I’m pushing back the release of As the Universe, So the Soul

As indie authors, we have control over everything when it comes to our work.

From our covers, to our marketing, to our ability to blend genres and still find a dedicated readership… But sometimes, we hold ourselves to arbitrary standards when indie authors have way more flexibility than our traditionally published counterparts.

This has become especially evident to me with regards to my release dates.

I chose a fall release for my debut As Above, So Below because the fall is my wedding photography busy season. I’m out documenting amazing love stories, marrying couples (as in I officiate ceremonies), and creating beautiful, meaningful works of art for them to enjoy. Thus, I’m too busy to be checking GR at all hours to see those first reviews come through. It was a distraction tactic to save myself from the mental burden of my people-pleasing past.

(Spoiler: It didn’t quite work. It just resulted in loss of sleep.)

A year later, in 2025, I released book 2 in Ves’ journey, As Within, So Without. And after having the experience of one release under my belt, I was better equipped on what to expect. I had a better understanding of the emotions I would experience—the highs leading up to the release and the lows that follow.

The release of book 2 still didn’t go as well as I would have liked, because I lacked the time.

Sure my numbers and sales were significantly better, but I didn’t have the time to celebrate the wins, let alone fully enjoy them. Nor did I have the time to connect with readers about Ves’ story.

As much as I want to release As the Universe, So the Soul on September 10th, 2026, two years after the release of my debut, I can’t.

For the sake of myself and the story, I need to postpone the release of book 3.

In addition to the aforementioned experience surrounding past releases, 2026 has proven utter trash for my mental health.

It’s hard to write.

It’s hard to focus.

And if I haven’t made my political stance clear:

Fuck Ice.
Free Palestine.
Stop the genocide in Gaza.
Her name is Renee Good.
No one is illegal on stolen land.
Lock him up.
Vaccines are science.
Abortion is healthcare.
The prison system is modern day slavery.
Release the files.
Believe women.
There are no ethical billionaires.
If patriarchy worked, violence wouldn’t be needed to enforce it.

Now that that’s cleared up…

Between the numerous drafts, all at varying stages of unfinished, I’ve written over 500k words for book 3. It’s not that I’m forcing book 3, it’s that I’m finding difficulty in getting the words on the page in the way I want.

I know how Ves’ story ends.

I’ve known since 2023 when I started writing my debut.

I want to make sure I do it justice.

Not for readers (no offense), but for me.

Ves’ story was never meant to be read by anyone else. I returned creative writing after twenty-five-ish years as a proverbial fuck you to my father who instilled in me writing was a waste of time. I wrote and self published Ves’ story for me—not expecting others to resonate with my work.

But the fact of the matter is, if you’re here, it’s more than likely you have found pieces of yourself in the words I’ve written and you’ve fallen in love with The Four Realms as much as I have.

And if that’s true, I hope you’ll understand why I’ve decided to postpone As the Universe, So the Soul until December 20th, 2026. (For now. I may require more time should things worsen.)

Light take your enemies and shadows keep you safe,

DM Darcy