A Norse Myth inspired fantasy series set in a post Ragnarök world where the gods have all died and the Valkyries rule in their place
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Week Two Push Goal Rewards! Don't miss out on the giveaways inside ;)
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Sep 30, 2022 at 03:51:00 AM
Happy Friday!
With just nine days left, it's time for push rewards!
What does that mean for backers and potential backers? Giveaways! And everyone is a winner!
Here's how it works. We currently have 93 backers and a beautiful weekend ahead of us. If we can hit atleast100 backers by Tuesday October4th, everyonewho has backed the campaign UP TO THAT POINT (including current backers) will be entered to win one or more of the prizes below. So if you've been lurking and following the campaign, or you know someone who would loves these books, now's the time to choose your reward tier (or upgrade your current one), and tell your friends, so you don't miss out on these rewards. I'll announce the winners on October 5th (prizes will be purchased and shipped after the campaign funds have been collected).
There are three prizes.
Third prize: Once we hit 100 backers, everyone who backs before October 4th will get my Dystopian Novella "The Culling" in ebook format.
Second Prize: Once we hit 100 backers, everyone who backs before October 4th with a pledge of $1 to $50 will be entered to win a cool Viking themed prize (ONE winner only). Here are some of the items I'm looking at for this prize so let me know what sparks your interest. (I'll probably pick two items)
First Prize:
Once we hit 100 backers, everyone who backs before October 4th with a pledge of $50 or higher will be entered to win an authentic Viking drinking horn and stand (I want one of these for my bookshelf!) and a viking bracelet. (ONE winner only.) I may also include one of the second prize items as well. (I'm digging the hair jewelry).
*(Giveaway items are subject to change based on availability and whether or not I can stop shopping for other cool things.)
*Internationalbackers - if you win a prize, I will find a similar prize of equal value that ships directly to your country to avoid high shipping fees.
Oh, and if we hit the next stretch goal while we're at it, I'll add a new stretch goal reward ;)
Have a great weekend and good luck!
Melissa 💖
It's been an incredible few days! The 4th stretch goal is happening and we're nearly at the 5th with 9 days to go!
over 3 years ago
– Thu, Sep 29, 2022 at 07:12:56 PM
I'm seriously blown away, ya'll.
Every time I think there's no way we'll hit the next goal, you prove me wrong. I started this campaign with just 40 followers, mostly friends and family. Now we're up to 92 backers and 216 campaign followers. I'm speechless! 💖
You guys made a dream of mine happen. The character art for Alithea is here! And the gold/silver foil character cards are right around the corner (The foil layer hasn't been added to the drawing yet). And after that, the poser maps! eek! If we happen to run out of stretch goals, I have plenty of backups planned ;)
Before I show you the art, I want to give you a peek at Thea's description from the book. Let me know in the comments if you think the artist really captured her.
Excerpt:
I headed for the shadows at the back of the building, kicking off my shoes and shedding my black t-shirt along the way, grateful for the human invention of racerback sports bras. They were perfect for nights like this. I flung my hair clip to the ground, letting my long dark hair cascade down my back. As the white-hot pain of transformation cleaved my skull in two, I suppressed a shriek and collapsed, hunching over as my body buckled and my skin split from shoulder to waist.
I groaned as bones cracked and reformed and my hands and feet bent in an unnatural way. Blunt fingernails curved into sharp talons. My legs ached as the bones lengthened and hollowed, leaving me taller, lighter, and more agile. Feathers sprouted from the gashes in my back, unfurling and stretching like limbs seldom used. As my wings expanded, so did my shoulders and rib cage, lighting my body on fire. My entire being raged with the heat of my natural form. Every inch of me hurt as blood rushed through my veins and my heart threatened to burst. My breath came in great ragged gasps. It had been far too long this time.
I lay on the blacktop roof, spent, but I felt more alive than I had in months. Climbing to my feet, I trembled with the suddenness of my change. Valkyries took on their natural forms only when they had a duty to perform, a battle to fight, or for training purposes. Since coming to the human realm I’d had little need for my Valkyrie.
I rotated my head from side to side until my vision began to clear. Avian vision. It was always an adjustment. Rubbing the palm of a taloned hand over my face, I could feel the sharp angles of my cheekbones in my otherwise human face. I took a step forward on bare feet, my curved toenails clicking on the surface of the roof. The enormous weight of my wings tugged at my shoulders as I walked, raven black and silver feathers dragging behind me like a cloak.
The momentary fatigue passed as Valkyrie strength flooded my system. I flexed my wings, all six of them. My primary wings arched high over my head, unfurling with black and pewter feathers. Secondary wings moved in perfect sync with my primaries. Silver and pewter feathers stretched wide to a span of double my height. My tertiary wings pointed to the ground, falling behind me with feathers of silver and white. Retracting my massive wings, I stepped up to the edge of the building, away from the lights of the nearby boardwalk.
My dark hair fell nearly to my waist, threaded with fine black and silver feathers that blended with my wings. Among the shadows, one might think I was a human girl with incredibly long hair, so fine were my feathers. But I was not human. I was Valkyrie. And death walked in my shadow.
Drum roll please ...
Ahhhh! I just love it! And as an author, this is a big milestone moment for me. I've never had commissioned character art quite like this before, so I have to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me make this happen. I've done some illustrations in the past, but this full-on, plucked right out of my imagination kind of art never seems to make it into my production budget.
Thank you! 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖
Signature page:
I have finalized most of the interior art for the special edition of The Reluctant Queen. I'll be working on the ominubus art next week for The Chosen Sons and The Lost Son. I had a giddy moment late .... late one night this week where I decided the signature page HAD to be black.
Why, you ask?
I discovered gold pens. You can see from my campaign design that I love black and gold. So gold signatures on a black page seemed like a no-brainer. And this is a GREAT moment to let you all know I have the handwriting of a five year old with crayons. You've been warned.
Check out the signature page! This will be the first page when you open the book.
Next Stretch Goals:
Character cards are up next and my artist will add a layer of gold or silver foil to Thea's wings and background. The cards will be a larger size than I would normally be able to do, (at 4"X8"). And if we have time, there will probably be a gold frame around the card with Thea's name at the bottom.
After the character card, if we hit the fifth stretch goal for the full color posters of the map of Valsgard! I'll add a cool frame around the map which will be printed in full color with a soft touch laminate coating. (size (6"X11).
Beyond the map, I have a few extras planned that could include another novella, character trading cards, vinyl laptop stickers, sheet stickers, Immortals of Indriell Bookmarks and anything else I can think of!
I will leave you with the before pics of Nahla and Fynlee heading off for thier grooming appointment this morning. (After pics in the next update)
💖Ya'll are the best!💖
Melissa
______________________
Check out some of the campaigns I've been watching. I have some serious shelf envy!
Humanity and the inhuman Tangata clash in a decades long war in this epic fantasy saga...
Stretch Goal #3 is happening! And I can't wait to show you a sneak peek of the "Naked" cover art.
over 3 years ago
– Sat, Sep 24, 2022 at 07:24:08 PM
I must say, I did not expect to be sending updates so quickly to notify you of not only one stretch goal but THREE! (and we're nearly at the fourth as I type this update!) You guys are truly amazing and I'm so grateful for this opportunity to work with backers to make this special edition as beautiful as it can possibly be.
Before we get to the pretties, I have a few announcements:
We have a new reward tier called the "Ahlstrom Dynasty - HARDCOVER + DIGITAL"
This tier offers a few more perks for those considering an upgrade from the Queen Heir Hardcover tier for $75, but don't want to spend $200 for the High Queen of Valsgard tier. (I didn't realize I had such a big price gap between tiers).
We're quickly headed toward the fourth stretch goal already so I want to show you guys what my character artist came up with on the fly. Check out this sketch of Alithea! I hope we get to see the full color version come to life. If we do, everyone will get the color edition as digital art, and a black and white version will be included in the special edition as a dedicated art page.
Now for the newly unlocked "Naked" art upgrade
I am dying to get my hands on a copy of this for myself! I'm hoping to finalize the cover and interior art before the campaign ends so I can have a proof copy to show backers asap. I really want to get shipments in line so I have the best possible chance of getting these out in time for Christmas ;)
And now is the perfect time to show you the Special Edition dust jacket I just got from my amazing cover designer! Thanks to Stefanie Saw from Seventh Star Book Covers for this amazing edition.
We're still working on the overall design of the spine and back cover for both the dust jacket and the naked art, so I'll have more updates for you by next week.
OH! I almost forgot. The stickers are now available! I ordered a sample of the valkyrie stickers so I'd have them to show you. Check it out! Everyone who backs a physical tier will get one, but you can now order extras included in the small swag pack add-on. (great for international digital backers who want to take part in some of the physical rewards as well.)
I will leave you with some love from Nahla. Yes she's wearing her Gryffindor jersey and clutching Hedwig with her Hogwarts letter. I'm so proud 🤣 (yes, I'm that dog mom.)
Ya'll are the best! 💖
Melissa
We slayed the second Stretch Goal! Gold Foil Bookmarks are happening 💖
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Sep 23, 2022 at 04:01:34 PM
Thank you all so much! We've come so far in just the first 24 hours, I'm truly amazed.
Yesterday I was so excited to send you all an update on the first stretch goal success, I completely forgot to mention the second half of the reward!
In addition to everyone receiving the printable coloring book and reading guide, I will be upgrading the interior art of The Chosen Sons and The Lost Son Omnibus editions to match The Reluctant Queen.
Here's a preview of what will be in The Reluctant Queen. I will do a similar style design for the omnibus. Once I figure out what that will be, I'll give you a sneak peek ;)
So you guys obliterated the second stretch goal last night. Gold Foil Bookmarks are happening! I just have to get the design completed. (Spoiler I'm hoping they'll get to be a beautiful match for what I have planned for the 3rd stretch goal.)
All physical reward backers will get the bookmark, and all digital backers will get a cool version to use as a wallpaper AND a printable coloring book version as well. But for my digital and international peeps, all the fun extras will be available as add ons--a great way to get the physical rewards but save on shipping ;) (Anything that can be sent as letter mail is so much cheaper for international shipping.)
If you'd like to see some amazing examples, go check out @thefoilprintingco on instagram to get a glimpse of what to expect.
Next up--and we're already almost there--at $3,000 I will be upgrading the "naked" (under dust jacket) art of The Reluctant Queen special edition. I have my eye on a certain cover I'd love to get my hands on and we're so close. Ya'll this cover ... it's going to up our bookshelf game.
Oh! AND I decided to include the Valkyrie sticker in the third stretch goal!
Speaking of, I've made some updates to the stretch goals, combining some things and moving a few others around. Check it out in the campaign story. I originally planned a giveaway for the third stretch goal, but I think we're going to save that for a mid campaign push next week. I'll tell you more about that in my next update.
I will leave you with a moment of pure joy. Nahla loves nothing more than playing fetch and rolling in the grass. She had me out there all morning lol.
From the world of the Urban Fantasy series The Twenty-Sided Sorceress comes a side novel about kicking ass & saving your friends.
Incredible start! We funded in 23 minutes, Ya'll!
over 3 years ago
– Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 05:02:56 PM
Hello to my amazing backers!
Project Special Edition for The Reluctant Queen is a GO! You guys blew my mind with how quickly you jumped on this campaign. We reached full funding in 23 freaking minutes.
Seriously What?
Let that sink in. In twenty-three minutes--roughly the time it took for me to make a cup of coffee and grab some breakfast--you guys made this project happen.
And then you went on to exceed the first stretch goal AND you guys got Kickstarter's attention because they've made The Reluctant Queen - Special Edition a "Project We Love"! All in the first few hours.
You guys ROCK!
I'm so grateful and excited we get to bring this special edition to life together.
So what does this meanfor backers?
It means every single backer will get a printable coloring book and reading guide (with the option to upgrade to the paperback copy in the add-ons section.)
Here's a taste of what you'll get. With more than 30 pages of book themed coloring fun, this printable book is also a guide through each of my series with suggested reading order lists, book quotes submitted by superfans, and themed pages. If you're a fan of any of my other series, you'll find pages for the Immortals of Indriell series, as well as Queens of the Fae. There is even a whole section dedicated to my alter ego, Ann Maree Craven, for all my contemporary romance series.
I have a feeling this is just the first of many stretch goals we're going to hit together and I can't wait to see what we'll get to unlock next.
As a reminder, our next goal will be the Valkyrie themed Gold Foil bookmark and I'm so excited we might get to make this happen. I'm dying to work on this design.
As of this update, we need another $700 to make the bookmarks happen. After that, we're looking at STICKERS!
