Hello fellow traveler,

Yesterday I took my copy of the special edition hardcover of The Rooted and the Winged to the woods by my home where my story was born. And it was so, so amazing to me to see it there beneath the trees, with green dappled light playing over the cover, looking completely at home.

I am beyond thrilled to get this book into your hands. So you can take it to your local woods/nature areas if you like. If you do I would love to see a picture; it's amazing to me to think that this little faerie book will be read in so many places across the world.

Also, you guys, the Kickstarter has been doing well!! I am absolutely floored at all the support it has received. And the things people are telling me...that my book is a "Game-changer for the self publishing scene" and new authors telling me it's inspiring them to put illustrations into their own books. It's hard to describe how it all makes me feel. My favorite word "ineffable" describes it well, I think. An emotion that can't be defined by words.

The Kickstarter still has 8 more days to go. Because we've hit over $12,000 in total funds raised, if you buy a print copy of my book on Kickstarter, you will get ALL of the following for free with your order:

-1 bookmark 🔖

-Pack of 5 stickers with art from the book

-Booklet of The Naive King, the prequel story 👑

-Booklet of a new short story where you choose the main character

-Fold-out map print 🗺️

And the latest: -Handmade replica of an universe wind-up butterfly 🦋*

All orders will also get an ebook of the new short story. And there are more rewards we’re on our way to unlocking!

Plus because we're planting a tree with every order, we've planted over 180 trees so far. 🌳 That’s so amazing!!

If you haven't backed already and you want in on all those fairy goodies, you can back it here!

*I am SO excited about the wind-up butterfly especially. It'll be a replica of an in-universe wind-up butterfly that Fafnir's sister, Isolde, shows him at a key moment in the story. The image of a butterfly molting, and then finally spreading its wings to fly as a new creature mirrors the heart of the story's theme:

“I believe Cerridwen’s story is the truth the faeries have forgotten. They have forgotten how to turn themselves inside out and let suffering grow them into who they were created to be.”

-Excerpt from The Rooted and the Winged

I have a lot of crafting ahead of me. ✨

I hope you are doing well today. I'll be updating you on more time with exciting Kickstarter news next Tuesday, and then on May 22nd, the Kickstarter will end. And that will close this incredible adventure of my life.

Later on July 1st, I will be releasing all editions of the book wide. The ebook and paperback will be on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, and other platforms. The audiobook will be on Audible, Google Play books, and other places. And the special edition hardcover will be available on my own store.

If you have any questions about the Kickstarter or anything else don't hesitate to ask! By the way, if you want something that you can't order exactly on the Kickstarter (like just the copy of special edition hardcover and nothing else), reply to this email and we can arrange an order off of Kickstarter. While the Kickstarter is still running, I'm offering all the stretch goals we've earned for any off-site orders too for free, to share the celebration. Just let me know.

Aeonida (blessings and peace to you),

Samantha

P.S. I had to share this picture too. It looks so pretty by the stream!! 🦋