Hello Lovely,

If you didn’t see, I launched my Kickstarter to raise funds for the audiobook productions last Friday.

Not only was the Kickstarter funded in the first 30 minutes, but we have gone above and beyond what I ever imagined and have now raised over $28,000 in funding. We’ve unlocked so many additional goodies via stretch goals including full-color illustrated scenes in the deluxe editions, and TWO AUDIOBOOKS!!!

All tiers from the $25 E-Book Omnibus and up will be going home with additional art, goodies, and the audiobooks for Of Shadow and Moonlight AND Tipped in Frost and Blood, and we are inching toward the stretch goal where everyone will go home with the audiobook for To Ashes and Dust as well! That’s 3 audiobooks for FREE!!

Kickstarter emailed me today and we have been chosen as a project they love, which is so exciting!

The Audiobook Trailer is here!

Watch the full audiobook trailer here!:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLeLax3B/

The female narrator, Jacci Prior (formerly known as Nicci Prior/Nicole James) will be returning, and I am thrilled to announce the new male narrator who will voice Damien and all the male cast is, Anthony Palmini! You may recognize him as the voice of Graphic Audio’s Rhysand.

I am so excited to listen to Jacci and Anthony bring the characters to life, and I cannot wait for you all to read the next book in the series!

LUNA! Do we have any updates on said next book??

A LOT of stuff happened at the end of last year which sadly put me a bit behind, but here is the current tentative publishing plans

The next book in the works is the first book in Barrettt & Thalia’s spinoff duology. This book will help lay the foundation for book 3. Originally this was going to be a single book, but there is simply too much history to cover between Barrett and Thalia that if I fit it all into a single book I risked the story either feeling rushed, or it being such a massive beast that it wouldn’t be affordable to print and I couldn’t not in good conscience expect readers to potentially have to pay $40-$50 for a standard hardcover book. So I decided to split their story into two books.

Book 1 is now titled “He Who Ignites The Flame” and book 2 is titled “She Who Bites The Flame”

He Who Ignites The Flame will be the next book to be released and is planned for hopefully a June 2024 release.

Book 3 in the Shadow and Moonlight series will follow HWITF, aiming for a winter/spring 2025 release, and book 2 in the BarrettxThalia spinoff will follow at some point between book 3 and 4’s release.

I wish I could get them out sooner, but I am trying to take the time to ensure I write the stories the characters and you all deserve, so I am trying to be more realistic about how long it takes to write a full-length fantasy book and it be sustainable, as book 3, 4, and 5 are anticipated to be as big as To Ashes and Dust or potentially bigger.

Indie Author Spotlight

Here is a list of some other amazing Kickstarter projects that might interest you!

Can't get enough of the Shadow and Moonlight Universe?

Gain access to countless goodies!

• NSFW art & bonus scenes from books

• vote and read spicy scenes and other bonus scenes between characters of your choosing—not included in the series (canon, non-canon, and crackships included >.>)

• behind-the-scenes access

• alternate scenario storylines

• discounts on merch and books

• guaranteed spot on ARC team for future releases

• early access to ebook releases

• and more!

Visit the Taste of Darkness Patreon here!

Of Shadow and Moonlight

A woman fated to die young, a man cursed to live forever, and a darkness that threatens to destroy everything they love.

Cassie was never able to experience the life that many take for granted, the freedom to dictate her own journey. No, her life had been spent sheltered, protected from an inevitable fate that would come for her regardless of what anyone could do. After her medical condition goes downhill, she is left with a few years of breath in her lungs and a choice: die alone, without ever experiencing what it truly means to feel alive and free; or to find that light, that missing puzzle piece, that feeling of not feeling so alone in her final days.

When Damien appears in her life, her world turns upside down when he shows her the hidden magic that lies in the shadows of her world and within herself. Suddenly plunged into a hidden war that has raged for countless centuries between gods and monsters, Cassie begins to feel the weight of her secret, which she has kept hidden all her life.

Cassie must embrace the tragic, dark history that runs through the blood in her veins or risk her world falling into darkness.

Tipped in Frost and Blood

It's never easy taking a life, no matter how tainted their soul had been.
But what if it was against your will?

With winter's approach comes longer nights, and in the dark of night, Cassie's horrors come to life. Sleep evades her, and when rest finally comes, she finds herself trapped, forced to face the death of the one person she thought she'd wanted to kill. Though it was by her hand that he died, it was not her will.

The threat of war with the darklings drives Cassie to grow stronger, and while losing herself in the training and companionship of her friends may help avoid the reality of what she'd done, it isn't a cure. With every step, she finds herself shadowed by a strange presence, a voice filling her mind with corruption... and she struggles to separate its desires from her own.

Watching the one you love suffer is worse than suffering yourself, and while Damien fights to protect his people from the darklings, he struggles to help Cassie fight her own demons. Winter Solstice nears, and he and the brothers work together to help Cassie through therapy, celebrations, and traditions, in hopes that they might pull her from the darkness holding her and help her find her place in their world and her new home.

But can a human truly find a place amongst immortals?

To Ashes and Dust

A dark secret, a terrible prophecy, and a dangerous bargain.

An unsettling energy has settled over the city of Johnstown. When the darkling’s behavior suddenly changes and immortal families start disappearing from their homes—Cassie and Damien are called to a meeting with The Council of the Kyrios, to discuss how they intend to bring an end to Melantha and her darkling brood. The time comes for Cassie to make her appearance known, rising to the role of queen of the immortals at Damien’s side.

Cassie battles with the inner turmoil left in the wake of Marcus’ torment and Cole’s betrayal. When she uncovers the truth, she’s left questioning everything, and the dark secret she’s guarded her entire life threatens to be revealed.

Damien works to expand the warriors of The Order to face the looming threat of the countless darklings building in the shadows while searching for a means of saving Cassie from the fate Selene warned them of. Instead of finding answers, he stumbles upon a terrible prophecy.

Foe becomes friend, friend becomes foe, and Cassie and Damien are left to pick up the pieces of their shattered reality.