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! This month’s newsletter is a little bit late due to traveling for an event in southern Indiana over the weekend.
About the photograph featured in the heading: I took this photo in my backyard a few years ago.
GENERAL UPDATES
Last month, I was tied up with taxes, event applications, and other less-than-glamorous business tasks happening behind the scenes, so I wasn’t very active on social media or Patreon while I was busy sifting through sales reports and spreadsheets.
I didn’t feel very productive doing such tedious work, but I made it through that dull (yet necessary) part of being an entrepreneur, and now I can get back to focusing on being creative again!
BOOK UPDATES
Chronicles of Avilésor (Book IV: Lab Rat)
Finally, some good news! I received the line edit last week!
This is the final phase of editing. Then comes formatting, and finally, the proofing stage. After that, Book IV will be ready for readers!!!
The line edit was delayed by about seven weeks, so I’m definitely behind my anticipated schedule. But… that happens. That’s exactly why I don’t announce a target publication date too soon. (By my fourth novel, I’ve learned my lesson!)
I also received the glossary, pronunciation guide, and character list from the editor, along with notes about the floor plan layout that will become the fourth map in the book. I have a LOT to do, but now that taxes are behind me and the edits are in hand, I can finally jump in! I hope to make good progress over the next few weeks, but May is going to be a very busy month with event season now officially in full swing and a lot more traveling than usual.
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.
TRINKET TRADE
I introduced a fun new feature to the booth for Renaissance faires, comic-cons, Pride festivals, and other relevant events! Visitors now have an opportunity to swap trinkets at my booth.
I introduced the trinket bowl at the Kalamazoo Comic-Con and then again at the Southern Indiana Renaissance Faire, and it was popular at both events. I’m enjoying seeing how the collection drastically evolves each time!
I’ll continue to bring it to certain events, although it won’t be out for regular markets.
For context (for those who might not know exactly what this is all about), it's common for people at conventions and Ren faires to trade small items with each other. Some people make bracelets to give out or carry a pouch of beads, buttons, charms, and other miscellaneous objects to trade. The objects don't have to be valuable; we're basically just a bunch of crows who like collecting knickknacks!
HOTSPOT RESTOCK
After selling out of Boba Kit keychains and a full set of paperbacks, I dropped off some more keychains and hardcovers (which previously had not been for sale there, only paperbacks) at HotSpot Café in La Porte, IN.
Paperbacks will be restocked very soon!
As a reminder for locals, you can select HotSpot as a pickup location if you order anything from my website.
“CONSUMED” ART PRINT
Last month’s featured artwork “Consumed” has now joined “Broken” and “Sorrow” as a notecard (individual or pack), mouse pad, postcard, and puzzle. It might become a necklace and brooch in the near future, too!
Puzzles are still event-exclusive, but the other products are available on my website.
ARTWORK OF THE MONTH
Madison Tarrow © 2025
Madison was one of the first character sketches that I did back in 2021, but I’ve always struggled with drawing middle-aged characters. They end up looking either too young or too old; it’s tricky to get the wrinkles and textures right without drastically aging the person.
After several years of practice drawing other characters, I decided it was time to take another stab at Madison! I included the 2021 version next to the latest iteration so you can see the difference. 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.
If you aren’t already a patron, you can purchase access to this post for $3 (the lowest amount Patreon will allow me to set) OR sign up for a free seven-day trial to unlock the full archive.
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
• Book & event statistics from 2024
• News about Book IV’s line edit
• Timelapse video of Madison Tarrow’s character sketch + details about the techniques and challenges
$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
5 Tips to Help Authors Sell More Books in Person
Basic yet impactful strategies I’ve learned from other authors as well as personal trial and error over the last few years as a vendor at events
Author Q&A: Should You Make Your Books Returnable?
Exploring the pros and cons of this often-overlooked decision that indie authors have to make when it comes to book distribution
RECENT EVENTS
April 11-13: Kalamazoo Comic-Con in Kalamazoo, MI
April 26: Nappanee Spring Market in Nappanee, IN
May 2-4: Southern Indiana Renaissance Faire in Seymour, 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:
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
CHESTERTON EUROPEAN MARKET
Saturday, May 17, 2025
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Broadway & Third Street
Chesterton, IN
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 1, 2025
12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Potawatomi Park
South Bend, IN
KZOO PRIDE
Saturday, June 7, 2025
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Arcadia Creek Festival Place
Kalamazoo, MI
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
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, June 28, 2025
3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Central Park
Mishawaka, IN
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
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 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
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
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!
