The Curse of the Sundered Wings
It’s title reveal day!
It’s time for a title reveal!
When a decorated war hero (and alleged smuggler) vanishes from the deck of the RMS Olympic in the autumn of 1913, rumors of an ancient curse sweep through the ship. No one is quite sure what to believe.
Eighteen-year-old James Kelly was hoping for a quiet voyage back to New York. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with murdered soldiers or cursed artifacts. But when his best friend, Oliver Wentworth, volunteers to help a Swedish journalist with his investigation, James can't help but be drawn in. Joined by Oliver’s captivating twin sister, Emily, this group of mismatched detectives sets out to uncover the truth behind "The Curse of the Sundered Wings."
Watch out for more information (and release date news) soon!
Defining Shapeless
Shapeless is more than the title of a book; it’s an exploration of the uncertain and the undefined, both in the magical creatures that emerge from the mist and within our young heroine, Aislin.
Today, I invite you to accompany me on a deeper exploration of the second installment of The Lighthouses of Lodestar trilogy, Shapeless. Shapeless is more than the title of a book; it’s an exploration of the uncertain and the undefined, both in the magical creatures that emerge from the mist and within our young heroine, Aislin.
Aislin begins this part of her journey as a shapeless entity, grappling to understand herself and her place in the world. Her struggles against the phantoms run parallel with the unraveling of secrets hidden in her past, leading her to the ruins of Iceburn and into the recesses of her own mind. These threads pressure her in ways altogether different from the struggles she faced in Crafters of Light. Her very identity is questioned as the stress of her situation threatens to tear her apart.
Yet, through struggle, Aislin finds solace. As she becomes more comfortable with her strengths and weaknesses, her past, and her place in the world, she embraces herself, allowing her experiences to empower her rather than allowing the world to shape her into something she doesn’t want to be.
Chapter by chapter, as she ventures deeper into the mist, Aislin learns crucial lessons that resonate deeply with her and, I hope, with all of you reading along. She discovers that she will never solve the problems on Lodestar Island with cruelty or hatred. To do that and lift the curse on Frostglen, she must muster up more empathy and compassion than she ever could have known.
Shapeless mirrors real life in this way. We are all, at times, shapeless, unsure of who we are and where we fit in. That’s a universal experience. But while chaos and discomfort are never easy companions, we can always strive to learn from our encounters with these unwanted phantoms. Through the journey of life, through our experiences, trials, and interactions, we are molded into who we are. At its best, Shapeless reminds us that in a world often fraught with strife and conflict, our empathy and compassion help to shape the best parts of us—far more than our fears or prejudices ever could. This is Aislin’s lesson to learn throughout the novel.
Ultimately, I guess I’m trying to say that Shapeless isn’t just a title. It’s a description, or maybe a state of being. It represents that undefined space, somewhere between abstract and definite, where ambiguity and tension thrive. It signifies the journey we all undergo as we grow up in a world that can often feel overwhelming and indecipherable.
As we continue following Aislin into Clearing the Mist, I hope she reminds you that it’s okay to be shapeless sometimes. It’s okay to search for answers and to struggle with the monsters in the mist. After all, it’s often within the undefined, scary parts of our lives that we find the strength to become the best versions of ourselves.
Clearing the Mist—A Chapter One Preview
Today, chapter one.
Friday, the whole dang thing!
Below, you will find a preview of the first chapter of Clearing the Mist! Aislin’s Vow picks up right where Shapeless left off, with our protagonist preparing to leave Frostglen to pursue the monstrous Idon and lift the curse still strangling her village.
Be sure to check out the full novel this Friday, 12/30/22! It will be available on Amazon in eBook, paperback, and hardcover formats. To find out what’s happened so far in Aislin’s story, check out Crafters of Light and Shapeless—both of which are now available on Amazon!
A Doodle
There are less than two hours to go until I post the link to Shapeless! I'm officially in the "panic that everything will go wrong with this book release and everyone will hate everything" phase.
I distracted myself by drawing a little doodle of Aislin and Pierre. I'm excited for you all to see where the story goes next! I've probably drawn these characters a hundred different ways over the last year, so don't take these designs as gospel. They're constantly changing.
A Release Date for Shapeless!
I'm thrilled to announce that Shapeless is coming out on June 17th. I can't wait to share the next chapter of Aislin's journey with all of you!
My Proof Copies of Shapeless Have Arrived!
There are a lot of things I like about being an independent author, but I think my favorite part of the self-publishing process might be the day that the first round of proof copies gets delivered. We’re getting closer to the release of Shapeless!
Shapeless—A Chapter One Preview
Below, you will find a preview of Chapter One of Shapeless! Some edits are still pending, but this is close to the final version that will appear in the novel. “King Archibald” is the first departure from Aislin’s POV that has occurred in the Lighthouses of Lodestar series. It was an exciting chance to spend a little bit of time in Percy’s head!
To find out what happens next, watch out for more information about Shapeless (including a release date). If you want to get caught up on the story so far, check out Crafters of Light—now available on Amazon in print and ebook formats!
Introducing the Cover of Shapeless
Prince Caliban of Lodestar graces the front cover of Shapeless, the second novel in the Lighthouses of Lodestar trilogy.
I am so excited to reveal this!
Prince Caliban of Lodestar graces the front cover of Shapeless, the second novel in the Lighthouses of Lodestar trilogy. His role in Crafters of Light was little more than a cameo, but the son of King Archibald stands tall and proud here, surrounded by the light of his Beacon.
I can’t wait to share Shapeless with you—it’s hard for me to believe that the release is just a few months away!
Irish Names?
It was a year ago today that I decided on names for most of the characters from Frostglen. I was doing some drafting and prewriting for Crafters, and I ended up on a website of Irish and Celtic names, looking to find some that I might use. I suspect the holiday had something to do with that.
Aislin, fittingly, was the first character whose name I settled on. I liked the name, and it felt like it fit the character I’d been designing. After I made that decision, it made sense for the rest of the characters from Frostglen to have Irish or Celtic roots in their monikers, too. Caolan, Lorcan, Eoin, and many others (but not quite all) got their names this way.
Anyway, writing is weird, and you never know where you’ll find ideas to work with. Always keep an open mind and you might be surprised what inspires you!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Exciting Things on the Way!
Hi, friends!
I know it’s been quiet around here lately, but things are progressing well with the sequel to Crafters of Light. My most recent draft was sent to beta readers for feedback in February, which is an exciting part of the writing process. It marks the first time that the work is shared with people other than me!
If all goes well with this round of beta edits, I can start revealing things like the title and the cover in advance of more formal editing and a release date announcement. I’m looking forward to it!
Thanks for all of your kind words, reviews, and messages about CoL. Y’all are the best.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, friends!
First of all, please allow me to thank you once again for your support of Crafters of Light this year. To all that left reviews, reached out on social media, asked me to sign books, or just wanted to talk about writing—you’re the best. You made my 2020 unforgettable (in a good way).
When I began writing the Lighthouses of Lodestar series, I was confident that I could wrap up the major plot points of the narrative in just two books. As I worked this autumn to draft book two, I began to realize that this was perhaps an ambitious (and needlessly restrictive) goal. In order to complete the story arcs of the characters in a satisfying way, I have decided to expand book two of the series and release it as two separate novels. That’s right—Lighthouses of Lodestar is now going to be a trilogy! The sequel to Crafters of Light will still be releasing in Q2 of 2021, and I can’t wait to begin sharing details about it with you very soon.
Here’s to a great 2021!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi, friends!
The first few days of this book launch have been crazy! On this holiday, I just want to express how thankful I am for each and every one of you. Whether you ordered a copy of CoL, shared my posts, left a review of the book, or just reached out to say "congratulations," I am grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Launch Day
I self-published my first book today.
Here's to many more (and to continued self-improvement). It's a tired cliché, but don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something! I'm going to keep working to become a better writer and to write better stories going forward. Imposter syndrome is real, but it can be overcome. Or managed, anyway. I’m still a bundle of anxiety!
2020 hasn't been an easy year—by any measure—but I'm always going to remember it as the year I finally worked up the nerve and motivation to take my writing journey one step forward. I'll also probably remember it as the year that toilet paper became a scarce, valued commodity. It's still 2020.
Thank you all for your support. Couldn't do it without ya.
Look for information about the sequel to CoL after the first of the year!
10 Days to Go
It's a pretty cool feeling to actually see the book in print! I'm thrilled by it, and I hope it lives up to your expectations as well. I’m still making last minute updates (it’s so nerve-wracking to approach the release date!!), but part one of the duology is coming fast and I’m doing my best to be ready!
Crafters of Light releases in TEN days!
Maps
The map that started it all.
When world-building for a fantasy novel, authors imagine histories, languages, cultures, and traditions of people that have never existed. It can be a daunting process.
One of the very first things that I did to help build Aislin’s world was draw myself a map of it. The layout of towns, landmarks, and points of interest changed off and on after I made my initial sketch, but I continued to refer back to this original map many times throughout the writing process.
I thought it might be something fun to share!
