The Deadline is Drawing Near & a Writing Update!

Hello riders and readers. Hard to believe it is Labor Day already and I am only two weeks out from launching my Kickstarter Campaign for my Special Anniversary Editions for Tales of Ferrês. I’m super excited and super nervous all at the same time. Right now I am trying to build my followers up as far as possible. I am sitting at 119 at the moment. The hope is to get to 125 before launch to feature as a follower goal the reel that will feature the Hardcover Edition and all its bling.

Today I did another update on my Kickstarter page. You can check it out by going to my pre-launch page and clicking NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH. This way you can check out one of my reveals for stretch goals once the campaign funds and grows over the month it is live. 

As for writing I have been so busy planning the Kickstarter I have done little. This week I am probably going to be running around a lot like I usually do every month. But I do plan to work more on “An Elf, a Dragon, and a God’s Intervention.” Then I am going to work on “Bonds of Friendship” after that. Hoping it is a fast process to write the new editions so I don’t lock myself into delays with the final workup of the special editions.

I am going to work on ideas for my next Kickstarter. Not sure yet what I plan to offer for the early release of “The SwordMaster Brothers.” I’m still writing this one and super excited to get “Tales of Ferrês” out of the way so I can get back to more current projects. 

What do you plan to work on this week? Do you like having goals to complete or do you just let everything go by the fly?

I hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend. I’m still working like always but I got to spend time with Ben and the kids. 

Hopefully, my next update has more success with writing in the future. I will keep you all in the loop with how things are going. Until next time.

~ Katie

****

Check out these campaigns...

Catalogued Chaos: Urban Fantasy Special Edition Hardcovers

by: Emma Shelford

A magic librarian and a dragon shifter fight to protect their loved ones while the worlds collapse around them. Gold foil, custom edges

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

Cursed of the Fey Duelist: Court of the Scorched Throne FOIL!

by: Christopher Schmitz

Dark Fantasy Special Edition novel in the epic fae series. eBook, pb, or HCw/foil, painted edges, and more! +a new novella, 4th book!

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

Lion of Zarall: An Epic Dark Fantasy Collector's Edition

by: Eddy Rose

An illustrated grimdark fantasy novel featuring exclusive artwork, maps, lore, and the story of a broken gladiator's fight for freedom.

BACK THIS PROJECT TODAY!

Isle of Fire & Fury - all slaying, no laying YA dark fantasy

by: R. Lennard

Book 4 of the Lissae series - with elemental magic, strong main characters & secrets worth uncovering. Originally published as Cantash.

BACK THIS PROJECT TODAY!

****

Thank you for reading this post. If you enjoyed learning about my process on Kickstarter and getting to see my writing updates you should consider subscribing to my blog. All you have to do is head over to the sidebar menu and subscribe by either the RSS Feed Option or through the Follow Me Button. I hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Until next time.

~ Katie

August 2026: End of the Month Check-In with KM Jenkins

Hello riders. It's been a month of craziness. I have been working my butt off on my PA side of my business and working towards my first Kickstarter launch date. The plan was to launch August 11th when I hit 100 Followers, but that might get delayed. Not because I am lower than 100 followers, I am happy to state that I made my goal. But the proof for my paperback and hardcover haven't arrived in the mail due to some delayed issues with the designer. However, I am hoping to have it this week or next to start creating reels and videos to share with everyone. 

However that has put a damper on my launch date, but I am struggling with my story on Kickstarter for the official Kickstarter Campaign page. I'm not sure I am loving my graphics so I might do something different or look at other Kickstarters to get inspiration. 

Today I released another update for my followers on Kickstarter. I revealed the early backer rewards that won't show up on the prelaunch page until next week. This way you get an idea of what you can get for a discounted rate when you back the project early on in the campaign. Want to see what they are head over to my prelaunch page click NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH and head to the updates section to see what I have in store. 

As for writing I have been working on my short story for my blog here for you all. I am going to be a day late with the story this month. Didn't have time to write everything I wanted and plan to do that here over the next couple of days. Mazu's Hatchling Adventure will get a third part for you all to enjoy and I am hoping to release it either on Thursday or Friday this week.

When it comes to my other writing I haven't accomplished much. I did manage to finish the re-writes for "A Father's Protection," and started "An Elf, a Dragon, and a God's Intervention." I am hoping to have that one done in the next week and move on to "Bonds of Friendship" after that. 

Doing these rewrites will delay my ability to deliver the final books to backers on my Kickstarter, but my writing style has changed and ideas on how to make the stories even better have bloomed in my mind. This I hope will make the book more appealing to new readers. 

As for that nothing else has happened besides everyday life. Things have been crazy and I am always on the run. What about you? Did you have a productive August? Are you working towards anything fun for your future? Share your answers in the comments below. 

****

Check out these Kickstarter Campaigns...

Court of Vipers

A Dark Fantasy Collector's Edition Hardback

by: Jackie Pawl

Political intrigue, dangerous alliances, and enemies-to-lovers romance collide in this deluxe special edition hardcover.

BACK THIS PROJECT TODAY!

The Piano Tuner's Song

Gothic Fantasy Romance Luxe Edition

by: Karenza Grant

A beguiling standalone where music becomes colour, slow-burn becomes ache, and the discord beneath the melody waits in the shadows.

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

A Pocketful of Dragons

A Cozy No-Spice Romantasy

by: E.R. Paskey

A shy baker saves two dragons, upending her life as she knows it and leading to love & belonging in this no-spice cozy fantasy romance.

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

Books that are Coming Soon & Writing Progress with Kickstarter Updates!

Hello riders. 

I'm a bit late with my monthly check-in on things. This month has been crazy and it didn't help any that my pharmacy screwed up my meds last week and it has taken me about four days to get back in the order of things. They didn't really do much wrong they just switched one of my night meds to morning and I found I had know ambition for anything. This also meant I wasn't sleeping at night. But I got it straightened around and I'm starting to catch up on the things I got behind on. 

I do have a few updates with things that I am working on as of right now, and I wanted to share them with you. 

What is in this post:

* Writing Update on The SwordMaster Brothers

* Writing Update on the Tales of Ferrês re-writes

* Audio production Update

* Kickstarter Mini Update 

*Writing Goals for July

What is Happening with "The SwordMaster Brothers?

I have been working on this project with several months already. Currently I have all the feedback from the beta readers and words of insights from my editor Allison. The book itself still needs work and I managed to switch things up with chapter 1. Super excited about how it turned out and waiting for additional feedback from beta readers for progress through the rewrites. 

As I work through these chapters I have decided to have "The SwordMaster Brothers," be my second Kickstarter I run. It will be a pre-release special edition. That means I will release it on Kickstarter first then will release it a few months later on the store fronts. I won't go as crazy with this Kickstarter as I did with Tales of Ferrês Anniversary Editions. But there will be fun art to collect and I might have two more addition character cards to collect with the Tales of Ferrês ones that will depict two characters from within this world of Tarzinëa.

What's Happening with the Tales of Ferrês Re-Writes?

I officially have "A Father's Protection," done with re-writes and re-edits. I plan to work on "An Elf, a Dragon, and a God's Intervention" and "Bonds of Friendship" this month. If Michelle can have the edits back as fast as she did with "A Father's Protection" then I should have 3 stories done by the end of the month. That means I will have eight more stories to go before I need to fulfill all the orders with the final product. I still plan to run the Kickstarter in August but right now I might not make the 100 followers mark that I wanted. But who knows I can always push it back another month. I don't have everything set in stone.

What is Happening with Tales of Ferrês' Audiobook Production?

Since I have the final draft of "A Father's Protection," I plan to start recording this weekend while Ben and the kids are away. This way I only have to kick my mom out of the house for a few hours on Saturday while I record. Then I have to pray that Teddy won't bark during the recording time. Not sure how long the first initial recording will take. I have to learn the software and get everything set up how I want it. It will be a learning experience but I plan to do it with each story in the Tales of Ferrês short story series, bundle them together, and offer them as a bundled audiobook for distribution. Yes, I am the voice actor or reader as I like to call myself. Not sure how pretty it will be but I would rather do it myself then us AI or someone that doesn't fit the book just right. 

Wish me luck... I'm going to need it.

What's Happening with the Tales of Ferrês Kickstarter Campaign?

Right now I am sitting at 86 followers. Since my last update I have only gained 16 more and have been stuck forever at 85. But I looked this morning and there was now 86 so hopefully if I continue to do swaps with other authors.... I will get more followers. If you happen to share it with your family and friends that would be great too. It could help boost my numbers so I would have a better launch when I go live, hopefully.

I did start working on setting up my campaign page. That means I have been working on graphics and getting everything ship-shape. Right now I am waiting on the whole shipping thing until the last moments so I can get the right amount to estimate for each add-on, tier, and product. I think the hardest one to estimate will be the mystery swag boxes. But I know a lot of you are excited about that as an option, sadly though, I will only be able to share those with US backers right now. 

Next update is in two weeks. It might happen sooner if I get to 100 followers. Hoping to get the final files this week of the covers for both the wrap and paperback. This way I can order the final proofs after the holiday.  

Writing Goals for this Month:

* Re-Write "An Elf, a Dragon, and a God's Intervention" & "Bonds of Friendship"

* Edit "An Elf, a Dragon, and a God's Intervention" & Bonds of Friendship"

*Re-Write the next 2-3 chapters of "The SwordMaster Brothers"

* Keep up with my blog and start writing in a writer's journal each day I write

****

Did you enjoy this post? Do you look forward to reading additional content about my journey as an author as I create the wonderful world of Tarzinëa? Then make sure to head to the upper corner of the sidebar menu and subscribe either by the follow button or the RSS Feed option. This way you get notified when I have new content to share about my world, writing projects, author features, and monthly goals. 

I hope you had a wonderful June and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish this coming July. 

Happy 4th of July USA riders! 

And Happy July to Everyone Else!

~Katie

****

Check Out These Kickstarter Campaigns!

Sanguine Scenario: Adventure Fantasy Hardcover

by: Joanna Maciejewska

Tea, blood magic, murderous conspiracy, and adventure bring three people together in this non-romance, friendship-forward fantasy tale

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

Reader's Remedy: Cozy Fantasy Short Stories & Illustrations

by: Noelle Nichols

Healing fiction by Noelle Nichols featuring a bookshop, gentle magic, tea, and yokai. Custom leather binders & monthly story delivery.

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

The Complete Shadow Bound Chronicles: A YA Fantasy Series

by: Nichole Heydenburg

The Mortal Instruments meets Wednesday in this no-spice, demon hunter series with found family, an immortal dog, & a magical academy.

NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH!

Get Ready Riders! It's About to Get Busy...

Hello riders. I hope you're ready to jump out of the saddle and sit by the campfire with me while we cook up some trout. Not much of a trout eater neither am I. Good thing I got some handy-dandy road rations for us to enjoy together. 

Today I wanted to introduce you to an important person who has a significant influence on what appears here on this blog and in the books that are part of this world of Tarzinëa. Eh hem...do you already know who I am going to be talking about? Not sure... that’s okay. K.M. Jenkins is by far one of the biggest introverts among authors you will meet. And I am here today to introduce her to you, or in better words... let her come out of her shell. Oh, and if you want to make it more personal you can call her Katie instead of using the boring author name.

Hi riders I’m Katie Jenkins. The author behind the world of Tarzinëa. Today I wanted to jump in and state that I am trying my darnedest to get my name out there and help you learn about this world I am creating. My love for this world started over two decades ago when the first characters took root in my memory. Now things have grown to where I have to write the characters’ stories even if I don’t want to. They won’t leave me alone and I have dodged a few swords to keep things moving along steadily over the last several years.

Now you're probably wondering? Why a blog? Why now? Well, I wanted to find a place I could call home for all my world-building content, character information, and information about writing and my new love for Kickstarter. Things are so new and old at the same time I feel like I am upside down most the time. 

However, I am trying to get my feet moving forward instead of chained to my wall where I have been held prisoner by my fear of success over the last several years. This year I have been working on books, short stories, and have nothing to show for it in the way of new releases so far. I plan to work on The SwordMaster Brothers this Summer with beta readers and The Emerald Knight this Fall with beta readers too. My other goal is to write some fun short stories here for you all to enjoy. The first story is coming later this month and I am super excited to share it. 

Mazu’s Hatchling Adventure has gone longer than expected and I am planning to break it up into two installments. Hope that goes well but we will see. It is too long for a blog post, which is why I am deciding on a course of action. That and I want to give Mëisha so much fun attention towards the end of the story that I think you will find enjoyable.

Now I plan to bring content to you twice a week with bookish weekends filled with tours and Kickstarter spotlights. However, if you have read none of my work yet you can head over to BookFunnel and grab this short story to start the Tales of Ferrês series now for FREE. Or you can head over to the Kickstarter Page to find out details too. The Kickstarter Prelaunch Page is HERE. 

This post is getting too long already and I haven’t even really told you too much about myself. But I want you to know that I plan to build Tarzinëa a home here on this blog and plan to share things about myself as time goes on. I’ll try to do another post more about me later in the month for those who are still interested in this introverted author. However, you can also ask questions in the comments below. I will be happy to answer any of them as they come in. 

Hope you all enjoyed this past weekend with Easter and to those overseas I hope you have a holy week as your Easter gets closer.