Derailed… But wait, there’s more!

Hey again! I know, it’s been a few months, and you’re probably wondering, ‘Where the flip is Val’Koy’s book?!’. To which I’d respond with, ‘Writers, it turns out, are flighty creatures prone to bouts of ‘ooohhh-shiny!’ moments, and frequently get derailed in their dark writing caves. Who knew?!’. Or, something like that.

Don’t be mad when I tell you this, okay? Well… I may have (definitely did) gotten sidetracked, and ended up writing two books that might have nothing (definitely don’t) to do with Val’Koy… Oopsies!

Sorry Val! I just had to lend a hand to Willa, and Tosh, before they got lost in my gray matter!

Have no fear! I’m back on Val’Koy like white on rice, hammering away to feed your need. (Sounded less creepy in my head.) I’m swimming in manuscripts!

I’d release them to you today, but here’s the thing… Instead of doing up the covers myself, like I did for the previous books, I decided to hire someone. He’s really, really good, and I’m hoping the upcoming covers will skyrocket past my expectations! Hopefully you guys will like them too. I felt like the Heroes were a little out of my photoshopping skillz, and I didn’t want the cover to suffer. Because, let’s be real, the hunks/beasts on the cover are the first thing we ogle, and it’s beyond awesome when those hunks/beasts match the description on the pages.

Anyway, because I hired someone, I’m a slave to their schedule. The artist has a few projects to complete before getting to mine. Sometime June is the projected date. So long away…

Thus, I’m really hoping for a late June or early July release for The Khyma. The Incuabri will follow sometime after, and Val’s story will hopefully be out early fall. As soon as I receive the covers, they’ll be released on Amazon!

Back to the books, though. The Khyma: Taken Part One, and The Incuabri: Taken Part Two. If you didn’t guess by the titles, they’re a pair; two halves of one whole.

It’s hard to explain, but simply put, I couldn’t write it all out in one book. Mainly because there’s two heroines. It would’ve been too weird, I think, to have one half of the book in Willa’s POV, then the second half in Tosh’s POV… and while it’s part of the same arc, they’re separate stories.

You may be thinking, ‘Noooo! Don’t be one of those authors that cut up stories!’, to which I’d respond, ‘I knooow! I’m so sorry, I just couldn’t figure out a way to merge two different stories into one!’.

To be fair, they're both their own, unique tales.

But this is good news, right? Soon, you’ll have two books to read, and then a third. I mean, I’m excited! I feel like I gotta make it up to you guys for dropping Hunter into your lives. Lol, I’m chuckling, even though I know some of you probably flipped me the bird a few times like, ‘Why the hell did you do this to me, Poppy? WHY?!’

He was just in my head, lingering around, and I had to write him. He’s an asshole, but he’s my asshole. I had to do it. Had to. I just can’t apologize for writing him (learned that tip from Anne Rice), but I can do my best to give you some nicer heroes to love. I’m trying!

I got sidetracked again.

Here’s the synopsis for The Khyma: Taken Part One

Swindled. Duped. Cheated. A back-alley game gone wrong leads to the loss of a precious family heirloom, and Willa is determined to reclaim what’s rightfully hers. Yet, when circumstances lead her to cross paths with a curious, protective alien, she begins to question what’s truly important.

I can’t give you the synopsis for The Incuabri yet without giving away what happens in part one. Sorry! I’ll just let you guys know, the Incuabri is the freakiest alien hero I’ve ever written. That is all.

There’s this hunch I have that you guys will like Willa though. She reminds me of Lucia; carefree, independent, has her funny moments, and a little badass. Story also reminded me a little of The Melier in some ways.

I’m really tempted to release a teaser. You guys know me, I love/hate teasers.

In other news, I added an editor to my tiny team! She’s gone through the first three books to clean them up a bit so they can be ready for paperback release sometime in winter 2017! We’ve worked out a deal, so she’ll also be doing all my future books. Hoorah! J.T. Wynne is still with me, but he’s focusing more on beta reading, alongside his creative support role to me. (Which, I’m very grateful for!) He’s the guy that brainstorms worlds with me, and tells me if my technology is all wrong, or if “normal people” would find my little jokes funny. (Says I’m weird, so my sense of humor is an acquired taste. Whatever, J.T.!)

I argue with him about technology though, because, well, who’s to say intergalactic travel can’t be done in days, and weeks, and months instead of years? Maybe those aliens out there that’ve formed their own societies, and coalitions, and space travel have discovered equations and theories beyond our capabilities, or knowledge. We say it can’t be done, but they say it can. It’s science fiction! Let the ridiculousness commence!

For now, I think that’s all the news I have. Side note, I feel like I have diarrhea of the keyboard whenever I write up one of these things. It’s just, I barely do updates, and when I talk to you guys, it seems like there’s so much to say. Thought about creating a Facebook for quicker updates, shorter posts, etc. But then I thought, ‘What would I even do with a Facebook? Post memes? Snippets? Book recommendations?’

‘Guess what I did today? Paced my living room, and glared at my whiteboard, while I ate leftover movie theater popcorn out of a giant skittles bag.’ (Legitimately did this.) Is that what people want to hear?

Beats me. Though, I’m still considering the idea!

Take care, y’all!
-Poppy