Category: Journey to Wudang

The new covers, side-by-side. ‘Bodies’ comes out November 1.
 
October Update
‘Bodies of Stone and Water’ Out November 1

 
The new AI book is out on November 1, and I’ll be making ‘Minds of Sand and Light’ free for the month of November to introduce anyone who’s interested. I’ve decided to go with a cleaner, more minimalist design for the cover of book 2. I’ve amended the cover for book 1 to match, so now both books now have minimalist covers.
Unfortunately this only applies for copies of ‘Minds of Sand and Light’ outside Australia. Harper-Collins Australia continue to own the rights to ‘Minds’ in Australia, so they have control over the pricing and cover. I’m already in enough legal debt from trying to get the rights back on ‘Dark Heavens’ (and they still haven’t responded about that!) so for now – they can have it.
This means that book 1 won’t be a freebie for Australians, sorry. BUT if you respond to this email and ask me for a copy of ‘Minds of Sand and Light’, I’ll be happy to pass the (revised) International ebook version through to you as a gift. High-level patrons will be receiving hardcover versions of both – and I’ll have the signed paperbacks and hardcovers available on my website for sale as soon as I’m happy with them.
The publication process for ‘Minds’ was horribly fraught. The editors at Harper-Collins wanted to make really massive changes to everything about the book, and I had to fight them every step of the way. By the time the book was finally published, I was exhausted by the whole process. It’s only now, that book 2 is complete, that I have the energy to go back to ‘Minds’ and fix it. The changes aren’t huge – I did fight back hard about my vision – and you probably won’t notice the difference.
‘Bodies of Stone and Water’ has been a joy compared to it. Katie, my editor, could see what I was doing and didn’t fight me on it! She questioned some of the social commentary without demanding that I remove it. Such a refreshing change.
The list of my other books at the front of this novel has the titles of ‘Queen of Hell’, ‘Her Two Kings’ and ‘Hearts of Glass and Bone’ up there, and none of those books are out yet.
‘Dark Heavens’ Re-Release

 
Yekateryna’s final cover illustration! This is just the front, and I received it yesterday and have been messing with ideas for a poster etc since then. She’s done a terrific foiled design that I’ve shared with the Patrons (if you’re a Patron seeing this newsletter and not the Patron-specific one, let me know, Mailchimp is messing me around) and the illustration is for both front and back covers, AND she’s given me about 2cm all around the edge to give me space to work with the hardcover and possibly bookmarks/posters in future.
Yes, that is the Gold Coast, and that is Jewel and Q1 buildings.
I’m planning to release this later this year. The interior is fixed and done (so many changes) and Yekateryna will be working on Book 2 later this month. The students at University of Canberra suggested the Dragon’s Palace Under the Sea for book 3 – perfection. I still have no idea for the rest of the books.
I’m open to suggestions on a very wide illustration idea for the sprayed edges for the entire series. I can do them book-by-book so they build up into a big design. It’ll be about 35 cm across and 20 cm high. What should I put on it?
Let me know!

I think I remember correctly that he brought all nine books – and they weren’t even his. It’s all a blur and I don’t remember your name, but thanks for bringing her books to Capricon for me to sign for her!
 
September Update
Thank you so much Rockhampton, Capricon had a fantastic vibe and I felt very loved. Here’s an early shot of my audience on the main stage, where I talked about world-building in fantasy.
 

The cosplayers let me join their crew for after-con hangouts and it was a fabulous weekend all around. I was not expecting the outpouring of love and the enthusiastic readership of Central Queensland. Thanks to the Rockhampton Regional Council for having me, it was a weekend to remember!
Legal Wrangle

So. The lawyers wrote a twelve page litany of threats, and sent it to my publishers in the UK and the US. Their response? ‘We received your letter’. The reason they gave for not giving the rights back is that ‘books are still selling’. So the minute ‘White Tiger’ is ready for re-release (see below), I’ll be making it very clear to everyone that they should not buy from my overseas publishers.
I want to make very sure that ‘the books are still selling’ won’t be happening.
The lawyers are particularly outraged because they know that when I re-release with the new covers and revised content, I’ll gain new readers and the publishers will profit from my work.
More of Itta’s Roughs
Here’s my bad stick figure drawing of John and the Demon King to be a flyleaf image for the book 2 special edition:

Here’s what Itta’s come back with:

 
Cannot wait to see this one when it’s finished! Itta’s also done a lovely ‘Harbour Fireworks Kiss’ flyleaf image as well.
Early Book 1 Cover Draft
My new cover designer has come back with an early draft of the cover for book 1. This is my original bad stick figure drawing:

And this is what I saw when I opened the email from her with the first rough draft.

I’m sharing the whole thing with the background and everything with the patrons. I’m already discussing the special edition with Kaligraphic, and it looks like we can do the sprayed edges one book at a time to have it build up to a nine-book image when the series is complete.
Debby: ‘That looks like Q1 in the background!’
Me: ‘That’s because they’re floating over Broadbeach.’
 

Me: ‘Wicker! Yes! Monster romance! That’s what we’re doing here.’
Lecturer Dom on the left: ‘Among other things.’
August Update
TAFE/University of Canberra
I’m back to work with TAFEQld/University of Canberra students and we have a new batch. They’ve added some visual arts students to the mix for this round, so expect some lovely illustrations for the re-release.
I was describing the gist of the series and the nature of our main characters and what they got up to. The lecturer Dom is sitting at the front enjoying the reaction to some of the things I said. At the end of my talk I said ‘And you thought I was a sweet little old lady, right?’
Legal Wrangle
My Intellectual Property Expert lawyer came back with a plan and a scary letter for me, and the letter’s been sent to Harper-Collins Australia, UK and US. It’s twelve pages of majestic legal audacity and I’m in awe of my lawyer’s skills.
My lawyers are confident that the publishers can’t hold on to the world rights of the rest of the series if Australia’s given them back, because I sold them to Australia in the first place.
Now we have to wait and see what the publisher comes back with. A friend is willing to bet actual cash money that they will completely ignore this and hope it goes away.
Dark Heavens Re-Release

I am working hard on revising the Dark Heavens series for re-release. I will keep the Patrons updated on the draft covers as they come through from the artist, and everybody updated when we have some art from the TAFE/University of Canberra students.
I’ve made it clear this semester that I’d like to place ‘Dark Heavens’ in the immensely popular ‘cultivation novel’ space  and I’m describing it as ‘Pursuit of Jade meets Crocodile Dundee’. And then my business partner Debby adds (every time) ‘but not as pretty as the male lead in ‘Pursuit of Jade! He’s way too beautiful!’ – Which is true.
CapriCon Rockhampton August 29

I’ll be at Capricon Rockhampton on August 29 for the whole day. I love that they’ve added a space for furries, and I wish the other cons did this.
Many thanks to the Rockhampton Regional Council for the invite, I cannot wait!
Join the Patreon for as little as $2 a month to read new ‘Dark Heavens’ before it’s released
 

 
It’s cold and Miss Pixie has taken to climbing inside my jacket while I’m playing games. Look at that satisfied face.
 
July Update
CapriCon

I’m booked to attend Capri Con in Rockhampton as a guest! I’ll be there all day on Saturday August 29th. I won’t have many books as I still haven’t had any new copies of ‘Dark Heavens’ printed, but I will be able to share my experience and answer any questions. I’ve never been to Rockhampton before so I’m really looking forward to meeting the Central Queensland fans!
No Books
I have very few copies of the Harper-Collins ‘Dark Heavens’ books remaining, and as the rights have been returned to me, they can’t print any more, and I can’t obtain any more author copies. I won’t have the new editions done and released (in between everything else) until next year. I think I have about five copies of ‘White Tiger’ left.
If you’re thinking of rushing to purchase a ‘first edition’ – don’t bother. The new ones will be revised, updated, better written and will have much better updated covers. I’ll be making hardcovers and special foiled editions with sprayed edges – because I can.
I am starting to receive emails asking me where the first trilogy books are. The answer is: they’re down. You can’t buy them anywhere.
I’m honestly considering posting on social media requesting that everyone stop buying the second trilogy as well so that Harper-Collins are forced to give me the rights back.
New Releases
You’ve probably noticed that I’m relatively quiet on social media right now: this is because I am absolutely flat-out with basically two jobs right now.
The main one is fixing everything ready for big releases next year. I am:

Reformatting all of ‘Dark Heavens’ and revising the text
Typesetting all of these books so that I can create new print versions – a ‘twentieth anniversary edition’ with entirely new covers
Writing a Jade spinoff, about her two husbands (currently being read by Patrons on Patreon) – did you know that if you come up to me at a con and suggest a story that you’d like to read, I may go ahead and do it? This story is a direct result of a fan request.
Writing the next book after ‘Serpent Princess’ called ‘Queen of Hell’ (Patrons are reading that one too)
Revising Katie’s edits of the second ‘Council of AIs’ novel, ‘Bodies of Stone and Water’. This one is ready to revise and typeset. Fun fact: Throughout this editing process, Katie referred to the book as ‘Bonesaw’ from the initials ‘BOSAW’.

The second job is Essential Self-Publishing, which is basically funding all of this. Here’s my most recent assisted release, ‘My Eyebrows Jumped Ship’ by Patrizia Smrekar:

This is a wise, hilarious, and deeply relatable narrative on the displeasures of aging. Patrizia is an absolute hoot and was a lovely person to work with. The cover illustration is by local Gold Coast artist Liv Lorkin.
With Essential, I take advantage of my experience with self-publishing all of my books to assist others. I take their Word documents and covers and create the books to sell across all the self-publishing platforms, then give them their accounts back. It’s incredibly rewarding!
(Oh yeah I need to add this one to ‘my books’. I’ve been so busy with <waves hands> that I haven’t updated that website.)
Legal Challenge
You might recall that I’m attempting to gain all of the rights to all my books back. The rights setup is complicated, mostly because I made some novice mistakes twenty years ago.
I saw my (expensive big firm) lawyer this week, and to be honest his expression as I recounted my situation has been one of disbelief. ‘They don’t even reply to you??’
As it stands:

I have the first trilogy (Dark Heavens) back for all world regions. I’m hard at work revising them to create a twentieth-anniversary revised edition. The cover artist has me in her queue and will be working on the cover in August. Itta from TAFE is doing some flyleaf illustrations (and posters) for the special edition that I’m sharing in the Patreon-only newsletter.
I have the Australian rights back for the second trilogy (Journey to Wudang) but Harper-Collins UK own the world rights (everywhere outside Australia) and they won’t give them back – after fifteen years of ignoring me – because ‘books are still selling’. The lawyer is honestly horrified at this attitude.
I have the Australian rights back for the final trilogy (Celestial Battle) but Harper-Collins US (not UK, and the reason for the two different companies owning the rights is both stupid and complicated) own the rest of the world.They don’t respond to emails at all, and don’t answer their phone. The lawyer went from horrified to flabbergasted.

Note that through this, Harper-Collins Australia have been responsive, understanding and supportive. I think they’re as gobsmacked by the other companies’ behaviour as we are.
The lawyer is writing me a (mind-blowingly expensive) letter on Scary Letterhead ™ and we’ll see how they respond.
Putting all the stuff together for the lawyer has effectively been Job Number Three for me.
Currently Playing:

I don’t have much time for it, but when Pixie is safely cuddled inside my jacket I’m playing a little gem of a game on Steam called ‘Shrodinger’s Cat Burglar’ by a local Brisbane studio. This quantum puzzle game is just the right level of challenging and Pixie was absolutely no help at all in solving the puzzles.
If you’d like to read pre-release chapters and out-takes, you can join the Patreon here. Patrons get a special newsletter with additional content, and you can read many of my posts with a one dollar subscription!

Masterpiece!
June Update
It’s been hard for me to watch everyone enjoying Oz Comic-Con Adelaide and Melbourne and being unable to go myself. I am slowly revising all of the old Dark Heavens books because…

All of the formatting for early books is so broken and
It’s 2026 and some of the stuff that was normal back then … will no longer fly.

Things I’ve changed:

I explain things that people have, over the years, had difficulty with. Why did the Tiger only give Emma a token amount in a lai see at Chinese New Year? Because he’s respecting her boundary after she told him no to dating him, and he’s not attempting to ‘buy’ her.

I’ve clarified Leo’s illness. At the time I was writing the books, AIDS was a death sentence. During the 1980’s the Reagan administration knew about preventative measures and didn’t share them with the gay community. Thousands died. Leo was one of the casualties. In the novels he is now at the final stages and no amount of treatment can save him. I still have to go back to books 4-6 and work out what to do with Emma’s infection.
(This was a major sticking point with media people. AIDS can be cured now! Why is this such an issue??)

The ‘Western Palace’ <ahem> scene in book 2 is now much more consensual. It was edgy back then but it no longer works. I’m planning to have some fun jazzing up some other scenes in later parts of the series. I have ideas.

I’ve graphically described what Emma’s ‘halfway to snake’ form looks like at the end of book 2, and I hope it’s worse than you ever imagined.

It’s slow going because my small business assisting people to self-publish – I need the extra income with all the upcoming expenses, including legal expenses – is keeping me busy during office hours. I’m working on reformatting and revising ‘Dark Heavens’ in the evening and weekends.
Covers!
The most fun part must be having new covers made – but this is so nerve-wracking. Covers cost hundreds of dollars and have to be right first time. The mockup at the top of the email is my design for book 1. What do you think? Won’t that look great on Amazon?
I kid. That’s what I’ll be providing to the cover designer, with a written description.
As well as new ‘cultivation-style’ covers, I’m planning to do special editions with added illustrations inside the front and back covers. Here’s my high-art suggestions for those illustrations:

Fireworks on Hong Kong Harbour (I just realised this is a flyleaf illustration and I don’t need blurb space. Ooops. Time to redo)

Leo, Emma and Simone inside the training room, and a Snake Mother visible in the mirror behind them. This one may not work. Also Mothers are really complicated.
For Book 2, I’m thinking Emma and John on the balcony of their suite overlooking the desert in the Western Palace. I have a few ideas for the flyleaf illustrations but I’m concentrating on having the books reformatted as I go.
What I’d really like to do is a sprayed edge across the entire series. One huge illustration to go across the pages of all the books as they sit on the shelf. I think Kaligraphic can do it for me if we have the book sizes finalised. That would be marvellous.
So: what are your ideas for cover designs for the series? Provide stick figures if you like! All suggestions most welcome! I need major illustrations for the covers, and then more minor illustration for two flyleaf illustrations for each book.
And nine books altogether. I am such a nut doing this.
Legal Matters
Update on legal matters: I have a high-powered copyright lawyer trying to get me the world rights back for books 4-9. I have the rights to books 1-3 worldwide, so let’s start there. 4-9 I have the Australian rights, but not the rest of the world.
I can’t do any conventions until I have books to sell – I can’t order author copies as Harper-Collins are no longer printing them – so it may not be until next year that I will have Dark Heavens to sell again.
Bodies of Stone and Water
Katie is editing ‘Bodies’ right now and that will be published soon as well. I’ll have so many new books for you next year – including a new Dark Heavens novella that the Patrons on Patreon have been reading!