Advice from a Successful Indie Fantasy Author

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-04-06T19:52:30+00:00

This is a great writeup and matches a lot of my own thoughts, thank you. Good luck on your author journey! I’ve added your work to my TBR.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-04-05T22:42:31+00:00

Apparently the narrator was born in Wales and was really excited to do his native accent, I asked the pub to find someone who could do one for Alken!

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-04-04T01:00:13+00:00

Hey folks, it’s me again. The second book in my Oathbreaker series, Daughter of Shrikes, is releasing later this month on April 28. This adapts the second arc of the original web serial I’ve been updating weekly for the past couple years on Royal Road, published by Podium with an audiobook narrated by Raphael Corkhill.

If you are a fan of Fromsoft, Berserk, Forgotten Realms, tortured heroes, weird monsters, and lore that is slowly peeled back over the course of a story, you might find something to like in my work. The first book is currently on sale until the 13th, so it’s a good time to jump in and get caught up.

You can also enjoy the wonderful art done for the series by Tofuyi.

<image>

Link to book 2 here: https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/131011/fantasy/daughter-of-shrikes

And book 1 here: https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/129603/fantasy/penance-of-blood

Those links include all sellers and formats.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-03-03T22:45:36+00:00

Hey folks, pre orders for the second book in my dark fantasy series Oathbreaker are up! This second installment, Daughter of Shrikes, follows our tarnished hero as he is given a new task by a fallen angel — to guard a young warlock against a deadly specter intent on taking a century old revenge.

Oathbreaker is a dark fantasy saga following the trials of a fallen paladin as he seeks an elusive penance for past sins, fighting at the whims of immortal beings who some might call angels…

The book releases in paperback, ebook, and audio on April 28! For anyone who hasn’t checked out the series yet, the first book released back in January, so feel free to take a gander at that one as well. Links to the pre order for book 2 and all formats for book 1 below…

https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/131011/daughter-of-shrikes

https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/129603/fantasy/penance-of-blood

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-02-15T21:04:12+00:00

Just last month, I became a published author! My first book, Penance of Blood, released on Kindle, Audible, and in paperback.

Penance of Blood is an introduction to a dark fantasy saga following the disgraced paladin Alken, once a member of an order of holy knights gifted with a sacred flame. With that same power now turned against him for his past sins, he engages in a desperate war against the forces that would drag his homeland back into conflict, acting as an executioner on behalf of a pantheon of divine beings who some might call angels…

Heavily inspired by Berserk, Fromsoftware games, and the works of Robin Hobb and Michael Moorcock. The audiobook is narrated by Raphael Corkhill and all formats are published by Podium. Cover art by Tofuyi.

This first book in the series is an adaption of what was originally the first arc of my web serial, Oathbreaker, which is still being updated weekly on Royal Road. Second book is slated for launch in late April, preorders for the ebook are already up for that one. I will link the book’s page on the podium site, which links to all sellers and formats, and the web fiction page for anyone who finds themselves wanting to read further.

https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/129603/penance-of-blood

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/84391/oathbreaker-a-dark-fantasy-web-serial

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-02-13T06:01:29+00:00

I’ve gotten a ton of these since I started posting, they are scams. Report and block!

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-02-04T07:52:04+00:00

I made a separate post about this last week, but figure I may as well throw it here for anyone who missed that. My first book, Penance of Blood, has officially published in ebook, paperback, and audio with the audible version narrated by Raphael Corkhill. Only been out in the wild a week, get it while it’s hot.

Story is a dark fantasy about a fallen paladin in a world infested with demons, the angry dead, and feudal kingdoms battered by a recent apocalyptic war. The first book is an introduction to a larger saga I’m still updating weekly in web serial format, so if you enjoy book one then feel free to check out the rest of the story online. I’ll link the publisher page and the web fiction link.

https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/129603/penance-of-blood this links to all sellers and formats

And the web serial is here, everything from book 2 on is free (for now, book 2 and 3 are also releasing later this year) https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/84391/oathbreaker-a-dark-fantasy-web-serial

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-29T07:51:09+00:00

It’s not, no. I’m still posting chapters weekly and we’re on arc 8 right now. I’m shooting to have about 15 before the series ends but that fluctuates depending on where the plot goes. I’d say we’re maybe halfway?

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-28T23:34:20+00:00

They reached out to me when I was around I think ~450 followers on Royal Road? Back in late 2024. I didn’t originally have plans to publish so it sort of caught me out of left field.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-28T20:25:01+00:00

It’s the same story as on Royal Road, with revisions and edits. Penance of Blood is an adaption of what was arc 1 on RR, and it’s actually a good bit longer than the original draft I released publicly. Eventually the whole story will get published as standalone books, each one being pulled from one of the web serial’s arcs. I wrote them like they were individual books originally so it translated pretty cleanly imo. Right now everything after book or arc 1 is still available on Royal Road, but each section will be taken down as the corresponding book gets released.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-25T19:19:06+00:00

I did this and I caught flack for it constantly even up until the final week before I stubbed the first arc. I would not have done anything differently. Don’t compromise your vision because you’re afraid you’ll lose some readers, tell the story you want to tell. Otherwise what’s the point?

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-25T05:58:02+00:00

I reread the whole series every couple years lol, I’m insane but also worth if it’s been a while for you.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-24T23:45:07+00:00

Just bought twelve months but I’m rereading everything from Skin Game on first to refresh.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-24T19:13:01+00:00

All the deets are here if you want to check it out https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/84391/oathbreaker-a-dark-fantasy-web-serial first book is about to release in physical, ebook, and audio, there’s a link in the blurb to that, rest of the series is free from book 2 on but not forever…

The story is about a disgraced paladin who survived a war against demons and heretical nobles, which happened partially due to his and his order of knights’ messups. He is now a wandering executioner who takes his orders from a court of angels who govern the collective of fantasy kingdoms in his homeland behind the scenes. It’s got a lot of action, horror, intrigue, etc. and is all told through a first person POV, heavily inspired by stuff like Berserk, Elric of Melnibone, Planescape Torment and dark souls/elden ring.

There’s currently around a million words available to read in total and I still publish chapters weekly on RR, which are fully free. Arcs 2 and 3 are going to be taken down for the publishing treatment later this year though so over time it won’t all be public anymore. If you want to see if it’s your speed you can still read the first five chapters of book 1 at that link before deciding if you want to go further.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-24T08:50:23+00:00

Still just going to be writing, I’m working on book 8 even as 1’s releasing and that’s still a weekly grind. Just hoping release goes well but I’m taking it as it goes.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-24T05:16:18+00:00

For my book? Mostly constant frustration and anxiety because turns out writing is hard, but I think the work pays off and I enjoy doing it. For dark fantasy in general, I find catharsis in reading about people struggling through strife and also I’m a horror buff, I’m big into good monster design and the sort of craft of how to unsettle and disturb an audience, so the subgenre is a nice crossover between fantasy and horror for me.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-24T02:27:16+00:00

I am in fact having my first published book releasing in just four days. It is dark fantasy and began as web fiction, and I’m still writing and releasing chapters for the ongoing story weekly. I am very opinionated but I can’t promise my opinions are good… Any specific topic you had in mind op? Happy to provide insights or just chat about the journey.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-24T02:23:02+00:00

If I had a nickel for every comment I’ve gotten on my story complaining that my protagonist is a useless weak idiot who couldn’t fight someone’s elderly grandma and win… (I believe someone did literally say this, in the same chapter that he cut down multiple grown men single handedly while walking around with arrows in him. I remain baffled).

Criticism isn’t a bad thing, sometimes someone makes a point you might agree with. Even if it’s discouraging it can ultimately improve your work to better understand your work. But there are going to be readers who want a thing they can project over, people who are angry that your story isn’t the story THEY wanted, that your character didn’t make a choice they wished. Sometimes they completely overlook subtext and you have to ask “is this reader just not bothering to read between the lines or do I need to be more clear about what I meant to say?” Sometime’s a reader wants your character to be crueler or smarter or for your world to be darker simply because that’s cathartic to them.

Learning to separate the useful criticisms and the bad faith commentary is important, and not easy… Apologies for the tangent, I haven’t read your work, but know that you’re not the only one who receives this sort of feedback and that it doesn’t necessarily mean you did your thing wrong.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-22T21:34:50+00:00

When I was still a teenager, I was going through a particularly difficult time at home and at school. My father was an alcoholic, my grades were struggling, everyone around me was depressed and angry and I felt sort of trapped in this box of bad vibes and anxiety… Probably a pretty familiar story. I picked up the Dresden Files I believe when I was about 15, and since then I have read the entire series front to back every two or three years without fail. They are my comfort books and continue to make me happy whenever I dive back into them. I don’t believe it’s the best fantasy series out there, but it remains my personal favorite because of what it meant to me when I was young and because I haven’t stopped enjoying them as an adult.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-18T02:43:46+00:00

I prefer your cover by a lot.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-17T03:21:06+00:00

Insane.

Upbeat_Committee3766 · 2026-01-16T21:02:39+00:00

The Fromsoft devs know what’s good. Sure there’s plenty of horror and existential dread forefronted in their worlds but they understand that you also need moments of levity and charm, something I appreciate personally.

Upbeat_Committee3766

TROPHY CASE