We talked with D.T. Bella, the Aussie indie author behind the fairy detective of Rychilla, blending steampunk, whimsy, and emotional storytelling.
If you love imaginative worlds, this one's for you.
Read the interview with @rychilla.com : writestats.com/d-t-bella-on...
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This feels very on point 😊 #writingjokes #reading #writingquotes #amwriting
#QueerPrompts 15/Feb/26: What role does romance play in your story?
In my current WIP, it's the motive for the murder - the victim is killed out of jealousy. Yaetherim also finds out that someone wishes to court him.
But Naeliya, one of my other MCs (art by @o8cho.bsky.social ), is aro/ace.
Brantwijn Serrah, Artist and Author
D.T. Bella, Author
#FebruaryWorldbuilders 15/2/26: Who makes the laws in your world?
The King of Rychilla makes laws for the kingdom. But they need to be approved by an advisory council of randomly-selected citizens (refreshed every 2 years). Same for regional governors. This was put in place after their civil war.
#FebruaryWorldbuilders 11/Feb/26: Does free will exist in your world?
Yes. Deities sometimes interfere - Luxanke is particularly prone to this. But this usually comes in the form of 'nudging' people in the right direction, and they're able to decline.
#QueerPrompts 24/March/26: Siblings in story?
My current WIP has Yaetherim working with his brother, Naeviol, to solve a poisoning case. (Naeviol is the village apothecary.)
They have drifted apart over the last few months. But they understand each other more by the end of the book.
#QueerPrompts 14/Feb/26: Any forbidden relationships in your story?
Courtships between fairies and humans are taboo, for a couple of reasons. Fairies will usually outlive humans, so there's the emotional aspect there. Fairies are also 1/6 the size of humans, so there's risk of them getting injured.
#MarchWorldbuilders 16/Mar/26: Gods in your world?
There are 4 deities:
- Galarus the Creator
- Luxanke the Provider
- Jyndos the Protector
- Vudite the Watcher
Thing is, each religion views the pantheon from a different angle, and none have the full picture.
#QueerPrompts 16/Mar/26: How would one of your characters care for another if they were sick?
Yaetherim worked with his brother Naeviol, the village apothecary, for a while after he was attacked. So he's got basic knowledge of medicine. He'd nurse whoever was ill, using all his experience.
D.T. Bella, Author
D.T. Bella, Author
#FantasyIndiesFebruary 11/Feb/26: Heartbreak in WIP
A subplot in my current WIP has Yaetherim take the case of a fairy who got lost as a 3-year-old youngling, 17 years ago, and ended up being raised by humans. He wants to know why his fellow fairies didn't come and find him.
