The state of things
This year, like the two years before it, has not gone as planned, and though there have been many authorial highs (writing The Dragon Flute and Kingdom of Essence, and getting an audiobook narrated by Kate Reading), there have also been many lows. I am so SO incredibly grateful for all of you, my readers, and hate to disappoint you, but regrettably I must change what I’ll be publishing this fall.
Why the change?
Writing is my passion, but it doesn’t give me a liveable wage. Some weeks it doesn’t even give me enough for a cup of coffee. I want to continue telling stories, but I also need an income. In an effort to find something a little more dependable and collaborative, I applied for game design school (I’m very interested in narrative design, especially for role-playing games) and was lucky to get a spot this September.
I don’t know what my daily schedule will be like once my classes begin with a long commute and two children to care for. Therefore, I’ve made the hard decision to delay the release of The Demon Queen. It’s a big book (I’ve written over 150,000 words) and I know I’ll be unable to finish it before I start school.
Will you still be writing?
I will (I don’t believe I can ever stop :), but in hopes that I can release something before becoming a full-time student, I’ve decided to finish a different story. It’s cozy with seaside vibes, a modern/solarpunk feel, and a romantic storyline. As romance will be a stronger element (adventure and magic will remain an equal part), I’m going to release it under the pen name June Grey. It won’t be a secret name, so I’ll still give news and updates on my current socials.
What does this mean for TDQ?
For those of you who have read and loved Daughters of Fire & Sea, I know how frustrating it is to wait for the end of the story. I fully intend to finish The Demon Queen, and give you a completed trilogy, but I’m not certain when, as I don’t know what my writing time will look like while I’m in school. As we’re already somehow in August, I’m fairly certain it won’t be done before the end of the year, but I am going to keep working on it best I can.
I deeply wish I could afford to stick to my original plan, but book sales just haven’t made that possible. Thank you for your understanding and support. I appreciate all of you so much, and will keep writing stories (and make games!) that I hope you’ll enjoy.
