Hey there, hi there, ho there! Welcome to the first ever newsletter from The Word Dump! I’m coming at you to share some of the exciting things going on in my world; with news about my own novel and works available out there in the world, with a few updates about my current works in progress, and to touch on the on-going Indie ‘25 review series that I have been posting throughout the year.
Without further adieu, the dump.
Book News!
In case you missed this post and were unaware, you can currently redeem a free digital copy of my debut novel Synthetic Magic for the duration of the summer.
El blurbo:
Avery Adder sees an opportunity for glory when the mobile island of Academy turns northwards late in the year. Icy seas and frigid winds dwell beneath the shifting aurora and Avery will be the first person in history to touch the beautiful and volatile sky lights, jarring hidden forces into motion and changing the lives of himself and his peers forever in the process.
Fabled enemies stalk the shadows, gods whisper their influence, and blood is shed beneath the flickering lights as the students of Academy become pieces in a game played by mortals, immortals, and those straddling the line between them...
Synthetic Magic is the first volume of The Bloodless Affairs series, featuring a diverse ensemble of characters in a world that blends old magic and new technology seamlessly.
Released in its second edition, Synthetic Magic has seen more or less positive reviews so far on both Goodreads and Amazon. Some highlights of said praise are included in this post, for anyone interested.
For those who are sold and want to redeem that sweet, sweet free copy, simply click the button below!
Other Works…
In terms of other works out there, the one I am most proud of is definitely my complete serial of CARNAGE: Love & Lust in the Wasteland. This absolutely free novella is available now, in its entirety for your reading pleasure.
Two star-crossed competitors from two very different walks of life who find one another amidst the lethal spectacle of Carnage; televised games of vehicular manslaughter. Meet Mei Sung, the darling daughter of the Dynasty Munition Syndicate, a hard woman brought up to be ruthless and cunning, training since childhood for a shot at the Carnage title. She'll find herself vexed by Hawk, a lethal lowlife from a local gang of Scavengers, who enters Carnage for a chance to cut-and-run from a bounty on his head.
There's thrills, chills, and spills aplenty as the games begin... Not only on the field, but in their hearts.
I have a Table of Content laid out for CARNAGE here, with all chapters linked and ready for you to begin the fun!
Did you know that I have also had some of my short stories published?
I have been featured in two anthologies released by Skullgate Media in their Tales From the Year Between series. ‘Achten Tan: Land of Dust and Bone’ as well as ‘In The Wake of the Kraken’ feature a menagerie of talented writers coming together to produce short stories bonded together in a singular world.
With the former being primarily weird fantasy set in a wasteland; while the latter takes place in a piratical multiverse and ranges from cotemporary, sci-fi, fantasy, and steampunk… There is really something for everyone in these collections. (And who knows? Maybe you’ll even find some familiar Substackers amongst the contributors!) I have links to both below, if you’re interested in checking them out!
Honestly, I freaking loved participating in an anthology and would do so again in a heartbeat. So if anyone out there needs to fill space on one they have planned… hit me up. Ya boy works for exposure.
Current WIPs…
While I did just announce a few days ago that I have actually begun the long awaited sequel to Synthetic Magic, my primary focus for the last few years has been an entirely different project. As that one is nearly completion on a draft that I’m still not 100% happy with, I figured I would touch on it and give a little teaser about it. The novel is titled Seventh Daughter…
Marian Pendragon, daughter of the infamous King Arthur, has dreams. Her waking dreams are simple ones; marriage to a good man, a home of her own far from Camelot, and freedom from her overbearing mother and absentee father. On the cusp of making this a reality, Marian is forced to leave Camelot for an entirely different reason: to save her ill-stricken father lest the kingdom fall into chaos upon his sudden death. As Marian makes haste to the domain of the Aos Sí, where her ailing father has sought refuge, her fate begins to take shape around her sleeping dreams: strange turns, twisted paths, and invaded by mysterious beings that urge her ever onward, alluding to a destiny that makes little sense to her but has the potential to tear her family asunder.
Balin Pendragon Ulixes, nephew of King Arthur, is the freshest blood to join the Draconis Knights, an elite order under the direct command of the King. Constantly underestimated by his peers, Balin desires nothing more to prove himself but is instead saddled with the dull duties of guarding the Queen while the King and his men range far, chasing down legends. When a savage werewolf threatens the kingdom, Balin leaps at his chance and is dispatched to slay the beast. The quest goes awry and he is roped into the politics of wild fae, where Balin’s loyalties are called into question and he ponders the future he thought he desired against the one laid before him.
Seventh Daughter takes inspiration from and combines elements of classic fairy tales, mythology, and beloved storybook characters, spliced together with original elements, sinister twists, and fresh takes on old favourites…
I don’t have a release date for this novel yet, but will potentially be looking for beta readers in the coming months if anyone out there has had their interest piqued! Comment below or shoot me a DM, maybe we can even do a swap-for-swap if you have your own project going into beta.
Beyond Seventh Daughter, I am also tinkering away with a couple other projects.
Papa Whiskey 069 is set to be my next serial here on Substack, of which the first two installments have already been published! Set in the same world as Carnage, but standing entirely apart from it, it’s a sci-fi conspiracy novel told in segments by different POVs from passengers and crew of a starship as it prepares to launch, making for a new human colony amongst the stars. Link to the first installment in on the button below:
As well, inspired by this popular note I have also started a first draft on a LitRPG under the working title ‘Regular Greg’ about a super average middle-aged dude who decides to go be an adventurer, despite having no major traumas or social problems which are typical of the dungeoneering type. No further info available yet, but keep your eyes peeled for that one. It’s going to be a riot!
Indie ‘25
Last but certainly not least, I am still doing my personal Indie '25 challenge for the year. Currently on my 15th read, it has so far been a lot of fun. Always accepting more recommendations, but wanted to provide a sneak peak at the next few books I have slated to read.
A few on the docket:
Where There’s Smoke by
Transference by
The Light That Remains by
Empire’s Daughter by
The Highwayman Kennedy Thornwick by
Last of the Etela by
The Ring by
Super fun and super excited for all these reads, and the others that I did not include on this list (one of which is not announced yet). This has already been a great year of reads and I suspect it will spill over into 2026 as well.
And that’s all for now! Thank you for bearing with me, I know this was a long one. Hope to catch you again here at The Word Dump!
Cheers!
I've met so many great people here--like you! Thanks for including me. 🙂
Oh my gosh, I don't think anyone even knows about that book, Ian. (I'm awesome at marketing.)
It's cute. A sweet story. I hope there's something about it you enjoy. :)