Welcome to the Magical Realms of Healing and Adventure! 🌌✨

Side Quests have an Impact!

Apr 18, 2025

Welcome Soul Bards and Lovely Sunwalkers,

Hello, fellow adventurers and dreamers! Whether you're a seasoned epic fantasy aficionado or a romantasy newcomer, we welcome you with open arms to our vibrant community. This newsletter is not just about fantasy tales; it's about the journeys we all embark on, whether they're main quests or the side quests that make life rich and rewarding. Let’s delve into the wonders of healing through these magical detours, inspired by the enthralling world of what it means to take up that healing journey when even the muddy middle of life looks more like a mid life spiritual awakening versus our mid life crisis. Somethings are not falling apart. They are indeed falling together.

Meet Merna and Jenna in Person 📖✨

Ah, the joy of meeting the creator behind the magic! I have several events coming up in the Maryland area, and I am adding more and more each week. Check back here for more updates, yeah?

Four State Comic Con
Hagerstown, Maryland
April 26-27, 2025
La Lune Metaphysical Shop’s Spring Awakenings Market
Hagerstown, Maryland
May 10, 2025
The Write Women Book Fest
Bowie, Maryland
July 19-20, 2025

Dive into The Merna Annals World 🌌

Discover a universe where magic isn't just a myth, but a vibrant tapestry that weaves together human history and mythical beings. In The Merna Annals, journey alongside the merna—immortals like vampires, werewolves, and faeries—as they guard The Veil and confront societal challenges. The first book, Bound by Fate and Blood, introduces us to Ian, a Scottish merchant turned vampire, and Nephtyri, an exiled Egyptian vampire royalty. Their destinies are entwined in a battle against the Hunters' Guild.

I have been getting to know Ian and Nephtyri through the eyes of their children, nieces, and nephews the last few weeks. I am so in love with Book 6. Though I am a few days behind from where I used to be, I am currently drafting Chapter 12 and have completed roughly 22.5k words total. That’s right. This book is about ⅓ of the way drafted in every sense of the phrasing.

At the same time, I realize how much ground we have yet to over before this book arrives next year to your hands, dear readers. I have been working on writing the Side Quests, a full trilogy about the human side of Season 2, for the last few years alongside Season 1. There’s going to be upwards of five side quests being released this year while I continue to write Season 2. I LOVE this world so much. It feels lived in by now. Want to join us, as it grows?

The Healing Power of Side Quests 🌟

Life, much like the epic tales of Nephtyri and her companions, is a tapestry woven with both main quests and side quests. Each path, each challenge, holds the potential to transform us, and it is within these moments of divergence that I found my true self.

In the realm of gaming, side quests are more than just tools for leveling up. They are opportunities for growth, where we learn about forgiveness and change. Through these quests, we encounter characters and stories that challenge us to reflect and evolve. Much like Nephtyri and Ian, we learn to ask for forgiveness and, more importantly, to change our behaviors to uphold our promises of self-improvement.

These side quests were pivotal in my journey. They allowed me to step away from the shadow of my namesake and explore the vast landscape of my own potential. As I navigated these paths, I discovered unexpected friendships and passions that brought healing and joy to my life. The lessons I learned on these side quests became the foundation of my transformation. They empowered not only me but also my found family of merry misfits, each of us striving to become better for ourselves and, as a ripple effect, for others.

The Ripple Effect of Growth

The transformation I experienced, much like the side quests in a grand saga, contributed to the rich lore of my life's journey. They were the threads that wove the story I was meant to live, each one vital and meaningful. By embracing my true self, I found strength I never knew I had. I learned that being true to oneself is the greatest power of all. This authenticity resonated with those around me, inspiring them to embark on their own paths of growth and change.

Through Nephtyri's journey, I discovered that it is not the divine legacy of a goddess that defines us, but the courage to forge our own path. It is in the acceptance of our flaws and the pursuit of our own truth that we find our greatest strength. As I continue on this path, I carry the lessons of every side quest with me, knowing that they are the stepping stones to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

This is also why I am so proud of the people I grow alongside as fellow authors, writers, businessowners, professionals, readers, and students of life in general. I am grateful to learn how to be a better person through experiences with them. Are we going to misstep? Sure. After all, Bob Ross called them “happy little trees,” right? Trees have deep, deep roots, and in some cases, they have little control over where their original seed is planted--thinking of birds, chipmunks, or squirrels moving seeds and human interactions here specifically.

Exciting Announcements for Super Fans! 📚✨

Prepare to expand your horizons with two new side quests from The Merna Annals:

A Merna Annals Side Quest 1: The Winged Ones
Release Date: June 6, 2025
Join the Winged Ones on a humorous, magical adventure. With elements of epic and urban fantasy, this collection promises laughs and heartfelt moments.

A Merna Annals Side Quest 2: Pearl and Gold
Release Date: July 7, 2025
Follow Nephtyri as she leads her found family to a new world, exploring themes of resilience and leadership.

Other works with TBA pre-order dates for WIDE placements are as follows...

A Merna Annals Side Quests...
**Six Weeks but Three Years–Frey’s standalone that takes place during Book 2: Bound by Oath and Heart

**Slices and Sheets–short stories about the five couples from Season 1 set in various scenarios and settings throughout time and space

**Grace and Ptolemy--two fallen angels awaken in the Celestial City after a certain battle in Book 5: Bound by Lyric and Time, and they are forced to work together to preserve the future for their beloved Priestess Princess and her Paladin Prince--directly affects the start of Season 2

**Daughter Forever--Iona might be Ian’s biological niece, yet he and Nephtyri raise her to be like a child of their own alongside her cousin, Elias--when her 28^th birthday arrives, though, she has a question Ian hesitates to answer until it is almost too late: “What if I don’t want to be a woman anymore?”
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VITAELANGICA (adjacent to Season 2)...
**The Crusaders of Lukzander Shoals--there’s dragons in the hills of Mountain Maryland’s Appalachian wilds, and some sort of unknown magic warps technology to make it happen--how do three, high school friends handle the chaos?

**The Captains of Zenith Falls--Andi and her friends from the previous installation in this mini-series agree to work with the military, government, and this shady guy named Frey to fight the seam splits--protecting humanity is not their only goal anymore, is it?

**The Commanders of Aluisa Cliffs--Video games are magic in real life, and Andi’s small group of friends feel the effects of magical war--history might have hidden it, but the alterations to time and space cannot be contained farther.
The Merna Annals Season 2...
Book 6: Legacy of Lyric and Time--Korrin knew his entire life that he was adopted, and he wouldn’t trade anyone to be Mama and Papa than Lee and Frey, respectively--however, what happens when his biological parents return and bring a new war with magic that requires them to work with the humans against a faerie Korrin used to respect?

Free Book Alert! 📚✨

Dive into Bound by Fate and Blood and other free or reduced eBooks from April 15-20, 2025. Uncover a world where the merna secretly protect humanity. Experience the heart-stopping romance and epic adventures that await within. Grab your copy here or at indieauthorcentral.com.

If you are into anything like what my books contain, then you will want to check out all of the other books and STUFF THAT KINDLE for the months ahead.

In particular, if you are into astral and dream magic—some of the type of casting Nephtyri does, then you definitely want to check out Megan Mary’s The Dream Haunters and similar books!

Want to Support Some of my Epic Author Friends?

A few ladies and I are going to be at The Write Women Book Fest in Bowie, Maryland from July 19-20, 2025. If you want more information, click here!

Rachel D. Adams is one of the most supportive and honest storytellers of people I have met around YouTube as an Authortuber. She and her co-author orchestra amazing urban fantasy tales that make every lover of all things paranormal want to purchase every book immediately.

Kay Parquet has long been my burnout detector—if Kay is telling me I need some rest, she means it. I am so grateful for the friendship she has given in this way, and her characters reflect much of those same warm and welcoming characteristics. Oh, and 100%—arcanepunk IS a thing!

J.D. Robinson’s vampires make my nerd brain so happy, and I wish I had more excuses to drive down to visit her and Rachel in North Carolina for reasons—J.D.’s books will also make you want to do similar!

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Join the Adventure! 🌟

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a universe where love, magic, and immortality collide. Whether you're embarking on a main quest or savoring the healing journey of a side quest, remember, every step is an adventure worth cherishing.

We hope to see you at the events and hear about your own healing adventures. Until then, happy reading and questing!

Warm wishes,
Jenna OM
Your Soul Writer