Category Archives: Patreon

Deuce

Patreon

Audio Edition. After a necessary delay (the whole household came down with Covid), I’m ready to resume regular posts. Deuce, a Galleries of Stone prequel, has updated over on my Patreon with a new audio chapter, narrated by Travis Baldree. These serial updates are short & swift as Ulrica’s daggers, but worth their weight in Harrow gold.

If you’d like to read along, Deuce is available to all supporters. Level up to the Journeyman tier to enjoy Travis’s serialized narration. The story updates on alternating Wednesdays. CJ’s Patreon >>

Deuce

Patreon

Deuce, a Galleries of Stone prequel, has updated for my patrons. Ch5: “Hoof, Paw,” is now available. Those at the Journeyman & Keeper tiers, who get to read ahead, now have access to Ch11: “Mush, Hush.” Do you want to read along? You can become one of my patrons here >>

The story updates twice a month. Patrons can also look forward to story news about all of my books, first looks at new art, and art cards in the mail. Thank you for supporting my stories wherever they can be found. ~CJ

Deuce

Patreon

Deuce, a Galleries of Stone prequel, has updated for my patrons. Ch3: “Feat, Footing,” is now available. Those at the Journeyman & Keeper tiers, who get to read ahead, now have access to Ch9: “Star, Stir.” Do you want to read along? You can become one of my patrons here >>

The story updates twice a month. Patrons can also look forward to story news about all of CJ’s books, first looks at new art, and art cards in the mail. Thank you for supporting my stories wherever they can be found. ~CJ

ART: Ulrica Rakefang

Galleries of Stone, Patreon, ,

Deuce is a prequel to Galleries of Stone. It tells the story of how a dockside boy & a hilltop girl managed to meet, despite all the reasons they never should have.

“Ulrica Unpierced” | art by FoxOfTwilight

The ongoing serial is a Patreon exclusive. If you’re willing and able to support me there, a basic subscription (any of the $5/month tiers) will give you access to story updates.

CJ on Patreon >>

Deuce

Patreon

Deuce, a Galleries of Stone prequel, has updated for my patrons. Ch2: “Advantage, Disadvantage,” is now available. Those at the Journeyman & Keeper tiers, who get to read ahead, now have access to Ch8: “Food, Shelter.” Do you want to read along? You can become one of my patrons here >>

The story updates twice a month. Patrons can also look forward to story news about all of CJ’s books, first looks at new art, and art cards in the mail. Thank you for supporting my stories wherever they can be found. ~CJ

Deuce

Galleries of Stone, Patreon, ,

Unlocked! In celebration of the audio release of Harrow, the first chapter of Deuce has unlocked for all of my patrons. This is a Galleries of Stone prequel that spins out the convoluted (and often comedic) tale of how Aurelius and Ulrica met. Because they never should have. He’s so dockside. She’s so uphill. And yet …!

In addition to exclusive story updates, patrons will enjoy story art, regular mailings, and (coming in October) narrated chapters, courtesy of Travis Baldree. Do take a look!

“Aurelius Unpierced” | art by FoxOfTwilight

CJMilbrandt on Patreon >>

Teaser:

CHAPTER 1
Pit, Fall

Summer leaves brushed bronze skin as Aurelius’s scuffed boots left the ground. Lean arms flexed. Claws bit bark. Curling in on himself, he swung onto an overhanging bough. After an entire winter’s voyage spent clambering through the rigging on his uncle’s ship, a tree was nothing.

He made it to the fourth limb without disturbing so much as a sparkfly. Gratifying, but not as satisfying as an audience. Not that his regular hunting partners were given to gushing. Quite the opposite. No matter how dazzling his performance, Aurelius’s only reward was a grudging lack of criticism. Impatient uncles. Bitter cousins. Backstabbing brothers. But their silence was easily as fine as the jeweled droplets he’d wear as soon as this rite was passed and he was pierced.

Aurelius had turned thirteen at the midwinter festival, half a lifetime ago. Father refused to put off a voyage to Far Continent for the sake of his youngest son’s pride. How Aurelius’s dignity had suffered in the interim! Making him wait until the summer hunt was pure meanness. But Aurelius would show them all. None of his brothers had done better than a brace of rabbits during their hunts.

Respectable, but entirely too typical. I can do better, so I will.

In order to fetch better prey, Aurelius was bending the rules by hunting out of bounds. Like Aunt Lissie says, the best acquisitions are rarely found on beaten paths.

… for the rest of this chapter (and to subscribe to twice-monthly installments of Deuce), become a patron. There are perks at every tier. CJMilbrandt on Patreon >>

Deuce

Galleries of Stone, Patreon

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.

CJMilbrandt on patreon >>

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 >>