Opus 2 is where #TheBalladOfTheEmeraldBard grows teeth. Sapphic love, found family, old wounds, poison, wolves, dragons, and another badass woman ready to change the story. #SwordAndSorcery #SapphicFantasy #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8GMe1BU/

This week I’m hoping to finish the second revision of Opus 3. Then comes my author read-through before beta readers. No giant announcement today. Just progress, revisions, and the work continuing while Opus 2 is already out in the world. #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.instagram.com/reel/DaLJQ1s...

Everyone sees the lute and forgets the Emerald Bard has survived pirates, monsters, assassins, gods, heartbreak, and bad decisions. That’s on them, honestly. #FantasyBooks #EpicFantasy #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8GLncse/

You came to Opus 1 for music-based magic, #SwordAndSorcery danger, a badass heroine, emotionally demanding characters, and THAT Scene. You stayed through Opus 2 for sapphic love, found family, wolf goddesses, dragons, and another woman ready to steal the story. #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8GRfNmy/

You came to the Darkened Deal for shelter, music, & one night off the road. Instead, you found an ageless innkeeper, an enchanting bard, a forbidden forest, & something hidden underneath.Welcome to Opus 1 #TheBalladOfTheEmeraldBard. #SwordAndSorcery #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8GeJqg1/

Writing can feel like sending a song into the dark & hoping someone hears it. Then a reader shares the book or says a scene stayed with them, & suddenly it feels real again. Stories don’t have to reach everyone. They just have to find the right people #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8G1FbhQ/

Some choices carry more weight because love is involved, especially when someone taught you that love could be real in the first place. A brief passage from Opus 1 of #TheBalladOfTheEmeraldBard for readers who love emotional consequences and #SwordAndSorcery. #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sK5gTb/

Opus 1 begins with a performance in a dangerous inn, then pulls the Emerald Bard into old debts & consequences that refuse to stay buried. For readers who want #SwordAndSorcery with music-based magic & characters whose pasts still have teeth. #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sTBs3D/

Opus 2 has been out one month. Opus 3 revision two has under twenty thousand words left, and I’m wrestling an action scene where every tiny change breaks something later. No big news. Just books and Monday. #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8svTP4M/

Every fantasy book needs that one scene where the reader goes from “this is fun” to “excuse me, why is my heart on the floor?” Anyway, welcome to The Ballad of the Emerald Bard. #FantasyBooks #CharacterDriven #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8s7dvDV/

Tonight at 6 PM CST, I’ll be part of @Cheyanna’s Book Nook📚🕯️🖤 Indie Author Spotlight live on TikTok. I’ll get to talk about The Ballad of the Emerald Bard, and we’ll see how high we can stack our #TBR before it falls over. #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8snATpU/

Tomorrow at 6 PM CST, I’ll be part of @Cheyanna’s Book Nook📚🕯️🖤 Indie Author Spotlight live on TikTok. I know @J.D. Crist - Author will be there, so I already know there will be good books and conversation. Come grow your #TBR. #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sGjF6n/

After signing at Chapters on Main, I’ve been thinking about how much it matters when bookstores support indie authors. This Saturday I’ll be part of Cheyanna’s Indie Author Spotlight on #toktokLive Grateful for every chance to share these stories. #AuthorLife #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8spdbEM/

Happy #PrideMonth. Let’s talk about Deeya & Aloucia: the Bard and the Wolf. Their relationship is sapphic, complicated, & powerful inside a #SwordAndSorcery world of music-based magic, old wounds, found family, & dangerous choices. #SapphicFantasy #QueerFantasy #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sqgxKG/

Do not read The Ballad of the Emerald Bard if you want clean, predictable fantasy. This #FantasySeries has music-based magic, #SwordAndSorcery grit, spice, found family, and consequences that echo across the books. #CharacterDriven #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8s4VHg4/

This week’s Monday update: the Chapters on Main signing in Van Buren became my biggest one-day sales event so far, Opus 3 revision two keeps moving, and I’ll be part of Cheyanna’s Indie Author Spotlight live Saturday at 6 PM CST. #FantasyBooks #AuthorLife #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sCHxb3/

It’s #SwordAndSorcery about a century-old elven bard, music that matters, found family, trauma survival, and the terrible burden of having way too much plot to explain in one sentence 😌📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks #FoundFamily #IndieAuthor #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sxdpWu/

I’m at Chapters on Main in Van Buren today with copies of Opus 1 and Opus 2 ready to sign. Stop in for #FantasyBooks, #SwordAndSorcery, music-based magic, #FoundFamilyFantasy, and local #IndieBooks while you’re downtown. #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sHjCQL/

Tomorrow, June 13, I’ll be at Chapters on Main in Van Buren during the Summer Street Eats Food Truck Festival with signed copies of Opus 1 and Opus 2. Stop by for #FantasyBooks, #SwordAndSorcery, music-based magic, and food trucks like civilization intended. #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sm43yU/

The Ballad of the Emerald Bard is built around music, memory, danger, and the weight characters carry into battle. For readers who want #SwordAndSorcery, found family, romance, wolves, poison, and #MusicMagic in a #CharacterDriven world. #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8s56KR3/

Ballad of the Emerald Bard is for readers who want #SwordAndSorcery danger, music-based magic, found family, romance, wolves, & consequences that grow across aseries. Opus 1 brings the grit. Opus 2 widens the world for fans of #FantasyBooks, #FoundFamilyFantasy, #BookSky. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sybEmP/

The Ballad of the Emerald Bard is a character-driven high fantasy saga where #SwordAndSorcery, music-based magic, found family, & sapphic romance collide. Opus 1 brings grit & danger, while Opus 2 expands the world for readers of #SapphicFantasy, #FoundFamily & #BookSky. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sDCAyB/

After the @fadedpagesbooks.bsky.social Adult Book Fair, I’m shifting into talking more about what The Ballad of the Emerald Bard actually is: #SwordAndSorcery with music-based magic and emotional weight. Signing Saturday at Chapters on Main in Van Buren #Fantasy #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sSxCBU/

Editing Book 3 has been a lovely mix of adventure, emotional damage, and asking why I keep doing this to characters I supposedly love. Totally normal fantasy author behavior 😌📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks #IndieAuthor #EpicFantasy #BookSk www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8skyDhR/

This is the final Opus 2 trailer I created, built by hand n Photoshop with layered animation & no AI used. Audio features my narrator, Dani, whose voice brings the emotion & danger of this #SwordAndSorcery story to life. #FantasyBooks #CharacterDriven #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8srqYNc/

On Saturday, June 6, I’ll be part of the @fadedpagesbooks.bsky.social Adult Book Fair in Belton, Missouri from 9 AM to 2 alongside 13 indie authors, vendors, & giveaways. If you love #SwordAndSorcery, #FantasyBooks, #IndieBooks, & bookstore events, come say hi. #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8s6t118/

Taking one quiet moment with Ashes before heading to Bookish in Fort Smith tonight. There’s something different about carrying this #SwordAndSorcery story into a real store & meeting readers face to face after all the launch chaos. #FantasyBooks #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8s2usHC/

If you’re near Fort Smith, I’ll be at Bookish on Thursday, June 4 from 6–8 PM signing Opus 1 and Opus 2. If you love #SwordAndSorcery, #FantasyBooks, #IndieBooks, and meeting authors through local bookstores, I’d love to see you there. #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sFCn9Q/

These books r #SwordAndSorcery at heart, built around music-based magic, danger, found family, powerful women, & very human choices. There is spice, discomfort on purpose, & Book 2 is more openly sapphic. #FantasyBooks #SapphicFantasy #CharacterDriven #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sR4pHD/

This week is all about two in-person events: Bookish in Fort Smith on Thursday the 4th & @fadedpagesbooks.bsky.social in Belton, Missouri on Saturday the 6th. If you want signed copies, book talk, or a reason to stop by and say hi. #IndieBooks #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8seYRkc/

Testing the 7-second theory with a little #SwordAndSorcery chaos. If Deeya found your feed, that feels suspiciously on brand. ⚔️🎶 #FantasyBooks #EpicFantasy #IndieAuthor #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8s1MuVv/

You can start with Opus 2 if that’s what grabs you, but Book 1 adds deeper context for Deeya and the echoes that return later. If you want #SwordAndSorcery with music, danger, found family, and complicated love. #SapphicFantasy #CharacterDriven #FantasyBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pEGv1d/

The final bookmark trailer is my favorite because the quotes feel like a call & answer btw Deeya & Aloucia. Tkx to Dani for bringing them to life. I love that these extras carry the rhythm of their relationship. #SapphicFantasy #CharacterDriven #SwordAndSorcery #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pwcFHM/

These books were never meant for everyone. I wrote the kind of #SwordAndSorcery fantasy I wanted to read, with spice, messy choices, and a sapphic thread that becomes central in Book 2. #CharacterDriven #FantasyBooks #SapphicFantasy #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8p3HtW2/

These bookmarks feature two of Deeya’s lyrics, read by Dani, both written from her love for Aloucia. That gives this set a softer weight than the others & lets the music itself live inside this #SwordAndSorcery series. #SapphicFantasy #CharacterDriven #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pvsCxf/

These books are #SwordAndSorcery at heart, built around music, danger, messy choices, and a sapphic thread that deepens as the story unfolds. If you love #FantasyBooks with emotional weight, #SapphicFantasy, and #CharacterDriven stories. #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pWALQa/

Coming out of launch week, I mostly feel humbled, grateful, and wrung out in the best way. The support for Opus 2 has meant a lot, and this #AuthorLife season is shifting into interviews and the next stage of this #FantasySeries. #IndieBooks #SwordAndSorcery #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8ptDpGJ/

“What’s your book about?” Dangerous question 😅📚⚔️ It’s a century-old elven bard, scars that don’t fade, music that changes lives, and hope surviving after everything falls apart. #EpicFantasy #SwordAndSorcery #FantasyReaders #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8psmmpR/

Quick weekend heads-up: tonight I’m joining Queen’s fundraiser to read from Opus 2, and tomorrow I’ll be live with @kristina_book_editor📚 talking about the release. This #EpicFantasy is finally out in the world. #IndieBooks #FantasySeries #Book www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pgVmqp/

This bookmark trailer features Aloucia’s artwork, with audio from @Dani voicing Tre’Garde and the narrator during a pivotal ceremony scene. I love that these extras carry the emotional weight behind this #EpicFantasy. #CharacterDriven #FantasySeries #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pbFxvq/

Taking a quiet moment with Ashes to feel grateful. Opus 2 is out, people are reading it, and this whole #AuthorLife journey has meant more to me than I can explain. Thank you for supporting this #EpicFantasy, this #FantasySeries, and my #IndieBooks. #CatTok #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8p4u6Hk/

Tomorrow night I’ll be live with @fadedpagesbooks.bsky.social for an Opus 2 release party, and I’d love to celebrate with people there. This #EpicFantasy is out & this #FantasySeries gets a launch-night moment with giveaways and community. #IndieBooks #AuthorLife #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pC39xs/

Opus 2 is out now, and this trailer puts Deeya and Aloucia front and center with audio by my narrator, Dani. This #SapphicFantasy carries the romance and danger at the heart of a larger #EpicFantasy. #FantasySeries #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pQeYo4/

It’s release week for Opus 2, and this #EpicFantasy is leaving my hands and entering the world. After my first signing event, this #FantasySeries moves into a week of celebration and community. #IndieBooks #AuthorLife #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8p9AYBT/

Morning routine: wake up ☕ have coffee… and channel questionable impulses into writing instead of stabbing people 😌📚⚔️ That’s how an #IndieFantasy writer builds worlds of betrayal and a stubborn elven bard. #SwordAndSorcery #EpicFantasy #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8puHFeX/

Today’s bookmark animation features Deeya, but the words read by Dani belong to Ashengrey, giving this set different emotional weight. I love that these extras carry voices & relationships that shape this #EpicFantasy. #CharacterDriven #FantasySeries #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8paHcm5/

This Opus 2 trailer puts Aloucia in the spotlight, with audio by my narrator Dani, who’s producing the Opus 1 audiobook. Aloucia carries so much of this #EpicFantasy and brings a sharper edge to this #FantasySeries. #SapphicFantasy #CharacterDriven #IndieBooks #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pP4V38/

Holding Ashes and sitting in the calm before release. This #AuthorLife moment feels surreal because the work on this #EpicFantasy is done, and this #FantasySeries is about to leave my hands. #IndieBooks #BookSky #FantasySeries www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pyg5qp/

Today I get to reveal the custom dinkus @therealmorganteal.bsky.social created for Opus 2, and I love it. It captures Deeya through nature, music, and wolves, and now lives inside this #EpicFantasy and as a signed-copy sticker. #IndieBooks #FantasySeries #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pDmSrU/

Closer look at my first author signing event: Saturday, May 16, 2–4 PM at Too Fond of Books in Tahlequah. I’ll have signed copies of Opus 1 and 2, and this milestone means a lot as an #IndieAuthor. #EpicFantasy #AuthorLife #FantasySeries #BookSky www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pSHK4a/