Happy New Year! 2026 is gonna be a year of hard work as I work on Vanguards Book 2, amongst other projects. If you wish to support me and get some more stories while you wait, head over to Patreon.com/vanguardsmike and check out what’s there so far…

Hope everyone had a happy holiday no matter what they celebrated. Seems Santa is a fan of the book as I got this beauty under the tree. Here’s to more stories to be told in the future.

I’m proud and honored to announce that, in less than two months, we have surpass 100 total books sold. It’s been truly humbling to read and hear everyone’s excitement for the story and where it will go in future books. All I can say is thank you all so much, and look forward to more in the future.

Najida Zaiba — This quiet, serious girl finishes our main trio, though not without plenty of convincing to join them at all. Najida holds her veiled head high, confident in both magic and sword skill, and is only unsure on whether she needs allies at all…

The beautiful map and key were hand-drawn and written by the amazing Buttercup Studio. She’s really captured the breadth of this world of VANGUARDS: THE WORLD WAITS FOR NO ONE and helped build excitement for where in these lands the story will go next..

Talaria “Tala” Herma — Wild and strong-willed, she is Dina’s first teammate. Tala is an athletic, headstrong girl from the port city of Aqualong. She’s quick to make friends, make enemies, start an adventure, start a battle — all with magic that boosts her swiftness even higher…

The wonderful front and back covers of VANGUARDS: THE WORLD WAITS FOR NO ONE were done by @ebetto.bsky.social and they are gorgeous. Everyone I’ve talked to have had nothing but praise for it. If you want to see the early sketches, proposed designs, and the various drafts…

Dina Carroll — Our story’s heroine, though she would not call herself as much. After a life of dealing with depression and anxiety, Dina’s body is frail and her skill with magic is unpracticed…

AVAILABLE NOW! VANGUARDS: THE WORLD WAITS FOR NO ONE Book 1 of the Vanguards series More information and links to purchase: michaelgilroyauthor.com Ebook through Kindle Physical copies also available through B&N and Amazon

AVAILABLE NOW! VANGUARDS: THE WORLD WAITS FOR NO ONE Book 1 of the Vanguards series More information and links to purchase: michaelgilroyauthor.com Ebook through Kindle Physical copies also available through B&N and Amazon

I received a stack of bookmarks from Canva yesterday, and I gotta say, they turned out great. So great, in fact, that I’ve ordered a bunch more. But what’s all that stuff I blacked out? And where does that QR code lead to? Nowhere yet, but come next week, I may show you…

Inspirations: Hank Zipzer — we’re going way, way, waaay back for this one. All the way back to my childhood to one of the first chapter book series I ever read.

Dogs really are just like people. They like to sleep, eat, and are patiently waiting to learn when Vanguards: The World Waits for No One will be coming out. Soon, puppy dog, you’ll know soon.

Inspirations: Akira Toriyama (Part 2) — Dragon Quest is a video game series that’s niche in the west, but beyond influential back in Japan, and a big part of that was the artwork of the late Akira Toriyama.

Inspirations: Akira Toriyama (Part 1) — We lose many great artists every year, and the way many places around the world seemed to pause in March of 2024 to remember the works of Akira Toriyama was not surprising to me at all.

Inspirations: One Piece — While it may be one of the biggest franchises in the world nowadays, my love of One Piece goes back years, and I’ve never stopped admiring it. This is worldbuilding turned up to 11.

The full cover and the release date for my debut YA Fantasy novel, Vanguards: The World Waits for No One, the first of the Vanguards series, is coming soon. Be on the lookout for the reveal, and get excited for a grand adventure.

Inspirations: The Legend of Zelda — It’s not just written works that I dive into for storytelling inspiration. Video games are fair play too, and these two games are among my favorites.

Inspirations: House of Many Ways — The final piece of the loosely-strung trilogy that began with Diana Wynne Jones’s famous fantasy novel Howl’s Moving Castle.

Happy National Dog Day, readers and writers! Remember to cuddle up with your favorite four-legged friend and a good book. Spencer here is a thorough critique partner, always sniffing out mistakes, but we make it work.

Inspirations: Castle in the Air — the first of two oft-forgotten semi-sequels to Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, and still just as charming as the original.

Inspirations: Howl’s Moving Castle — While many know the film by Studio Ghibli, the fantasy novel Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is criminally forgotten about. When I first read this book, I was blown away by the raw personality in the leads and the friction-filled chemistry they had.

World Map of Rave — The world of Rave, the setting for the upcoming Vanguards series, is a land of great danger, endless adventure, and brave people. Faces and places of every color and creed, divided into five regions with their own individual territories.

Preview of Chapter 1 — As the completion and publishing of Vanguards: The World Waits for No One comes closer and closer, hopefully sometime within the next couple of month…

The World Tree — a monolith that hangs over Dina’s head and all other students taking the academy’s test. In the center of the testing island, the World Tree stands as tall as the clouds…

I saw Fantastic Four: First Steps with some friends the other day. I really enjoyed it, but this quote from the end of the credits is what really struck me. I’m a big fan of Jack Kirby’s work. He had an unrestrained imagination and a love for his craft;

More of Dina’s allies - throughout the first book of Vanguards series, Dina will encounter many new faces, guided by her curiosity and kindness.

The main trio — A lot of time was spent fine-tuning the relationships and dynamics of the main trio. Dina, our protagonist, was made to be smart yet weak, able to answer questions about the world of Rave, but still be awed by what she would see.

Character Inspiration — When I write, I’m always thinking about contrast, and it reflects in my characters. The story was born from an image in my head of a dainty, Disney princess-like character trying to fight and survive in a dangerous world.

Magic system — in the world of Rave, magic comes from within. Every living thing contains a reserve of magical energy called eso. Eso can be summoned out of the body as a colorful light, or used within to strengthen the body.

The test — Dina and her allies are heading to the Four Seasons Island, where sweltering summer, freezing winter, and everything in between await them, for a test of survival and combat.

The Vanguards Association — a massive, world-spanning organization dedicated to knowledge and unity. The world of Rave has grown in scale and population for over two and a half centuries thanks to these explorers’ efforts.

The main idea of the setting can be summed up in one word — challenge. I wanted Rave to be a world with teeth where survival can be a struggle. Giant animals, horrible weather, and strange magic are always a threat, but the people live on.

Character art by @ebetto.bsky.social Najida Zaiba — This quiet, serious girl finishes our main trio, though not without plenty of convincing to join them at all.

Character art by @ebetto.bsky.social Talaria “Tala” Herma — Wild and strong-willed, she is Dina’s first teammate. Tala is an athletic, headstrong girl from the port city of Aqualong.

Character art by @ebetto.bsky.social Dina Carroll - Our story’s heroine, though she would not call herself as much. After a life of dealing with depression and anxiety, Dina’s body is frail, and her skill with magic is unpracticed. Still…

The Vanguards series arrives with its first story. Enter an expansive and diverse world with characters of all different backgrounds, identities, colors, and creeds, where their resolve decides the future.

Vanguards is a story that has lived within me for years. Throughout school, jobs, people who come and go in life, Dina Carroll and the world called Rave have been there, waiting for their chance to shine.

In his debut novel, Michael Gilroy brings his passion for storytelling, world-building and inclusiveness to the opening story of the Vanguards series.