September was long, long, long! However, between ORF fantasy weekend and work, work, work on Ember in the Forge, I’ve made great strides in my work in Ambergrove.
ORF fantasy weekend was amazing. We played five rounds of Paeor’s Game, each more wild than the next. One game involved teaching a fourth-grade boy about D&D—and to love Finn. One game involved asking a bunch of skeletons how they died, one involved tossing giant badgers, and all were a blast. Whimsy Woods is a fantastical place, and we met many adventurers.
I was also gifted my new favorite (treasured) costume piece: a ruana off someone’s back when my shoulders baked a little too much on Sunday.
Halfway through the weekend, we stopped saying we may have Ember in the Forge by closing weekend of ORF and started saying we will have it closing weekend. Five rounds of revisions and three all-nighters later, and it went to the publisher! This morning, I approved the final proofs.
We expect the book to be live by the weekend, so I have added it to Goodreads, and I’ve updated the website. Now, there are officially FIVE books in the Tales of Ambergrove saga!
Prices:
I did everything I could to lower the prices for this one, but the hardcover in particular still came in at a staggering price. As with the previous books, the book price does not at all reflect my priorities as an author. The printer contracted with this publisher is a print-on-demand printer, and they raised their rates due to inflation. I still only get about two dollars from each sale, regardless of the retail price, and retailers are still allowed to set their own prices.
The minimums I was able to push for were $16.99 paperback and $37.99 hardback. We reduced the prices for Wheel of Fate as well, and some retailers didn’t abide by that price. The publisher will sell them at that price with free shipping. It does take three weeks when shipped direct from Archway Publishing. If other retailers hike the price and you don’t mind waiting for it, purchasing from the publisher will be the way to go. Once the book is live, I’ll have the link on the EitF page on the website.
I am so sorry about the prices. I’ve done all I can, but the printer won’t budge any lower than that.
Events:
This weekend is the MCPL Author Fair, and I will be there once again with copies of the full trilogy and some of the packets with ebook downloads of Dawn of the Dragonwolf. We won’t be able to have Ember in the Forge by then, but it should be available for purchase at mainstream retailers by next week, and we will have copies at ORF closing weekend!
These two are the last events of the year, and my life is in flux for a little bit as my 9-to-5 changes, but October brings final prep for ORF (replenishing some stock) and settling into the new job.
Other Things:
My one series to read between books this time is the Tricksters duology by Tamora Pierce. I haven’t read them in a long, long time. Rune and Oggy approve. Once I finish with this series and November hits, I’ll be starting work on Ember on the Anvil, with the hopes of publishing it June 2024.
While doing that, I’ll be taking breaks to sit by my new area on my property—my standing stone!
October will be over before we know it, and it’s fitting that EitF ends with the onset of winter. I hope readers of Mara’s story return for Ember’s and see how much coincides and how much Mara changed Ambergrove. I hope to see many along for the adventure.
Until next time, adventurers!
Tales of Ambergrove 