Fellow authors: Without any context, what's the first line of your current WIP? (I added a little #Xena context)

I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart Much have I seen and known (#Ulysses, by Tennyson)

Today’s #Xena gesture sketch, with Blackwing pencil, Eve reaches out to a fellow prisoner. I think I’m getting closer to the look I want. I’ll start fixing details when my impressions are where I want them to be.

I think I may have found a glimpse of the #Xena lost Sappho musical. It’s in Punch Lines, which follows the musical they ended up doing instead. I go into more detail here: typesandpatterns.com/blog/2026/04...

A beautiful day in Oregon to exercise, & to exercise democracy! #nokings

He’s a hypocrite. He prefers pasta shells, ground beef & tomato soup (i.e.bachelor’s spaghetti), not stew!

Here’sca close-up of Sal explaining his situation to a frowning Xena. Even more detail: his favorite medallion, looking like a totem or theatrical mask, gold lace trim & paisley floral designs on his tunic. Shirt underneath has silver embroidery & beads, matching silver hairs on his chest.

Here’s another a few seconds later:

Preparing some live sketches while watching #Xena “Here She Comes, Miss Amphipolis”. More studies of Salmoneus. I’d pause & capture as much detail as I can as quickly as I can. I like Sal’s faux-leopard tunic. A lot if detail if you look closely!

Here’s my first layout attempt of chapter 1 of my #Xena project, exiled Salmoneus welcomes his business partner to his home after her many months of travel. Both are glad to see a friendly face:

Here’s a quick sketch of Salmoneus before I take the plunge into drawing chapter 1. I think I’ll ditch the pen for Blackwing pencils & color the pencil scans, which will save me time & will pick up where I left off stylistically with the Virtual Season. I felt comfortable with it then, so why not?

And here’s Murray these days in a recent ep of Spartacus: House of Ashur, cheering on the Xena-like Achillia, Rome’s 1st female gladiator, along with a lady friend:

Xena Warrior Nutballs is not on Bluesky, but their latest podcast with actor/director Murray Keane is hilarious. Here he is in one of the very 1st shots that RenPic made in NZ:

I love how this moment was choreographed, at the end of the opening skirmish: Ulysses & Xena clasp arms, while Gabrielle backs into the scene right between them:

Once more into the M.A.N.T.I.S. matrix! In a previous thread I learned I missed a few Xena alumni in this show. In episode 8, there’s 2 more: John D’Aquino & Galyn Görg, who played Ulysses & Helen of Troy, stars of The Iliad & The Odyssey!

Let’s go, 2026!

There’s a cameo by producer Sam Raimi who plays a student from the University of Venus (yes, that Venus) with the inside scoop on the secret identity of M.A.N.T.I.S.!:

Golina’s gruff but not so lovable forensics colleague, played by Philip Baker Hall:

Network boss is played by Marcia Cross:

Dr. Hawkins’ research assistants from Africa, played by Wendy Raquel Robinson & Christopher M. Brown:

Gina Torres & Bobby Hosea reviewing critical video from a riot in which Dr. Hawkins was shot & paralyzed (both Gina & Bobby would appear on Xena Warrior Princess, btw):

Bobby Hosea taking Gina Torres’s advice & blowing the extra salt off his french fries:

Gina Torres resisting Bobby Hosea’s charms in M.A.N.T.I.S.:

Gina Torres in M.A.N.T.I.S.:

Here is Carl Lumbly as Dr. Hawkins putting on his mantis-like M.A.N.T.I.S. mask:

Here’s a 🧵 of screencaps from the aforementioned M.A.N.T.I.S. pilot post yesterday, starting with series star Carl Lumbly as the brilliant, imperious & fastidious Dr. Hawkins (qualities every good tv detective should have):

On my blog I’ve posted my thoughts on M.A.N.T.I.S., Rob Tapert’s 1st tv show, & the reason why it made him so protective of Xena. I’ll post larger pics later. typesandpatterns.com/blog/2025/12...