Hello valiant readers! You probably noticed it's been a while since I posted a new chapter of NPC Academy. Here's the update:

  What's the deal? Why haven't I been around? There are a number of whiney excuses I could provide, but the reality is I just wasn't enjoying the writing process for this story anymore. This was my first attempt writing a litRPG (I've focused primarily on traditional fantasy and sci fi before this), and I think I went to heavy on stats and levels and quests which constantly became exhausting. Even though I enjoy litRPG as a reader, I think I need to tone it down a bit and go on the lighter side as a writer.

  So what does that mean for the future of NPC Academy? I am genuinely and eternally grateful to all of you who read the almost 100k words of NPC Academy to this point. I still love the story and the vision I have for the direction it will go. At some time in the future, I intend to return to it, and may even continue posting a chapter here and there as a break from writing other things or will complete it offline and do a relaunch with more written. But in general it will be on an indefinite hiatus.

  What's the next project then? I'm currently 30+ chapters into an isekai cultivationesque novel that I plan to publish on RR in the near future. It will be darker than NPC Academy and feature progression much more heavily (think Cradle speed growth). I'm not sure on the release timeline yet, as I want to make sure it's well polished and have a more significant backlog that I did for NPC Academy, but I'm hopeful it won't be too long. I'm having a blast writing it and planning all the twists and epic moments to come. Can't wait to share it with you all.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Here's the blurb:

  Scythe & Shadow

  The scythe is my compass. The shadow, my anchor.

  I am a Reaper.

  I was wrenched from the real world into the Umbral Plane—leaving behind a fiancé, dreams, a dark past best forgotten—and forced to slaughter the monstrous manifestations of humanity’s sins. To purify the human soul. A noble goal, if not the life I'd have chosen.

  But everything is not as it seems. A contingent of Reapers resists our purpose. Monsters break from their bounds to attack innocents. And the almighty gods who oversee this realm have handpicked someone to bring order.

  Me.

  I'll do what I can, but only for the promise of returning home. I am no leader. No hero.

  I'm simply a scythe.

  And a shadow.

  * * *

  If this sounds interesting to you, please stick around as I'll post an additional update here once it launches on RR. In the meantime, I'll keep writing. Also, if anyone has interest in being a beta reader please send me a DM. I'd love some early feedback.

  Happy reading, all!