Attention Beauties, Beasts and Fairies! Whimsical’s Next Fairytale Is Here. 🐉

Greetings Gentle Reader from the Land of Whimsical!

Open me for our next fairytale fanatic classic edition and an insider look into how we pick books for publication!


We are SO excited about this particular newsletter. We’ve got lots of news for you all, including our newest classic… and to be honest, one of our favorites! Many books are built off the back of fairytales (shoutout to our very own Numina Parables series by Mckenzie Catron!), but how often can you say we’re publishing our own special edition of the Brothers Grimm?

Grab your beverage of choice and read on for more exciting news like our upcoming sale, a way to read our newest original release for sale, and a look into how we pick books for publication!


Grimm’s Fairytales is up for preorder!

That’s right!! You can now preorder your own newest classic HERE, exclusively available through our website! There isn’t another edition like this on your shelf. Can we say, obsessed!? 😍

Look at that gorgeous cover by our very own Micheline Ryckman. We’re absolutely obsessed with all the details!

So, what is it?

Grimms’ Fairy Tales is a German collection of over 200 different fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm, (Jacob and Wilhelm), that had the first volume published in the early-1800s, with the final volume published in the mid-1800s. This Whimsical Publishing exclusive edition of these classic tales comes with a complimentary pre-order bookmark, sprayed edges, interior illustrations and Whimsical-created dust jacket and hardcover artwork!

Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a collection of various short stories; the first volume was published in 1812, and contained 86 different tales! And guess what? This exclusive collection features all volumes published by the Brothers.

Preorder now, if you want to reserve this exclusive bookmark! We only have a limited quantity, so the sooner you order, the more likely you are to secure one!

We also only have limited quantities of the sprayed edges, so preorder before May 12th to get yours!

Snag your preorder now!

How Does A Publisher Pick What Books To Publish?

Have you ever wondered how a book gets picked from the sea of submissions? Are you a writer anxiously approaching the time where you have to send out your work? Or a reader morbidly curious how this one book you picked up got selected over hundreds, sometimes thousands, of others?

We can’t tell you what every publisher does, but we can tell you what we do here at Whimsical Publishing and give you a peak behind the curtain in the book production process. I think it’s important to start from the beginning. The founder of our press, Micheline Ryckman, after having success with her own books and art, wanted to be able to share the love with other storytellers. Since our press is family-run, she wanted the authors–and the stories they tell–to also feel like family.

First and foremost, it’s important to follow the guidelines. You’d be surprised how many submissions have to be sidelined because someone simply doesn’t follow the rules, especially when they’re stated on the publisher’s website. For example, Whimsical Publishing only takes agented submissions, so therefore, only agents can submit. 

The second step is to make sure it fits with what we publish. Like we said, we want the books to feel like a family, so therefore, we want them to align with what we publish. We publish closed-door books, but we also publish books that have big adventurous plots, strong romantic stories, and high stakes.

Now, the third step is where things get a little trickier. While we want things that align with what we’ve published, we also don’t want to be publishing carbon copies over and over. We want something that’s also a little different from anything we’ve ever published. For a while we primarily had romantic fantasies before we scooped up Hayley Reese Chow’s science-fiction fantasy. This makes it easier for a publisher to market to a wider audience, and to make sure their books aren’t competing with one another.

You’ll hear this a lot if you’re in the business of books, but it’s a very subjective business. Finding a book that’s just in the perfect perimeter of what you’re looking for differs from publisher-to-publisher, which is often why a book is submitted to multiple different publishers before finding it’s perfect home!

If you want to learn more about books, check out of SUBSTACK  for more!


SALE ALERT! 

We’ve Got Books For Your Budget.

Starting on February 22nd and going until the 25th, we will be hosting our Almost Spring sale! For three days, use the code ALMOSTSPRING25 to save on anything on site!

Additionally, we’re having an overstock sale bonus. YES. That means you can get an EXTRA 5% discount on top of our 25% off deal specifically for our overflow of The Arrow and the Alder.

Use the code ARROW30 for a 30% of ANY edition of The Arrow and the Alder.

While it’s not a sale, we do have an opportunity upcoming for you to read a book for FREE! Starting on February 24th, Fangs, Fate, And Mondays, Hayley Reese Chow’s next release, will be available on NetGalley. If you want to read the book early, and help us out by leaving a review, this is your chance!


Speaking of, we’ve got loads of upcoming buzz for our new releases in March. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss out:

  • New Whimsical Novella Title Reveal – March 3rd
  • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Release Date – March 17th
  • Author Live Chat with Kaitlyn Carter Brown – March 30th
  • New Whimsical Novella Cover Reveal – March 31st

If you’ve read all the way to the end, you deserve a cup of hot cocoa. 

Thank you all so much for supporting our journey thus far. We’re a small team and we appreciate and see all your comments, messages, and orders. As a family run press, it means the world!

Until next time,
Whimsical Publishing 🩷🦩

Fangs, Fate, And Updates With Your Favorite Small Press 💌

Greetings Gentle Reader from the Land of Whimsical!

We’re here to grace your inbox with some exciting news and updates! We hope everyone’s been cozy and warm these past few weeks. It’s been busy over here as we hurry to get you new gorgeous editions of your favorites and put together what we hope will be your next five star read. 

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

  • How and where to order Fangs, Fate, & Mondays (and when to read it for free on NetGalley!)
  • What makes a Small Press Different than a Big 5 Publisher
  • Fangs, Fate, & Mondays Author Interview TONIGHT @ Whimsical Publishing Instagram 

Starting with this newsletter, we’ve decided to throw it back to the blogging days! Each newsletter will contain a small blog style article giving you an inside look on all things books and publishing from our Whimsical perspective. Read on to learn more!


Fangs, Fate, & Mondays is up for preorder!

Yep! You heard that right. You can now order Hayley Reese Chow’s next novel HERE for the exclusive edition, and/or on Amazon for the eBook!

Look at that gorgeous cover by our very own Micheline Ryckman. We’re absolutely obsessed with all the details! If you need a refresher on what this delightful, fantasy-genre-blend novel is about, here’s the blurb:

In Azalea Springs, a family curse just means more paperwork.

After her best friend was murdered, Dessa Blue McKinney swore she’d never return to the paranormal town of Azalea Springs. But after she walks in on her fiancé cheating with her business partner, she has nowhere else to go but home. Desperate for a distraction, she agrees to fill in at her uncle’s Paranormal Intermediary Office until she decides what to do with her life. But when the new intern is the handsome golden boy of the most notorious family in town and her dead friend’s sister goes missing, old secrets bubble to the surface, and the past may not be so willing to let her go.


Meanwhile, perpetual screw-up, Jamison Kane, is reeling from his role as the primary suspect in a triple homicide and the brand-new bearer of a family curse. When Dessa’s uncle offers him an internship to search for a cure, he reluctantly agrees—and totally not because Dessa was his high school crush. The job description? Keep the werewolves and vampires from tearing each other’s throats out, solve the missing persons case, and don’t fall in love with Dessa McKinney.

It definitely sounds like a Monday, but at least in this office, the coffee really is magical.

Enticed by the plot? Now, can we dangle this beautiful exclusive edition in your face. Look at these absolutely gorgeous sprayed edges and case laminate artwork by Micheline Ryckman and Keri Manlet!

If that doesn’t get you, we also have these amazing preorder incentives right alongside it! I mean look at that adorable little sticker? And the art work (swooning)? But remember, these are only available until May 26 2026.

Snag your preorder now!

What’s The Difference Between A Small Press And A Big Five Publisher?

Out in the world of publishing, there are hundreds of different kinds of publishers. Some that only publish picture books, others that take every genre on the face of the earth, some that publish three books a year and others that publish three hundred books a year.

Both strive to publish the highest quality stories.

So what makes a publisher considered a small press versus a Big Five Publisher? 

Distribution is a key factor between both. Did you know there’s actually different companies responsible for getting books out? And each of those companies have different reach? Bigger publishers partner with bigger distributors. 

Bookstores, like Barnes and Noble, tend to be picky on what books they stock and therefore, prioritize books from certain distributors over others. Books with bigger publishers have an advantage and a higher chance of getting placed in bookstores.

Small presses typically partner with smaller distributors, such an IngramSpark or handle distribution themselves from their own personal warehouse! This still allows them to get their books distributed widely online, but they have to work a little harder to be noticed by bookstores and aren’t often prioritized when libraries and bookstores stock new books. You can help these odds by requesting books from your favorite small presses at your local library or favorite bookstore!

Budget and Teams are often bigger at a bigger publisher, which can have its ups and downs. While this means more money might be invested in a book and most authors get advances, it also means they can acquire more books and only a few can be selected as “lead titles” (books that are often given the most marketing budget and attention). 

At a small press, they work with much smaller teams (for example, at Whimsical our team is only 5 people!) and budgets. Because of this, small presses can only take a few manuscripts on per year, but are able to invest more equal time, energy, and money into each one. While big publishers often have more resources in terms of publicity and marketing, and have teams dedicated to that sole task, small presses have to take it all on their own and marketing support can vary greatly from publisher to publisher. Small presses rely heavily on reader support to be great (huge thank you to all are readers!)

Both strive to put out the best stories possible! Both are entirely valid paths for publications. Both handle everything from covers to editing and strive to get the best possible version into the hands of readers.


Tune In TONIGHT on Whimsical Publishing’s InstagramFor A Live Chat With Hayley Reese Chow!

Tonight Whimsical’s owner, Hannah Greentree, will be hosting a book giveaway and interviewing our very own Hayley Reese Chow, author of Into The Churn and upcoming Fangs, Fate, and Mondays on livestream at 7PM MST / 8PM CST). Live on the Whimsical Publishing Instagram (@whimsicalpublishing).

(Psst, we will be doing a giveaway of a copy of Into The Churn during the live)!!

Join us for a fun chat AND for a chance to win the giveaway!


Make sure to mark your calendar for these upcoming Whimsical dates! We have a lot more in store for you all this year. 

  • New Whimsical Classic Reveal – February 17th
  • Fangs, Fate, & Mondays goes live on NetGalley – February 24th
  • New Instanolde Novella Title Reveal – March 3rd 
  • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Release Date – March 17th 
  • Alice In Wonderland Release Date – April 21st

If you’ve read all the way to the end, you deserve a cup of hot cocoa. 

Thank you all so much for supporting our journey thus far. We’re a small team and we appreciate and see all your comments, messages, and orders. As a family run press, it means the world!

Until next time,
Whimsical Publishing 🩷🦩

Are You Ready for A Churn in the (Virtual) Society?

You thought we were done!?

 Not quite yet! Grab your goggs, Belroy Boys and Babes, because we’re back to fill you in on what Micah was up to during Ezren and Foster’s adventures!

Virtual Society is blowing up. (Figuratively.)

When Micah Belanger saw the word “disputed” pop up after her beloved Belethea Race Royale team won the biggest race in ’verse, all of VSoc heard her shriek. Add in four attempted murders, and she’s on a (virtual) warpath to set the record straight—as any true fangirl would.

Lowell Coppen, of The Royaler Review, is also concerned with the murderous rumors behind the latest BRR, especially with warnings of a system-wide war rippling through VSoc. Determined to shed light on the truth, Lowell, a self-proclaimed objective voice, forges a begrudging alliance with Belethea’s most manic fangirl. If their secret arrangement comes to light, it’ll ruin them both, but if they don’t get the story right, the lies could bring Belethea to its knees.

And falling in love isn’t helping at all.


This Into the Churn novella will be released on September 16, 2025.

The first 40 pre-orders from our website will come with a complimentary art print postcard and signed bookplate from the author. (Kindle ebook version is available via Amazon)


This will be the last story planned from our beloved Casolla system… but we never say never. Hayley could always get a spark of an idea for another story someday. But for now, look at how amazing the full spread looks together!


Mark your Calendars for…

June 13th – Numina Parable Book 3 title reveal
July 10th – Christmas in July SALE!

Into the Abyss Release Day is HERE!

Royalers, the wait is OVER!

The epic conclusion to Hayley Reese Chow’s sci-fi adventure romance is finally here! Strap on your goggs and hold on tight, because we’re about to take you INTO THE ABYSS.

A gorgeous glossy paperback or exclusive jacketed edition from Whimsical Publishing are available now! If you prefer the eBook or a standard hardcover, both are available from Amazon.

What’s special about the exclusive edition, you may ask? It’s got a completely different design under the dust jacket printed directly onto the hard case, interior illustrations, and bonus content from the author!

It was never just a race…

Four months after dark syndicate interference in Crion’s inaugural race royale, Ezren and Foster have settled into their roles as ambassadors on the BRR council.

Though begrudgingly working beside their would-be murderer, Ezren and Foster have struck an uneasy truce as Calderon mentors them in Casollan politics for the upcoming BRR. While Foster counts down the days until they can walk away from the council, Ezren is conflicted as she weighs their ever-growing positive impact.

However, when a high-profile murder upends the whole system, Casolla’s fragile peace balances on a knife blade of disaster. As the deadly conspiracy unfurls, a new race begins, and blood spills among the stars. With both their lives and Casolla’s future hanging in the balance, Foster and Ezren will have to decide who they’re meant to be or risk losing their world to the darkness forever.

Run. Drive. Fight. Rise.


By the way, we still have FREE redemption codes for US and UK readers for many of our audiobook titles! Click HERE to request a copy!


Okay, one more image because we can’t get over how amazing this trilogy looks together!

If you preordered your copy early, thank you!! You should have a tracking email in the next 48 hours. We’re so grateful for you all!


Mark your Calendars for…

April 8th – King of Star-Cast Skies publication date
April 15th – Royalers, Check our Instagram for a SURPRISE!
May 6th – The Arrow & The Alder Release Day