THE CAPTAIN’S LOG · {{current_date_mdy}}
CHATTANOOGA GOES MEDIEVAL
Ahoy and welcome back travelers!
This past weekend was the inaugural Chattanooga Ren Faire hosted by Verre Noir and boy howdy did they put on a good show. The running joke at this point is that all of the greater Chattanooga area showed up. It certainly felt like it, sitting in my vendor tent all day watching the crowds go by.
So many folks stopped in my humble tent and bought copies of THE WHISPERING PASS and THE FROZEN STEPPE - a record-breaking number, actually. Thank you to all who made this my best sales day to date. I hope you all enjoy the journey through Daaria.
FANCY A CUP OF TEA WHILE YOU READ?
My first sneak peek at the Kickstarter for THE SUNDERED SUN — the third and final book in my series (launching August 1 - tell your friends!) — is my tea sachets. If you’ve seen me at events (or peeked my Etsy storefront), you know I sell tea. Piper and Leaf tea, to be specific. The blend I bring with me to my events is an Earl Grey tea with lavender and vanilla. Everyone who smells it is amazed by how floral and sweet it smells. It’s my favorite Earl Grey blend I’ve ever had (and I’ve tried a lot, trust me).
But! Did you know that the blend is actually tied to my books? Aptly named “Fresh Baked Auoran Cakes”, the blend is inspired by Ray Finnegan and her sweet tooth:
She fell silent for a moment as she considered all of the treats she had come across, either from Hilthe’s cooking or her own quick pocketing at the market. “There’s a bakery back in Auora run by a lady named Mingweril that sells all kinds of bread loaves and other goodies for midweek church services.
I save up what coin I can to buy one of her braided loaves that’s got cadra berries, walnuts, and goat cheese in it. Sometimes she drizzles it with honey.” Her stomach grumbled, and she salivated at the thought of the delectable treat.
While this tea blend is available for purchase now, it will also be included in the higher tiers of the Kickstarter. There will also be some other flavors in the Kickstarter, each inspired by Seth and Munne’s stories.
HERE’S WHAT I’VE BEEN READING LATELY
If events weren’t keeping me busy enough this spring, I’ve also been reading several indie books. The two I’m featuring today are actually the second books in their respective series, and both will be published this summer:
This is an anime-inspired fantasy series that follows Aurora, a teenaged half-witch half-demon as she struggles to master her powers and find her place in the world. This reads just like a manga would, with constant battles and character growth throughout. Highly recommend picking up this series if you want something fast, fun, and epic. You can check out my review of the book on Goodreads, and pick it up when it releases on June 6, 2026.
This is a southwest Asian-inspired epic fantasy trilogy that follows Nohra and Bataar as their worlds collide in a brewing war while gods and demons alike spread their influence in the conflict. This series is scratching an itch I didn’t realize I had, and now I’m emotionally invested in these characters’ tragic lives. I know the third book is going to ruin me. The wait for the book is going to ruin me.
You should get these books ASAP and be ruined yourselves. Check my review of the second book on Goodreads in the meantime before it comes out July 28, 2026.
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
My next event is in OCTOBER! I’m taking the summer off to prepare for the Kickstarter and ensure you guys have the best goodies and merch in those reward tiers.
I’ll be a little quieter in the coming weeks, but I’ll keep throwing Kickstarter previews your way (and maybe some sneak peeks at artwork I’ve been commissioning in the background).
Safe travels!
— Jay
