Having a minor meltdown this afternoon. Yes, over paperbacks.

ETA: The lovely Gene and Sasha have swooped in to make sure the cover is as perfectly pretty as I want it to be (but you know still intense/forboding/striking because I’m never easy to please 😂). But I won’t be using these printers again (or possibly overseeing print runs on my own again. I’m not sure I have the temperament for it. 😜).

Having a minor meltdown over the limited-edition paperback covers for Awry (Conduit 1). The proof the printer sent (which cost me $130 BTW) (see my video a couple of weeks back) printed darker than I like. This can and does happen often, due to the printer settings, I believe. I approved the proof (the interior is lovely) but asked them to try to lighten it on their end (i.e. tweak it for their own printer settings, etc). They sent me a photo of the ‘tuned up contrast’ that they did, and it looks AWFUL.

Now, the production team must have known how awful their ‘tuned-up version’ looked, because they wouldn’t have sent me a comparison picture. And yes, I could have just said, print it like you printed the first proof (which was a little dark, lacking the great contrast of the eBook/PDF versions, but still striking), but of course, NOW I’M REALLY WORRIED.

So, more than a little freaked out, I immediately contacted the cover designer. And G&S, of course, are going to fix as much as they can on their end.

I let the printer know that the designer is doing a pass (read: to fix the PRINTER issues. Not DESIGN issues).

And … they immediately inform me that I’ll owe them another $45 for uploading a new cover and there WILL BE NO PHOTO.

Yep, they just want to print the cover without any oversight.

You know, as if their first attempt hadn’t already been an issue.

I’ve informed them back that if they want to send me $4k of books because they can guarantee that the cover looks exactly like the PDF I submit (read: like it should have the first time), then great! But, if not, then certainly they do test prints themselves, yes? Perhaps as quality control before every print run? So they must be able to take a picture and send it my way, and include that in the $45 extra fee, yes?

Haven’t heard back. I assume they’re going to sic someone higher on the food chain on me now.

Sigh.

I loathe confrontation.

I just want pretty paperbacks.

And yeah, I won’t be working with them again. This aligns with my determination to not be running a ‘store’ in 2024, so just … extra motivation to stick to my resolutions, I suppose.

Also, I’m aware that these sorts of issues stem from me defaulting to being ‘nice’ all the time (see the note about confrontation above). Instead of being (what I perceive as) picky and demanding. Because I understand that some printers just default to printing darker, etc, and I just ask them to do their ‘best’ to fix it, while also paying a nonrefundable $2k deposit because they’ve already delayed my freaking print run by two weeks.

In other news, the paperbacks are probably going to be (further) delayed.

Here’s a pretty picture to soothe us all.

Okay, to soothe me.

Okay, enough grumbling! I’ve got postcards and stickers to design/order!

Conduit 1: cover reveal, synopsis, and preorder links

*Cover design by G&S Cover Design Studio*

On my way to investigate my aunt’s untimely death, I chance upon a teenager with purple eyes. Her destiny is so vibrant, so intertwined with the essence that fuels all our lives, that I cannot stand to see her caged and crushed.

What I don’t know is that rescuing the teen isn’t chance or happenstance at all. It isn’t just another random bit of destiny I can fix. It’s a snag in the weave of the universe that unravels … everything.

I am exactly who I am meant to be. I belong to no one but the universe. My destiny was spun and measured before I was born. I never really had a choice. But the path that brought me to becoming the Conduit at least a century before my time has been manipulated. And along the way, I’ve somehow lost far more than I ever knew I had.

Friends.

Lovers.

Soul-bound mates.

More than just my life has been twisted, all our fates ripped away.

And I remember none of it.

Awry is the first book in the Conduit Series, which is a secondary-world urban fantasy romance. Content warnings and tropes/themes can be found at the beginning of the book or on the author’s website.

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 25, 2024

PREORDER NOW

eBOOK

– PREORDER LIMITED-EDITION DIRECT FROM MCD –

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – BARNES & NOBLE – GOOGLE PLAY – KOBO –

PAPERBACK

– PREORDER LIMITED-EDITION DIRECT FROM MCD –

AUDIOBOOK

– PREORDER DIRECT FROM MCD –

Moments of the Adept Universe 1: paperback

Yes! Moments of the Adept Universe, Vol 1 is now (finally!) available in paperback (via Amazon)!

GRAB A COPY (ALSO AVAILABLE IN eBOOK)

Ahem, I’d actually forgotten to format it for paperback, etc, sorry! Memo’s sketches look fantastic in print (see video below). Which makes me think I should get some postcards printed up as well.

The FULL (updated) reading order is in the front of the paperback but you can always find and download the slightly less updated reading order under novels and reading order.

Oh! And remember I still have bookplates available (in a single pack and in a pack of five) if you need/want one for your Moments paperback.

Amplifier 6: ‘official’ synopsis

Endings and Empathy (Amplifier 6), the final book in the Amplifier Series releases on March 30, 2023! Paperback and audiobook to follow.

Are you ready for it?

I’m not sure I am!

*Cover design by:* Gene Mollica Studios Models: Devon Ericksen and Jonathan Cannaux

Synopsis:

With two of the Five compromised, I had no choice but to go on the offensive. Hiding out — even if I was pretty much in plain sight these days — in the tiny corner of peace we’d carved for ourselves in the Pacific Northwest was no longer an option.

But the person or persons responsible for dragging me away from the life I’d fought to build, to protect? Well, they would regret every moment that I had to divert my attention toward them and away from what I truly wanted. They would regret forcing me to once again become the cold-hearted, sociopathic, genetically constructed magical abomination they’d bred and trained me to be.

The Collective was already done.

I’d destroyed them more than eight years ago.

But apparently, some of those who’d survived now needed a reminder of their demise.

When it was done, I would walk away with everything that was mine to have and to hold. And what I couldn’t outright destroy? I would absorb or claim for myself.

Because Emma Johnson was stronger than Amp5 had ever been.

PREORDER NOW

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – BARNES & NOBLE – KOBO – SMASHWORDS –

Are you new to the Amplifier Series? The first book in the series is Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) but there is also a prequel, The Amplifier Protocol. Or click this link for the entire reading order of the Adept Universe (and how the Amplifier fits within it)

Tenth Anniversary Dowser Series Kickstarter

I thought I’d do one main Kickstarter post, so I can link back to it as I explain things in more detail in connected posts over the next 21 days. I apologize in advance about the amount of blogging I’m about to do (if you get emails from me) but I promise it won’t stretch beyond the Kickstarter!

Jade aka the Dowser herself (as she appears in Dowser 1) outside of her bakery, Cake in a Cup. Illustrated by Nicole Deal.

CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE THE KICKSTARTER

Important dates

Launch: January 10, 2023 at 7 a.m. PST

Length: 21 days

Last Day: January 31, 2023

Tenth Anniversary for Dowser 1: June 18, 2023

Kickstarter Info

Essentially Kickstarter is a funding platform. It helps a creator cover their EXPENSES (i.e. money already spent or needed to be spent to create the product). You select a tier and ‘pledge’ that amount to support the campaign. Warning: you cannot pledge multiple tiers. Though I suppose you could do so with multiple accounts. If the main funding goal is achieved, then you receive the item you pledged by the date listed (hopefully!). After the initial goal is met, there are often stretch goals (‘free’ extras/rewards) that come into play. Which people who have already baked the project (at a certain level) receive without spending any more money.

What is Kickstarter?

What are the basics?

How do I pledge/back a project?

How do I change/increase my pledge?

Why run a Kickstarter for Dowser 1 in the first place?

For me, a Kickstarter functions partly as a preorder – I don’t run a store, so I can’t ‘carry’ stock. A Kickstarter lets me know what my readers are interested in so I can order the minimum amount. Yes, I will not be ordering extras. The only way to get any of the limited editions of Dowser 1 is to pledge/back the item you want via the Kickstarter campaign. The new Dowser series novella, aka tier 1, will be available on all retailers in mid2024. It will not, however, include any of the extras: the Anniversary eCard, the new recipe, etc.

A Kickstarter also functions partly as a way to help creators finance special editions or new endeavors, etc. In my case, I’ve requested the audiobook rights for Dowser 1 – 6 back from my publisher and I am in the process of recording all nine audiobooks with a new narrator: Erin Moon (she rocks!). I’m offering the audiobooks in the stretch goals section, so hopefully we reach some or all of those!

Tiers

The tiers are explained in detail on the Kickstarter page but I will provide more detail/pictures over the next 21 days. When I write the corresponding posts, I will link them back here:

Anniversary eCard, Dowser novella, and a new recipe
limited-edition eBook
limited-edition paperback, bookmark, and bookplate. Autographed.
eBook/paperback combo
limited-edition hardcover, bookmark, and bookplate. Autographed.
eBook/hardcover combo
eBook/paperback/hardcover bundle
~~annotated hardcovers~~ (sorry, these were gone before I managed to get this post written)(b/c my readers freaking rock!)
~~name a background character in Dowser 9.5~~
~~name a supporting character in Dowser 9.5~~
~~name a main character in Dowser 9.5~~

Stretch goals

More to be added (hopefully!!)

Five more character sketches by Nicole Deal – goal ACHIEVED in under two hours (again, because I have crazy cool readers).
Dowser 1 audiobook, narrated by Erin Moon – UNLOCKED!
Dowser 2 audiobook, narrated by Erin Moon – UNLOCKED!
Dowser 3 audiobook, narrated by Erin Moon – UNLOCKED!

Add-Ons

I have also made the second and third Dowser series trilogies available in audiobook format as Add-Ons. What does that mean? You can purchase (at a discount) Dowser 4, 5, and 6 and/or Dowser 7, 8, and 9 in audiobook directly from me (via the Kickstarter campaign). YAY! See this blog post for more details and delivery dates, please. I also have added instructions on how to claim this deal in the blog post.

Other fun things:

Cupcake Poll

Favourite Character Poll

Erin Moon narrating the opening pages of Dowser 1

Mark your calendar: Anniversary party/release day for Dowser 9.5 – June 18, 2023.

Quick Updates

Day 1: Main goal achieved in under an hour: because you are all amazing!

Day 1: Stretch goal 1 was achieved in under two hours. Because who doesn’t want ALL THE ART!!

End of Day 1: Stretch goal 2 now smashed through! That means tiers 2 – 11 get Dowser 1 in audiobook for free!

Day 2: campaign rewarded Kickstarter’s #ProjectWeLove status! Whoot – THANK YOU!

Day 3: stretch goal 3 unlocked! That means tiers 2 – 11 get Dowser 2 in audiobook for free!

Day 6: rolled over 500 backers!

Day 9: rolled over $40,000 pledged!

Day 13: stretch goal 4 unlocked! That means tiers 2 – 11 get Dowser 3 in audiobook for free!

CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE THE KICKSTARTER

Feel free to ask me anything in the comments. It is important that I’m as clear as possible!!

Moments of the Adept Universe 1: cover reveal, etc.

If you’re subscribed to my newsletter you may have read six of the seven stories contained in this collection of shorts and novelettes. I gave them away through 2021 in an unedited/unproofed form, but have now bundled them together, added another novelette (Burgundy 0.5), and asked Memo to illustrate a scene (or moment, wink wink) from each. I’ll be sharing those illustrations and a little snippet of each story in the week leading up to publication.

I hope to write more novellas through 2022 to expand the ever-growing Adept Universe! I have ideas!

A collection of stories featuring characters from the Adept Universe by Meghan Ciana Doidge in a pivotal moment of their life, or possibly a playful interlude.

The collection contains the following shorts/novelettes:

In But a Moment – aka Kandy 0.25
In Less Than a Moment – aka Kandy 0.5
At Just the Right Moment – aka Gabby 0.5
From One Moment to the Next – aka Kandy 0.75
Anchored in the Moment – aka Audrey 0.5
Momentary Misunderstanding – aka Burgundy 0.5
A Momentary Retrieval (Archivist 1.5) – Dusk

Content warnings: language, sexual situations, violence, and childhood abuse.

Release Date: January 27, 2022

PREORDER

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – BARNES and NOBLE – KOBO – SMASHWORDS –

(MCD: Jan 19: Apologies, I’m not sure why B&N still doesn’t have the preorder uploaded, hopefully soon!)

New to the Adept Universe? The first book is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Or click here for the main READING ORDER.

Need to get caught up? Or want to reread in order? Click here for the FULL READING ORDER OF THE ADEPT UNIVERSE.

Archivist 0: Cover reveal and synopsis

I’m celebrating getting the prequel to the Archivist series off to the proofreader today by revealing the freaking gorgeous book cover by Damonza, along with the synopsis.

As with The Amplifier Protocol last year, Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0) will be serialized here on my blog every Wednesday and Friday, starting January 1, 2021. I’ll also make the preorder available by that date for those of you who prefer to read all at once. Don’t worry I’ll email all the details to my mailing list (make sure you’re subscribed) and refresh my ‘how to subscribe to MCD’s blog’ instructions so you don’t miss a chapter.

Without further chatter – the gorgeous cover!

Synopsis: The plan was to hop a train to Oslo, hang out at a coffee shop, and connect my personal archive, Infinity, to the Internet. Yes, completely disregarding the well-established fact that magic and technology didn’t mix. At all.

I was also hoping to browse as many bookstores as I could before my younger brother’s patience ran out. Unfortunately, the five-year-old fledgling dragon was better known for his exuberant — and ultimately destructive — tendencies rather than his attention span.

I almost pulled it all off. Almost proved that my position as Archivist of the Modern World wasn’t just an empty title.

Then I got summoned — by the most powerful beings in the magical world. And when the guardian dragons made a request, no one denied them. Not even a lesser dragon.

Not even if it tore me away from everything I’d ever known — and the one person I couldn’t leave behind.

Awakening Infinity is a prequel novel in the Archivist series, which is set in the same universe as the Dowser, Oracle, Reconstructionist, Amplifier, and Misfits of the Adept Universe series. While it is not necessary to read all the series, in order to avoid spoilers the ideal reading order of the Adept Universe begins with Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Or click here for the full reading order.

Questions about the Archivist Series? Feel free to comment below (or +1 other comments) and I’ll write up a FAQ, if needed!!

Amplifier 0: book cover and a giveaway

As we ramp up to the release of Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) on September 29, 2020, I thought it might be fun to take a closer look at the gorgeous book covers that Gene Mollica Studios has designed for the Amplifier series. BTW, for authors and/or artists, Gene Mollica Studios has just launched a new stock photo service as well!

The art for the Amplifier Series all began with casting – Devon Ericksen was absolutely perfect for the uber-powerful Amp5/Socks/Emma. Then we discussed costumes and hair/makeup, and Gene and Sasha gathered their crew for a photoshoot that resulted in hundreds of amazing shots.

Every time I need another book cover I scroll through the photos and send my favourites into Gene and Sasha. I let them know a little bit about the book, such as the title, etc, with possible location ideas or background extras (the barn, the chickens, the Mustang, etc). Gene takes all of those raw details and makes art.

This is the shot I selected for the prequel, The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0).

*Photo:* Gene Mollica Studios *Model:* Devon Ericksen

Gene turned Devon’s amazing capture of an (imagined) pivotal moment into this piece of utter magic:

*Cover design by:* Gene Mollica Studios *Model:* Devon Ericksen

Resulting in a shelf worthy paperback! *Sigh.*

BONUS!! The Amplifier Protocol, bundled with the novelette, Close to Home, is now free on all retailers for a limited time!! Click here for download links.

Want to win an autographed copy of the Amplifier Protocol? Yes?! Just comment below to enter to win.

The Amplifier Protocol paperback* surrounded by oracle cards. *The giveaway paperback won’t be the one pictured but I WILL throw in a few oracle cards (both are currently on order, and as you know, shipping isn’t reliable right now).

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary. Giveaway closes WEDNESDAY, SEPT 2, 2020 at 8pm PDT. Likes and shares are always welcomed and appreciated.

Are you new to the Adept Universe series? Click here for the reading order. Or click here for the Welcome! sequence.

Misfits 1: cover reveal & synopsis

Are you really ready?

Oh, yes?

Well, then! The Misfits of the Adept Universe return in Misplaced Souls … on APRIL 14, 2020!!! YES!!! Taking place eighteen months after the events of Dowser 9, Mory launches a new series!

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – KOBO – BARNES & NOBLE – SMASHWORDS –

Synopsis: Six years, three months, and two days ago, I was kidnapped by a black witch. Then forced to bear witness as she slaughtered witches and sorcerers across Europe, siphoning their magic and corrupting what she could of my own power in order to raise vanquished demons.

Five years, ten months, and twenty days ago, the dowser — Jade Godfrey — backed by a vampire, a werewolf, and a dragon, rescued me in London, England. A lethal quartet, who routinely flung themselves before death in order to save the world. Including me.

One year, nine months, and twenty-eight days ago, I untangled the power that fueled a dimensional portal used by an invading army of elves, helping to thwart a dark destiny while confirming that I wielded far more than basic necromancy.

After all I’d been through, the same powerful Adepts who had rescued me and worked alongside me waited, watching minute by minute. To see if the evil I’d endured was contagious. Because for a witch to go dark was one thing. But for a necromancer, going dark was something far more terrifying.

What with the potential for raising an army of the undead and all.

Six years, three months, two days, and five minutes …

Still not dark yet.

—————————

Misplaced Souls is the first book in the Misfits of the Adept Universe series, which is set in the same universe as the Dowser, Oracle, Reconstructionist, and Amplifier series.

The Misfits series directly expands on and incorporates the events and characters first introduced in the Dowser series. Therefore, for the best reading experience, the author recommends reading all nine books in the Dowser series, including Dowser 8.5, before digging into the Misfit tales. The first book of the Dowser series is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic.

Upcoming posts: Chapter one, part one. The cupcakes featured in Misfits 1. Envy in a Cup (recipe). The knitting featured in Misfits 1. Plus wallpapers/character sketches! FUN! FUN!!

Click here for the full reading order of the Adept Universe.

Amplifier 3: cover reveal and synopsis

Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3) is now available for preorder. YAY!

– AMAZON – KOBO – APPLE BOOKS – B&N – SMASHWORDS –

Synopsis: Three days. That was all the reprieve we got before one of the Five showed up, injured and on the run. The snowstorm that had encased the property, as well as stifled the town, hadn’t even melted away.

That wounded prey led our newest adversary directly to me, to Christopher. Inconvenient timing, but not unexpected.

It was the betrayal forcing me to stay my hand against that adversary that shocked me. Betrayal from the least likely of sources. Or so I would have thought.

But that didn’t change who I was, and what I would do to preserve a life I loved, people I cherished.

I wasn’t so easily broken. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t be hurt, couldn’t be pulled apart. Unraveled.

And if I managed to put the pieces back together? I wasn’t certain who I’d be on the other side of it all. Friend? Lover? Killer? Emma or Amp5?

Or was it possible to be all those things at once?

—————–

Mystics and Mental Blocks by Meghan Ciana Doidge is the third book in the Amplifier series, which is set in the Adept Universe along with the Dowser, the Oracle, and the Reconstructionist series.

Reading order: