Hello everyone!

I know it has been a hot minute since my last newsletter, but I wanted to let you all know that Agoric Myths Book One: Tears of an Indifferent God is almost here.  This is my debut long-form book and carries on where the Vella serial left off. In related news, Tears is currently an entrant in SPFBO 10. As of writing this email, I can joyfully tell you all that I am still alive in the competition! (Because the competition doesn’t officially start until June 1^st… ) Tears was a labor of love that tells a story of revenge and reluctant heroism.  Below is the cover, a link to buy on Amazon (it will be available on Kindle Unlimited as well), and the blurb for the book.

Purchase Here!

In Pelesia, quests are abundant, and genuine heroes are few.

From the dusty streets of Petrolix to the perilous peaks guarding the giant Ruk's nest, Tears of an Indifferent God follows Sola, a sandal-maker driven by a burning need for vengeance. Orphaned at a young age, Sola blames the legendary hero Gordoneus for the untimely deaths of his parents. When fate cruelly throws them together, Sola finds himself banished and reluctantly journeying alongside the very man he has vowed to destroy.

As they traverse a landscape populated with mythical beasts and hostile city-states, Sola's quest for revenge transforms into one of self-discovery. Amid the dangers of their monumental quest to seize the coveted egg of the giant Ruk, Sola encounters unexpected camaraderie, challenges that test his mettle, and a love that might just redefine his understanding of justice and heroism.

Set in a world inspired by the Bronze Age Mediterranean, full of political intrigue and the whims of unpredictable gods, Tears of an Indifferent God is a tale of action, myth, and transformation, where personal vendettas collide with the destinies shaped by the gods.

What have I been up to?

Great question! Since I last updated you all, many things have changed in my life. My spawn now speaks full sentences and demands much time as he explores being a three-year-old, but I have also accepted a new professorship and made a few small trips to play even more escape rooms!

Despite all that, I have continued writing, and I have a pretty hopeful release schedule coming up. As of February, I removed my six stories from Vella and plan to serialize Whiskey, Bullets, and Badman on a new platform.

As for the other Vellas, each will make their way into long form in the next two years.

Right now, here is a tentative schedule:

June: Short story in the Agoric Myths universe.

Mid-summer 2024: Release Fall of Exacsol, an Agoric Myths prequel. This will be free for the first month for my newsletter subscribers.

Fall 2024: These Dark Holdings Book One: Sanctuary for Ravens.

Summer 2025: Agoric Myths Book Two: Waking Indifferent Gods

Recommended Reading: 

Shadows That Bind Us: Palisade Trilogy 1

by Amber L. Werner

Dangerous magic. Deadly betrayals. When evil emerges, can three young heroes rise or will their kingdom perish?

A Kickstarter to Consider Backing:

Among the Crimson Snow | A Noblebright Fantasy Novel

By Angela R. Watts

Check out the Kickstarter here!

Goodbye for now!

Well, I wanted to keep this first email back short since it has been a long time since the last one, so I am going to wrap this up now. Thank you all for your support! I hope that you consider checking out Tears of an Indifferent God on KU and Amazon. In June I will get back to talking more about game design or escape rooms, as there was a request for more escape room owner horror stories! Have a wonderful day, and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Isom Ashe