Book 2: Kingdom Of Water release date

  

Hello everyone! I see a few people trickling in here looking for info on book 2, so allow me to update on all that has transpired since the last post...

Book 2, Kingdom Of Water, will be available in bookstores across the country on August 5th, 2025! It even has a cover, as you can see. ^^ I'm already hard at work on book 3, and loving it. I'll try not to say more than that...! Also the first book, Realm Of The Blue Mist, has been translated into Spanish, Catalan, Canadian French, Norwegian, and soon Danish and Swedish! I hope to add more languages in the future, but I don't take these translations for granted. Thank you to the publishers overseas for bringing Rema to your readers!

I also recently participated in Scholastic's Fall 2025 preview video series, which you can watch here:

And finally, Kingdom of Water already received it's first book review, and it's from Kirkus!

For those looking as well, here is a brief summary of Kingdom of Water:

"Kingdom of Water continues the story of Earthling Tabby who was stranded in book 1 on the planet Rema – a unique world where everyone flies, and a secret race of elemental magic users called geists are constantly on the run from a corrupt priesthood who fear their powers.

Tabby is called to investigate a lost geist prince, and how his death was the downfall of the Kingdom of Cerey. It isn’t long before Tabby discovers she isn’t the only one searching for information on this lost prince, and when her best Reman friend – a powerful water geist named Philip – is captured by the grand water priestess, Tabby and her newfound allies go on a epic quest to save him. As she journeys through catacombs, ancient ruins, memories, and even dreams, Tabby uncovers the many secrets of the Kingdom of Water, changing the way she sees Philip and herself forever."

Phew! I think that's about it. I mostly post on Instagram these days, mostly pictures of sunsets and flowers. I did, however, post a nice series of character art (which I will put in a separate post) and a couple preview images, which you can enjoy here... so you didn't miss much! ;)

Thank you to whoever still comes to this little blog, and for everyone who left comments in previous posts. I read all of them, even if I don't reply to them all. I thank you for taking time to let me know you're enjoying this world and these characters as much as I am. We may all be scattered around the world, but I am happy to provide a place we can share through Rema!

Storytime

  Along with the character profiles, I also recently drew a series of images from key moments of Realm Of The Blue Mist in a storybook style. Posting here for those that still visit this blog and aren't on social media (which I totally understand!). I hope you enjoy!

In The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist, we start Tabby’s adventure on Earth in the middle of Fall — the season of change. We quickly learn her late father was studying a strange, life-giving blue mist that seeped from a giant tree, which the lab named Yggdrasil. This tree was haunted by a ghost who took her father’s life for reasons unknown. Ever since then, Tabby has returned to his place of death in the hopes of getting some answers. No answers come until Keeper Philip arrives, and the ghost pulls her into the world of Rema.

[note: In this first scene, aside from establishing the heartache Tabby lives with, I wanted to show a bit of what it was like growing up in Rochester, NY amongst creeks, waterfalls, and trees — and how sometimes when it feels like all else is lost, nature can be our greatest source of comfort.]

When Tabby first runs into Philip, she spies him at Yggdrasil as he uses his geist powers to summon a small globe of water. They lock eyes, and the world stands still. He disappears in the blink of an eye, and as Tabby and her mother have a disagreement at home, Tabby begins to wonder if the boy with blue hair was even real.

Then, just before dawn, she sees a light shining from Yggdrasil and knows it must be him. She rushes to the park to see her beloved tree replaced with a portal, and the blue haired boy disappearing through it.

Standing before the swirling black hole, Tabby isn’t sure if she should stay or go. The ghost woman makes the choice for her, grabbing Tabby’s wrist from the darkness of the portal and pulling her through to the other side.

[note: I loved drawing this scene in the book, and was really inspired by the great master Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha manga. I loved how the moment Kagome first sees Inuyasha in the woods was a double page spread. How wonderful to dedicate so much comics real estate to such a romantic moment! I wanted the same impact for Tabby and Philip in Rema Chronicles, and so they also got a double page spread for the first moment they see each other.

After reading book 2, I hope readers will turn back to book 1 and enjoy a completely new perspective on why Tabby and Philip’s first meeting was so important.]

On the other side of the portal, Tabby runs into the boy with blue hair — Philip — almost immediately. Wearing a strange mask to hide his identity, the two work together to escape the portal’s dome-like facility without being captured by the temple guards. Tabby gets hit, and Philip plunges them both beneath the sea to escape the guards’ attack. He takes them safely to a distant cliff and heals her wound before it gets any worse. Overwhelmed and shocked by Philip’s many powers, Tabby faints dead away with the ghost woman smiling down at her.

[note: In this first introduction to Rema, I always imagined it to be action-packed and as disorienting to the reader as it is to the main character. I also wanted to show the contrast between Tabby’s curious personality and Philip’s dutiful manner (it is also their first unofficial hug but who’s counting?) Definitely a fun sequence to draw. My favorite page here, though, is of Tabby’s first moments of flight on page 61 (if you happen to have the book!) I had so many dreams of flying growing up, and did my best to capture that fun feeling of falling but never landing.]

“The first Remans were born from a falling star.” With that line, Tabby dives into the local historical/religious book called The Remanora. In it, she finds a creation myth that — judging by the wear and tear of the pages — her new friend Philip has read many times over. Among other things, it is the origin story of a race of elemental magic-users called geists, and it doesn’t paint a kind picture of them. Tabby quickly makes the connection with the geists in the book and Philip’s powers, and understands that Philip is a geist himself. The story does little to dent her positive impression of him, however. After all, he did save her life.

[note: Writing and designing this section took longer than developing any other part of the book. The Reman creation myth has to apply as the series moves along in subsequent volumes, and the style had to feel like something from a solid cultural tradition. I also wanted, through Tabby, to show young readers how research can sometimes look like a mix of primary resources and trusting your gut instincts. I looked to many historical pieces from art history for inspiration, and now the “Remanora style” is one of my favorites to draw.]

Seeing how being discovered as an alien could put Tabby in mortal danger, Philip takes it upon himself to break into the Secretary of Travel building, steal an Earth key, and use it to open a portal. Things seemed to be going smoothly, until Tabby and Philip run into another masked geist. After a quick and decisive sword fight, the other geist warns them that the whole building is about to blow. Philip quickly gets Tabby away from danger, grabbing an Earth key on the way out. Before they get to safety, however, he notices the building’s gold globe is about to fall onto a group of people — including his godfather, General Raed. Risking everything, he uses all his remaining power to summon a giant wall of water as protection, thus saving everyone (even as they yell and curse at him!). All’s well that ends well, but who blew up the building?? You will find out in book 2. [note: This section of the book goes by quickly, and has so much to set up! Despite how much pressure Philip has from seemingly all sides, he figures out a way to do what’s right in the end, and he does so selflessly. He may have gone overboard in this moment, however, and ends up passing out before they can use the portal. Thankfully, Tabby is there to lift his limp body onto her back, drag him off a tall platform, and plunge them both into the sea. How sweet!]

After nearly drowning in the sea, Tabby and Philip find refuge in the canopy of a tree that overlooks the destroyed Secretary Of Travel building, safe from the watchful eyes of the temple guards. Philip wears a rare smile, surprised that Tabby stuck around to save him. With a shaky grip, he pulls her close to assure her she is safe from falling in mid-flight with him around, and something about this strikes her. A spark lights for a brief moment, but they both move on quickly, not sure what to make of it. Philip’s godfather has appeared at the destroyed building and it’s time to join him before he gets suspicious.

[note: I feel like this is the most romantic moment in the book despite a few hugs and deep conversations, so when it came time to feature it here I knew exactly what to draw! I’ve been wanting these two to find one another since they arrived in my dreams when I was twelve, and it’s no different now. I’m finding it difficult to make it happen though, honestly! I really don’t know if they will be together, in the end, so their journey will be as surprising to me over the years as it is to you. Let’s hope for the best, you guys!

Before I go, since I’m talking a bit about the love story, did you know back when Rema was a novel on submission with publishers, the most common feedback I received was to remove the love story altogether? I even tried to heed the advice, but it utterly destroyed the entire book. The love story was the string that wove everything together, I realized, so I gave up pursuing publishing at that moment to turn it into a black and white webcomic. A few social media posts later, and my amazing editor Cassandra Pelham Fulton picked it up — love story and all! If you are a creator, stay true to your vision no matter what. I’m so grateful this story has a place to exist as it is. Thank you Scholastic Graphix!]

Upon arriving at the aftermath of the Secretary Of Travel building’s collapse, Tabby and Philip witness the unmasking of the geist Philip battled. He recognizes her as a fellow Keeper named Nelsi, a young water geist who has been lured into a secret group that believes geists should rule the world — the Scion of the Gods. Philip knows Nelsi isn’t the masked geist he battled before, and the plot thickens.

It isn’t long before the Grand Merofian Priestess is called in: an imposing, pale woman named Hiida. She uses her seemingly unquestionable authority to call for Nelsi’s imprisonment and execution. Tabby watches on, stunned, as the young geist is dragged away to her demise, her Keeper friends powerless to intervene.

[note: This is the first time Tabby witnesses such oppression, but it won’t be the last. Whether or not she can find the courage to speak out against it will be a challenge that haunts her in book 2.]

After Tabby and Philip return home, they finally have a moment to rest. As Tabby enjoys a Cerian delicacy specially prepared by Philip himself, she can’t help but reflect on the injustices she witnessed and the whirlwind adventure she experienced on her first waking day on Rema.

While all of these conflicts are normal for Philip, he can see she is deeply disturbed. Concerned for her mental well-being, he cuts the evening off short and suggests they retire early.

[note: While this scene is small, it always stuck out in my memory. The sight of endless glittering city lights is so romantic to me (NYC I miss you!). How I wish these two had more down time together, just sitting around eating giant bug eyes on a stick, but you know there’s no rest on Rema! It isn’t long before the stress of the day tears these poor friends apart, sending them off on yet another journey.]

As Tabby and Philip prepare for a night’s rest, a spark is lit between them once again. This time, Philip withdraws and makes it clear he is only operating out a sense of duty, warning her it’s best not to get close. Not wanting to be a burden, Tabby decides to try going to the portal atrium alone. Through night markets, past waterfalls, and over bridges, she almost makes it. A trio of temple guards sent by Priestess Hiida thwarts her plans, subduing her and taking her away. 

[note: This part of the book is very sweet, and features one of my favorite drawings of Philip, but I was sad to draw them moving away from each other. Sometimes dealing with emotions can be one of the most difficult parts in life, even when contending with things like being an alien on another planet! 

Philip had very good reasons to pretend not to care, but we don’t find out until book 2 what those reasons are! This scene is another that will be good to revisit after you’re done reading book 2, where you’ll get to see the same moment from a totally new perspective.]

Left to rot in a cell while Hiida tends to business elsewhere, Tabby is set free quite unexpectedly by none other than Keeper Nelsi — the masked geist captured earlier — somehow managing to escape her impending execution.

Being a freewheeling spirit, Nelsi takes Tabby on a whirlwind flight through the Merofian Temple as they outrun the guards, hot on their heels. Hiida catches them rather quickly, but General Raed comes to the rescue before any harm can be done.

Tabby meets Philip, Paeter, and Lina at the unique home of one of the original builders of the Reman portal system — an elder engineer named Senna. With hopes high they’ve found Tabby’s ticket home, Senna dutifully pops their bubble by informing them she will be trapped on Rema forever. The portals are not made for Earthings, and Senna refuses to bend security protocol as a favor to anyone, even General Raed.

As the Remans bicker amongst themselves on what to do with their newly stranded alien, Tabby spies none other than the ghost woman watching her from the window. Remembering how the ghost pulled her to Rema in the first place, she wonders if the ghost has been her real ticket home all along. Without a word, Tabby runs outside to catch her with Philip following close behind.

[note: My favorite thing about this scene is of course Senna’s cool house! I imagine she picked the location because of the power of the waterfalls surrounding her. There’s a deck system with lily pad gardens that lead to a big telescope. I imagine she sits there alone to find the best astrological alignment to create her portals, and somehow the waterfalls help her. How? I don’t know, I just imagine it! I bet she’s lived there for a hundred years, at LEAST.]

Philip finds Tabby alone facing the waterfalls of Senna’s cove, distraught. With tears in her eyes, it truly hits her that she might never see Earth or her mother again. She apologizes to Philip for burdening him with her estrangement, but he confesses that he never wanted to say goodbye in the first place. Tabby gives him a big hug and in this closeness, they are finally able to clear the air between them after what happened earlier that night.

Hand in hand, Philip takes Tabby to Senna’s large, gilded telescope and uses it to show her Earth’s Sun. As Tabby gazes at the glowing sun’s starlight, Philip reassures her she will never be alone, and that in time home will have a way of finding her.

[note: I love this scene of course, but it was probably the most difficult to write and draw. I must’ve rewritten the dialogue countless times, and struggled so much with how to show the two of them coming together. I watched tons of romantic movies and read romantic novels for inspiration, but in the end I knew it would be the characters themselves that set the tone. I blocked out all the stories I dug through, and put myself in their headspace. How would they really act in this moment, and what would they really say? What were they *ready* to say, given their insecurities as young people who lived through too much? With those thoughts in mind, the moment played out simply and I could move on to the final scene.]

Philip gives Tabby a moment to herself, joining the group inside Senna’s home. Once alone, a golden glow cuts through the night and the ghost woman suddenly appears. At long last, Tabby is able to ask the elusive ghost about her late father, why she brought her to Rema, and most importantly — what does she want with her? The ghost’s answers shock her. Tabby’s journey through Rema might be more fated and more dangerous than she imagined. Before Tabby can get her bearings, the ghost woman disappears into the starlit sky. She promises to return when the time is right, and that she will be watching Tabby until then. If you made it to the bottom of this post, you are the MVP! ;) I wish you a small miracle that reminds you Life appreciates your existence and you are loved! <3

Character Profiles

  

Not too long ago, I posted a series of character profiles I made for Realm Of The Blue Mist on my Instagram, just for fun. It's something silly my friends and I would do when we were younger, but it really helped me get back in the right headspace for book 3 production! If you want to know more about the people that occupy Rema, feel free to scroll below and click the images for higher res files:

The Kingdom Of Water update

 

Hello! I noticed a lot of people landing on this page, searching for news on The Rema Chronicles Book 2: The Kingdom Of Water. All I can offer you is the above image from book 2, which features yet another story from the Reman religious and historical book, The Remanora.

I've been working hard on book 2 every day, and I cannot wait to share it with everyone! I'm roughly halfway done, so there is no release date yet. Once I have a solid release date, I will announce it loudly on my Twitter, Instagram, and at Boltcity Productions.

The reception for book 1 of The Rema Chronicles was greater than I expected for my dorky little fantasy story, especially considering this is a brand new series that is just starting. It stayed on the Indie Bestseller list for roughly six weeks! You all are incredible! I'm so grateful to anyone who gave it read and shared it with friends and family. The idea that this story I carried for forty years is out there in the world, being enjoyed by people who were the same age I was when I first dreamed it up...well it means more than I can say.

For those who do not follow any of my socials, I also want to share these Rema Chronicles coloring pages. They feature actual linework from the book (plus 1 random illustration.) Yes, this is what the inks look like before I lay down color, with help from assistant Audra Furuichi. So, if you want some coloring practice, have at it! Simply click on the thumbnail of your choosing to open the hi-res version in a new window. Make sure to print in landscape mode. All of these are also archived over at Boltcity Productions under "activities", where you can find an FAQ and a Rema Chronicles pronunciation guide.

And of course, I can't update you all without mentioning the Realm Of The Blue Mist book trailer, animated by none other than good friend Denver Jackson. He did an amazing job bringing Tabby and Philip to life, and I know it helped signal boost The Rema Chronicles a lot! Follow his incredible work over at Cloudrise Pictures.

A special word of thanks to those of you who followed this blog for several years, who were there as I posted chapters back when this was just a prose novel. I lost hope for this story for a long time, but your feedback and encouragement really helped keep the dream alive. I met a handful of you while signing books on the road. Every time I do, I lack the words to express my deep gratitude. Just know it is there, and I carry your encouragement with me as I dive into the last half of book 2, which features some of the most challenging pages I ever had to draw.

I hope if you find the graphic novel version that you enjoy it, and it brings back memories of those fleeting years. For now, it's time for me to get back to the drawing board (or Photoshop, in this case!) I hope to see you again when I have updates on book 2. Until then, I wish you peace, love, and prosperity.