WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH?
Welcome to the monthly newsletter with all of the latest updates about my books, projects, blog, featured artwork, news, and more!
About the photograph featured in the heading: It’s a sneak peek at this month’s featured art piece! Any guesses about what it could be?
BOOK UPDATES
Chronicles of Avilésor (Book IV: Lab Rat)
Unfortunately, I don’t have the line edit back yet. However, I’m expecting it back any day! (Possibly even today!!)
This delay has put me a little behind schedule. The original estimate for the line edit based on the word count was six weeks, but it ended up being more like eleven weeks. Although slightly frustrating, I will say that delays like this aren’t a surprise for me anymore, which is exactly why I learned not to set a firm publication date until I was much closer to releasing the book.
The silver lining here is that the extra time gave me a chance to work on pulling reports from last year and getting my numbers together for taxes… which isn’t nearly as fun as editing, but it was better to get that boring business work out of the way so I can focus on the upcoming edits without that extra task demanding my attention.
Once I receive the line edit, I’ll be sending the glossary, pronunciation guide, and character list to the editor so she can dive into that bonus content and send me feedback. I also hope to finalize the Project Alpha floor plan this month.
A few weeks ago, Lab Rat received its official Library of Congress Preassigned Control Number (PCN)! I also photographed the materials I needed for the artwork on the back cover, although I still need to work some Photoshop magic to put it all together.
As a reminder, the Book IV preorders are still LIVE on my website! These preorders are for a special collector’s bundle that includes a numbered hardcover from the first print run, a bookmark featuring the cover image, the five buttons I designed for the novel, and a tea light of the Ghost Realm candle by Old Soul Artisan.
NOTE: if you select the local pickup option at HotSpot Café, Square might tell you that your order is ready. This is not correct. Preorders are technically a paid upgrade feature that I don’t have, so Square doesn’t know these are preorders rather than regular orders. (Hence why I put PREORDER in all caps in the title so customers know even if Square doesn’t.)
For more information about preordering Lab Rat, be sure to check out my blog post.
Inked: An Author’s Advice & Inspiration for Writers
No updates to report since my focus has been completely on Lab Rat.
Cobblestones
No updates to report at this time. So far, I’ve gathered 30 drawings, 20 photographs, and 15 poems.
SPRINGTIME KIT
Winter Kit headed into the vault for a long nap, but Springtime Kit is back to play! The seasonal sticker and keychain are available for a limited time at events and on my website.
NEW PRINTS & DISPLAY
My assistant and I took a little road trip last month to pick up a floor display for my postcards and notecards. Changing to this larger display opened up a lot more room on my art table and became an eye-catching feature at events last month. We were pleasantly surprised to notice how many people were drawn to it much more than they had been with the smaller countertop display!
The upgrade came just in time because I added new art prints to some of my products, including:
“Broken” and “Sorrow” as postcards, notecards, and mouse pads
“Amínytes” as postcards (not a new print, but I’d received requests for it on a postcard)
“It’s a Good Day to Read” as postcards and notecards
“Full Moon” as postcards, notecards, and mouse pads
“Werewolf’s Howl” as a brooch and necklace
I also received a large order of artboards last week (about 60… which meant I spent quite a bit of time opening each one and signing the back). This order was LONG overdue and included a lot of prints that had been waiting to join the collection:
“Sunflower Swallowtail”
“Titon”
“Aurora Borealis”
“Sorrow”
“Broken”
“It’s a Good Day to Read”
“Full Moon”
The Chronicles of Avilésor covers
Many of my other prints were low or out of stock, especially the larger 11x14 prints. I’m now fully stocked again! (Except, of course, for this month’s newest artwork.)
BOOKSTR FEATURE
If you’re on Instagram, be sure to check out my Bookstr feature from last month! I participated in one of their Author Questions episodes and answered “What tools and techniques do you use to write and create the worlds you are writing about?”
THE LIBRARY ARMY
Fans have been stepping up to the challenge on Discord and helping me get the Chronicles of Avilésor into local libraries! A few weeks ago, I published this informational post on my social media channels:
Did you know that you can help indie authors (like me) get our books into libraries? You actually have more power to make it happen than we do!
I recently had a conversation with a librarian that confirmed my own past experiences. I asked the library if they would carry the Chronicles of Avilésor since I'm a local author. When I sent a follow-up email later, the librarian told me that "[the books were] not ordered. But what you could post to your social media followers is that if they look for a book of yours at any library, and they do not find it there, request it."
When I approach libraries, I've found that every branch has its own policy. Some of them purchase my books directly from me at the wholesale price. Occasionally, they'll buy from me at the full retail price. Most order from my global distributor like they would for traditionally published books. Some refuse to carry my series at all simply because I'm self-published (even though I'm local and the books have received awards).
But ultimately, the BEST chance of my books making it onto a library shelf is for someone in the community to walk in and ask for them. That request carries a lot more clout than when the author reaches out.
When I contact a library, I'm just an author trying to sell my book. When a reader asks for it, that demonstrates there's real demand for the book/series in the community, and that means a drastically higher chance of the library ordering the book(s).
So... if you're a fan of my books (and/or another indie author's work), you can help us reach a lot more readers by paying a visit to your local library and asking for our titles!
My Discord community said, “Challenge accepted!” and started posting about the responses they received from their local library after requesting the books. Some of the libraries were already carrying the books, while others agreed to order copies for their shelf!
Below is a list of libraries that have been confirmed to carry at least the first book in the Chronicles of Avilésor series:
NOTE: Some libraries are independent branches. Others are part of a larger county-wide network, which means the books might be at certain branches in the network and rotate between locations as needed. This is common for small-town libraries that aren't big enough to keep many titles on their shelves all at once. *
(LP) - LaPorte County network
(PC) - Porter County network
(SJ) - St. Joe County network
(LC) - Lake County network
(WC) - Westchester network
(SC) - Starke County network
Coolspring (LP)
German Twp (SJ)
Fish Lake (LP)
Francis Branch (PC)
Galien
Hebron (PC)
Kingsford Heights (LP)
Kouts (PC)
Lacrosse
Lakeville (SJ)
LaPorte (LP)
LaSalle (SJ)
North Liberty (SJ)
Portage (PC)
River Park (SJ)
Rolling Prairie (LP)
South Haven (PC)
South Bend (SJ)
Tutt (SJ)
Union Mills (PC)
Valparaiso (PC)
Western Branch (SJ)
Westville
You don’t have to be on Discord to join my library army! Just stop by your local library and ask if they carry the Chronicles of Avilésor titles. If they don’t, see if they’d be willing to order them. Since my books are distributed through Ingram, they’re easily accessible to libraries. Let them know that I’m a local author if they need a little extra persuasion!
ARTWORK OF THE MONTH
Consumed © 2025
Once again, there’s a story behind this art. I experimented with a much more abstract style that took me two separate attempts and pushed me to use a medium that I’ve rarely used (although one of my most popular pieces was also done in this particular medium).
Level 2 and 3 patrons can learn more about the latest featured artwork and watch me draw it from start to finish in an exclusive timelapse video. In the post, I explain the inspiration behind the art, how the concept evolved, and the challenges I faced, as well as a look at the original attempt when I was experimenting with the style and medium vs. the final artwork. Here’s an excerpt:
"Consumed" ended up visualizing the way creativity wells up until it can no longer be contained. It has to escape, and for those of us prone to hyperfixation, it often feels like an explosion. But, while it can sometimes be a negative obsession that consumes the creator and prevents them from living in the moment, it can also result in something beautiful... like wings.
If you aren’t already a patron, you can purchase access to this particular post for $3 (the lowest amount Patreon will allow me to set) OR sign up for a free seven-day trial.
PATREON UPDATES
Subscribers get exclusive content emailed straight to their inbox every time I publish a new post! I offer three membership tiers with varying perks: Human ($5), Kálos ($10), and Alpha ($15). New patrons, depending on their tier, can unlock over 400 posts! Here are the latest posts since the last newsletter:
• Upcoming event announcements
• Author Q&A submitted by a patron: What would a squirrel Amínyte look like? (A regular squirrel, or an Avilésian variety?)
• Updates to the prize membership perk at events
• Sneak peek at a scene from Chapter 9 of Lab Rat
• Book IV publication updates, including background information about the PCN, ISBNs, etc.
• Business news & updates about some obstacles with my 2025 event schedule, current projects, line edit expectations, etc.
• Timelapse video of “Consumed” + details about the inspiration and challenges when drawing the art
$5 a month isn’t much, but these small subscriptions really do add up and help me cover the publishing costs for upcoming books in the series along with other business expenses such as vendor fees, website costs, and more. Thank you to my subscribers for your support!! 🖤
For more information about the membership tiers and how subscriptions/donations support my business, check out this FAQ page on my website.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
Ways to Leverage Your Newsletter (Beyond Signups & Sales)
My advice about why a newsletter is important for authors and how you can set realistic goals and expectations rather than solely focusing on the number of subscribers you have.
Entrepreneur Tip: 9 Hacks to Save Money for Your Slow Season
I share some of the ways I’ve learned to generate passive revenue, tuck money aside during the busy season, earn cash back on purchases, collaborate with other businesses, and more.
RECENT EVENTS
March 8-9: Spring Artisan Market in South Bend, IN
March 15-16: Shipshewana On The Road in Valparaiso, IN
March 29: BookCon in South Bend, IN
April 5: Fandom Fest in Benton Harbor, MI
UPCOMING EVENTS
My 2025 calendar is still falling into place with pending applications! Be sure to check my website for the most up-to-date list.
To receive event reminders, you can join my Discord server, follow me on Facebook or Buy Me a Coffee, or become a Patreon subscriber. Here's the current schedule of events:
Friday, April 11, 2025
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 12, 2025
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 13, 2025
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Kalamazoo Expo Center
Kalamazoo, MI
NAPPANEE SPRING MARKET
Saturday, April 26, 2025
8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Claywood Event Center
Nappanee, IN
SOUTHERN INDIANA RENAISSANCE FAIRE
Friday, May 02, 2025
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday, May 03, 2025
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Sunday, May 04, 2025
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Swifty Farms
Seymour, IN
ROYAL STAGG RENAISSANCE FAIRE
Saturday, May 10, 2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday, May 11, 2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cornwell's Turkeyville
Marshall, MI
SOUTHERN INDIANA RENAISSANCE FAIRE
Saturday, May 24, 2025
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Sunday, May 25, 2025
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Swifty Farms
Seymour, IN
REBEL ART FEST
Sunday, June 01, 2025
12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Potawatomi Park
South Bend, IN
PRIDE FEST
Saturday, June 14, 2025
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Guy Foreman Amphitheater
Michigan City, IN
ROXX MUSIC FEST
Friday, June 20, 2025
3:00 pm - 12:00 am
Saturday, June 21, 2025
3:00 pm - 12:00 am
Portage Mall
Portage, IN
CHESTERTON'S EUROPEAN MARKET
Saturday, August 02, 2025
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Broadway & Third Street
Chesterton, IN
MICHIANA REN FEST
Saturday, August 23, 2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday, August 24, 2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
St. Joe County 4H Fairgrounds
South Bend, IN
Friday, August 29, 2025
12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday, August 30, 2025
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday, August 31, 2025
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Monday, September 01, 2025
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Centennial Park
Plymouth, IN
SUNFLOWER FAIR
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Michigan Avenue
La Porte, IN
WOLF HOLLOW WITCHES MARKET
Saturday, October 4, 2025
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Boone County Fairgrounds
Belvidere, IN
20th ANNUAL GARDENING SHOW
Saturday, January 31, 2026
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Porter County Expo Center
Valparaiso, IN
SHOP
If you can’t catch me at a local event, my website is the next best place to shop! Many of my products are available online, including notecards, keychains, buttons, postcards, bookmarks, stickers, mouse pads, novelty CoA merch, and autographed books. Some products, such as my canvas prints, puzzles, resin book holders, and build-your-own bookmarks, are still event-exclusive.
Browse my custom designs on apparel and accessories produced and shipped by Spring. Shop for Chronicles of Avilésor designs plus others inspired by reading and writing (and my popular banned books graphic).
In 2020, I partnered with Old Soul Artisan — a small USA business operated by an amazingly creative woman — to make a custom candle fragrance inspired by my book series. Ghost Realm is a blend of apple, cedar, chrysanthemum, and green leaf that captures the essence of Avilésor. Online purchases help to support wolf conservation!
