End of Dokeshi, Start of Junfa (Update time!) (Patreon)

Well, the Jester is dead.  Now, it is time for the Warlord.  (Junfa means Warlord).

I have to admit, I have a very strong sense of relief after being done with Dokeshi March.  Writing a book with a turn-based system was... unique.  I am glad I can say I did it, but I don't really see me doing that again.  I do hope you all liked the book, and enjoy the knowledge that only you will ever see the book in this form.  Once Dakota does his edits, there will certainly be big changes.  He has already said he will dial down the gore and violence a bit to help pump the humor aspect, but I'm okay with that.  The meat and bones of what I wrote will still be there.  He is just adding the skin to make it perfect.

Now, on to the updates.

I finally have news about the challenge coins.  I didn't want to bring up my purchasing problems on here (I have been accused of showing too much of what goes on behind the curtain already), but there is a reason why I don't have them.  The company I was using to make the coins in San Antonio went out of business.  There was no warning, and as of right now, no refund.  I am more than a little upset about that, since I already paid a $300 deposit.  My emails have been completely ignored, and their phone number is no longer in service.  I was trying to use a veteran-owned business, but now I am just going to go with a more established place to get this done.  One side will have Threads of Fate in fancy script, and the other side will have carvings like a formation plate.  That's right, you will all get your own formation plates!  I'm pretty excited about it.  This time I am only ordering a limited run of 200, and they will be numbered, so you can know you have a one-of-a-kind keepsake.  Everyone will be getting one, no matter your tier, but the higher tiers will get the smaller numbers, averaged against time as a patron.  Basically, the more money on the Patreon pay sheet, the smaller the number you get.  It's the best metric I can think of for giving the coins away.  I want to thank each and every one of you for your support, and this is the best thing my tired brain could come up with.

I will be doing another run of 200 coins that have my LLC symbol on one side, and my signature on the other.  They will not be numbered, because I will hopefully need to make more after a while.  That's what people will get when they come to meet me at cons and stuff.  This way, any of you that come and see me won't be getting the same coin twice.

Soon, Mountaindale is supposed to be releasing my Threads merchandise on their website, so hopefully I will have some cool swag items to add to the tiers.  I also hired a social media management team to help handle stuff on Patreon and my Facebook author page to help make content more consistent for release.  I'm still going to be the person answering any comments on here and Facebook, so don't worry about not actually talking to me.  (I'm only paying for the 'basic' package).

The bad news about my cover artist is still bad.  If Mountaindale can't find the missing artist, and then make them draw my stuff, I am going to have to cough up $3,000 for all new covers on all the Threads books already out.  Which will hurt.  I don't have that kind of free cash to just throw around, and the actual book release might be delayed all the way until July, when I will have the money from Dokeshi March to pay for it.

The good news is, you don't have to worry about that!  Since you are a Patron, you get to read Cenotaph of Bones whether it is published or not.  And now that Dokeshi March is done, I can get back to Threads like I am supposed to do three days a week.  The other four days a week will be me working on the next Year of the Sword book, Junfa April.  As long as things stay on pace, Cenotaph should be finished before the end of this year, and Junfa will be done before Christmas.  Expect new Threads chapters in the next few days, and Sword chapters right after that.  I'm also giving you fair warning right now.  Once Year of the Sword is done, and Threads of Fate is up to book nine, I'm going to be taking some time off.  I'm thinking about one of those European river cruises, or maybe an adventure trip to Antarctica.  Oooh, or just staying home and sleeping a whole week straight!  Nah, I'm kidding.  What really has to happen is I need to go through a series of surgeries I have been putting off for a long time.  I need a right hip replacement, right wrist fusion, right shoulder replacement, right jaw joint replacement, and both knees replaced.  Then, a left wrist surgery, Achilles surgery for both legs, and left shoulder replacement.  That's the current order of repairs, anyway.  It is going to suck.  Being blown up four times is really hard on the body, and living in constant pain is no fun.  Hopefully, all of this will help.  I will try to get through the process as quickly as possible, but the VA isn't known for amazing and quality health care.  My wife will be helping me produce content during all of that, but I know my pace will once again drop to horrendous levels.  All of that won't be for at least eight or nine months though, (maybe longer), so don't worry too much.  Content will still be headed your way for a long time to come.  I'm even going to finally sit down and try to figure out the voice-to-text programs I keep hearing about. 

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment.  Don't be afraid to reach out and send me a message any time.

V/R,

Michael