Dowser Series: 10th Anniversary T-shirt release

On reader request, I’ve uploaded the tenth-anniversary cupcake/knife design from the exclusive Kickstarter editions of Dowser 1 as T-shirts via Amazon Merch. I think (?) this is just enough time to grab one before Soulmates, Doorways, and Other Unruly Magic (Dowser 9.5) officially releases on June 13.

Caveats (as with all my other T-shirts): these T-shirts only ship to the USA or UK (see specific links below). As with my other designs/logos, I’ve offered a PNG download version for my fellow Canadians or other international readers. FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL PRINTING.

Also! Please, please check the sizing chart, and ignore the gender designations. Especially with the premium T-shirts (USA only). The fit is fantastic but very small.

I’ve ordered mine from a local printer so I have it for release day as well – and don’t have my hands on it yet – so I only have screenshots to share right now:

Here are all the links:

T-shirts, etc via Amazon Merch – ships to the USA:

T-shirts, etc via Amazon Merch – ships to the UK:

Or click here to purchase a PNG download of the GOLD CUPCAKE/KNIFE LOGO

Also … if you’re interested in a different Dowser Series T-shirt you can find them all listed under T-shirts & Other Deadly Merch (< < link) including Cake in a Cup, Attempted Murder, and more!

Some unfortunate news …

Hello, my lovely readers,

I’m sad to announce that Brittany needs to step away from being my author PA due to ongoing health issues. Please join me in sending her wishes of love and healing as she moves forward through this difficult period.

What does this mean?

I’m unfortunately canceling the Baking with MCD we had planned for tomorrow in MCD’s Adepts Discord as this was mostly Britt’s domain. The Discord will continue to be quite quiet until I have the time to devote to sorting out how it all works, specifically live events, etc. But I still plan to ‘launch’ my book club this summer and believe that the MCD’s Adepts Discord will be the best place for more in-depth discussions, etc.

I will still be doing the tenth-anniversary Kickstarter for the Oracle trilogy in October. I will just keep it a bit ‘smaller’ than the Dowser Kickstarter. And make Michael help me with the packing/shipping. 😂

I wish Britt well. I’m actively sending her healing vibes and lots of good thoughts.

Sunshine & Lollipops,

Meghan

MCD’s fav reads of early 2024 and more to come!

[Links and more info for my April 25 newsletter]

Note: affiliate links lead to Amazon stores but some of these series are available on all platforms (at least in audiobook and paperback, if not in eBook). Kindle Unlimited (KU) noted.

Three of my best reads of 2024 (so far):

Her Feral Beasts by E.P Bali. This is the first book in Her Vicious Beasts series. Start with the novella, Her Vicious Beasts (linked below), then gobble up the next two books and join me in desperately needing the third! Why Choose, Paranormal Romance. These love interests are a nasty, entitled, utterly vicious bunch. But don’t worry Aurelia is more than their match! Addictive. In KU. Start here:

USA: https://amzn.to/3wjMh05

CANADA: https://amzn.to/44iVoKY

UK: https://amzn.to/4de7zgk

Red Fang Royal by Lola Rock. This is a companion omegaverse novel set in the world of Pack Darling (so start with book 1), With so many current ‘romantasy’ novels/series dominated by enemies to lovers and ‘bully’ romances, it is delightful that these ‘alphas’ are all in – all in – just as soon as Marisol can learn to trust them again. In KU. Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/4dbs6lN

USA: https://amzn.to/3vXQl6k

UK: https://amzn.to/44iKJQB

Bride by Ali Hazelwood. A standalone (you’re welcome) paranormal romance with hints of omegaverse (but not really). Arranged marriage between mortal enemies. Misery (the FMC) has been an outcast among her own people (vampires!) for her father’s political gain. Lowe (MMC) is just trying to make his people (werewolves!) safe. Love isn’t supposed to be a factor. Enjoy!

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3UBolil

USA: https://amzn.to/4aNmGM4

UK (paperback): https://amzn.to/4aQQhUO

Three recent releases on my TBR (I just need to set time aside to read these fav authors!):

Fair Market Value by Hailey Edwards. A brand new series from my author BFF – squee!! This is the first book in The Body Shop series. In KU.

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3Ug2kEb

USA: https://amzn.to/3JAS30l

UK: https://amzn.to/3UiIJU0

Archangel’s Lineage (Guild Hunter 16) by Nalini Singh. Here’s where I admit I bounced off (and I tried twice) the previous release in the Guild Hunter universe (Archangel’s Resurrection) and never finished it, but I’m seriously looking forward to getting back to Elena and Raphael. Start with Angel’s Blood (Guild Hunter 1). Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3QgsJk4

USA: https://amzn.to/3JBUKPo

UK: https://amzn.to/3QiJprc

Trials of Conviction (Firebird 5) by T.A. White. This is the fifth book in one of my fav space opera series. Start with Rules of Redemption. Tons of action, slow burn. Found family. Intrigue. Powerful ‘older’ main character prone to self-sacrifice. Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/4bavY4K

USA: https://amzn.to/4b71lgm

UK: https://amzn.to/49Vd4O0

Three 2024 preorders (I’m desperately waiting for)(and yes, I have more than three books currently preordered):

The Throne of Honor and Blood by J Bree. This is the second book in the Mortal Fates Series (Crown of Oaths and Curses). The Mortal Fates is J Bree’s first foray into Fantasy Romance. Enemies to lovers. The first third of book 1 is slightly slow (you know, for my level of attention deficit) but the rest of book 1 is a page-turner. Witches vs. Fae. The ending is exceptional. Series page:

USA: https://amzn.to/3QlGo9E

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3y0Rg6i

UK: https://amzn.to/4bezgDN

The House at Watch Hill (Watch Hill Trilogy) by Karen Marie Moning. This preorder is exceptionally expensive and I hope that price reduces between now and the release in October. Honestly, I bounced – hard – off the Fever Series in the opening pages of book 7 and never tried again. But! I’m looking forward to experiencing a new world from Moning’s pen. A pocket universe? An inheritance? Hidden powers? It’s seriously right up my alley.

CANADA: https://amzn.to/44eJwJY

USA: https://amzn.to/44dAmO5

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CW3BB957

Winter Lost (Mercy Thompson 14) by Patricia Briggs. An absolutely fav series by an absolutely fav author! Werewolves, plus all sorts of magical creatures. Fourteen books are intimidating (start with Moon Called) but I might have to make time for a full re-read before Winter Lost releases in June! Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/44x9uZH

USA: https://amzn.to/49Th81h

UK: https://amzn.to/3WgMXhj

What are your fav reads of 2024 so far? And what books are you most anticipating?

Conduit Series: Maps

The map of Cascadia (by Amanda at Eternal Geekery) appears at the beginning of Awry (Conduit 1) but (for now) the map of North America only appears in the back of the limited edition. I’m posting both here so I can add the link to the Extra and Freebies page. 😁

Conduit World. Map of Cascadia. By Eternal Geekery.

Conduit World. Map of North America. By Eternal Geekery.

Conduit Series: mythical creature shifters, part 1

*SPOILER ALERT FOR AWRY (CONDUIT 1)*

Because these absolutely gorgeous mythical creature illustrations by Jade Merien are spoilers for Awry (Conduit 1) I’m posting them here without any extra info. If you are interested, and haven’t already, please read Awry (Conduit 1) for more info (and, presumably, please avoid reading the comments on this post). 😁

*Celestial Dragon. Illustration by Jade Merien (*@jademerien)

*Gryphon. Illustration by Jade Merien (*@jademerien)

*Cu-sith. Illustration by Jade Merien (*@jademerien)

Conduit Series: Reck

RECK GUERRA

Aka Carlos Guerra. Cu-sith shifter (pronunciation: coo-shee from the old Gaelic). Agent of the Authority, Major Crimes Unit, sergeant. Dark eyes and hair. Olive skin. 6’2” tall. Runner’s/swimmer’s build. Right hand crushed thirteen years before the events of Conduit 1. Bright green rims his eyes when his beast is present. DOB: April 1 (33 in book 1). Even in human form, Reck has a latent lie-detecting ability that doesn’t work on the awry. Oldest brother of Rath, Rought, and Precious. Father is the Cataclysm. Mother (currently) unknown.

Other abilities: wields ‘terror’ when in cu-sith form (also known as a grim reaper). According to legend, if the cu-sith barks three times, anyone who hears him dies from sheer terror.

Birthname and nicknames: Carlos and TBR

First appearance: Awry (Conduit 1).

Launching MCD’s Adepts discord with a Dowser Series Buddy Read!

As some of you may or may not have seen, my lovely new PA Brittany is swooping in to help take over some of the more online social aspects of my job. And now I will have no excuse but to adhere to my self-imposed social media blackouts in the morning because Brittany WILL KNOW IF I CHEAT. 😂

As a part of building (and maintaining) a core online community, Brittany has decided to launch a dedicated Discord (MCD’s Adepts)* alongside a Dowser Series Buddy read. I’m sharing the invitation here (below) on my blog so you don’t miss out (if you are so inclined to join us) but it will not be hosted here or by me specifically.

If you haven’t met Brittany yet, here is her intro post on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Britt Brat (@brattyandbooked)

Why a Discord? As I’m sure you’ve noticed, social media reach has only worsened over the last few years. Even just recently my Instagram engagement levels have seriously tanked. This is not only frustrating to me but also to readers who are actually interested in seeing posts from me! Hence the Discord. With Discord, you’re the one to log in whenever you like and poke around to read or participate in the topics that interest you. Nothing gets hidden by the social media platform and nothing gets dropped into spam/promo/junk folders.

The MCD’s Adepts discord will be run by Brittany (in conversation with me, of course). I will pop in to chat daily (in the afternoons 😉). If you’d like to be a moderator, please message Brittany (she is @Britt|MCD’sPA) via the discord. I’m not sure she is looking for anyone but she’d be happy to know you are available if she needs you.

Right now Brittany and I are the only ones over there chatting. So please join us! Brittany has set up some specific channels already, and I’m sure she would be happy to set up more if you have requests.

What is Discord? Via Wikipedia: Discord is an instant messaging and social platform, which allows communication through voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and media and files. Communication can be private or take place in virtual communities called “servers”.

Website: https://discord.com (to download the app)

Beginners Guide to Discord: https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/360045138571-Beginner-s-Guide-to-Discord

Dowser Series Buddy Read!

Brittany hasn’t read the Dowser Series yet! So she thought it would be fun to invite other readers to read along with her. She is spearheading this and there will be ‘share graphics’ and other fun things going on on my socials. But if you would like to really dig in with her and discuss then you can also join MCD’s Adepts* (discord).

JOIN MCD’s ADEPTS DISCORD

I have an idea for an MCD’s Fav Things: Book Club that will also implemented through the discord server (but only once I feel like I have the time to devote to it).

Note: the Discord links expire in seven days, but just let me know if you need a new invitation.

FUN! FUN!

Last chance to grab the tenth-anniversary copies of Dowser 1.

Just a quick note for anyone who missed the Kickstarter (Jan 2023), I’ve made the last remaining* tenth-anniversary editions of Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) available for purchase.

Only 12 paperbacks (some slight foil damage on all) and 13 hardcovers (8 have some minor damage to the cover) are available. Please see the listings for more info and pictures.

Click here for the Tenth Anniversary Dowser 1 Hardcover – $75+ $25 CDN/USA tracked shipping = $100.

Click here for the Tenth Anniversary Dowser 1 Paperback – $45 + $25 CDN/USA tracked shipping = $70.

Prices in Canadian funds (as always). I hope to ship the second week in March along with the annotated copies (my highlighters ran out, so I only have four of the ten of those done right now).

*I still haven’t heard from all backers so I’m holding back a few copies in case they finally contact me.

Ongoing kerfuffle in the audiobook world …

You might be seeing posts all over social media from your fav authors and audiobook narrators about the new Terms of Use that Findaway (aka Spotify) attempted to implement (with thirty days notice) yesterday. I, among many other authors, immediately sent emails indicating that we’d be pulling our audiobooks off Findaway/Spotify if they insisted on pushing through the new terms as written (the issues are numerous so I won’t bother getting into the details here). About eleven hours later, they issued a statement that they were looking into clarifying the wording.

I’m not immediately pulling my audiobooks off Findaway/Spotify but I will remove them if they force me to do so. That will mean that my audiobooks will be pulled from all the retailers that Findaway distributes to, including Nook, Google Play, Hoopla, Spotify, etc.

And, yes, this will impact my sales. Producing audiobooks is expensive. A long-term investment. So obviously making them available to the widest range of readers is ideal. My audiobooks have brought in a significant amount of money in 2023 (though not more than I spent in 2023 😂) – from multiple channels, yes, but losing the ability to reach smaller retailers and libraries via Findaway will be unfortunate.

I will keep you all updated.

With that all said, buying audiobooks directly from me (or other authors) is the least expensive option for you that also pays me the most. Yes! It’s nice that it works out like that! Also, you own the audiobooks (and ebooks for that matter) you buy from me. If you cancel your Audible (etc) account, you can lose your audiobooks (there are ways around this, but you are technically ‘renting’ audiobooks through subscription services).

I’ve pinned a post with links to all my available audiobooks to the top of my blog (because I’m way behind in keeping my links updated on my book pages, sigh) so they are easier to find. Click here to see the list of audiobooks.

Also, in case I don’t say it enough, you all freaking rock, every book you buy from me directly or from any retailer or get at a library directly equates to me being able to make a living doing what I love to do – storytelling!! 😘 Thank you!