#commit to the kick

Starting today, and running through Wednesday, January 28th, we’re raising funds to publish the third and last book of the Twinned trilogy by Tris Lawrence ( @tryslora ) ! Whether you backed the campaigns for books 1 and 2, or you’re just hearing about these books for the first time from this post, now is a great time to get one book, get two books, or get the whole trilogy so you can read the full story!

People with Talent—Mages, Dreamwalkers, shapechangers, and others—have always lived among mankind. Their existence was hidden until ten years ago, when the world was abruptly introduced to the existence of these secret magic users after a young gymnast spontaneously teleported during the Olympics. This event heralded the start of the Emergence; whereas, once, Talents were close-kept secrets that ran in family lines, now everyone knew that there were people with incredible abilities in communities all over the world.

The Emergence wrought changes at every level of society.

At Pine Hills University, a small liberal-arts college in Upstate New York, these changes have been pronounced, as the University has taken the lead in studying Talent academically: encouraging Talented students to apply, hiring Talented faculty, and debuting Talent-related curricula, minors, and majors.

This is the milieu against which the events of the Twinned trilogy unfold. Ten years has been just long enough for the young, Talented students of Pine Hills University to think they know where they fit in the world—but there are many changes yet to come…

For this campaign, we’re also making some fun Pine Hills University merchandise—the crest of the fictional university as an enamel pin, a car back-window sticker, and one of our signature dux in a PHU-colored varsity jacket.

Oh and – these books are hella queer! The main character is a gay aro man, the lead of the second is asexual biromantic and has a trans twin brother, and book 3 features an established m/m relationship between the leads. That’s just the tip of the iceberg; lots of the side characters are also LGBTQIA+.

About 3 years ago I was commissioned to create a couple of paintings for a novel trilogy, who's first installment has finally been published!

Tris has worked so hard in creating these epic fantasy novels and it's surreal to see it physically in my hands with my work and my name in it. I can't wait to get reading!

Check out "Commit to the kick" by Tris Lawrence now!

Available in Ebook format here

They step out into a long hall that Alaric didn’t even know existed. “What is this?”

“Access space behind the lecture halls.” Pawel sets his things down on what looks like a lab bench across from the door. “I think it also used to be a lab space, but that was long before I was a student here.” He pokes the air nozzle on the wall. “These aren’t live anymore. I know, because I tested them ten years ago. Just in case you were wondering.”

Commit to the Kick is the first book of the Twinned trilogy by Tris Lawrence. We’re currently crowdfunding the entire trilogy on Kickstarter, and we’re already close to our goal! Commit to the Kick stars Alaric, an aromantic gay college freshman… who can also shapeshift into a bear, and a few other animal forms! His dream is to play football, but in a world that’s only recently learned of the existence of people with magical powers, it’s hard to find a league that will welcome someone who might transform into an animal mid-game. He’s come to Pine Hills University as it’s one of a few schools experimenting with mixed leagues but, well. The excerpt says it all.

Learn more about Commit to the Kick:

Don’t hesitate. Don’t overthink it. Commit to the kick. For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn’t central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it’s not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger. In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family. When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.

Duck Prints Press, LLC, is thrilled to be working with author Tris Lawrence (@tryslora) to bring her trilogy, “Twinned,” to a wider audience, by publishing the e-book version of the first book in the series! If you love college settings, sports AUs, a huge splash of magic, found family, and queer characters from across the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A. spectrum, this series is a must-not-miss!! This full length (160k words!) novel includes laughs, grief, adventure, fear, with incredible characterizations and an ending that will leave you wanting more.

Summary:

For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn’t central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it’s not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger.

In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.

When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.

Price: $6.99

COMING SOON: COMMIT TO THE KICK by TRIS LAWRENCE!

Duck Prints Press, LLC, is thrilled to be working with author Tris Lawrence (@tryslora) to bring her trilogy, “Twinned,” to a wider audience, by publishing the e-book version of the first book in the series! If you love college settings, sports AUs, a huge splash of magic, found family, and queer characters from across the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A. spectrum, this series is a must-not-miss!! This full length (160k words!) novel includes laughs, grief, adventure, fear, with incredible characterizations and an ending that will leave you wanting more.

Summary:

For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn't central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it's not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger.

In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.

When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.

Price: $6.99

Best of all? You can read a free preview right now, to whet your appetite.

The paperback/ebook version of Commit to the Kick is now on Goodreads.