Hey there Wild Things,

So I’m going to start this update with some big news!

Y’all are getting a full book on Tuesday the 26th.

Yep, Fate’s Promise, book 0 in the Elemental Chemistry series, is getting delivered to you this week. I have spent the past several days running around like a headless fowl trying to get it ready to go and I MADE IT, I did it!

And now this beautiful short novel is ready to go home with you.

I am super excited, y’all. As of tomorrow, Monday the 25th, I will have been a published author for 13 years–Nov. 25, 2011 was the date I self-pubbed Bellica, now known as Chosen of Kore.

But this week I feel like a debut author all over again. Because Fate’s Promise is the first romance I’ve published. I am now a debut romance author.

And it’s technically going out tomorrow–to my newsletter subscribers. Wild Circle gets it one day later. But it’s an exclusive to both the Wild List and the Wild Circle–not going to be available on any retailers.

I just really wanted that symmetry. November 25th has almost become talismanic for me in publishing–it’s also the date I released The Jade Star of Athering (now being rewritten as Star of Ixchel).

Anyway, Fate’s Promise will be ready for you to read on Tuesday the 26th. I hope you’re as excited as I am! :D

CAVE OF ENDLESS STARS

Ok my writing has suffered the past few days because I have been hyperfocused on getting Fate’s Promise out the door, but I haven’t lost my streak! Which is the important part for me, because losing my streak means my brain goes on strike.

I hit 50K on the 17th! I’m at 58K now and I’m finally getting into the MMC’s POV, which means I get to reveal a couple of his secrets. Excited for THAT.

Still having a lot of fun with Cave of Endless Stars and happy I’m going to be able to really get back into it now. I think if I’m able to write as much as I’m hoping on it in the next couple weeks that I’ll be able to start sharing chapters…late December? Perhaps early January.

Not written in stone, but it’s a hope.

OTHER PROJECTS

So, as you know, I often get to a point in a WIP where I have to stop and let it percolate in the background, and when this happens I shift focus to something else. That will happen with Cave of Endless Stars at some point, and I think when it does I’m going to shift back to working on the Elemental Chemistry series.

I’m about halfway through the second side story, and it’s my hope once I finish it that book 3 will be coalesced in my head enough to start working on IT.

In addition to my WIPs, I have completed drafts that need attention so I can actually, uh, publish them? Currently that’s the first 2 books and first side story of Elemental Chemistry. I want to start releasing that series next year, so I gotta get on it.

And there’s the Chosen of Kore relaunch. I want to do that next year as well. Luckily the second round of text updates shouldn’t be too strenuous.

I guess the headless fowling continues! HAHA.

Anyway, those are the updates, and I think I’d like to share an excerpt from Cave of Endless Stars, too. Enjoy!

Wildly,

Katje

*****

from Chapter 1: The Dawn Princess

Eventide before battle always left a squirming pit of snakes in Valash’s belly.

It wasn’t fear; hadn’t been for years. It was nerves, to be sure. Excitement. Assurance that this time, they would gain ground. That this time, they would claim a victory. Mayhap only a small one, but small victories paved the way to bigger ones.

_This_ battle would not be a draw, a stalemate. This battle would turn things in Senrafir’s favour. They would defeat Senriko̊z. They would push back the Veil, and reclaim what was stolen.

It would happen, Valash was certain of it. So were the snakes in her belly.

Most of the troops spent the eventide blowing off steam in the village tavern. Some went and found a brothel. Valash never joined.

Even if she weren’t who she was, she’d have no interest—which was a blessing, for being who she was meant doing so would be a scandal. Not something she could risk.

She spent the eventide in the tents of the generals, going over strategy and plans. Giving her view on such things.

She was only a lower-ranking officer, but the generals listened to her.

It had been hard-earned. Val was young still, but she’d joined even younger, and even in the early years they’d let her give counsel—though often any listening done then had been placating. It had taken a while before anyone had tried her suggestions, and the first several times had been disastrous.

Valash had learned from her mistakes, and that was thanks to the man who now pointed to spots on the map between them, moved figurines around.

“The Front has moved north again, according to our seers,” General Rûl said, drawing one long, scarred finger along the map, north from the World Stem. “To here.” He tapped once.

Valash frowned, leaned in closer. “That’s awfully close to the Ǐsmil.”

Rûl grunted. “Too close. I’d suggest we hold back. It may be no skirmish happens tomorrow. Can’t imagine the _la üshœlüuhr_ would take the risk.”

“And why wouldn’t they? It’s their blighted curse that’s destroying our land. If I thought they had the power, I’d say they moved the Front themselves.” She shook her head. “No, we march as planned. Mayhap we can fling some of the _la ûnǐrǔr_ into the Ǐsmil. See how they like tasting their own curse.”

Rûl’s chuckle was not one of mirth. “You know I appreciate your bloody-mindedness, Val, but I’ll voice my desire for caution again. It is a big risk.”

Valash straightened and looked Rûl in the eye. “We’ve been too complacent. It’s time we took a little risk. Else we’ll never have a victory.”

“We’ve had no victory in this war. Nor have they. The priests say that’s as should be,” he said thoughtfully.

“Pah. The _priests_ are not at the Front with us. Let them see the terrors from beyond the Veil with their own eyes, and see if they don’t change their song.”

Now it was mirth that made his lips twitch under his mustache—a new development that made him look far older than he was. “When next I report to the Queen, I’ll be sure to leave out your little bouts of blasphemy.”

Valash held her rash tongue. Ten years ago she wouldn’t have; would have spat out “I’ve said worse in front of her”, which was true, or even argued that what she’d said wasn’t blasphemous. If he wanted true blasphemy, that she could provide.

Instead she inclined her head. “I appreciate it.”

Because she did, truthfully. Yes, she’d said worse before the queen, and it always ended up with a long-winded lecture that Valash didn’t have the time to endure. Not on top of the many other lectures the queen was prone to give her these days.

“So we march as planned,” she said, no lilt in her tone—but it was a question.

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

“Don’t call me that, Rûl.”

“Very well, Warden. Dismissed.”

Valash returned his salute, and headed out of his tent. She turned her feet towards the village, intent on finding something to ease some of the tension riding her shoulders.

No brothel, no tavern, but there was something else she could do that would work just as well.