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: I pulled this photo from my archives. It was taken in 2013 when I took a trip to the beach with a friend, who also happens to be the photographer responsible for my author photo in Phantom’s Mask.
GENERAL UPDATES
I’m right in the middle of event season and trying to juggle many projects all at once. The most important, of course, being Book IV. However, I’ve been struggling a bit with my mental health and am trying very hard to successfully walk the tightrope between staying productive and not burning out.
Events have been going well, which is great! But it also means that I’ve had a hard time keeping some of my products in stock. Luckily, I’m finally catching up to restock some of my most popular art prints and get the books back on local shelves.
BOOK UPDATES
Chronicles of Avilésor (Book IV: Lab Rat)
I’m more than 2/3 of the way through the line edit. Most of the revisions have been minor technical changes, although I did encounter a chapter that needed some rewrites to address the line editor’s concerns. I’m still making some tweaks to that chapter.
I’ve recruited a few ARC (Advance Reader Copy) reviewers who are going to help me with the proofreading phase once the file is ready to be sent to the printing facility. These readers will start with the digital version while the books are in production, and then they’ll receive one of only a few proof hardcovers once they arrive. Hopefully, the extra sets of eyes will help me find any final typos/errors that might have slipped through. After that, the hardcover will be off to the presses while the paperback and ebook are being formatted!
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 mini 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. I’m planning to type the poems on an old-fashioned typewriter rather than the computer to give the book a little extra charm!
NEW LOCAL RETAILER
Books and Whimsy, a bookstore in downtown La Porte, IN, is now carrying the Chronicles of Avilésor! In addition to autographed paperbacks and hardcovers, they also have some of my book-themed stickers and keychains available for purchase as well. I’ve already had to restock after they sold out of the first set of paperbacks almost immediately!
RESTOCKED AT HOTSPOT
Books and Whimsy wasn’t the only location in La Porte to sell out of the paperback set! HotSpot Café was also completely sold out of paperbacks, so I made a trip to restock and grab my favorite bubble tea. Thanks to a recent donation from a supporter on Buy Me a Coffee for giving me an excuse to treat myself! 😊
NEW KIT EMOJIS
Patreon subscribers got the very first look at a new batch of Kit emojis before they dropped on the Discord server this weekend. Welcome Sleepy Kit, Popcorn Kit, Unamused Kit, and Bookworm Kit!
These four new designs, along with Birthday Kit I released at the end of February, will be included in an upcoming sticker order that will also include more of my art prints. Level 2 and 3 patrons will receive complimentary stickers to complete their emoji collections as a membership perk.
SUMMER KIT IS BACK!
Springtime Kit (right) has officially gone back into the vault for a nap until next year, but Summer Kit (left) is here to play for the season! Keychains and stickers of this design are for sale at my event booth and on my website for a limited time until she also goes back into the vault.
NEW PRODUCT: FEATHER PENS
Last month, I introduced a test run of a new product. These black feather pens are an event-exclusive item at my booth. Calypso thinks they’re pretty neat!
NEW CHARACTER BOOKMARK SIDE
Madison Tarrow has joined the build-your-own bookmark lineup at the event booth! I’ll eventually be adding her to the book print collection as well… but I’m looking to upgrade my printer, so that might need to happen first.
RESIN BOOK PAGE HOLDERS
I teamed up with Dead Arts, a local resin artist, to create some new book page holders for me. This is a product that I had been making myself using UV resin, colored foil, and dried flowers, but I simply haven’t had the time to make more and restock.
Dead Arts uses epoxy resin, which is more durable (but takes much longer to cure). The first batch incorporated mica powder and coffee grounds, but keep an eye out for other unique materials in future batches!
(Check out Dead Arts on Facebook and Instagram)
ARTWORK OF THE MONTH
“Support Series” © 2025
My latest art project was a combination of hand-painted and digital. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while and finally pulled the trigger in anticipation of placing a large sticker order soon.
These designs will be arriving on large buttons first, then stickers… and possibly keychains in the future, but I haven’t decided for sure. I chose places, professions, and causes that are tied directly to my own small business, close to my heart, and in need of support.
Level 2 and 3 patrons can learn more about the latest featured artwork and watch me paint the hearts and do the digital edits in an exclusive timelapse video.
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
• Sneak peek at Chapter 2 of Lab Rat (requested by a patron!)
• Member check-in to make sure everyone is up to date with merch and has a chance to let me know about any preferences for how their name might appear in Book IV
• The top five mistakes my line editor flagged in the manuscript
• Timelapse video of this month’s featured artwork being created
• News, updates, and currents projects happening behind the scenes
• Update on the collaboration with the Gaming Geeks in 2023 + a potential NEW collaboration with a new business (currently in the works, not official yet)
• First look at the new Kit emojis before they launched
$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
Perspective: The Freedom of an Indie Author
I initially thought that I wanted to publish the Chronicles of Avilésor through one of the Big Five traditional publishing houses, but after a lot of research, I decided to self-publish instead and have never regretted that decision.
5 Lessons I Learned as a Professional Artist
From handling unsolicited critiques to deciding what types of products to sell, I discuss tips and advice for artists based on my experience selling art at events.
RECENT EVENTS
June 7: Kzoo Pride in Kalamazoo, MI
June 14: Pridefest in Michigan City, IN
June 20-21: Roxx Fest in Portage, IN
June 28: Independence Day Celebration in Mishawaka, IN
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:
CHESTERTON EUROPEAN MARKET
Saturday, July 12, 2025
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Broadway & Third Street
Chesterton, IN
BATTLE CREEK PRIDE
Saturday, July 19, 2025
12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Leila Arboretum
Battle Creek, MI
ARTS IN THE STREET FESTIVAL
Saturday, July 26, 2025
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Historic Downtown
Plymouth, IN
CHESTERTON EUROPEAN MARKET
Saturday, August 2, 2025
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Broadway & Third Street
Chesterton, IN
ART BEAT
Saturday, August 9, 2025
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Downtown
South Bend, IN
OUTFest
Saturday, August 16, 2025
4:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Downtown Lafayette, 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
BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL
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 1, 2025
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Centennial Park
Plymouth, IN
POPCORN FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 6, 2025
8:00 am - 6:30 pm
Downtown
Valparaiso, IN
NWI PAGAN PRIDE
Saturday, September 13, 2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Lake County Fairgrounds
Crown Point, IN
SUNFLOWER FAIR
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Michigan Avenue
La Porte, IN
BIZARRE BAZAAR
Saturday, September 27, 2025
1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Porter County Expo Center
Valparaiso, IN
WOLF HOLLOW WITCHES MARKET
Saturday, October 4, 2025
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Boone County Fairgrounds
Belvidere, IN
LODGE CON
Saturday, November 1, 2025
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 2, 2025
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Will County Fairgrounds Atrium
Peotone, IL
20th ANNUAL GARDENING SHOW
Saturday, January 31, 2026
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Porter County Expo Center
Valparaiso, IN
KALAMAZOO COMIC-CON
Friday, April 10, 2026
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 11, 2026
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 12, 2026
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Kalamazoo Expo Center
Kalamazoo, MI
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!
