Erin Ampersand (300YearOldMagician) posts
MM1: Ch. 24b, 25
24b is a long enough to be a short chapter, but I'm tweaking the end of 24 (which I gave you last week) and gluing the two together into one longer chapter. 24b is still all new material
Chapter 24b
Some time later, Koby stopped shouting. He’d tried begging the distant voice, the monster in the room, and anyone else who might be able to hear. Perhaps someone in an adjacent chamber would come to his rescue!
He wasn’t sure how that would wo...
2026-01-12 17:25:23 +0000 UTC View PostMM1, Ch. 24
Oof! Lots of busy stuff this break, lots of good times as well... Not a ton of time to write. I got a rough draft of this done, but I put it through heavy edits this morning before sharing it.
It might not stay chapter 24. I'm not 100% sure if I want to spend more time with Ravel and the gang before checking in with Koby, but this felt kind of right. I don't anticipate changing it much even if I insert another chapter before it.
Chapter 24
Ther...
2026-01-06 18:49:14 +0000 UTC View PostMM Ch 23
Wow, I genuinely thought I had posted this yesterday. I typed out this paragraph and chose the options and everything. I'm going to blame my internet; it's been flaky lately.
So, I paused charging on Patreon for a month. It won't quite give you all a full month off, but it'll give you a few free weeks. I figured you all deserved it for supporting me through these occasionally-sporadic updates. :D Merry Christmas?
Some of the reasons for my flakiness are "bad" reasons (that i...
Measureless Magic 1: Ch. 21 & 22
Two chapters! Lots of fun character stuff in these. It's been A Week. The holidays always are, but this year in particular. I thought we had our Christmas vacation plans locked down, but now everything's up in the air again. :P It's mostly no one's fault, but I hate it a lot. Anyway, I'm gonna do my best to get you two more chapters for next week.
If you leave a comment, please also tell me your favorite holiday cookie/small treat. Doesn't have to be Christmas - if you have...
2025-12-15 18:14:49 +0000 UTC View PostMeasureless Magic #1: Ch. 20
Wanted to have two chapters for you this week, but at least this one's it a longer one. Took some extra time because I wanted to check the Dee sections with a sensitivity reader. I also threw my phone in a toilet by accident and that worked out very poorly for my ex-phone, so the whole replacement process has been a bit of a drain.
I've also had some positive excitement that mostly isn't at the point where I can say anything at the moment. One thing I can share: I was invited t...
Measureless Magic 1, Ch. 18 & 19
Two more chapters! Lots going on this week, though - it's Thanksgiving in the USA - so I might have to skip the next update. Apologies in advance if that ends up being the case.
19 ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. You've been warned. Sorry!
Chapter 18
If you spot a humanlike figure in the sky, immediately contact your superiors. Contact with any humans outside of Marynth has grown less frequent over time. The opportunity to exchange information - o...
2025-11-25 23:58:41 +0000 UTC View PostMeasureless Magic: Ch. 17
Just one chapter this week, sorry. Lots of disruption to my writing time last week and only really got two days of time for it. On the plus side, I did find out I got approved for a vendor table at Huntsville's Nerdy Noel this December. It's a pretty cool fair if you're local to northern Alabama. I've shopped for Christmas presents there for several years at this point. Lots of high-quality small business/craftspeople doing very nerd-focused stuff. Huntsville's called rocket city for a reason...
2025-11-17 17:22:42 +0000 UTC View PostMeasureless Magic 1: Ch. 15, 16
Sooo... for the first time in a long time, my alpha reader husband hasn't gotten to these before I posted them. I considered not posting them yet, but figured I could just re-post if he suggested substantial changes. Still, read at your own risk and stuff.
Chapter 15
It is said that the world used to have many types of plants and animals, not the few stable species we now know. They weren’t like the monsters that sometimes attack from the magic sea, eac...
2025-11-10 15:58:03 +0000 UTC View PostMeasureless Magic 1: Ch. 13, 14
Chapter 13
There is no need to rely on risky perceptual magic for something as important as personal enchantments. In these pages you will find aggressive, defensive, and utility enchantments fit for every purpose you can imagine, and each requires only a single perceptual rune. We would do without that rune as well, if possible, but it is necessary to properly target the user.
Tried & Tested Pragmatic Enchantments
The...
2025-11-03 18:47:55 +0000 UTC View PostUpdate: tweaks to end of Apocalypse Parenting #5
Thanks for the feedback about the epilogue I don't intend to publish! I still think that's the right call, but some people who suggested I keep it in raised some good points. I added some stuff to the end of the last chapter that I think works similarly, and I'd love feedback. I'm including the whole last chapter here, which has a lot of more minor tweaks and expansions, but the part that I'm primarily concerned with starts after the phrase "supposed temporary nature of our victory."
...
Measureless Magic #1, Ch. 12
I know I've been slow on this lately, since I've been focusing on Book 5 editing and I've been ill and had some personal stuff to deal with. Thank you all so much for your patience. :) I'm hoping to have two chapters for you next week & going forward.
Chapter 12
Sometimes it is necessary to fly into the storm, if the threat is big enough, but you must stay within sight of the isle. Do not rely on your homing device. If you lose sight of Marynth, your odds of ...
2025-10-27 15:29:08 +0000 UTC View PostNever gonna publish this, but y'all can see it. Apocalypse Parenting extra content
Got through my first editing pass on Apocalypse Parenting #5! It's about 10% longer than it was before I started. I was considering adding an epilogue, since I like to put bonus content on the published versions, but after I wrote it I felt like it didn't really add enough, and the ending was better where it was with more left to the imagination. But it's kind of fun in its own right, so I thought I'd share with y'all. There'll be more Measureless Magic next week.
Never-to-be-published...
Measureless Magic #1: Chapter 11
I would say "still working on editing Book 5" but that's only true in the broadest sense. I spent most of the past week laid flat with the nastiest cold I've had in a long, long time. But I'm doing better today, so I at least have chapter 11 of Measureless Magic #1 for you.
Oh, also! Apocalypse Parenting #1: Time to Play is available to listen to on Spotify and Audiobooks.com, which is pretty cool. 2025-10-14 15:42:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Measureless Magic cover art + Apocalypse Parenting 5 edits sample
Got my cover art for They Never Come Out of the Castle: Measureless Magic Book 1! It was done by the fabulous Shen Fei (https://www.artstation.com/shenfei) who also did the covers for Mark of the Fool. I need to get typography on it, but I love it.
It's been an editing-focused week! I am trying to remember exactly how many words Running Wild was before I started editing, but I think it's around 10,000 ...
Measureless Magic 1: Ch. 10 + update
Just one chapter this week, but I've been working hard on revisions for Apocalypse Parenting #5. It's gotten about 2,500 words longer in the past week, mostly in bits and pieces, an extra paragraph here and there as I make my first editing pass. I'll definitely be sharing the updated version with you all once it's done, but, well, I'm about a quarter of the way through my first editing pass.
I should be able to share a preview of the Measureless Magic cover art next Monday! I'm very e...
Measureless Magic: Ch. 8 & 9
So, probably you're not supposed to comment on political stuff as a content creator, but I worked as an editor and reporter for my high school newspaper, ran an online magazine in the heady late 90s era of the internet, and worked at television news station for several years after I graduated college. Free speech is incredibly important to me, and this past week has been frightening.
Even leaving aside the Kimmel stuff, the new rules from the Department of War should worry anyone. It's...
2025-09-22 16:41:36 +0000 UTC View PostMeasureless Magic 1: Ch. 6, 7
Chapter 6
Mages, mages: guard the land!
Mages, mages: Marynth’s hand!
Mages, mages: guide the skies!
Mages, mages: truth from lies!
Except from popular jump rope rhyme
There was a pause following the Urchin girl’s announcement, a hesitation.
The glowing text pulsed, brightening enough that Ravel had to shut his eyes for a moment.
A moment later, it pulsed again.<...
2025-09-15 16:26:08 +0000 UTC View PostThey Never Come Out of the Castle (Measureless Magic #1): Chapters 4-5
It's been a bit of a mad week over here, but now my house has only one leaky plumbing fixture instead of five. And the one that's leaking now wasn't one of the originals... Still, progress, yeah?
Let me know if I start slipping British phrases into my actual writing. It's one thing to type them out casually, but I've avoided them in actual speech and serious writing, so far, I hope. Been reading Player Manager and really enjoying it, but now my inner monologue is all "Get in!" and "Bin...
They Never Come Out of the Castle (Measureless Magic #1): Chapters 1-3
So here's what I've been working on the past month or so to let Apocalypse Parenting simmer a little before I turn back to editing! Title isn't fully locked in stone yet, but I feel pretty confident about it. This story is more of a progression fantasy than a litRPG.
It'll probably be a while before I start posting to Royal Road. I had this insane plan where I was going to really kick my own ass into gear and write just enough that I could start posting in October and then do...
2025-09-02 15:54:28 +0000 UTC View PostApocalypse Parenting Book 4 out now! + plans
I know y'all have already read it, but here's some links in case you want to read it again or link it to a friend or listen to Laurie read it to you or something:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FL1BC1KP
https://www.audible.com/pd/Breaking-Rules-Audiobook/B0FL4BYY2H
Okay, new stuff! New ...
Apocalypse Parenting #4: Breaking Rules cover reveal!
Just what it says on the tin. I'm pleased with J. Caleb's work, as usual. :) Several things are different than canon (for example, they should all be more armored and the tree's branches should be whippier), but these are all acceptable compromises in service of providing the right energy and communicating the idea of the story.
2025-08-04 15:04:08 +0000 UTC View PostSticker WIP by the amazing Carolyn Paplham
My friend and awesome artist/graphic designer Carolyn Paplham (https://carolynpaplham.com/) is working on an Apocalypse Parenting sticker for me! I'm not sure if this is just something I'll give/sell at in-person events or if I'll eventually get a swag store together, but she sent me the art earlier today and I LOVE IT. She wants to make a few tweaks to Micah and Pointy's expressions, but then it's coloring time and I am hyp...
2025-07-28 22:02:08 +0000 UTC View PostSo, like... what's next?
1. Editing! So much editing!
I think book 5 is gonna need the most editing of any of my books. Some parts feel a little rushed to me, plus, like... it's kind of a weird ending. I think it fits my weird series, but when you're doing something formulaic, you need to make sure you hit all the parts of the formula well. When you're doing something else, you really gotta make sure that A) you're hitting all the things you meant to hit and B) those are actually the right thi...
THE END OF THE APOCALYPSE PARENTING SERIES
Chapter 53-a
“We’re the first humans in space!” yelled Gavin, racing past Vince and I to be the first off the shuttle.
“No!” Micah said. “Astronauts went to space a long time ago. A really long time ago. Like, even before Mom and Dad were born.”
Gavin glared at his brother. “Okay, but not alien space. We’re the first humans to go to alien space.”
“We’re not,” I said. “The Voices for Non-Citizens took the fi...
2025-07-23 20:01:09 +0000 UTC View PostNew Blog Post: Flying through the airport where things went wrong in your latest book
https://erinampersand.com/flying-through-the-airport-where-things-went-wrong-in-your-latest-book/
I was going to straight replicate this here, (and post it here first) but if Patreon lets you caption images, I could not find the method. I thought you all might enjoy, as Engineer's Odyssey fans.
small addition to Davi interlude
Someone said they wanted to know what happened to Kenan and I'm not doing a Walsenburg-specific interlude, so these paragraphs are for you:
...
When she turned, she saw a crowd of people charging toward her, almost fifteen of them. In seconds, they’d reached her, enveloping her in a crushing group hug.
“Avalanche! Bolero! Joey! Zephyr! I’m so happy to see you! I’m so glad you’re okay!” Davi laughed. “But who are the rest of these people? Anyone from Walsenbur...
2025-07-22 13:38:13 +0000 UTC View PostThe first LitRPG Con was AMAZING
I'll probably make a post on my blog later this week with these photos in a bit more context (I'll let you know when I do) but I wanted to share them with you guys first.
I met so many amazing fans, authors, and narrators, and everyone was so, so kind! I cried multiple times this weekend (in a good way), and my TBR pile has gone from "frightening" to "titanic."
I'll be sharing some other photos I took with you tomorrow, because it was a little anxiety-inducing going through the ...
3 new interludes, re-writes/re-ordering of previous interludes -
So, these are all the interludes I'm planning! The only other chapter(s) to share is the conclusion of the story. I've got about another 6,000 words written to finish things off, and I plan to share that next week, but it still needs a little TLC. With LitRPG Con this upcoming weekend and Engineer's Odyssey launch the following Tuesday, it may be a later-in-the-week Patreon update. (Are any of you coming to LitRPG Con?! I want to meet you if you are!!)
I can't thank you all enough for ...
One more interlude + an explanation
So, I've actually got another 7,000 words written beyond this, but I am NOT ready to share them yet. I'm not even 100% ready to share this interlude? I've written the last paragraph/final two chapters of book 5 and my alpha reader husband cried a little but I want to write more of the intervening interludes and massage it all heavily. I figured, though, that I ought to at least give my deserving readers something, even if it's short. Might be the same thing next week, but I hope not.