To start, I’m throwing a sort of “end of summer” sale. You can grab any of my stories as an eBook for $2.99 from today, August 21st to August 24th. The list below includes all the available books, so check which ones you might not have and consider grabbing them while they’re on sale!

Speak the Truth Volume 1
Speak the Truth Volume 2
Speak the Truth Volume 3

Bare Your Teeth
Sharpen Your Claws

Serving the Undying King

Verdant

The Not So Super Hero

You, Me, and Bad Movies

Whisper Woods

This sale also includes The Curse of Indy Moore by Sarah Barlowe, my second pen name, so you can grab that too, if you’d like!

As for updates, I’ve mentioned across social media that my books have been stolen over the past year. I have noticed a drop in sales that matches exactly to when they were uploaded, and it has gotten progressively much worse over time, to the point that I have been incredibly stressed this summer and forced to consider an alternative career. I love writing, but if these assholes continue to harm indie creators such as myself, then I am just one of many forced to accept that being an artist simply isn’t a respected profession. People sure love to consume our work but not support us.

The good news is that I found myself a part-time job. My first day is Monday. Please, keep your fingers crossed for me. This could be perfect, depending on how things play out. I’m mostly relieved that it’s a fairly nice part-time opportunity. While I am searching for potential full-time jobs that won’t drain me of every ounce of my creativity, this will certainly make do.

As for writing, I also mentioned that I am looking into editing more of my works that were previously free. If people are going to steal, then I need to get expand my backlist. If you’ve been around a while, you might have read Fools in Love. If not, it’s a modern romance about an introverted college student who grabs the attention of a popular actor. This is a very light-hearted fluffy romance inspired by my love of kdramas, but not as dramatic lol I’m working on getting this one out, so that will probably be my next project.

I still want to work on the world of Verdant. I’ve got ideas for other couples that take place in the same universe, but I’ve been too stressed lately to write anything. Once this new job starts and I catch up on bills, I am hopeful that I can sit down and get stuff done, maybe even commission artwork of future and past stories.

Let me know what kind of art you would like to see and which characters. I can’t promise anything soon because, again, bills, but after I save up a bit, I absolutely want to make artwork a more regular thing.

Yeah, that’s about it. I’ve had a wild summer, that’s for sure, and I am really hoping that things can go uphill. At least for a bit. I need a break x_x

Until next time, toodles~

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Ebooks are available from most major retailers. Paperbacks AND hardcovers are available on Amazon.

I’m not just saying this, the hardcover of this one? Top tier. Beautiful beyond words. I know a lot of people prefer paperbacks, but the opportunity was too good to pass up, so it’s there for anyone interested.

To those who have the ARC, please rate and review wherever you can!

The release week is most important because this is when the book is most likely to get any traction. Thank you to those who have already rated and reviewed. I know life happens and you cannot always get around to ARCs, but please don’t rush and remember that you can rate and review some other time. It’s just really helpful to do so around the launch.

If any of you have social media, please consider posting and sharing the launch. Word of mouth works wonders. I’ve posted the cover and a couple of images I have been using to promote below, if anyone wants to save, create, or try sharing wherever they can.

As always, thank you for coming on this journey with me. I hope you come to love Foster and Sylas as much as I have :)

As a little update on the side, I have sent out more emails trying to get audiobooks, as well as potentially working with book boxes. I haven’t heard anything back yet, but keep your fingers crossed for good news? And ofc, keep sharing and talking about your fav books because you never know who may see it and offer a grand opportunity.

Stay safe and cool this summer, enjoy your reading, until next time,

Toodles~

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With my eleventh book releasing July 7th, I thought perhaps I should make a video talking a little about all my books. I’ve had readers ask that I talk about my writer’s journey too, so I am considering making another video about that. If any of you want something else, let me know and I can figure out if this is something I can do regularly. Editing was easier than expected, although I didn’t do anything other than cut all the times I misspoke or forgot what to say lol

Anywho, check out the video, and as a reminder, Serving the Undying King is available as an ARC. Grab a copy while you can! Rate and review wherever you can. Share and tell your friends, all that jazz, and as always, thank you for being here with me on this journey!

HAPPY PRIDE!

You may have noticed I didn’t send out an email last month, and that’s because I wanted to put this all together. Nobody likes to feel like they’re being spam emailed y’know~

The time has finally come; Serving the Undying King is the epic vampire x witch MM romantasy with Merthur vibes is ready for the world.

Let’s see that cover, shall we? :D

YAHOO! How gothic! How pretty! How vampiric? lol I love it and I hope everyone is as crazy about it as I am <3

I tend to go for character art, but I wanted to try out a typography cover for this one, which I also really love, so please give a round of applause for Sage & Fable for this fantastic cover, and BIG NEWS!

This will be available as an ebook, paperback, AND a hardcover on July 7th!

Also, my first attempt at hardcovers, so let’s see how this goes. But until then, you are welcome to grab an ARC copy where I have three sample chapters available so you can get an idea of what you are jumping into.

ARCs will be available until June 30th, so grab an ARC now!

Or you can pre-order the eBook across most major retailers. Paperbacks and hardcovers will only be available on Amazon. This one isn’t in KU, but it will be available on Kobo Plus. Add it to your goodreads or storygraph lists, too!

Until next time,

Toodles~

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First, I would like to thank everyone for supporting Verdant’s release last month. I appreciate all the love! It never gets easier to release a book. There are always nerves and second guessing myself, so it’s always nice to hear from readers when they enjoy a book :)

Reminder, if you didn’t get around to reading Verdant’s ARC, I completely understand. You are welcome to rate and review whenever you have the time. I haven’t had a lot of time to read lately either, so I totally get life happens.

Speaking of life, I have started something pretty exciting. I opened a wholesale form for indie bookstores to buy directly from me in hopes of having my books stocked in their stores! I can only afford to offer this to US based stores, however, if any of you would like a signed copy of my book at your local indie store, you can always mention me to them, and they might stock my work. I have already sent out a package to A Novel Romance in Louisville, Kentucky so if you live nearby, feel free to stop and check if my books are available!

As for what comes next, I am working on two books. One you may have heard of if you’ve been around for a while, Serving the Undying King. This is a previously published work on the tapas app. It was under contract, so I had to keep it exclusive there for a year. Now I have the freedom to do what I want with it! I’m finishing up editing and considering releasing it sometime this summer.

Here’s the summary:

Sylas Sarraze, the newly crowned Undying King, is on a destructive path that threatens to tear him and his country apart. Plagued by paranoia and haunted by enemy spies, his last hope lies with his first love, Foster Laywell.

A witch with a past that he can’t escape, Foster must risk everything for the love of his life that he thought he lost a decade ago. But Sylas has changed since fate tore them apart, and their reunion is nothing like Foster could have hoped.

Now working as Sylas’ personal attendant, can they find a way to share their pasts and reconcile their present to save their future?

Regret and revenge, love and loss, secrets and paranoia, Foster and Sylas are about to test it all through an epic romance riddled by mysteries that may tear them apart for good.

If you like vampire x witch romantasy books, then this one is for you. It is a stand-alone, so it’ll all be wrapped up nicely in the end.

As for the second book, this one is currently untitled but it’s part of the Verdant universe. As I expressed before, I will have more books set in this world following different characters, although there will be appearances and/or mentions of characters from Verdant, so keep your eyes open for that~

This one is a second chance romance full of angst! I am not too far into it, so I have no idea when I might get it out. Serving the Undying King is further along, obviously, so that will be the priority, but keep your fingers crossed. Maybe I can get this one out by the end of the year.

Other than that, I have returned to playing World of Warcraft. What can I say, let me build a house in something and you’ve got me! I’ve also been watching One Piece, the anime and live action. I always saw bits of One Piece, but I never watched it from the start, so I thought I’d have it on while I’m playing WoW. I’m up to ep. 63 and I want to get a bit further before watching season two of the live action, but I’ve been enjoying it.

My father and I have also started taking daily walks. I’ve been using my stationary bike as a way to get some exercise, seeing as my work has me sitting at a desk all day. However, a bike still has me sitting and it’s inside, so I figured with the weather getting nice that I’d walk instead. Somehow, I convinced my dad to go. He’s even less of an outdoorsy person than I am, so this is a big deal. We’ve been doing really well when it isn’t pouring down rain and it’s a good way for me to daydream story ideas.

I hope you’re all enjoying the coming spring weather! I am someone who loves thunderstorms, so this is my time of year.

Until next time, toodles~

The time has come; it is the 12th and Verdant is out in the world. You can grab a paperback or ebook copy through Amazon. If you have Kindle Unlimited, it’s also available there :)

Verdant

I can hardly believe this is my tenth book self-published. While I’ve been publishing my work for a while now, I initially started with webnovel serialization. It wasn’t as intense as all this, although I’m glad I started there. I think serialization has made this process a little easier for me.

I’d like to thank everyone for the support, all my beta readers, ARC readers, those who have been following me since my Wattpad and/or Tapas days! This is all thanks to you because I never imagined myself as an author. I wrote online for fun because I had nowhere else to put my stories. I didn’t think anyone would really care but look at where I’m at now. It’s mind boggling, honestly, and I have even more to do, more stories I want to share.

If you’re an ARC reader, please consider leaving a rating and review wherever you can! Now that Verdant is published, you can leave a review on Amazon. The initial launch is the most important time to get the word out, but if you’re busy, I understand. Get to it whenever you can because reviews are always helpful! Especially for indie authors. We gotta do a lot to get the word out about our stories, so when readers tag in it’s always a relief.

Thanks again. I hope you love Verdant as much as I do and keep your eyes open for my next project! I don’t know which one will be ready first, the next book in Verdant’s universe or a vampire romance that I had on a webserial site, so we shall see.

Listen, I’m a mood reader and that also means I am a mood writer. My brain switches up what it wants to write about in an instant, don’t judge me lol

Until next time,

Toodles~

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Finally, the time has come for the cover reveal of my spicy sci-fi mm romance; Verdant.

And the gorgeous full spread that demands to be on your bookshelf!

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They’re gorgeous and I love them, Your Honor. May we all thank kvaksha for this stunningggg cover. The little sci-fi details they added that I didn’t even ask for are chef’s kiss, and this is why human art is the best art :D

And, of course, the time has come for ARCs!

I am not using Booksprout anymore, so hopefully this will be easier since you won’t have to make an account or anything. All you need to do is follow the link below and have an email address.

Verdant ARC

Once you apply, you will be part of my ARC team and can receive ARCs in the future, too. I could apply everyone who subscribed to my newsletter, but I don’t want to assume everyone wants to be an ARC reader, so I’m doing it this way. The ARC will be sent to your email, so make sure to check your spam folders just in case.

The release date is February 12th, so please try to rate and review by then!

Of course, I know life happens and if you get it in later, that’s totally understandable. Please don’t stress yourselves about it. Rating and reviewing helps indie authors and our books, so we’re just happy to get them whenever you have the time.

You can now pre-order the ebook on Amazon and if you have Kindle Unlimited you can have it sent to your library on the release date. I am trying KU again, so Amazon is the only place Verdant will be available at the moment. I may put it up elsewhere in a few months, but for now, that’s where it will be.

Verdant eBook Preorder

I hope you get to read Verdant and come to love these two as much as I do! I want to write more in this universe, so expect more sci-fi in the future. Not the immediate future because I am editing a romantasy atm but eventually lol

Until next time,

Toodles~

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Tis the holiday season and I have been somehow busy and not busy lol Family stuff has been going on, as I imagine it is for many others. There have been days of decorating, baking, and some babysitting because school is crazy this time of year. I also received another update about the cover for VERDANT, so hey, what a great gift for the holidays, right?

HOW EXCITING! I’m really loving it so far. There’s rendering to do and some more additions, but oof, it’s already looking so good, and I cannot wait to see the finished product! I hope you’re all as excited to read about these two as I am to share. I’ve been itching to release this, but this year has been rough and it’s taking longer than I wanted.

Other than that, I am obsessed with Heated Rivalry, as I think a lot of this community is lol I’ve watched episode three… four times already. Mind you, I watched the season yesterday, so… yeah… four times in less than forty-eight hours.

I never read sports romance books because I don’t care about sports and I haven’t been in a modern romance mood for a loooooong time. However, I went ahead and read them and I’m obsessed. Role Model is my favorite with Tough Guy being a close second, so I really hope there will be more seasons to cover the other characters, even if we just get one or two episodes.

Of course, the issue now is that I want to write a sports romance. Go figure lol I am such a mood reader and a mood writer, which is why I have a hard time writing series because my brain bounces between ideas. But hey, maybe one day!

I hope you’re all staying warm and safe. If you’re celebrating the holidays, may they be awesome! If not, may you reap the benefits of good left-over food lol

Until next year, toodles~

I hope you’re all staying warm. It has been getting very cold where I am and we saw our first snow the other day. I love sweater weather. All my blankets are out and ready for cuddling. Soup is being made. My dad and I are on day two of our vegetable soup and bread rolls, which is pure perfection in my mind. And perfect timing for it because I caught the first winter cold and now it has passed onto him. Not my fault. I stayed away. We’re blaming the cats. We kiss all over them and they must be carrying germs, but that’s okay because they’re cute lol

Anywho, I am happy to share the first sneak peek of the cover for VERDANT, my upcoming stand-alone romance that I’ve been talking about. Here is the sketch and I am hoping to have the final piece sometime in January (if not December,) which should also be when ARCs go out!

Isn’t it wonderfullllll hehehehehehe the artist is kkvaksha and I barely managed to commission them because their slots were almost full and kasjdlskdjflskdjf it was dumb luck I got there in time. So happy I did because the sketch is already looking AMAZING!

This is the full wrap for the paperback. I’m also going to put this one up on Amazon exclusively so it can be on Kindle Unlimited. I know a lot of readers use that because it’s cheaper for them, so I’m going to test that out with this one, and potentially the rest set in this universe, depending on how things go.

Other than that, I’ve just been trying to work steadily on the next book set in this universe, which follows the son of earth’s ambassador as he’s kidnapped by a sexy space pirate because who doesn’t love space pirates? lol I’ve got a couple of series ideas but idk I feel like doing these stand alones. Maybe I’ll be more open to a series after I’ve finished the sequel to The Curse of Indy Moore, the cozy romantasy I wrote under my second pen name, which you can also read on KU.

I’ve been keeping up with campaign 4 of Critical Role, played Dispatch (which I loved,) finished season two of Hazbin Hotel, watched the first three episodes of The Mighty Nein, and I’m trying to read more because I fell into a bit of a slump the last month or so. Either I’m reading two books a week or none for a month+, there is no in between.

I hope you’re all doing well and are as excited for the final cover of VERDANT as I am! I know it’s holiday seasons for some of us and those can be rough. Please take care of your mental health, spend time with friends, do things that bring you joy and stay healthy out there!

Until next time, toodles~

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Early, but I wasn’t waiting until the last day to send out my newsletter lol

I am so happy to say that the editing for Verdant is going incredibly well! I’m over halfway done and I’m seeking beta readers to get this ready for publication asap. You may have seen my poll on IG about whether readers preferred illustrated or typography covers. Illustrated won by a long shot!

I definitely can’t afford the same artist as Bare Your Teeth & Sharpen Your Claws. That hit my wallet hard, and while it made its money back sales have been rough for a lot of us indie authors this year. Understandably so. I might do what I did with Speak the Truth and get character art done then edit the wrap around myself, but only time will tell.

I’m not sure when to expect publication. I will have my first round of editing done this week, then there needs to be time for beta reading, editing, and finally ARCs. Maybe January would be a good guess for ARCs? I don’t think I’d want to risk having ARCs out during the holidays. And speaking of early copies, I will be using a different service. You won’t need an account for this one. I’ll be using bookfunnel, so all you need is your email and an ARC will be sent to you, so hopefully that’s easier for everyone.

Now, as thanks for waiting, let me present the VERY ROUGH summary for Verdant, as well as the first chapter. If sci-fi isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry, this is heavy on the romance, so really the occasional fight involves blasters instead of swords and shuttles instead of horses lol

Enjoy~

Summary:

Ethin “Lucky” Katlan doesn’t take orders, so one might wonder why he sold his life to be a lapdog to the Intergalactic Militia. The answer isn’t that simple, and Lucky isn’t that interested in sharing, especially with Roys Malik, the annoyingly attractive and rule-following commanding officer always on his ass.

When a job gone wrong results in the two of them being lost on a planet where the flora wants to eat them, their bitter relationship takes a lustful turn. Lucky learns Roys can order him to do a great deal of things, so long as clothes are off. What starts as good sex to pass the monotonous days becomes an unexpected pathway to divulging the worst and most hidden aspects of themselves.

A story about messy men, inescapable past, futures we dare to wish for, and unraveling the hearts of cowards, this spicy MM romance will tug at the heartstrings and make you want to spend a rousing night under the stars.

Chapter One

The Planet unfurled below like a blossom during the first spring. Not that I knew what spring looked like, having been born in a colony. Changing the seasons in a place that never saw a sun would have been a waste, and so, I fought Ryker for a window seat.

I didn’t expect there to be so much green in all the universe, let alone on a single planet. The color reached across the land, and as the clouds dispersed, blue greeted us, an ocean wide as could be. The Planet, titled something completely fucking ridiculous that we ignored because we wouldn’t be capable of pronouncing it anyway, resembled what Earth once was, based on the adverts. Land and water, serene and full of life, spread upon its surface, entirely untouched by colonization.

“Breaching lower atmo,” the shuttle’s gravely com declared.

The seatbelt light blinked on, painting the cabin in crimson. An alarm went whump, whump, whump, and the engines sounded more of a beast than metal.

“When we land, no one leaves the shuttle without my say-so,” Roys said from the front of the cabin.

“Yes, sir,” the group agreed, except me. I kept my attention on the porthole.

“Ethin,” Roys warned in that low voice that made my teeth grind.

“Lucky,” I corrected.

“Repeat my last order.”

Beside me, Ryker laughed and earned a fist to the gut.

“No one leaves the shuttle without your oh so special permission,” I said.

Roys’ eyes rivalled space itself. Practically black from a distance, and a deep, unreal blue if one dared to risk proximity. The many scars across his needlessly attractive face made him all the more intimidating. Each scar spoke of a battle that he survived and most of us wouldn’t have. The shadow of a beard formed along his square jaw, always set firm.

“Good. Now share with the group what our mission is, so I know you paid attention back on Main,” he ordered.

More snickering bled from the group. Twenty-four soldiers spread throughout the rattling cabin. The red lights hastened, signaling the upcoming landing. The shuttle’s timer blinked at fifty seconds. Roys would make us wait long after landing if I didn’t follow orders. Mostly because I didn’t follow orders.

But this time I would, because I had never felt fresh air on my face or grass or unfiltered water, and no bootlicking captain with an attitude problem would impede that.

“We’ve been sent to neutralize all threats within a ten-click radius of the habitat to ensure the safety of all future tenants. Our biggest threat, based on scans, is not the animals that inhabit The Planet, but the flora. We are never to go out in less than a group of two, and we must all report our findings to you immediately to ensure our safety and that of the survey team that will join us in two weeks,” I said without breaking eye contact.

Ryker whistled and blocked my punch to the gut that time.

“Twenty seconds to landing,” the shuttle comms announced.

Satisfied, and far too smug, Roys turned away.

Annoying fucker.

We abandoned the cloud cover to observe the flora we were so warned about. Corporate’s report didn’t have more than a dozen dangerous flora listed because that was the most the droids gained prior to being demolished. Initially, Corporate believed animals tore the droids to shreds. After vid feed returned detailing the eradication of an unfortunate droid, they learned flora caused the varying degrees of violent demise.

The flora of this world were peculiar creations, an array of plants ranging from gleaming orange bulbs that caught fire to their surroundings when agitated, to towering structures with stems as thick as a grown man’s waist and broad tops where tendrils snatched prey to be wrenched into the canopy and dissolved little by little.

A particularly nasty flora paraded itself as an agreeable yellow flower that, when approached, ripped out of the soil to reveal a monster of rooted decay that enjoyed ripping the flesh off its victims and devouring their innards. That video, involving a regrettable rabbit-like creature, made the entire troop sick to their stomachs.

The shuttle landed in a field previously cleared by droids, the remnants of which were sprinkled about. From the window, their remains studded the landscape, broken hands and feet protruding from the loose soil. Grass and moss ravaged their exoskeletons, making the droids appear as if they had been there for decades rather than a month.

The Company didn’t lend the best of the best AI to non-colonized planets. Too much risk of losing big tech like security units. They didn’t consider droids much of a loss, or us, so the militia investigated instead.

The shuttle landed with a lurch. Arana hurled into a bag. Her stomach never enjoyed landing. She wiped the remnants of sick from her mouth and launched to her feet.

“Don’t give the captain a hard time.” Arana retrieved her canteen to wash out her mouth. She spat into the pack, then brushed her teeth. She always carried a toothbrush for potential shuttle rides.

“He’s going to be more pissy than usual, and I am in no mood to run the perimeter when we could be snatched by who knows what to be eaten nice and slow.” Arana leaned over the seat to seize me by the collar. “I have two good women waiting for me back home, and if I do not get to fuck them again before I die, I will kill you myself.”

Smacking her hand away, I said, “Good to know that sex is more important than our friendship.”

“You bet your ass it is. I haven’t had a decent fucking since we left the last port.” Arana gave a great sigh, her eyes drifting to Iylene lifting their packs out of the overhead compartment. “If I weren’t in a closed polycule, I would jump your bones tonight.”

Iylene spoke with no inflection in their voice, as Aevid’s often did. “If you tried, I would shoot you.”

Aevid’s were known for two things; apathy and shedding. The latter of which I could have gone my whole life without seeing, but unfortunately, Iylene shed once a year, leaving remnants of their skin throughout the barracks. Had a horrendous smell too, like baked rotten meat.

At the front of the cabin, Roys stood. The captain wasn’t the tallest guy on the shuttle but certainly had the most presence. He had been on more tours than the rest of us and to planets far more deadly than most.

Ryker always tried to sneak into the captain’s bunk because he swore the man purposefully bought shirts a size too small so they’d struggle to contain his figure. Arana argued the guy was just big, and I agreed with her. Roys was made entirely of muscle, spite, and a pinch of dick. Arana disagreed about the pinch, but her attempt to convince me to sneak up on Roys in the shower to prove otherwise never worked.

“Our priority is securing the area so we can set up the habitat and energy shield,” the captain said in a booming voice. His commands always sounded as such — words that shouldn’t be ignored. “I’m sending your orders through the commlink, which must remain on at all times.”

The commlinks flashed. Ryker, Iylene, Arana, Lilea, Zavir, and I were together. Over the years, most of the troops found their groups and stuck to them. As much as Roys could be a pain in the ass, he understood breaking apart units never brought desirable outcomes.

“Visors on.” Roys took his from under his arm.

Visors started as a face mask that spread over and down our necks to connect with our exoskin. The Planet had a breathable atmosphere for all species aboard the shuttle. However, because of the heat, humidity, and unexpected threats, gear remained on.

When Roys next spoke, it came through our connected visor comms. “Follow your orders and watch each other’s backs.”

The shuttle doors buzzed and descended into light and heat that our exoskins couldn’t wholly cool. The humidity put a fog on the visors. Silhouettes piled down the ramp into the world beyond. My visor adjusted to the abrupt brightness, and I stepped out.

Flora surrounded the field, of all colors and shapes, spiraled and puffy, tall and thin, budding and sleeping, but all their caps striving to reach the suns. Two of them danced in the sky, one to the east and the other to the west. Real light, nothing artificial about any of it, that I wanted nothing more than to touch my bare skin.

“Move along,” said Roys.

Over my shoulder, the captain paused in the shuttle’s threshold, taking up half the opening. Soldiers marched past. My visor wasn’t on blackout, so I offered a contrived smile. Zavir and I argued over beers that Roys couldn’t smile because he was secretly an android in disguise that hadn’t figured out how humans worked. Again, no one has tested the theory.

Slogging along, I descended to stand on an actual planet. This would make my fifth tour, but it was the first planetary one. Born and raised in a colony, I had always been on a mining vessel leeching off asteroids. I breathed recycled air, drank recycled water, and saw flora on adverts or the incredibly rare and expensive flowers that decorated the upper circle’s yards. The richest of the rich lived there, the ones who worked for The Company that survived off the asteroid materials my people mined. And now there I was waltzing along The Company’s future venture because no one ever really escaped them.

I joined my group before Roys could do anything to piss me off. Lilea and Zavir came last while the droids took more time unloading. Everyone had their duties on their commlink. When I opened ours, I growled, but Arana was the one to whisper, “What the fuck? Why do we have habitat duty?”

“Because Lucky is in our group and Roys hates him,” said Zavir with an eager hop. All four of his hands spread out in a display of excitement. “Once again, your luck is helping us out.”

“In what way?” Arana countered. “We’re stuck with the droids that could put the place up without our help.”

A screen popped on all our visors about a flora the droids encountered prior to being smashed. The flora stood tall with a single thick bloom that hung low from the top of the stalk. That bloom opened to reveal petals lined by teeth as thick as our arms.

“Do you want to risk running into that?” Zavir asked, each of his four gold eyes locking on a different person. “I sure don’t, so let’s enjoy setting up the habitat and getting in a nap before the captain returns.”

“I like that idea,” said Lilea, who wandered over to the habitat materials.

I wasn’t entirely against the idea of setting up base, but following Roys’ orders always put me in a foul mood. He’d been with us a little more than a month and acted like he owned us. Every superior officer did, having those sticks of superiority rammed too far up their asses for it to ever be pleasurable.

“Don’t make that face, Lucky. Think of it this way.” Ryker swung an arm around my neck. “The captain isn’t here to breathe down our necks. We’re likely to have most of the day without him.”

“True, and if my name holds out, one of the flora will eat him,” I replied.

“Let’s hope you’re extra lucky today.” Laughing, Ryker departed to join the others.

Around us, soldiers traveled into the flora, disappearing among the thick and unknown jungle. At my feet, grass sprouted to brush against my ankles. I fell to my knees and ran my hands over the grass, yearning to feel it, so I removed my visor and fell forward. The grass touched my cheeks, cool and wet. I wondered how humans supposedly came from such beauty and why they would ever destroy it.

Selling thirty years of my life was entirely worth this.

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Another month is coming to an end, and Halloween is soon upon us! The superior holiday imho. I love Christmas, too, because I am a sucker for lights and getting people dumb presents. I am the friend that gets gag gifts more often than not, but Halloween has my aesthetic. As I told my dad while Halloween shopping, all these decorations are simply my day-to-day decor lol I am working on expanding our Halloween decorations, so it’s always a blast to search for the next weird addition for our yard.

As for life events, my kittens got spayed/neutered and today is the day we can reintroduce them. They had to be separated for a minimum of ten days, mostly to make sure they weren’t playing too rough. Our little Queenie has stitches so we were told to wait and keep an eye on her, but both have healed up great and my anxiety can finally take a breather because I have been a wreck. The paper said no running or jumping, but they’re kittens, and they will do as they please.

As for writing, I don’t think I will be getting another book out this year under this penname. Verdant is practically finished, but I need to edit and save up for a cover/any interior work. My finances are pretty tight, so I don’t want to promise any releases, but if that changes, obviously I will inform you all here.

However, if you follow me on the tapas app, I have a story called Serving the Undying King that will be free of its contract in January. I will be publishing that around the end of January/beginning of February (and it will still be on tapas, for those of you who already purchased there.) That needs to be edited half to hell because I wrote it for tapas and webnovels simply have a different vibe, so there will likely be changes from the tapas version.

Reminder, you can read Verdant for free on tapas or wattpad. It’s updating weekly, sometimes twice a week, so it’s a fun way to read through the draft. (There are also other books that aren’t published, so feel free to read those, too.) I won’t be posting the other one-shots in this universe online but that doesn’t mean I won’t one day post another free novel somewhere. Sometimes I really miss the interactions and posting on tapas or wattpad are great ways to interact with readers when I’m in the need of a pick me up. Some y’all make me laugh and, considering the times we’re on, oh, we all really need that…

Admittedly, I am in the middle of one of my worst writer’s blocks ever. I don’t know what it is that’s making me so numb, other than burn out, although I think that has more to do with marketing more than anything. I have barely done any writing these last few weeks, which stresses me out more, and as much as I’ve tried playing video games or watching TV, nothing has really settled me. I’ve even read some great books, such as the Memento Mori series by C.S. Poe. If you like murder mysteries, complex relationships, and it’s gay, then give them a read. They rewired my brain, and I started the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, which is beyond phenomenal. This is the kind of fantasy that’s right up my alley.

I’m hoping I get out of this rut soon, that I might be hit by a wave of motivation like I was when I initially started Verdant. I wrote 80k words in six days and I need that burst of inspiration right now lol

There’s also a 50% off sale for the audiobook of Volume Two of Save the Demon King.

This is work done under tapas and they got the audiobooks done, so while I am still searching for ways to have my remaining books done in audio format, unfortunately, I don’t have any updates to give there. Keep your fingers crossed that it may happen one day.

And as a last reminder, my cozy slow burn romantasy inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle, The Curse of Indy Moore, is releasing September 29th under my second pen name, Sarah Barlowe. If you’re interested, mark your calendars or pre-order the ebook now! It will also be available on KU.

Anyway, that’s all the updates I have for now. Stay safe out there.

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Time for some updates. Am I repetitive if I were to thank you all for the reception to The Wicked Ones duology? Yeah? Aw well, here I go again, thanks so much for all your love and support! William and Nicholas received so much love, and I’m a ball of fluffy joy. That being said, life goes on and it’s time for the next project.

He Who Will Be King is kicking my butt. If you’ve followed me for a while, I wrote this prince x bodyguard romantasy in 2017, 2018? In short, years ago. To say it’s rough would be an understatement. Because of that editing is going to be the death of me. I’m already someone who struggles with editing, which is why I tend to edit as I write otherwise it takes me FOREVER. I’m not putting a timeline on this project, seeing as there’s so much to do and I’m not stressing myself out.

There’s been a lot of personal family stuff going too, so I really need to keep my head on straight. The best way to keep myself out of a bad funk is to work on whatever I’m most passionate about. Right now, I’m not entirely sure what that is. I’ve got a few projects I’m bouncing between.

If you follow my socials, I’ve been talking about a horny scifi called Verdant. I’ve come up with multiple ideas to take place in the same universe but follow different couples. There’s also a Vampire Hunter D meets The Last of Us enemies to lover’s vampire concept that could be up to four books (am I capable of that? Who knows! haha) I also have a shape shifter, lovers to enemies to lovers duology and a lot more, honestly lol, but at least this way I can work on these projects to see which is calling to me first.

Otherwise, I do have a book coming out this year under my second pen name, Sarah Barlowe. ARCs are available for The Curse of Indy Moore. There’s no application, just download and enjoy a free copy.

Let me know which project you might be interested in. Can’t say which one I’ll pick, but it’s always fun to hear from readers! Still, you can actually read Verdant since it’s being updated on writing platforms such as tapas and wattpad right now. It’s obviously a draft, so don’t expect perfection, but yeah, check it out if you’d like.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer and staying cool. To anyone starting school soon, good luck and try not to stress too much. You got this <3

Until next time, toodles~

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Okay, the title is a tad bit misleading because I have mentioned this project in previous emails. However, I never got to share much about it, but now here we are!

I have been working on a webcomic since last year for a brand new, upcoming webcomic platform called storygrounds. If you followed me from tapas, you are aware I wrote comics there, too, and after all the crap that went down, a lot of the tapas workers have moved to storygrounds.

Something cool about storygrounds is they are going to have “Quests” for their original comics where you, as a reader, can make changes to the story! Minor ones, such as naming a character or choosing their pet companion. It’s a cute and fun way for readers to interact more with the story, including the one I have worked on, so let’s go on to chatting about that.

THE PRINCESS GAMES

After her family is killed and her kingdom annihilated, Aerin vows revenge against the evil queen who ordered their deaths.

Ten years later, Aerin infiltrates the Princess Games, a competition between princesses from around the world to marry the mysterious Prince Tristan and become the next empress. Whether it be monster fighting or deadly dance performances, Aerin must compete in the queen’s cruel games to take her revenge. But the princesses she battles along the way leave her questioning everything.

Will she follow her heart, or the dagger hidden underneath it?

If you like hot bad ass women, revenge plots, mega plot twists, fairy tale vibes, a romantic subplot, and unexpected female friendships full of warmth, love, and comedy, then this is for you!

No, I did not name her Aerin. When I was hired, they had certain things settled, such as names, and well, yeah, now I have an Aron and Aerin lol

The first eight episodes are available with four free to read. You can unlock the others by waiting or purchasing coins. This will be forty episodes long with my fingers crossed for a second season because we have so much more planned, but it’s all about how well this launch goes.

If you aren’t interested in webcomics but you know people who are, please consider sharing and chatting this up, or storygrounds in general! I’m really hopeful they can do well, and we can make more original stories like this one!

In terms of updates on books, I am struggling to edit He Who Will Be King. There is a reason I edit as I write and that is to avoid this feeling of being so insanely overwhelmed. I may backtrack and keep it as a duology out of fear that my plans will make it more fantasy than romance, but I don’t know yet. It’s tugging me this way and that, but on the plus side, I am hopeful to get my next story out in February of 2026.

Serving the Undying King is a story currently only on Tapas but its exclusivity clause ends in January, so I’m preparing it for publication next year. Verdant is definitely going to be published once it’s finished because I have more concepts set in that universe but following different couples, so I do have a lot of plans hehehe

Also, reminder that I have a second pen name, Sarah Barlowe, and my first bi4bi story inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle featuring a MMC with an extensive face care routine and an FMC that might remind you a little of Inuyasha is available for pre-order on Amazon.

The Curse of Indy Moore

Anyway, yeah, please consider reading Princess Games, or the other webcomics available on storygrounds.

Until next time, toodles~

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As usual, paperbacks are on amazon and ebooks are available from most major retailers.

I hope you enjoy the final part of William and Nicholas’ tale. Sequels are rough and I had a hard time with this one, but ultimately, I’m happy with the journey they went on. I’m so excited for everyone to finish up. Please consider rating and reviewing wherever you can once you’re done. It seriously helps indie authors! Consider having tissues on hand. You may cry, just saying.

US Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4T2V6PH

EBooks Major Retailers: https://books2read.com/u/mex1nA

Thanks for all the support! If you’re curious about my next publication, I am working on a prince x bodyguard romantasy. I don’t know if I will get the first book out by the end of the year, so I won’t make any promises. However, I can promise angst, so much angst :)

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If you haven’t gotten an ARC yet of Sharpen Your Claws, it is available on Booksprout.

Grab a copy and please consider leaving a review on both Bare Your Teeth and Sharpen Your Claws!

To those who are interested in reading a free story, I’m releasing a horny MM sci-fi romance on tapas and wattpad called Verdant. I will probably publish this one day, but for now, I really need to write something where I’m not thinking about editing, marketing, sales etc. This has been cathartic, so here we are.

Links to wattpad and tapas are below, as well as the blurb for those interested.

The Planet will change everything.

Ethin “Lucky” Rivers doesn’t take orders, so one might wonder why he sold thirty years of his life to the Intergalactic Militia. The answer isn’t that simple and Lucky isn’t that interested in sharing, especially with Roys Malik, his annoying and far too attractive commanding officer. But when a sweep gone wrong results in the two of them being lost on a dangerous planet where the flora wants to eat them, their turbulent relationship takes a drastic and lustful turn that places them on a path to divulging the worst and most hidden aspects of themselves.

A story about messy men, pasts we can’t escape, futures we dare to wish for, and unraveling the hearts of cowards, Verdant will tug at the heartstrings and make you want to spend a night under the stars.

Tapas

Wattpad

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I’m keeping this newsletter brief since it’s the second one this month.

Ebook preorders are available for Sharpen Your Claws at most major retailers. The US links are below!

Amazon

Major Retailers

Paperbacks will launch on June 10th on Amazon.

Thank you for supporting myself and this series!

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Two years after Fearworn’s demise, the realms are safe, or rather, they are supposed to be.

After surviving the war against a cursed fae, William Vandervult, now a doctor at one of his family’s clinics, has a new list, and this one comprises his missing patients. The authorities claim he exaggerates the disappearances, and the mortal king cares more for throwing parties than investigating. William cannot possibly uncover the truth of this dark plot when the war haunts him so fiercely, he cannot trust his mind.

Nicholas Darkmoon may have defeated the cursed fae focused on tearing the world asunder, but now he is destined to follow in those footsteps. Caught in a deal with his father, Nicholas hasn’t seen William for two long years. He is a rabid dog on a leash, wishing to be set free. When he inevitably reconnects with William, his obsession threatens to tear them apart, literally.

However, the only way to discover what has become of William’s missing patients and potentially stave off Nicholas’ fate is to work together. But William’s heart is not as sturdy as he needs it to be, and Nicholas’ mind shatters more every day. Being together may be what they desire, but it may also lead to their mutual destruction.

Sharpen Your Claws is an epic conclusion to The Wicked Ones duology full of second chances, regret, and everlasting love among our darkest moments.

I realized I never shared the back copy here, oops, but ARE THEY NOT STUNNING?! LOOK AT THE COLORS!! OMG THE PURPLE IS TO DIE FOR!!

I love how soft this cover is, particularly compared to the first. Morgan did a great job capturing the shift of their dynamics and the feelings to be portrayed in book two. I cannot believe I will soon have these together on my shelf, and hopefully many of you, too! I actually already have a proof copy that I’m looking over. I don’t want to give an exact date yet, but I am fairly confident the plans will go as such;

ARCs will be available on Booksprout on May 1st.

Ebook preorders will be available on May 1st.

The launch date for Sharpen Your Claws is planned to be June 10th.

Wow, this has been a packed newsletter, hasn’t it? Things are moving quicker than I predicted, but that’s a good thing. I really didn’t want to wait long between releases. Thanks again for all the support. I hope you love this cover and sequel as much as I do.

I also promised a sneak peek, so here is the first chapter of Sharpen Your Claws.

If you don’t want to read it yet, this is the end of the announcements, so you can click off, but if you want to read, enjoy!

Chapter One

Nicholas

Hill Castle had many forms depending on the household’s mood. Once the structure made an indentation into the land, sinking low as a hatchling in their nest. Then it would contort into a tower, thin as a grown man, with an interior vaster than grasslands and more treacherous than caves.

That day, Hill Castle sprouted more voraciously than unwanted weeds, shutters hanging off their latches and vines braiding over mismatched rooftops. The stonework shimmered beneath morning light, varying shades of reds and greens and blues. Birds sang from the chimneys upon their nests that would get a swat if they dared defecating on Hill Castle itself.

All knew of the castle’s prickly demeanor, making offerings to its guests as snacks or flowers and growing murderously upset when one did not appreciate its efforts. Nicholas knew better than to ignore the appearance of the kitchen when he opened a door that should have led outside, but alas, Hill Castle loved keeping inhabitants on their toes.

The Darkmoon family had gotten lost in their own halls, forced through a labyrinth for making a mess or, the worst offense of all, vomiting on the floors. Nicholas’ elder sister disappeared for a month because of that offense. Years ago, he had been eaten by the wall, forced to hang from the entangling roots for a day because he dared to call Hill Castle’s tastes in decorum tacky.

Baskets of fruits and vegetables lined the kitchen countertops, for perhaps Hill Castle believed he needed a snack. The castle assumed correctly because he had little of an appetite for years. He thought little of rest, nothing of mingling with the hundreds of fae swarming to and from Darkmoon lands.

Many yearned to ask a million questions of him about Fearworn, the war, and his demeanor. But all Nicholas had on his mind was William. Jade eyes and golden hair softer than silk, of his voice and his laugh and his smiles. He was homesick for William’s touch, so much so he hallucinated the medic in his bed from time to time. He’d wake to William’s morning stubble tickling his fingertips. Then the vision vanished, and he hardly resisted the urge to burn the world to ash.

Rather than risk the house’s wrath, Nicholas plucked an apple, then left the kitchen in search of an escape. Guests filled the ballroom. Their voices and laughter carried through the halls. If any caught him, they would drag him to his doom. Typically, Blair would be among them. His attention still swept the halls for the silhouette of his sister, prepared for another assault even if his father banished her.

After Nicholas killed Fearworn, after witnessing William being torn apart, something within himself broke. Blair saw that. On the battlefield, she swept through the masses, blades drawn and pointed at his throat. He hadn’t seen her, would have fallen to her if not for Arden and Amos stepping in. Upon learning of what she had tried, their father banished her, if only because Nicholas still had more use than she.

Opening another door, he clung to the doorframe to prevent himself from falling into a pit of his brother’s peculiar plants. They adhered to the soiled walls, their leaves vibrant in colors, and vines snapping with snarled teeth. Solomon Darkmoon tended to them, swinging on a pair of vines that breached the earth and held him like a lover. His brown hair had never been less than a knotted mess of flowers and leaves. One could lose sight of him among the glade, his pale green skin blending in with the nursery.

“Evening, brother.” Solomon snapped a dying bud. “Are you prepared for tonight’s festivities?”

“I will not be attending,” Nicholas replied hesitantly. His siblings were not fond of him, nor he of them. Solomon speaking to him was a rarity and always ended with one of them annoyed, injured, or both.

“Why not? Do you worry Blair may turn up and relieve you of your head?” Solomon laughed, because he would enjoy the debacle.

“If so, she would fail a second time.” Nicholas slammed the door shut.

Blair had never been a sister. Solomon and Percival were not brothers. Laurent wasn’t a father. And yet, remembering Blair on the battlefield, the hatred in her eyes as she ran at him, dug a hole in his chest that couldn’t be filled.

Nicholas hadn’t seen her since Fearworn died, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t waiting for him to leave. She would be given another chance to rid the world of the potential coming of the second Fearworn, or so she claimed as she tried driving a dagger into his heart. Her hatred shouldn’t have surprised him, seeing as she was always more than open about said hatred, but alas, the memory left a foul taste on his tongue.

“I am in no mood to play games or attend the revel,” Nicholas grumbled, with his forehead pressed against the door.

The castle groaned and rumbled. Floorboards bent beneath his feet. He opened the same door. A hall greeted him and there were no further attempts at maiming.

Right or wrong ways did not exist at Hill Castle. One walked with a place in mind and the castle led them there, if it was feeling generous. He suspected these games resulted from Laurent, his father, the lord of Darkmoon. Laurent had Hill Castle working overtime for the revel. A celebration supposedly for Nicholas’ return after two long years of hunting the remnants of Calix Fearworn’s shadowed disciples, the cursed shade bent on opening paths to new realms, even if it meant destroying theirs.

Nicholas refused to be paraded around by his father for all to fawn and gossip over. Because of Fearworn’s demise at the hands of the Darkmoon family, foolish mortals lined up at their door for deals. Some would even attend tonight, unaware that they would never see their loved ones again, that they’d drown in faerie wine, and die pirouetting on the dancefloor as they once did before the Collision Treaty.

He refused to be trapped by gawking fae, reduced to an evening entertainment. He was not an animal to be teased in a cage, not a piece of tapestry to be admired on the wall, and he wasn’t to be pitied or condemned. He saw their looks, the concern, the rage, the desire, all captured in their eyes, twisted among their words.

With Fearworn’s fall, Nicholas took his place upon the pedestal, to be talked about, watched, pondered by any and all. A fair few worried, perceiving him in the same way Blair had; a threat. Others, like Laurent, saw Nicholas as an opportunity, a weapon to be pointed at any he perceived as an enemy. Nicholas couldn’t stand it, and few had already faced his wrath for daring to speak ill behind his back.

Finally, Hill Castle released him into the sunflower field at the back of the household. They bowed in welcome, shifting to form a path. He kicked off his shoes. The soil beneath his bare feet was soft, full of endless life that had been loud before, but now it was nearly unbearable. He saw more, in a way he couldn’t explain. He sensed the weather changing, felt the earth take a breath, saw magic slipping through roots, cobwebs, from one animal to another. Even these flowers.

He pinched a petal between his fingers. Light flashed beneath in a pale grayish-blue hue. Was this what caught Fearworn? he wondered. The lights, the feelings, this sense of being so small in the face of an infinite wonder. Fearworn leaped forward, desperate for answers. Nicholas did not because he thought of William always.

A cavern formed in Nicholas’ chest, expanding by the day, consuming more and more until it wouldn’t be manageable. The worries, fears, any ambitions he had faded and were replaced by the ravenous want of William and anything he desired. He thought of holding his hand, dancing with him, taking a stroll under the stars, the most ordinarily mundane day-to-day activities that he would have scoffed at years ago. But now he couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful.

He fell to his knees and plucked the sunflowers, promising they were being remade for good reason. The lush green of their stems reminded him of William’s eyes. So often his wicked forced hostility out of his heart for protection, but on nights when they forgot about the world outside their embrace, William’s eyes held the first breath of spring, of promised renewal and strength like no other.

Nicholas had neither heard nor seen William in two years, but no amount of time could make him forget. He would recognize William’s laughter, his scent, his voice, even at the ending of the world. Memories sustained him but wouldn’t forever. He craved to feel William’s breath upon his skin, to run his lips over William’s pulse, to burrow himself within William’s heart, tangled among his bones, filling his veins, stealing his heart as to never to be torn apart.

I’ll lock us away, my wicked, where none will dare disturb us, he thought with a sneer that flipped into a scowl. Laurent kept them apart, but deals had loopholes, and Nicholas would tug the fray. He would find the loose thread, break free, and slither his way out of his father’s noose. A man had Nicholas’ heart, and if he could not be with William, he would tear this world apart until all that remained was them.

“Making a crown for yourself, mighty shade slayer?” Evera Bloodbane called in an angelic voice that betrayed most.

Evera and Nicholas were bound to each other as children through deals struck between their parents. They were to sire three children and let Evera’s mother, Alvina Bloodbane, experiment on them to determine if children could inherit the abilities of a shade parent, or if that caused any effects on the offspring. Evera and Nicholas never got along after that, always at each other’s throats since they couldn’t be at their parent’s.

Nicholas didn’t understand his father’s reasoning at first, but Laurent claimed if Alvina learned about shades, perhaps they could stop another Fearworn from being born. While Nicholas agreed a world without another Fearworn was nice, he hated the prospect of shades being treated as nothing more than experiments. He felt much like one himself, forced to bear children, to waste his time with Evera, to do Laurent’s bidding out of fear, being forced down one path after the other without any say in where he wanted to go.

He continued crossing the flower stalks while imagining bringing William here. They would lie in the field together. William would read his books and drink his tea. Nicholas would worship him, his God to revere, and if any stood in his way, he would rid the world of them.

Unfortunately, it was not William who knelt beside him. Evera, with her ashen gray skin and blue tinted fingers, pinched a letter between her nails. Her long blue hair had been plaited in silver, tucked behind her sharp ears, covered in silver and jewels. Eyes of a storm, dying gray, showed no emotion, but her tone carried a devious sound.

“Why are you out here when your father works diligently to throw a revel for you? One I hear that will be so grand it will last a month,” she asked.

“Because I have no interest in his revels. Let him waste his time.” Nicholas twisted a stem too tight, and it snapped. “Is there a reason you are here? Last I heard, you didn’t wish to see me unless absolutely necessary.”

“You have made my visit necessary by being so elusive. You return home after years and hardly leave the castle.”

“Does that not please you?”

“Not when you are missing an opportunity for the both of us.” Evera slapped his cheek with the letter, earning herself a narrowed glare. “You haven’t read this.”

“Obviously. What more could the mortals want from me?” He recognized the insignia on the envelope belonging to the king of Heign. William would be at the capital, Alogan. He spoke rarely of his home, but Nicholas remembered Alogan had a library William got lost in frequently as a child. He spoke fondly during the night when the two of them whispered, as if they feared the wind would carry their secrets. Nicholas hadn’t forgotten a single conversation. He cherished every moment, ensuring William’s words carved themselves into his mind.

“The mortal kings and fae lords wish to throw a ball for you,” Evera said.

“They have thrown plenty of those already, and I shouldn’t have to tell you it is rude to read someone’s mail,” he countered.

“You refuse to read it, so someone has to keep an eye on things.”

“This one excites you, then.”

She smiled cruelly, like an executioner waiting at the block. “Read it and see for yourself.”

He snatched the paper from her and scanned the letter, uncaring about the promises of drink and a good meal. Nothing truly satiated his appetite anymore, but then he caught the last few lines expressing how grateful the mortals were to him, how they owed him. The kings promised a ball to celebrate Nicholas and his accomplishments because, without him, Fearworn would have torn their worlds asunder, and so they would grant him anything he desired.

“Owed,” he whispered. “Owed,” he laughed.

“Do you understand the meaning of this?” Evera twirled blades of grass around her fingers. “Tell me your rattled mind isn’t beyond basic comprehension.”

Words were important in Faerie. One shouldn’t thank a fae, it implies they are owed. As one may expect, they shouldn’t say they owe a fae anything either. The written word was equally powerful, but to make sure, he dug a hole. His teeth pierced his palm. He bled on the page, then laid the letter to rest. The mortal kings had no power, but their words would. Nicholas deserved a gift worthy of saving two realms. Faerie would ensure the deal met because Faerie never broke an oath and harmed any who dared.

He understood what the letter meant perfectly, but his plans were not what Evera yearned for. She proved as such with her following words, “This is the best chance to end our arrangement. Laurent received word too, but according to his gossiping, the letter differed from yours. It omitted the kings wanting to bestow a gift upon you, so he is unaware. With this, you can break us free from our parents.”

He broke into a smile that stretched the skin far along his cheeks and made his eyes crinkle into crescent moons. “Yes, I could.”

It would free him from Laurent, and finally, he would see William again. The rest would be dealt with later. William mattered above all else. Nicholas’ phantom, his heart, his all-consuming thoughts, his world, his everything, finally within his grasp. They hadn’t seen each other, hadn’t spoken, hadn’t exchanged so much as a letter because of Laurent.

The most Nicholas could do was watch and learn from afar. He called in a favor or two, ensuring a fae kept eyes on William to guarantee his safety and feed Nicholas in the only way he could be. He knew where William was, what he was doing, and who he spent his time with, but that wasn’t enough. He wanted to be with William, to learn about the last two years through his lips, to catch his hand and never let go. If they could merge, if they could become one for all eternity, he would never ask for more.

“When the kings speak to you, remind them you are owed. We don’t want to miss this opportunity,” Evera said.

“Do not treat me as if I understand nothing. I know what to do,” he snapped.

“Do you?” She snatched the crown from his grasp. A fierce wind ripped through the field, forcing the flowers to bend. His fingers twitched, wishing to wrap around Evera’s throat and snap. Break. Crush. Pulverize her being, her very essence, into nothing because she was nothing.

“Return the crown to me. It does not belong to you,” he whispered, fingers flexing unnaturally, as if the bones hadn’t been set right.

“Swear to end our engagement,” she demanded, but her voice didn’t hold the same ferocity it once did.

The only person who spoke to him the same since Fearworn’s demise was his father. Others saw him, the hue of his eyes, and they recalled all Fearworn had done, all he could potentially do now. He tasted their fear, a sweet aroma making his blood curl, and on the rare occasion, desire or jealousy.

Holding out his hand, he said forcefully, “I will do as I please, Evera.”

A laugh ripped through her throat. “What makes you believe your little mortal will want you? You should see yourself when you speak of him. He will see it too, the obsession, the breakage, the threat, a monster no different from the one you fought.”

Nicholas tried to argue he did not differ from before, but the words congealed in the back of his throat. He thought the words to be true. What had changed about him? He tried to recall who he was before his eyes changed, before Fearworn’s sticky blood coated his fingers and William’s dying breath. He couldn’t remember being different, couldn’t recall a moment of change, but this confusion brought Evera amusement.

She smiled with hideous delight and dropped the crown into his lap. “Make the right decision, Nicholas.” Then she walked away.

“Make the right decision,” he repeated once, twice, thrice, but no voice stirred. Sometimes one did. The voice came and went, calming him, but it was little more than a whisper. Then the world got too loud, too much, and he fell into humming a soothing song as he finished William’s crown.

They would be together soon. Nothing would separate them ever again. He would ensure that, no matter the cost.

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I’ve had a cat filled month. First, I must share the great news that my brother’s cat had four lovely kittens. Mama and babies are doing well. The babies are nine days old, so they should be opening their eyes in a few days. We’re all super excited! Below are some pictures of them when they were born.

AREN’T THEY THE CUTEST?! I WANNA SMOTHER THEM WITH KISSES SO BAD!

My dad and I will make a trip to see them once their eyes are open. But then right after they were born, I had to take one of my boys to the vet to check for a UTI. He got his medicine and he’s getting some yummy wet food that’s meant to help with it, so fingers crossed he feels better soon.

Now onto updates concerning Sharpen Your Claws!

The cover is well on its way. I’m so pleased I managed to keep the same artist. Morgan is doing wonderfully, and this cover is, at the very least, as pretty as the first. I’m so excited to share it with everyone.

As for the launch date, I am going with June. Once I get the cover, I’ll release the ARCs on Booksprout for a month this time, so that should work out. Next month, there may be a sneak peek in this newsletter~

After Sharpen Your Claws, I will get to work on my next trilogy. If you’ve been following me a while, you know what He Who Will Be King is, which will have to get a new title because that can’t be for all three books lol people get confused with Speak the Truth, so I’m not going with volumes again.

Also, if you are unaware, I do have a second pen name; Sarah Barlowe. I’m going to release my debut under that pen name this year called The Curse of Indy Moore. It’s a cozy romantasy duology perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle and Half a Soul with a bi4bi couple, as my M/F romances will always be queer in some way. If you’re interested, please consider following and keeping up to date. My account is sarahbarloweauthor everywhere!

Thanks for all the support!

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Onto how it’s doing, I had some pre-orders. This was my second attempt at doing pre-orders and it did better than You, Me, and Bad Movies, so that gave me all the good feels~ I will do pre-orders for the sequel, although as a reminder pre-orders are only for ebooks.

As for updates, the cover for the sequel, Sharpen Your Claws, is in the works! The sequel will be around the same length and I’m working for a late May/early June release. It really depends on when I receive the cover and how awful the last of my editing is.

I’ve had a hard time writing this sequel. There is a saying among writers that sequels are rough, and I’ve learned that is so very true lol I think it was the slight change of atmosphere and not being as certain in myself where to put the worldbuilding. The last few weeks I’ve got a better grasp on what I want to do. My fingers are crossed this keeps up and I finish the last batch of editing before April.

Curious about what to expect from me next?

Let me just say prince x bodyguard trilogy :)

If you’ve been following me a few years, you know what’s coming and if you’re new, well, you’re going to be in for one hell of a ride.

If any of you like audiobooks and/or webnovels, my stories Reborn as the Villain’s Lackey and Save the Demon King are romantic fantasy webnovels available on the tapas app or as audiobooks wherever they are sold. Right now, Volume 1 & Volume 2 of Save the Demon King as well as Volume 2 of Reborn as the Villain’s Lackey are 50% off at audiobooks.com until 3/7/2025

As an explanation, these works were done under tapas, so they were shopped out to audiobook companies, which is why I have them at all. I am looking into audiobook possibilities for my other stories, but so far, I haven’t heard back from anyone. I will continue pushing for it though!

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Paperbacks are on Amazon.

Ebooks are available at most major retailers.

To those who were subscribed to my patreon when it was active and supported me while writing BYT, I sent out your copies. Please check the emails you used to sign up on patreon. Make sure it isn’t in your spam folder. Enjoy! And please consider rating and reviewing BYT on goodreads, storygraph, amazon etc.

Reminder, this is a duology, so there is a second part. I am planning to release Sharpen Your Claws around May/June, so it won’t be too long of a wait.

How exciting! I feel like I’ve been waiting for this for so long. With everything going on in the US right now, I was feeling down about this launch, wondering if I should reschedule and such. However, because of what’s happening, I want to make sure I get out my very queer book and do what I can as a queer author to ensure our stories continue, regardless of what the evil tangerine does.

Thank you for being so patient. I was harder on myself than usual because I want to keep getting better and offering the best that I can do. That often makes authors our own worst enemies, but I hope you enjoy this duology, even if it’s quite different compared to my previous works.

Remember to read the trigger warnings and know it’s okay to set it aside if you aren’t in the right head space for some of the themes/topics.

Also, I have a webnovel that recently finished.

Serving the Undying King is available on the tapas app. You can binge it now, if you would like. I might publish it on Amazon, depending on my contract. Of course, I will keep everyone notified.

Thanks again <3

Until next time~

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