Hey awesome,

I think I've done nothing but travel or be sick for about 6 weeks (or more? what is time?), and I completely missed updating you. Bright side: I have so much to share! Also bright side: while I was gone, fall happened (is happening? again. time.).

Hopefully this means there's lots of leaf pictures and apple cider in my near future. What are your fun fall plans? I'd love to hear them, and in the meantime, let's catch up! Or at least sum up!

Since last we talked - I went to DragonCon! It was an amazing time, and if my immune system would allow it, I'd do a second one immediately. I talked a bunch about it with fellow Feral Ladies Melissa Olthoff and Kacey Ezell, and you can catch that here if you want some chaotic fun. There are also several other super fun episodes on the channel, like The One with Jody Lynn Nye (!!!), Empire Building with Mel Todd, and another awesome one coming tomorrow, 10/1 at 8 pm eastern - Audiobook Awesomeness with Jennifer Jill Araya, Anna Delphine, and Erebus Esprit. You can join us being silly in the chat if you're around!

Also DragonCon...A Plague of Magic launched!

As seen here at the fabulous Fantasy Gather with the glory of the hoard. I'm sure the treasure helped the book sell out at the con...so shiny. So irresistible...and thus we see how Cima and her family of thieves got into so much trouble...(evil laugh here). The lure of the treasure is hard to fight!

Have you had a chance to check out all the loot and trouble of A Plague of Magic? I'd love to hear your thoughts if so!

And if you haven't...how about a chance to win it, along with a bunch of other awesome books aaaaand a kindle??

You can enter this week right on over here - it ends Friday, and the winner will be announced Saturday, so jump right on it!

While you're feeling lucky, you can treat yourself to two already-funded-sure-thing-you're-getting-awesomeness kickstarters! Two fabulous authors (who are also amazing people and some of my favorites) have launched super fun projects recently, both funded pretty much immediately, and both have some super fun stretch goals.

Up first (because it's in the last day), Becca Lee Gardner has Adventure Cats:

Loooook at them! I love everything about this, including the following:

Five heroes. One curse. Endless cat-shaped chaos.

When a magical mishap turns a team of young adventurers into cats, their quest gets whiskered in a whole new direction. Trapped in feline form, they must navigate a world that suddenly seems a lot bigger, a lot furrier—and a lot more dangerous.

But here’s the twist: you choose which cat to follow. Will it be the brave warrior, the clever mage, the sneaky rogue, the loyal cleric, or the wild druid? Each path is a unique, action-packed adventure that leads to the same thrilling finale—where the fate of the world (and the cats) hangs in the balance.

With playful humor, heart-pounding battles, and plenty of purr-sonality, Adventure Cats is a fantasy quest you can read again and again—because every cat has its own story to tell.

Choose your hero. Follow your path. Save the world. (And maybe catch a nap in a sunbeam or two.)

Cats! Adventure! Awesomeness!

And for yet more awesomeness, good goodness looooook:

Gah this special edition needs to be in my hoard of treasures asap! Shami Stovall, like Becca, is brilliant, and these books are so good.

This award-winning series is 2 books bundled into 1, with special artwork, added little scenes, faux leather cover, and glorious sprayed edges!

Best described as “Groundhog Day meets the Dresden Files” this urban fantasy series if perfect for anyone who loves Rivers of London, the Iron Druid, or even books like Cursed Cocktails!

The stretch goals are also fantabulous, and you can check it all out right over here.

WHEW. I think that's most of what I missed telling you about. OH WAIT except - where have I been? After DragonCon (and a sadly drawn out bout of bronchitis, huge boo), I went to my 48th state!!! I joined Kacey on an epic road trip out to South Dakota, and wowwwww it did not disappoint.

We went see Devil's Tower over in Wyoming, Mt. Rushmore, many a touristy Old West town (delightful every time!), and so, so much gorgeous scenery. I collected amazing rocks (of course I did), grinned like a big old dork at everything, and also...also, experienced the Badlands for the first time.

Holy. Crap. I fell in awed love immediately (and not just because I had buffalo and bighorn sheep sightings right off the bat). It is so wild and gorgeous and unexpected that of course it is going immediately into the sequel to A Plague of Magic. I have so many plans. Poor Cima...the characters shall not have a good time there. But my eyes, they were so lucky. Behold:

Where have you gone that's immediately inspired you? Please tell me all about it - I will not be traveling again in the near future (awww, but also good, there is work to do!), so I'd love to live vicariously through your experiences.

And also, I guess, get back to work. That's probably enough awesomeness for one belated newsletter.

Til next time,

Marisa