Hey there, Reader:
First, thank you for being here. Truly. This ARC team—and this book series—means the world to me, and your excitement for this series is something I never take for granted. Because of this, I want to give you a transparent update about where things currently stand with Blood of Balor and all things part of the Otherworld Universe (aka the Song of the Sidhe and the companion series, short stories, etc).
The short version: I’m behind schedule. Not because I’ve forgotten the manuscript or lost steam, but because this installment is pivotal to the series and I refuse to rush it. Heir of Oberon taught me a lot about timelines, self-induced pressure, and honoring my own unique creative process—as well as what happens when I don't—and I’m committed to giving "B.o.B.", a.k.a. "The Beast", the time it needs to become the book you (and the series) deserve.
Some of you also saw that the Kickstarter campaign for Heir of Oberon's Collector's Edition is most likely not going fully fund by the deadline this weekend. While a bit disappointing, this was also a powerful learning experience—mainly in when to *not* move the Goal Post farther away 😅 I’ll be relaunching the campaign in 2026— most likely after Blood of Balor releases—with a stronger foundation, a more realistic Goal set, and better timing that allows me to focus on the campaign entirely instead of juggling with other projects simultaneously.
{I thought I could become an eight-armed octopus in how I do things. I was wrong.}
The biggest factor in this delay comes from the reality of my day-to-day: I’m a one-woman team writing books AND running a bookstore for indie authors—which just recently underwent a rebrand, website/e-commerce overhaul, and inventory surge I didn't see coming (but am SO glad it did!). I love both, but balancing them has revealed a lot about old patterns of overcommitting, people-pleasing, and trying to do too much at once. This year taught me that I need to build more sustainable rhythms, especially with the seasonal nature of the store and its gardening/landscaping, the related harvests, the local festivals, and everything that ties into making Fae•ble what I envision it to be for both visitors and indie authors.
I promise, this isn’t a “woe is me” email—just an honest and transparent window into what's going on for me as an author and bookseller.
I want you to know that if I shift timelines, it’s not out of neglect. It’s out of care. Blood of Balor is far too important to the series to be rushed or compromised, and slowing down the release timeline right now ensures I can continue in a way that honors both the story and the readers who love it.
Thank you for your patience, your support, and your belief in these books. You being here matters more than you know, and I’ll be sharing updated timelines as soon as I have them. Until then, please know the work is still very much in motion—just at a pace that protects the story (and my sanity 💕).
🌙✨ FAQs & Updates (for the TL;DR):
Is Blood of Balor delayed? What’s the new timeline?
Yes, but for a good reason!
Blood of Balor is one of the (arguably, the) most important books in the series, and rushing it would do the story (and you!) a grievous disservice. I've been diligently writing, editing, revising, and tackling new developments within and without the manuscript that have made it the kind of epic installation I've always known it would be—but that's what makes it "The Beast". This is a hefty one.
I am anticipating a major haul happening throughout the second half of this month (December), most especially due to my family and I making the very easy decision to close the shops for approximately 2 weeks so we can relax, enjoy the holidays, and leave me alone to write/edit/revise 😆 Which means I'm hoping & praying I can release the ARC edition towards mid-to-end of January.
Did something happen with the Kickstarter for Heir of Oberon?
Yes—me! I happened. My "let's go for it" ambition happened, and I moved the Goal from the original $1800 to $3600 because "why not"?
Well, that was a campaign-killing move I have since learned from 😅
The current campaign is most likely not going to reach Fully Funded by December 13th, but that's actually okay! What this means is:
- We will re-launch in 2026, preferably after releasing Blood of Balor, which will also push me to focus on getting *that* done first and expeditiously. I would like to do the relaunch in February, but am looking at a more realistic timeline being in March.
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If everyone who pledged for this current campaign places the exact same pledge the moment the re-launch happens, this will make the campaign Fully Funded almost immediately—and talk about an algorithm booster! This is what I should have done from the start, but again...my ambition was greater than my ability 😅
- Quick Side Note: If you pledged for this current campaign and it does not Fully Fund, you will not pay a single penny. I want to make sure everyone breathes easy during this holiday shopping period!
I noticed your website is down! Where can I find your books, merch, and updates?
Nikkiauberkett.com was this *super awesome amazing* author website on Shopify that I was so in love with...until the platform experienced a glitch with an app that their Support Team took freaking foreverrrrrr to ultimately just not fix. (I'm still pretty salty over it, TBH. They didn't even offer a compromise, like, "hey, we royally messed up, here is the next month on us".)
What DID result in the best way from this was both learning What Not To Do and How To Do Things on Shopify—for my bookstore, formerly BumbleBooks, now rebranded into Fae•ble. It's honestly been amazing (and I haven't needed to consult with Tech Support even once!) and I was able to migrate my bookish merch over to showcase possibilities to other indie authors who might also want hoodies, throws, art prints, etc.
You can now order my paperbacks & Otherworld merch through faeblebooks.com! (There's even a Loyalty Rewards Program 👑)
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As for nikkiauberkett.com, I will be migrating that domain to Substack once I get a few tech-y things on the backend figured out. If you're not following my publication there, I highly encourage you to! That is where I'm publishing all the additional lore for Song of the Sidhe and will be re-debuting the much-anticipated The White City serialized mafia-fantasy-romance companion series in 2026 (exact dates TBD).
Why mention the bookstore so much?
Because the bookstore and my authorship are intertwined — both financially and creatively.
Fae•ble is how I support indie authors and how I financially support writing my own books. In short, it's my "day job". Shopping there (even just browsing or sharing the link) directly helps keep the series going while simultaneously financially supporting other indie authors as well!
It's also the *only* bookstore in The Amana Colonies, which is quite a responsibility to carry! But one I have always been more than happy to bear 🥰
Plus…it’s amazing. And magical. And full of enchanting books you might not find anywhere else.
How can ARC readers help during a delay?
Honestly? Just by staying.
ARC readers are the heartbeat of indie publishing, and your patience gives me the breathing room to create something truly & exceptionally magical. If you want to go the extra mile, you can:
- Share Fae•ble with your bookish friends & family
- Support other indie authors through the store (and let your faves know this indie-only bookstore exists!)
- Leave reviews for my previous books if you haven't already (they matter A LOT!)
- Invite a fellow fantasy reader to join the ARC Team!
Every little ripple in this pond helps 💕
Are you okay? You mentioned balancing a lot.
Yes—truly! I promise!
But I’m also learning not to do All The Things at warp speed. I run my authorship and a brick-and-mortar/online indie bookstore, all while managing seasonal tasks like gardening and harvests that support the shop’s “enchanted cottage” vibe (& supplements the winter "s***, we're snowed in" grocery hiccups, thank goodness 😅).
This year taught me a LOT about avoiding burnout and creating sustainable rhythms—and about letting go of what I *think* is "the best way" when really it might just be insecurity doing the talking (i.e. trying to work on someone else's recommended writing schedule. My brain is ✨different✨ & I need to be loving that instead of fighting it!).
Ultimately, I’m making changes so the books, the bookstore, and my personal sanity can thrive long-term 💕
Will ARC readers get early chapters or sneak peeks while waiting?
YES!
I’ll be sharing teasers, behind-the-scenes notes, world-building tidbits, and probably even early chapters as the manuscript tightens up. You’ll still get to peek behind the curtain long before anyone else!
I already have a handful of chapter I'm super tempted to send your way. When I say this book is gonna be EPIC, I say that with my full chest standing on a podium 😉
Here's wishing you a warm, happy, and restful Holiday Season with the absolute BEST wishes to you for the New Year 🥰🎄
With gratitude and a(n un-)healthy dose of Nutcracker-esque fae sparkle,
Nikki
