I want to watch you drink tea…
Disclaimer: this is a copy of the newsletter. Actual subscribers get all the prizes, votes, and exclusives.
I’ll say it again: I want to watch you drink tea.
And if you’re down for it, I want you to watch me drink tea too.
I’m well aware of how strange that sounds, so let me explain. Haha.
(Real quick, make sure to scroll to the bottom to see upcoming LIVE events. They’re not just book signings, they’re book experiences)
A few weeks ago Steph and I started working on specialized teas for Cass and Evelon. We’re talking custom blends that taste like the characters.
Wait…
That came out wrong. What I mean is, every sip should taste like we stuffed Cass’s personality into a bag and steeped it in boiling water. You know, the kinda thing we all want in our teas.
Anyway, through the process of working on that, including the tedious steps it takes to be able to sell outside of Tennessee, I looked at Steph and said
“Man, I wish we had a way to just sit down and chat with everyone.”
Because the truth is, I really like getting to spend time with you all. The Discord is growing, the newsletter always gets consistent responses, and people are doing the various games and quizzes. Yet, I wanted to be able to sit down and chat.
That’s when I decided to resurrect an old live stream called “Tea Time w/ Mr. Sunlight”. On Monday at 8 pm CST (more like 8:20 due to technical difficulties), we did our first livestream of…
Read It & Steep
Mondays @8pm CST → Live on YouTube (make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss out)
Combining our love for our book/world and my singular love for tea (though Steph is warming up to it), along with our desire to just get to spend more time with each of you, we now have this awesome weekly event.
Consider this newsletter our formal invitation to join us every Monday at 8pm CST HERE.
Bring your tea and favorite mugs, thermoses, or other vessels (yes, coffee and other beverages will be tolerated), and jump in with Steph and me as we discuss what went on this week in Exousia (the world around The First Stone). There are usually some hilarious stories. We also ask those who show up for their thoughts on ideas and upcoming projects, teasers, and more.
Then at the end, I read that week’s in-world news article (last week’s was CONSTRUCTION WORKERS LEFT JOBLESS BY MYTHS). Followed by Steph, you, and me discussing questions, ethical concerns, and hypothetical “what would you do?” situations around the article and the world in general.
Despite not telling anyone we were going to do it until we basically went live, several of you still showed up and had a blast. We had over 120+ messages in that chat. You guys were AWESOME!
Speaking of awesome, we’re also launching our Read It & Steep LIVE events, featuring:
- Music performed by me from the book
- Asking a question to your favorite character and they answer back (me doing their voice and attitude)
- Live faction-based game
- Multiple giveaways (faction loot boxes, bookstore gift cards, rare and collector editions of major popular series, and more)
- Exclusive stickers, rewards, and other prizes
- Special incentives for those who bring their books in (or buy directly from the store)
- Portion of proceeds going back to a local charity
And so much more.
So grab a friend (if they show up with you, we’ve got a gift for you), bring your tea (or coffee), and be ready to have a book experience unlike any other at a local bookstore near you!
If you want to see the Read It & Steep logo Steph made before we reveal it live on Monday, reply to this email with “Let me steep it!”
Cass (aka me in Cass cosplay) is going to be at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville this Sunday from 10am-11am and 1pm-3pm (at The Spine Bookstore tent).
This was totally unexpected. I walked into a local bookstore yesterday (The Spine Bookstore) to book an event, and walked out with not only an event, but an invitation to their booth at the festival. Here are a few bullets on why you should come see me:
- I am going to be cosplaying as Cass!
- I will have special collectible stickers
- I will be running a special deal for anyone who pre-orders a hard copy of the book (they’ll also receive an ebook copy immediately, because I don’t have any physical copies until January’s release)
- I’ll have cool lights at the table, and a few on my arm (what?!)
It would be really great to meet you all! I don’t know the exact location of the tent I’ll be at, so keep an eye on Discord where I’ll post updates as I have them.
Alright, that’s it. See you Sunday? If not, see you Monday, LIVE for the Read It & Steep stream at 8pm CST. WOO!
~Robert
The First Stone is out now for pre-order. Cass’s little sister is going to die. He’ll burn the world down to save her.
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Disclaimer: this is a copy of the newsletter. Actual subscribers get all the prizes, votes, and exclusives.
