Conduit Series: Illustration and an excerpt: Zaya

Zaya Gage. Awry. The Conduit. Illustration by Nicole Deal.

I’m staring. Going from coldly enraged to numb …

Because the gun I expected. It’s a lightweight, untraceable piece I slipped into the room myself ages ago.

But … Zaya Gage — a slightly older version of Zaya, and looking like death warmed over — is sitting on a motel bed in Outcast territory.

Alive. 

And glaring fucking daggers at me.

Glaring at me as if she doesn’t know me at all.

As if she’s seriously considering shooting me.

The numbness holding me in place cracks, splintering like a skiff of ice over a dark well of vicious despair.

Her eyes, vibrant and utterly beguiling, are the wrong color.

Bright, soul-fucking-searing violet.

Not the warm, deep purplish-blue I gazed into summer after summer. Not the deadened, darkened purple that stared up into the storm-blackened sky, unseeing. The eyes that still haunt my nightmares, for almost thirteen years now.

My Zaya would be a month away from her thirtieth birthday. This woman, with her slight frame, her dusky pink lips, and her cheekbones and collarbone looking like carved white stone or the age-bleached fucking bones of some prehistoric creature, is too young.

– Awry (conduit 1), Chapter Four, Rath

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 25, 2024

PREORDER NOW

eBOOK

– PREORDER LIMITED-EDITION DIRECT FROM MCD –

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

AUDIOBOOK

– PREORDER DIRECT FROM MCD –

Audiobooks: Dowser 8.5

Yes! You asked and the narrators, the producer/engineer, Julie, and I have been sneakily working in the background to bring Graveyard, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5) to audio!

The audiobook was meant to be a holiday treat but it is ready a couple of weeks early, and you know how terrible I am at keeping secrets. 😂 It will be available on all retailers in approximately three to four weeks but you can grab it directly from me now (and at the best price, as always).

Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5), narrated by Tia Rider (Mory), Jennifer Grace (Rochelle), and Erin Moon (Jasmine). $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 8.5 AUDIOBOOK DIRECT FROM MCD

And yes, there is definitely some match-matching going on between narrators and characters! Tia Rider (Amplifier Series) will be voicing Mory’s books, including Misplaced Souls (Misfits 1) later in 2024 (as well as any future Mory books). Jennifer Grace already narrated the Oracle trilogy! And Erin Moon (Dowser Series) will be tackling Jasmine whenever I manage to get to writing her series!

Fun! Fun!

All audiobooks available directly from MCD:

Dowser Series

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1)

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2)

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic (Dowser 3)

Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic (Dowser 4)

Maps, Artifacts, and Other Arcane Magic (Dowser 5)

Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic (Dowser 6)

Champagne, Misfits, and Other Shady Magic (Dowser 7)

Misfits, Gemstones, and Other Shattered Magic (Dowser 8)

Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5)

Gemstones, Elves, and Other Insidious Magic (Dowser 9)

Oracle Series

I See Me (Oracle 1)

I See You (Oracle 2)

I See Us (Oracle 3)

Reconstructionist Series

Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1)

Tangled Echoes (Reconstructionist 2)

Unleashing Echoes (Reconstructionist 3)

Amplifier Series

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0)

Demons & DNA (Amplifier 1)

Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2)

Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3)

Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4)

Instincts and Impostors (Amplifier 5)

Recon Misson: Bee (Amplifier 5.5)

Endings and Empathy (Amplifier 6)

Archivist Series

Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0)

Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1)

Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2)

Coming soon

Conduit 1 – early 2024


Click here for the reading order of the Adept Universe, including downloads, etc.

Conduit Series: the first of many, many polls to come 😜

Okay! I need to put together some sort of ‘marketing’ schedule leading up to the official* release of Awry (Conduit 1) on January 25, 2024. And yes, now you know that everything I’ve done marketing-wise (except the cover reveal) has been completely winged. 😂

Anyway! I’ve commissioned a ton of art but a few pieces must remain secret until the limited-editions have been delivered. I mean, ideally, they would remain secret until everyone has read the first book, but we all know that’s not going to happen. I have seven illustrations that I think can be revealed, one a week leading up to the release, and I thought it would be fun for you (me?) to ask you to help me determine the order of those reveals.

So without further ado here is the poll.

Which order would you like to see the following illustrations revealed (on Tuesdays)?

View Results

Art will be posted (possibly with some teasers/extras) on Tuesdays in the order determined by the poll, starting next week! Fun! Fun!

*official release: the limited-edition version of Awry (Conduit 1) will be released earlier, depending on shipping times for the paperbacks, of course.

Advent 2023

It’s that time of year again – which is seriously, seriously insane! Time to hang up and fill the Advent calendars that Michael and I made (click the link for the ‘making-of’ post) when we realized that a Christmas tree and living in a one-room cabin really didn’t go well together. We’re in a bigger place now – yay! for completed additions/renovations – but we still aren’t doing a tree this year (life is a little overwhelming, but hopefully 2024 will feel a little less schedule-driven).

As I have since 2016, I’ll share my #ChocolateForBreakfast advent treat shots/posts on my Instagram account, rather than spamming my blog feed. Though I now have Instagram feeding onto my Facebook page as well. But! Here is a screenshot of my December 1, 2023 treat!!

Desbarres Monte Grande 72% Guatemala. Chocolatiers are based in Ontario. Awards: Silver from the International Chocolate Awards in 2020 and 2022.  Tasting notes (via the bar): caramel, banana, and citrus. Tasting notes (MCD): immediately fruit forward (the banana, I guess?) but quickly resolving into an almost pungent citrus, heavy on the lemon zest. Creamy, smooth chocolate. Tasty, but definitely a challenge to my palate. 

Money is crazy tight for all of us right now. Rent, etc, is way too high. Food and groceries are crazy outrageous. So we’re going to be celebrating a quiet holiday season. Doing our advent calendars and our Christmas movie and homemade pizza Fridays, but no tree or presents or expensive travel. I hope you will all find a spark of joy to ease you through the season. And, fingers crossed, hopefully 2024 is a bit … smoother, and easier.

If I remember, I’ll post my holiday baking round-up aka later in the month.

Happy December 1st!

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 –

MCD officially licensed merch: Vampire Unicorns

Vampire Unicorns and I inked a licensing agreement a couple of months ago, and phase one of their freaking adorable designs is now live (and I desperately want one of each)!

CLICK HERE TO SKIP AHEAD (AND SEE THE DESIGNS)

Screenshot of the Dowser Series inspired designs from Vampire Unicorns. How freaking adorable is that cupcake tumbler!!!?

What does ‘officially licensed’ mean? It means that Vampire Unicorns can legally sell merchandise using my IP (intellectual property), specifically the Dowser Series, as inspiration. 20% of their net proceeds are then paid to me (or the author/creator in question). I’ve requested that my 20% is donated to a charity, specifically (for now) the Covenant House, which I already support monthly.

I don’t have any involvement with Vampire Unicorns designs (like I do when I commission artists myself), but I do approve the designs ahead of time just to make sure that there aren’t any conflicts, say with my own merchandize or if my IP is being used in a way that I don’t think suits the series or reflects me. I’m also not involved in the sales or shipping or returns. Please direct those sorts of questions to Vampire Unicorns.

Screenshot of the Dowser Series inspired designs from Vampire Unicorns. I love, love all the T-shirt designs, but the ‘What’s Your Signature Magic’ design is freaking brilliant.

If you are looking to pad your holiday wish list, I’m pretty sure you’ll find something among these pretties. Oh! If you grabbed one of the Spill the Tea 2023 Boxes, I purchased the spell pens from Vampire Unicorns.

Which is your favourite design?

Reminders, a quick update, and other things MCD always forgets to mention multiple times.

Okay! Things you all might want to know/participate in and might miss because I’m terrible at repeating myself and the various social algos and email providers love to control what actually shows up in our feeds and inboxes.

The reminders:

The preorder for the limited-edition PAPERBACKS for [title to be revealed] (Conduit 1) will close on December 2. The final files/final number needs to be to the printers on Dec 4, so that I can get my hands on the paperbacks in time to get them shipped to you!!

Click here for more info about all the limited-editions.

Another Stuff Your Earbuds Day is coming! Yes, on November 30 more than 100+ romance (etc) audiobooks will be available to download for free! But! You need to be signed up for my mailing list/newsletter to get the reminder/link dropped in your inbox on the day (and even then that isn’t a guarantee the email will actually be delivered). I’ll mention it on social media, etc, as well. But not here on my blog.

Following my blog is not the same as subscribing to my newsletter. Different formats, different content.

Here is the direct link to either subscribe or check to see if you are subscribed to my newsletter.

Audiobooks! Dowser 7, 8, and 9 have been uploaded to all the retailers (if you are waiting to buy them via Audible, etc).

Here is a direct link to all the audiobooks that you can buy directly through me (only a couple are missing now … 😉)

The mini update:

Dowser 1 Kickstarter paperbacks/hardcovers: only 17 parcels remain undelivered, and most of those are international (Europe, Australia, etc). The remaining Canadian and USA packages are marked ‘out for delivery’ and have been that way for over two weeks, or they are ‘being held at the post office’, etc. I’m hoping those have actually been delivered. If you are missing your hardcover or paperback, feel free to drop me an email to check on its status (just in case those are actually missing).

With the caveat that thirteen (now eleven) backers never got me their mailing addresses, so obviously I didn’t ship those boxes (yet).

Dowser 1 Kickstarter damaged and/or extra copies: I have a (very) few damaged/extra copies remaining. I will bundle them together into doubles (first), figure out shipping, and post buy links in a Kickstarter update (since the books are technically supposed to be exclusive to the Kickstarter). I hope to send that update tomorrow (but I might try for this afternoon). If they aren’t all purchased fairly quickly, I will make them available to the rest of my readership. I’m offering doubles first because, in all honesty, fewer packages are less work for me. The shipping will also be more expensive because I’m shipping from Canada Post here on my tiny island, not traveling to Vancouver to ship. If the doubles don’t sell (or I have more) I will offer singles. I will TRY to get the packages in the mail in time for them to get to you before the holidays, but I’m still insanely swamped and still can only do my best.

Conduit 1 (in brief):

  • The proofread has been completed (it’s currently sitting in my inbox from Pauline).
  • The book cover design has been finalized (yay!) and the cover designer is working on all the final files, etc. The cover reveal is currently scheduled for Nov 29.
  • Lillie is putting together the bible (for the back of the limited edition).
  • Nicole, Jade, and Kateryna are working on various illustrations. I will get as many of them into the limited-edition versions as possible.
  • Amanda (Eternal Geekery) has designed the chapter heading and one of the maps. She is working on the second map and the page break designs. Then she will design some of the sticker (t-shirt?) designs, etc. Again, as much of this as possible will be in the limited-editions.
  • The narrators (and schedule) have been confirmed for the audiobook – yay! And yes, dual POV means two narrators!! Actually, the book/series has four POVs but the male narrator will voice Rath, Rought, and Reck.
  • Preorders for the regular editions should start going up on all retailers next week.

I’m slightly scared to list all the things I MUST accomplish this week (and next week) so I’m just going to put my head down and try to get it all done. But, before that, because I forced a lot of you to read a bunch of updates and reminders that you already knew about here is a short excerpt for your patience!

[It is exceedingly difficult to find nonspoiler excerpts for this book. But I thought a ‘sweet’ moment, which are few and far between in the Conduit Series (for the Conduit?), might be a good way to start the week – MCD].

His eyes are both green and blue at once.

Tattoos twine around his forearms, decorating the backs of his hands and up his fingers. More black ink teases the edge of his collar, as if trying to creep up his neck.

He doesn’t pause at the base of the front patio steps.

He climbs. One step. Two steps. And now we’re the same height. Then he takes that third step and he’s slightly taller than me. Then one more, still a step lower but towering over me now.

Still holding my gaze, his hand lifts, reaching for me, for my face …

I’m not wearing my sunglasses. I’m the Conduit, standing on a claimed intersection point. I must be radiating power, my eyes glowing purple. Yet he doesn’t hesitate for a moment.

I tip my chin up. 

Am I going to let him kiss me? A total stranger?

His hair is long enough that it curls at the ends. It’s tousled as if he’s been running his fingers through it, not crisp and perfect as if he’s styled it that way.

“Rought!” Presh cries from somewhere near his elbow. “You said you’d behave!”

Rought’s grin widens, but he keeps leaning over me despite his sister’s admonishment. His hand is poised to cup my face, though he doesn’t touch me. He leans close enough that he brushes his cheek along mine, inhaling deeply as he does so.

Scenting me.

Scent-marking me?

Presh shoves at his shoulder. He doesn’t move an inch, but he chuckles — deep and husky — as he shifts back enough to meet my gaze again.

I realize I was wrong about his eyes. Both are an even mixture of green and blue, yes. But both are now also thickly rimmed in burnished gold.

“Zaya Gage,” he says, pure joy laced through his words. As if it delights him to say my name.

I don’t scare him in the least. My violet eyes don’t bother him at all.

“Rought Guerra,” I say, my tone smooth … too smooth? Am I … flirting? “Your reputation precedes you.”

He laughs.

My chest warms, as if he’s the fucking sun and I’m a beleaguered flower.

– Conduit 1, Chapter Ten

HAPPY MONDAY!

Audiobooks: Dowser 7, 8, and 9.


Updated November 29, 2023.

The final trilogy of the Dowser Series, narrated by the freaking perfect Erin Moon, is now available in audiobook! Yay! Currently available to purchase (at a discount) directly from me, and I’ve collected all the retailer links on the dedicated book page (click the name of the book).

Dowser Series audiobooks (via MCD):

Champagne, Misfits, and Other Shady Magic (Dowser 7), narrated by Erin Moon. $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 7 AUDIOBOOK DIRECT FROM MCD

Misfits, Gemstones, and Other Shattered Magic (Dowser 8), narrated by Erin Moon. $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 8 AUDIOBOOK DIRECT FROM MCD

Gemstones, Elves, and Other Insidious Magic (Dowser 9), narrated by Erin Moon. $10CDN

BUY DOWSER 9 AUDIOBOOK DIRECTLY FROM MCD


All audiobooks available directly from MCD:

Dowser Series

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1)

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2)

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic (Dowser 3)

Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic (Dowser 4)

Maps, Artifacts, and Other Arcane Magic (Dowser 5)

Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic (Dowser 6)

Champagne, Misfits, and Other Shady Magic (Dowser 7)

Misfits, Gemstones, and Other Shattered Magic (Dowser 8)

Gemstones, Elves, and Other Insidious Magic (Dowser 9)

Oracle Series

I See Me (Oracle 1)

I See You (Oracle 2)

I See Us (Oracle 3)

Reconstructionist Series

Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1)

Tangled Echoes (Reconstructionist 2)

Unleashing Echoes (Reconstructionist 3)

Amplifier Series

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0)

Demons & DNA (Amplifier 1)

Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2)

Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3)

Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4)

Instincts and Impostors (Amplifier 5)

Recon Misson: Bee (Amplifier 5.5)

Endings and Empathy (Amplifier 6)

Archivist Series

Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0)

Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1)

Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2)

Coming soon

Conduit 1 – early 2024


Click here for the reading order of the Adept Universe, including downloads, etc.

Conduit 1 limited editions

ETA: DECEMBER 3: THE PAPERBACK PREORDER IS CLOSED (so I removed the links below). AND I WILL BE CLOSING THE POSTCARD/ART BUNDLE ON DECEMBER 8, 2023. 😁

Note: the ebook for Awry (Conduit 1) is now available to preorder on all retailers (this version will not have all the extras or all the art). The ‘regular’ paperback will be available to order on release day, January 25, 2024.

LIMITED EDITION eBOOK

PREORDER L.E. CONDUIT 1 eBOOK

$7 CDN

Fine details:

  • Same as art and extras as the paperback (as long as your eReader displays in colour, otherwise the art will be B&W).
  • Approx. 110k words
  • Delivered via BookFunnel (but can be transferred to your fav eReader app). eBooks will drop into your BookFunnel inboxes (at least) three days before the regular release. Yes! You get all the extras and the book early! Midnight (PST) January 21, 2024.
  • Includes extras that will not be in the regular eBook
  • Digital signature

AUDIOBOOK

PREORDER CONDUIT 1 AUDIOBOOK

$10 CDN

Fine details:

  • Narrated by Felicity Monroe (aka Erin Moon) and [male narrator: TBA]
  • Engineer/producer: Whole Studio Studios
  • Not a limited edition but will be delivered approximately 2-3 weeks before being made available to the retailers. Price reflects a $2 discount for preordering via MCD.
  • Delivered via BookFunnel (but can be transferred to your fav audio app).
  • Release to TBC (based on narrators’ schedule), aiming for an end-of-January release.
  • Will be $12 (Direct from MCD) after release day.

POSTCARD/STICKER BUNDLE

PREORDER ART BUNDLE – CANADA

$30 + $4 lettermail shipping = $34 CDN

PREORDER ART BUNDLE – USA

$30+ $6 lettermail shipping = $36 CDN

PREORDER ART BUNDLE – INTERNATIONAL

$30 + $11 lettermail shipping = $41 CDN

Fine details:

  • 12 postcards (minimum), including all art/maps/extras in Conduit 1 (see below for the list of artists)
  • 3 quote and/or image stickers (minimum)
  • Conduit Series branded bookplate
  • Will likely, knowing MCD’s habit of ordering extra/bulk, include more stickers, etc.

NOTES OF INTEREST (hopefully):

INTERIOR ART will include:

Nicole Deal: 5 character portraits: Zaya, Presh, Rath, Rought, and Reck

Jade Merien: Muta, plus 3 spoiler ridden illustrations

Kateryna Vitkovska: illustration: the Gage property

Eternal Geekery: country map, property map, page break, and chapter headings.

BOOK COVER: designed by G&S Stock Photo. Aka Gene Mollica Studios, aka the same designer that created the Amplifier and Misfit book covers.

All prices are in Canadian Currency. Each item/bundle is broken down by shipping region. If you select the wrong shipping region, I can refund (no refunds after shipping, sorry) but please, please try not to select the wrong region because I get charged the credit card, etc, fee even if I refund your money, so I lose about 5% of the total charge each time I refund something.

Please feel free to create your own bundle, but do not put multiple items that require shipping in your cart (because you will then be overcharged for shipping).

*Remember*, unlike other preorders through retailers you are paying at check-out and then waiting until January 2024 to receive your book(s).

Warning: eBook and audiobook orders will be closed a week before release day.


If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments below. I’ll answer them and start an FAQ here. There is a lot of time to order, no need to rush!!

info on the upcoming Conduit 1 preorder

I started this post over on Facebook but it grew, and grew, and grew, so now it is a blog post! 😂

Just to change the subject from packing Kickstarter boxes to packing Conduit boxes [though, if you don’t follow me on Facebook, you probably haven’t heard me whining 😂] I’m going to try to get [very basic] Conduit 1 limited edition preorders live for October 26 [here on my website store] because I promised a few of you that I would try to hold the preorder open through two ‘paycheques’ (so, through Nov 1 and Dec 1).

Reminder: unlike regular preorders (or the Kickstarter) direct sales preorders via my store mean you are paying right away, not on release day.

So! I will be getting a print estimate based on the numbers that have been submitted on this Google form:

https://forms.gle/tfpuS3rKtyvDL5Lb6

That doesn’t mean you can’t preorder last minute, it just means that the basic cost per paperback will be based on the people who’ve filled out the interest form. So if you are interested, please make sure you’ve filled out the form so everyone gets the lowest price possible.

The paperback preorder WILL CLOSE (at least a month and a half ahead). It has to because I need to order the paperbacks from the printer (and I want to do that weeks ahead of when I want to mail the books to you). The eBOOK and AUDIOBOOK preorders will stay open until a week before the regular release day (yes, the limited edition will drop three days ahead). The eBook is tentatively scheduled for Jan 25, 2024 on all retailers. Audiobook TBA.

I will also (eventually) get a regular preorder up on all retailers if you just want the regular edition. But I seriously doubt that is happening this week. 😁

The ‘preorders’ will be very basic to begin (I don’t have any of the art yet, etc) but I will include a list of the extras (and artists, so you can look them up) and a link to an unproofed sample with trigger warnings and tropes so you vaguely know what you are getting into 😜). Then, through November and December, I’ll tease some of the art/extras that will be included in the book as it drops in my inbox. So you can wait a couple of weeks to preorder.

Okay, then! I better get back to packing boxes!

Oh, I’m hoping to get through proofing the audiobook for Dowser 9 in the next couple of days and fingers crossed you get three new audiobooks early next week (the Kickstarter preorders will be sent out first)! Whoot!