Caraval Bookmark #2 – The Prince of Hearts For the month of March, I couldn’t resist giving the spotlight to the Prince of Hearts himself! And how better to feature him than with one of… More
OFFICIAL TRAILER – Into the Churn
EZREN! FOSTER! RUN!
INTO THE CHURN!
Earth was tame. Belethea is not. ⛈🪐⛈
Seventeen-year-old Ezren Hart interns in her mother’s terraforming lab, studying Belethea’s deadly storms with the dream of giving her backwater planet open teal skies. But when budget cuts threaten to shut down her mother’s lab, Ezren enters Belethea’s Race Royale, the system’s deadliest and most lucrative race. To win, she’ll have to run, drive, and fight her way across Belethea’s barren landscape while navigating its savage and volatile storms. With her planet’s future, and her family’s, on the line, she can’t afford to lose. But first, she’ll have to convince her handsome royale partner that their planet is worth saving.
Foster Sterling is a jaded ex-prodigy royaler still reeling from his partner’s death in a training accident. When Ezren Hart comes charging into his life, her passion reminds him of what he once loved about racing and his dream of returning pride to their planet. Still, no matter how fast they go, they can’t outrun the mysterious string of deadly accidents following them like a curse. As Foster falls harder for Ezren, he races to piece the clues together. But with time running out and their survival on the line, he’ll have to decide if their dreams are worth their lives.
Perfect for fans of underdog heroes, slow burn romance, and high stakes sci-fi, INTO THE CHURN races across a new planet of savage storms and dazzling tech. Fall in love with Ezren and Foster as they battle side-by-side to save their scrappy world on a ruthless interplanetary stage where appearances are everything, speed means survival, and the only thing deadlier than the storms are the other racers. ⛈🪐⚡️☄️
A Little Old, A Little New, and an Important Update!
New For 2023: Limited Bookmark Series
Beginning in late February, we will be releasing a bookmark each month. These will be limited to 50 and when they’re sold out, they’re gone for good and will not return to the shop.
Since this is a new idea, we want to get your feedback before we start! Please answer the very short poll here so we know what you’d want most.
FILL OUT THIS FORM
Everyone who answers will be entered to win the first month’s bookmark design.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Preorder incentives for Into the Churn are limited to the first 75 orders only! Every order will always come with a signed bookplate and bookmark, but only the first 75 preorders will include the postcards of character and map art. These incentives are already 2/3 claimed, so don’t delay! If you’re hoping to snag these postcards, preordering ASAP is the only way to get them!
In other ITC news, keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram for a super awesome Into the Churn book trailer!
Pssst… Just in case you didn’t know, Whimsical is offering an exclusive, jacketed hardcover of ITC, and it has a surprise art cover under the jacket!
ALSO TAKE A PEEK AT THESE ITC REVIEWS>>>
“Hayley Reese Chow’s Into the Churn is a romantic Science Fiction thrill ride with brains and heart. Ezren and Foster have chemistry to spare, and the world of Belethea and its killer storms is just giddy-making good. I can’t wait to read what she does next!” —Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nebula Award-winning author of The Summer Prince
“Into the Churn is a whirlwind of a book that will sweep you up into its stormy world and won’t let you go.” —Bridget Tyler, author of the Pioneer duology
Transport yourself into the vibrant, dangerous planet of Belethea with its unpredictable storms, dicey politics, and mind-blowing technology. By the end, you’ll be chanting “Into the Churn!” alongside the characters you’ve fallen in love with as they barrel through tornadoes, rumors, romance, and lies all the way to the finish line. —Megan McCullough, Author of We Could be Villains
“Riveting. Fast-paced. Mad Max meets YA in this page-turning sci-fi adventure. Fans of my 13th Continuum trilogy will devour this book!” —Jennifer Brody, author of The 13th Continuum, Disney Chills, and co-author of Star Wars: Stories of Jedi and Sith
The paperback of The Rightful Bearer is on sale this month! (Until February 28th) There will also be a selection of Maiden Ship postcards on sale as well, so make sure you browse through TMS category of the shop to see all the discounted products!
Remember this handsome fella? Even though I’m no longer selling SJM art in the shop, we still have some leftover stock and for the month of February, this postcard of Cassian will be the free gift with all orders of at least $10 (before shipping). Once he’s gone though, he’s gone for good! Beginning March 1st, there will be a different new freebie postcard each month or until stock runs out.
And speaking of collections, have you ever wished there was a checklist of Whimsical Illustration’s art? My assistant Christina made a checklist to keep track of what artwork she has in her collection, and she wanted to share it with you all to use too! Check it out here!
All the links for our databases and requests for Whimsical’s services can be found below!
SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO WHIMSICAL
REQUEST A CUSTOM ART COMMISSION
REQUEST AN ENDORSEMENT/BLURB REVIEW
Please note that completing a form does not guarantee I will accept your request. This is purely for me to prioritize requests that I feel confident and inspired to complete.
Touching Base for the New Year!
I can’t even believe it’s already 2023! For this first post of the new year, I wanted to highlight some of the exciting things that will be coming to Whimsical this year.
If all goes according to plan, Whimsical Publishing will release, at minimum, two new books! Hayley Reese Chow’s is the first, it’s an action packed, sci-fi romance INTO THE CHURN will be releasing on April 4th (preorders are open now – also be sure to check out the endorsement reviews I’ve attached at the bottom of this post!)
One exciting new feature that Whimsical’s editions of INTO THE CHURN will have is a jacketed hardcover option! This will have an EXCLUSIVE design on the hard case. You won’t be able to get this edition anywhere else but on Whimsical! Plus, remember every pre-order from my shop (hardcover or paperback) will include the pre-order incentives that you also won’t get anywhere else!
The second book we’re launching this year will be the much-anticipated sequel to A Daughter of the Trolls by McKenzie Catron! We’re hoping for a late fall / early winter release… with plenty of excitement leading up to it. Title and Cover reveal to come soon, along with ARCs and a preorder campaign. Be sure to check to watch my social media for updates!
Whimsical is also hoping to have the Sleeping Beauty retelling that I’m co-authoring with Bryn Shutt released in 2023, but Bryn and I are both slow writers, mostly because we want to give you all a story worth waiting for!
There are also some exciting things for 2023 that I can’t share just yet, but the year ahead is full and I’m so so excited and blessed to have these opportunities. I’m looking forward to each and every one!
We still have some leftover fine art prints from the old manufacturer! These are 50% off (price already reduced and cannot be combined with any discount code). These are limited and many have only 1 or 2 left in stock.
The artwork itself is not being discontinued, so don’t panic! We’re just clearing out the old paper style since we have a new manufacturer in the US for fine art prints.
We are also now offering slightly imperfect books for sale at a discount in the shop! These are perfectly readable copies that might have incorrect finishes or minor dings/scratches on the cover or spine.
Commission and Endorsement Requests
When I receive requests for commissions or endorsement reviews, often I’m not able to accept for a variety of reasons… but one of those is sometimes that I just don’t have enough information to provide an informed answer. To help with that, I’ve created a few request forms for interested parties to fill out.
Please note that completing a form does not guarantee I will accept your request. This is purely for me to prioritize requests that I feel confident and inspired to complete.
For commission requests, please use THIS LINK. This will allow me to review your request and determine if I am able to take on a commission depending on your specific needs.
If you are requesting an endorsement review from any of the Whimsical Publishing authors, fill out the form at THIS LINK. This does not guarantee a review.
Did you know Whimsical has a growing database of human artists? To help combat the rise of AI art, we’ve created a database of human artists, which is accessible via my website.
Due to my unpredictable health and busy schedule, I’m not always able to accept commission requests. This database also serves as a great place to find alternate artists if I am unable to fulfill your needs for a commission. Or if you’re not looking to commission custom artwork, these talented people also have portfolios and shops for you to browse! Take a look!
Click HERE to view the list, or fill out the form to join if you’re an artist.
If you’re an indie author, we’re also creating a database for you to join as well! AI presents a problem for everyone in the arts, not just artists. Please consider joining our network of indie authors by clicking HERE and completing the form!
Are you a reader looking for your next great read? Check out the list of amazing indie authors. I’m sure you’ll find something to spark your interest!
Are you an author seeking publication from Whimsical Publishing?
View our current submission criteria and submit your manuscript HERE!
BEFORE YOU GO!!!
The reviews are coming in for ITC and I wanted to share these two with you today!
“Hayley Reese Chow’s Into the Churn is a romantic Science Fiction thrill ride with brains and heart. Ezren and Foster have chemistry to spare, and the world of Belethea and its killer storms is just giddy-making good. I can’t wait to read what she does next!”
—Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nebula Award-winning author of The Summer Prince
“Into the Churn is a whirlwind of a book that will sweep you up into its stormy world and won’t let you go.”
—Bridget Tyler, author of the Pioneer duology
Christmas GIVEAWAY, Boxing Week Sale, and MORE!
Joyous Kwanzaa. Yuletide Greetings. Happy Holidays.
Joyeux Noël. Feliz Navidad. Seasons Greetings.
Warm winter greetings, my Whimsies!
I want to wish all those who celebrate a very Merry Christmas! Wherever you are and however you celebrate, I hope it’s full of love and joy.
Read on for an exclusive giveaway, information about our Boxing Day Sale, and more!
I can’t believe it’s the end of the year already! In many ways, it feels like 2022 has flown by… but there were moments that seemed to drag on and on too. 2022 was such a monumental year for Whimsical – we published not one but TWO new authors (McKenzie Catron and Megan McCullough). We also signed on two additional authors whose books will be published in 2023! Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow will be releasing in April, and a Sleeping Beauty retelling that I’m co-authoring with Bryn Shutt which will hopefully be releasing later in the year. Also Mckenzie Catron’s second book in the Numina series will be coming late 2023 as well!
Whimsical has been blessed with special editions this year too! At long last, readers finally have the FaeCrate special edition of The Rightful Bearer in their hands! (I hope it was worth the wait and you enjoy the conclusion to Dain and Sable’s trilogy.) We were also honoured to have Unplugged Book Box release special editions of A Daughter of the Trolls and We Could Be Villains!
In celebration of Christmas and all the goodness of this year, and as a special exclusive treat to my newsletter and blog followers, we’re going to give away 1 copy of each Unplugged special edition PLUS one of the VERY limited physical ARCs of Into the Churn! This is only for newsletter and blog subscribers, so your chances of winning are higher. Be sure to click the link below and complete the short form to enter! Winners will be drawn on Boxing Day (December 26th).
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE!
And speaking of Boxing Day…
We’re having a sale!
From December 26th – 31st, you can save 25% off the entire shop with code BOXINGWEEK. This includes the preorder for Into the Churn! Most sales don’t include pre-orders, so take advantage of this limited time offer while it’s available!
We’ll also have some leftover fine art prints from the old manufacturer that will be 50% off (price already reduced and cannot be combined with sale discount code). These are limited and many have only 1 or 2 left in stock.
The artwork itself is not being discontinued, so don’t panic! We’re just clearing out the old paper style since we have a new manufacturer in the US for fine art prints.
We are also now offering slightly imperfect books for sale at a discount in the shop! These are perfectly readable copies that might have incorrect finishes or minor dings/scratches on the cover or spine.
While I’m celebrating the joyous season of Christmas, I do want to address something that is weighing heavily on my heart. The rise of AI “ART”. I get that creating AI images is probably fun, who doesn’t want instant art, or selfies turned into idealistic portraits for less than $10? But apps like Lensa, Midjourney, Artbreeder, and more, are NOT above board. The creators scrape the internet, stealing the original, copyrighted art and photos of human creators, then they feed those images (without consent) into their program and use them as the basis for their AI generators. They do this without the consent of the artists, and without any compensation. It is theft, plain and simple, and users of these apps are making these thieves, big tech, even richer. This is detrimentally harmful to the artists in countless ways, but especially to the livelihood of those, like me, who rely on their craft to put food on the table.
Whimsical Illustration has a strong #NoToAIArt stance, and we wanted to help in a small way by supporting and showcasing some true hardworking HUMAN artists and shops. Please consider shopping small this holiday season and supporting some these small businesses.
Top Left: Merle Hunt (@merlemade_tales)
Top Right: Kinko White (@kinko_white)
Bottom Right: Iridescent Fairytale (@iridescentfairytale)
Bottom Left: The Nubivagant Cabinet (@thenubivagantcabinet – owned and operated by Cat, one of Whimsical’s very own reps!)
Another initiative Whimsical is taking to help combat the rise of AI art is to create a database of human artists, which will be linked to our website. It is a place where artists can be featured and interested clients/customers can view the database to find and support real life artists.
DATABASE is at the link below and there is a form within the post to join up if you’re an artist.
JOIN HERE!
VIEW ARTIST DATA BASE HERE!
If you’re an indie author, we’re also creating a database for you to join as well! AI presents a problem for everyone in the arts, not just artists. Please consider joining our network of indie authors by clicking the button below and completing the form!
JOIN & VIEW THE INDIE AUTHOR DATABASE!
I’m truly so grateful for each and every one of you!
Christmas blessings,
Micheline Ryckman