sarahlin posts
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First TWC Audiobook Launched!
It has begun! Audible controls release timing, so we were on tenterhooks waiting to see if we scraped in before the holiday wall. Looks like we did, because the first audiobook is available now:https://www.audible.com/pd/B09NF763LHAs patrons already know, Travis Baldree will be narrating this series. I know many of you have been requesting this, so please support the audiobooks! This is a bigger risk than I've taken before, though I've pledged that we'll be getting the second and third books out as soon as professionally possible, n...
TWC5 Information
Alright, this post is going to be about the fifth book in the series. There won't be any true spoilers, but if you're the sort of person who wants to go into a book completely blind, then you might want to skip this one... after the next paragraph.While I have you, let me remind everyone that the first audiobook is coming out sometime soon! I can't be exactly sure when because Audible controls that. It would be great to have the Amazon page for the ebook version in good shape before a large new audience sees it for the first time. I...
TWC Audiobook Announcement!
If you didn't see the announcement in the image: yes, Travis Baldree has agreed to narrate The Weirkey Chronicles! I've kept this under my hat while we were figuring out details, but now the first book is in production.What I can't tell you is when future books will be released. If we went according to Baldree's ordinary schedule it would be about two years before we could get started! So he is doing me a favor slipping TWC books in when time becomes available, but that means I don't know when the next books will be narrated...
Soulcrafting 102
We have another soulcrafting tutorial, again thanks to the graphical work of Lamsey! Please enjoy this one - I didn't originally plan it, but enough people requested more information on specific rooms types that I decided to do one. I'm not sure when I'll do a public post of this, but you guys get it early. ^-^I've seen confusion over Patreon's image posts in the past: please note that you should see 16 images, not just one. There should be a slideshow feature.Finally, I just want to throw in another detail that hasn't m...
Chasmfall Cover Reveal + Poll Results
We finally have a week where I can show you the cover of the fourth book! This is another nice cover by Susliche, whose work you can find here.I hope to stick with him over the rest of the series, continuing this trajectory. TWC4 and the next couple covers will have compasses, tying them together thematically as the characters explore deeper into the Nine Worlds. Ideally the whole series will feel unified while still having some real variety.Meanwhile, the poll I put up last week is just an hour from closing. Thanks to so many for giving votes ...
Update and Short Story Poll (see description)
Hey, it's great to see so many of you still here! I have a lot of fun things planned that I hope will make this month feel worth it for you, and I just want to add that the enthusiasm for the series does have a measurable effect in shortening the wait for TWC5. ^-^Originally I was going to do the cover reveal for the fourth book now, but you can't add an image to a poll... actually, it looks like you can't have more than one poll question, either. Well, I'll keep showing up on Saturday with new things.Let me talk about the poll....
Chasmfall: Epilogue (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Epilogue, let's go!-EpilogueThe bodies of the titans cooled slowly as the shadows stole their heat. It would be days until the remains became indistinguishable from the rest of the environment, particularly in such an unnecessarily lit landscape. All the demon flesh lay stretched across the path, skin glistening in the very light that had helped draw them.Guchiro walked across the chest of one of the titans and extended his hand toward what had been its chest. When his fingers curled, great spears of darkness flowed from him, penetrating de...
Chasmfall: Chapters 25-27 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Three chapters leading up to the epilogue! This book doesn't end with the same sort of climactic fight sequence as the others, since I don't want to be too formulaic, but I tried to give this one a different sort of impact. There are some big reveals here, including one that I have been eagerly waiting to get people's reactions on for about three books. ^-^Epilogue next week, as well as other fun stuff, but this week we'll focus on the chapters.-Chapter 25Though their group reached the waterfalls easily enough, as they looked ov...
Chasmfall: Chapters 23-24 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Loads of announcements today: For those of you interested in JC Kang, he just released a new book. He's been a big supporter of me from near the beginning. ^-^ Soulhome is officially the first of my books to hit 500 reviews! I was surprised that it beat Street Cultivation there, but the ongoing rush of attention to the first book swept it ahead. The next milestone is 1000 reviews... not sure if I can make it, but I'll keep forging onward! By coincidence, we've also passed 500 patrons here for the first time. Thank you all for your s...
Chasmfall: Chapters 21-22 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Well, we're finally to these chapters. Most of my notes will go at the end, but first, some news about our Discord server!If you had Discord connected to Patreon, you should automatically have received an invitation. Now that this is done, you should be able to get notifications there and participate in the patron-only channel. But on top of that, we have emotes of the characters! Theo, Nauda, and Fiyu all have several different expressions for you to choose from. ^-^-Chapter 21Though Fiyu was too well-trained to allow anything short of an ...
Chasmfall: Chapters 19-20 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
I have some fun news to tease all of you with: I'm in discussions regarding the audiobooks for TWC! Though I probably shouldn't say too much at this stage, I think many of you will be pleased. That's one of the many things that's been drawing my attention, so I won't go on in this introduction, but chapters continue!-Chapter 19Though the attack cost them time, requiring their group to retrace their steps to find a safe path back into the chasm, the true cost was peace of mind. Theo had hoped, despite the odds, that they had ...
Chasmfall: Chapters 16-18 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Archcrafter has continued to do decently well, but the surprising thing was that Soulhome exploded over the previous week, actually spending a fair amount of time in the top 1000 on Amazon! This is better than it did on its initial launch and much more than I expected for a book that's approaching a year old. Obviously I'm not a top series, but it's nice to see strong signs of new interest.Anyway, that's all fun, but meanwhile Chasmfall chapters continue! This set gives you a larger glimpse of the Chasm and an idea how the chara...
Chasmfall: Chapters 14-15 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
So... Archcrafter has been out for a week and it has done okay. I really appreciate everyone who supported and reviewed. ^-^ Once again, Soulhome was actually outselling it on most days, so I hope that means new readers are finding the series and it can build momentum.Two chapters this week, capping off the first half of this book. My goal with TWC4 was that the first half of the book is building up tension as the Chasm gets closer, then the second half is letting it all rush out. Not a true convergence, not yet, but I hope that everyone will e...
Archcrafter Release!
Hey, everyone! The new book is now available here:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FYFC3TTIf you've read the book, which most of you here have, I'd appreciate if you'd consider supporting this one! Reviews are always nice, feel free to grab a copy or read on Kindle Unlimited, and word of mouth is always great!Because I'll be busy with promotion, the next Chasmfall chapters will be posted on the weekend after this one. However, look forward to a soulcrafting post and some other diversions being posted across social media. ^-^For thos...
Chasmfall: Chapters 11-13 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
New chapters! But I'd first like to take a moment to talk about fan communities.Readers sometimes request communities aside from the Patreon, and while I think those can be good, my concern is always that managing them will take up too much of my work time. When started by fans, however, I think they can be a positive thing. If they ever hit critical mass, I'm happy to promote them as fan communities.Currently, the only semi-established one is the subreddit for my work. But this week, a patron volunteered to create a Discord server and ...
Chasmfall: Chapters 8-10 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Hello, new patrons! Since Patreon analytics aren't the best, would you mind commenting where you're coming from? I know for sure some patrons are coming from the book release and some from RoyalRoad, but the majority are actually unknown, so more data would be useful.Speaking of RR, the release date for TWC3 will likely be September 11. That means you're getting some more chapters of the fourth book before the brief break, then it should continue up until the conclusion.-Chapter 8Though the terrible sun never moved from its position...
Chasmfall: Chapters 5-7 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
The early chapters of this book were unusually long, but now we're back to shorter ones, so you're getting three of them instead of two.These chapters include some answers, or at least significant steps toward answers. I know some readers have expressed frustration about some of the unknowns or about apparent discrepancies. All I can really say is that I have a clear overall picture in mind and I hope its reveals will be satisfying. Not every thread can appear in every book, but they'll all be woven together in the end.-Chapter 5The...
Chasmfall: Chapters 3-4 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Can you believe it's been a week since the Rainhorn launch? I was hoping for a little better, but there have been solid levels of reviews, sales, and interest. Welcome to the new patrons, though I'd guess many are coming to get Archcrafter. ^-^The plan is to launch Archcrafter on Amazon at the beginning of September, but that raises a question about RoyalRoad. It's provided less support to launches than I'd hoped, and there's a time/energy cost to posting there, so I'm contemplating discontinuing those chapters. I'd ...
TWC2 and TWC3: Patron Formats
As promised, patrons get access to ebook copies of new books, in formats that I can't provide elsewhere. Please find your links below.TWC2: https://mega.nz/file/y9djmI7K#5HqafbH68o-MdVYbMpSt0RUSnPa-RNAvIJF5rLHHqYETWC3: https://mega.nz/file/TlUSgZBB#BrFrfPy46CqE9yBhz7mlWWpi-TEu3rthBkRhfcu8rrMHope you enjoy! In the case of Rainhorn, please leave reviews on Amazon if at all possible.
Rainhorn Release!
The second book is now out on Amazon, everyone! Please go check it out here:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BLKPSWMThough you've already read the main story on Patreon, this version does have a bit more editing and some minor improvements. Please consider leaving a review and/or grabbing a copy to help support the series!Of course, I'm very grateful to patrons, so I've also made available ebooks in alternative formats. ^-^I have my fingers crossed, but regardless you can expect the third book to be published before too long and for cha...
Chasmfall: Chapters 1-2 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Well, you guys overwhelmingly requested earlier chapters even if it meant later delays. That means you're getting the first two today, and since they're both above average length, this is a fairly long start.There may be some delays on weekends that a book releases, but otherwise expect a fairly normal schedule through the end of this book. At the end of that period (likely October), I can't say for sure what the situation will be. At that time, we'll see where things are and talk again about my writing plan going forward.Anyway...
Blueprints, Covers, and Series Plans
Hey, everyone! I have a number of fun things for you today.Blueprints: Check out the new blueprints for Theo and Nauda as of the end of TWC3. Hopefully everything is clear enough, though I wondered about using unique symbols versus general purpose indicators, especially as the blueprints get bigger. Fiyu doesn't get an update, as her unknowns remain unknown and adding a blank second floor isn't very exciting.Covers: These are the three that I plan to run with, so hopefully everyone finds them tolerable. I know some people want me to rem...
Soulcrafting 201: Ascension
Hey, everyone! The images here are planned for public promotion when books two and three release, but I thought you would all enjoy seeing them early. Feel free to give comments or questions, as I could potentially tweak before the public release.Though I've uploaded all the images, Patreon isn't always the best for reading small text. Here's a downloadable zip file if that's more convenient for you:https://mega.nz/file/2w1GVJ4K#63eit-qEIJ1uRvdYR9KsbdZcb6Htw3XNt8Lqycxhm74As for moving forward with TWC, the problem has been cover...
Fanart, Lore Post, and Soulcrafting Questions!
Hey, everyone! This update will be a bit shorter, as I'm just checking in with a few things, but it's also an invitation to ask me questions.You can check out my new lore post, last in the AHM set, though there may be another bonus post yet to come. I've put the mini-map above, but there's a bigger world map at the link.There's a bit more fanart over at the sub, allegedly just the first in a set:https://old.reddit.com/r/TheBrightestShadow/Please look forward to some TWC content coming down the pipeline! I have planned anothe...
Archcrafter Epilogue + Covers (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Lots of side business today before the epilogue!Fanart: First up, take a look at the lovely TBS fanart. ^-^ I'm not familiar with the artist, but it was commissioned by one of our commenters here on the Patreon.Covers: The other three images above this post are different covers. Two alternate colorings for a potential Rainhorn cover, then an edit of the Archcrafter cover. This artist works really fast... so fast I almost worry that he's photobashing these, but he seems to speak more Russian than English. I am currently considering using...
Archcrafter: Chapters 39-40 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
There's another worldbuilding post up! Otherwise, I'll leave most of the notes for after the chapters.-Chapter 39Zero months. Zero days.Theo sat in the waiting chamber outside the arena where the duel would take place, attempting to put everything else out of his mind. There had been final gambits, final preparations, and final soulcrafting, all of it in the past now. He emptied his soul of everything except his objectives.Only the fight remained.~ ~ ~Nauda had expected the duel to take place in the Yorthin Coliseum, though in retrospec...
Archcrafter: Chapters 37-38 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
The first lore post for TBS2 is up on the blog, giving information on the new book's nations, magic system, and forging techniques.Meanwhile, just a couple chapters of TWC3 this week, because as you'll see here, we're finally nearing the end of this book. More info next week!-Chapter 37It went just as Theo had predicted: the Armeau family had plausible deniability, so the mercenaries were punished and no action was taken against the real culprits. He did hear from Blacksilver officials that House Teal was furious, and the House of B...
Two Random Covers
The covers you guys voted on will still be used at some point, but as I've suggested, I'm reaching a point where I'm happy to go with simpler covers if it means that the books can stop being delayed. Based on patron thoughts, I've decided to go with several different symbolic or non-humanoid covers. Not flashy, but they could work to establish series branding.Unfortunately, some artists are much faster than others. I decided not to delay on this either: what do you think of the two attached this time? Different artists with diff...
Archcrafter: Chapters 34-36 (The Weirkey Chronicles)
Well, A Hollow Mountain is off to an odd start. I won't complain that the sales of The Brightest Shadow have actually been up higher than the new release, but it's a pattern I haven't seen before and I don't know what to expect. In case any early readers see this, please leave a review if possible! Not many seem to be going through, for some reason.In TWC news, expect a post with some new cover options tomorrow. Three posts in one weekend, I know. This is the longest book in the series so far, but we're still getting close t...
A Hollow Mountain Release Sale!
It's book release time! The newest book in The Brightest Shadow is out, and all my other titles are on sale to celebrate. You can find A Hollow Mountain here:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0964H588MThe rest should be linked through my profile and they'll be on sale for this weekend. If you've been looking for a chance to grab anything else, this is a cheap opportunity.Hope you enjoy!
