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  • C.J.’s Journal

    Posted by CJB on March 11, 2021 at 4:12 pm

    Going through old marketing materials, I found this today:

    I don’t know… I think it still holds up. Is it weird that it gave me goosebumps?

    Ashburn replied 1 year, 1 month ago 19 Members · 92 Replies
  • 92 Replies
  • CJB

    Administrator
    March 11, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    Testing New Entry

    • CJB

      Administrator
      March 11, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      Testing Comment

  • CJB

    Administrator
    March 12, 2021 at 5:20 am

    Going through old marketing materials, I found this today:

    I don’t know… I think it still holds up. Is it weird that it gave me goosebumps?

  • Sellalellen

    Member
    March 12, 2021 at 9:25 pm

    My heart beat fast watching it. Its like a heist movie almost

  • Ginger

    Member
    March 14, 2021 at 3:02 am

    That was so dramatic omg

    I was like I wanna know what happens and then was like wait … I experienced what happened …

    • CJB

      Administrator
      March 14, 2021 at 7:20 pm

      Yeah, it was definitely extra. And then people signed up to find us all benignly drinking memory tear and encouraging each other to try our best.

  • CJB

    Administrator
    March 31, 2021 at 8:49 pm

    It makes me so insanely happy to see you all creating and interacting in these journals.

    The past month has been quite a trial, but I’m finally out of the woods:

    • The Book of Briars is, at last, complete. And I can finally start telling the story I’ve wanted to tell for five years. Once I have a last read-through and format the print versions, I’ll be fulfilling all the hardcover pre-orders! Ackerly Green’s first hardcover!

    • The Briar Society: Chapter One adaptation is also finished and will be released this Friday! (You can pre-order it here if you’re so inclined) I’m really excited about this adaptation because it’s the first one with images!

    • The alpha version of the Neithernor RPG handbook is also finished and goes on sale next week!

    It’s the “alpha” version because it doesn’t have finished imagery or more importantly your thoughts and input on how it plays!

    We’re going to make changes to the handbook throughout the year and deliver the final version, with your input, in the fall. There will be several purchasing options. You can buy just the current (500+ page) alpha handbook for .99, a version with the alpha and all subsequent updates including the final product, for $4.99, as well as paperback + complete digital and limited hardcover + complete digital.

    Not to be all sales pitchy in my journal, but that’s just what I’ve been up to behind the scenes.

    We went to the Oregon coast last week since the kids were out of school for spring break, and I was running on the beach with our pup Henry and had a nasty fall. Today’s the first day I’m feeling any real improvement, and I should hear back today from my doctor if I fractured a rib or just bruised one really, really bad. :cjheart: The last (and only other) time I broke something was because I tried not to step on Ruby, so yes, my dogs want me dead.

    Anyway, here’s the view from the house we rented last week:

    • Augustus_Octavian

      Member
      March 31, 2021 at 8:55 pm

      Exciting news book-wise! Feel better soon.

    • EternalHearts

      Member
      March 31, 2021 at 9:00 pm

      I hope it’s not broken, but sometimes bruises are harder to heal. Take care of yourself.

      What is purely selfish note, will BoB be released as a paperback?

      • CJB

        Administrator
        March 31, 2021 at 9:03 pm

        Once I get all the hardcover orders out (some dating back to 2017!) I’ll be sure to get a paperback version in the works. I was at one point attempting to be a proper publishing company with a delayed hardcover to paperback strategy, but I can’t be bothered with that. :cjheart:

  • CJB

    Administrator
    April 1, 2021 at 2:26 am

    Two, two fractured ribs. :roll_eyes:

    • EternalHearts

      Member
      April 1, 2021 at 2:38 am

      I’m sorry, but my mind immediately followed those words with “Ah! Ah! Ah!”

      (I have a 4-year old, all numbers are read in The Count’s voice)

      • CJB

        Administrator
        April 1, 2021 at 2:41 am

        That’s what I was going for! :cjheart: :vampire:

  • CJB

    Administrator
    April 14, 2021 at 3:33 am

    Must. Not. Get. More. Briarverse. Related. Tattoos.

    • ulovetoast

      Member
      April 14, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      Why not?

      • CJB

        Administrator
        April 14, 2021 at 9:22 pm

        You know what, you make a good point. :cjheart:

    • BrokenVoid

      Member
      April 14, 2021 at 11:57 pm

      I can’t wait to get my first. It probably won’t be for a while yet but I think the first tattoo I get will probably involve the Thornmouth logo. Also I second Fox’s why not? It’s a beautiful design.

    • EternalHearts

      Member
      April 15, 2021 at 2:07 am

      I’m thinking about turning my semi-colon tattoo into a quarter or half sleeve with a literary theme. The AG keyhole is absolutely going to be part of that when it happens.

      • CJB

        Administrator
        April 15, 2021 at 5:06 am

        :spiritseergimme: yes, yes, yes!

  • CJB

    Administrator
    April 15, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    My job is so weird. I have an idea for a tattoo I want, but I have to wait for the right time because it’s a spoiler. :roll_eyes: :cjtea:

    • EternalHearts

      Member
      April 15, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      It’s only a spoiler if you show it to us.

      • CJB

        Administrator
        April 15, 2021 at 2:55 pm

        Who do you think I’d want to show it to first?!

    • Ashburn

      Member
      April 15, 2021 at 3:07 pm

      Has that ever really stopped you before? :eyes:

      • CJB

        Administrator
        April 15, 2021 at 3:16 pm

        Wow, I’m being read before I’ve finished my first cup of coffee.

  • CJB

    Administrator
    April 18, 2021 at 12:03 am

    Three hours of tie dyeing with the fam =

    I am now obsessed with reverse tie dye. Bon voyage all my black shirts.

  • CJB

    Administrator
    April 21, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    I spent two hours last night updating all the main category images on the forum knowing full well that only 2% of you ever check it on desktop. :woman_shrugging:

    Especially proud of the “CJB” ouija board. I kind of need that as a business card. OMG. I definitely need that as a business card.

    • Augustus_Octavian

      Member
      April 21, 2021 at 7:50 pm

      I’m on desktop, but I have “Latest” set to my default. I popped over to check them out in all their glory. Great work! I like the flame hovering over the hand for The Hall of Hobbies!

    • josephinekelly

      Member
      April 21, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      I know the Guilds icon is a terrarium, but my brain instantly made it into a Stargate.

      Ka-wooosh!

      • CJB

        Administrator
        April 21, 2021 at 8:28 pm

        It’s supposed to be a crystal ball but I will also accept Stargate! :cjheart:

    • Ginger

      Member
      April 21, 2021 at 8:44 pm

      They look absolutely awesome, and yes, you definitely should get that on a business card

    • EternalHearts

      Member
      April 22, 2021 at 4:05 pm

      I spend most of my AG time on a desktop since I sit at a desk all day long. But until today, I’ve used “latest” as my landing page. That has been changed since I need to see this beautiful page every day (okay, several times a day… :martysly:_

    • Alligatoramberlee

      Member
      April 28, 2021 at 8:15 pm

      Okay, but I’m part of that 2% because mobile doesn’t work for my brain <3

  • CJB

    Administrator
    April 28, 2021 at 10:48 pm

    I just happened to catch my familiar (Henry Schnitzel Bernstein) keeping watch over my magimystic sanctum:

    • Sellalellen

      Member
      April 29, 2021 at 2:25 am

      your office is so aesthetic, last time I had to keep re-watching bits of the leadership meeting because I’d get distracted looking at trinkets in the background :sweat_smile:

    • ulovetoast

      Member
      May 3, 2021 at 6:23 pm

      Oh, he looks so healthy and happy!

  • CJB

    Administrator
    May 7, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    Ackerly Green’s first TikTok!

    • Augustus_Octavian

      Member
      May 7, 2021 at 8:18 pm

      So cool! Following BriarTok!

      • heather-w-carroll

        Member
        May 7, 2021 at 8:33 pm

        That was my first time ever using TikTok and now I have created an account specifically for following thebriararchive. :smiley:

        • CJB

          Administrator
          May 7, 2021 at 8:55 pm

          Yay!!!

    • Sapphire

      Member
      May 8, 2021 at 1:02 pm

      Oh gods I need both that stamp and the wax melty cauldron in my life!

      Where did you get the cauldron/wax melt/pour thing?

      • CJB

        Administrator
        May 8, 2021 at 4:53 pm

        I bought the cauldron from a local shop and the pourer is from an online wax shop called Artisaire!

    • EternalHearts

      Member
      May 8, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      So beautiful! Now I feel like I wimped out by using wax melts that go in a hour glue gun… :smile:

  • CJB

    Administrator
    May 17, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    From my proofing app Grammarly this morning:

    You used more unique words than 97% of users!

    Oh, you mean no one else is spellchecking “Tigrantula”?

  • CJB

    Administrator
    May 19, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    My burnout prevention “refill the tank” list of media I’ve been meaning to consume:

    Books:

    The Priory of the Orange Tree

    The Midnight Library

    Ella Enchanted (never read it!)

    And Then There Were None (My first Agatha Christie)

    In Deeper Waters (Gay YA Merman Lit)

    The Pope’s Bookbinder

    Shows:

    For All Mankind

    Broad City (again)

    Bluey

    The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel

    Finish Star Trek: Discovery Season 3

    The last episode of Jupiter’s Legacy

    Movies:

    The Lodge

    Sprited Away (I’ve never seen it!)

    Made You Look

    • audra-polk

      Member
      May 19, 2021 at 9:53 pm

      Ella Enchanted is one of my favorite books ever! I might have to go siren to it again now.

  • CJB

    Administrator
    May 24, 2021 at 3:45 pm

    So, I ended up watching and reading things that I never put on the previous list, of course. Instead—

    I binged The Nevers, safe in the knowledge that Joss Whedon was fired from it last November. I got more and more engrossed as the six-episode season went on, and overall really enjoyed it. The Whedonisms faded as the season went on, which was much appreciated.

    I forgot I never finished The Song of Achilles and so, after finally replacing my beloved Kindle Voyager with an Oasis, which I am not sure I will ever adjust to, I read over 100 pages yesterday, which is more than I’ve read of one book since last summer. The curse is broken!

    The book, of course, is beautiful and romantic. Also, I have to stop reading books about charac