2024 and onwards

Hey everyone! I have no idea why but apparently my quietest month in posts has coincided with the greatest number of new subscribers. Hi? :> I hope you enjoy the backlog of posts (+ eventually new ones), and if you ever have a question or anything, I always check the patron-only discord channels and love answering your questions there! Here's an invite-link if you don't have one:

✨Discord✨

(I may have also fallen into the glue trap of Fortnite, so thanks for that, vc gang-- you're the actual best) 

Now, I thought I'd make a public post to catch you up to where I am at.  I'm in a low-energy period and am taking some much needed rest while I work on what I think is most important: ouro and the facelift it's currently undergoing. There's a lot of work still left to do and I keep getting tripped by my own overwhelm. But I can say that I love every bit of it as it comes to fruition! While I do that, I'm also doing what some would call soul-searching but I call sobbing at the therapists office twice a week.  As you can probably surmise, it's exhausting and all-encompassing work! I am finally in a place where I can work through the multitude of traumas that I have been carrying for many, many years. I think starting to write ouro was the start of this journey; the realization that told me that actually, my life does matter. What I do matters.  And you, who have given me relentless and unconditional support, are the foundation of that revelation for me. I cannot thank you enough! I always say that, and I always mean it.

Either way, my social engagements have taken the backseat in a big way as I have committed myself to finding a more sustainable way of working. I am very tired of having these cycles where I work myself to the bone and then spend the next few months holding hands with both Death and Dread; we braid each others hair and skip joyfully towards our picnic, where we unceremoniously devour every ounce of my confidence-- joy for desert. 

Ouro is something I consider worthy of my time, health and attention.  It is worthy of me, and I'm worthy of it. Which is why I'm worthy of doing it in a sustainable way.  And hell, you and I both know that to truly make a change, to build something new, you have to start with the foundation-- scratch that, actually, you might have to tear down the old before you even do that. That is where I am at.  It takes so much time. It takes a tremendous effort. It's painful and dreary and it feels like I'll never be who I want to be. But I have no doubt that it will be worth it. I dream of posting an update and not immediately skittering under a rock to hide. I dream of being open and vulnerable and honest with the journey, sharing lessons learned and goalposts reached. And I know I will, in time.

What does this mean for patreon? 

The only consequence of this, really, is that posting won't be consistent. Some months might be dry as the desert while others overflow. My goal is to reach consistency, but I am taking it one step at a time. Turns out, enthusiasm isn't the only component needed to fuel a journey like this! 

What do I currently have in the works?

A whole heck of a lot, actually. I am currently working on edits, rewrites, new coding and new writing for the ouro demo. I am keeping most of this to myself as it changes constantly, but sometimes, it springs a leak.

I have about a dozen short stories that I write for near daily, a few sentences and a few edits. 

One Top Secret project that might never see the light of day, but I hope it will. I call it my dillydally project, lol. It is set in the ouroverse (are we doing that? is ouroverse a thing we say? sweet mother of mercy) but has a completely different, lighthearted tone. 

I am making. a cookbook. Very excited about that.

I am turning all NSFW pieces into an interactive side-game.

AND! I am, after saving up these patreon dollars for a bit, on the prowl for artists to commission! I want to make art for it myself too, but to do it all, right now, is too much of an ask. I have an artist in mind already, but I am also open for any suggestions you might have!!
I have been grappling with what style I want ouro's art to have and I'm leaning towards impressionistic, loose, sketchy types of pieces. Something sketched on a napkin type beat. Does it evoke something else for you? (I'm so curious, please tell!!!)

I am also in need of an artist that draws NSFW, so if anyone has any suggestions, I am all ears. I can't wait to share this whole process with you once I find someone suitable! 

That's the lot! And hey. Look at me. We're going to make it through this year, you and me. There is so much to look forward to. x