Song of the Week

Kate Bush, “The Morning Fog”

Good morning!

The Book of the New Moon Door releases this Friday! I’ll have all the retail links for you then. If you preordered a copy, they are supposed to arrive at my house tomorrow. I’ll be heading to the post office today to get some Priority Mail envelopes to put them in, and the wrapping paper, sealing wax, bookmarks, and stickers are already here. Gods willing and the weather holds, I should be sending them out on Wednesday!

No new chapters this week. Journey to the Water should start up again next week with a new chapter on Patreon, and then I’ll be back to a regular posting schedule. All the previous chapters are under the Stories tab above (under the Menu if you’re on mobile), if you need to catch up. Thank you for being patient while I was focusing on getting New Moon Door done.

Here’s a tool from the Friends Committee on National Legislation to write Congress asking for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. I’ve sent a letter, and I hope you will too.

As always, thanks for being here. Stop by again later this week for more updates as we get closer to release day!

One week until The Book of the New Moon Door!

The book will be available in paperback and ebook from whatever online retailer you prefer on Friday, December 15.

Also, preorders have left the printer! They’re on their way to me, so I can sign and wrap them. I’ll update you when I have an estimated arrival date. Once they’re here, I should get them finished and back into the mail within 24 hours.

Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to release day!

The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Three, Chapters Twenty-Five and Twenty-Six

The Book of the New Moon Door cover image: A book with yellowing, wrinkled pages lies open on an old wooden desk, with a sprig of lavender lying in the center.

Table of Contents

Chapter Twenty-Five: Answers

The mass of people under the dome turns to Isabel, and by extension to Berend, leaning on her shoulder. They’re packed in side by side, with barely enough room to rotate in place. There’s no room to sit. An old man leans on a younger relative, exhaustion and pain written in the lines of his face. 

The little boy with the grubby face shoves his way out of the foyer. He stops short, pigeon-toed feet in too-large shoes skidding on the smooth marble, and stares at the sky. 

“It’s all right, Jemmy,” Isabel says, but there’s no weight behind her words. It’s not all right. It’s probably never going to be all right again.

Jemmy’s eyes go wide, and he breathes in short gasps. A thin, terrified whine escapes his throat. 

“Are we still safe?” someone asks from inside the foyer. 

Continue reading “The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Three, Chapters Twenty-Five and Twenty-Six” →

Song of the Week

Delta Rae, “The Beast”

Good afternoon!

Preorders for The Book of the New Moon Door are officially closed! I’ve ordered the books from the printer, and hopefully I’ll have some more news about that soon. The book officially releases December 15, when it will be available from all the major online retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, probably others too).

The last two chapters of the serial version of New Moon Door will be up here on the blog on Wednesday. I’ll be working on getting Journey to the Water running again, so expect to see new chapters in the next couple of weeks. I’m hoping to publish Journey next year, so I’d better get on that.

Tell President Biden to redouble his efforts to renew the ceasefire in Gaza. Win Without War is hoping to collect 10,000 signatures today.

Thanks for all you do! Have an excellent week.

Last day to preorder The Book of the New Moon Door!

I’m closing the preorders first thing tomorrow morning.

Preorders include a signed copy of the book (paperback) wrapped in paper and sealed with wax, plus some bookmarks and stickers as a special thank-you. You can read the first chapter here, and order the book here. (Both these links are under the Buy my books tab above, or under the Menu if you’re on mobile.)

Thank you so much for your support! I’m so excited to finally bring this finished book to you.

The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Three, Chapter Twenty-Four

Endings

The Book of the New Moon Door cover image: A book with yellowing, wrinkled pages lies open on an old wooden desk, with a sprig of lavender lying in the center.

Table of Contents

Isabel can only stare at him. “You’re bleeding out,” she says, uselessly. “I don’t think you can stand.”

Berend takes another breath, thin and shaky. “Sure I can,” he says. 

“Why? Where do you want to go?” She’s got to find some way to stop the bleeding—and keep him where he is before he wanders off, numb from shock. She pushes his left arm aside and puts both hands to the spreading dark stain on his coat. The fabric squelches under her weight. 

“Don’t know. Just would rather die on my feet.” He stops, breathes for a moment, and adds, “If I can help at all, more the better.”

Continue reading “The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Three, Chapter Twenty-Four” →

New Patreon Post/ The Book of the New Moon Door: Part Three, Chapters Twenty-Five and Twenty-Six

“You can come with me, if you want. You can leave the temple and find your own way. You can stay here. It’s your choice.”

The Book of the New Moon Door

The original, serial version of The Book of the New Moon Door concludes with these two chapters, now available on Patreon. I hope you’ve enjoyed this version, and that you’ll enjoy the published version even more.

Song of the Week

Enya, “May It Be”

My husband and I are almost done with our annual Lord of the Rings rewatch, so here’s a song for you. (Fun fact: “May It Be” is also super easy to play on the piano, even if you haven’t touched a keyboard in years.)

Preorders of The Book of the New Moon Door are open through Friday, December 1! I’ll be closing them first thing Saturday morning, so if you want an autographed copy and some bonus bookmarks & stickers, be sure to order this week. You can find the link to the shop, and the first chapter of the published version, under the Buy My Books tab above (under the Menu if you’re on mobile), or you can click here and save yourself a step.

I’ll be sending the newsletter out tomorrow, which is earlier than usual, so that newsletter subscribers who don’t also read here have a chance to get a preorder. If you’re not subscribed and would like one email a month that does contain cat pictures, you can put your email into the box at this link.

The last two chapters of the serial version of The Book of the New Moon Door will be up on Patreon tomorrow, and last week’s chapter will be here on the blog on Wednesday. I appreciate everyone who’s been along for this journey!

There has been a temporary pause to the violence in Gaza, but a permanent ceasefire is needed to save civilian lives and ensure hostages are returned. Keep pressuring your representatives! Here’s Amnesty International’s petition.

I think that’s it for this week. Thanks for being here.

The Book of the New Moon Door: Preorder Updates

First order of business: I’ve posted the first chapter as a preview! You can read it here.

So, my files have been approved, but there has been some confusion regarding paper type at the printer. Right now, I’m waiting for customer support to get back to me. For that reason, and because I want to make sure that everyone who wants a preorder can get one, I’m leaving preorders open until Friday, December 1.

As always, I appreciate you. Stay warm this weekend!

The Book of the New Moon Door, Chapter One (Free Preview)

Continue reading “The Book of the New Moon Door, Chapter One (Free Preview)” →