July Updates

July Updates

Hi Void Friends and Void Folk!

It’s been a while since I have blogged. I think that in the whirlwind of the year, a lot of stuff has happened to me, and in my life and I just… disappeared? Let’s start with the good news. I have officially been given the title of Managing Editor at my magazine. I am starting as a production manager at a startup lit mag. I am published (yay). I will be applying for my PhD this fall.

It’s been a really good year for me. And while I have not been able to do the sort of writing that I wish I could do, I have been able to continue to go further and to new heights in my actual personal life, career, and everything else. I’ve seen more of my friends, traveled more places, and in general not gotten sick (knock on wood).

But, in all of that I have come to the conclusion that while I think I could do social media well, I’m not sure that’s the path that I want to take for book marketing my novel. I’ve tried for the last few months to do TikTok, and while I can record videos every day, it ends up being more of a chore because I am constantly on the move for my jobs and what I am doing in the real world (so to speak). So, I think I’m going to refocus elsewhere. I always knew that people need to focus at what they’re good at and focus on the social medias that matter to them.

Thus, I’m going to refocus on my blog and YT. I’ve always been good at my blog and YT, and I personally think I can do both better. So I am. Short term videos are not for me.

That means! I’ll be posting more here, as bigger developments happen for my books and my projects.

Current projects in the docket:

  • Dark Academia/ Dystopia novel (First draft)
  • The Time In Things – Short Fantasy novel
  • Neighbor’s memoir
  • Poetry collection
  • Restarting the webnovel project.

I’m going to find more effective ways to market my books in ways that matter to my readers. I think that is so much better for me in the long term and long run. That means actually making a newsletter. Actually finding book marketing places online. Attending bookish events here on the West coast (and then hopefully throughout all of the US).

If you haven’t checked out my book yet, please do! The Preface of a Worthy Fable by Astrid Axton.

I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for sticking with me!

And as always!

Until Next Time,

MM

Introducing Fox Fairy Font

Introducing Fox Fairy Font

Hello Voidfriends and Voidfolk!

Let’s talk about my publishing company!

Fox Fairy Font is the publishing company that I created in 2024, although have not gone out of my way to promote until this year.

foxfairyfont.com

Logo created by: Savannah Drews

That’s cool and all Marlena, but why did you decide to name it Fox Fairy Font? Why did you decide to self publish? What are your future goals with Fox Fairy Font?

Excellent Questions!

WHY FOX FAIRY FONT

When it comes to the name “Fox Fairy Font” I rather think that this is self explanatory, but I can break it down for you.

Fox = Favorite Animal.

Fairy = One of my favorite fantasy creatures

Font = a third word that starts with “f” and has literary implications.

Is it really that simple? Yes. This isn’t rocket science, it’s creating a name that will stick in the minds of those that say it. I wanted to invoke something that screams “me” while also having the air of a real publishing house. I could have gone with one word, but I decided that all good things come in threes.

It also just so happens that foxes and the Fae (in lore) are both cunning creatures. They are also tied together. They’re both tricksters after all.

WHY SELF PUBLISH

I wanted to traditionally publish, don’t get me wrong. However as I continued to develop the multi-verse that I was working on and the more that I learned about specific aspects of the publishing realm, the more I wanted control over all the pen names and the content. I may make a larger post about this in the future, but for now, know that I am doing it because I want to. Know that I am proud to be doing it and honestly while my mind has changed since 10 years ago when I swore I never would, this has been an interesting step for me growth wise.

It’ll be difficult but I’ve done difficult things in the past. I’m not too worried. Because at the end of the day, I’ve always been writing for myself. I’m selfish and I recognize that.

CURRENT PLANS

My current plans are relatively simple. I plan to use the company to publish my books. This year (2025) I plan to publish one and get YP back up and running for weekly rereleases. In the future (2026 and on) that will probably move to 2 or more.

I plan on using this company for all of my pen names.

PEN NAMES AND THE EXPANDED UNIVERSE

Oh I can not WAIT to go further into this in the future, and I will. For now, when you visit my website you will see three two pennames outside of Marlena Marie: Astrid Axton and Bella Brax. Bella Brax will be taking on the Yasloughve Project from this blog. I will be reediting that and getting it live hopefully sometime late 2025. I am still debating on having a separate website for Bella and I think I may because it will be easier for people to go to the website to find things. We’ll see.

Otherwise, Astrid Axton is name which I’ll use for my first published physical book.

And, Voidfriends, you’ll see that the multiverse officially has a name: The Voriad. It’s a portmanteau of void and myriad. I will go more into the breakdown of the codes, timeline, and “location sequencing” I’ve created to categorize all the books in the voriad.

In short the voriad is the mutliverse that I’ve created that contains all my novels, canonically. Essentially, all books written by Marlena Marie are a universe (which is coded as [STN] ) there are authors in that universe that I am using as my other pen names (like Astrid Axton/AA and Bella Brax/BB). All of the books written by [AA], [BB], [IC], [EK], and [LL] exist canonically in [STN]. This will all come into importance as we get into the [SOS] and [SDS] books.

If none of this makes sense to you, that’s okay. It’s not supposed to. It’s meant to make sense to me. One day you’ll understand it, but for now I recommend saying, “wow Marlena those are pretty brackets” and ignore it.

FUTURE GOALS

First things first, I want to make Fox Fairy Font a full company with employees. I want to have people to help me with the production and the distribution of my books. Once I am able to support a full staff, and can sustain us on my writing (in a perfect world), then we go to phase two.

Phase two, is expansion. I would love to publish other people’s books other than just my own. I want to have the infrastructure in place before I go with this option, since I want to be able to provide the best service available.

Step 1: Hire editors

Step 2: Open for Acquisitions

Step 3: Fulfill the promise.

Of course, right now, this is not particularly possible. I recognize that. However, we all have to have goals. For the longest time my goal was to publish a book. Now that’s happening. That means I need to make another, and another and another. I am not entire sure what the future holds for me. I am certain it will be rife with grief and joy (I am a people pleaser and I really hate people hating me, but that’s the life of an author).

I am certain that regardless of what the future holds it is what I want. I’ve wanted to publish my books since I was 13. It’s now happening because I’m making it a reality. I’m excited to finally reach those dreams.

Hopefully you’ll stick with me!

Until Next Time,

MM

Self Publishing Resource Guide

Self Publishing Resource Guide

Hello Everyone. Welcome Voidfriends, Voidfolk, and those who are coming to my website just because the internet led you here and you have no idea what Voidfriends or Voidfolk mean (you are Voidfolk btw). This is my Self Publishing Resource Guide.

This is by no means an all encompassing, fully functioning, end-all-be-all guide. But it is a start. The most important step in the self publishing journey is research. Research. Research. Research.

Who are good editors? Where to find editors? How to determine good editors. How to find cover artists. What about layouts? There are so many questions you may have (that I have) and this is a relatively good place to start.

Continue reading “Self Publishing Resource Guide”

2022 Reading Final Totals: Books

2022 Reading Final Totals: Books

January

The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes

Roseanna by Sjรถwall and Wahlรถรถ

Donโ€™t Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankine

bloodthirsty for marriage by Susannah Dickey

Total: 7


February

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

One D.O.A. One on the Way by Mary Robison

The Long Firm by Jake Arnott

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

The Long Drop by Denise Mina

Total: 6


March

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Galatea by Madeline Miller

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Total: 5


April

The Undying by Anne Boyer

This Brutal House by Niven Govinden

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Cygnet by Season Butler

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

Glasgow Edited by Ruthie Kennedy, Colin Herd, & Tommy Pearson

Total: 6


May

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Total: 1


June

None

Total: 0


July

None

Total: 0


August

None

Total: 0


September

None

Total: 0


October

Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Tadhya Exordium by Quinn Howard

The Swarm by Frank Schatzing

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

The House of Always by Jenn Lyons

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

The Righteous by Renee Ahdieh

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

Total: 10


November

Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution by R.F. Kuang

Book fo Night by Holly Black

Total: 2


December

None

Total: 0


Grand Total: 37


WOW. I read about half the number of books that I read last year. Which is lowkey criminal for me. I am going to try to change that for 2023, but who knows what the future holds for me. All the same. I will probably be backdating and catching up with posts for August-December of last year, within the upcoming couple of weeks so don’t be surprised.

Also, I did a worse job at keeping track of my manga/webnovels lists than I did last year. As such, I think I’m not going to post about them. Instead I’ll just try to do better in 2023.

MM


Top Ten Quotes of 2021

Top Ten Quotes of 2021

Alright! This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! My top 10 quotes from 2021! I did not read enough books, or collect enough quotes, this year to warrant a top 5 quotes. All the same I love these. Surprisingly there were at least 20 quotes that fought for these spots. I probably could have been more ruthless, but I decided to be kinder to myself this year.

Without further ado.

Continue reading “Top Ten Quotes of 2021”

2020 Reading Challenges Final Totals: You Read How Many Books

2020 Reading Challenges Final Totals: You Read How Many Books

January

Glass Kingdom by M. Lynn

Glass Princess by M. Lynn

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Total: 4


February

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Total: 3


March

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Total: 6


April

The Plague by Albert Camus

Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston

Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene

Total: 3


May

The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyonns

These Witches Donโ€™t Burn by Isabel Sterling

Blessed Monsters by Emily A. Duncan

Cursed Beauty by M. Lynn

Noble Thief by m. Lynn

The Life Below by Alexandra Monir

Song of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury

Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

The Bright & The Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski

Magicโ€™s Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

Total: 12


June

Magicโ€™s Promise by Mercedes Lackey

Magicโ€™s Price by Mercedes Lackey

The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Total: 5


July

Stain by A.G. Howard

Fable by Adrienne Young

Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

Les Misรฉrables by Victor Hugo

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

Total: 6


August

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

Master of One by Jaida Jones & Dani Bennett

The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Total: 7


September

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu

The Art of War (B & N Edition)

Tennis Lessons by Susannah Dickey

Total: 4


October

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Annotated it)

Lore & Lust  by Karla Nikole

Lore & Lust: The Vanishing  by Karla Nikole

Lore & Lust: The Awakening by Karla Nikole

Sho by Douglas Kearney

Sterling Karat Gold by Isabel Waidner

Total: 6


November

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Annotated it)

Ghost King by Valentyne

Phantasmal by Valentyne

Girls are Coming Out of the Woods by Tishani Doshi

Man Hating Psycho by Iphgenia Baal

Total: 5


December

Fateful by Claudia Gray

A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson

Total: 7


Grand Total: 68

Comp Goal: 156 (YA)

Big Goal: 180

Completed Comp Goal: Y/N


And so here ends this challenge. We have more posts to come. See you soon.

MM


Top Ten Reads of 2020

Top Ten Reads of 2020

I wanted to do this list for a long time and honestly this was a fight to the death for me to decide which book got number one. I will explain the best I can for each book. Let’s go!

Also, I decided that this will go ahead and include some other media that I consumed because as much as I loved the books I read this year, some other series I read just… Blew other books out of the water. That’s why its top 10 reads!

Continue reading “Top Ten Reads of 2020”

Top Five Quotes of 2020

Top Five Quotes of 2020

Alright! This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! My top 5 quotes from 2020! I was ruthless. I was horrible. I decided that with nothing else to lose, I had nothing more to give, but my honest feelings. I feel bad, but also not, because its no coincidence that the top 5 quotes spots were dominated by the same two stories. I fell for two stories so irrevocably that like, nothing can be or will be the same (along with a few others). As such! Here you are.

Continue reading “Top Five Quotes of 2020”

2020 Reading Challenges Final Totals: Finishing the Series

2020 Reading Challenges Final Totals: Finishing the Series

Series Finished:

– Lorien Legacies (3 books) – Started in 2012 ?

– Secret Histories (4 books) – Part of the Lorien Legacies, so 2012

– The Negotiator (2 books) – Started in 2011 ?

– The Missing (5 books) – Started in 2010

Books read:9

Series Complete: 3 (i’m counting the Lorien Legacies and Secret Histories as one series here)


LOL I don’t know what else to say for this. Yay? I read more past series to completion this year? Not sure. Is that the correct response? Maybe lol. Who really knows. Not me. I can tell you that much.

MM