Chapter delay + Site and Brand News

Hey guys,

Ara here.

First of all I have to apologize. I've been unwell for most of this week, and thus have been unable to complete this weeks chapter on time...

I know that no one reads any of this anyway, but I still feel terrible about all the recent delays.

My health is a struggle. I have almost constant nerve and back pain, and this coupled with the strong meds that I'm on to counteract it make my brain foggy and increase the chance of migraines.

When the symptoms are bad it makes it really hard to put the words together, even though the ideas are still in my head.

I'm doing my best to break out of it at the moment, and I'm pushing myself to try and expand my physical fitness, but this is also taking a heavy toll on me.

I've had a lot on my mind recently. About the Purg site and the Podcast that I started to create more interest in my work.

I've decided to put a pause on the Podcast after this week, as I'm not getting any retention in listeners and the only likes and follower that I've received have been from a friend of mine.

I may change my mind on this, but it seems unlikely. I don't want to pay for hosting and put my limited time and effort into something else that no one looks at (or listens to in this case).

I would like to make it clear that I'm not giving up. I'm going to be looking at a more viable alternative. Perhaps youtube, which was my initial idea.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: I am going to be looking at monetizing the Purg very soon. This means that new chapters will no longer be offered for free.

In fact only the first couple of chapters of each series will be free. The rest will be made available to my subscribers.

I believe that my work is worth something. I also have enough chapters by now to make it worthwhile to charge for access.

I won't be doing this right away, as I still need to figure out the best way to set this system up.

I am hoping to make a flexible and (hopefully) simple system.

I will be more focused on writing my chapters, but I may also make some time for some other fun things like monthly polls and competitions for subscribers.

Once I put this into place chapter releases will be my main focus. And to set up for this I will have limited releases for the next few weeks, while I set up a bit of a back log.

I am still planning to release the latest chapter of High & Low as soon as it's finished.

Another exciting development that is in the works of my mind is a potential full rewrite of Neweth Chapters Book 1.

After reading Teardrops & Bloodshed aloud on the Podcast, I've rediscovered the reason that I left the series alone for so long.

The story is passable, but the writing is lacking. After all it was my first attempt at writing, from many, many years ago.

I am a different person now, and (I hope) a much better writer.

So I plan to re-do the entire book from scratch. Who knows, the story may even end up in an entirely different direction.

Aside from that I have a couple of poems to share today, in place of the release that was supposed to be here.

This first one I wrote for my Mother on her birthday earlier in the year. I thought it was fitting to release it today, on Mother's day. I call it the brave one.

The Brave One

You always do your best Plot your course With care A job well done Always With little time to rest

You are a force To the few who reckon Your true force is kindness Awareness of others Always Love is your only source

You are human No sin nor defect It's strength To get up when you fall Always I'll be here to help the burden

You only wish to help Always, always, always In your own ways Beautiful Nurturing Soul

I feel your love And return it and more Always.

This next poem is connected to my new D&D campaign. If on the off chance any of my players end up reading this, it may be a clue of what is to come...

Farewell Hero

Where did the hero go?

Oh, where did the hero go?

That savior we needed so,

When our world was brought low.

With so much at stake,

Was he a fake?

Chosen by the Gods,

To rise above the odds.

But mortal all the same,

Is he really to blame?

Cowardice or nobility?

It is such a pity.

Was he slain?

Or otherwise detained,

By a cunning foe?

Maybe be dead for all we know.

In the end it matters not.

Only what his absence brought.

The hero doomed us all.

On his head is the worlds fall.

With the last hope gone,

None of us have long.

So, farewell hero.

Farewell to us all, who face the harrow.

I hope to share more about this campaign as it progresses. We'll be having the first session soon, and I have big plans.

I've been out of the DMing game for too long, so I'm excited to jump back in.

Both poems will find their way onto one of my poetry pages in the River.

Anyway, that's all from me for now. I will be back soon with some more announcements about the site and my other plans soon. Also the next chapter of High & Low will be out as soon as possible. Ta-ta.