Take a Look at my Kingdom

Let me take a minute, just sit right there...

I’ll tell you how I’ve been spending the past few weeks while off air.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air anyone? I know, the subtitle plus the header aren’t quite as tight as the iconic theme song from a show that shaped a generation of kids like myself, but it isn’t too bad. But don’t worry, I haven’t spent the last few weeks transitioning to a career in hip-hop. I know better, though considering some of the stuff coming out these days… I digress.

As many of you know, I took all of October (and half of November) completely off of social media as a creator. While this limited my time consuming said content, it didn’t wipe it out entirely. Though it was enough to consider the last 6 weeks as a hiatus. And boy did I learn a thing or two about myself and my relationship with devices and apps.

Stick with me folks, I’m going somewhere with this…

I spent the early parts of this year trying to “master the algorithm” in an attempt at truly growing my audience. While my attempts were technically successful (I gained about 200 followers in 3 months, saw a 723% increase in “reach” on Instagram, and engaged with nearly 130% more accounts) I was burnt out. Hence, my need to take a month off. In that time off I tossed around a lot of ideas, rather than take you on that rollercoaster ride I’ll just share the major takeaways:

• If I have to post 3-5 times a day to gain followers, I don’t want them

• If the followers that I do gain by posting 3-5 times are no more likely to click links and support my work, I don’t need them

• If the followers I do have were here before I began posting 3-5 times a day are just as likely, more accurately more, to support my work, I should pay closer attention to them

As a result, I decided to:

• Post more stories on IG and pretty much leave Twitter for random musings, Kickstarter promo, and keeping in touch with other creators

• Revamp my Substack schedule a bit to make room for a creative shift (keep reading for more on this)

• Find new and interesting ways to build Amashik, not an audience

I realized I’d gotten so far away from being a writer that I was in danger of turning myself into a content creator.

If YOU are a content creator, more power to you. I have nothing against a good video essayist, review channel, or the unicorns who can do both. I just know that I don’t have the engine for that, I’d burn out. And I’d do it fast.

As I’ve said before and will undoubtedly say a thousand times more, I have big plans for Ennead and Amashik. All of them require that I continue to develop this story, the world it takes place in (on?), and the characters who inhabit it. I was spending at least 7-10 hours a week on content creation… at least. If I can pivot and begin to spend that on writing, what can I accomplish?

Well…

• The first volume of Ennead’s official worldbook (still untitled by the way) is well underway and will likely hit Kickstarter by the end of next summer. The plan is to invite some familiar artists, along with some new ones, to illustrate some of the key moments from Amashik’s past to help tell the story of the past (intentionally blank) years.

• Ennead’s first novel has its 3 main viewpoint characters as well as its scope, plot, and beginnings of an outline. You can expect to see bits and pieces of that coming your way if you are a paid subscriber in early 2023.

• I’ve decided to push back the release of Books 8, 9, and 10 in order to finish books 11 and 12 so that Volume 2 can be released at once. Yup. You read that correctly. The scripts for Volume 2 are all but complete. I have a few tweaks to make here and there but most have already been reviewed and critiqued by my editor and are just sitting and waiting for art. You can expect this to hit Kickstarter shortly before or after the worldbook does.

2023 has 3, if not 4 Kickstarters lined up. 2022 was a big set up year for Ennead and I plan on making good on more than a few promises in the year to come.

This January 1/4/2023, I’ll be launching a special campaign to kick off the year.

That cover up top, that’s the cover for an exclusive trade paper back edition of Ennead: The Rule of Nine that follows Inahtuu’s storyline through Volume 1 plus gives a sneak peek at where he ends up in the middle of Volume 2. Not only will you be able to grab 1 of only 100 copies of this collector’s item you’ll be able to see completed black and white pages from Book 10 which isn’t slated for release until summer 2023.

But wait, there’s more!

I teased these a few weeks ago, but 100 of these 3D printed ya’rosa are going to be painted gold and bundled with the special edition trade making for a must have item for any fan of Inahtuu and Ennead.

If you’re here, it’s because you believe in my vision for Ennead. While I’d like to think that the story is reward enough, sometimes it feels like it isn’t. By launching this project I can get a book into your hands that will never be printed again and with the ya’rosa, I get to share the first step towards the next phase of Ennead’s existence with you.

If you have yet to read Ennead: The Rule of Nine now is the perfect time. I’ve made the color PDF available for sale and you can download it now!

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

JL