Q2 Update 2025
Here we find ourselves again, considering both how much and how little was accomplished over the previous quarter.
Lol it’s not actually that bad; let’s get into it!
Release
We DID have a release last quarter! It wasn’t a new book, but it was the audio of Lost Blades. Huzzah!
Currently, this is only available on Amazon and my direct store, but only because my other distributor is having some sort of issue. I’ve reached out, and hopefully it will be resolved soon?
Writing and Edits
Hmmm this is going to be the sad section haha.
Now, it’s not all bad — I have officially started the draft for Seas of Rot! Which is exciting!
The less good news is that it is currently ~250 non-consecutive words XD
SOOOO THEN — obviously the goal is to buff up that number over the next quarter haha. Though I will say I haven’t been doing absolutely nothing; I’ve been considering my map and some other bits that are necessary for me to get a grasp on some of the aspects of this story, so… there’s that, at least?
I’ve also been working on a new set of primary source documents, the first of which should be hitting this blog next week! That sort of ran away with me; I put far more thought into that than I probably needed to, but here we are. Eventually, I do plan on gathering all the primary source documents blog posts and publishing them as a supplemental collection, but that’s still quite a ways down the line. Still, it’s something that’s on my radar.
Other
So then…. what else did I do? lol
I had several in-person events over the quarter, and lined a few more up for the summer.
I also have been working more on art! Most notably, perhaps, are the 30 custom emotes I made for the Discord. These were fun to do, but they took forever haha. I also have a couple illustrations of Jeri and Takeshi in-progress that I’d like to finish traditionally, marker and colored pencil.
Several of my books also progressed through various awards. Colors of Magic is a finalist for the Indie Ink Awards in the categories of Prettiest Book Interior and Bi-Representation, and Blades Reforged is a finalist for the Indieverse Awards, in the categories of Best Self Published, Best Fantasy, Character with the Most Growth, Chosen One I’m Glad was Chosen, and Magic System I Wish Was Real :D
Even If We're Broken By A.M. Weald, Fire Fox By Amanda Sloothaak, The Ballad of Robin and King Richard BY ARTUR FAYE, Scars Like Wings By Chelsey J. León, Becoming Mallory By Elaine Evans, Higanbana By Jake Vanguard, The Shoreline By Kristina Carmela, Blades Reforged By Liz Sauco, The Many Mistakes of Amy Love By RA Hunter, The Duchess and the Indigo Child By Scott A. Clark
The Reverence Chosen By Amena Jamali, Dad Magic By Benjamin Twigg, Scars Like Wings By Chelsey J. León, Where Golden Feathers Fall By Helen Rygh-Pedersen, Secrets and Stardust By Jeannin Counts, EARTHBOUND BY KATEE STEIN, Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart By Lindsey Brounstein, Blades Reforged By Liz Sauco, Of Hoarfrost and Blood By Scarlet Tempest, The Gifted Society By Tatiana White
I Do CHAOS By D. W. Brooks, Where the Wildflowers Lay By Elora Maxwell, Lovehurts By Genalea Barker, Heroic Measures BY JOEL SHULKIN, MD, Blades Reforged By Liz Sauco, Ribbonwood By Ruby Landers, The Duchess and the Indigo Child By Scott A. Clark, The Storm King By Sheila Masterson
The Reverence Chosen By Amena Jamali, Superficial By Diane Billas, Unforgivable By Jenn Lessmann, Between Roses and Evergreens By Rowen Elwood, Blades Reforged By Liz Sauco, The Cadence of Crowns By R.V. Wilbur, Keepers of the Crossing: The Dark Friars BY RYAN J HAMSHAW, The Gifted Society By Tatiana White
Dad Magic By Benjamin Twigg, Scars Like Wings By Chelsey J. León, With This Witch By Isla Winter, Unforgivable By Jenn Lessmann, Blades Reforged By Liz Sauco, A Captured Cauldron: Rules for Compulsory Brews By R.K. Ashwick, The Palace of Spires and Darkness By Stephanie Fernandez, Goleah's Lore By Xyvah M. Okoye
I also spent a lot of time this quarter taking a bit of a break, something that is necessary. I played a lot of Stardew Valley, earning a respectable $5.6 million in the first two years, letting Grandpa’s soul rest. I also married Harvey, ran Joja Mart out of town, had a child, and became the economic center of the region, with expansions to Ginger Island in progress.
Looking Forward
Because I usually do so well with what I write in this last bit XD
The major goal for this quarter is to get more actual words down for the Seas of Rot draft. I don’t think I’ll finish it this quarter, but I would at least like to have most of it done by the time I’m writing the July Q3 Update on this blog. My brother suggested I watch some Pirates of the Caribbean as an inspiration; maybe I’ll do that!
I would also like to get Blades Reforged up on Campfire, even if it doesn’t have a ton of extra content. Having the series complete on there would be nice regardless.
Since the audio for Lost Blades is complete, that means we are working on the audio for Broken Blades! Being able to get a bunch of this done this quarter would also be great.
And finally, continue working on art.
That’s it for this update. I hope everyone else’s year has been… manageable, if nothing else. I know times are a little on the rough side for everyone at the moment, but keep hanging in there. We can do it!!!
Cheers!
