We are 13 days away from the digital launch of Children of the Gods!

There is no launch without nerves, even eight books into this whole author thing. But the early response from backers, book reviewers, and advanced readers has been really positive, and that makes it slightly less nerve-wracking.

Slightly.

Actually, this week had a very exciting author moment, with the renowned KIRKUS REVIEWS giving Children of the Gods their stamp of approval:

"Absorbing cast. A well-balanced mix of action, exposition, and character introspection. The narrative's exhilarating latter half churns out one shocking turn after another and will surely leave readers eager for the series' next installment. A radiant, worthwhile introduction to an astonishing supernatural world." - KIRKUS REVIEWS (✓ Get It Recommended)

And there have been many more early reviews coming in. I compiled a few of them here...

And I've gotta say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read the book and bumped it up their TBR list!

CotG Goodreads Giveaway

If you're in the US and are interested in a Kindle version of the book, you should definitely enter the Goodreads giveaway. I am giving away a bunch of ebook copies.

All you need to do to enter is mark it as WANT TO READ over on Goodreads in order to enter. Only a couple days left to enter!

Enter the Giveaway

Ebook and Audio Preorders

Just want to go ahead and preorder and make sure you get it on release day?

Kindle Preorder

Audible Preorder

Hardcover Update

Physical books are likely a couple months behind the digital release, but for all of you awaiting illustrated hardcovers, they are coming together. I am supposed to receive all the title pages from the printer today or tomorrow. Which I will sign and ship back. And then, those will all be bound into the books.

The actual printing should take place next month, and then, it will be off to the races. The aim has been to get them to backers before the December holidays, and barring something majorly unexpected, we are still on track for that target delivery date.

I received a final mockup with all the adjustments I requested. And it turned out fantastic!

Hardcover Preorder

Writing Update

Meanwhile in new writing news....

I finished up the final Shadow Watch prequel story, "Hunter in the Red City."

This one explores Kirra's hunt for a mythic weapon, which takes place concurrent with the events for Book One. The ramifications of this hunt are not fully known until Book Four, but this one sheds light on something important that happens behind the scenes in the novels.

This one was also the longest prequel story yet, at 13k words, or around 50 pages.

"Hunter" will be included in the deluxe edition for The Darkling Queen, but we also unlocked an audio version of all the prequel stories during the campaign, and the supremely talented narrator Ellen Dunbavin is wrapping up thie production on this collection of short stories and novelettes over the next few weeks.

With that story done, I will now be focusing entirely on Age of Fire #2 for the next 6-8 months, as well as a short prequel story.

After a short break from that world the past couple months, I am eager to get writing.

Don't Miss this Series

My author pal, David Estes, is in the process of launching his Forsworn Oath series, and the fourth and penultimate book just launched! If you love chunky epic fantasy, be sure to check them out. And the audiobooks are performed by my personal all-time favorite narrator, Tim Gerard Reynolds.

What's Entertaining Me?

Reading - The Witcher: Baptism of Fire... I read the first few books a couple years ago, and it's been fun to dive back into these.

And recently finished, This is How You Lose the Time War, which I really liked.

Watching - Stranger Things S1-4 (rewatch)... my wife and I are trying to rewatch everything before the finale in a couple months. Nearly done with Season One, and it is still so great!

And yes, checked out K-Pop Demon Hunters recently, and it was very enjoyable, and boy, are those songs catchy.

_________

Okay, that's all for now!

Burn Bright!

Stephen

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The Shadow Watch Saga (a complete epic fantasy series)

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