The second book in The Brightest Shadow will be coming out before the next TWC chapters, but there should be no delay in chapter posting. That will get an announcement of its own, so look forward to that!
Meanwhile, I think this is a fun set of chapters. Several subplot coming together, and a sequence that I really enjoyed writing. ^-^
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Chapter 31
Technically Fiyu should have been purchasing sublime materials to prepare for the tournament she would pa...
2021-05-29 17:00:43 +0000 UTC
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There's a lot of neat stuff going on behind the scenes. I'm working on a number of new covers. I hope there won't be too much of a gap between the third and fourth books. Another soulcrafting tutorial with the characters, eventually.
But all that stuff is still WIP and can't really be shown. =/ So instead, I hope you enjoy the chapters! These three include a pretty important turn.
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Chapter 28
Theo would have given literal tons of sublime materials for...
2021-05-22 17:58:03 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everybody, we have a promo here. Though I haven't had the opportunity to read Quantum Cultivation, JC Kang has been a very friendly and helpful guy. His newest book is trying something new for him, so check out the content in the description and see if it interests you!
Second, I finally put up the Goodreads page for 2021-05-15 19:05:20 +0000 UTC
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These images came in too late for yesterday's post... I decided screw it, I can make another one. The previous artist sent me these three, a combination of edits and different filters. Please speak up about your preferences or upvote comments you agree with.
Regardless, I need to make a decision soon, because the lack of covers is holding back TWC releases far more than writing. I have given serious thought to abandoning all prior cover concepts and just going with symbolic covers, beca...
2021-05-09 18:57:07 +0000 UTC
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I have a surprise for everyone, one that was a surprise to me too! A fan of Street Cultivation just sent me fanart of Rick and Melissa. ^-^ I'm not sure how many of you have Instagram, but if people don't, I'll see if I can't get someone to upload the files elsewhere.* Instagram seems to intercept downloading, which isn't ideal.
<...
2021-05-08 21:40:27 +0000 UTC
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The last of the first run of worldbuilding posts is up on the blog and subreddit. This one actually wasn't planned, I wrote it due to requests. This concludes the first set, and the second set won't be posted until A Hollow Mounta...
2021-05-01 21:07:50 +0000 UTC
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Usual combination of worldbuilding post and new chapters. These ones are starting up the countdown that's meant to tie everything together through this whole book.
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Chapter 16
Five months.
Theo had taken an unexpected step forward, since Nauda had helped him find the trenchgem, but it had thrown off all his calculations. He ...
2021-04-24 20:34:47 +0000 UTC
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New worldbuilding post on the blog, new chapters here.
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Chapter 13
For two weeks, Theo didn't leave the House Blacksilver complex except in the company of others for assignments. In part out of caution in case Esaire's family intended to strike immediately, and in part because this was an essential period for focused soulcrafting....
2021-04-17 20:01:29 +0000 UTC
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Not much business, for once. There's a new worldbuilding post, of course. Otherwise, to the chapters!
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Chapter 10
"Come on, Theo, didn't you say we should be taking more risks?"
He frowned at Nauda, even though he knew that he was going to give in eventually. "There are different kinds of risks and you know it. Fighting demons is one ...
2021-04-10 20:54:34 +0000 UTC
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Three items of business, then new chapters!
First, my novella Blades Falling Softly was chosen for one of r/fantasy's book of the month clubs! I think most people here who wanted to read it already have, but if you were waiting, there's a Q&A with me and there will be dis...
2021-04-03 19:15:11 +0000 UTC
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Three more new chapters, but first a mini-announcement. To lead up to the second book in The Brightest Shadow, I'll be posting a series of posts about the worldbuilding. They'll go up every week, and this week there's an image from the post up top, but in the future I'll just post/link them quietly. The first one in the new set is worldbuilding about the mansthein (or
2021-03-27 20:20:17 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone, the third book is starting now! The covers aren't finished, but this book went long and so it will run for several months at least. I can't guarantee no delay afterward, but there's no reason to make anyone wait longer.
Not sure if this one should have too long an introduction. It's the longest so far, with several payoffs I've hinted at. Look forward to seeing a lot of two worlds that haven't been featured before. I hope everyone enjoys it.
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Chapter ...
2021-03-21 01:20:31 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone! I continue to put time into trying to get the TWC cover right, and now I have something to show everyone. Please vote on which of the following color schemes you think looks best.
Blue:
Orange:
Purple:
2021-03-02 23:24:57 +0000 UTC
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I've closed the previous vote, and a majority voted for a short delay now. It won't be terribly long until book three begins posting, definitely in March. Also look for new tiers to be added... at some point when I have time.
Anyway, this is our first AMA! Not sure if we need rules or prompts, but we'll just go wild with the first one. Feel free to ask me any questions about soulcrafting, or my other work, or...
2021-02-27 19:38:13 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone. I'm planning to do an AMA here next week, but I wanted to ask you another question. I'm willing to go either way, so I decided to put this one to a direct vote and I'll do whatever the majority says, barring surprise circumstances.
Basically: TWC3 is done, ready for posting. However, I'm still working on getting a new cover for the first book, and it will take even longer to get the second book cover after that. If I post more chapters now, when we finish TWC3 there could...
2021-02-20 21:19:09 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone. No chapters this week as the RoyalRoad posting winds down. Last time I got hate for not giving people time to read, so I'll leave them up a bit longer.
In any case, the new covers aren't close to done, so we're stalled anyway. Please check out the new draft for TWC1, though! I hope the colored version of this will be a more dynamic signpost for the series. It's not accurate to Theo's blueprint, but book covers are movie posters anyway.
A question for you: if we foll...
2021-02-13 20:11:56 +0000 UTC
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This is the last chapter of TWC2, and as mentioned, we'll need some time to take care of the cover issues. But meanwhile, I have some fun stuff in store!
In addition to the release of Blades Falling Softly, I have a few things planned for this month. Above, you can see some early sketches for the potential new cover. I am fairly certain that I'm going to go with the first design, but I wanted to show you ...
2021-02-06 17:48:40 +0000 UTC
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Hello, everyone! Your regularly scheduled chapters are still incoming, but today I wanted to take the time to highlight my newest book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V7GSQ64
This is a bit different from much of what I've done, and I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I hope you'll give it a look. This is a novella taking place in the world of TBS, but it stands alone. It's something I wanted...
2021-02-06 00:08:08 +0000 UTC
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More notes after the chapters.
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Chapter 27
"You've even penned yourself in like rats." The Deuxan Archcrafter lifted his pike as his cantae cloak flowed around him. "A convenient place to finally finish you."
"How did you find us?" Theo asked, less because he cared about the answer and more to buy time. Yet this deep in the cavern, their chances weren't good, and he saw several other soulcrafters coming in behind him. Not all the Deuxans, and not Esai...
2021-01-30 20:35:25 +0000 UTC
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We're coming close to the end of TWC2, after which there will be a little time off so non-patrons can finish, as usual. However, this time the real delay has nothing to do with writing or posting and everything to do with getting the right covers for this series.
The image you see for this post was the cover I originally commissioned for the second book, trying to work well ahead of schedule. No longer useful, since I'm changing the branding. Since it's already paid for, you guys might ...
2021-01-23 23:06:54 +0000 UTC
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Two items of business first, this week.
The Brightest Shadow readers: I'll be releasing a prequel novella set in the same world, though with different characters and tone. If you're interested in being an ARC reader, send me a private message!
Patreon Future Stuff: I've decided to add a naming tier, do an AMA between books, and increase the lowest tier from $1 to $2. However, doing that in the middle of a book would feel unfair, so none of this wi...
2021-01-16 18:16:36 +0000 UTC
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Hey, everyone. I hope the start of 2021 is treating you better than it is me. This is a relatively minor issue compared to everything in the world, but could you take a look at the reviews for TWC1 and upvote those you feel are most helpful?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P7TYG41/
Pacing a complex series is difficult, and of course I'm not perfect and no pacing will work for anyone. S...
2021-01-09 18:07:15 +0000 UTC
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Welcome to the new year! One last bit of business from the old year is that I'm eligible for a Stabby award on r/fantasy. However, they're very serious about vote manipulation, so please only consider voting if you participate in the community and have opinions about a variety of categories:
https://old.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/km89zi/best_of_rfantasy...
2021-01-02 22:52:03 +0000 UTC
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I could go over various things. I released four books this year, along with multiple audiobooks and various serials. Reporting on various numbers isn't really important compared to sharing some reflections that, fair warning, are overall negative. If you don't care about that and just want to have an impact on the future of this Patreon, skip to the numbers at the end.
I ended 2020 a much more cynical author than I started it. The year contained a number of experiments and I largely did...
2020-12-31 21:15:30 +0000 UTC
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Three items of business before the chapters:
1) I'm participating in a huge sale on r/fantasy, in which 100+ authors are making 250+ books free or $0.99. Please check it out, because there's a good chance you'll find something of interest to you.
2) RoyalRoad changed the formatting again. If any of you read it via phone, can you check out the <...
2020-12-26 16:26:08 +0000 UTC
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Before the chapters, one minor note. Right now the top Amazon review of Street Cultivation 3 is from someone who sprinted through the series and didn't enjoy it. Please take a look at the reviews and upvote any that represent your experience with the series:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NFJWWBF
Meanwhile, new chapters. I believe this is the first Fiyu POV I've shown here. I hope people enjoy it.
...
2020-12-19 17:55:20 +0000 UTC
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New chapters.
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Chapter 7
Before they asked any questions, they got well out of sight of the gate, just in case others started coming through. It was evident that the Deuxan side was nowhere near as prominent, but the chaos in Nlukoko could well spill over. Particularly if the Landguards were still involved, though Theo hoped that they had finally slipped their scrutiny.
Once they had reached safety behind a hill of bronze, however, they all turned on ...
2020-12-12 17:50:02 +0000 UTC
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If you're interested in the above image, it's just a small part of a post I made here. It features Theo, Nauda, and Fiyu discussing soulcrafting, their blueprints, and some new designs that have never been shown before. I thought it would be a cute way to get into some of the technical details.
Sadly, it seems that not many people are in...
2020-12-05 21:01:40 +0000 UTC
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Patrons, you'll be getting another set of chapters of the sequel tomorrow, but for now, please support the first release! It's just gone to Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P7TYG41/
As always, it could really use your reviews. This version is the same as the one you read with some additional editing and minor additions, but please get a copy or read on KU if you want to support ...
2020-12-04 17:45:37 +0000 UTC
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That's right, everybody, it's starting! I scheduled forward for the next several months and if I don't start posting now, it'll take too long between the early book releases. I'm still not sure what will happen to the Patreon, but I'll definitely post this book's chapters through the end.
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Chapter 1
As a living god passed overhead, Theo kept his tree branch over his head and felt like an idiot.
The soulcrafter floating above the path wasn't really a g...
2020-11-29 00:13:28 +0000 UTC
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