It has been a hot minute since I’ve updated anything here, but I promise there’s a good reason.
Over the past six months, I’ve been working on several exciting projects, and they have all finally come to fruition! Please enjoy the follow early holiday presents:
Gift #1: A Book You Don’t Have to Read!
My wife and I have often debated this burning question: Does listening to an audiobook count as “reading”? You are certainly consuming the story, but it’s not the same process in my mind (pun intended). Don’t get me wrong — I am all for listening to content (have I told you lately about the 23 podcasts I follow weekly?), I just consider audio a different experience than taking in old fashioned text on a page.
Whatever your opinion, I wanted to have the option of listening to my novels — especially the ones I wrote for kids who don’t like reading. After five years of failed attempts to DIY an audiobook (why did I make so many characters have accents? 😆), I decided to hire a professional. NO REGRETS! Nick Freedson did a tremendous job with this reading, from the narration to all the unique character voices. I am so pleased with this production that I will definitely hire Nick to read the rest of the series.
You can get your Locked In audiobook on Audible or Apple books. Please give it a listen and let me know what you think!
Gift #2: Stella’s Stunning Sequel!
I had such a great time writing a book with my daughter, but that involved taking some of her creative ideas out of the story in order to make a coherent plot. What to do with those discarded but delightful bits? How about write another book!
The inspiration for my latest novel grew out of a brief scene we left out of The Borrowed Daughter: a gorilla gets loose in the castle! It was exciting, it was funny, it humanized both the people and the animal — but it just didn’t fit in the flow of the story. Now, that wild scene kicks off an entire novel, and I’m so happy to share it with you:
Beasts of the East is available as a paperback and an ebook on Amazon. I hope you have as much fun diving back into Stella’s world as I did!
Gift #3: My Daughter Gets a Facelift
Remember The Borrowed Daughter? Well, it got a facelift! With the launch of Beasts of the East, I decided to relaunch the first book in the Stella and the Seven Kingdoms series. While this is a pretty typical move amongst authors, I decided to change some things. Can you spot any differences?
2 of the 3 changes should be obvious, but I’ll list them in order of difficulty:
- I redesigned the cover (not so controversial)
- I switched some names so they aligned with the sequel (a bit more edgy)
- I gave it a totally different title (nearly split my family in two)
OK, maybe I’m exaggerating the impact of these changes, but they made this project simultaneously the smallest undertaking this year and the most emotionally challenging. I loved The Borrowed Daughter, and I know these adjustments — however factually small they may seem — can be alienating or confusing for readers.
Is this a new book?
Is he trying to trick us into buying another copy of the same thing?
Simple answer: No and no!
Besides the cover, title, and minor name changes, it’s the same story — don’t feel the need to order a new copy! I really just wanted to freshen up the look to better match Beasts of the East, and so I can provide a more consistent look and feel for the reader as the series extends into Book 3 (and beyond? 🤔 ).
If you are so inclined, I would certainly appreciate it if you checked out The Mischievous Messenger (or gifted it to a curious young reader!).
Whether you get it or not, I’d also be interested to hear your thoughts on the changes I made to The Novel Formerly Known As The Borrowed Daughter, or any of the other projects I’ve recently put out in the world. I value your time and perspectives, so all feedback is welcome 🤗
M. J. Lau 