July 5, 2022. The second book in the Galleries of Stone trilogy is now available as an audio book, narrated by Travis Baldree. You can now enjoy both Meadowsweet and Harrow. And yes, since you asked, Rakefang is scheduled for a recording session … and will release this fall.
If you enjoyed the story, I’m glad. “The trade is good. May our next be better still.” Special thanks to all those who take a little extra time to rate, review, and recommend this trilogy to others. ~CJ
A boy who’d in prison simply because he’s born there manages to escape. A girl who wants nothing more than to salvage her father’s reputation vows to hunt him down and bring him back. A Wish in the Dark was one of my favorite books of the year. Highly recommended. The Midwinter Witch is the third (and final) installment in the Witch Boy series of graphic novels. Aster’s excited to take part in a midwinter tournament as a witch. And The Cobalt Prince is the second installment in the planet-hopping sci-fi adventure in which Oona must light each world’s beacon in order to save all of them.
On Patreon. I’ve built up the promised buffer of 6 chapters! They’re currently available to read for patrons at the Journeyman & Keeper tiers. Tomorrow Ch1 of Deuce will unlock for patrons at the Deuce tier ($5/month). New chapters will continue to drop/unlock every other week (or so): twice a month. And come fall, we’ll be adding narrated chapters, read by Travis Baldree. Those will become available starting at the Journeyman tier.
From Patreon: Fans of Galleries of Stone will enjoy an exclusive prequel that updates twice a month. Deuce begins with a boy and a girl raised in a culture where fangs are sharp, claws are ready, and trust is rare. Aurelius and Ulrica never should have met, but their rivalry gives way to an exhilarating alliance.
HARROW will release to audio tomorrow (July 5), which is mere hours away. It’s your last chance to sneak in a pre-order, so that the book downloads to your device as soon as it’s available in your part of the world! In the meantime, here’s a second clip, narrated by Travis Baldree!
Elza and I love games almost as much as we love reading middle grade books. You’ll find more of these over on Middle Grade Carousel and posting throughout the day on our Twitter account. Follow us and play along! ~CJ
Fidellia Quail is an inventor, and her parents were brilliant scientists, but their deaths leave her both orphaned and stranded with an overprotective aunt. In Race to the Bottom of the Sea, she’s kidnapped by a pirate who need’s Fidellia’s know-how. Here’s another volume of Stephen McCrarie’s Space Boy, which I’ve been following. The Hidden Witch is also a graphic novel. It’s the second installment in the trilogy, in which Aster’s family is still adjusting to his determination to pursue training as a witch, even though its a role traditionally pursued by girls.
Elza and I love games almost as much as we love reading middle grade books. You’ll find more of these over on Middle Grade Carousel and posting throughout the day on our Twitter account. Follow us and play along! ~CJ
Come Alongside. I’m working steadily behind the scenes to bring out more books, including new titles in the Byways series. The Galleries of Stone trilogy is going to audio, and a second trilogy is in the works. Journeyman of Stone, Bk1: Farley is scheduled to release in 2023! There is a series of short stories in the works: Legends of the Twelve Mountains, and I’ve begun posting a Patreon-exclusive prequel called Deuce, which winds all the way back to the summer when Aurelius Harrow & Ulrica Rakefang are vying for that all-important rite of passage that will lead to piercing.
What’s Patreon? Patreon is a site that helps connect creators with the people who love their stuff. By becoming a patron, you can pick a tier and pledge a set amount of money per month. For instance, if you want to read Deuce, that “subscription” is $5/month.
What are Tiers? I’ve done my best to personalize my Patreon tiers. ALL patrons will get exclusive news & updates about what I’m working on behind the scenes. (I’ve provided samples in a series of public posts if you want to take a gander.) But let’s say you want to cheer on Ewan Johns. Then you might select the Team Ewan tier, which has the added perk of a couple of postcards per year featuring art of him/his team. Or maybe you don’t like to wait for updates, so you jump up to the Journeyman tier, which stays 6 chapters ahead of the rest.
Byways Books tiers:
Galleries of Stone tiers:
And if you happen to be one of those rare readers who wants ALL the things, I have the Keeper tier, which includes all the perks from all the tiers.
What do you use the money for? I have many small expenses that recur monthly. Ordinary stuff like subscriptions to Creative Cloud/InDesign, maintaining a PO Box, and keeping this blog ad-free. I have illustrators to pay for cover art, a graphic designer, and the proofers who help suss out typos in my manuscripts. And of course, some of the money I make via Patreon will go right into art cards and postage stamps. But that’s fun stuff! I enjoy planning gifts and sending mail.
I’ve stocked my Patreon account with several public posts, so you can head on over and see what you’re getting into. Peruse the lists of perks and do what makes sense for you. (Or by all means, splurge.) You’ll find me very grateful.
Coming Soon. We are nearing the release date for the audio edition of Harrow (Galleries of Stone, #2), narrated by Travis Baldree. It’s set up for pre-order on Audible, so you can reserve your copy now. In the meantime, here’s a sneak listen:
Back to Normal. After the flurry of #BookADayMay, I’m back to reading alphabetically for the Great Middle Grade Reads A to Z Challenge. As you can see, I’ve reached the middle (Ms and Ns), which is about right for the year.
I’ll be queuing up books that start with the letter “O” next! Any recommendations?
C. J. Milbrandt 