Updates ALL the Updates!

Hey all!

I finally feel real enough to purchase my domain name. My website is now www.melaniedeer.com!

I’ve updated where you can find my book in the wild (near and far!).

I have more tweaks I’m wanting to do, but got the basics up and running!

I just got the e-mail today informing me that the Phoenix Public Library chose War of Legends: Ancient Gifts to be one of only 100 local authors they will spotlight throughout the year! I’m excited and can’t wait to meet more of my local peeps!

There was a bit of a delay. I had been hoping to have the audiobook done by May, but THAT didn’t happen. It was a whole series of unfortunate events that really started with me being too nice to a potential narrator. But my current (and AMAZING) narrator will be starting on it in earnest in August and hoping to have it done in September.

Okay, for those of you who have already fallen in love with Ancient Gifts, I’m sure you’re chomping at the bit for when Book 2 comes out. I’m expecting edits to be submitted to me by the end of the month and hoping to have edits done by September. At that point, I’ll shift to the cover and formatting. Hoping it will be published in early November.

Wait…what? What is this section?! I’m also hoping to have a collection of short stories out by the end of the year that is all about some of the characters (major and minor) from War of Legends from before the start of the books. I’ve been having fun with this. The release time frame is a little looser, but hoping to have copies in hand by 2027 Arizona Ren Fest (don’t know what weekend I’ll be there yet, but it opens in February).

My writing has always been personal to me. War of Legends has been part of my life for over half of it. It is something I have cried over, laughed with, and bled with. It is a literal dream come true and I’m running full speed ahead. But, a side (side?) project has crept in. My son (a sweet autistic six year old) LOVES fantasy (can I say proud mama?), but he struggles with the fact that all the fantasy he sees are geared towards girls being the center stage. Don’t get me wrong, I love a badass princess taking on evil forces, but when I look at my amazing son and he doesn’t feel he fits in as himself, I feel called. So I am starting to write a few children’s books. I’ve written the first one and am working with an illustrator for it.

Before you go panicking, this is a side project. It is just a very public way I can support my son and give him joy. Representation matters.

Fun fact about these stories though, they will take place in Eylaour just at a much earlier period in time compared to War of Legends.

Here’s a sneak peek at early concept art!