A New Year Begins
Jan 03, 2026 6:01 pm
Happy New Year!
And a special welcome to all our new subscribers!
Christmas was lovely (with the always welcome chocolate haul), and I took the holidays off from writing (although I did some art, so new designs will be forthcoming). I needed a short break from my busy November. But there are a few new things in the works for the new year, so read on...
Writing Updates
Heyward and Andersen.
So no December progress on their last short story. I'll have to make that a priority in January; I want to get that series wrapped up, and the collection published. The last story is going to be a bit darker in tone, but not too much, with more steampunk elements. I also tweaked the supernatural antagonist, so I have to work out some new plot points.
I did, however, create a new logo for the series. Here's a look.
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The Obsidian Blade series.
This historical fantasy set in 15th century Venice will be my main focus for publishing this year (after wrapping up Heyward and Andersen). I want to get book one edited and finish the first draft of book two. And speaking of which, book two was originally going to be called The Valentine Plague. However, the plot changed considerably (with alchemy and serial killers) and the title no longer works.
Here are the contenders for the new title:
The Courtesan Intrigue
The Temptress Treachery
The Valentine Temptation
The Valentine Intrigue
The Eternal Temptation
Personally, I'm leaning towards The Eternal Temptation because it works in multiple ways, but let me know what you think.
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I pulled the trigger on Laterpress and uploaded the first book in the Saga of the Outer Islands, and the rest of the series will soon follow. I also plan on uploading Shadows of the Dead (Lies and Demons Book 1) as a serial book there later this year. As I'm still navigating the site and uploading books, there's not much there yet, but it will fill up soon. The first three chapters are free to read, and here are the links, if you'd like to check them out.
The subscription is five dollars a month or fifty dollars annually, which I think is fair considering the number of books that will be available eventually. Although the good thing about Laterpress, and why I chose it, is that it has another purchase option, which is to buy individual books. So if you don't want a subscription, just one or two books, you can purchase and download epubs without subscribing. The only downside to that is the site doesn't support images, so the ebooks don't have fancy chapter headings or pretty scene breaks.
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The Shadows and Ink Podcast
The December vampire chat with author Brad Ricks (of The Night Crew series) aired, and if you love the undead, don't miss listening to this extended episode.
Check out the link below to see the latest episode.
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Giveaways and Books To Browse
Thrills & Chills
Ends Feb 1, 2026!
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START OF THE YEAR PROMO
Ends Feb, 2026!
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DARK FANTASY
The Scientist's Bride and the Spirit Curse
by Claudia Linwood
Constantinople 1771, Lady Pheodora Derrien can’t shake her unease. She has received no replies to her desperate messages and is afraid that her husband has truly abandoned her in this mystical city of spectral minarets and hidden secrets. When faced with a snarling evil spirit who issues a gruesome curse unless she complies, Pheodora is utterly alone and terrified.
Seeking a fortune teller after being haunted by the spirit, Pheodora suspects the seer has a sinister alliance with the evil entity. Since she has received no reply from her husband, Pheodora resolutely traverses the unsettling sights of veiled women and ancient edifices to his office and is horrified to find the spirit stalking her. With her husband now entangled in the vengeful spirit’s web, will Pheodora obey its demands or face the dreaded curse?
The Scientist’s Bride and the Spirit Curse is the engrossing prequel to The Goddess, the Scientist, and the Elixir, book one in the Shadows Over Byzantium series, a dark historical fantasy. If opulent, exotic settings, magic, and dark interactions between humans and mystical beings captivate you, then you’ll love Claudia Linwood’s enthralling tale.
Haunted: Into the Abyss by SL Dooley
People are.
Strange apparitions, mysterious noises, glowing lights. In the depths of a remote Texas lake, something otherworldly is stirring. Beneath the waves a flooded town is lead investigator Ford Montgomery’s dream dive. In fact, his paranormal show, struggling with an uncertain future, depends on it. But when he reunites with his twin brother, Joshua, and the family he had no idea existed, including a sixteen-year-old niece, Lily, who admires his daring dives, he struggles to reconcile his own enthusiasm and his brother’s old disbelief.
When the lake waters levels finally recede, and a storm looming on the horizon Ford sees his one chance to make the dive of a lifetime and salvage his show. But when Lily appears just as they descend to the depths, he has a choice: let her dive or risk losing his show.
STEAMPUNK
Aether Chronicles: The Complete Series
(A Steampunk Fantasy Boxed Set)
by Abi Barden
Money, a mansion, and a mysterious death? Far from the inheritance she ever expected.
Amethyst Forester is a scientist, not a lady.
Benjamin Maker is a lord, trapped in a loveless marriage.
The only thing they have in common is Professor Richards—a genius Aetheric scientist.
When Richards is found dead, Amethyst and Benjamin are put in an impossible situation. They jointly inherit his house, its contents, and the mystery of his murder.
Could the Professor have been killed for one of his experiments? And if so, what if someone’s still looking for it?
If you like your steampunk with loads of mystery, this Victorian London-era steampunk adventure is the story for you. It's perfect for fans of Charlie N. Holmberg and Honor Raconteur.
This boxset contains:
Book 1: Shades
Book 2: Echoes
Book 3: Speed
Book 4: Twists
Book 5: Flights
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My Merch Stores:
Vintage and artsy designs on a variety of products
Scifi, fantasy, and horror designs on a variety of products
My shop on Redbubble featuring a variety of products.
Including evil chicken merch.
(with Canadian designs and evil chicken merch)
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Find me on:
Website | Facebook Group | YouTube | BookBub
Instagram | BlueSky | TikTok| My Amazon page
Lemon Squeezy Store | My Books on StoryOrigin
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That's it for this edition. And I'll return next month with more updates.
