Hello my wonderful backers! Just a little update to let you know a couple of things:
Bonus Short Stories
The bonus short stories for early backers and returning backers are ready for download! If they were in your order, you should have received an email or two from BackerKit about your new downloads.You can also find them by logging in to your BackerKit account.
That said, I did decide to replace the "Legends and Librarians" short with a full chapter from an earlier draft of The Flame That Sings. I overscheduled myself by adding these short stories to my plate, especially with the idea for this one--it required inventing an entire tabletop RPG for them to play, oops. As many of you know, I'm disabled and only work part time hours, so it's crucial I don't put too much on my plate...which I still manage to do at times.
I know my readers are super understanding, so I felt good about selecting a replacement instead: a deeper look at Aeronwy's life in the Fellowship of the Ardent. In an earlier draft of the book, I wrote out Aeronwy's experiences there with normal narration, rather than the folktale-stylized versions they later became. This chapter provides some more direct insight into young Aeronwy's relationship with Great-Grandren Neirin and Great-Entie Guinevere in particular, which I hope you'll find interesting.
If you were excited about the idea of the crew playing D&D, don't worry, I'm not fully abandoning it. In fact, it may or may not make a major appearance in Book 4! 😂
More Cool Library Merch
Most of you likely saw this via Patreon or the newsletter, but I had a huge shop update last week to celebrate the official publication of The Flame That Sings! Not only are there paperbacks and ebooks available if you know someone who missed the crowdfunding, but there's a bunch of new things too:
I know it's a little gauche to ask y'all to spend more money when you already spent so much on me in the crowdfunding, but this is a business, and business must be done! Absolutely no pressure to buy anything more if you're already at your budget. Times are tight for so many of us, myself included.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for all the wonderful support you've given me, from the bottom of my heart! 💜 I hope you're enjoying your books!
Hello, lovely backers! By now many of you will have received your books, and I hope you're enjoying them! The last major post office batch went out yesterday, and with that, shipping is largely complete--save for a few folks who were a little late on updating card payments or surveys.
There are also a few people who still need to fill out their survey--about five--and one person with an errored card for shipping, and I'll be keeping an eye out for those folks and maybe sending some emails to try to get those going. The only thing left to fulfill is those bonus short stories! I'll be finishing them in the next few weeks, and you'll get an email when they're available for download. They're meant to be read after book 3, anyway, so hopefully the timing works out 😊💜.
The Indie Author Version of "Please Like and Subscribe"
If you enjoy(ed) the book(s), please consider rating and reviewing on sites like Storygraph and Goodreads! I don't know if there are listings for book 3 there yet (I try not to poke around my own listings on review sites as an author), but if not, perhaps you can be the one to submit it. The first two books are definitely already on both sites. Don't worry, I am not the sort of author who goes and reads every review! Very rarely, I go filter things to only 5 star reviews to take some quotes for marketing, but otherwise, I let reader spaces be reader spaces.
If you would like me to hear your thoughts on the book, you can always use my contact form. I love getting messages from readers--that sort of thing keeps me going when the creative doubts set in, which they always do.
Most of all, though, if you feel moved to, tell a friend or two about the series if you think they'd like it--word of mouth is the best advertisement for books.The Flame That Sings will be publicly released on January 27 (I'm moving it back a bit, it was the 12th) and anyone interested who didn't back this campaign can sign up for my newsletter to get a reminder when it's available.
I'll also have more Eternal Library themed merch in the January 27 shop update! More prints! Bookmarks! Scented candles! Zines?? I'll post a reminder here and send a newsletter. Also, come join me on Patreon for FREEEEEEEE ✨! It's basically my replacement for social media these days. I post free bonus content/updates/BTS stuff every Monday. Deleted scenes, sneak preview excerpts, works in progress, writing blogs, character artwork, etc. You can get notifications for posts on your phone via the Patreon app or in your email inbox.
Package Troubleshooting FAQ
What if my package is lost/stuck/stolen/damaged or I was sent the wrong items/items are missing?
I consider packages as lost TWO WEEKS after ship date for USA rewards and EIGHT WEEKS after the ship date for everywhere else. Yes, I know that is a long time for international, but it's for good reason; in my decade plus of experience with shipping across the globe, sometimes things get stuck for a while and miraculously show up a bit late. Especially since we're in the holiday rush and there are weird things happening with tariffs and taxes!
That said, after that time period, I will consider a package lost. You can then choose between either a refund (minus shipping cost) or a replacement package (entirely for free). Everyone so far has chosen the replacement, and thankfully they've always gotten to their destinations!
If your rewards arrive damaged, either by the post or manufacturing defects, I am happy to replace them for free. For tarot/oracle decks, I always give free card replacements if lost or damaged by use, including internationally, however far down the road we are from your original purchase (assuming I still have replacement stock, which right now will last for a few years yet).
If have missing rewards or were sent the wrong items, I'm happy to send what you're missing/swap items with return shipping labels. My poor little ADHD human brain sometimes makes mistakes--there are always a few in any crowdfunding batch--and as such I hold myself to fixing them for you for free.
EXCITING DAY, FRIENDS! Shipping and digital fulfillment officially begins THIS WEEK! Specifically, tomorrow, once all the addresses automatically lock. I have queued up all the digital downloads as well--I know you don't need addresses for those, but I think the system won't start sending out emails until that step is fully complete sometime tomorrow afternoon (it's an automatic waiting period to give folks time to change things). Still...SOON!
The only thing that's not 100% ready yet is the bonus short stories, but you'll want to wait to read those until after you've read The Flame That Sings, anyway. I should have those for you sometime next month.
When your rewards ship, you will receive an email from BackerKit with tracking info. You can also log in to BackerKit at any time to check the status of your rewards and find the tracking number if it has been shipped. When digital downloads are available, you will receive an email with a download link.
My Shipping Process - a few notes
Shipping should take me about two weeks total; I do it all myself and thus can only do so many per day.
I begin with the easiest orders first (ex: a single paperback) and work my way up to bigger, more complicated orders; orders with all three painted hardcovers are likely to be last as the book 1 and 2 books are being painted this week.
If you have digital rewards, you will receive an email from BackerKit when they're ready for you to download. Ebooks and bonus content PDFs should go out on November 25; short stories will come a bit later. If you don't see it when you think you should, check your spam! Links to instructions for uploading to common eReaders is included, or give it a google. It's usually easy!
When your rewards ship, you will receive an email from BackerKit with tracking info.
You can also log in to Backerkit at any time to check the status of your rewards and/or find your tracking number.
My packages are discreet and don't have any sort of obvious queer branding on them. The return address is to "Numinous Spirit Press."
Most US rewards will be shipped via USPS Media Mail, with those that include non-book items going USPS Ground Advantage. Depending on where you are (I'm shipping from southern California), this can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to arrive. Media Mail in particular can be a little slower, but it's a lot cheaper, so it's a fine trade-off.
Most international rewards will be shipped via USPS First Class Mail. This takes about 2-6 weeks depending on where you live, though sometimes it's shorter and sometimes longer. Heavier/bigger international packages may ship via USPS Priority or UPS Worldwide Expedited, which typically take 1-2 weeks.
Non-US backers are responsible for all and any customs/tariffs/fees your country may impose on your package.
See instructions for lost/damaged/stolen packages below in its own section.
If you have concerns about the timing of shipping (ex: you're moving around this time) and need your rewards held or expedited, please contact me here.
What if my package is lost/stuck/stolen/damaged?
I consider packages as lost TWO WEEKS after ship date for USA rewards and EIGHT WEEKS after the ship date for everywhere else. Yes, I know that is a long time for international, but it's for good reason; in my decade plus of experience with shipping across the globe, sometimes things get stuck for a while and miraculously show up a bit late. Especially since we're in the holiday rush and there are weird things happening with tariffs and taxes!
That said, after that time period, I will consider a package lost. You can then choose between either a refund (minus shipping cost) or a replacement package (entirely for free). Everyone so far has chosen the replacement, and thankfully they've always gotten to their destinations!
If your rewards arrive damaged, either by the post or manufacturing defects, I am happy to replace them for free. For tarot/oracle decks, I always give free card replacements if lost or damaged by use, including internationally, however far down the road we are from your original purchase (assuming I still have replacement stock, which right now will last for a few years yet).
Any other questions, let me know! 💖 I hope so much that you all enjoy the book(s)! If you do, please consider reviewing them on places like Storygraph and Goodreads. I hope to go put up listings for the new book there myself sometime soon, but if I don't get to it, feel free to add it yourselves. If you do, the official publication date for The Flame That Sings is January 12, 2026--you all are getting it early 🥰
Tell a friend you think would like it--word of mouth is the best advertisement for books. The Flame That Sings will be publicly released on January 12 and anyone interested who didn't back this campaign can sign up for my newsletter to get a reminder when it's available.
Hello, hello! I hope you all had a fun Halloween! Mine was fun because it's the day most of the books arrived! I now have all the paperbacks and almost all of the hardcovers in my possession. The poor UPS guys who had to carry the heavy boxes up the stairs to my apartment complex must be thanked. Have some bad phone photos:
stacks and stacks of boxes in my kitchen
TFTS paperback edition
paperback back cover
She's a THICK boy!! Five hundred fifty pages in paperback!!
TFTS hardcover edition!
inside the TFTS hardcover
I haven't shown this publicly yet, because it was sort of a last minute thing, but both the hardcover and paperback feature these BEAUTIFUL antique borders at the start of several chapter/story-within-the-story sections 🥰😍✨!! They came out AMAZING. Sadly they're not in the ebook version, as this sort of formatting in epub is still beyond me.
Since everything is going so well, and for logistical reasons, I'm going to start shipping a week earlier than planned, which means some of you get your books earlier! 😊💜
Current Schedule:
Friday November 21 - Addresses lock
Monday November 24 - Shipping starts, ebooks distributed digitally
My Shipping Process - a few notes
Shipping should take me about two weeks total; I do it all myself and thus can only do so many per day.
I begin with the easiest orders first (ex: a single paperback) and work my way up to bigger, more complicated orders; orders with all three painted hardcovers are likely to be last as the book 1 and 2 books are arriving later.
If you have digital rewards, you will receive an email from BackerKit when they're ready for you to download. Ebooks and bonus content PDFs should go out on November 24; short stories may come a bit later. If you don't see it when you think you should, check your spam!
When your order ships, you will receive an email from BackerKit with tracking info.
You can also log in to Backerkit at any time to check the status of your rewards and/or find your tracking number.
My packages are discreet and don't have any sort of obvious queer branding on them. The return address is to "Numinous Spirit Press."
Non-US backers are responsible for all and any customs/tariffs/fees your country may impose on your package.
I will make later updates with information on what to do if your package is lost/damaged/stolen.
Other Important Notices
If you need to change your address, do so before November 21 by logging in to Backerkit! You will receive a warning email on November 21 to make sure your address is correct.
If you have concerns about the timing of shipping (ex: you're moving around this time) and need your rewards held or expedited, please contact me here.
Join me on Patreon for Free for more fun behind the scenes and bonus content!
I know I say this a lot, but it's because I'm passionate about it! Patreon is a subscription service/app that lets you support indie creators directly in exchange for exclusive posts. Recently they introduced FREE memberships, so it's basically become my replacement for the social media I no longer use. I post every Monday, and you can receive notifications on your phone (with the Patreon app) or in your email so you don't miss them!
Just a super quick reminder that shipping (and any add-ons that were added after the main campaign) will be charged tomorrow, Tuesday October 14, 2025! If you have digital only rewards, obviously you do not need to worry about this 😊.
Actual shipping time and digital reward distribution are estimated as late November/early December. We're on schedule! Yay!
I have placed the orders for both the hardcover and paperback versions of The Flame That Sings, and the ebook is ready to go! Yay! I have to check proofs for the book 1 and 2 hardcovers before ordering the 20 or so copies each of those, since I am using a different printer for them than the last time.
All of my book printing is done in the US, where I live, so thankfully the mess that tariffs and other such nonsense are making of global manufacturing and shipping aren't a direct impact at the moment--just for your peace of mind.
Getting ever closer to actually having these in your hands! 💜
