Welcome

It's hard to believe it's already half into September! This year is both flying by and going super slow at once somehow. I blame the heat: it's entirely too hot here yet again.

Updates

Riyati

We're getting super close to Riyati Ripple time! I don't have a cover reveal or pre-order link today, but I expect to have them next month 👀 In the meantime... I do have some character art-- two familiar faces, and a newcomer some may recognize from the last chapter of Riyati Rivals!

Character Art (art by cingaja)

Kylie looks a bit different than she did back in Riyati Rebirth... almost closer to Siani, one might say 👀

Kylie Rae's character art for Riyati Ripple

Our next familiar face is Jordan. Something sure has him concerned, but I wonder what that is?

Jordan Boyle's character art for Riyati Ripple

Finally, the newcomer -- Maya! We saw her a bit at the end of Riyati Rivals, and I'm looking forward to everyone getting to see her more during Riyati Ripple.

Maya Van Daele's character art for Riyati Ripple

If you'd like to see higher resolution versions of these Riyati character art pieces (and many others, including the glyphs!), consider joining Riyati's Library Archives -- a subscribers-only site featuring all the series' character art, additional side and short stories, and more!

Subscribe on Ko-Fi for access to Riyati's Library Archive!

If you prefer print, then all three of these character illustrations (and more) will be part of Riyati Ripple's Deluxe Edition when it releases!

Other Riyati Updates

Earlier this month, I sent Riyati Ripple off for an editor to do its final proofread, and it's a chonker compared to Riyati Rebirth and Riyati Rivals. For those interested:

1. Riyati Rebirth: 67,000 words (255 pages)
2. Riyati Rivals: 75,000 words (270 pages) (~11% longer than Riyati Rebirth)
3. Riyati Ripple: 97,000 words (~360 pages) (~23% longer than Riyati Rivals and ~31% than Riyati Rebirth)

The final word-count is still undetermined, but it likely won't vary too drastically from the above. Riyati Ripple is my favorite of the Riyati books so far, so I'm super excited to share it with everyone soon! I've already started work on the cover, and I'm hoping the cover reveal will be part of next month's newsletter. 👀

However, I've been working on more than just Riyati Ripple: I've officially begun drafting the fourth Riyati book, Riyati Recollection as well! I won't share too much since Riyati Ripple isn't even out yet, but Riyati Recollection's already been an adventure and I'm just 12,000 words into writing it -- with a lot more to come still.

Speaking of, if you're interested in updates as they happen (and cat pictures), consider joining the Riyati Official Discord! We've got a great community so far, and would love to have you!

Join the Riyati Official Discord!

Finally, in sort-of Riyati, sort of not-Riyati news, I'm looking to switch newsletter providers between this newsletter and the next. I don't expect anything will change as far as newsletter delivery, but I wanted to provide a heads up just in case it does!

Personal

A new semester has started, and it's been a hectic one so far-- my husband got shingles, my college's financial aid wouldn't release funds to pay for my classes, and I'm back on campus for the first time in years -- Google Maps even took me to the wrong building that day! (Thanks Google Maps, that's one way to get me an extra mile of exercise in, I guess)

I haven't been playing too many games (gotta get Riyati stuff out!), but I did get my crafting and gathering gearsets made for Final Fantasy XIV's 7.3 patch, and I'm caught up on story... we'll just, uh, ignore the relics for awhile. We had a few days of a pleasant cool snap, and the cats enjoyed the outside sniffs on the porch (while supervised) they got, and are now questioning why they still can't do that (sorry but once it's in the 90f's, it's a firm no fluffs).

Additional Books to Check Out

Tales from the Dreamlands by C.L. Hart

The fate of the Cosmos rests in the hands of an unlikely team of unusual friends. Will an exiled member of an ancient extraterrestrial race, a human ghost, and two ghouls be able to outfox an ancient evil and beat Nyarlathotep at his game before time runs out? This buddy story is the first in a series of New Cthulhu Mythos cliffhangers.

Get your free copy of Tales from the Dreamlands today!

Wine & Smoke by M.A Djwad (Review Copy)

Each soul must carve its path through blood and smoke. That’s the world our king has wrought.

When Kayn’s sanctuary is attacked, he fails to save those he loves. With his friend’s dying breath, he swears to find the one companion still missing. To keep that vow, he must step into the very world he once dreaded. And become strong enough to survive it.

His path collides with the noble houses, where lives burn away in smoke for a fleeting taste of power.

There, Malina, heir to one such house, would rather lose herself in books and wine than courtly games. But when an attempt on her life shatters her illusions, she’s forced to reach for power—or be consumed by it.

Whoever seeks power must bleed. Can Kayn and Malina escape this fate, or will they lose themselves in their pursuit?

A cruel story in an unforgiving world. Every choice is hard. Every deed carries a weight of moral ambiguity.

Request a review copy of Wine & Smoke today!

Closing

That's all I got this month! I hope to be back next month with a ton more (some of it's already locked down on my calendar, in fact!), and look forward to seeing everyone then!