Hibiscus and Hijinks

Why I’m building a Museum for a Scandal

I’ve been hinting at this for a few weeks, but it is finally ready to unveil! In the Ton, reputation might be everything. But lately, I’ve noticed the reputation of the digital book has taken a hit. We’ve been trained to “consume” stories as quickly as we can, governed by algorithms that don’t care about the beauty of the world an author built. We treat ebooks like disposable housewares—fast to download, easy to forget, and ultimately, “good enough”. I’m done with “Good Enough.” I’ve spent 15 years in the trenches as a writer, but I’m also a published researcher in Neuroscience. I know when you read a story as lush as Chaos’ Consort—Eleanor Stonington’s journey through trying to destroy her own reputation and a slow-burn seduction—your brain craves more than a “flat file” of gray text. It craves connection. The Invention: The Digital Special Edition (DSE) I wanted to create something that felt like the luxurious, leather-bound books of the past, but built for the way we live now. I’ve “excavated” the world of The Heiresses of Eris to build a Digital Special Edition that functions more like an interactive museum than a file. When you step into the Digital Special Edition of Chaos’ Consort, you aren’t just reading; you’re entering an interactive playground: * The Visual DNA: See the artifacts of Eleanor and Simeon’s world—scanned, period-accurate ephemera and architectural secrets. * The Gaming “Cut Scene” Experience: We are crossing the beauty of a physical “Special Edition” with the surprise of video game cut scenes that draw you deeper into the narrative. * Sensory Anchors: Hear the ambient sounds of a Regency garden party or a crowded ballroom while you read along with other surprises designed to delight. The “August 15th” Launch This Kickstarter isn’t just about an ebook; it’s an invitation to own a “Trophy” for your tablet—a curated archive you can revisit again and again. Because I want to reward those who believe in this “Third Way” of digital collecting, I’m offering Early Bird access on August 15th. The first 25 customers to purchase the interactive Digital Special Edition will get a discount. Stop settling for bland, gray-scale books and experience all I knew this book could be. Eleanor Stonington chose her own path—now it’s time to choose a better way to experience her story. GET ON THE KICKSTARTER PRE-LAUNCH LIST TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED AT: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lcgiroux/a-regency-romance-like-youve-never-experienced [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lcgiroux/a-regency-romance-like-youve-never-experienced] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lcgiroux.substack.com [https://lcgiroux.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The difference between Urban Fantasy and Magical Realism

I wrote about how my Timeless Mate leads tossed my carefully constructed outline in the trash. This podcast gives a little more background on the why. And why this book has more mythic stakes than just rival Mafia families. Links Mentioned: To sign up to be the first for the Regency Romantic Comedy: https://sendfox.com/lp/1djon5 [https://sendfox.com/lp/1djon5] Are you an author trying to figure out what the heck I’m talking about? www.erisdigtialmedia.com/index [http://www.erisdigtialmedia.com/index] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lcgiroux.substack.com [https://lcgiroux.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The DNA of the Pack

Everything starts somewhere. My Fated Mates shifter series started with an article in a scientific journal that dredged up a memory, which got tangled up with my whole deal and some writer’s boredom. Some writers might call it a process. I am convinced my muse is Eris, the Greek goddess of Chaos. Oh, and that scientific article: https://www.science.org/content/article/african-golden-jackals-are-actually-golden-wolves [https://www.science.org/content/article/african-golden-jackals-are-actually-golden-wolves] In case you’re as geeky as I am. This series has now been living in my head for ten years, even if it has only been published for two. The last book, Timeless Mate, will be out in two more months. I’m really psyched for you all to read it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lcgiroux.substack.com [https://lcgiroux.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Season 1 (I'm channeling optimism) Episode 3,

Last episode was deep, this one is kind of silly. Balance, life is all about balance. So Fix, Keep, Out the airlock is the perfect balance to all that sincerity. You know the rules, have probably played it before, but not with romance tropes. Let me know in the comments which you’d fix, keep, or yeet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lcgiroux.substack.com [https://lcgiroux.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Season 1, Episode 2: The Intimacy of the Uncommon

Sometimes a book is too important to avoid. Which is how I ended up writing a book about a nonbinary, asexual hacker and the wounded shifter who is their fated mate. I’ve written a fair few fated mate pairings that fought their fates. Ghost and Brennan Tierney are not one of them. These guys’ relationship has built over a couple of books, so when Tierney reveals that Ghost is his fated mate, they’re thrilled, and they lived happily ever after. Okay, that would be a very short book. So no, they’ve got a possibly homicidal, but definitely unhinged banker to the underworld mother to deal with, and Tierney has some work to do to believe he’s worthy of Ghost, for that matter, so does Ghost. In short, the characters may not sound like you, but the feelings and the drama will. This book stretched me as a writer in ways I didn’t expect, but am supremely grateful for. Both in my writing and in the realization that the Rapid Release/KU nightmare isn’t working for me. I have a day job. If I’m pushing, I can get out 4, maybe 5 books a year. That doesn’t feed KU’s algorithm (which wants more like 12), so my books flounder. I can’t advertise my way out of that situation. So after Uncommon Mate leaves KU on 3/31, books will release first in my own book shop [https://shop.lcgiroux.com], then release wide to ALL retailers. I know it is going to tank my sales in the beginning, but I’m hopeful that, after some adjustment period, it will change. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the excerpt. If you can tell me where Ghost first shows up and post it in the comments, I’ll give the first one a coupon for a free book of their choice from my catalog. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lcgiroux.substack.com [https://lcgiroux.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]