As we head into the Thanksgiving holidays in the US, we are being inundated with Black Friday & Cyber Monday specials–so we decided to do one, too!
Blades & Brawls
Everyone who backs the Mystic Marauder Kickstarter campaign November 21-28 will get a FREE copy of Blades & Brawls, the origin story of our heroine, Destiny Blade!
If you’ve already pledged to the campaign, your copy of Blades & Brawls will be activated as soon as anyone pledges this week, so be sure to share the Mystic Marauder campaign by clicking on the social media links on the main page or by sharing through our Mystic Marauder Giveaway (or by telling everyone about it over Thanksgiving dinner, if that’s your style! 🙂 )
About Destiny Blade:
I was born on the island of Tortuga. My mother died and one of her brothel customers taught me to be a thief. I stole and stole and stole until I sneaked my way into a pirate ship at fourteen.
By sixteen, I was running my own crew. I fought and scraped my way into this life and my grandmother’s bruja magic didn’t do me any favors. Healing magic was pretty much useless for a pirate who only wanted to kill and to steal.
But what’s the life of a pirate without adventure? I never expect to live past my twenties anyway.
More Publishing on Kickstarter
And remember, supporting publishing on Kickstarter allows authors and publishers to bring you better pledge bonuses every time, so be sure to check out these amazing campaigns, too:
We are moving right along with our campaign. This week, we’ve gotten more art in from our artists–in particular, the first character card and the second vellum artwork. Check it out below!
New Artwork
New Stretch Goals
Also, we’ve added a surprise Stretch Goal. When we hit $5500 in pledges, we will include a bonus postcard with the cover art from Book 1 for all merch-level backers and a printable bookmark with the same artwork for all backers.
And finally, we’ve updated our Stretch Goals to include the next listed stretch goal–a set of the merman NSFW or the SFW art printed on vellum (your choice) for merch-level backers.
Hello, everyone! We have several updates today–check them out below!
Stretch Goal #3
We’ve hit our third stretch goal and will be writing Vampires & Violence, the villain’s origin story!
Stretch Goal #4
And our next stretch goal bonus is an exclusive Pirate’s Treasure journal. Everyone will get a printable version, and merch-level backers will get a paperback copy.
Vellum Art #1
We have the first scene from the book for the vellum inserts!
Weekly Bonus
Back the campaign by November 15 and get Winter Wonders, an anthology including a story by Cali Mann!
Giveaway
Don’t forget to enter to win the Premier Swag Pack. Even if you’ve already entered, be sure to check in again–there are new ways to enter!
Publishing on Kickstarter
And the more we all support publishing on Kickstarter, the more authors and publishers can bring you great backing bonuses–so check out these amazing campaigns!
Hello, and happy Monday! Check out the new artwork we’ve gotten and our first excerpt from the Mystic Marauder prequel.
Artwork Update
We are reaching out today to let you know that we are gathering together all the artwork for this series–we have gotten the first piece back from the artist. Check it out below!
We’ll be getting more art in over the next week or two and will share it with you as it comes in.
Next Stretch Goal
We are SO close to the next stretch goal–and once we hit it, we’ll be writing our villain’s vampiric origin story. We’ve had a ton of fun outlining his story!
Excerpt from Maps & Massacres, the Mystic Marauder Prequel
Henry St. John, Third Son of the Earl of Northridge
I spent all afternoon at the taverns near the wharf, searching for someone who could provide what I needed. But Father wasn’t the only member of our family with connections. By dinnertime, I had made my arrangements.
My willingness to spend my father’s money with reckless abandon to get what I wanted helped. After all, it wasn’t like I was going to be around to suffer his wrath.
I cashed in several of my own accounts, as well, secreting my wealth in stashes hidden around my body and in the single bag I packed to take with me.
After dark that night, I made my way down to the Port of London. Giant sailing ships crowded the Thames, and it took me longer than I’d anticipated to find The Shadowheart, moored as she was away from the docks.
Finally, I found a dockhand willing to row me out for a few shillings, and we waited in the shadow of the ship. From high above me, I heard a rustling, and then the thump, thump, thump of a rope ladder slapping down beside me. I glanced up to see the face of the sailor I’d met that afternoon peering down over the railing, just long enough to wave a hand at me to hurry up.
The ladder swayed underneath my feet, reminding me of the games I had played in treehouses on my father’s estate when I was a child. I made my way up as quickly as I could, though by the time I reached the top, I wished I had thought to bring gloves. Even my worst riding gloves would have been useful.
The sailor helped me scramble over the railing and onto the deck, then shushed me as I started to thank him. Tugging me along behind him, he led me to a hatch leading belowdecks.
At least this hatch had a ladder made of wood leading down. The hold he led me to was close and dark and dank. It smelled of old seawater and the damp wood of barrels tightly packed, full of grain and alcohol and other goods.
He led me to a back corner where the cargo had been arranged to form a hollow space behind and under crates and barrels. It wasn’t obvious unless you knew it was there. And it wasn’t very big, either—there was just enough space one person to hide in if he curled up to sleep. One end of the hidey-hole stretched tall enough for me to stand straight, but only barely.
“You’ll need to spend the bulk of your time here,” the sailor instructed me. The makeshift cabin held a tin plate, a metal cup, and a single lantern with only the tiniest bit of oil. The sailor gestured at it. “I’ll replenish that as I can, too, but shipboard stores are carefully accounted for—I can’t promise much. You’ll probably want to save the light for later in the journey. I’ll open up the hatch during the day when I can, but sunlight will be even rarer than lamp oil.”
He pulled a few candle stubs out of his pocket. “I nabbed these, too, but the last stowaway we had near went mad, trapped down here all hours of the day and night in the dark with nothing to do but think.”
I nodded, thankful I’d thought to pack a book in my pack—at least I’d have something to while away the few hours of light I managed to get.
“I can bring you food every couple of days,” the sailor continued, “but you’ll need to be careful not to draw attention to yourself. If you do get caught and you’re lucky, the captain won’t toss you overboard immediately.” He shrugged. “Then again, she will put you to work, and you may wish you’d ended up walking the plank. Especially once we get to Australia and she sells you off as an indentured servant—or worse, reports you as a transported criminal just to punish you for stowing away. Much better to hide all the way there and let me sneak you off the ship as a free man, even if you’re an insane one by then.”
I nodded, though my heart was pounding. Was it worth the risk just to avoid going into the clergy?
Yes, I decided. I cannot live a lie.
I pulled a coin out of my purse and handed it to him. I didn’t let him see how much more I had—better, I thought, to pay him in increments than to risk having my throat cut in my sleep if he thought he’d soaked me for all I had. Not that he couldn’t do that and rifle through my lifeless body and belongings, anyway. I had to hope he was more trustworthy than he looked. Or at least greedy enough to hope for more every day.
He gave me a scratchy, rough-smelling blanket, and left me to come to terms with my new quarters.
I settled in for the longest, loneliest journey of my life.
Publishing on Kickstarter
And as always, we have some great campaigns below. Be sure to check them out–remember, the more we all support publishing on Kickstarter, the more awesome backer rewards authors and publishers can offer.
When we get halfway between stretch levels 2 & 3, we will include a surprise bonus–an original watercolor of a scene from Mystic Marauder! Everyone will receive a digital copy, and all merch-level backers will receive a postcard print of the image.
As always, supporting publishers and authors on Kickstarter helps us bring more great books and book-themed merchandise to you, so be sure to check out the amazing campaigns below:
We are heading toward the third stretch goal and Vampires & Violence, a brand-new origin story for our vampiric villain Thomas Le Baron.
When we hit the goal, we’ll add an ebook version of this story for everyone, and for merch-level backers, we’ll include the story in the paperback with Maps & Massacres.
Check out the cover for Vampires & Violence below:
New Backer Bonus
Back the Mystic Marauder campaign by Nov. 7 and get Midnight Kissed by Mila Young.
Coming Soon
In the meantime, we’re working on writing the books. And we’ll be sending out an excerpt soon, so keep an eye out here!
Publishing on Kickstarter
Remember, the more backers support authors and publishers on Kickstarter, the more we can all bring great projects and fun rewards to you. So be sure to check these out:
Over the weekend, we reached our second stretch goal! That means everyone who backs the campaign will be getting pirate- and witch-themed stickers.
And our next stretch goal is the additional villain origin story, featuring the vampire Thomas Le Baron. We’ll share our cover for that with you soon.
Bonus Books
Remember, if you pledge before the end of the day today, you will get A History of the Pyrates and The Witches’ Dream Book and Fortune Teller--plus any other bonus books we offer between now and the end of the campaign!
Supporting this Campaign
Thank you so much for supporting our campaign! And, as usual, we want to ask you to spread the word about it by clicking over to the main page and sharing it on social media, and by entering our giveaway!
Publishing on Kickstarter
The more you support publishers and authors on Kickstarter, the more exciting projects we can bring you–so be sure to check out the cool campaigns below!
The Mystic Marauder Kickstarter is well on its way to Stretch Goal #2, the Witchy Pirate Sticker Set–check it out below! Thank you so much for those of you who are already backing the project–we’re super-excited about the Mystic Marauder series.
Stretch Goal #2
Maps & Massacres
We’re also almost ready to reveal the cover for Maps & Massacres, the Mystic Marauder prequel, so keep an eye out here!
Supporting publishers and authors on Kickstarter allows us to keep bringing you more projects with great new backer rewards, so be sure to click over and share Mystic Marauder on social media. Also, check out these other great publishing projects below.
Our Kickstarter is less than $15 away from $3500, and we have a surprise bonus waiting for everyone at that point…and we’re going to share it here. 🙂
Surprise Bonus
At $3500, we’ll be giving away character chibis of Destiny and her harem. Check them out below–they’re super-cute!
And remember to enter the giveaway. We’ve added new entry options, so even if you’ve already entered, there are new ways to enter to win! All you have to do is follow and share on social media–and we have the links ready for you.
Witchy Pirate Story
We’re currently working on our book, so we’re planning to have an excerpt for you soon. Keep an eye out here!
Publishing on Kickstarter
And as always, backing publishers and authors on Kickstarter keeps the platform viable for new projects! Be sure to check out these amazing projects!
Hi, all! We just unlocked the first stretch goal! Now everyone will be getting a special Pirate Queen Bookmark–digital for everyone and printed foiled bookmarks for merch backers!
Next Two Stretch Goals
We’re also ready to announce our next two stretch goals.
At the $4000 level, we’ll be sending out exclusive witch- and pirate-themed stickers to all merch backers, along with digital versions to all digital backers.
And at the $5000 level, we’ll write a brand-new exclusive villain origin story featuring Thomas Le Baron, the vampire who is hunting Destiny and her crew in the Mystic Marauder series.
And keep an eye out–we may be adding more surprise bonuses as we go!
The Next Weekly Bonus Books
We’re also ready to announce our next weekly bonus book! For everyone who backs the Mystic Marauder series by Oct. 31, we’ll be sending out two ebooks–one on pirates and one on witches.
The first book is Daniel Defoe’s 1724 book, A General History of the Pyrates.
The second book is an 1885 volume entitled The Witches’ Dream Book and Fortune Teller.
Again, thank you so much for your support! Remember, the more you support publishing on Kickstarter, the more authors and publishers can offer–so be sure to check out these great campaigns, too!
Words, Words, Words 