Reviving & Revisions: Rereleasing DůO

 

Spring is here! And with it for me comes a sense of renewed creativity. I'm pleased to tell you that I'm currently working on the last of my "catching up" projects which is revising, reformatting, and rereleasing my serial DůO (previously a Kofi exclusive) as a novella available to everyone! Once I complete this project, anything I work on moving forward will be completely new material. It's like the bookend on an era of my author career thus far! That's not to say that I won't continue to add to the series I've already written or spin off the characters into new stories. In fact, The Dead Oaks Omnibus and a DůO release allow me the transitional point to do exactly that in the future if I ever so wish!

If you've read the new short story included in The Dead Oaks Omnibus then you probably picked up on that possibility already!

Why Revive DůO?

I've wanted to do this for a while but I wanted enough time to pass that it wouldn't have made it less special to those who got to experience it when it was an exclusive. A few years have now gone by and I'm currently working on some revisions that will enhance the story. I adore all of the couplings and characters I've created but Oscar and Doyle have what is probably my favorite partnership of all the pairings I've ever written (their banter truly can't be beat!) and I want all of my readers to have access to their story. I know my entire reader base will thoroughly enjoy them. It's also a fun opportunity to delve back into the same storyverse that ROAM takes place. DůO is a prequel to ROAM; on the timeline it takes place in the 1980s but in a different galaxy (side note: I really should create a timeline graphic!). However, there are enough references to ROAM dogma that readers familiar with the series will connect the dots. It's also an enjoyable read even if you've never read the series! And, without getting too spoilery, the ending does set up a potential plot point if the muse ever hits me to write another Ethan/Grady adventure.

After this, I plan to return to my draft of a new MM Dreampunk novel with all new characters (I'm calling this one Project DWC until I'm ready to announce the official title).

Updates on a DůO release date to come!

As always, happy reading!

- Dez 🖤

2023 Writing + Publishing Plans

 

Happy Yule, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year to all!

As we round out 2022, I just want to say again how grateful I am to each and every one of you who read my stories. I've always said that I mostly write them for myself and if anyone else happens to enjoy them then that's a wonderful bonus. And it does mean so very much to me any time someone leaves a nice review or comment about my books. So THANK YOU! And I hope you continue to stick around for more stories to come. 💜

Speaking of, I'm here to share my writing and publishing plans for 2023! I'm going to spend the last week of December mainly relaxing before I dive back into working on any projects, but for the most part, I already know what I plan to work on in the year ahead.

First, sometime in 2023, I'll have a new short story, 'Looped', published in SOMNISCOPE: A Dreampunk Anthology which is the follow-up to MIRRORMAZE (both published by Fractured Mirror Publishing and edited by Dreampunk visionary, Cliff Jones Jr.). There isn't a set release date yet, but it is in the editing process.

I'll also be simultaneously working on THE DAPPER DETECTIVE (the sequel to THE DANDY MEDIUM) and THE DEAD OAKS: OMNIBUS. I'm not sure which will release first, but I'm hoping to have one release in the Spring and the other by Autumn. I can't force the muse, so I've decided to let it guide me on which project it would prefer to work on each day.

THE DAPPER DETECTIVE will bring back Alfie and Sebastian on a new mysterious case of murder and deception. But this time, they'll have the leader of the Crimson Bat Society, Francis the vampire, helping (or hindering, as Alfie sees it) their investigation. This story will delve deeper into the history of Nótt Haven and perhaps open up some possible storylines for spin-offs. THE DANDY MEDIUM and THE DAPPER DETECTIVE are meant to be a duology, but I've very quickly come to realize that so many more stories can be told within this world so there's a possibility of more Nótt Haven books featuring other characters in the future.

THE DEAD OAKS: OMNIBUS will be a rerelease of all of the previous DEAD OAKS stories combined into one giant volume and will include a new short story and new cover art. I've always wanted these stories to exist in physical form, not just ebooks, so this will be a great way to offer print editions of the series. I'll most likely host a lot of D.O.P.S.-themed giveaways around the time of this release, so keep your eye out if you need some Jasper & Wes merch in your life! 😉

And if I have any time left at the end of the year, I have some new ideas that I'm hoping to begin work on. Currently, I'm leaning into a new Dreampunk series, but I also have other stories brewing that I might delve into depending on how I feel when the time comes. I'm also toying around with creating a second pen name for a new genre, but more on that another time.

I hope your holiday season is bright and the new year is fruitful!

Happy Holidays & Happy Reading!

Dez 💜