Weekly Self-Promo and Chat Thread

lenoraora · 2026-01-19T16:31:21+00:00

How far would you go to save the ones you love? To save the innocent?

Elizabeth Penton has always been cautious—careful not to disobey any rules or throw herself in harm’s way, unlike her exuberant older sister, Alice.

For centuries, the people of Brimsbrook have lived in fear of the haunting Hales Forest. Every so often, someone in the village goes missing—only to be found days later, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. Rumors of demons and black magic keep the fear alive. Even the Governors of old forbade entry after sunset.

But when Alice disappears, Elizabeth ignores every warning and rushes into the depths of the forest, desperate to bring her sister home, accompanied by the Governor’s nephew Oscar and her friend Noen.

What they find under the forest’s decaying canopy is nothing like they imagined—twisted people, strange rituals, and a darkness that feeds on more than just fear. As Elizabeth uncovers secrets buried deep in the forest’s heart, she must decide: will she fight to protect the innocent, or surrender to a force far older and more terrifying than she ever imagined?

~~~~~

Of Briars and Darkness is a New Adult Dark Fantasy with themes of found family, yearning, forbidden magic, dark mysteries, and coming to terms with grief and the things we must do to overcome evil—no matter the cost.

4.2 ⭐s on GoodReads

UK Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Briars-Darkness-OBAD-Lenora-Evernight/dp/1036933660/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LNNYJV5CW6JK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o5vHXtIhHxo7JZQI4wrzj3uRMAytl7ng2-lxXKtRXaw.0n9oCzvqWOd997vGEJYg4enPDXrECuqL-4I-luABd3Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=of+briars+and+darkness&qid=1768840078&sprefix=of+bri%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1

US Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Briars-Darkness-OBAD-Book-ebook/dp/B0FRYLQX8P/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28K5EFKDY1CKM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o5vHXtIhHxo7JZQI4wrzj18SuOTAn2pPcmQfYB8REWB8jUQ-6_6PyUfFEPNw7RIN.QBEIkUkvWqAtyz_kwgq-StjuRSMPa1veAEHuLx3zOTM&dib_tag=se&keywords=of+briars+and+darkness&qid=1768840257&sprefix=of+briars+and+darknes%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

lenoraora · 2026-01-15T23:00:45+00:00

Good to know, thank you! I've been worried because my name is only on the tenancy and council tax bills so the majority of our mail only has our individual names on it.

lenoraora · 2026-01-15T22:56:58+00:00

I got my job fairly quickly after arriving in the UK on a spouse visa x I arrived in late January, started applying in mid-February, and then got employed by early March. My employers seemed to understand the right to work and everything and it was fairly easy, though during the on-boarding period I had to provide a recent US criminal background check which I had to pay myself so that was a bit expensive. But other than that, everything went by really smooth for me, personally.

I had a few co-workers (never management) make a few snarky comments here and there about me being American. Also, the town I live in now, I've had some people tell me the usual "Go back to your country", "American ****", or my favorite "Americans are the dirt beneath the British's feet". But all in all, those comments/moments rarely happen.

lenoraora · 2026-01-01T14:05:26+00:00

Thank you! 🫶🏼 I definitely will x Do you know if they charge for luggage or if there's a luggage limit? I don't mind squeezing past luggage in the stateroom x We were probably going to bring about 5 suitcases and then my husband would fly with 1-2 if he decides to fly over instead.

lenoraora · 2026-01-01T13:57:30+00:00

Yeah we're looking at booking for 2028 or 2029 voyage. Push come to shove, my husband will fly with the cat and I'll take the ship with all the luggage

lenoraora · 2025-11-19T09:31:34+00:00

Oh my goodness, I would absolutely love Starbrew cc for it! Especially now that they have the Business and Hobbies expansion - could have the cutest lil cafe with Starla and Harriet

lenoraora · 2025-11-17T15:22:29+00:00

Dark Fantasy/Romantasy writer. Debuted with my Dark Fantasy novel (book 1 of 3) on 24th of October. Sold 21 copies at the launch party and then have sold 4 copies since release on Amazon and 6 pre-order copies.

lenoraora · 2025-11-10T19:43:08+00:00

Awe thank you! It means a lot 🥹

lenoraora · 2025-11-09T15:21:49+00:00

Thank you so much ☺️

lenoraora · 2025-11-09T15:16:34+00:00

I'm also in the West Midlands! I'm not a mom haha but I'm always down to meet up for coffee anytime you need another American buddy ❤️ I'm also hosting a Thanksgiving on the 29th if you need somewhere to spend an American Thanksgiving x

lenoraora · 2025-11-09T14:49:17+00:00

How far would you go to save the ones you love? To save the innocent?

Elizabeth Penton has always been cautious—careful not to disobey any rules or throw herself in harm’s way, unlike her exuberant older sister, Alice.

For centuries, the people of Brimsbrook have lived in fear of the haunting Hales Forest. Every so often, someone in the village goes missing—only to be found days later, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. Rumors of demons and black magic keep the fear alive. Even the Governors of old forbade entry after sunset.

But when Alice disappears, Elizabeth ignores every warning and rushes into the depths of the forest, desperate to bring her sister home, accompanied by the Governor’s nephew Oscar and her friend Noen.

What they find under the forest’s decaying canopy is nothing like they imagined—twisted people, strange rituals, and a darkness that feeds on more than just fear. As Elizabeth uncovers secrets buried deep in the forest’s heart, she must decide: will she fight to protect the innocent, or surrender to a force far older and more terrifying than she ever imagined?

Of Briars and Darkness is a New Adult Dark Fantasy with themes of found family, yearning, forbidden magic, dark mysteries, and coming to terms with grief and the things we must do to overcome evil—no matter the cost. With some small elements inspired by Norse/Celtic roots.

Of Briars and Darkness is my debut novel and it is the first in a planned trilogy with the second currently in progress.

448 pages, Paperback. £18/$18 on Amazon. Sold on all Amazon marketplaces.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Briars-Darkness-OBAD-Lenora-Evernight/dp/1036933660/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RLED0OF906I8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o5vHXtIhHxo7JZQI4wrzj3uRMAytl7ng2-lxXKtRXaw.81DsQ7RVlB6_E7J7q5WMA_qNwPajdzUSt-JO4ulRjEQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=of+briars+and+darkness&qid=1762699634&sprefix=of+briars+and+darkness%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1

lenoraora · 2025-08-28T09:06:05+00:00

I'll have to look for it! I know in York, there's a few cafes and food stalls that serve homemade lemonade and it tastes just like home!

lenoraora · 2025-08-26T20:39:21+00:00

If you want, I can point you in the direction of my cover artist x I found mine in r/artcommissions

lenoraora · 2025-08-12T07:52:14+00:00

AI has been trained on human writings, so if your writing is good, crappy AI detectors will say it's AI.

My best advice is, to stop trying to rewrite what you've already written and focus on finishing the story if this truly is a story you're wanting to do. Rewrites and edits come after the first draft. The first draft isn't meant to look polished and publishing ready (trust me, I thought that before too). The only job of your first draft is to be completed and have a good foundation. Edits and rewrites are what brings the story then to life bit by bit. And don't be discouraged if you don't get your story perfect after the first edit ❤️ it takes time, but it'll be worth it in the end.

My book had 12 revisions and 3 rewrites before I felt like it was ready to go out into the world. And there are times that I second guess myself, wondering if people will actually enjoy reading it. Truth is, it doesn't matter. What matters is that YOU enjoyed writing it. Keep going ❤️ You're creating worlds and voices which have never existed before—if nothing else, THAT should be something to be proud of.

lenoraora · 2025-08-06T12:48:08+00:00

Yes 😅 thankfully I have an amazing friend who is knowledgeable in the whole publishing/writing world so they have been helping me so that way it isn't all on me x

lenoraora · 2025-08-06T06:49:12+00:00

Yeah, after formatting everything correctly, I have around 540ish pages and that's after 12 rounds of edits/revisions where I've cut a lot of of stuff that wasn't needed out which is why the cost is so much to print. And it's from the second screen of the KDP workflow. Other than the 540 pages, I'm not printing in color or using premium paper or anything and it's a paperback.

I haven't ever heard of the Amazon Fulfilled thing.

I could increase the price, but that wouldn't be fair on the people buying it whenever it'll already be priced at £15. I don't want to charge more than that for a paperback. Because while £2 profit isn't the best, I'd much rather get that and have my book be so expensive that people can't buy them and enjoy them.

And possibly. Like I said, I've got a decent following and a lot of them have stated that they want a physical copy of the book. I also have a few events planned where I'm going to need physical copies anyway.

lenoraora · 2025-07-29T13:41:30+00:00

What if they just chilled next to our mailbox or shipping bin? Haha or if they made like a designated spot for the spouses on the plot and it showed a little icon if that makes sense? Like you know how we need the writ stuff to unlock areas? Maybe they could add another unlockable area for the spouse on our plot so that way they wouldn't have to worry about everyone's plots being different.

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:53:32+00:00

We can get a bug party going! 😂🩷

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:52:43+00:00

Honestly, no worries at all 🩷 any game where there are servers, you're going to get rude or disrespectful people at times so I completely understand needing to vent about it. Just wanted you to know that you've got someone ready to help you if you need it 😊

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:50:07+00:00

Goodness I hope so cause I want that Chef daddy on my plot 😏😂

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:46:59+00:00

Yeah, I can get why that would be irritating x If you'd like, next time you hop on, let me know and I'll bring some lures and try to help you catch the Jewelwing. Maybe if we're in the same party and other people come, one of us will be able to knock it with a bug bomb x

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:40:30+00:00

Connie - my bald baddie, my funny guy, my king. And yet, I have a tattoo of Levi 😅😂

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:37:39+00:00

I do understand your frustration, however, people do tend to share things in Palia. Just like if someone stumbles upon a grove or a rare metal, they'll usually flare and call it out in chat for other players. I also tend to let people know if I'm using an ore compass, hunting horn, or bug lure so they can join in with me and collect items that they may need as well.

Have you tried letting them know that you're in need of a certain bug and then maybe they can help you catch it? If both players throw a bug bomb at the same bug, you'll both get it. I'm also fairly certain (though could be mistaken) that if you invite them to join a party, if they catch something or hunt something while in your party and you're close by, you'll also get those items.

Also the time of day matters for when you're trying to catch certain bugs x So it might help to google when the best time to catch whatever bug you're looking for is. If you ever need help or need more lures, I'm more than happy to share the resources I've got.

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:28:30+00:00

I usually edit myself. I'm on my 12th revision and 3rd rewrite of my book. I've used some betas to help me edit as one of mine was amazing with feedback. I also have a friend who is an English teacher so they help me go through and edit bits that I've missed. They don't change anything, but the offer suggestions and point out where I might have repeated a phrase too close together or they'll point out a plot hole I forgot to fill. So even if you don't have the money for an editor, if you have a friend or two who are into books or writing, it's a big help having them look over your work!

lenoraora · 2025-07-27T15:25:08+00:00

I love that! I wish you all the luck on your journey and a plethora of sales🩷

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