We’re counting down to GenCon.

July is when my husband, Mystic, and I are getting the finishing touches of the games we end up running at GenCon. This year I’m more excited to run the games and see the shenanigans that will ensue. Running games for Green Ronin has regularly shown their players to be engaged and creative. The promise of meeting new people, seeing old friends, and enjoying my open-path plot being molded into a story by my fellow nerds keeps me going through this warm month.

July is also when summer is inescapable in Chicago. It’s not unbearable yet, but it’s here. Following the River Walk will make one sweat. Commuting is a little stickier. The seagulls are louder as they pick through the trash by the beach. I look forward to the cooler evenings when I can sip on homemade lemonade while I read a story or play winter season in Stardew Valley for a brief respite, listening to Hozier on repeat.

Written Works

Mother Revolution

I would love to share this lovely review that was shared on Amazon, titled “Smart, Nuanced, and Fast Sci-Fi”:

Thank you Mark for the review! Myself and other indie authors benefit from reviews, even if they’re not 5 stars. If you’ve read Mother Revolution, please consider leaving a review wherever you usually do.

For those who haven’t read it yet, Mother Revolution’s ebook will be on sale during GenCon (July 31st thru August 3rd) for 99 cents! You’ll be able to enjoy that price on your preferred ebook store, including Kindle, Apple Books, Fable and Smashwords. Find direct links by clicking here.

Project Wholecloth

My newsletter subscribers will be the first to read the first book title for Project Wholecloth on July 13th! I’ll also reveal the series title and a the bookmark I’ll be passing out at GenCon.

Later that same day, I will be presenting about my writing journey at the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago. I’m thankful to have found a community that supports local artists and authors, and that they gave me a spot to talk about my journey this July. If you’re in the Chicago area and are curious to join us on the morning of July 13th, you can find more information by clicking here.

 The first installment of Project Wholecloth is scheduled to release on November 13th.

The cover reveal will be sent to all newsletter subscribers by mid-October. If you want a peek of what the amazing Sophia DeFelice created for the cover, here’s a little sneak peak… but don’t tell anyone I let you meet this guy. He’s already pretty popular.

Sophia is going to be at GenCon this year in the Makers Mart! If you can’t catch her then, I highly suggest you see her bold printmaking-inspired work by clicking here to visit her site.

TTRPG Projects and News

Who We Were

What would you do if this message from a dead woman was the first clue to uncover your lost memories? Players will answer that question playing Who We Were this year at GenCon.

There are still tickets available for the 10am games on Thursday, July 31st and Friday, August 1st. Click here to get your tickets now. Hope to see you at the con!

Podcast Update

Since I last wrote you all, we had two more episodes. Mystic covered Pacific Drive, which was a great journey into a New Weird setting. Then I decided to give Mystic a break. I covered the story of Andrew Ryan, and the historical context that made him insufferable. Not as heinous as Ted Farro… iykyk. You can find Lore Together wherever fine podcasts are heard, and find out more about the show by visiting our website (click here).

Despite having been at this podcast for five years, I’m just now realizing we’d benefit from a planned stream schedule we advertised ahead of time. Marketing is not my strength—writing is. However, you now have our planned streaming schedule below!

I am confirming that between July 29th and August 4th, we will not be streaming since we will be at GenCon. Instead we hope to see you there!

Sapphy Shares—What I’m digging right now

I’ve been trying to get more into reading, and one of the first indie authors I followed was @ingloriousgigi on Threads. I read Splinter, written under their pen name Jasper Hyde. It’s an enemies-to-lovers spicy retelling of the Sleepy Hollow myth. Immediately, I related with Drusilla. She is the embodiment of my worst fears when it comes to living in a small town—a social outcast who stays in Sleepy Hollow out of the few connections she has left, half of them truly toxic. The story is proudly black in its perspective, especially with the undertone of colorism between Drusilla and her twin sister Katrina. You can tell that Hyde cares about the work, cares about inclusivity, and is having fun putting her characters through the ringer. The stakes are high, the sexual tension taught, and the pacing fast. A “Sporty Spice” level book on the Spice Girls rating system; expect a satisfying scene that hits all the right spots with no surprises if you’re not super raunchy. I warn that there are typos that slowed down my experience, but Hyde is a prolific indie author that is giving us amazing stories at a breathtaking pace. The story was good enough for me to look past the. This spooky, sexy book is Sapphy Approved.

You can find the ebook retailer of your choice to buy Splinter by clicking this link here. Or you can click here to buy the book at Bookshop.org.

If you want to keep up with what I’m reading, you can find me on The Storygraph or Fable as Sapphy Lore. Feel free to follow me there and let me know your reading suggetions.