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Blood Lies: A Collection of 7 Brotherhood of Blood Shorts

Created by J.S. Living

Lies and secrets cause Anastasia, Voica, Islyn, Indigo, Rimi, Mihnea, and Mihrihmah to go on journeys that will change their lives forever. Urban fantasy X Historical Fiction.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Post Campaign Update 11: Final Pass and Current Crowdfunding Project
6 days ago – Sun, Sep 27, 2026 at 08:45:59 AM

Hey, hey Bloodlings! 🩸🩸🩸💉💉💉

Just popping in here to say that Blood Lies and the Bonus Story are on their final editing pass! 🎉🎉🎉

All that's left to do after that is to publish (a few clicks of buttons) and to get proof copies before distributing them out to you! 🥰🥰🥰

I'm estimating that (barring any external issues) digital rewards will be able to go out sometime in October, and physical copies should be ready by end of November—just in time to keep the release schedule consistent with my other books! 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

With completion of that project out of the way,  I hope y'all will come support The Covenant of Blood Audiobook Campaign. There are only 4 days left, and we still haven't reached our goal of $3500. 😲😲😲🫠🫠🫠

As of this update, we're short by $1483. 🥲🥲🥲😭😭😭

Even if audiobooks aren't your jam, this is an opportunity for you to:
  •  Have your name published in another book 📖📖📖📚📚📚
  • Get a recorded message in the voice of one of the characters from The Covenant of Blood (Free for returning backers, add-on for everyone else) 🎧🎧🎧🎙🎙🎙
  • Support accessibility (because not everyone can read a physical book) 🦽🦽🦽♿️♿️♿️
  • Support a small/woman-owned/black-owned business 👩🏾‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏾‍💼👩🏾‍💼👩🏾‍💼
  • Support human creators like my voice actors (Jynelle Brown, Aayron Alexander, and Carlos Kasse), my artists (Nnelts, OblivionsDream, Amari, etc.), and my animator (Asturlavi).🚫🤖🚫🤖🚫🤖

Even $1 can go a long way! 💰💰💰

And, unlike this campaign (thanks again for bearing with me), the book has been written since 2022, so the project will go straight to production about two weeks after the campaign funds, which is just enough time for me and Jynelle to draw up the official contract and for the money to deposit in my account. 😊😊😊

So, if you haven't already, please consider pledging at least $1 to The Covenant of Blood Audiobook Campaign. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Thanks so much for your continued support!

XOXO

J.S. Living

Post Campaign Update 10: Checking In and Upcoming Campaigns
22 days ago – Fri, Sep 11, 2026 at 09:47:41 AM

Hey, hey Bloodlings!

Just checking in with you!

I sent Rimi’s story and the Bonus story to the editor for line edits. I've received the Bonus Story edits back, and I'm just waiting for the edits on Rimi's story. After that, it’s one more general overview of the book, and then it will be ready to be sent for publishing!

I’ve already obtained the LCCN, applied for the copyright, and assigned an ISBN. After edits, the only thing left to do is to receive a proof copy and review it. So, we’re getting to the finish line.

As I’ve mentioned, all other rewards are ready to be shipped out, so I’ll be sending digital rewards first, and physical rewards at a later date.

With all that said, I hope you’ll stick with me and support my Printopia campaign for the Covenant of Blood audiobook, which will be voiced by Jynelle Brown. Reformatting efforts are going well and I can’t wait to provide you with the new edition of the book!

This project won't have as many hiccups because it's already written. I'm just giving it a facelift for the second edition print run and then it's straight to the recording studio. Since I only have one voice narrator involved, the process shouldn't take nearly as long. I'm actually really excited about it!

Oh, and before I forget, I also have another Book Bazaar campaign for The Brotherhood of Blood. The book will be set for public release in November 2028, but those who back the campaign will receive the ebook earlier. 

As always, thank you, and I’ll keep you updated on my progress! 

XOXO

J.S. Living

Post Campaign Update 9: Another Date Adjustment
2 months ago – Mon, Aug 03, 2026 at 07:36:38 PM

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/3d310735-6db7-4f66-ae4c-812c17e7c480/landing?ref=BLUpdate9Hey, hey Bloodlings!

I realized with my last update I said I'd be shipping physical rewards out no later than August. But I realized I didn't take into account three things: 1) how long shipping will take with having to order proof copies, 2) how long it will take for me to correct anything amiss, and 3) ordering the copies and doing quality control before sending the book to all of you. With these additional details in mind, please expect digital rewards between September and October and physical rewards between October and November. All rewards will be fulfilled no later than 20 December.

I would like to stress again that my editor has been great in working with me and my shifting deadlines. This is my third crowdfunding project, but it's the first one I've ever ran where I didn't have the book complete before running the campaign. I grossly underestimated how long it would take me to write, edit, get sensitivity readers, and publish this book. Juggling health issues, multiple events, my day job, and life in general was a feat.

Mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

I'm just sorry the deadline for the book had to continously be extended. Despite my best efforts, I wasn't able to deliver on time and I feel like I broke many a promise.

That said, thank you all for bearing with me. I promise to do better on future campaigns. For instance, for Printopia, I'm going to give myself a year to complete the Covenant of Blood audiobook rewards. Though I've already secured the narrator, there is the issue of reformatting the book and making some minor edits so it flows better that needs to be taken care of before recording can begin.

And for the fall Book Bazaar campaign I'm a part of, I plan to give myself a year from the date of the campaign to complete The Brotherhood of Blood. I already have a full draft of the novel, but it requires some heavy revisions. And, though I plan to work on it once I've completed all of the 2026 rewards, I'd like the extra buffer so I don't make the same mistakes again.

All of this to say, I've learned a great many things from this campaign and I hope that you'll continue to support me. If nothing else, I will always keep you aprised of what stage I'm at with fulfillment. Thanks! 

Post Campaign Update 8: A Few Bullet Points for You
4 months ago – Wed, Jun 03, 2026 at 02:25:03 PM

Hey, hey Bloodlings!

I know it’s been a bit since I last sent an update. I’m sorry about that. Honestly, my health hasn’t been great lately, but rest assured I’m working on everything little by little so I can get the book(s) to you. So, here’s where we’re at:

  • Rimi’s story is the only one left to be sent to the editor. This means I won’t be delivering any books to anyone at Imaginarium this weekend. Again, apologies. I was really hoping to meet this deadline. 
  • Because of this hiccup, I will be splitting up distribution of rewards: Digital tiers will receive their rewards first, and physical rewards will ship out later. 
  • At the latest, physical rewards will ship out in August. I have two Backerkit Campaigns coming up in September and October respectively, and I want to make sure this campaign is fulfilled before I begin those.
  • There is some good news, though. With the exception of the books, I am in possession of all the physical rewards! Photos of those to come. I’m actually very impressed with what the company I chose sent.
  • After looking through all the polls, it looks like the additional story I’ll be writing for you will be about Vlad’s unnamed mother discovering something about someone. Who or what that is remains to be seen, but maybe it’ll be in the next update! 

That’s all I have for you for now. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected] or write them in the comments and I will answer you as soon as I can. Thank you again for bearing with me through this. 

XOXO

J.S. Living

Post Campaign Update 7: You Did It! Coupon, Poll, and Fulfillment Update
5 months ago – Mon, May 04, 2026 at 09:13:33 PM

Hey, hey Bloodlings!

Y’all did it! Everyone filled out their survey on time, so the whole group will get a 25% off coupon that can be used on anything on my online store. The coupon will be available when I’m in the fulfilment stage of the campaign and will be good for one year from the date of distribution. Go check out www.thejsliving.com/shop to see what kind of goodies you’ll be able to buy! 

In other news, let’s talk Short Story Polls (last one!) and Fulfillment Updates


Short Story Poll:

I just posted one more short story poll!

As we get closer to the fulfillment stage, it’s time for me to write the short story I owe you. Since I want to keep crafting the stories that you’re interested in hearing, I wanted to give everyone one last chance to participate in the short story poll. I’m so thankful to have found this community, and I want to continue earning your trust as I move forward on more and more projects.

The last poll for the short story closes in one week, or seven days, so make sure your voice is heard by voting. I can’t wait to see the results!


Fulfillment Updates

Everything, with the exception of the book, has been ordered!

And, if all goes well, I’ll be able to ship rewards out in early June. But, that depends on how soon I receive everything, and when I can get  proof copies of the book.

Our sensitivity reader finished reading, and everything looks good. I’ll be putting in for the LCCN sometime this month, and assigning the ISBN right after. That said, obviously, the mid-May deadline is a no go, so the only local pick up I might be able to offer is Dreaming Dirty in Maryland, which will be in Baltimore, Maryland on June 13 at the Lord Baltimore Hotel and, if I’m lucky,  Dreamcon, which will be in Houston Texas from July 10-12 at the George R. Brown Convention Center (though I still haven’t heard back from them).

But, as always, I’ll keep you updated.

Once again, I apologize for these delays, and thank you soooo much for your patience and understanding!

I can’t recall if I’ve mentioned this, but I have chronic fatigue, and it tends to mess with my publishing deadlines. I try my best to stay on track, but it doesn’t always work out. And, while a two month delay isn’t as bad as, say, two years, I still feel awful that it’s taking me this long. I’m going to try to do better in the future by doubling (or, maybe even tripling) the amount of time I think I need to complete a project so I’m not running behind. So, again, thank you!

One last reminder before I go: If you find yourself attending Dreaming Dirty in Maryland, you can choose Local Pickup as the shipping address and fill out J.S. Living’s Local Pickup Form to obtain your order without paying shipping fees. If I’m accepted to Dreamcon, I’ll add it in as an option. But I will be removing Imaginarium as I just don’t have faith that the book will be complete in time for you to pick it up there.

Remember, if you choose this option, you are responsible for picking up your order; and if you miss the event, you will have to contact me to arrange alternative shipping options. Only choose Local Pickup if you’ve already secured your ticket, and/or your designated helper’s ticket, to the event because pickup requires a proof of purchase in the form of the Backerkit Confirmation number found on your survey. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!


XOXO 

J.S. Living