First, let me apologize for the tardiness of this update. Second, apologies for the generic update, because this is going out to several campaigns.
That said…when last we met, I was trying to get over (another) health problem and trying to clear my office out so I could order another batch of books in for the followers of my Bear campaign. I was also wrapping up the updates on my Colbana files so I could start on formatting and adding the art, and working with the artist for the Preterns.
There is a fourth campaign, but I will be honest—I want to finish my Bear campaign before I start ordering in the pins for Pintopia. I still hope to complete shipping by early 2027, but I need to complete the Bear campaign first.
Bear/Kit/Preterns
As referenced in an earlier update, I’m limited on space – when I first started this campaign, that wasn’t the case. Middle Kid had recently graduated and moved out. Last summer, a friend of Youngest’s moved in. Then, early this year, my niece’s housing situation dissolved and now she’s living with us. Even the space I once had is gone, so I have to clear out in batches.
I still need to order the next round, which I should have already done.
This is where I owe another apology.
May is historically a terrible month for me as far as my depression goes due to the loss of my brother some years back. This year, I decided to do something rather than wait for the monthly slump. We vended at a ren faire, something I’ve wanted to do for years. It did help.
But it left me exhausted and my health problems have flared up. I’d get home Sunday, sleep most of Monday and have little energy or focus for work or anything else until Wednesday, at which point I’d have to drill down and focus on the next week’s faire and freelance work.
In addition, there are some family issues going on behind the scenes that are taking a lot out of me. Those are mostly resolved, but it's divided my attention more than I care to admit.
Unfortunately, this means I’ve let other things fall behind.
That includes backers of my campaigns and I apologize.
Bear
I’m planning on getting the next round of books in the mail within the next two-three weeks and the next batch of books ordered.
I’ll be getting another couple of rounds of orders sent out within the next month.
Colbana Files
I’m done with the revisions/bonus chapters and am going to be working on the formatting and adding the art in.
That will take several weeks to a couple of months, depending on if I need to commission any more art. The need for more art will depend on how everything flows with the formatting. I’ll use art to fill in the blank pages.
Preterns
I’m still working on book 3. My artist for the other books has offered to help handle the art since the artist I’d previously hired just didn’t quite meet my expectations, but that does mean more art going to one person. I’ll have an update here as soon as I’m able.
ABCs of Romance Pins
I hope to have a better idea of when I’ll be able to tackle this one once I’ve cleared my plate a little.
Long story short
I overloaded myself and I shouldn’t have. I apologize and I appreciate your patience.
Okay, so I found a new artist to create art for the second book in the omnibus. We spoke a little over a month ago, I saw the sketches and things looked good.
And...I've heard nothing since.
I know all about life interruptus so when I didn't back after the first couple of times I checked in, I didn't worry. But, as I said, it's been over a month since that initial contact and no news.
I think I'm going to have to look for another artist.
The good news, I'd only put a small deposit down.
The bad news...well, I have find another artist.
I might talk to Kmochi, who handles a lot of the art for my urban fantasy series, but that does mean she'll be working on two projects at once.
This is the first time I've had this happen so I guess I'll count myself lucky.
I had the ebook add-ons loaded to be distributed but I haven't started the process. It's required that I lock down the orders and I haven't done that yet, although I did start that just now.
I think I confused this with another project when I posted last night. I should have checked and I apologize for the confusion.
The ebook rewards going out...
The rewards will include the digital add-ons, not the omnibus, as it's still in the works.
It also won't include Night Blade as I'm still finishing up the artwork for that project.
The ebooks will be go out...
I'll get them distributed once the orders are locked. It's an automated process on Backerkit's end and I think it takes 48-72 hours. Once it's complete, I'll start distribution.
I'll post an update
I'll update here when the distribution is complete. Distribution will take place on Backerkit. If you're not familiar with how digital downloads work on Backerkit, read this article.
Sadly, there is no article to help with airhead authors like me. Again, my apologies!
This is Sorin in all his golden dragonly glory! Isn't he beautiful!
Sorin is the MMC is book 2 and I'm delighted with how he turned out. The artist for this piece is Lalune.
I'm in the process of getting the next few pieces of art done and I might end up using Kmochi, the artist I use for a lot of my projects. Updates to come.
Digital Rewards
I've sent out all digital rewards. If you haven't received yours, please email me at [email protected]
My Next Project
This fun enamel pin project is part of Pintopia 2026 and will involve, wait for it... the ABCs of Romance.
If you follow the campaign before it launches or pledge in the first 48 hours (or both!) you can get bonus incentives!
I'm in the middle of wrangling my campaign for the Holiday Market, getting ready for the Dickens Fest (I'm vending there for the first time... I'm so excited!!!) in Eminence, Ky.
Annnnndddd.... I'm working on the art for the book.
I've received the final artwork for another character in the project!
I'm waiting to hear back from the artist I found to do the artwork for the dragon... I'm super excited about it.
I might use the same artist doing the dragon artwork for more artwork in the book...but we'll see how things look after I see the final image of the dragon.
This credit will be applied during the pledge manager. It won't appear automatically when you place your pledge, when it will be in your basket when the pledge manager goes out and it's only available to previous backers!
I've been crazy busy since the campaign wound down. I ran a booth at a small local Ren faire over the weekend and had a ball doing so.
I've also been wrapping up the surveys and pledge manager for the campaign.
I'm going hit send on the smoke tests here in a few minutes, so just FYI, a few people will receive those surveys. The smoke test is designed to give me a chance to check for flaws and errors, anything I missed while setting up the surveys. Once those go through, I'll get the surveys themselves sent out.
So, this funny little scene won't get out of my head.
If we hit the next goal of $6000, I'll finish writing both the scene and a fun epilogue that kinda more or less inspired the scene.
This is involving the two main characters from the second book, Sorin, a dragon shifter, and Gia, a rather unique sort of Fae.
FYI...both speak sarcasm, but Gia is more...fluent than Sorin. What can I say...he's old and hasn't exactly kept up with the times. Gia's bringing him in the modern era, though.
Scene
Gia cuddled against Sorin's chest, body humming with satisfaction.
A deep sound rumbled out of him and she lifted her head, caught the sight of the smug smile on his face. His eyes glowed under heavy lids. One big hand came up to cradle the back of her head as he slanted his gaze her way. "Witchling."
"Dragon." He'd melted her brain. Again. And he knew it. She wasn't complaining, either. But...the smug arrogance...well, dragons were already arrogant enough. If she didn't do something on occasion to nip that arrogance in the bud...well, one of these days, he might try to come through the door and he'd find his head too big to fit through.
Pushing up onto her elbow, she traced the tip of her finger through a light smattering of chest hair. "I've been thinking..." She kept her voice thoughtful and her shields locked down tight. They were connected on a deep, deep level and she couldn't afford to let any of her thoughts leak out.
"Thinking." He chuckled. "Is that what we were just doing?"
She caught his chest hair and tugged. "I'm serious. Pay attention." Giving him a somber look, she added, "You mentioned a few months ago that you wanted me to think about having a child."
His brows arched and his lips parted.
She touched his lips. "I'm not saying I'm ready to, Sorin. Things are still really unsettled around us. But...well, I...I've got questions, baby."
"Talk to me," he urged, capturing her hand and pressing a gentle kiss to her palm. It was so gentle, she almost decided to let the joke go. Almost.
"Well...it's just...Sorin. You're part dragon." Giving him a wide-eyed stare, she hesitated.
"And you're Fae."
"Dragon, Sorin." She poked him in the arm. "I mean...that's almost like being...I don't know...oh, man. I can't ask this."
He sat up, his brows furrowing over his eyes. "Gia, what's wrong? What does me being dragon have to do with us having a child?"
"I feel silly now," she whispered, ducking her head. "Just let it go."
He cupped her chin. "Talk to me," he said again.
Finally, she huffed out a breath. "How is a pregnancy supposed to work, Sorin? Will I be pregnant...or will I...I dunno...lay an egg?"
For a moment, he just stared at her. After several heartbeats, he blinked. Then, finally, in a very careful voice, he said, "Did you just ask if you would lay an egg?"
Yes, I can write. I can even take pretty decent photographs. But... my 'art' skills are lacking.
Some of the fault is mine. I'm impatient. I always want to rush and I'm pretty sure when it comes to things like wet paint? That's a bad idea.
Words are better. Words don't drip and run together.
But I need a sign. I'm going to have a booth at a local Ren faire... for those in the general Louisville, Ky area, I'm going to be at the Louisville Ren Faire... and it's on the grounds of a castle. I've already got my garb. I've got books ordered. I've got the tent. Decorations for the tent are en route. But I need a sign. So I'm trying to make it. Hopefully it doesn't suck.
One thing I am good at?
Finding good artists.
Rinfuling is done with the first piece of art. This is Zee (short for Zinnia), from book 1.
I think I'm going to go with simple paintings like this for each of the characters individually and then have a more detailed one of each couple, although I'm not entirely sure yet.
But I'm excited! Do you like Ren Faires? If so, which ones have you been to?
First, let me apologize for the tardiness of this update. Second, apologies for the generic update, because this is going out to several campaigns.
That said…when last we met, I was trying to get over (another) health problem and trying to clear my office out so I could order another batch of books in for the followers of my Bear campaign. I was also wrapping up the updates on my Colbana files so I could start on formatting and adding the art, and working with the artist for the Preterns.
There is a fourth campaign, but I will be honest—I want to finish my Bear campaign before I start ordering in the pins for Pintopia. I still hope to complete shipping by early 2027, but I need to complete the Bear campaign first.
Bear/Kit/Preterns
As referenced in an earlier update, I’m limited on space – when I first started this campaign, that wasn’t the case. Middle Kid had recently graduated and moved out. Last summer, a friend of Youngest’s moved in. Then, early this year, my niece’s housing situation dissolved and now she’s living with us. Even the space I once had is gone, so I have to clear out in batches.
I still need to order the next round, which I should have already done.
This is where I owe another apology.
May is historically a terrible month for me as far as my depression goes due to the loss of my brother some years back. This year, I decided to do something rather than wait for the monthly slump. We vended at a ren faire, something I’ve wanted to do for years. It did help.
But it left me exhausted and my health problems have flared up. I’d get home Sunday, sleep most of Monday and have little energy or focus for work or anything else until Wednesday, at which point I’d have to drill down and focus on the next week’s faire and freelance work.
In addition, there are some family issues going on behind the scenes that are taking a lot out of me. Those are mostly resolved, but it's divided my attention more than I care to admit.
Unfortunately, this means I’ve let other things fall behind.
That includes backers of my campaigns and I apologize.
Bear
I’m planning on getting the next round of books in the mail within the next two-three weeks and the next batch of books ordered.
I’ll be getting another couple of rounds of orders sent out within the next month.
Colbana Files
I’m done with the revisions/bonus chapters and am going to be working on the formatting and adding the art in.
That will take several weeks to a couple of months, depending on if I need to commission any more art. The need for more art will depend on how everything flows with the formatting. I’ll use art to fill in the blank pages.
Preterns
I’m still working on book 3. My artist for the other books has offered to help handle the art since the artist I’d previously hired just didn’t quite meet my expectations, but that does mean more art going to one person. I’ll have an update here as soon as I’m able.
ABCs of Romance Pins
I hope to have a better idea of when I’ll be able to tackle this one once I’ve cleared my plate a little.
Long story short
I overloaded myself and I shouldn’t have. I apologize and I appreciate your patience.
Okay, so I found a new artist to create art for the second book in the omnibus. We spoke a little over a month ago, I saw the sketches and things looked good.
And...I've heard nothing since.
I know all about life interruptus so when I didn't back after the first couple of times I checked in, I didn't worry. But, as I said, it's been over a month since that initial contact and no news.
I think I'm going to have to look for another artist.
The good news, I'd only put a small deposit down.
The bad news...well, I have find another artist.
I might talk to Kmochi, who handles a lot of the art for my urban fantasy series, but that does mean she'll be working on two projects at once.
This is the first time I've had this happen so I guess I'll count myself lucky.
I had the ebook add-ons loaded to be distributed but I haven't started the process. It's required that I lock down the orders and I haven't done that yet, although I did start that just now.
I think I confused this with another project when I posted last night. I should have checked and I apologize for the confusion.
The ebook rewards going out...
The rewards will include the digital add-ons, not the omnibus, as it's still in the works.
It also won't include Night Blade as I'm still finishing up the artwork for that project.
The ebooks will be go out...
I'll get them distributed once the orders are locked. It's an automated process on Backerkit's end and I think it takes 48-72 hours. Once it's complete, I'll start distribution.
I'll post an update
I'll update here when the distribution is complete. Distribution will take place on Backerkit. If you're not familiar with how digital downloads work on Backerkit, read this article.
Sadly, there is no article to help with airhead authors like me. Again, my apologies!
