Owner of Salem's Pine Publishing L.L.C. 🖋️ Author of upcoming book "LYKOS", to be release May '26. Instagram: @j.n.ledford [Background image by @ajledford_com on Instagram, used with permission.]
J. N. Ledford, author of upcoming novel "LYKOS", anticipated release date in June/July 2026.
Instagram: j.n.ledford
---------------
LYKOS
A New Adult Supernatural Contemporary Romance + Suspense
Khalid is having a hard enough time striking out on his own, hours away from family and the city he has called home for more than 20 years. But homesickness won't stop him from moving into the Appalachian cabin his grandfather has entrusted him in the will. Even if the thought of living on his own leaves a pit in his stomach.
On the first night he spends in his new home, finally alone with a storm raging overhead, there is a deafening crash, and he ventures outside to find the door of the shed demolished. Against better judgment, he peeks inside. What he finds is a canine he believed to only exist in fiction before this moment; there is no question that what he sees is a werewolf in the dim light that illuminates it.
An injured one at that.
Unable to leave the situation alone, Khalid throws caution to the wind and does his best to help, only to wind up with a stranger in his home when she finally shifts back, in and out of delirium from whatever she has been shot with. A growing foundation of familiarity and trust between the pair, Khalid learns much about the newly dubbed Lykos and the world of lycanthropy, under the impression they are safe from the dangers she has outrun—but the hunters aren't done with her yet.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
hi there! I wanted to ask if Lykos was going to be available for purchase on another platform outside of Amazon? Would love to purchase an epub but I don’t have kobo or kindle
Yes! At least I am using IngramSpark primarily and doing their Ebook version there as well (I know they work with Amazon, but they collaborate and post with other platforms as well).
If there are other vendors you guys would like to suggest I would be happy to take a look as well, there is time currently while the publication date has been pushed back for the time being.
Hello! While my inbox has been open the whole time and I have gotten a few private messages, I wanted to encourage people to reach out with any questions regarding my 2026 debut novel LYKOS.
And I know I have mentioned it in the past, but there will be a second book in the future - this story, MEMPHIS, will not be a direct sequel but will take place in the same universe.
Additionally, and unrelated to LYKOS and MEMPHIS, I wanted to add that there will be a third book making an appearance. Though I'm not dropping the title at this time, although it has been decided, and I can't reveal too much because it is still a long ways off, just know that there will be something else coming.
So, if you have any questions at all, especially regarding one of the books, I encourage you to drop a message in my ask box. I've gotten a question here there that I've been happy to answer and I think it would be fun to open the floor to any others! So without spoiling too much, I would love to see what you guys are wondering.
Hello! I have a book coming out, here's some information on it!
LYKOS, By J. N. Ledford
Publishing under Salem's Pine Publishing LLC
A contemporary fantasy werewolf romance, LYKOS is set primarily in my hometown located in the Blue Ridge/Smoky Mountains of the Appalachian range. There is slow burn romance, there is a werewolf being hunted, there are reckless decisions, and there is an innate love for the nature of my home!
I came up with this story years ago, and it has evolved so many times since then to reach this final version. Seeing it go from just a Wattpad story I was going to post a few chapters of, to a full blown book I have sat down to publish has been so fun.
We're nearing the end now, though life and cost of home repairs have pushing the deadline of the book back from its original May 4th publication; expecting the book to be finalized and published now in June/July if the world is a little merciful.
Still, I am sinking my claws into this story and the characters and this year you'll all get to meet them. And here's another fun fact, there will be a second book set in this world following a secondary character I am sure you will all love as well.
So get ready to meet our resident Lycanthrope, Fae "Lykos" Holloway, and the human whose life she literally crashes into, Khalid Hawkins.
The book will be available in paperback, hardback, and as an eBook through the companies Ingramspark and Amazon once they publish.
I would also, as always, love to shout out the cover artist @norapotwora for her stunning work on both the art and lettering. It's amazing seeing such a rough concept brought to life. I cannot wait for the chance to work with her again in the future.
My ask box is open, so if you have any questions feel free to send them in at @jnledford - I'll answer what I can without spoiling too much!
Written summary under the cut:
"What happens when werewolves and people collide in the Great Smoky Mountains?"
Khalid is having a hard enough time striking out on his own, hours away from family and the city he has called home for more than 20 years. But homesickness won't stop him from moving into the Appalachian cabin his grandfather has entrusted him in the will. Even if the thought of living on his own leaves a pit in his stomach.
On the first night he spends in his new home, finally alone with a storm raging overhead, there is a deafening crash, and he ventures outside to find the door of the shed demolished. Against better judgment, he peeks inside. What he finds is a canine he believed to only exist in fiction before this moment; there is no question that what he sees is a werewolf in the dim light that illuminates it.
An injured one at that.
Unable to leave the situation alone, Khalid throws caution to the wind and does his best to help, only to wind up with a stranger in his home when she finally shifts back, in and out of delirium from whatever she has been shot with. A growing foundation of familiarity and trust between the pair, Khalid learns much about the newly dubbed Lykos and the world of lycanthropy, under the impression they are safe from the dangers she has outrun—but the hunters aren't done with her yet.
At the end of 2025 I had the pleasure of working on the cover for LYKOS - book written by @jnledford that will be released this year!
Jeanna came to me with a basic vision for the book cover that we further explored together. She had elements she wanted to include, and I did my best to meet her overall concept while also proposing composition and graphic design solutions.
Jeanna, once again, I must say that working with you was a true pleasure! May everyone have clients like you.
The working process for this project will soon be available on my Behance.
Nora was an absolutely golden artist to work with - she brought the cover to life in a way I could not have ever imagined. She was also super patient with any revisions made and helped work to make it a cohesive cover.
I think the only sad part of the process is that some of the other covers being considered at the start just won't see the light of day 😔
It's also wild to see that the book is being released THIS year, but it is! It's already 2026!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
I've been so excited to show you guys the wonderful art done by @norapotwora and the final cover files were sent today! It's been a fun process to watch unfold and the final product was worth every day. She's honestly outdone herself from the original concept that was given.
I am so excited to announce that the cover art by the fantastic @norapotwora is almost done! I'm not sharing anything yet as a few small details need to be finalized, but expect to see that revealed within the next two weeks. And shout out to this artist for the immense detail she has put into this work and how absolutely fantastic she has been to work with through the entire process.
The book is also still set for its May release, but that may need to be bumped back to June as I have been in the throes of purchasing a home and needing to move to another state - a deadline coming up much faster thank the book.
Expect a concrete date as we get closer depending on how fast the last bit of the process moves with the book. Otherwise, I'm still shooting for May 4th!
Created by indie author @jnledford in preparation for the first of her upcoming books, LYKOS.
Salem's Pine Publishing was officially created October 16th, 2025.
While most of the books will likely focus on sci-fi or fantastical concepts, they are open to discussing works of various other topics and genres with any authors interested if they are not ready to take the publishing journey on alone. Or even if they just want a little extra pizzaz in publishing their works under a company name. All are welcome to reach out to SPP!
We look forward to bringing a collection of books into the world for the foreseeable future!
Since Salem's Pine Publishing is officially up and running, I created a tumble (and Instagram page) for the company. There has been one or two people inquiring about publishing their works under SPP as well, so I have considered opening it up in the future and working with other authors who may just want to sign on so they do not have to take on the publishing process alone, or who may just want to sign on with a company for that little extra flare with their book(s).
Either way!
Also excited because the official logo is going to be finished up around next week! I have a stand in on Instagram for now, but I cannot wait to share the more permeant one soon!
Proud to announce the ball is rolling on Salem's Pine Publishing L.L.C., which will include the 2026 title LYKOS as well as all future books. I got the official approval just last week and am excited to now be able to share!
I look forward to showing you all more. Come December I will be able to share the cover art for the book and things are going to start picking up. Stay tuned!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
When you have only ever pronounced a word from seeing it - only to finally listen to the pronunciation..... And it is just, like, that's how it's said???
Van Helsing (2004); The Howling (1981); Bad Moon (1996); The Wolf Man (1941); An American Werewolf in London (1981); Penny Dreadful (2014-2016); Underworld (2003); Skinwalkers (2006); The Wolfman (2010); Dog Soldiers (2002)
Let's face it, this is the first book I am writing. And there are so many ways so many different authors drum up support for their books.
What are some things you guys would like to see?
Aside from the cover art coming in December, which I am so excited to share when I can! (In the meantime, go check out @norapotwora, who is actually doing it!)
I know I'm not the only writer who does this - realizes halfway through a few paragraphs or so that you've switched present and past tense and now have to go back and fix it. Until then? Binge write! After all, that's what editing is for!
And have someone else read over it once you're done, because they will absolutely spot those little moments that seem totally correct when you look over everything.
Yep, the book is also going to be professionally proofread and edited as well to make sure I don't miss anything past the editing that I have been doing.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
I know I'm not the only writer who does this - realizes halfway through a few paragraphs or so that you've switched present and past tense and now have to go back and fix it. Until then? Binge write! After all, that's what editing is for!
Edit: for anyone concerned, it is also going to be professionally edited and proofread as well.
I just wanted to drop in and let you know two upcoming dates to look out for going into 2026!
First off, the cover art will be completed by end of November, so in early December 2025 we should be able to share that! And a shout out to @norapotwora who is doing the book cover art and lettering!
The second date is early May 2026! In April 2026 the book will be going on pre-sale for two weeks before officially publishing in early May 2026. I do not want to share the exact date yet, just in case anything happens with the end of the process, but if everything looks good then later this year I will be dropping the date (maybe even with the cover reveal)!
I know this is still a year away, or close enough to it, but I am excited to share these updates with you.
The book will also be on sale with both physical and digital copies - the aim is for all three options to be available, as an Ebook, hard cover, and paperback. I am tying to figure out the system right now to make all of them viable options, and I have already seen people say you can do both paperback and hard copy with the company I am using, so it should be worked out eventually, or a new announcement will be made before pre-orders begin about the options.
