo Nearly 200 books for only 99 cents each! Including 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙎𝙞𝙭 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙨 and 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨 #mmromance #BookSky #ReadQueer #AceMc #TransMc

Collage of book covers with text: "Queer Indie Book Sale. All books $0.99. June 2-4. mnbennet.com/pride-promo." How Six Saved the Frogs and Tech Prince Troubles by Blaine D. Arden are shown in the centre.

Blaine D. Arden@blainedarden· Jun 2

✨June 2nd-4th✨ #QueerQuarterlyIndieBookSale ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 @mnbennetauthor.bsky.social is hosting a sale Almost 200 books from 100+ indie authors! All queer reads at only 𝟵𝟵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 each! Get them here: www.mnbennet.com/pride-promo #mmromance #BookSky #ReadQueer