Giant Announcement!

I tried to start this blog post ten different ways, but the words just don't seem to be flowing properly. Perhaps it's because this is the final phase in what has been a long journey for me. So, I'll skip the lead-in and just come to the point...

I am publishing my novels!

I have two novels that I have nurtured and crafted for years. They're prepped, edited, and polished so clean that you can see your reflection in them. All they need is to be released into the world. I was certain, as so many writers are, that I would find an agent who would land my books with publishers, maybe even one of the Big Five like Random House.

Time passed. I queried dozens and dozens of agents, as well as a few independent publishers. The hoops you have to jump through just to attract, let alone win over an agent are daunting. Out of all the messeges I sent, I only got two personalized responses from agents, and neither of them were requests for manuscripts. Meanwhile my polished books remained locked away, revealed only to a select few friends and family. I was terrified of breathing a word about their details on public spaces out of fear that a potential publisher would get scared off. To make matters more complicated, it came to my attention that while publishers and agents do a lot of good work for you, they often have a less-than-comfortable level of control over your work's creative vision, and they take a considerably large amount of your "slice of the pie".

I decided that I am going to blaze my own path. Not to knock agents or the writers that work with them, but I just don't have the patience for this anymore. If this means I have to do more heavy lifting with formatting and marketing, then so be it. I'm self-publishing and not looking back!

Thus, it is with great pleasure that I finally announce my first full YA novel: The Apprentice's Medallion! This book is officially on track for publication in the near future!

The official synopsis will be released soon, but I will tell you the elevator pitch. The Apprentice's Medallion is a fantasy/steampunk YA adventure. Set in the magical realm known as the Brilliant Isles, this novel follows fifteen-year-old Darek, who finds himself in the middle of the plains with total amnesia. All he knows is that he has a family somewhere, and he has a mysterious medallion around his neck. Darek bumps into a bumbling dragon named Arthur, who offers to help Darek regain his memory. It's not long before Darek learns that he is on a critical mission, and someone will stop at nothing to prevent him from succeeding

This story means so much to me, because it is my longest continuing project. I first concieved of Darek and the Brilliant Isles twenty-one years ago in middle school. I wrote the entire novel several times over the course of many years, only to put the final draft in hibernation as I searched for an agent. I have a sequel in progress with many more planned. I've done my best to create an exciting, vivid fantasy world, and I am thrilled to be sharing it with you all!

Over the coming months, I will be providing various updates on this novel's home stretch run to publication. Expect a cover reveal in the not-too-distant future, not to mention a release date! There is so much to be done...but it feels like some oppressive force is releasing hold of my body as I set myself further down this path. This is it. The book I've wanted to publish is finally going to be published. This literally is my dream come true!

My other novel, a Middle Grade prehistoric fantasy story, will be revealed at a later date, perhaps in early 2026. I am extremely excited to share that story with you too, but first his big brother has to have the spotlight.

Stay tuned, my friends. Until next time!