Drafts, Decisions, and a Direction Shift

Two books, new clarity, and a shift in direction.

🌅 Where We Stand

Last month I released a small snippet of Ascension’s Integrations to show where that story was headed, right as I also began developing The Wyld Kin. Since then, I’ve drafted six chapters between the two projects, and the process has been eye‑opening in ways I didn’t expect.

My focus has leaned heavily toward The Wyld Kin, but recent events have brought something to the surface that I need to share with all of you. Before we get to that, though, I want to take a moment to look at what’s in store for each book as they stand today — and how, moving forward, I will not be self‑publishing.

Yes, I know. Shocker.

🛠️ Studio Pulse — Behind the Build

The studio is officially in wind‑down mode for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean things have stopped. If anything, the groundwork for spring is already in motion — we’re just missing one or two final pieces before the main event can begin.

Right now, the plan is to hold auditions for three speaking roles, all tied to a one‑day/night shoot. We’ll be working with the single camera we currently own, plus the prop camera that plays into the chilling ending we have planned. Small setup, tight schedule, intentional execution.

For those who haven’t been following the behind‑the‑scenes updates, we’ve put together a full equipment list outlining what we need to move beyond short‑film territory and into proper videography. To make that leap, we’re aiming to shoot our first commercial using natural light as soon as we get a clear day — and later this summer, we’re planning a shoot at Kennywood to expand our sample work even further.

There’s also a chance we may get tapped by a local music artist to film a music video. Nothing confirmed yet, but the possibility is on the table. As always, everything depends on timing and circumstances.

What doesn’t depend on circumstances is effort. Working with limited hardware isn’t an excuse to have no portfolio. Every piece of gear on our list — even after removing the “nice to have” items — totals under $2,000. It’s a realistic, achievable upgrade path, and one that will open the door to bigger, more polished projects.

For anyone who wants to support the studio’s growth, I’ve included a link to the crowdfunding page. Every contribution helps us take one more step toward the level of production we’re aiming for.

Please Help support Our Work

🐾 Worlds in Motion — The Wyld Kin Universe

Last month I talked a lot about the Wyld Kin universe I wanted to write — probably to the point of exhaustion — and I want to acknowledge that I got a little over‑zealous. But in those first four chapters, I accidentally built an entire world with far more moving parts than I initially planned.

In chapter three, there’s a moment where a character appears to be getting berated, and early readers genuinely felt bad for him… right up until I revealed who he really was. That twist made my beta readers stop and say, “Holy shit, did I just feel bad for the villain?” That wasn’t my intention, but it ended up being one of those happy accidents that tells you the world is working.

Originally, I structured the first book as a 40‑chapter minimum, with the full series planned across five books. That part hasn’t changed — but the distribution of ideas has.

I realized I was trying to cram too much into too little space. So instead of forcing multiple concepts into oversized volumes, I’m letting each book breathe the way it was meant to.

The five‑book structure now looks like this:

• Book One: Shadow Gambit — the foundation, the spark, the first fracture in the world.

• Book Two: Rise of the Quadros — escalation, revelation, and the widening conflict.

• Book Three: Embers of the Hunt — parallel threads igniting across the world.

• Book Four: The Enemy Unknown — the hidden forces, the deeper war, the truths beneath the surface.

• Book Five — the convergence, the reckoning, and the full culmination of everything set in motion.

I’m not writing small books anymore. I’m building entire worlds — and the framework I originally planned was simply too small. Expanding the structure wasn’t just a creative choice; it was necessary for the story to breathe.

And that leads directly into what I want to talk about next.

✨ Sparks & Shifts — Ascension’s Integrations

What was originally supposed to be book three of the Artificial trilogy is now being completely redirected — but not in the way I first announced. I had planned to self‑publish the trilogy exactly as it existed, but that’s no longer the path forward. Instead, I’m going back through all three books and making substantial revisions. The core story isn’t changing, but the structure, pacing, and execution absolutely are. There were places where I leaned too heavily on telling instead of showing, and this is my chance to fix that.

This trilogy was originally meant to prove I could shift genres and step outside the animal‑focused storytelling of Shadow Legacy — which I’ll talk about later. For now, the current versions of the trilogy will remain on Amazon while I work through the next phase. I still haven’t revealed the big twist behind this project, and I’m not doing it here, but I will say this: the series title has changed, and it may change again before everything is finalized.

What is finalized is this:

The trilogy is staying a trilogy.

The plan is to rewrite and restructure all three books so they function as a cohesive, professionally aligned series. Once the revised editions are complete — even if it’s one book at a time — they’ll be released through the new publishing path. After that, the original self‑published versions will eventually be removed from syndication.

⚡ The Big Reveal — A Turning Point Ahead

So what’s the big news? Why does it sound like I’m stepping away from publishing?

The simple answer is: I’m not. I’m just stepping away from self‑publishing.

Over the past few days, I had a great conversation with another author who works with an agent. She encouraged me to reach out to hers, and that really got me thinking. Even though her account disappeared before we could continue talking — and even if I never hear from her again — the spark she lit is still there.

I’ve realized I’m ready to seek an agent.

Not necessarily hers, not anyone specific — just the right one for me.

The idea of working with a team — an editor, a marketer, media support, the whole package — is something I’ve never had access to before. Doing everything alone has taught me a lot, but it’s also shown me where I could grow with the right support.

I’ve said before that when I finally sit down with an agent, I want to walk into that conversation with confidence, not desperation. And with the progress I’ve made in my new work, this feels like the right time. Younger me would’ve jumped at the first opportunity. Now I’m more grounded, more patient, and fully aware that growth is an ongoing process.

Now, about Shadow Legacy — I mentioned I needed to talk about it, so here we are. I’ve been seriously considering a full rewrite, especially with how much my writing style has evolved. I drafted a new prologue and a new chapter one, and my beta readers were genuinely excited about the direction it’s taking.

If I move forward with the rewrite, it will no longer be titled Shadow Legacy: Curse of the Shetani. It will simply be Shadow Legacy, just like I originally planned for the animated series. Book two is still part of the vision, but I’m not working on it right now. When the time comes, it will carry the title Sins of the Fallen.

🧭 Creator’s Corner — Personal Reflections

With everything as it stands now, and all the moving parts finally clicking into place, I can see a bright future ahead. I don’t expect to become a New York Times bestseller, but that’s never been the point. I’d be happy simply knowing more readers are enjoying my work. The readers I have now have been invaluable — communicative, supportive, and honest. Their feedback has helped me grow, even when I didn’t take every comment to heart. It all contributed to sharpening my abilities.

One thing I should note: whether I get help or not — whether it’s the film studio advancing or landing an agent — none of that is a setback. Getting an agent doesn’t magically change everything. Not getting one doesn’t derail the trajectory either. By the end of 2026, things will be in a place I can appreciate and build from.

My writing won’t change. My work won’t change.

But the outcomes will — and not because of restrictions, but because I’m growing into the creator I’m meant to be.

🌙 Until the Next Moon

With everything in place — and with a new understanding of how my ADHD actually works — I can finally say with confidence that my writing will get done on time. I used to be terrified of deadlines, but the truth is, as long as I have the freedom to sit down and write without interruptions, I can finish work before those deadlines… even if I procrastinate a little.

To give you an idea of what I mean:

On a bad writing day, I can still knock out a full chapter in about four hours and call it. Then I’ll wander around for a day or two before tackling the next one. On a good day? Set your expectations high — three chapters, an article, a chunk of a screenplay, and still enough time left for a stream or two.

That’s just how my hyper‑attention works. It’s powerful, but it breaks easily if disturbed. You know those signs on tech lab doors that say, “Do not tap on the glass — the subjects inside are prone to random noises”?

Yeah. That’s me. Just… not in IT.

Until the next moon,

thank you for being here, for reading, and for walking this path with me.