Project Far Away gets an exciting update!
Last year, I took a much needed break from revising the gritty urban fantasy sequel, Scarlett. I was experiencing a grueling flare up with Rheumatoid Arthritis that took a toll on my day to day, so I found myself needing something softer and cozier to occupy my time.
Then I discovered Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. It was charming, cathartic, and I was kind of obsessed.
While I loved the series, I found myself dreaming up my own cozy fantasy adventure , one that was more contemporary and more melanated.
Have you ever thought about running away from life’s problems and starting over again?
Escape into this series…
Project Far Away was born, a vague concept about four bookish friends who experience the type of tragedy, stress and disappointment that catapults them into a fantastical adventure that ends in hope, healing and HEA.
I knew “Project Far Away” was just a placeholder for the series, but it wasn’t until I fell in love with annotated reading that I found the perfect official name.
First, it became a custom tea inspired by Bookstagram and the joy of reading itself. Then, I realized how well the name resonated with the characters of Project Far Away and everything it stood for.
Annotated Hearts describes deep thought, rich emotion, and the stories that resonate and stick with us (both fictional and real life).
Annotated Heart now represents more than custom tea or a group of fictional book club besties. It’s become something more immersive. There will be four books in the upcoming series, starting with the first book, one of our current early reads—The Gravity Between Us. Beyond that, the new series has also inspired one of our newest Patreon featured groups, with the same name.
The Annotated Heart group is a membership that empowers the literacy arm of the Novel Creature Community while also offering deeper connection in our larger book community.
This series is a love letter to readers and bookish communities.
My Annotated Heart Series Goals:
📌Annotated reading kits customized with each book in the series as bookstore and book club incentives.
📌Character-inspired seasonal recommendations, apparel and swag to further connect with the characters, themes and to celebrate our own reading culture and quirks.
📌Literacy impact inspired by the characters and our real life book community like the current goal to set up a free little library.
📌Online and In-person Annotated Heart book and tea chats to discuss the issues and themes represented in the books that impact our real lives. Topics like: motherhood, grief, chronic illness, disability, and mental health.
Annotated Hearts has become more than a series name. It’s become an extension of what the Novel Creature community is all about.
You can get an early preview of The Gravity Between Us right here on Substack.
If you like what you’re reading, dive deeper on Patreon for more.