Kicking

June 2026

Hello everyone!

More than halfway through this pass of edits and there’s been lots of kicking my little feet, and my characters wanting to kick in teeth. I’ve also been hard at work honing my drawing skills… read on to find out more!

The Projects In Progress

We are on chapter 30 of 49 (formerly 50—two chapters got smooshed together), ahead of my self-imposed schedule! The goal is to have this pass of edits done by the end of July, and then it is being set aside again for a little while… for a good reason (which I may unveil in my next newsletter).

Here’s a couple of little quotes from this current edit pass to keep you going:

“Is it an illness? Your need to constantly steal things?”

“Nix hated owing a nobleman anything more than a kick in the teeth.”

As for other projects—I still have a few other things cooking in my brain. I have a title for another book and series, which may potentially be folded into another project (Renaissance) that I have tinkered with for a while now. Otherwise, I have been drawing every day recently, trying to hone my skills so that when God Words 1 does become published, I have character art to share also!

Keep reading for a little teaser of them below…

The Other Worlds I’ve Gotten Lost In Lately

It’s hard to sit down and be lost in another story when my brain is in ‘nitpickety edits’ mode. I somehow still managed to finish three books—here’s my wrap-up rapid-fire style:

Legacy of Flame (ARC) by Mallory Moss: incredible story. Mira is pure fire. The ending was devastating. Chomping at the bit for the next one, Mallory! Book available now on the ‘Zon and Etsy!

All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan: another audacious, incredible, screeching at the pages story from SRB. I have an unhealthy obsession with Key. The Cobra is still my favourite character. Her acknowledgements made me cry. An incredible writer and person. Next year and Kill Your Darlings cannot come any faster!!! Available pretty much everywhere you can get books.

Dead Horizon (ARC) by Rachel Jones: Generation ships, weird planets and plant zombies. Love a zombie fueled by weird flora—ever since The Last of Us (the videogame). Gripping story, non-stop on every page. I don’t know how Rachel manages to pack so much great story into a novella like that, but she’s incredible at it. Available on 28th July on the ‘Zon and her website.

I anticipate that next month I will be lost in another ARC and a couple of beta reads…

Off On Tangents

No tangents, just character art draft teasers…

Yours in getting this book written and into your hands one day,

Ashley Marasco

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