Hey nerds!

As you know, I've been working on a new series called Symphony in the Skies. What you may not know is that the world is Greek-inspired with location names like Elymbeii, Delthira, Sacheron, and Athemea. And a currency called "chrims" or "chrimata beads". For those who speak Greek or are familiar with ancient Greece, I want this world to feel familiar yet wondrously unique.

My question for you is: what are your favorite Greek myths? Respond to this email and let me know! I'm going to make allusions throughout the series for those who can find them. For example, the prologue has a three-headed hellhound guarding a giant hole in the ground! I'm curious which myths, creatures, or people you'd love to see represented.

Short Kickstarter update. The files are all ready to go and will be sent to the printer next week. The next step is them sending me a copy, which I am very excited about!

FALL OF CLOUD SEVEN UPDATE

Now that the Kickstarter chaos has started to die down, I've been able to get back to writing. We're up to 25k words! Every time I write in this world, I fall back in love with it, but there is still a long ways to go. Unless my day job gets crazy again, I should be able to make significant progress over the next two months—I'd like to be 50% done by the end of August (~70k words) so I have a solid chunk I can discuss/share with potential literary agents at DragonCon.

As the series title suggests, music is a huge part the Symphony in the Skies series. The magic itself is tied to music. And so the world is filled with music as well. I actually have leitmotifs for each of the main character that will be available in the books if you want to pluck them out on a piano. Today, I wanted to share part of the solemn war hymn sung in the prologue. Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to sing it for you...

Fast falls the evening sun

Forgetting all the day has done

Fallen brothers; fallen flame

We will never be the same

Fast falls the evening sun

Casting red o’er everyone 

Fallen voices; fallen soul

Holy Mother make us whole

Fast falls the evening sun

Feigning peace while rivers run

Fallen shadow; fallen light

All the Choirs will sing tonight

INDIE FANTASY FUND

Last week we announced the grant recipients for 2023! Because of the generosity of the community, we were able to provide $1,000 USD grants to 10 different self-published authors, as well as service grants to 5 more. When we started the fund, Bookborn and I just wanted a way to give back to the community. We are thrilled to see the fund growing and more authors rewarded for their creativity and talent.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I first read Combat Codes 3 years ago, when it was a finalist in SPFBO against Voice of War. I loved it then, and I love it even more now with the new Orbit release. A great blend of Fantasy and Sci-fi, I highly recommend if you want an action-packed book to binge.

From USA Today bestselling author Eileen Mueller (who I met in person last year and is such a wonderful human). Soar on dragon back with the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters wild adrenaline ride. Courageous dragon riders, nail-biting action, dangerous mages, swashbuckling pirates and snarky dragons.