Drema Deòraich

@dremadeoraich

🚫PMs. Writer of words. Lover of trees. Servant of cats. She/her. I choose love. ❤️ Three-time recipient of Literary Titan’s Gold Book Award. All works available on my website:

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Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· 10d

Crittershare -- check out these two cuties in my garden today! On the left is a Horace's Duskywing butterfly on a mountain mint flower cluster. The one on the right is a tiny, pinhead-sized jumping spider on a brown-eyed Susan. ❤️

A brown Horace's Duskywing butterfly with white spots feeding on a pale green mountain mint blossom.

A tiny black jumping spider with pale spots on the yellow petals of a brown-eyed Susan blossom.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· 15d

As a writer, I keep reminding myself that I cannot please every reader. What some love, others will hate. Here's a clear proof to that theory--comments from two different beta readers on the same chapter in my current WIP, at the same exact point (the chapter's end). #writesky

Two comments from a document critique; top one says "I wonder if the chapter can end with a bit more of a cliffhanger than a promised brainstorming session? It doesn't make a reader want to keep going as, for example, a promise of revenge..." The bottom one says, "At this point, I'm all in, and wish I didn't have to go and do some other things."

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· 18d

I've known B since 1987--best friends ever since. 14 years ago, he saved my life. 11 years ago, we were handfasted. 10 years ago, we were legally married. He keeps me sane(ish) in a crazy world, & makes me laugh every damn day. Happy Anniversary, Sweet, Silly Man! You are my favoritest humanoid. 😘

A woman with short grey hair and glasses, wearing a green, blue, and white tie-dyed shirt, with her arm around a man with dark hair wearing a gray shirt. She is grinning; he is smirking. And he has great dimples.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· 22d

The children aren't sick. They're changing. Medical science fiction/climate fiction. #booksky

Very entertaining...while hitting on important environmental issues... (5 stars) -- Dawn Brotherton, Author.

Mind-altering...revs your mind into overdrive... (5 stars) -- Cheryl Hyde, author.

...EXCELLENT...Deòraich makes us feel...then gives us hope... (5 stars) -- Susan Posey

...extremely relevant...gave me shivers all the way through... (5 stars) -- Sara Remy, author.

Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook--find it here: https://www.dremadeoraich.com/index.php/entheophage/

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jul 11

Fred, a.k.a. Floofenstein, a.k.a. FloofMaster, a.k.a. Floofbucket, a.k.a. He Who Shall Not Be Denied, loves me best when I am sitting at my desk trying to accomplish...well...anything. How appropriate that my "All That You Love" t-shirt is covered by long, ginger cat hairs. 😏🧡💛❤️ #lifewithcats

A woman wearing a black t-shirt that says "All That You Love" and pink pants, holding a long-haired ginger tabby cat. He is large enough to fill her whole lap. Behind her is a desk with assorted objects on its surface. She is smiling and scratching the cat's chin.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jul 4

This couple was having too much fun with the whole corpse flower concept! 😂

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jul 4

B & I & others are on watch for the corpse flower (dubbed "Lady MacDeath") to bloom at our local botanical gardens. These endangered plants bloom only once every 10 years or so, and are so named because of their horrific stench; that's what draws their pollinators. Cool stuff! #endangeredplants

A tall, slender bloom sits among much smaller flowering plants against a wall.

A man and woman stand in front of the corpse flower bloom, holding signs that say "I'm crazy for the CORPSE" and "I met Lady Macdeath." Both signs also say "Norfolk Botanical Gardens." Both people are smiling and holding hands.

A young woman stands in front of the corpse flower holding a drink labeled "Lady MacDeath Macha" from the food truck nearby. She is smiling.

A woman stands in front of the corpse flower holding a sign that says "I met Lady Macdeath. Norfolk Botanical Gardens." She is grinning.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jun 29

My guy and me having fun at a local glow-in-the-dark mini-golf game last weekend. He's such a cutie!!! (And way better at golf than I am...)

Two people smiling at the camera, next to a glow-in-the-dark octopus head and eye (not a real octopus).

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jun 20

#reading #scifi

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· May 30

#booksky #scifi #readingcommunity

A quote from the 200th episode of SG1 that really struck close to home for me, especially since I write science fiction that asks big questions:

Science fiction is an existential metaphor. It allows us to tell stories about the human condition. Isaac Asimov once said, “Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever, to the blinder critics and philosophers of today. But the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.”

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· May 21

Alira has: 3 voices in her head 2 lethal human enemies 1 chance to save her race. www.amazon.com/Fallen-Found...

Two versions of the cover of a black book with a blue crystal cluster highlighted in a beam of light. Text reads, "Fallen, The Founder's Seed Book 1. Drema Deòraich."

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· May 21

One character’s epic journey from misfit to hero. A multilayered story of longing, betrayal, sacrifice, and hope. Complex, character-driven sci-fi with heart, grit, and teeth. “…intimate and raw… an intricate blend of sci-fi world-building and personal struggle” – Literary Titan #booksky

Three book covers—one red with faces in the facets of a shattered crystal, one blue with a crystal cluster highlighted in a beam of light, one green with a crystal lying in the palm of an open hand. Text reads “Broken, The Founder’s Seed Book 2,” (red book), “Fallen, The Founder’s Seed Book 1,” (blue book), and “Driven, The Founder’s Seed Book 3” (green book). All three list the author’s name, “Drema Deòraich.”

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· May 10

First flowers in our #nativegarden this year. ❤️🌸🌼

A yellow flower against a green and brown garden background.

A cluster of white flowers atop dark red stems with dark green and red leaves.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Apr 22

My little hitchhiker from tonight's walk. A fritillary of some variety, I think? She was *old*, like me, but still beautiful. 😉 She stayed on my hand for quite some time. 🧡🖤 Moments like this are so precious...I'll remember her for a long time.

A butterfly sits on a woman's hands. It's wings are closed, and brown.

A butterfly sits on a woman's hand. Its wings are open, and are orange and black. Green grass and a palm-like shrub fill the background.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Apr 20

This weekend!!! 😃😃😃 I'm on 4 panels: The Philosphy of Star Trek; Giving/Receiving critiques; New SF adaptations; & writing fictional religions. I'm also doing a reading and a stint at the signing table. Otherwise, I'll be at the vendor table with Dennis M. Myers. Come find us and say hi! #RavenCon

An ad with a photo of a woman with short grey hair and glasses in a woodland setting. An event graphic shows the word RavenCon in blue letters with a raven icon beside it. The words "April 24-26, 2026" follow in black. Text reads: "Drema Deòraich. Drema Deöraich is an award-winning author of speculative fiction that sometimes asks big questions. Her flash fiction, short stories, and novelettes have been published in numerous online journals, as well as a few semi-professional zines. Her novels include
Entheóphage (medical mystery/climate fiction) and The Founder's Seed trilogy (science fiction/science fantasy). Drema's collection of short works, Murder of Crows, and Other Consequential Tales, and her two novelettes -"Deer in Headlights" (dark fantasy) and "Jane Doe #7" (medical science fiction) - are all available on Kindle Unlimited. Nexus, the science fantasy trilogy follow-up to The Founder's Seed, is currently in the works.

Drema currently lives in Southeast Virginia with her husband, his two cats, and all her other characters. When time and mosquitoes permit, Drema works on transforming their yard into more welcoming habitat for small wildlife. She also occasionally blogs about writing, ideas from Life that inspire her, environmental issues, ways to live more sustainably, and whatever else captures her fancy."

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Apr 16

Snippet from my novelette, "Deer in Headlights"--dark fantasy, featuring Baba Yaga. #booksky www.amazon.com/Deer-Headlig...

The northbound stretch of Route 39 snakes through upstate mountains on a labyrinthine path through old-growth forest, thick with trees that are said to have stood before Erikson set a toe aground in Newfoundland. It’s beautiful country: rugged and unforgiving, packed with breathtaking vistas across green gorges, their walls striped with layered minerals, a geological clock I’ve learned to read.
Those stripes brought me here. They kept me here for months. And now they are about to make me famous.
I pluck my phone from the console and check the signal. One bar. I might get lucky. I touch redial and listen, tongue on the roof of my mouth, for any sign of a connection. Ahead, the road twists right, then left, around turns blind even in broad daylight. It’s nearly midnight now, with the moon a sliver that does little to aid navigation. I want to press harder on the gas. Instead, I tap the steering wheel with one broken, dirty nail.
“Come on, come on,” I mutter at the phone. After a minute, I glance at the screen again. No signal.
“Dammit.” I thumb the screen to sleep and drop it in the console, then shift my attention back to the road.
The gleam of eyes in my high beams throws my heart into overdrive. I slam the brakes, and the dark woods spin around me until the stag is racing toward my door instead of my bumper. My hands drag the wheel toward him just as he leaps to fly into the right side of the windshield. The impact rolls his body until his flank presses through the demolished glass, half passenger, half hood ornament. Tires skid, rubber squealing, then crunching gravel and low brush on the downhill slope as I leave the road. The ground drops into a steep bank and the car tilts, two wheels in the air before it rolls, leaving the stag behind. Airbags before and beside me explode, thickening the air with the smell of burnt rubber. Rocks, shrubs, and trees somersault on the other side of the blood-spattered windshield. I bounce in my seatbelt...(more won't fit)

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Mar 28

Here's a blast from the past -- hand-drawn pencil map sketches of cities/worlds from my books in the Founder's Seed Universe, all created by yours truly. Some go back about 10 years. Most have been revised, and now live on my server. I don't pull them out much-don't want to smudge them! #booksky

A pile of papers with pencil sketches of fictional worlds and cities. Copyright by Niveym Arts, LLC, and Drema Deòraich.

A pencil sketch of New Canaan, capital city of the colony world Harajüd, home of the Consortium Trader Faction. Copyright by Niveym Arts, LLC, and Drema Deòraich.

A pencil sketch of Pentrerhos, capital city of the colony world Rubene, home of the Federation Trader Faction. Copyright by Niveym Arts, LLC, and Drema Deòraich.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Mar 22

My favorite tree. Grandmother Cherry. Full bloom last weekend. I used to climb up in her branches for my hug. Now she's too brittle with age, and I don't want to break her. So I keep my feet on the ground, and hug her trunk. Isn't she beautiful? 🩷

A very old weeping cherry tree in full bloom; pale pink flowers cover her sweeping branches.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Mar 20

I'm #currentlyreading "Future's End," book 2 in the Incredible Machines of Thinkery series. Good stuff! #booksky

A color sketch of a grassy hillside lined with tall evergreens sits on a dark green background. At the top, a circuit board with traces is visible above the sketch. Text reads, “Future’s End. The Incredible Machines of Thinkery. Linnhe Harrison.”

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Mar 7

Just an FYI -- My #climatefiction/medical #sciencefiction novel, Entheóphage, is up on NetGalley until 3/28 in search of potential reviewers. :-) The children aren't sick. They're changing. #booksky #reading #books

A working science ship floats on a blue-green lagoon amid several green tropical islands. Above the lagoon, a young girl in a white shirt, blue jeans, and pink sneakers floats in mid-air, her gaze on the sky. A beam of light shines down on her from above, and around her head, clear against the blue sky, is a double halo of phages. The text says "Entheóphage" and "Drema Deòraich."

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Mar 2

My novel Entheóphage is now up on NetGalley and available until 3/28 for review requests in both ebook and audiobook formats! For ebook, go here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book... For audiobook, go here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book... Hope you enjoy! 😃 #climatefiction #medicalmystery #reading

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Feb 23

Another timeline cleanse/grin for the day; our other ginger boy, George. His favorite thing is to climb on the bed with me, walk around and around me while I lie there trying to pet him, and then lay down before me with his paw *almost* touching my hand. 💛 #lifewithcats #writers

A long-haired ginger tabby lies on a magenta blanket, looking straight into the camera. His eyes are half-open, as if he is trying to sleep. One paw is stretched out toward the camera.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Feb 23

Timeline cleanse/your grin for the day...Our longest-haired boy, Fred, playing with a wool dryer ball rubbed in catnip. (It's all natural. Promise!) 🧡 #lifewithcats #writers

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Feb 15

Alira doesn't fit. Anywhere. Her uniqueness & refusal to conform make her anathema to her people. Yet when humans attack the unami homeworld, her special nature makes her the only one who can save them. Alira's epic journey from misfit to hero starts here. #booksky www.amazon.com/Fallen-Found...

Excerpt from Fallen: The Founder's Seed, Book 1: "“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching spiritual fundamentals to the younglings?” another said. “Grinding some muñise resin for incense or leading a ritual?”
“I’m on my own time,” Alira muttered. “I’m allowed to do as I like.”
“Hobbies are fine,” the first said, “but you take it too far. How many guilds’ crafts are you studying now? Eight? Ten? More? If you were normal, you'd stick to the one you chose at your rite.”
Alira kept digging, red streaks joining the riot of color on her skin, racing down both arms and onto all ten fingers where the color disappeared beneath the dirt caked there. “At least I have more than one skill. If our people ever faced the loss of any guild, you wouldn’t know how to survive on your own.”
“That’s insane. Stop inventing excuses for your behavior,” a male said. “You’re scaring the younglings.”
Alira looked up. The wildcrafting class spread out in a semi-circle before her. Frem adults stood with seven students and Sufamel, the most experienced elder in the horticulture guild. The younglings’ skin showed speckles of white, and Alira chided herself for not thinking before she spoke. Still, it rankled to be rebuked in front of the entire group. Some of these little ones were in her own classes. Lavender unhappiness flooded out the red in her dermal display and she sighed.
Two of the frem herded the students away from the confrontation as one teacher pointed at various plants and identified each. When they were out of earshot Tisalan, one of the remaining frem, stepped closer.
“You’re a disgrace, Alira. I heard you're learning to weave, and that you asked a miner to teach you the differences between minerals they extract.”
“Don’t worry,” Alira said. “He refused.”
“Thank Na’Staani for that. Think of the trouble had he agreed. I’m told you’re even working in the landing bay with the mitigants! The mitigants! You go beyond odd, cleric! Why won’t you respect our boundaries?” (The rest won't fit.)

A blue crystal, lit from above, gleams against the background of a dark cavern where crystals line the walls. Text reads: Fallen, The Founder’s Seed Book 1, Drema Deòraich.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Feb 11

An excerpt from the novelette, "Jane Doe #7." Medical science fiction with just a hint of horror. $.99 or FREE on KU. #booksky www.amazon.com/Jane-Doe-7-D...

Now

“Doctor Wicks!”
Kyle looked up from his tablet to see a set-up tech rushing toward him. “Yes?”
“One of the Janes they just brought in, sir—” the tech stopped, breathing hard.
“What’s wrong?” Kyle picked up his pace, now headed toward the initial set-up lab where new Does were brought for their exploratory test. The tech fell in beside him, her face pale, eyes wide.
“It’s—” She swallowed. “I think it’s Doctor Kimura, sir.”
Kyle’s skin went cold. His ears began to buzz. He stared at the tech, her words echoing in his head. They found Aki? He pursed his lips to speak, but no words would come. Instead, he broke into a run. Staff members fell back out of his path as he raced toward the lab, the tech close on his heels.
They found Aki!”

Excerpt From
Jane Doe #7
Drema Deòraich
This material may be protected by copyright.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Feb 11

The Chronicles of Jenny (Or How I Decided to "K*ll" a Fan) 😉 New blog post up on my website. #booksky #writingcommunity #writing #indieauthors www.dremadeoraich.com/index.php/20...

A woman stands behind a table filled with donated auction items.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Feb 9

The ebook for Fallen, Book 1 in The Founder's Seed trilogy, is now **FREE** through LemonSqueezy! Alira has: 3 voices in her head 2 lethal human enemies 1 chance to save her race. Pairs well with a warm blanket and a cup of warm cider/coffee/tea! #booksky niveymartsllc.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout

Blue background with gold stars behind a black book cover depicting a glowing cluster of blue crystals. Cover reads, "Fallen: The Founder's Seed Book 1. Drema Deòraich." Image reads, "Winner, Literary Titan Gold Book Award. '...the political intrigue of Dune, the cultural depth of The Broken Earth trilogy, or the existential questions of The Left Hand of Darkness...'"

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jan 19

I just came home from MarsCon in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, where I did fair in #book sales. But I had a fabulous time, met lots of fun folk, and got the chance to pose with ROOO-BEEE ROD!!! (He's super green!) #scifi #fifthelement

Person on left is dressed as Ruby Rod with white hair in a big spike at the front of his head, black and leopard-spotted clothing, roses around the neckline of his jacket, and a long-handled microphone. He is giving the camera a fierce expression. Person on right is in blue jeans and a purple shirt, with a black, grey, and white shawl. Her hair is short and grey. She is grinning.

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jan 9

Get ready ... I'm sending this manuscript up tomorrow, and will release it to the wild once I give the print proof a final once-over... #booksky #readers #shortfiction

Drema Deòraich@dremadeoraich· Jan 7

Here it is...the cover for my upcoming short story collection! Ollie and his team at 100 Covers did a fabulous job, & created the perfect design. Don'tcha just love it? 😍 (Tip: you'll have to read the stories to know what the symbols mean. 😉) Coming soon... #booksky #shortstories #reading