View this email in your browser and don't forget to add this email to your contacts to keep it in your inbox!

Five Years of Authorship

If you caught up with me a couple weeks ago, I was a bit flustered. Mostly because as I was getting my month prepared for new sales and some surprises, a little something ended up surprising me.

The five year anniversary of becoming an author.

I don't talk about my very first series often, and it's not because I don't love it. In fact, without the Blue Star series, I wouldn't be here writing this newsletter to you! I wouldn't have four different series completed or near completion and another several on the way. I wouldn't have all those beautiful found families and morally grey and stabby fmcs and all that explosive magic.

The real reason I don't talk much about Blue Star is because... well, I was an idiot.

That sounds harsh, but let me clarify. I was an idiot in that... I didn't really know what I was doing when it came to publishing. Mostly, I didn't know how to market myself or my book at the time. I'd written it, made it the best it could be with my skill level at the time*, and then I just kind of threw it out into the bookiverse with no real plan on how to find or talk to my readers.

I'd like to think I'm a little bit better at that now. Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't think I got good at it until about a year ago, and even then, I've got a long way to go. It's always a learning and growing process to share my books and understand social media and the publishing landscape.

So here's to five years, Soul Forgotten, and the start of a beautiful journey that I am so excited I get to share with you today.

*I've learned a lot since publishing this book. It's a beautiful story, and it was the best thing I created at that time. What it also means is that this was my first book. Some authors remove their old works based on their growth, but I don't believe in this. I am so proud of this story, and while I could take it down and rewrite it a million times based on what I know now and never be satisfied (as I could with all of my work), I love the nostalgia and inspiration that I can read between those characters that serve as my foundation.

A Fresh New Look

If you've been following along on Instagram, you may have noticed a few art teasers I've dropped from mativious. Well, I've got something exciting as a bonus.

Brand new covers for the Blue Star series! Of course, Amazon takes forever to update, but I'm hoping these will be officially updated on their site May 20, just in time to celebrate May 24 - FIVE YEARS!

What you've missed on Patreon:

My latest fantasy romance that will be available in the Foes to Flames anthology in Sept 2024 just concluded. You can read the entire story early.

STORM

Now posting, THE CROWN OF FRACTURED DARKNESS, book 3 and the final installment of the Smoke and Shadow series. The first chapter is now live and will be updated every Monday. Be sure to join the Amethyst or higher tiers to get access to CROWN.

Sending you love, kindness, and peace for wherever you are right now.

Laura Winter

Instagram | Discord | Patreon | Passion Planner discount code: LAURA546