CJ on Patreon

Patreon

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:

  • Team Ewan (2 postcards a year featuring Ewan’s team)
  • Team Zane (2 postcards a year featuring Zane’s team)
  • Team Ganix (2 postcards a year featuring Ganix’s team)
  • Team Crossover (Can’t choose? All three brothers’ postcards)
  • Grapevine (4 additional postcards + gossip/excerpts + annual gift)

Galleries of Stone tiers:

  • Deuce (story subscription)
  • Apprentice (4 postcards a year)
  • Journeyman (early access + audio edition + annual gift)

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.

CJ on Patreon >>

June Reading

#amreading

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?

#amreading Blues

#amreading

I’ve been following (and enjoying) the Space Boy graphic novels. Telegram for Mrs. Moony is a wartime adventure. When his big brother (a pilot) goes down & MIA somewhere in Europe, twelve-year-old Tommy decides to go find him. So he runs away from home. Really enjoyed this one! The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden is about a boy who’s whole way of life is shaken when he discovers a doppelganger in an unmarked grave.

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#amreading Variously

#amreading

Salt is a novel in verse set during a time when the Native Americans and the colonists are headed toward war. Despite tensions, two boys become friends. The Thing About Georgie is a contemporary story about a kid who has troubles at home (because there’s a new baby on the way) and troubles at school (because of friends & an upcoming school play). Oh, and Georgie is a boy with dwarfism. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a story full of stories, because Minli loves the tales her father tells, about the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon. A Chinese quest with lovely illustrations.

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#amreading Whimsically

#amreading

The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle is a quirky story that sends Bicycle and a bike with personality on a cross-country road trip. She makes many friends along the way. Un Lun Dun is a fantasy that works very hard to contradict the usual tropes in fantasies with a “chosen one.” Lots of whimsy as Zanna navigates through a world populated by London’s lost and broken things. In Dreamwood, Lucy runs away from boarding school in order to find her father, who’s gone missing. This one’s kind of an alternate history, and the world-building is fascinating.

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