Hi everyone, I wanted to start by thanking y'all for your kind words on the last update. The last few weeks have found me in a much better place than the months before that. I finished the latest draft of Honeycomb Heart last week and have started reviewing it for what to work on next. I'm expecting the project to need at least one more developmental (story- and character-focused) draft, and a line-editing focused draft before it's fully completed.

I'm jumping into the next draft with renewed energy, as well as the new knowledge that repeatedly forcing myself to try to work on a chapter where the POV character is feeling depressed while I'm also feeling depressed is a bad idea, actually. It's a little embarrassing to realize you've been walking into the same brick wall over and over, but oh well. We keep learning, and spring eventually comes round again.

I'm also working on the polaroids in the meantime. Aquarium date, anyone?

This is the original for the 3rd design; I make them larger for ease of stitching, but as a reminder they'll be printed as these smaller snapshots in the end.

Once I've made some headway into the new draft, I'll post an update with my updated progress and a new estimated timeline.

Thanks as always for your patience,
Madeleine

Hi everyone. Sorry that it's been so long since you last heard from me. I'm a fair bit behind the timeline I had initially posted for when I wanted Honeycomb Heart ready to share with y'all. The very quick version is that life things happened (negatively). Backers, there will be some more detail below. But the most important information is that I'm still working on the book, and it'll be a matter of when it's ready to send out, not if. The lesbian coming-of-age familiar-accompanied cross-country roadtrip is happening. Its arrival can be slowed, but it can't be stopped.

Hi all, I imagine you've all gotten a million of these emails recently, so I'll keep it short and sweet (fun fact: "Short and Sweet" was Honeycomb Heart's old name, back when it was just a short story). Thank you so much for being here with me!

As I continue to work on getting the book to a finished state, you can expect to see WIP and finalized mini prints, as well as updates as I hit editing/production milestones and send out surveys.

Thanks again for joining me, and I hope your December is off to an excellent start,

Madeleine

Hi all,

With just over a week left in the Bazaar, I wanted to shout out the campaigns who are steadily approaching their funding goals. Everyone who funds will be contributing to the anthology that people who back five or more projects receive for free, so the more of us hit our goals, the more content the anthology will include. In the Bazaar, we have...

(Not to be confused with Seven the Publishing Goblin, who's currently funding Tales From the Alley.)
Space Wizard is 90% of the way to their goal. It's incredibly hard for independent presses to operate sustainably. If you want to support a small business that champions marginalized authors, here's a great chance. Plus, books from their existing catalog of over 40 titles are available through add-ons!

Get fooled by fae, or explore the dark outcome of human greed. Or both! Why not both? Fairy Seasons is also 90% of the way to its goal. GULA has further to go, but part of its goal includes 20% of every pledge being donated to UNRWA, which provides support to Palestinian refugees.

You know that dreadful feeling when you finish a book and realize you need more, now? Finding a series with multiple books out already can help with that 😉

Prefer oral storytelling over reading? Need a book to entertain you while driving (without taking your eyes off the road?) The Book Bazaar includes multiple audiobooks. Both projects include their authors' previous work as add-ons, so you can catch up on the historical fiction urban fantasy Covenant of Blood before Blood Ties comes out, or check out Amara Lynn's collections of SFF writing.

And now, for the all-caps part of this update:

Y'all already know what familiars the main characters of Honeycomb Heart have. Here's a chance for you to do a little writing and tell me: what familiar would you have if you were a resident of Hex, and why is your answer the best?

Familiars are smarter and have more personality than regular members of their species; their natural lifespans are extended to that of a human's, and they tend to be a bit hardier too. So if you've always wanted to have a butterfly friend that follows you around and perches on your hair like a big beautiful hair clip, you don't have to worry about them only living like a couple weeks 😅

Growing up, red pandas were always my favorite animal at the zoo. My brain insists they're just like... funny cat/fox hybrids even though I know they're completely non-domesticated and probably want nothing to do with humans. There isn't (currently) a red panda familiar in Honeycomb Heart, but if I got to pick one for myself in real life, it would definitely be that or an otter. Otters sound more fun to play with, but the thought of having a smart and friendly red panda friend I could make little sunhats and booties for is certainly tempting.

Happy upcoming Turkey Day (or Ham Day, for those with good taste),
Madeleine
P.S. The transition into winter is hitting me a little rough this year. My sleep schedule has been, shall we say, unsustainable (but I am otherwise fine!) My apologies for being quiet for a bit. I'll be working on and posting colors, layouts, and WIPs for some of the mini prints later this week.