Hello, September...

The first hints of fall have arrived, and we've already stopped for our first pumpkin drinks of the season lol.🍂  I was also just re-reading our last 6 months of blog posts and realized how in need we are of a writing update. Firstly, yes, Before the Dawn: An Askari Series Novel, Roz & Xaphan's story, is still in progress. I know I had previously been throwing around a late summer release, and other than me just being absolutely horrible at judging release dates as previously stated, there are 2 very good reasons for that, which are 1) Roz & Xaphan's story is shaping up to be far longer than I anticipated and 2) Once again, I've misjudged what I'm reasonably able to accomplish during summer break when our little one is home.😅 Writing will be picking back up again, however, starting next week with the start of school and post FanGrrrl's signing event, which is this coming Friday and Saturday.🩷💜 

In that very same vein, I have to announce that getting Worlds into print before/for the event also did not happen. Sincere apologies! I will be creating a pre-order link, though (as soon as I can figure out how), where anyone attending can submit their name and address for a signed copy as soon as it's available! 

But I hope everyone had a nice start to their September.🍁If you're a fall bug like me, there are a few reels of the beauty of a pumpkin we harvested from our garden in this past week's vlog, along with clips from a super cool birthday Sasquatch Express train ride. Right now, though, I will leave you with an excerpt and rough snapshot of our signing event setup.

To anyone attending, I cannot wait to meet you!🥰 And please be sure to travel safely. 

Hugs in advance,

Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt

Roz felt herself come back to consciousness, moving her head slightly. She was disoriented, groggy, yet there was a strange undercurrent of energy in her veins. It felt good. Powerful. Still, her brows drew together as she tried to figure out what had happened. She saw Xaphan in her mind’s eye…they’d fought…blood.

The bond, she remembered, finally beginning to open her eyes. She sensed someone next to her, heard a soft snarl. Xaphan’s face was the last thing she’d seen before she blacked out. Then Roz experienced a brief second of panic as she realized she couldn’t feel the stiffness of her black bodysuit against her skin. A quick look at her wrist allayed her fears. The havat still covered her body and she relaxed. That’d be the last thing she needed: to wake up naked on the floor with Xaphan or some other Askari standing over her.

The bond must have taken, was her next thought. It was followed quickly by the awareness of the same someone she’d sensed next to her moving closer. Roz felt large fingers grip her hip. She reacted without looking, batting at them as she kicked out her leg—not hard, but enough to let whoever was touching her know, “hands off”. Right as she did so, she felt an incredible punch of energy down her body, and before she could understand it, the presence left her with a belated skid and thud down the corridor. Roz jerked into an upright position, her grogginess all but forgotten.

Xaphan was half on his ass, but he quickly brought his powerful legs beneath him. Roz was frozen in shock, then her gaze shot down to her havat. The strength she’d felt upon waking hadn’t been a dream; it was real. The tiny amount of blood they’d exchanged had completed the bond, so that now, things were working as they should.

Fucking, yes, she thought. Finally, as she clenched and unclenched her fist with a shaky smile. 

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

Dear, June

Hi everyone,

It was a busy month of June, so this post is just a recap and quick check-in.

Phew, has it been a sweltering July so far! I booked my plane tickets for FanGrrrl's signing event (eeee, holy crap), so my days have been time-blocked to the max with writing, read-throughs, and event prep—swag, merch, signage, shipping—while also juggling days at home with the little one and shifts at the day job. On a related note, what do you think when you hear "Hollywood Glam" themed party/dress? I'm still poking around for ideas because I'm not usually a "dressy" person. 

Here in the US, though, I hope everybody had a wonderful 250th Fourth of July celebration🎆, and I'll leave you with our next little excerpt from Before the Dawn, Roz & Xaphan's story.

Have a great rest of your week, you guys. Stay safe and cool, and happy reading❣️📚

P.S. For anyone interested in swag who can't make it to the event, we'll be having offerings on the Patreon Page, where I just updated our weekly posting rotation to include detailed writing check-ins (along with vlogs and excerpts) for a little mix of everything. :)

Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt

Chapter Three

Xaphan tilted his head, staring at the warrior female where she lay on the floor before him. He snikted and slowly lowered to crouch in front of her. For what she was—their lesser sex, apparently—she had fairly impressed him.

She’d even drawn blood. Not something he was treated to often because of how difficult it was for his kind to mar their skin. It was why Xaphan wore the scars on his body proudly. Of which, the one across his right eye and inner lid he was particularly proud. It was given to him during a pairing with an especially brutal female that other males wouldn’t have even attempted to engage. But Xaphan liked a challenge; he liked fighting more, and Captain Carter had excited him beyond what he’d expected: his body’s reaction was testament to that. The response had startled him, though.

She’d drawn him from first sight, yes, but a physical response would have taken more time. Or at least he’d assumed. She was alien. Not at all what he knew, in body or mind, and he couldn’t understand why a part of it annoyed him. But after a few moments, Xaphan let it go and felt his eyes begin to glow as he silently petitioned Great Kharrhisshna for answers.

His attention fell next to his bloodied claw used during their fight. He lifted it and curled his tongue around the digit in an attempt to savor any dried remnants. Her lifeblood was allusive: a sickening stab of sweetness…followed by a heady metallic tang that had a krhune suddenly threatening to vibrate his chest.

Xaphan opened his eyes and looked back at her prone form on the floor. She hadn’t been unconscious for long. He noticed her head move, and against his better judgment, crept closer, unable to resist the urge to crowd her now that he had tasted her blood. She was lying with her face to the floor, and he reached for her in order to check that her heart still beat strongly.

 The sudden vision of her waking beneath him, fierce and as inflamed as he had been earlier—whatever that looked like for her kind—made him pause and growl softly. While her tenacity was admirable, Xaphan had had to restrain himself to avoid truly hurting her, else she would have been on the floor beneath him several times. But he had been reluctant to break her spirit. It was wild, like his own. That did not change how much weaker she was when compared to an Askari female. But then Xaphan supposed it was not her fault for not having been born like them.

Moments later, he would have to wonder if the us’grah had heard him…and amusedly decided to answer his call.

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

April Recap, May Check-In

Best of intentions on last month's check-in, I swear lol. I really hope everyone had a nice spring break, though❣️As well as a Happy Mother's Day🌸 Our second round of Askara candles shipped out to paying patrons earlier this month, and I've just been catching up while beginning to prep for FanGrrrl's signing event, which feels like it's going to be here before I can blink! 

Hubby and I were also able to start up our garden again this year, so I've been busy prepping and planting (big shoutout to any fellow gardeners). I'll be sure to include a link to last week's vlog if you're curious, along with our next Roz & Xaphan excerpt.

Have a wonderful rest of your week, everybody, and happy reading🍵📚

Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt

“Get off me—GET OFF!!”

There was a hiss and a grating growl, but in an instant, he released her. Roz spun on him.

“What the hell was that?!”

She slammed her eyes closed and promptly jerked her head to one side, all the while scrambling to put as much space between them as possible. “Nope! Ya know what? I don’t even want to know,” she told him, breathing hard.

The tang of blood teased her tongue. And it was then that she realized: the finger he’d shoved in her mouth was the exact one he’d coated with his own blood from the broken lip she’d given him. Renewed indignation poured through her veins. A blood exchange.

“You got what you wanted. We are done here.” She jabbed a finger at him.

Xaphan lifted his chin to sniff the air, all the while still holding her gaze. Roz glared at him, struggling to control her breath. To his credit, he didn’t move. She shook her head one last time, backing away.

“And don’t you dare come at me like that again.”

As soon as she was far enough down the corridor, she was turning and running, Roz thought, desperate for some distance. To hell with this. To hell with him. To hell with this assignment…

Though, she knew as soon as she thought it, that that was her temper talking. She'd never quit anything in her life and wasn't about to start now. It wasn't in her blood.

 Just the same, she'd had enough of psychotic aliens for one day. More than enough.

Her gaze was still trained on Xaphan—on the rise and fall of his chest inside his havat. Roz blinked when a ripple of light moved across the material like water, then she swallowed and darted down the connecting corridor.

Her muscles immediately sagged at the reprieve, and she nearly stumbled. Her entire body hummed. She wanted to say it was because of the fight, but Roz knew that'd been no ordinary spar. Xaphan was Askari, formidable as fuck, but she still should have been able to keep her cool. It was like all her training had flown out the damn window.

There was also the fact she wasn't used to losing... Maybe she’d never realized how much, she thought, with an uneasy feeling, until now. Until she was faced with someone damn near unbeatable. Hell, there weren’t many men who'd been able to take her on. Sure, they might land a few hits or manage to pin her a couple of times, but at the end of the day, she’d always felt they were evenly matched.

That wasn’t the experience she’d just had with Xaphan. He totally dominated her. Also, just what the hell was up with that thing she’d felt against her backside? Being ignorant of certain Askari biology, she could still take an educated guess. Roz stewed, a weird tingle running down her spine. She prepared herself to feel disgusted, but was instead forced to slow her steps.

Her head suddenly felt light, dizzy, and then she tripped.

"Wh—oh..."

    Immediately, she noticed her breath had grown shallow, and the surrounding corridor started to sway. Roz dropped to one knee, bracing a hand against the wall for support. She narrowed her eyes, the lids feeling heavy. A pulse of light appeared to move in slow motion across the black floor beneath her fingers...until two giant feet stepped into view. Not human feet, but definitely familiar.

    She swore, the phrase coming out garbled because she understood now what was happening—she knew it had to be the blood exchange, the bond, and fought hard to keep herself conscious...

     Roz gathered every bit of strength she had and lifted her head. She blinked heavily up into Xaphan’s burning yellow gaze, hearing his faint clicks. And then she blacked out.

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

March Recap

Last month got away from me a bit, but we do have candles! I'm going to see if I can insert a little video below 💖🕯️ I also just have to give a big shoutout to ROAM Homegrown. They came out A-mazing, and I'm honestly blown away by the quality and design. They're 100% soy, too, with no parabens, phthalates, or paraffins, shipped at no charge for paying patrons. And of course, they smell incredible lol. 

In other news, book 4 (Dawn), Roz & Xaphan's story is officially a little over 50% written. I've included our next excerpt below for those who would like. But yeah, it'll be a busy next few days here with Easter and the little one home for spring break. I plan to post another check-in, though, more toward the end of the month. I hope everyone has a wonderful week❣️

Happy Spring and happy reading💮📚

Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt

    Shit. Sanchez was right…he was totally enjoying this.

    It was the only warning she got before a swipe from his massive hand barely missed her face. Roz jumped back, feeling the air move mere inches from her skin, then she bounced on her toes, dodging his next two attempts. She grunted, her heart pumping, but something told her he wasn’t really trying.

    He was playing with her; Roz gritted her teeth.

   Determined to match him and knowing her punches would be useless, she aimed another powerful kick at his jaw. Faster than she could blink, Xaphan caught it midair, and she stumbled. He jerked her toward him, one hand engulfing her foot.

    Pushing her panic down, Roz reacted quickly and used the momentum to swing herself up and onto his shoulders. She squeezed her thighs around his thick neck from behind, throwing her weight to the side in an attempt to knock him off balance, but the nasty Askari slammed them back into the wall, forcing the breath right out of her.

    Roz tightened her legs as she tried with all her might to weaken him in any way she possibly could, but it was another failed maneuver. Her lungs burned for air. It was also painfully obvious she was more spent by her efforts than he seemed to be, but she refused to give up! She would not cede this fight.

Roz tightened her legs as she tried with all her might to weaken him in any way she possibly could, but it was another failed maneuver. Her lungs burned for air. It was also painfully obvious she was more spent by her efforts than he seemed to be, but she refused to give up! She would not cede this fight.

    She felt grasping along her back. Lashing out, she hit his hands out of the way before he could take hold of her, then plunged her fingers into his dreads to pull hard. Because hell, no, she was not above fighting dirty against someone so much stronger and deadlier than she.

    A mighty snarl vibrated her body before Xaphan ripped her clean off of him. Roz winced when sharp claws scraped her scalp and then she was against the wall again, staring up at him with her head forced back. Big Nasty’s dreads were now huge, and she had to wonder: just how sensitive were they?

    Xaphan hissed fiercely, bringing her attention back. He’d lodged a knee against her groin, effectively pinning her where she was, and Roz growled her frustration. She stared at his bloodied lip again, happy to at least have given him that much.

    They were both breathing hard—though her a lot harder than him, she noted—and then his alien tongue darted out to lick the area a second time. The scarred Askari’s no-good gaze dropped to her mouth. In one fell swoop, he suddenly hooked a claw from his free hand inside her full bottom lip. Shock hit Roz hard.

    What the— She couldn’t believe he was trying to fishhook her! Or at least, that’s what she thought at first.

    She felt pressure, followed by a slight burning when his claw punctured the sensitive skin there. Xaphan snapped his shark-like teeth, slowly smeared the blood from her downturned lip along his finger like a psychopath—then he pushed the damn digit forward into her mouth.

    Roz’s eyes popped, and she finally made a noise of indignation. A deep sound had begun to emanate from his chest, but she didn't even care. She bit down. Hard.

    Roz felt the jerk of his body against hers. She also tasted blood but couldn’t be sure if she’d broken his rough, rubbery skin or if it was still hers from his finger. Either way, the digit was torn from her mouth.

    Xaphan hissed, spun her against the wall, and crowded her body, pushing firmly into her from behind. He clicked and hissed again over her ear. Roz swore and tried to use her hips to push him back, struggling to gain ground because now he was freaking her out. Especially as she felt him breathe deeply and start to sniff her.

    Dammit, but he was going to make her cede this fight.

    She heard a rolling click and a softer snap of his teeth, and that’s when she felt it...something strange against her backside. Roz froze. She frowned. There it was again, moving, seeking...

    The fuck?

    It sent her panic spilling.

    “Get off me—GET OFF!!”

    There was a hiss and a grating growl, but in an instant, he released her. Roz spun on him.

    “What the hell was that?!”

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

Before the Dawn Cover Reveal❣🎉

I am so excited to finally share the cover for Before the Dawn: An Askari Series Novel for our February post, everybody!💞 Eeeee, isn't it awesome?! You can see Xaphan in the foreground, of course, and then Roz standing off to the side in her spacesuit with her face transposed in the sky. I absolutely love it❣ Maria is just the best.💖

For those who have been asking, I'm averaging about a chapter in Dawn every 1-2 weeks right now, so we should be on schedule for a late summer release. If you follow me on FB, you'll also have seen brand new Askara candle mock-ups. Which I am super excited for. The inspiration for choosing said scent was 'smoke and spice'—the closest I could get to what I thought Askara or the Askari might actually smell like. I'll be bringing a few with me to FanGrrrl's Premier Signing Event this September, but they'll probably also be listed on Etsy or Patreon for purchase at some point, with free giveaways for paying patrons. I plan to do the unboxing in an upcoming vlog that you can view as a FREE member on the page. It's gonna be fun...even if you're just curious as to what exactly we authors get up to when we're not writing.😉

Right now, though, I'd better get back to it. Below is our next Roz & Xaphan excerpt. I hope everyone has a wonderful week & Valentine's Day❣

Hugs,

💕JM

 

Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt...

    “Hey!” Roz barked, more like snarled. “We’re not fucking finished yet.”

    At her words, the big, nasty Askari slowed, but she was already headed for him. She’d have the advantage of surprise this time, she determined fiercely, pumping her legs to gain speed before she dropped to slide along the black alien matrix and right between his massive legs. Roz sucked in a breath, barely missing the protruding claws along the backs of his heels.

    There was a deafening hiss somewhere above her, but she wasted no time. Roz kicked out from where she lay on the floor... The big Askari grunted, but she didn’t even pause: his knee wasn’t her intended target anyway.

    Knowing she had but precious seconds, Roz then braced, threw herself up from the floor, and delivered the most powerful roundhouse kick she’d ever thrown to his chin with every bit of strength she could muster.

    “Arggh!!”

    Xaphan’s head snapped around with a sick sound, the dread-like things atop his head whipping with it.

    Roz allowed herself a moment’s satisfaction, then rocked back on her heels out of reach. She panted. Every muscle in her body was tense, ready, just waiting for the counterattack…

    Sure enough, the air crackled when he lowered his chin. Xaphan’s bright yellow eye flashed—scratch that, it damn-near glowed, she shuddered. And then he made a sound she’d heard but once or twice.

    It was a snick? Or click?? Whatever.

    Roz braced, preparing herself for the attack. Instead, he lifted one claw-tipped finger to his mouth. A drop of dark red blood had appeared on his lip. She watched warily as he touched it, smearing the liquid until a pointed tongue stabbed out to lick the wound. There was a soft, rolling sound.

    Shit. Sanchez was right…he was totally enjoying this.

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

Goodbye, 2025... and Before the Dawn Cover Teaser❣💞

Okay, I promise, we are going to get back onto a monthly posting schedule. Hm...why does that sound familiar? 

All joking aside, I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Year❣ I obviously underestimated how much it would affect my productivity having our little one home this past summer—sincere apologies for the neglect. September was just as crazy with back-to-school and birthdays (yes, plural), and then the holidays hit. Phew! I also have to be honest, and I don't know if anyone else can relate, but 2025 really wasn't that fun for us: major family shifts, car troubles, job challenges, medical scares. Hubbs, the little one, and I are here, however, healthy and doing well, and we can't ask for any more than that.

Now on to book news and what I'm most excited to share, which is Before the Dawn's Cover Teaser and excerpt❣🎉💖 

Maria honestly worked so hard on this one, you guys, and I cannot wait to reveal the whole thing, hehe. I've included our next excerpt below for anyone wanting another little teaser. This week, I'll be focusing on catching up here (responding to comments) and on Facebook. And of course, writing. 

Oh, and for anyone wondering, yes, 3002 was briefly published this past summer. It's still available on my Patreon Page, which you can read more about here.

I also wanted to end with a quick ask: even if you're just reading and never comment (which is totally fine!), if you could please leave a heart or other little emoji in the comment section below, it will help me to know that you're here.

Let's rock 2026🤘 Hugs.

💗JM

    

She felt strong, too-long fingers grasp her upper arms like bands of steel and her feet left the floor, the wall slamming hard against her back. She made herself suck in a breath, shocked that he had made contact this time and that it wasn’t just another fake.

            Shit, but she’d wasted precious seconds of reaction time. Roz growled. Thinking fast, she braced her hands and feet on his body, snapped her head back, and headbutted him. Pain exploded across her skull, blinding her for a moment and making her stomach clench. She blinked…realizing just how much she'd misjudged. Their faces felt like they were made of titanium, and Roz had to blink again, trying to see clearly while two yellow orbs appeared to peer back at her now. She’d felt his head jerk back with the blow, but he didn’t seem to be affected at all. She was also vaguely aware of a low clicking sound, and then what felt like a claw digging into her chin, lifting her gaze to hold his.

            Another low click, and Roz shook her head to try to clear it.

            In the next instant the steel bands that held her up against the wall suddenly let go and she dropped to the ground, stumbling to stay upright under the weight of Xaphan’s gaze. The weird dreads atop his head fell back into place, and he stepped away with a snort. Roz almost felt herself sag with relief when he growled something, eyed her one last time and turned to leave, his large form pulling away as if it had its own gravity.

            It took some seconds more, but she recovered, straightening where she stood.

            She watched a pulse of light ripple down the back of his black alien body suit as he walked away. A suit that molded perfectly to his tall, thickly muscled shape. It was also a suit hers should have matched, but didn’t, because of a blood exchange he had tried to force on her with Wells earlier in the hallway, but now, what…he wasn’t interested?? Roz scrambled to put it together, her head still spinning.

            She assumed he’d been looking for an excuse to fight before. Now she didn’t know what he was about.

            Had she not been enough of a challenge for him? Roz huffed, the idea taking hold where she stood, watching him walk away. Then she heard the infamous snap of sharp shark teeth, and she couldn’t explain it, but the sound was different than when he’d first seen her on the bridge. Like an afterthought. A footnote, and it suddenly made her feel…pathetic.

            Roz’s nostrils flared.

            Ohh-ho, no. Just, N to the fucking O.

            First, this psycho had stalked her like an animal from the moment he’d laid eyes upon her. Then he’d terrorized her in full view of her superior who had done fuck-all to stop him. He had the literal audacity to attack her just now when they were supposed to be teammates, but if she was really being honest? All that wasn't what actually set her off, she thought, her anger reigniting like an inferno where she stood.

            Roz knew his kind didn’t think much of Earth fighters or their military unless they were wielding Askari tech. In fact, it'd been the reason she volunteered to wear their black body suits called havats in the first place—because Roz hated feeling weak, she hated failure, and for a fighter of her caliber, that stung. But by Xaphan dismissing her so easily just now, Roz didn't only feel like she'd lost the fight. She somehow felt like she'd failed her entire team, her planet. Hell, the list went on...and there was really only one way she knew how to fix it, she thought, drawing herself up.

           So, he wanted a fight, did he? Roz sniffed. Well, she sure as shit was gonna give him one.

           “Hey!” she barked, more like snarled. “We’re not fucking finished yet.”

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved

May Recap

Hiya guys, 

Last month was busy with edits (3002) and word count (Dawn). I was even able to outline a little of Liv & Braxas's story.😊 Before the Dawn's cover is also still in progress, as we ran into a minor snag, but not to worry. It's coming❣ June, I plan to make major headway on Askara #4, as that book will be our primary focus until it's written and in the editing phase.

Below is another excerpt from Roz & Xaphan's story for those who would like a little something.

I hope everyone has a great week!

💕JM 

Before the Dawn: An Askari Series Novel (Roz & Xaphan's Story, Askara Book #4)

Roz took a deep breath in through her nose. She rubbed her face and decided maybe she would hit the mess. If nothing else to annoy Sanchez, since she never did have an appetite when they waited for a call, she thought to herself as the doors parted and she turned the corner to exit the training room. She was forced to stop dead, however, at the big body that filled the hall not fifty feet in front of her.

Roz blinked. What the—

“You.” She pointed, her heart kicking into high gear.

Where had he even come from? It was him. It was Xaphan.

He hissed and advanced on her almost instantly, the dread-like things atop his head growing huge. Roz’s eyes widened. “What are you doing? You stay the hell away!” she commanded, while at the same time trying not to panic. She stumbled back a step before she could catch herself, then planted her feet. Let him come at her. She was ready for him this time; she'd call his damn bluff.

Rather, Roz thought she was ready. She’d seen combat, taken down countless opponents much bigger than herself completely unarmed. But they’d all been human, and she quickly realized that none of it really prepared her for the likes of him.

The way Xaphan’s massive body moved, it was inhuman and nearly too quick to follow. Bright yellow eyes bore into her—eye, she barely had time to note before the vision of him blurred, the scarred one a sickly gray color which she hadn't seemed to notice before. Roz caught a flash of sharp teeth, a mouth full of them, and then he was on her.

*Further excerpts/chapters available on Patreon** 

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2025, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.