Alyn Sparkes<p><a href="https://social.swordandfiddle.co.uk/tags/bookstodon" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#bookstodon</a><span> </span><a href="https://social.swordandfiddle.co.uk/tags/booksky" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#booksky</a><span> </span><a href="https://social.swordandfiddle.co.uk/tags/IndiePublishing" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IndiePublishing</a><span><br><br>We've been quiet for a while now, because while we're working on stuff, it's not really public, and indeed may never happen.<br>However, one thing that's definitely happening is that we've made the decision to media-swap one of our properties and release a novel covering the first "part" of our "Players" story.<br><br>Written by New York Times bestselling author Amy Sparkes </span><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://wandering.shop/@StoryGodmother" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>StoryGodmother</span></a></span><span><br></span><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/amysparkes.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bsky.app/profile/amysparkes.bsky.social</a><span><br><br>It's her first novel for adults. Since her agent would only handle her work for children, we've decided to independently publish the book ourselves. The plan is for it to be DRM free on Kobo and available as an ePub from Amy's Kofi account, but for the moment we've only been able to get it up as a pre-order on Amazon here:<br></span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DY8CM3LX" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DY8CM3LX</a><span><br><br>Released on 29th July, importantly we'll be selling it DRM free everywhere, as discussed here:<br></span><a href="https://wandering.shop/@alyn/114343396452596693" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wandering.shop/@alyn/114343396452596693</a><span><br><br>If the following sounds like something you'd read, then a pre-order would really help and makes it more likely to be picked up by bigger production companies who could help us get it made in it's originally planned form.<br><br></span><b><span>England, 1715.</span></b><span><br>When society doesn’t understand you, and your family is out of the picture, a strolling theatre company could be your perfect home…<br><br>Ambitious lead actor </span><b><span>Thomas</span></b><span> is determined to reach Drury Lane and prove to his father that he is not a failure.<br><br>Fierce </span><b><span>Caroline</span></b><span> has a traumatic past and is determined to protect the company which saved her.<br><br>Kind-hearted </span><b><span>Annie</span></b><span> just wants to look after her found family.<br><br>So, when their heartbroken manager </span><b><span>Robert</span></b><span> is injured and decides to fold the struggling company, the players are resolved to change his mind, whatever the cost. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against them. They’ve lost their stage, they still haven’t got a skull for Hamlet, and flamboyant ex-member </span><b><span>Piero</span></b><span> is hunting them down, with a spot of revenge on his mind...<br><br>Is it time for the final bow?<br><br>The Players Act 1: All The World’s A Stage gives voice to the forgotten strolling players of the 18th century in this fun, uplifting, and page-turning read.<br><br></span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DY8CM3LX" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DY8CM3LX</a></p>