#compound series

[bardicfool]

📣📣 VERY IMPORTANT BOOKISH ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣📣

You are cordially invited to join me for an IG Live Launch Event to celebrate the release of Fail-Safe, the second book in the Compound Series! 🥳

I'll be going live on the Bardic Fool Instagram page on Friday, Feb. 4 @ 5:30 PM PST with special guest Shayla Morgansen (@solia-dreams​), author of the YA fantasy series The Elm Stone Saga.

We'll talk about empaths, magic, the writing process, and maybe a few other writerly/readerly things, depending on how sidetracked we get. 😅

In addition to all that, we want to answer YOUR questions! Reblog this post or message me if you'd like to get your ask in ahead of time. Early questions get answered first!

See you on the 4th! 😊

[Image description: A mockup of Fail-Safe as a paperback on the left with two circular headshots to the right. The top circle is a picture of Katy, and the one below it is a picture of Shayla. At top, on a purple strip, orange text reads "IG LIVE LAUNCH EVENT!" Below, also on a purple strip, orange text reads "FEBRUARY 4, 2022 @ 5:30 PM PST"]

[bardicfool]

Do you like cranky empaths?

[Image description: A mockup of the Dark Empathy cover on a tablet  against a purple background. To the right, there’s a white circle with a  gold border around it and black text on the inside that reads “99¢.”  Underneath, yellow text reads “Sale!”]

Calling all fans of snarky empaths, magical conspiracies, and m/m romance!

If you’ve been on the fence about getting yourself a copy of Dark Empathy, a.k.a. the first book in the Compound Series, now’s a great time to grab the e-book, which will be available for 99 cents for the entire month of February! 🎉

Here’s the blurb:

—————————————————

For an empath, “How do you feel?” is never just a question.

Not when it can kill you.

These are the rules:

1. Rare and powerful empaths never escape the compound.

(Bastian Lucas escaped a year ago, and just because he’s been dragged back doesn’t mean he won’t escape again.)

2. Compound officers don’t ask questions.

(Captain Henry Mortimer has always followed orders, but Bastian’s arrival—and the disappearance of one of Henry’s team—have him wondering things he probably shouldn’t be wondering.)

When Major Valentine orders Bastian and Henry to investigate a series of murders committed by an asset with powers similar to Bastian’s, it brings to light more than just a cover up. Things like why an empath who shouldn’t exist is killing senators, what’s really behind the compound’s sinister asset program, and whether Bastian and Henry will live to see the end of this case.

Because they’re in danger of breaking rule number three as well:

3. Don’t fall in love.

—————————————————

Pick up your copy of the discounted e-book here!

Prefer paperback? Try these retailers.

Already read Dark Empathy? Get Fail-Safe, a.k.a. book 2, here.

[bardicfool]

Official Release Date Announcement!

The Compound Series will continue on February 4 with FAIL-SAFE, a.k.a. book 2!

🎉 Watch this space for info on release day shenanigans!

Here's the blurb:

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𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.

𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩.

The rules have changed.

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 . . . 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻.

(Major Henry Mortimer is determined to fix the organization that almost destroyed him and everyone he cares about—even if his “supporters” seem to be working against him.)

𝟮. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁 . . . 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁.

(Bastian Lucas thinks he’s accepted that his power is killing him—until a questionable ally offers him a dangerous way out.)

𝟯. 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 . . . 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁.

(Laurel was done looking back, but when a presumed-dead asset turns up at the compound very much alive, she has the opportunity to right past wrongs—or to make everything worse.)

With their fledgling new compound sinking into chaos, Henry, Bastian, and Laurel must come together to unravel a conspiracy that starts where their pasts inexplicably meet . . . before everything they've been trying to rebuild goes up in flames.

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FAIL-SAFE is currently available for preorder in e-book and paperback formats. Book 1, DARK EMPATHY, is also available now.

[Image description: A mockup of the Fail-Safe cover as an e-book on a tablet and a phone, as well as a paperback. The three items are in front of a purple background. Above them, orange text reads "Being resigned to the way things are isn't a badge of honor. It's a choice you make to absolve yourself of guilt when things go wrong and you do nothing to fix it." Underneath the mockups, orange text in all caps reads "The Compound Series continues February 4, 2022"]

[bardicfool]

🔥 FAIL-SAFE IS OFFICIALLY LIVE! 🔥

It’s now available from these retailers.

I'm so grateful to everyone who's preordered, left ARC reviews, commented on social posts, and generally just made me feel like a ~real author~ whose work is capable of entertaining folks. I hope you enjoy this book. 💖

Here’s the blurb:

---

The Compound Network nearly killed them.

Now they’re the only ones who can save it.

The rules have changed. 1. The compound can’t be saved . . . unless it can. (Major Henry Mortimer is determined to fix the organization that almost destroyed him and everyone he cares about—even if his “supporters” seem to be working against him.) 2. Empaths are doomed to self-destruct . . . unless they aren’t. (Bastian Lucas thinks he’s accepted that his power is killing him—until a questionable ally offers him a dangerous way out.) 3. Failed experiments get buried . . . unless they don’t. (Laurel was done looking back, but when a presumed-dead asset turns up at the compound very much alive, she has the opportunity to right past wrongs—or to make everything worse.) With their fledgling new compound sinking into chaos, Henry, Bastian, and Laurel must come together to unravel a conspiracy that starts where their pasts inexplicably meet . . . before everything they've been trying to rebuild goes up in flames.

---

Some FAQs:

Why should I read this?

Do you like cranky empaths, magical conspiracies, political intrigue, platonic m/f friendships, adorkable m/m romance, and snarky dialogue? If so, you’re the kind of person I wrote this for.

Is this book a standalone?

Not really. While you can start here, you’ll probably have a more robust experience if you read Dark Empathy first.

Are there any LGBTQ+ characters?

Yes! There’s a significant m/m romance subplot with one partner coded as bi/pan and the other as demi.

Any trigger warnings to be aware of?

Emotional abuse, PTSD, murder, memory loss, sexual situations. I wouldn’t say any of these things are particularly graphic, but YMMV.

Didn’t you say something about a celebration?

Yes! I’ll be going live on Instagram (@bardicfool) at 5:30 PM PST TODAY with special guest @solia-dreams​,  author of The Elm Stone Saga! We're talking about empaths, magic, and everything writing/publishing. Come hang out, ask questions, and tell us about your own projects!

[Image description: Mockups of the Fail-Safe cover on a tablet, phone, and as a paperback. on a black background with fiery tendrils. Orange text above the books reads "return to the compound." Orange text below reads "now available in e-book & paperback"]

[bardicfool]

[Image description: An image broken vertically into two halves. Left side: Rows of colored index cards laid out on a brown carpet. Right side: Katy holding a paperback copy of Fail-Safe above her laptop]

What happens when it’s done?

A post by @erinnharper​ came across my dash the other day. It mentioned how on writeblr, we often laugh about how our WIPs are eternal, we’re constantly self-sabotaging rather than writing, we’ll never get through this tough spot, etc. etc. etc.

If that’s true, it means we’ll never get to enjoy the experience of being DONE.

You’re never really done, of course. Not if you’re a perfectionist like me (*cough*).

But there’s a point in a novel’s life where you can compare your pile of notes from a revision outline to the paperback in your hand, and you can think . . . yeah. I did a thing. I wrote a book.

Maybe you can even say you published one.

Everyone’s journey is different, and I’m not about to put pressure on you to fit your creative timeline into someone else’s parameters.

I’m just gonna say that writing this book was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I’m terrified about what will happen the more I put it (and the entire Compound Series) out into the world.

I’m also really damned proud of myself.

I hope you’ll find a way to experience that feeling, too. Because you and your work deserve it.

(More info on how to preorder FAIL-SAFE is coming next week! In the meantime, DARK EMPATHY, a.k.a. book 1 of the Compound Series, is available in e-book and paperback. Amazon has actually discounted the paperback for the moment, so now’s a good time to pick up a copy!)

[bardicfool]

Meet the Fail-Safe Cast, Part 4: Chloe Pembroke, a.k.a. The Girl Who Can't Get Lost 🧭

Timid but determined, Chloe has survived the worst of the compound and figures she can (maybe) handle what it's becoming.

Unless what’s next is everyone relying on her power--with life and death on the line.

(You can check out Chloe’s origin story here.)

The Compound Series continues in February! Go here for more info, and stay tuned for more on ARCs and other release deets.

[Image description: A 3x3 mood board.

Top left image: Footprints in the sand.

Top middle image: A compass leaning against a wooden window sill.

Top right image: A pile of green and yellow leaves.

Middle left image: A view looking down at a pair of black and white Converse. The wearer is standing in a puddle surrounded by fall leaves.

Middle middle image: A back-lit side view of a girl with shoulder-length blonde hair. She's sitting cross-legged on the ground with a tree to her left.

Middle right image: A reddish sign with yellow arrows pointing to the right.

Bottom left image: A green paper map with a few shadows over the top.

Bottom middle image: A forest with early evening sunlight coming through the trees.

Bottom right image: A pile of several old books with some white flowers laid on top.]

[bardicfool]

Meet the Fail-Safe Cast, Part 3: Laurel, a.k.a. Peppy Talks-To-Plants Friend 🌿  

Laurel is all silliness and sass, fiercely determined to look on the bright side and support her friends, no matter what.

Until her past bursts back onto the scene and rudely informs her that it’s not at all what she thought it was.

The Compound Series continues in February! Go here for more info, and stay tuned for additional character intros this week!

[Image description: A 3x3 mood board.

Top left image: Several antique bookshelves filled with books.

Top middle image: A collection of small green succulents in white pots.

Top right image: A dimly lit, burned-out hallway.

Middle left image: Ivy growing on a tree trunk.

Middle middle image: A side view of a red-haired woman in a sleeveless white shirt, pressing her hand to her chest.

Middle right image: A small, curly sprout growing out of a green leaf.

Bottom left image: An old room with three windows and a floor littered with papers. There are also several broken-down metal bedframes.

Bottom middle image: A hand, palm up, holding a fern frond.

Bottom right image: A metal dish of surgery equipment.]

[bardicfool]

DE is on sale for 99 cents!

[Image description: A mockup of the Dark Empathy cover on a tablet. A graphic of a purple party hat is balanced on the top left. To the right, there's a yellow birthday cake with purple candles. Above it, black text reads "Birthday Flash Sale!"]

It's my birthday! It's also DE's book birthday! You know what that means??

Time for a Super Duper Birthday Flash Sale! 🎉🎈📚

From now through Oct. 31, you can pick up a copy of the Dark Empathy e-book for 99 cents.

Go here to add one (1) cranky empath to your life. And to help me celebrate becoming even more ancient. 😅

(Note: I assume Tumblr will bury this post, since I’ve included a link, so I’d love it if you could help me boost it. You can think of it as a very quick and easy birthday present! 😉)