22 JUN 2023 · In memory of Zuri I decided to use this gorgeous illustration of Tarisai and the king of Djibanti by https://www.instagram.com/wantsgmarie/which you can see on Jordan Ifueko's instagram here! https://www.instagram.com/p/CPPXVZULg99/ These are the final chapters of the book, in which Tarisai is INDEED betrayed by her mother like RoShawn (and most of us, I have to imagine) predicted. This leads to Tarisai getting confronted by the Abiku and having to make a difficult choice that I personally didn't see coming at all. Thanks so much for listening The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

15 JUN 2023 · This art of Tarisai falling into the Underworld is by https://www.instagram.com/lady_nefertitii/ on Instagram and you can see the animated version with spooky sounds here! https://www.instagram.com/p/CRr3F2VrcCW/ We are finally in the Underworld, and things are pretty wild round these parts. RoShawn is real mad at Tarisai, and I can't say as I blame her. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

8 JUN 2023 · This art of Tarisai and Sanjeet in the pool at the temple is by https://www.instagram.com/wantsgmarie/ and you can see their Instagram here! https://www.instagram.com/wantsgmarie/ These chapters are the ones in which Zuri's revolution begins, and he finally connects to the Ray, only to reveal to Tarisai that he used to be connected with The Lady. RoShawn is NOT pleased. In happier news, Tarisai finally admits that she needs help, and is taken to a place where she can find peace. Of course, this is only temporary, and she's going to need to face her demons soon enough. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

1 JUN 2023 · This gorgeous art of Tarisai in her High Lady Judge regalia is by https://www.instagram.com/offrostandflames/ and you can see their instagram here! https://www.instagram.com/offrostandflames/ These chapters are the ones where Tarisai has a conversation with the newly revealed Crocodile about revolution and his role in the kingdom, and she sees Woo In again! Also, we get to see how good Dayo is with babies and it's adorable. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

25 MAY 2023 · This lovely illustration of Tarisai and her sprites is by https://www.instagram.com/ei.ei.jo/ on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/ei.ei.jo/ These chapters are the ones in which Tarisai finally decides to show her real, true memories to the people she's asking to join her council. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

11 MAY 2023 · These tarot card designs of Tarisai and Ekundayo were designed by https://www.instagram.com/lgions/ for Fairyloot, a merch and book subscription service. You can see https://www.instagram.com/lgions/' Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/lgions/ and check out Fairyloot here! https://us.fairyloot.com/ These chapters are the ones in which Tarisai takes her first step in the direction of annointing her own council by seeing the memories of others and sharing her own memories with them...but she can't help but edit the memories to make herself look more like the ideal Queen, and RoShawn is highly displeased. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

4 MAY 2023 · This gorgeous art of Dayo reassuring Tarisai that he's okay is by Moon's Haunted on tumblr and you can see it here! https://souldagger.tumblr.com/post/664616164349132800/tar-look-at-me-im-fine-a-not-so-quick-sketch These chapters are the ones in which Tarisai has to negotiate with an angry, volcanic alugbato to save a whole town, while the Crocodile sings a song to get it riled up. He doesn't seem to have much of a plan beyond "burn it all down" though, and Tarisai's plan turns out the be a little more ambitious than she's allowed without jumping through some hoops first. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

20 APR 2023 · This lovely watercolor illustration of Melu was a winner in a Raybearer fanart contest, but the artist it's linked to (@wise_watercolors) is no longer active on Instagram so if anyone knows who to credit please let me know! These chapters are the ones in which RoShawn starts to feel like her girl Tarisai is not making the most wise choices, and is growing a little worried. Tar also gets called out by her friends for being so willing to throw herself into danger while not allowing them to take similar risks. Meanwhile, she is still seeing strange child ghost spirit demon things, and it's not going anywhere good. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

13 APR 2023 · This gorgeous cover art is for the UK edition and is by Micaela Alcaino. Don't miss the awesome optical illusion of Tarisai's face! RoShawn and I are beginning the second (and so far, final) book of the Raybearer series, and it really begins with a bang. We've got a low-level heist, a murder, a mysterious creature that seems to materialize out of nowhere, and a massive banquet where Tarisai tries something new and dramatic to communicate with the guests. Thanks so much for listening, and I will see you soon with a new episode! The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751

6 APR 2023 · This gorgeous cover art is for the UK edition of Raybearer and you can see the artist, Micaela Alcaino discuss their process for creating this cover and the cover for Redemptor here! https://spinemagazine.co/articles/micaela-alcaino2 These are the final chapters of Raybearer, in which Tarisai decides that saving the lives of innocent children and sparing Songland more oppression is worth her life. The song is Akadiole by Sekou Conde featuring Mamadama Conde. Sekou Conde is a teacher of West African traditional drumming, and you can find him on Facebook here, as well as virtually attend classes! https://www.facebook.com/faradalaconde/ Mamadama Conde is a member of Nimbaya!, an all-women Guinean drumming group practicing a drumming tradition that had previously only been permitted to be performed by men. You can find them on Facebook here! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063538394338 Here is the link to the song on iTunes! https://music.apple.com/us/album/akadiole-feat-mamadama-conde/1610165743?i=1610165751