The first hints of fall have arrived, and we've already stopped for our first pumpkin drinks of the season lol.🍂  I was also just re-reading our last 6 months of blog posts and realized how in need we are of a writing update. Firstly, yes, Before the Dawn: An Askari Series Novel, Roz & Xaphan's story, is still in progress. I know I had previously been throwing around a late summer release, and other than me just being absolutely horrible at judging release dates as previously stated, there are 2 very good reasons for that, which are 1) Roz & Xaphan's story is shaping up to be far longer than I anticipated and 2) Once again, I've misjudged what I'm reasonably able to accomplish during summer break when our little one is home.😅 Writing will be picking back up again, however, starting next week with the start of school and post FanGrrrl's signing event, which is this coming Friday and Saturday.🩷💜 

In that very same vein, I have to announce that getting Worlds into print before/for the event also did not happen. Sincere apologies! I will be creating a pre-order link, though (as soon as I can figure out how), where anyone attending can submit their name and address for a signed copy as soon as it's available! 

But I hope everyone had a nice start to their September.🍁If you're a fall bug like me, there are a few reels of the beauty of a pumpkin we harvested from our garden in this past week's vlog, along with clips from a super cool birthday Sasquatch Express train ride. Right now, though, I will leave you with an excerpt and rough snapshot of our signing event setup.

To anyone attending, I cannot wait to meet you!🥰 And please be sure to travel safely. 

Hugs in advance,

Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt

Roz felt herself come back to consciousness, moving her headslightly. She was disoriented, groggy, yet there was a strange undercurrent ofenergy in her veins. It felt good. Powerful. Still, her brows drew together asshe tried to figure out what had happened. She saw Xaphan in her mind’s eye…they’d fought…blood.

The bond, she remembered, finally beginning to open her eyes.She sensed someone next to her, heard a soft snarl. Xaphan’s face was the lastthing she’d seen before she blacked out. Then Roz experienced a brief second ofpanic as she realized she couldn’t feel the stiffness of her black bodysuitagainst her skin. A quick look at her wrist allayed her fears. The havatstill covered her body and she relaxed. That’d be the last thing she needed: towake up naked on the floor with Xaphan or some other Askari standing over her.

The bond must have taken, was her next thought. It was followed quickly by theawareness of the same someone she’d sensed next to her moving closer. Roz felt largefingers grip her hip. She reacted without looking, batting at them as shekicked out her leg—not hard, but enough to let whoever was touching her know, “handsoff”. Right as she did so, she felt an incredible punch of energy down herbody, and before she could understand it, the presence left herwith a belated skid and thud down the corridor. Roz jerked into an upright position,her grogginess all but forgotten.

Xaphan was half on his ass, but he quickly brought hispowerful legs beneath him. Roz was frozen in shock, then her gaze shot down to herhavat. The strength she’d felt upon waking hadn’t been a dream; it wasreal. The tiny amount of blood they’d exchanged had completed the bond, so thatnow, things were working as they should.

Fucking, yes, she thought. Finally, as she clenched and unclenched her fistwith a shaky smile. 

Before the Dawn, by J.M. LinkCopyright 2026, J.M. LinkAll rights reserved.

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