Since you liked the Rosicrucian easter eggs, you might get a kick out of hearing that the working title of the second book was "The Rosy Cross." 😀

I feel so profoundly honored to have written something that was so meaningful to you at such a difficult time. Readers like you are what give the books depth and meaning and value--not me! I crossed my fingers the story would find an audience, wherever those readers might be.

I have thought for days about how to post about the fact that one of the authors who saved me from madness followed me, and I can't figure out a cool way to do it. @itregillis.bsky.social is amazing and his Alchemy Wars trilogy gave me light when I lived in darkness. I can never thank you enough.

Thank *you* for this. Sincerely. The greatest compliment an author can receive is when a reader holds their work in a special, meaningful place. I'm touched beyond words that the Clakkers books have such an honor. I'm sincerely grateful that my work finds readers like you. May there be more light.

Help avoiding a lawsuit, or help with the suit?

In my case the contract language scared me off from using an epigraph that I'd written some of the text around. It was clear that I'd be on my own dealing with the TS Eliot estate.

I seem to recall language in my contracts that thoroughly laid all responsibility for securing rights at the author's feet, and which also very clearly indemnified the publisher. I don't know the author, book, or publisher in this case, but could it be a case of publisherial "not our problem "?