Dear readers,
First off, you may realize that this month’s newsletter looks a little different. I switched from MailChimp to Substack (tldr, now that there are 2,000+ of you in this newsletter, it got expensive) but I will keep the monthly format as you’ve seen in previous newsletters.
Book Events
Now, to the exciting part: I have a book event today and tomorrow at Stanford University. Tonight’s event will happen on campus at the Hume center at 7pm, and will consist of a reading, discussion, and audience Q&A. I will be signing books at the Stanford Bookstore on Friday, Jan 26th at 11am. I’m also bringing plenty of art prints and my fancy book seal for the signing tomorrow, so if you want a jazzed-up version of The Phoenix King with all the bells and whistles, come through. On a serious note, I’m particularly looking forward to these events because I was once a student at Stanford. As an English major, I was constantly going to author visits. From Neil Gaiman to Alice Walker to Madeline Miller, I would watch these authors with a mixture of awe and fear. Could I ever write a book, or books, as impactful as theirs? Or, at an even more fundamental level, could I write a book? Now, years later, I’m back on campus as an invited author. Whoever is up there must have heard my duas.
Special Edition
I have been sitting on this news for months. It has been agonizing, but now I can finally share that The Phoenix King is getting a special edition with AcryliPics Book Box!
This will be a paperback special edition and will feature:
✨ 3-Sided Full-Color Printed Page Edges
✨ Re-imagined Foiled Soft-Touch Dust Jacket
✨ Eight Translucent Page Overlays
This has been a long time coming. Marisa, the owner of the box, had contacted me years before when she had read the self-published edition of The Boy with Fire. She loved it so much that she wanted to make a special edition then and there, but the book was set to be republished by Orbit as The Phoenix King. Luckily, Marisa still wanted to make a special edition! It’s going to be epic.
The special edition is set to come out in March. The AcryliPics team has shared a few previews of the new cover + art page overlays and they are gorgeous. We plan on sharing sneak peeks and the box’s behind-the-scenes process on their TikTok page.
More news
The Phoenix King Spanish edition is set to release on March 7th with Fandom Books as El Rey Fenix. You can order the translated edition here.
I’ve gotten several DMs and questions about future translations: my agent is currently working on it, and I hope to share more news about upcoming translations with you soon. If it was in my power, I would have several translated editions of The Phoenix King available around the world, but sadly, I can’t control the whims of publishing. All I can do is hope and allow my agent to do her work.
Speaking of work, I have finally received edits for Book 2 of The Ravence Trilogy! No, I can’t tell you the title. No, I can’t tell you the release date either. What I can tell you is that Book 2 is far grittier, darker, and more expansive than TPK. At its heart, the sequel is a story about revolution and nationhood, of the twisted ways leaders and freedom fighters manipulate nationalism and patriotism for their personal gains. It’s also the story of two ruthless leaders who have lost their homes to imperialism, only to claw and fight for it back regardless of the consequences they inflict on each other. Book 2 continues the themes of The Phoenix King and turns them to reveal their darker, horrid secrets.
I have a lot of work ahead of me to whip the draft into its final shape, so I will have to say goodbye and get back to work. But I want to leave you with a thank you: these past few months, I have been incredibly lucky to receive your love and enthusiasm for TPK and its characters. I have enjoyed your TikToks, serendipitous run-ins at the bookstore, and lovely messages. I will try my best to remember them as I edit Book 2. It’s the fuel I need.
Keep a fire burning,
Aparna