**note: this was originally posted on Kickstarter as an update to my backer on the Lily Singer series. You can see my previous Kickstarter campaigns here**

My dearest fans, readers, and backers,

First of all, please allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your patience! 2017 was full of amazing achievements and steps forward, but there were plenty of things that I had planned to get done that did not.

Fear not, however. Everything you have been waiting for will come to pass, just slightly *cough cough* later than hoped for. First, let me give you a quick update so you know I’ve been getting cool stuff done and not loafing around watching cute cat videos (though I DO do that occasionally)

In 2017, not only did I publish Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Books 3 & 4 (which you backed) but I also published the first in a Sebastian spinoff series in August (published in a box set “Creatures” which hit the USA Today Bestseller list) AND last week I just published my first ever epic fantasy novel “When the Gods Laughed,” whose box set “Wrath and Ruin” ALSO hit the USA Today Bestseller list. Unlike Sebastian’s spinoff (about 90k words), “When the Gods Laughed” ended up being a whopping 200k words, all of which I crammed into about 4 months of writing/editing, so you can see why I’ve been crazy this fall barely eating and sleeping much less anything else

So, the good news is, I’ve not been idle, and you have two new amazing book to dig into. The other good news (you were expecting bad news? HA!) is that I am now plotting out the ENTIRE rest of the Lily Singer series, including the remainder of Sebastian’s spin-off series and Sir Kipling’s short story (and setting up tie-ins for a hopeful Madam Barrington prequel spin-off that occurs during World War I). I need to do all this plotting because I take “planning” to insane 9th degree and all levels of these stories are interwoven and point to each other, so I need it all straight before I start writing.

What all this means is that I will start, and finish, Sir Kipling’s short story and the exclusive sneak peek files this winter (hopeful release March/April-ish?). As promised, my backers will be getting them first AND free. I’ll eventually release them on a limited basis to my other fans, but I’m not sure when that will be.

Beyond that, I hope to write the next 4 books in the Lily Singer Adventures before I work on any other projects (“When the Gods Laughed” even at 200k words is only Part I of two parts), so those will hopefully start coming out in late 2018 and in 2019.

I know, I know, it’s hard waiting for me too. Just be glad I’m an indie author, because traditionally published books, even after they are written, take 1-3 years to get released. Here’s a little reward for your patience, the (tentative) titles for the rest of the Lily Singer series!

Book 5: Trechery
Book 6: Devotion
Book 7: Despair
Book 8: Faith
Book 9: Avalon
Book 10: Melthalin
Book 11: Babylon
Book 12: Eden

For any Lily Singer fan, if those titles don’t get you salivating, I don’t know what will!

All other misc rewards I have yet to do (there are some clay tablets I owe some people) are on the docket to get completed this winter as well as I squeeze them in among other things. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

In the meantime? Well, while you’re waiting for Sir Kip to show up, hop over to read about all the terrible life mistakes Sebastian made when he was 16 (http://myBook.to/AWBK1E) or if you like epic fantasy, read about the most worthless man on earth who was made into the god of Incompetence…as a joke (my book is the 5th one into this box set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076KPGCLP)

Thanks again for your patience and for reading his update. I’d love to know what you think (even if it is scolding me for taking so long, haha!), and what you hope for future Lily Singer books!

Cheers,
Lydia