Hey Guardians!

How has your summer been? Mine has been busy! So much has been going on behind the scenes as I plan many more books to come, the campaign for Rising Dawn, and new merch coming to the shop. I have a lot to update you on in this month’s newsletter, so settle in.

King’s Bride released on May 23rd and the day was phenomenal. I had so much fun with everyone during the release day party. I am so grateful for everyone’s support and reviews. This was a new book in a new series and genre, so I didn’t know what to expect, but the response has been amazing.

It took me a little bit, but I am finally done shipping out all King’s Bride pre-orders with their swag goodies. Ebook swag was mailed out too.

Update: King’s Bride exclusive edition with BookishSigns

We remain on schedule. Books are estimated to begin shipping mid-July. We are only waiting on the last couple pieces of art by @Sallteas that will be featured in the book, and they are almost done. Here is a little peek below!

The art by @sallteas will also be available as prints and overlays in the shop soon. The overlays will both fit the paperback and hardback of both the regular and exclusive edition. I also have plans for King’s Bride pin.

And because I am not done showering you with special news, I have another announcement! I have been asked over and over for a special edition paperback of King’s Bride with the cover art, so you’re getting it!

What’s next in the Chronicles of Urn series?

Book two! King’s Kiss is coming in early 2024. When I saw the finished artwork, I swooned. Salome knocked it out of the park again. I love it so much and it’s very hard to keep it to myself. (You can find a hint of who book two will be about on the Chronicles page, but it’s a spoiler if you haven’t read King’s Bride yet.)

I should be taking a break from writing but that lasted about a week. I am already starting on Rising Dawn. It’s slow drafting without pressure. Just letting things flow while I enjoy my summer. If you follow me on Instagram, I have been sharing some snippets from my WIP in my stories, which are saved to my highlights. (Cassiel’s spoiler snippet was shared in the Guardians Facebook page) I am super excited for this book and I can already tell it will be an emotional one as the Guardians learn to heal and to forgive. I can’t wait to share more with you.

Cover reveal is July 3rd along with a synopsis and release date.

I have a special pre-order gift planned for you too!

Will there be a Rising Dawn exclusive edition? Absolutely! I already have artists lined up with some new ones like @cebanart and @ghostinthegvrden, plus previous favorites like @morgana0anagrom and @petit_kitsune. New merch will be featured in the book box plus a matching Dyna plushie to go with Cassiel’s. This box is going to be amazing! Pre-order coming later this summer.

When I took this photo yesterday I stared at it for a long time.

I made this.

With my own hands, my own mind, my hard work, and my determination I published four books. Plus eleven other editions. That’s not something small. Nor is it insignificant. I need to remind myself of that sometimes.

Lately, I have been feeling stagnant in my career as an author. I feel like I am not growing and improving as much as I should be. The journey of being a published author has been a mix of emotions for me. On one hand, it has been incredibly rewarding to see my books find success and reach readers all over the world. It's amazing to have found a community that supports and loves my stories. However, the journey has also had its fair share of challenges.

One of my biggest battles has been with impostor syndrome. This crippling voice lurks around me with each book, making me doubt my abilities and question whether I truly belong in this industry. It's a constant struggle, but a quote from Vinh Giang helped me push through. “Change the way you view impostor syndrome. It’s not your enemy. It’s your friend that’s telling you ‘don’t be sh*t. Don’t get complacent. Remember to keep getting better.”

Despite the ups and downs, the journey has been an amazing adventure. I am not a perfect writer, and I am still learning, but I made this. These pages carry my heart, my tears, and my dreams. And I will keep making more. My goal with every book I put out there is always to make each one better than the last.

To all of my readers, whether you have been with me from the beginning or joined recently, thank you all for being here with me. I'm excited for what the future holds and can't wait to continue sharing my stories with the world.

xoxo

Beck Michaels