Dear friends,
It’s the inaugural newsletter commemorating the convergence of both CL Walters and Maci Aurora into a singular entity: Me! I wish I could convey how happy I am that this is occurring.
Thank you for being here. I am so grateful you are on this journey with me.
My May was spent making this transition to SubStack. Two newsletters published in addition to five blogs and some extras (for ten pieces published to this space). I’ve also edited and formatted The Ring Academy: The Trials of Imogene Sol (out 8-1-23), worked with a couple of clients editing their projects, and began revising Book 3 of the new Maci Aurora book In the Shadow of a Dream, and read over twenty books (I’m working on a Meta Scoop about Ruby Dixon books for June). It has been a busy month and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love reading and writing?
Oh… and I did this thing. I commissioned some art for the Fareview Fairytales (Maci Aurora) and OMG! I can’t wait to share them with you. Wait until you see them (keep scrolling for Auri and Nix)!
Now that we’re sliding into June, I’m hoping for a summer especially because the plan is to go back into the classroom this fall. I’m on deadline to finish the Maci Aurora rewrite by the end of the month and send it to beta readers in July. Most of my July will be spent in Oregon with my mom and sisters (hooray) where I’m hoping to attend a few bookish events (not for me, but if any pop up I’ll let you know) and help my mom around her house. And before we know it, it will be August, and I’ll be launching The Ring Academy!
It’s going to be a whirlwind summer.
I’m including some of my favorites I discovered in the newsletter this month. Maybe you’ll find something fun as well. Definitely leave me comments or email me about what you’re enjoying. To those of you who have commented, I have enjoyed the interaction and dialogue (I’m talking to you, Kenn. 😀).
Wishing you all a wonderful June, until next month.
Cami
I commissioned some character art for the Maci Aurora, Fareview Fairytales series. As subscribers, I’m so excited to unveil these two pieces for you here because these two are fan favorites: Auri and Nix, from In the Shadow of a Wish.
Aren’t they amazing?!?!?! I am enamored with these character pieces, and am so happy I commissioned them. The rest of the art—Lachlan, Tarley, Jessamine, Brinna, Mattias, Scarlett and Tomas will be unveiled with the paid subscription over the next few months. There are a few more as well, but no spoilers.
And finally, In the Shadow of a Dream’s cover was revealed to all June first. Here it is again, because, yeah. . . it’s that pretty. ;)
I’m currently reading several books. I have two sitting on my nightstand, but the one that is taking precedence is Babel by R.F. Kuang. It’s a slow go, currently, but I am enjoying the take on colonialism via a dark academia, fantasy lens.
For nonfiction, I am reading Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book or Cause by Becky Robinson. I’m enjoying the practicality of this read and it’s useful, relevant content.
Finally I was lucky enough to get an ARC Bloom by indie author Bellebird James which comes out this month. I’m not done with it yet, but let me tell you: I. Am. Loving. It.
The Blurb:
For as long as she can remember, Izzy has been following in her father’s footsteps all the way to law school — just the way her mother wants. But ever since his death, the path ahead has been less clear. When a summer job as a landscape designer shows Izzy a glimpse of an alternative future, she buries that idea as deep as the roots of the plants she loves working with.
Then Izzy meets Nico. With his annoying emoticon smile and botanical tattoos, Nico is everything Izzy isn’t — irritatingly disorganised, cheerfully rebellious, and a law school dropout. He’s also her responsibility to train while they repopulate the local woodland with saplings, and a respite from Izzy’s increasingly tense home life.
When the forest her father passionately defended comes under threat, Izzy and Nico join forces and learn they have more in common than either of them imagined. But as Izzy struggles to stay true to her father’s memory, her mother’s expectations, and her growing friendship with Nico, she finds herself tangled in lies.
And if the truth comes out, Izzy could lose so much more than her law school dream...
Not sure why I’ve gone back in time, but I can’t seem to get enough! Is this really a shock?
For some reason, everything I have been enjoying lately is found on my Apple TV. Silo, a futuristic dystopian mystery based on the book by indie author Hugh Howie, Ted Lasso—the final season (forgive my ugly crying)—and The Last Thing He Told Me, a suspense thriller staring Jennifer Garner and based on the book by the same name. For some reason, Apple TV is giving me what I want!