Cover Reveal for THE COLOR OF TIME

Dear readers,

I am so excited about today's newsletter. After months of work with my publisher on The Color of Time, my second novel coming out on May 19, 2026, we are finally ready to reveal the cover.

The illustration is by the award-winner cover artist Alyssa Winans. It has always been a dream to get a cover made by Alyssa, and I can't believe it happened! Huge thanks to my publisher, Shiraki Press, for making it a reality, and to Alyssa for creating this dreamy illustration of Cyrelle.

The typography was made by Josh Sutphin, Shiraki Press's cofounder and designer. Big thanks to Josh for bearing with me as we went through multiple rounds tweaking the font, placement, size, effects, and many more details. I find typography to be the hardest part of a book cover, and I care a great deal about it (especially when we have such beautiful art), so I appreciate Josh taking the time to do it right. I love the final result so much!

Please note you can already preorder the book—at least in some places. More links and formats will become available in the next days and weeks as we upload the final files across vendors' websites, so keep that link handy ⬇️

Preorder Now

A science-fantasy inspired by Charles Perrault’s fairy tale “Peau d’Âne,” The Color of Time blends the whimsy of classic fairy tales with the sapphic romance of Fable for the End of the World and the large-scale politics of The Mercy of Gods.

Princess Cyrelle has always been faithful and true to her family, country, and Goddess. But now her brother, King Elias of Cicia, has asked for—no, commanded—her hand in marriage.

Desperate to avoid this incestuous union, Cyrelle requests a series of increasingly impossible gifts and petitions the Goddess for a sign to sway her resolute brother’s proposal. As Elias persists undeterred, Cyrelle must risk everything to escape the only life she’s ever known.

Soon, she becomes Green Scales, hiding and struggling to survive on her own, far across the galaxy. But Phau isn’t the peaceful refuge Cyrelle had hoped for, and when the leader of its burgeoning rebel faction recognizes the runaway princess, she is forced to choose between safety and freedom. With the fate of two kingdoms on the line and nowhere left to run, Cyrelle must decide what it means to be true to herself, to her people, and to her heart.

TOMORROW: Live Interview with Saffron Asteria on the BOOKED Poscast

REMINDER! Join me and host Saffron Asteria for a live interview on Monday, February 9 at 1 pm PST on the BOOKED podcast. To watch it live on YouTube, use the link below ⬇️

Live Interview

Reminder: Giveaway for Bright City, Shattered

If you live in the U.S., don't forget to enter the giveaway on Goodreads by March 1, 2026 to maybe become the lucky winner of one of five signed copies of my sci-fi mystery novella Bright City, Shattered. Each winner will also receive an art print and other freebies.

Enter the giveaway

Book Recommendation

I'm very happy to use my newsletter to promote Nathan Alexander's forthcoming debut fantasy novel Ashes of the Revolution. Nathan and I have been in touch for a while now (three years I believe? maybe more?) and I got the chance to read an ARC of his novel during my trip to Japan last year.

I enjoyed it a lot, and I think you will too if you like epic fantasy with tons of politics, mythical creatures, and a good dose of French-inspired revolution. The book comes out on March 11, 2026 and you can already preorder it ⬇️

Preorder Now

Miscellaneous Writing News

• I am making good progress with the developmental edits of Nightbloom. Yesterday, I finished adding grounding details per my agent's feedback, and now I am working on adding a few more scenes to take the manuscript to 50,000 words, so my agent can submit my manuscript to more publishers. At the time I am writing this newsletter, I am at ~48,500 words and have good hopes of being done very soon with the remaining 1,500 words.

• For audiobook enthusiasts, my agent has submitted The Color of Time to several audiobook companies. Now we wait to see if one of them is interested in acquiring the rights and producing it. Cross your fingers!

• I am working again with Mara on character art. This time, I commissioned Mara to draw an illustration of Cyrelle and Sianna from The Color of Time. I've seen a rough sketch and it's going to be fabulous. Stay tuned for an upcoming art reveal!

That's it for today. Thank you for reading and for supporting my writing.

— Millie