We took our final family trip before my oldest goes off to college. I'm guessing family trips get successively harder after this year, and, frankly, I'm not ready for this stage of life to end. I know it's cliche, but it sure went by faster than I thought it would. Do you remember how slowly the days seemed to creep by when you were a child? How exciting a birthday was? It's really crazy how quickly the years whip by as you get older, and that birthday feeling swaps to, "Really? Another one? Already?"

Next week, we take my firstborn to college, to Arkansas from Texas. I’m pretty emotional about it—as cliché as it sounds, the time flew by too fast. We dug up a lot of old pictures, relived a lot of memories. *sigh*

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Not a lot of updates. Between the family trip to the Keys, and a trip to see a set of grandparents, I didn't get much writing time. That's okay... sometimes I need a break from writing as much as I do from work. I did write one chapter, so not zero progress.

I sent what I have to my mother, still my biggest cheerleader... the beginning and end of Secrets. She had questions about how it all connects to Guardian League. Maybe I hadn't said this before, but there's another series lurking between Thaumatropic Roots and Guardian League. It'll make more sense after you finish Thaumatropic Roots, so I'll say more then. I've got the outline of the next series in my head. But if there was a minor character in Thaumatropic Roots who you would like to see more of, let me know. I've received a fair amount of requests for Trentius (and Smoky). Hope they pull through Secrets... mwahahah!

Another question... um, asking for a friend. ;) Have you ever read a book where you thought the villain kind of had a point? Not one where you’re supposed to align with the villain, or the villain is super-sexy so you lust after him/her despite their villainy. One where the villain is definitely the bad guy, but you get it. Send me your favorite. And let me know if I can’t share.

Yup, I'll keep it short this newsletter. Hope you're all having a great summer!

All books by Steven J. Morris

Indie Author Showcase

Claire Beckett and the Forbidden Secret

by Molly Chase

I'm practically a scavenger hunt master now. If only it wouldn't reveal my dysfunctional family at every turn.

My life took a wild turn when the people closest to me were caught in a spell that turned their bodies into blocks of ice. Then again when I finally came met my long-lost brother, Jamison, in the flesh.

Little did I know that our father has been secretly keeping an evil queen imprisoned deep in the elemental lands. That is until Jamison and I arrive at the Cursed Temple to find it empty of its prisoners.

With the queen on the loose and our father missing, Jamison and I are on the run, determined to find them before it's too late. When I’m hit with another blinding headache that has become as dependable as the weather in Crescent City, Jamison disappeared.

Now, it's up to me to follow the clues my mom left behind and find a mysterious item that uses the Codex as a battery.

Facing magical traps, hidden secrets, and powerful enemies, I have to dig deep to save my family and stop the queen's dark plans.

Can I unlock the Codex's power and set things right, or will the queen's reign of terror continue?

Chronicles of Elysia: Rebellion

by Yuri Jean-Baptiste

Dark gods and foul monster claim the land. But an unlikely band of rebels look to challenge their reign.

Living as a street rat in the impoverished hamlet of Kerkeliz, young Chidea has only known oppression and hardship. Between the harsh rule of corrupt rulers and terrifying creatures from the Underworld preying on defenseless citizens, Eylsia has lost all hope.

But when a curious group of ragtag warriors invades their sleepy town, Chidea unearths a daring plot to overthrow the Traitor King and bring an end to the Forsaken Ones that threaten their kingdom. Desperate to learn more and discover the truth behind the mystical Armor of Elyon, Chidea will find herself at the forefront of a war between an ancient demigod of Chaos and the mysterious hero destined to challenge him.

Will the defiant warriors regain the legendary lost Armor before it’s too late, or will the dark forces of Vehdite quell the sparks of rebellion once and for all?

Chronicles of Elysia: Rebellion is the first book in the electrifying epic fantasy series from the author of Metamorphs. Fans of C.S. Lewis, R. A. Salvatore, and Andrzej Sapkowski will love this diverse new spin on the genre.

The Secret Humankind

by Gloria Oliver

She keeps her head down and cleans up messes. When the body count starts rising, will trying to make a living get her flushed?

Julia Xero is stuck in survival mode. After losing the only person she loved, the introverted orphan longs to escape her toxic employment for the zen of crime and trauma scene decontamination. But when she lands her dream job and is called to a bloody rooftop with a decapitated corpse, she’s horrified to come face to face with an otherworldly shark-toothed assassin.

Furious to learn she’s been enlisted by a clandestine race of beings against her will, Julia’s dismay fountains when she finds out they implanted her with a neck bomb to ensure her lips stay tightly sealed. Fit to be tied, and her thunderous confrontation with her boss hitting a deadend, the stubborn young woman begins plotting ways to leave the energy-powered entities in her dust.

Can she outwit an ancient civilization before her carotid goes boom?

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