Hello fellow authors, creatives, and support network. I recently made the very bold (and scary) decision to spend the time and resources on a deep, line by line edit of my manuscript. My goal is to unpublish from Amazon as an exclusive title and re-launch on IngramSpark for greater visibility, reach and distribution options. It will go back up on Amazon as well, just not as an exclusive. With all that being said, I also commissioned a new cover from an artist on Fiverr. They were wonderful. The process was smooth and seamless. And the artist delivered more quickly than the deadline. What I'm asking of you all is to help me narrow it down to one or two options from five. I already weeded out 18-19 other options they sent that just don't vibe with my story. I'm adding a poll so everyone who wants to can vote for their favorite. I'm also going to add the blurb so you all can get a feel for the story to aid in your choosing. 3,757 years of peace are ending. A Bandit King rises on stolen lands, an Empress is murdered, and the Scales of Amat’ Aga begin to tip. In the Empire of Glythuss, the Raven Princess survives a shattered soul—left broken by a loss she cannot escape. As whispers of rebellion spread across Lodronus, distant lives are drawn together: The Consort of Glythuss must answer to a King… or the Deities.A Royal Guard seeks redemption in the wake of tragedy.An advisor without a homeland struggles to find purpose in a quickly changing world.And a forgotten boy, raised through cruelty and neglect, must choose who he will become. The fate of Lodronus hangs upon the Scales. Something ancient is moving in the shadows. And Chaos is waking.

To all the mother’s here who are somehow also finding the time and energy to write, Happy Mother’s Day! Thank God for this built-in superpower you’ve got. It’s pretty epic and magical if you ask me. Sincerely, One very appreciative father!

Available now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. In this episode, author @Claus Holm joins to discuss his journey as a writer, the experiences that shaped his storytelling, and the themes explored throughout his work. So excited to share this inaugural episode with you all! It's going to be lots of fun!

Does this ever happen to you? It happens to me at least once a week... Today I'm editing a chapter with this passage in it... **** As a kid, my grandfather never asked about academics or talent. Work ethic was his measure of success. My father shared those values, and with each birthday, he found a new way to measure them. “Okay, Marty, you’re ten now,” he said on my birthday. “If you want a toy, you go buy it. Okay?” For 10-year-old me, that was a bummer. Now, I credit my ability to suffer in silence to those Gnoble men—your grandfather and great-grandfather. Truth is, I’ve always enjoyed a hard day’s work. **** This is fiction, but also inspired by my own experience. I wrote this over a year ago and happen to be editing it today. Then today, I looked at my Facebook memories and saw a post I made 13 years ago, the day after my grandfather passed away. [see attached] Crazy right? This happens to me once a week. Like the exact thing I'm working on (no matter when I wrote it) comes up quite specifically. Just wondering if this happens to anyone in your writing? Is it because our work is so all-encompassing? Either way, it's so fun!

And before you say it, allow me — your real job is that you’re a writer. Can we all agree? But… you know what I’m asking. Even famous, best-selling authors once worked other jobs. I’ll start. I’m a freelance commercial videographer and photographer. I’ve had my own business for over 15 years, and most of my clients are in life science or technology. Like how writing is always on your mind, owning your own business makes it so you can’t really clock out; but I’m grateful for the freedoms it allows me. Your turn.