Past Me, being very dumb and kind of a jerk, decided that a top-down view would be the best way to establish the scene and the two characters in relation to one another. The version of me who had to draw this was very upset. I am comfortably two pages ahead of you right now, down from three, and I think this particular panel was why.
Anyway, we’re moving along in this chapter, which is the third of five. This one is earning us the “dark” in “dark fantasy,” so be aware of just a miserable situation including obvious addiction in the page below.
Before I get into it, I want to remind you that the paperback saleis still on through tomorrow! All my books are 20-25% off (depending on the title) directly from the printer, which gives you a better price than other retailers and gives me a slightly better cut.
So, I had a baby this year instead of putting out another book. She’s now seven months old, smiling and laughing, trying all different kinds of foods, and almost crawling (she really, really wants to). She’s the best thing I ever made.
I did manage to make some progress on other projects. The Book of the New Moon Door is now an audiobookread by Beni Vaganov and Rachael Brolin. It’s available on several platforms (and possibly your local library app), though we’re still waiting on Audible.
Last Watch Before Dawn now has seventeen pages for you to read! I’m devoting all my working time to this project in order to get a new book out for you next year. The first volume will be about 90 pages, so I’ve got a ways to go.
I also got to thirteen episodes of The Well Below the Valley. Since it’s not likely to become a book that you can hold in your hands anytime soon, I decided to put it on hold for the time being. Eventually, I’ll come back to it, and it’ll be an audio drama and a script/art book.
Next year, I’m hoping to try out a few new markets and events and revisit ones I liked but had to miss this year. Last Watch Before Dawn will be several volumes, so I’m going to be continuing with that, and I’d like to get a second project going as well, time constraints allowing. I’m also planning on putting together hardcover editions of my three existing books, and maybe this will be the year I finally get my Patreon into shape! You’ll just have to stick around to find out.
So, as always, thank you for being here. You make this all worth it. I hope 2026 is a gentler year for all of us.
In addition to giving you the sale price, using these links also gives me a slightly better cut than I’d get from a retailer like Amazon. I hope this helps a bit with your holiday shopping!
Also, if the audio of The Book of the New Moon Door disappeared from your preferred audiobook source, it should be back shortly. There was an error in one of the files, and I believe I have fixed it.
I am running on very little sleep, but I should have the next episode of The Well Below the Valley ready today. It’ll go up on Patreon on Wednesday. I’ll also be starting a new page of Last Watch Before Dawn this week, in which we’ll finally get some dialogue!
The audiobook of The Book of the New Moon Door is coming along. I think I can safely say that it will be out sometime in November, hopefully early. I’d love to have it ready so that it’s available for anyone who needs something to listen to during holiday travel. I’ll update you as the process goes!
I’ll be out and about this weekend, so if you’re free and in the Milwaukee area, I’d love to see you! First up is the Spooky Frog Horror Book Fair on Saturday the 18th. We’ll be at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel from 11AM to 4PM. There will be horror authors as well as artists and craftspeople, free hors d’oeuvres while they last, and a live DJ set by Goth Barge. Entry is only $5. If you’re going to the protests that day, I wish you power and safety, whether or not you can find the time to stop by.
On Sunday the 19th, I’ll be at What the Hex: Dia de Muertos from noon until 5PM at Dresden Castle on Underwood, Cudahy, WI. Entry is only $3 and gets you access to the market, live performances, and workshops on magic and healing. What the Hex is always a fantastic time, so if you’ve never made it to one, I highly encourage it.
What the Hex: Fates & Fae was a smashing success, though I may have gotten my name stolen by a fairy. I maintain that I did not give it up–she only noticed it on the front of a book. I did tell her that if she bought a book, she could have access to all the names within, but she didn’t take me up on my offer. I should be safe. At least she didn’t trick me out of my firstborn.
More to the point, I met some returning readers! These markets often have a different crowd every time, and I love meeting new people and talking about books, but it is so lovely to hear that someone liked my work (and in some cases, is coming back for more). So, thank you. You make all this worthwhile.
A new episode of The Well Below the Valley will be up on Patreon this week, hopefully by Wednesday. It’ll be up here for free reading next week. Sometime next week or the week after, baby should be here, and you won’t hear from me for a bit. I’ll be back with new episodes and some more about the comic sometime after the end of May, and I’ll be able to answer comments and emails through my maternity leave. I plan to be back to attending live events in July.
All of this is still up in the air, however, so I’ll keep you updated as much as I can.
KURT Cross, the face of Sunset Investigations. Male, early 30s, New York accent.
Detective Chief Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, erstwhile believer in a just world. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.
Chief Superintendent Winston PEMBROKE, Sr., an authority figure more interested in results than process. Male, early 60s, English accent with audible mustache.
Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, private investigator and avid photographer. Female, mid 20s, posh English accent.
A local SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR, brief and professional. Female, probably 20s or 30s, London accent.
Dr. ERNEST Wilde, intellectual out of his element. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent.
Sebastian MILTON, dealer in rare books and rarer secrets. Male, mid 50s, London accent.
The FIRST CULTIST at the scene, an all-around ruffian. Male, any age, London accent.
