February 2026
Launch Team Opportunity
Inside:
February greeting
Writing update
Launch Team Opportunity
Release Date!
Reading Recs & reviews
February thoughts
Hello friends,
I hope you and yours are well. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, have you been taking time to rest and recuperate before spring and summer burst into life?
Since Christmas, I’ve been saying no to nearly all social meetups. The amount of socializing I do when I bring my children to their activities has proven to be enough for this introvert! Eventually, I’ll need to tend the relationships with those I don’t see often enough. But for this dark, chili season, this pace has been the longest sustainable rhythm I’ve operated in for along time.
I’ll be honest, it’s always difficult to know what to say (and not to say) in these e-mails. My favorite emails are the ones when I’m full of absolute silliness. But I don’t always have a funny day when I need to get a newsletter out.
We could keep talking about the weather, but it’s very hard for me not to bring up deeper conversation, ask the hard questions. It’s how I am in person too, out of curiously not divisiveness. It’s about knowing someone on a deeper level and making a safe space for them to be real.
I really love meeting people from many cultures, (and languages!) and walks of life. And while I’m comfortable with what I believe and think and have no shame, I also hate to alienate people I could learn from or just enjoy knowing. So as for deeper conversation with you all…
Wherever we live and whatever our creed, I think we’d all agree that the world around us is absolutely crazy these days and often confusing. We all want what’s best and yet we can’t agree how to get there. How do we live a life that’s not full of anger and frustration? I’ve been considering that. Of course, I have ideas. But then we all do, right?
I know I shared a Madeline L’Engle (Wrinkle in Time series, Crosswicks Journals, Genesis Trilogy…) quote last month, but while finishing the book, I found another one (or several) I enjoyed. I think it’s worth considering as we navigate life in our age.
“Compassion is nothing one feels with the intellect alone. Compassion is particular; it is never general…
General compassion is useless. An aloof, general god is use-less. Unless we, too, are in that burning car, we are useless.
It is still taught in some seminaries that it is a heresy to think that God can suffer with us. But what does the incarnation show us but the ultimate act of particularity? This is what compassion is all about.”
I have personally felt the crumbling of things in which I was formerly confident when I took time to get “particular” with people. I’ve wrestled with truth and come out a stronger person (not a weaker one, as many people assume will happen) for understanding people I disagree with or don’t normally rub elbows with much.
Publishing Journey - Release Date and Launch Team Opportunity!
I can’t believe it, but the Endling editing is completed, formatting is underway and the finish line is in sight! I mentioned last month how painful I thought editing would be. On the contrary, there was a sense of excitement in seeing this creative work become something I never could have made on my own.
There was one point when my editor Dawn sent me a passage for “reworking,” I think she wrote. What my heart heard was, “You can do better than this.” (But in the best way.) I took big risks. In fact, I sat and read the work of literary giants. I paced and reminded myself that powerful writing doesn’t come without blood, sweat and tears. I labored so much over that little passage, I was exhausted afterward. And while I don’t think the passage will earn me any accolades, It’s remarkably better (immersive, evocative, smooth) than it was before. I am beyond thankful to have the Descendant Publishing Team by my side.
Now, onto the important stuff! The official release date for Endling is scheduled for April 21st. Which means…
That we’re looking for ARC readers! If you’re unfamiliar, ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copy. If the Endling sounds like a book you’d enjoy (blurb below) and you’re willing to leave a review on or near release day, would you consider joining my street team? Having a social media account, book club or other audience to share it with would be a huge bonus, but not strictly required.
How it works: Fill out this form. Then, Descendent Publishing or I will email you a download link for a free Advanced Reader Copy of the ebook. I’ll check in a couple more times to remind of release day approaching and give you graphics and ideas for sharing with your friends and local libraries or bookstores.
So far, I’ve had a great response from Instagram and Facebook, so I just need about five to ten more volunteers! Here’s a (unedited, not publisher approved:) summary.
Endling(noun): the last surviving member of a species, whose death consequently means the extinction of that species.
Safety is the gospel.
Survival is god.
And nature will enchant you to your end.
For Nico, anything is worth escaping the dangers of the wilderness and its strange keeper, the Wilderman. He trades everything—his family, his home and all he’s known—for a safe life in Sanctius City. Not even his brother’s final message to him, a collection of folktales, will lure him astray from his beloved steam-run city.
But then the population plummets, the wilderness encroaches on his safe haven and the folktales in his brother’s scroll look alarmingly familiar. Nico is defiantly loyal to Sanctius City’s ways of safety and survival, but when the Wilderman goes too far, ends must justify the means. After all, Nico is the endling.
When reality is stranger than fiction, and gods and monsters invite him to the table, who will Nico trust? When illusion and reality become indistinguishable, how will Nico determine what is true?
There are so many layers and aspects to this story that it’s hard to condense it down. I mean—there’s a reason it took me 70,000 words to write, right?! But if any of that intrigues you (or original, immersive worlds; unintrusive, light steampunk; elements of history and mythology woven in; rich, meaningful symbolism…) fill in the form and read it risk free.
Art Updates & Sticker Deal from Jukebox
I’m super pleased to tell you that my water bottle stickers are in! I’m so glad they made it before the Wild Wings event and the spring migration. They’re 11” x 3” and made of colorfast vinyl. I put mine on y water bottle and went to town adding my bird stickers. See?
I’ve been ordering stickers from Jukebox print for over a year now and my first (oldest) stickers are as bright as the newest ones.
This time around, UPS lost my order. When I contacted Jukebox, they immediately reprinted and shipped a replacement. It was here within the same business week! Since they’d outdone themselves in both product and customer service, I signed up for their referral program so I could get you guys a discount to try the for yourselves .
If you’re local, these are already loaded into my shop here anlong with the bird stickers. They’ll be at Copper Creek next time I head up the bench.
Recent Reads
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Currently Reading:
My reading drastically slowed down in the past few weeks. I’ve been picking my way through The End of Karma; Hope and Fury Among India’s Young by Somini Sengupta
I really enjoyed the author’s background information for those of us who are unfamiliar with India’s recent history. Surprisingly, when she switched to individual stories, I had a hard time engaging and found myself wishing for more history! I’m going to try really hard to re-engage and as she hops around to examples of life stories, imagine the person is in front of me, telling me their story.
The other thing I started was How To Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis. Apparently it’s book two in a series, oops. So far, I LOOOOOOVE the sci-fi world-building that’s anchored in reality—our earth, stars and constellations I’m familiar with. The author is also dealing with relevant issues in this imaginary world and that’s a huge win for me. I’m not sure she and I will land in the same place on all of the problems/solutions, but I adore a story that makes me think. I get the feeling this might get a little spicy for my preference, but nothing even close to a deal-breaker so far. And FYI, main character also has a particular fondness for the F-word. I love her. Will report back on content and ending.
Recently Finished Book Reviews/Ratings:
I finished A Circle of Quiet, by Madeleine L’Engle and it was honestly the exact book I needed before a book release. I loved her thoughts about creativity and how miraculous and magical the process is to bring any work of art into the world. It’s something we can’t take credit for. Five Stars.
I read/skimmed Story is a State of Mind By Sarah Selecky this weekend. I gave it three stars. It was a decent book for budding writers, and had very helpful exercises that were even arranged roughly in the order you’d need them while writing a book. Most of it was helpful, some of it might be unhelpful depending on the person. But my major hold-up is that it would deprive a writer of the natural journeyed of discovering all these things for herself. That journey has been invaluable to me and I wouldn’t trade it. However, if you’re in a hurry to know all the little nuances of showing up and being a writer, you could view this book as a Sherpa-like guide to help you speed up the journey.
I think that’s all for today. Next time I write, hopefully preorders will be open!
Happy adventuring (literary & otherwise),
Elicia Johnson
So excited for endling!!!!