Adept Universe Bible: Opal

Opal Sherwood: Witch. Dream walker. Sky blue eyes with brown flecks. Brown skin. Dark brown kinky curls. Hair streaked with gold and silver in Amplifier 4. Crooked eye teeth. Small. Age:13. Sign: Aquarius. DOB: January 27, 2006. Birth mother, Tandy Sherwood, is deceased. Opal last saw her three years before Amplifier 2. Birth father, unknown. Spent some time living on the streets of San Francisco, before being fostered by Capri Pine prior to coming under Emma’s guardianship, adoption pending (as of Amplifier 4). Abilities: can see and manipulate (basic) magic, including some more advanced runes (such as an eavesdropping spell). Can walk through the dreams of people she is connected to or pull them into her own dreamscapes. Attending the Academy, North American Campus, but living on White Owl Farm in Lake Cowichan during her breaks from school. Fan of video games and action films. Friends with Jack Fairchild (witch) and Emily Hawes (necromancer). Treasured personal item: a steel chain necklace with an opalescent stone ring that belonged to her mother.

Opal first appeared in Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2) and is a primary character in every novel that follows in the Amplifier Series. She also narrates The Music Box (Amplifier 4.5) (bundled with A4).

Opal. Dream Walker. From the Amplifier series. At thirteen years old, Opal has already had to fight for almost every aspect of her life, including her chosen family. She is intelligent and fiercely focused, but still playful and loving with a seemingly endless capacity to adapt and forgive. She appears to be actively putting together a gang of powerful magic users at the Academy. Reasons unknown but certain to be explosive. *Illustration by* Memo

Opal. Dream Walker. From the Amplifier series. Skilled at quickly picking up magic, the little witch has an advanced understanding of the construction and execution of witch magic, including some rune-based spells. Doesn’t dwell on the trauma she’s endured, but also doesn’t deny that darkness or run away from a challenge. Vigorously relishes the tiny bits of joy to be found in a snowball fight, a chocolate chip cookie, or playing a video game with a demon dog. Competitive, but kind. *Illustration by* Memo

The Amplifier Series is set within the larger Adept Universe but can be read separately. The main series starts with Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) but there are two prequels (bundled together) as well. Click here for the full/recommended reading order of the Adept Universe.

Adept Universe: Aiden

Aiden Azar Myers: [Dark?] Sorcerer. Aka ‘Last son of Azar’. Bright blue eyes. Dark brown hair. 6’1. Tanned skin. Sharp cheekbones. Clean-shaven when wearing a magically-fortified suit and ready to cause some damage (say whenever his family is in town). But when relaxed at the farm with Emma, he prefers to be scruffy and in jeans. DOB: June 23, 1987. Sign: Cancer. Birthstone: Carnelian. Father is Kader Azar aka the sorcerer Azar aka one of the architects of the Collective. Younger half-brother to Isa (10 years older)(sorcerer) and Khalid (magically sensitive, combat-trained sorcerer). Cousin to Grosvenor (curse breaker). His mother’s family are Myers coven witches. Mother is Cerise Myers (witch). Elder brother to two half-sisters witches, Sky and Ocean. Holds a French passport (with a Paris address). In Amplifier 1, he has three healing wounds on his torso from Silver Pine’s Greater demon (matching scars to Emma’s). Addicted to the accumulation of magic. Magical items: various rings, including multiple platinum bands etched with runes (which he no longer wears), and ten runed bands that he made from old copper piping. Baseball bat with runes (lost in A2 and carved again in A3). Spelled knife that he uses for blood magic. Various spellbooks and notebooks. He creates complicated runes in the pages of the notebooks, and when needed he tears the page out and casts the spell by crumpling the rune/paper. Copper-inlaid pentagram, anchored in obsidian (which he blows out in A4), then carnelian. Abilities: Can see and feel magic. He can cast minor witch magic and is exceptionally strong when casting rune-based sorcerer magic. Lives at White Owl Farm with Emma, Christopher, Opal (when on school breaks), and Paisley. Officially engaged to Emma in Amplifier 4. Drives a dark burgundy Mercedes G550 SUV.

Aiden first appeared in Demons and DNA (Amplifier 0) and he is a principal character in all the Amplifier Series novels.

Aiden. Aka Emma’s Dark Sorcerer. From the Amplifier Series. Sorcerers generally have a way with words, it is after all how they access their magic, but Aiden takes charm (and cunning) to a masterful level. Until he met Emma and threw away that facade along with the magically-fortified suits (which occasionally make a reappearance wherever his family is in town). *Likes: collecting illegal dark magic spellbooks, hiding protection runes on the people he loves, and ignoring his father’s magical dynasty-building plans*. Illustration by Memo

Aiden. Aka Emma’s Dark Sorcerer. From the Amplifier Series. Often seen flashing a genuine smile right before releasing a deadly curse, Aiden’s comfort level is directly tied to the length of his scruff (yes, in Amplifier 5 it’s verging on a beard!) and the amount of (and type) of clothing he’s wearing. But he’s found that Emma’s magic beckons oh, so sweetly (well, their version of ‘sweet’) whenever she sees him barechested or in a tightfitting henley so he is happy to oblige. At least once a day, behind warded doors, of course. 😉 Dislikes: unannounced visitors, and anyone disrespecting Emma. Illustration by Memo

Also (funny?) side note: I told Memo that Aiden might be the only time (unless we also give Beau a beefcake moment) that she will get to sketch ‘man chest’ for the Adept Universe. Aiden does spend a lot of time out of his shirt, but I SWEAR the unbuttoned jeans were Memo’s idea … ahem, outside of all the scenes in all the Amplifier books, I mean. 😂

Adept Unvierse Bible: Emma

Emma “Socks” Johnson: Amplifier. De facto leader of the Five, genetically constructed magic-wielding super soldiers. She can amplify the power of another Adept, and/or drain magic she can keep for herself, wielding basic spells with it, and/or funnel that stolen power into another magic user. Also known as Amp5 and Fox in Socks. Emerald eyes. Deep red hair, straight to the middle of her back. 5’10. Pale skin, freckles lightly in the summer. Three faded scars on her stomach/torso from a run-in with a Greater demon. Blood tattoos etched into her upper spine bind her (for life) to the other four that make them the Five: T1-Nul5, T2-Tel5, T3-Cla5, and T4-Tek5. Wields twin blades: 18 inches of steel with black coating with three raw diamonds in the hilt of each that are primed to hold magical spells, such as sharpening or recall. DOB: October 29, 1989, 21 in Amplifier 0, 28 in Amplifier 1. Sign: Scorpio. Born in captivity, she inadvertently stole empathy powers from her birth mother, who died during childbirth. Parentage otherwise unknown, though the base mix of her DNA, and the DNA of all the Five, was harvested from the main members of the Collective. Through the course of her harsh childhood and mercenary training by the Collective, Emma was forced to absorb power from dozens of other Adepts, eventually heightening her own genetically-gifted abilities. She is faster and stronger than a ‘normal’ amplifier, has a heightened healing ability, and is partially immune to most magic. Has a demon dog named Paisley. Lives on a large property known as the White Owl Farm (formerly McGuire Farm) in Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada: 2 hectares/5 acres with a three-storey white house, red metal roof. Caretaker suite in the matching barn. Drives a 1967 Clearwater Aqua Mustang convertible, aqua seats. Drinks her tea with sugar. Can not become pregnant. Guardian of Opal. Engaged to Aiden Azar Myers in Amplifier 4, August wedding planned.

Emma first appeared in The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0). She narrates the main novels of the Amplifier series.

Emma. Aka Fox in Socks. Aka Amp5. From the Amplifier Series. Bred to be a killer, trained to be a sociopath. Despite the striking red hair, emerald green eyes, and pristinely pale skin (due to her stolen healing abilities) there is nothing ‘pretty’ about Emma Johnson, except maybe the thrifted sundresses that she wears rather obsessively (after being forced to only wear gray sweats or tactical gear for the first twenty-one years of her life). Pictured here with her dual blade blades. *Illustration by* Memo

Emma. Aka Fox in Socks. Aka Amp5. From the Amplifier Series. And the blood tattoos bind her power to four others, possibly for life. Yes, the death of Emma might be the death of the other four. In contrast to being bred and born in captivity and her brutal and bloody martial and magical training, Emma does love to indulge in just a few, simple pretty things, such as lacy underwear, black rose fine china, and a daily afternoon tea ritual that usually includes ginger snaps. *Illustration by* Memo

MCD note: The Amplifier Series is set within the larger Adept Universe but can be read separately. The main series starts with Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) but there are two prequels (bundled together) as well. Click here for the full/recommended reading order of the Adept Universe.

Also – a gentle reminder – the sketches are Memo’s interpretation of the characters (based on the books and my descriptions/guidance). If you see a character differently, or say, disagree with the interpretation, such as the above rendering of Emma’s blood tattoos (which are actually never fully described in the books)(because Emma herself doesn’t waste her time dwelling on such things and the books are from her POV), it is totally okay to do so. There is however no need to point out such things in any way that might come across as exceedingly negative (or snarky). Thank you.

Reminder! The illustrations are simply meant to be fun extras! Like a giveaway, but one that everyone can win. 😊

A much needed reminder …

Screenshot from Amazon USA. Five-star review by Rosemary. Could someone please pass the kleenex? July 18, 2022. I’m not sure what to say about this book and the two that preceded it. These books are complex, beautifully written, and pack an emotional punch that I feel all the way down to my pink-painted toenails. Read these books. You need to.

I’m sharing Rosemary’s review of Unleashing Echoes (Reconstructionist 3) because I know I focus too much on the vitriol I’m often deluged in about the Reconstructionist trilogy and I want to remind myself that not everyone tries to twist a book into what they want to see/read instead of trying to enjoy the story the author wanted (dare I say, needed?) to write.

It took a year and a half of my life to write this trilogy (after the first book sat partially written on my ‘shelf’ for two years*). I blubbered through each draft of each book (I do five). I knew how it ended when I put the first words on the page. I carefully, but intentionally, crafted the story around Wisteria and what she needed, what she so desperately needed, to heal, to move forward, to LIVE. And whether some readers believe me or not, I did exactly the same thing for Kett (and the other two major characters).

I put my heart and soul into this trilogy and way, way too much of my own childhood. And, I admit, it hurts when I get hate mail, even after all these years of getting nasty DMs, hateful reviews, and even snide remarks from my readers.

So thank you, Rosemary, for reminding me that I wrote Wisteria and Kett and Declan and Jasmine for a reason. Because I needed to heal even just a little section of my own battered soul.

💗💗💗

*note: for those interested: the Reconstructionist trilogy was originally intended to start/fall after Dowser 4 in the timeline. Eagle-eyed readers will note that Kett was in Seattle at the beginning of Dowser 4. But I lost my stepmother that spring and found I just couldn’t pick up the book and write through the grief. At least, not write Wisteria and the story I needed to tell.

Adept Universe: Christopher

Christopher “Knox” Johnson – Clairvoyant. One of the Five aka uber-powerful, genetically-constructed, magic-wielding super soldiers. Designation: Cla5. Can see the future (but not his own), most accurately within a forty-eight-hour period. Uses a set of twenty-two oracle cards based on herbology and a basic tarot deck designed/inked by a witch to focus his sight. Can also cast simple witch spells. Magically inked blood tattoos tie him to the other four of the Five. Light gray eyes (which glow bright white when his sight is triggered). 5’11. White blond hair. Golden skin. Slim, but well-muscled. Often described as a ‘Greek god.’ Prefers to be barefoot and can be most often found in his extensive garden, or cooking comfort foods in his kitchen. Wields a short sword with gems embedded into the hilt that can hold magic such as sharpening or recall spells. DOB: August 27 (Virgo). Age 28 in Amplifier 1. Bisexual.

Lives with Emma aka Fox in Socks aka Amp5 and Paisley aka the demon dog on a 5-acre property in Cowichan Lake, BC, Canada. The farm was dubbed White Owl Farm by the locals (presumably because of Christopher’s hair colour).

Knox’s blood tattoos: T1 tied to Amp5/Socks, T2 tied to Tel5/Bee, T3 tied to Nul5/Fish, and T4 tied to Tek5/Zans.

Christopher first appeared in The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) and is a main character in every other Amplifier book.

**Christopher**. Aka Knox. Aka Cla 5. Clairvoyant. From the Amplifier Series. With his white-blond hair, golden skin, and easy smile, Christopher comes across as charming, even friendly (despite actually being an uber-powerful, magic-wielding, genetically constructed super soldier). Unfortunately, his sight is easily overwhelmed and very triggered by proximity to others (even nonmagicals), so he most often confines himself to his garden or kitchen. Illustrated here by Memo using his oracle cards to sharpen his sight. Side note: the cards pictured in this sketch depict the reading that heralded Aiden’s arrival in Amplifier 1.

**Christopher**. Aka Knox. Aka Cla 5. Clairvoyant. From the Amplifier Series. At his happiest with his sight clear and barefoot in his garden. Illustration by Memo.

Amplifier 5: with or without blades

I’m working through a smoothing pass on the fourth draft of Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5) over the next few days, then the book goes off for line and content editing. I came upon this little snippet in a brand new section that I wrote based on the story editor’s notes. It made me smile, so I thought I should share.

It’s just so … Emma.

“Dream walker,” she said in that clipped accent. “The Dunkirk coven is well known for its dream walkers. Yet you choose the Godfreys for your foundling.”

I considered decapitating her.

I didn’t even need my blades, I could —

Aiden squeezed my hand, amusement rolling off him.

Right. Witch games.

– Instincts and Impostors (Amplifier 5), fourth draft

No release date yet! But I’ll have the preorder up sooner than later … just as soon as I get all the scheduling lined up.

Amplifier Series: wallpapers: Emma & Paisley

Memo, the illustrator who has been drawing all the character sketches for the Adept Universe bible (find the others at the bottom on the Extras page), made some wallpapers of Emma and Paisley from the Amplifier Series! The Amplifier Series officially starts with Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1), but there is also a prequel novel and novelette, both are found in The Amplifier Protocol. Memo formatted both wallpapers for Android, iPhone X, older Phone, and tablet/desktop. Clicking on the corresponding link below each sketch should take you to the full-sized image, and there you can download it to your computer/phone/tablet.

Michael already has Paisley on his phone (he demanded that I airdrop it to him immediately upon seeing it). It looks seriously cool.

*Emma, always primed to kick some ass! Illustration by* Memo.

Click on the link to download Emma for Android, iPhone X, older iPhone, Tablet/Desktop (landscape).

*Paisley, in full demon dog mode! Illustration by* Memo

Click on the link to download Paisley for Android, iPhone X, older iPhone, Tablet/Desktop (landscape).

I pulled some ‘How To’s’ off the web as well, but please do a little Googling if you need more help (I’m not a tech guru by any means):

How to download an image onto my Android device.

How to download an image onto my iPhone. < this is a really old article but I believe it still works.

How to download an image onto my desktop.

Feel free to share these images on your social media pages as well. You can use the tags: #AdeptUniverse or #AmplifierSeries or #MeghanCianaDoidge, etc, etc. And tag me! I’m @MeghanCianaDoidge on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. @mcdoidge on Twitter.

Oh! Watch this space for the preorder notice for the next book in the Amplifier Series, Instincts and Impostors (Amplifier 5) coming VERY SOON!!

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) is currently FREE on all retailers. Click here for the full reading order.

Dowser 1: annotated paperback giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. LUCKY #30 had been emailed.

So … I shot a bunch of videos on Sunday that pretty much just consisted of me annotating a copy of Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) and … well, filming it. I plan to cut up the video and make a bunch of promotional reels, etc, with it (with quotes, music, etc) to post to various social media sites. But now I am left with an annotated copy of Dowser 1.

So … I was wondering if any of you would like it for your shelves?

Yes?

Okay!

To make sure that this goes to a true Dowser series fan, otherwise, I put a lot of time into it and shipping is expensive … comment below with your favorite Jade quote or moment or scene from the Dowser Series and WHY it’s your favourite.

Any entries NOT following the entry requirement will not be counted. I might actually delete them just to keep my numbers accurate for the random number generator. I’m sure you understand why it would be better for the annotated copy to find a home with someone who actually wants it. For anyone new to the series, and/or the Adept Universe as a whole, the first book is currently free to download on all retailers. YAY!

Comments on other social media sites will not be counted. Just comment on this blog post to enter, thank you very much!

And I’m keeping the giveaway open for a week to give everyone time to enter. That means that even if you haven’t read a single Dowser book yet, you have a chance to download Dowser 1 for free – or get any Dowser book from your library – read and enter! Whoot!

I WILL NOT be doing a lot of physical giveaways this year, just FYI. Shipping from Canada (and even through Canada) has become crazy expensive.

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Only entries that follow the stated requirements will be valid. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary – all my books are available for free via your local library. The comments are moderated. I will approve your entry just as soon as I have a moment to do so.

Giveaway closes MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2022 at 8pm PDT.

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Click here for the full reading order.

Mystery Boxes – round one, Amplifier Series

NOTE: 2:41pm PDT, Sat, June 11: Sorry! These sold out in less than 15 minutes. As soon as I get more boxes, I’ll put up another set. But I WON’T continually offer autographed paperbacks, the shipping is just too expensive. If there is interest, I’ll do swag boxes for the release of Amplifier 6 (late-2022). And I have a Kickstarter coming up for a 10th Anniversary edition of Dowser 1 in 2023 (hardcover and eBook). And international readers (who like paperbacks) remember that I occasionally offer bookplates!!

I’ve made five Amplifier Series Mystery Boxes available in my store. $58 CDN+ CDN and USA shipping included. Click the previous link for more info and/or to purchase. [I’m seriously hoping I figured out how to post a product without adding shipping – fingers crossed].

Each box includes one autographed The Amplifier Protocol paperback and one other autographed Amplifier Series paperback, three oracle card stickers (I’ve randomized it so you get a fun mini-reading with your package), three MCD bookplates, and a random oracle card postcard.

I’ve included Canadian and USA TRACKED shipping in the price, and I am so sorry that the price is so high ($25.13 – 27.23 CND and 24.00 – 27.68 USA of the $58 is just to cover the shipping costs). I’m NOT offering other international shipping because it costs too much, $75-$150.

Once I get my hands on more boxes, I will do a few more ‘Mystery Box’ offerings until I run out of my available stock. Also, I’ll offer single paperback boxes next to help lower the price. I’m clearing out my shelves. Yes, I’m in a bit of a mood. You should see how clean and tidy the tea drawer is, the spice cupboard is next! LOL

If you end up getting a book you already own, maybe pop over to the reader-run fan group on Facebook and see if you can negotiate a swap?

Note: same caveats as always: please remember I’m not a store. I’ve simplified the shipping, etc, as much as possible. For example: set shipping rates, no extra sets, no special orders. Please remember I’m trying to write as much as possible and these are just meant to be fun extras. The prices are set in Canadian currency (which means some of you are getting a great deal!) so a different charge might show up on your credit card statement. Also, I believe there is a 2.9-5.5%+ $0.30 charge for certain payment methods.

Fun! Fun!

Amplifier 5.5: got something better to do?

Wow! Two updates from me in two days! I’m feeling rather productive!

I just sent Recon Mission: Bee (Amplifier 5.5) aka Zans’ novella off to the sensitivity reader, Natasha Lane. And I’ll forward her notes along with the manuscript to SFG (the editor) once she turns around on her read. Yay!

I’ve also started a search for a Black female narrator for the audiobook. Tia Rider will continue to narrate the main Amplifier series books – double yay!

And! Gene Mollica Studios has all the particulars for the book cover, so hopefully, I’ll start to see art soon as well. I’m excited!!

This is all a long-winded way of saying, I’m most definitely avoiding doing my taxes. Ugh. And now, I really don’t have any excuses. Sigh. Though I am going to play around with one of my Space Opera ideas, and brainstorm/outline Amplifier 6 over the next couple of weeks as well.

Oh! [I announced this on social media already] The sticker sets have all been mailed (as of late last night). Still waiting for the next round to be delivered to me, then I’ll relist.

How about a Zans snippet to celebrate? [I absolutely adore all the Fish/Zans interaction in the novella!]