The Elves of Asylum collage

Summer in Review August 16, 2024

Dear Reader,

Takeaways from Posting Preorders

As I reflect on what I accomplished over the summer and adjust to the day job once more, I can't help but feel as if the elves at Asylum know and see more than they let on. Maybe they aren't the good guys, no matter how serious they are about healing the sick and wounded with magic. I believe they have a hidden agenda, but I haven't figured it out yet. I need to finish writing the Mystic Dark Miniseries. But I'm close to finishing the next story. It awaits edits.

Kiss Dark, which is volume one in the Mystic Dark Miniseries, launched wide on Wednesday. As you know, it was the last book I posted for preorder back in May. The results are in on the preorder experiment, and it amounts to nothing. Barring paid ads on Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon, or somewhere, the needle didn't move. Preorders were unsuccessful in selling books. I understand why many people use them, but they simply aren't practical for me.

I sold more stories through Radish and sold more books with paid-newsletter advertising on the retailers long after the books launched, than at any time they were in preorder. Perhaps I'm doing it wrong and without enough cash invested upfront, but I'm giving up on posting preorders as a time-consuming anxiety with no positive return. I'd rather write instead.

Thanks to everyone who reeds my stories, watches my videos, or purchases books and serials. I sincerely appreciate you, and I promise. I won't quit until the story reaches the end.

Mystic Dark Miniseries cover

Upcoming Stories

Because I lack the time and the upfront money to invest in huge launch campaigns, I'm simply going to keep going, quietly writing, publishing, and building my dream ever larger. That means more stories coming soon in the Mystic Dark Miniseries. This means it's time for volume 2.

Lunar Dark is the next book to post. It will begin posting chapters by the end of August. I need to create some videos before I get serious on the edits, but it's a novella so it should go quick once it's setup. Wishing I could have gotten to it before summer faded away, I refuse to cry over spilled milk. I shall pick up my pitcher and drink what's left. After I post the chapters to Ophelia Kee, I also must post them to Radish. So bear with me as I get rolling on all that.

I wasn't able to finish editing Nephilim's Claim, either. It's currently still posting chapters to the Valkyrie Riders Miniseries. Sigh... There's always so much to do.

A Pack Forms Epilogue YouTube Card

Singing The Accomplishments

On a more positive note this week, I published all the audiobook chapters of A Pack Forms on YouTube before the kids returned to the classroom. I've begun adding chapters of Druid Fox. After publishing the Google created digital audiobooks with Findaway Voices, I discovered something. People enjoy the audiobooks.

The naysayers who scoffed at me for wanting to turn my stories into audiobooks when I lacked funds to advertise them or craft human voice narration were wrong. Maybe some people won't listen to them because of the digital narration (understandably), but placing the artificial intelligence negativity aside and looking at it from a tool to be used standpoint, it isn't simply basic computer text-to-speech robotic storytelling. It's about accessibility without breaking the bank.

Still Waters audiobook payhip sales image

Why Digital Narration?

Google's digital narration is top tier quality and the voice actors received pay for licensing the use of their voices. Is it the amazing quality of human narration? No. Nothing beats a person reading the book to you, but if you can't have that, this isn't anything to frown upon. It's instead a way to use the technology available to offer the stories to more readers in a manner I can afford. These stories would not otherwise have an audiobook format.

As many of you are aware, my daughter has dyslexia. It's severe, and she struggled to read, tiring easily, often growing frustrated throughout school. Audiobooks and text-to-speech options helped tremendously. As an adult, she enjoys reading and regularly listens to audiobooks and podcasts. My daughter is Gen-z and even purchases print copies of the stories she truly enjoys, putting them on her shelf.

So accessibility is paramount to me. She prefers single voice narration in her audiobooks, so in honor of her, all of my audiobooks are single voice digital narration. Perhaps someday, they will be audio dramas with all the wonderful sound effects and a musical soundtrack, but pipe dreams aside, the Draoithe Saga tales are now audiobooks, accessible by more readers and available from more retailers.

Sharing them on YouTube allows the readers of Read The Draoithe Saga and the serialized miniseries to listen to those same high quality audiobooks, one chapter at a time. I have age-restricted them, as they contain mature content. Subscribe to my channel @OpheliaKee and look for the Kingdom Rising Audiobook playlist. But use your headphones as some scenes are NSFW.

Lost One Book Stack

Sneaky Publishing Results

In case you missed it, I got all caught up. All currently published books are available in serial, ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats. Signed paperbacks are available only from Ophelia Kee. Nothing is out-of-stock at the moment.

This summer I sneakily published Unlikely Kings, Lost One, and Devil's Sins alongside all the preorders I'd already set up. So I'm claiming the summer as a publishing success. The Great Takedown was relatively quick compared to how long it takes to rework the Draoithe Saga. Reorganizing and editing all the stories is a lot of work. Choosing to post the stories as serials, adding audiobooks, still writing, creating content for YouTube, and marketing is hard to juggle.

It's difficult and time-consuming, but it's so much fun! The Draoithe Saga is definitely a passion project. Writing the stories and playing with all of it is a blast. I hope you have enjoyed all the shenanigans I'm always getting into with my stories this summer.

They haven't stopped, only slowed down. I love the dream and fully intend to continue my escape into it every chance I get. This is your invitation to enjoy the escape as well.

Nephilim's Claim Book Cover

Future Publishing Plans

I'm hopeful to publish Nephilim's Claim during the Labor Day weekend. Stay tuned for further updates on this front. It depends upon the editing. As of writing this post, I've posted 11 of 30 chapters to the Valkyrie Riders Miniseries. Smoke is fun. Keira is dangerous.

If you enjoy episodic reading for urban fantasy with paranormal romance, check out the Valkyrie Riders Miniseries or Read the Draoithe Saga. I think you'll love these two love-at-first-sight characters. They want each other, but some stuff gets in the way. I mean, she aids his murder. So getting to know each other is far more serious than just a few dates.

I had way too much fun writing this story. As I edit it, the story replays in my mind. Y'all the end is crazy wild with Artie and Fox making it a star-studded final chapter, but I won't spoil it for you.

Lunar Dark Book Cover

More Future Publishing Plans

I love this cover! It fits perfectly with the rest of the Mystic Dark Miniseries. I'm excited about this book and this series. A cautionary note: Mystic Dark is far more dark urban fantasy than it is steamy paranormal romance. I want to publish Lunar Dark before the holidays and see how it goes.

Leland Shade and Evelyn Moon return to the Mystic Dark miniseries in this story, but Evelyn slips up. The men, from whom she escaped in the first book, abduct her. Leland comes to her rescue, but he's still messing things up. For a well-put-together vampire, he's got quirks, and Evelyn tilted the dream too hard for him. So once again, things went off the rails in a twist I never saw coming.

This book's pursuit of the Unlikely Kings prophecy intersects with the Lyons Gate Miniseries when Leland meets Lazlo Greyson. Later, when he meets Ientysse Asmodai, the story kisses the (unpublished) Demon Allies Miniseries, which will begin posting chapters as a serial before the end of this year. It's complicated, but sagas aren't supposed to be short stories, rather the dream is full of stories. Until the muse stops, I'm bound to tell them all. I gave my word.

Sneak Peek Snippet Dream Walker

Dream Walker Quote Card

She had lost much with the loss of her former life. It grieved her still as much as the loss of the enclave grieved her. One red tear stained her face, and Kallik wiped it carefully from her cheek.

-Mihaela Dimitriu, Vjestice Vampire Princess

This is a quote from Dream Walker, the second volume in the Royal Council Miniseries. Mihaela finds a friend in the dream walker, shaman Kallik Tarkik. He's a bear shifter in love with a princess of the night, but she doesn't know it. Believing her secrets are safe with him and she has security in her sanctuary at Draoithe, Mihaela tells him a horrific tale about how she became a vampire. These scenes aren't for the faint of heart. But I shall leave you to discover the rest.

I've got two more quote cards to create for this miniseries, then I shall say it's done until I add the audiobook chapters on YouTube. If you enjoy the amateur video shenanigans or want to listen to the blog posts or the audiobooks, please subscribe. I still need subscribers and watch hours to monetize the channel. So any help is greatly appreciated. I've been organizing the content into playlists, so it's easier to find what you want to see. Thanks again for all the support. Readers make it all possible.

Leaving reviews poster

I have to get serious. The dishes remain in the sink from last night. The laundry awaits the washer and dryer. Don't get me started on how long it's going to take to wash the dogs.

Thanks for stepping behind the scenes and listen to an old tiger talk about her passion, but don't let me take up another minute of your weekend. I wish you the best and pray you have a glorious opportunity to escape and read soon. As always, allow me to remind you to be kind when you read and leave you honest reviews. Until we chat again next weekend, know that you are always welcome to the dream...

Be Careful,

Happy Reading,

Ophelia Kee

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