Welcome to the MG Pub Affiliate Program! Yooohooo! 🎉

If you love books, stories, or soulful self-work, this program is for you. It lets you earn money by sharing meaningful books with others.

Interested? Cool. 😎

You don’t need to be a writer or have a big audience.

You just need to share links to earn.

Readers and writers are both welcome. Everyone can join.

💸 How It Works (Super Simple)

1. Sign up as an affiliate here: https://mgpub.lemonsqueezy.com/affiliates

2. You’ll get your own affiliate links after approval.

3. Share those links anywhere:

   1. Social media

   2. Blogs

   3. Group chats

   4. Email

   5. Book clubs

   6. Word of mouth

4. When someone buys through your link, you earn money.

💰 Commission, Tracking, & Payout Details

1. Commission rate: 30% per sale

2. Who can apply and earn: Anyone (reader or writer)

3. Minimum payout: €10 (Lemon Squeezy might override this with €11.)

4. Minimum age: Legal age (Unsure? Email customer support for this.)

5. Recurring commissions: Enabled

   1. You keep earning as long as people buy through your links.

6. Tracking cookie duration: 30 days

   1. If someone clicks your link and makes a purchase within 30 days, you get paid.

   2. Example: If someone clicks your link today, then buys the book 2 weeks later. You still earn 30% commission.

7. Payment method: Sent through your registered payment method

8. Payouts: Automatic via Lemon Squeezy once the minimum payout is reached.

   1. Example: If a book costs €5, you earn €1,50. Sell 10 books, that’s €50, which means you’ll get €10,50. You’re already past the payout threshold. (Lemon Squeezy might override this with €11.)

📊 Key Metrics (What These Mean, Easy Explanation)

1. Commission rate (30%): This is the percentage you earn from every sale made through your link.

2. Conversion rate: The percentage of people who click your link and actually buy. (This depends on your audience, platform, and how you share).

3. Tracking cookie (30 days): The system remembers your link for 30 days after a click. All clicks and sales are automatically tracked by Lemon Squeezy. No manual work needed.

You can check your stats anytime in your affiliate dashboard.

🛍️ What You’ll Be Promoting

These are the books and paid journaling worksheets included in the affiliate program. As the author publishes more titles, this list will be updated as soon as they’re available.

📘 Books & Fiction

1. My Name is Pepper (Sweetheart App #1) / Fiction

2. Strokes of Desire (Cult of Eros #1) / Fiction

3. Non-Native Speakers Only / Nonfiction

4. Essentialism in Self-Publishing / Nonfiction

🌍 Where Readers Can Find the Books

1. Buy / View Books: https://tinyurl.com/yu45z56c

2. Google Play Books: https://tinyurl.com/29crfzf7

3. Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ysm4vpf3

4. Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/2b2g7tzn

📝 Journaling & Soul Work

1. Paid journaling worksheets (Coming soon)

✨ Why Join This Affiliate Program?

You aren’t just selling books. You’re sharing stories that heal, challenge, and connect souls. The ones that educate, represent, and resonate.

Then, you’re getting paid for it. Cool, right?

Benefits:

1. High 30% commission (industry-competitive)

2. 30-day tracking cookie

3. Recurring commissions enabled

4. No experience required

5. Books sold worldwide

6. Easy setup, no approval stress

7. Trusted digital checkout (Lemon Squeezy)

8. Perfect for:

   1. Book lovers

   2. Content creators

   3. Writers supporting writers

   4. Educators and language learners

   5. Self-publishing communities

🤱 About the Author

Hey, I’m Mecyll (M. Gaspary). I’m an author and independent publisher.

A creative soul. A lone wolf in love.

I write fiction, short stories, and soul-centered content for readers who feel deeply, think honestly, and live authentically.

• Author website/newsletter:

Writer Warriors

If you’re ready to stay inspired, sharpen your writing craft, and be part of a growing circle of Writer Warriors, subscribe now and access content you can't find on the internet.

By Mecyll Gaspary

• Find me on the internet: Just type “M. Gaspary” into your browser. 😊

📲 Follow & Share

Make sure you don’t miss any updates and the latest news.

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mgasparywriter/

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mecyllwrites/

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mgasparywriter/

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mgasparywriter/

• X: https://x.com/MGaspary1

• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mecyll-gaspary/

🎙 Writer Warriors Podcast:

Writer Warriors is a podcast for writers, creatives, and quiet fighters who choose courage over comfort.

Hosted by me, M. Gaspary, this show explores writing, publishing, creativity, healing, and the inner battles that come with choosing an honest life.

The episodes blend real talk, personal insights, creative wisdom, and encouragement for those walking their unconventional path.

Available on Spotify and major podcast platforms.

🎧 LISTEN: https://tinyurl.com/ysz8sdld

📚 Discover more:

• Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/m_gaspary

• Inkitt: https://www.inkitt.com/mecyll

• Reedsy: https://tinyurl.com/23f2ywdt

🚀 Ready to Start?

Share stories. Earn 30%.

Simple. Honest. Soul-aligned.

Ready? Join the affiliate program here: https://mgpub.lemonsqueezy.com/affiliates

Check out these fantastic books & support independent authors:

‘Strokes of Desire #1’ by M. Gaspary

In a world where passion meets danger, love becomes a double-edged sword—irresistible yet perilous, a blessing and a curse. Clay, a brilliant surgeon, fell in love with Valon, an enigmatic painter. As the fire between them blazes hotter with every stolen moment, their affair pulls more hearts into the storm.

Valon’s younger sister, Agatha, a bold social media star with charm to burn, meets Clay’s fiancée, Liz, a dedicated social worker who’s as strong as she is compassionate. What begins as a chance meeting soon spirals into something far more dangerous. Caught between secrets and strokes of desire, they must decide how far they will go.

Then, here comes Alain. Clay’s sharp, dependable brother. The kind of man Liz can always count on at work. Always the professional, always the friend. But never more. That is, until one fateful night. His control slipped. He crossed a line he could never take back. A mistake he can’t mend and forgive.

M. Gaspary’s first installment of the Cult of Eros series introduces five lives intertwined in a complex web of passion, art, and deceit. Each character harbors haunting secrets that could either bind or tear them apart. As the collision of their hearts becomes inevitable, no one emerges unscathed.

BONUS! BONUS! BONUS!

For the whole month of February, in line with our ‘LOVE, LOVE, LOVE 2026 Special,’ you can get ALL my books for FREE! Yehey! :)))

Just use this discount code upon checkout: U1MJM5MW

Buy directly from publisher

Find more bookstores

‘Center Ice’ by Merit Rime

Dani Miller doesn’t need help, and she definitely doesn’t need Kestrel Yan. Kestrel is a nervous wreck who wouldn't know a hockey puck from a dinner plate.

(Dani doesn't have time for Kestrel, the end.)

But as the season heats up, the friction between them turns into something she doesn't want to name.

Kestrel is more than just a replacement. She’s the only one brave enough to look past the captain’s armor, and Dani is terrified of what happens when she finally lets someone in.

Get your copy here

‘Viral’ by Mike Player

What is it like to become an overnight viral video star? Sixteen-year-olds become moguls and moguls fetch coffee in the dark comedy suspense thriller VIRAL - The Story of the Milkshake Girl.

Teen foster girl Erika Moradi stands up for herself by swatting the milkshake out of the hand of a sexist school bully and becomes famous in a fluke video as “The Milkshake Girl.” She unwittingly incites the wrath of her high school and the darker elements of online teen networks. In 2012, viral videos were a new frontier. Her home is vandalized, and her life is threatened, forcing her to run away.

As death threats mount, Erika's star rises with a music video anthem against bullying called "Bully Bully." She records the song with high school gay outcast Syd. Lady Gaga's guest appearance rockets the video into the viral stratosphere.

Get your copy here

‘Reaper of Resistance’ by S. M. Garbers

Phaedra was a rat in the lowest slum gang in Ragenrot, cursed to a life of misery. That is, until the empress, marked by the Dove Spirit, found herself in trouble and in need of a commoner’s insider help now that the immortal war was coming to an end. Being taken to the palace, their love bloomed into something Phaedra would have never imagined.

At least for someone unburned by the Spirits.

However, her love was ripped out from under her when the empress was kidnapped. She must find her and bring her back before Sahar and her soul are reduced to nothing. With love, magic, and betrayals, Phae must decide where her loyalties lie. She must decide who to save...her love? Her home? Herself?

What shape does her true love take?

Get your copy here

‘To Keep Our Honor Clean’ by Thomas A. Burns, Jr.

Not all battles are fought on the battlefield.

In 1988, Master Gunnery Sergeant Amos Murdoch retired from the Marine Corps to join fellow veterans Solly Pinkus and Jonny Edwards in launching the 3M Detective Agency. Their modest goal of investigating workman’s comp claims is upended when they are drawn into the murder of a disgraced homosexual Marine.

A routine inquiry uncovers a chilling conspiracy rooted in the Vietnam War of twenty years ago, forcing the trio to confront not only the sins of the Corps but also secrets they’ve kept for years. As their bonds are tested and danger mounts, the three Marines and their allies must brave treacherous waters to expose the truth and bring the guilty to justice. But the ghosts of southeast Asia have their own reckoning in store…

To Keep Our Honor Clean is a gripping tale of loyalty, redemption, and sacrifice that will leave you haunted by its themes of the cost of honor and the confrontation of painful truths.

Get your copy here

‘Unforgettable Encounter’ by Ryan Moore

One night. One dance. One encounter they’ll never forget.

Grayson Hart wasn’t born into privilege—but crashing the exclusive masquerade gala at the Westwood Estate might be his boldest risk yet. All he wants is one chance to prove himself. He never expected that chance to arrive in the form of Logan Westwood—enigmatic, magnetic, and entirely off-limits.

Logan has always lived behind a mask. He knows how to play the part of heir, host, and Westwood son. But when he meets Grayson in the chaos of the ball, everything shifts. Their connection is instant. Their chemistry is undeniable. And their night together? Impossible to ignore.

But desire has a cost.

As secrets unravel and pasts resurface, both men must decide: protect the lives they’ve built—or risk everything for a love neither saw coming.

Get your copy here

After I published my last article about my December updates, I found myself reflecting on every task I accomplished in 2025 with an ironclad resolve to evaluate them objectively, whether they worked or not.

One of them is my decision to release my journaling prompts, which I designed primarily for myself.

Around four years ago, I started revisiting my love of journals to expand my Etsy business, in addition to publishing them on Amazon KDP.

However, things turned out differently, leading to the closure of our online shops and suspension of all digital and physical sales.

Fast forward to last year, my brain snapped and suddenly took a detour, making these worksheets available for you, as a Writer Warrior, for FREE.

You heard it right. They’re free! It’s my small way of giving back. As soon as you have these worksheets, you can print them as many times as you want, so you can join me in my shadow work journey and experience my way of introspection.

I hope you enjoy it. 🥰

How to Download Your FREE Soul Exercises

Easy peasy!

Click the button below to visit our online shop (our soft opening) and see each exercise and choose the ones you’d like to try. Or download the whole Soul Exercises if you want. Your call. 👏

Download your FREE worksheets here

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Leave them in the comment section below, or reply to this email if you receive this via your registered email address.

Soul Exercise #1: Best & Worst Childhood Memories, Healing Through Reflection

Our childhood holds the roots of who we are today, the good and the bad. If you find yourself lost, it’s time to take a look at your earliest memories and find the answers you’re looking for.

This soul exercise invites you to gently revisit your childhood memories, both the joyful and the painful, to better understand how they’ve shaped your Present Self. Through guided prompts and reflective writing, you will explore the moments that made you feel safe, loved, hurt, or unseen.

With this reflective exercise, you will be guided to observe without judgment, allowing insights to surface naturally as you write. Perfect for journaling, therapy support, shadow work, or personal growth.

Each page is a safe container for emotions you may have carried for years, which you can reprint for as many times as you want. During this exercise, you will:

• Reconnect with meaningful memories from your childhood

• Identify experiences that influenced your beliefs and behaviors

• Acknowledge both positive and negative moments with honesty

• Understand emotional patterns rooted in your early years

• Begin the process of inner child healing through mindful reflection

Give your inner child a voice. Let your story be heard.

Download this worksheet

Soul Exercise #2: Self-Awareness, A Guided Writing Journey Into Your Inner World

Self-awareness is where every transformation begins. Whether you’re new to the healing journey or not, you need emotional clarity to navigate life. To achieve this, you need a safe place to slow down and truly see yourself.

This is where the second soul exercise comes in. It’s a gentle but powerful guided writing worksheet designed to help you pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself, especially when distractions are constant, pulling your attention somewhere else away from what you love and meant to be doing in this lifetime.

This exercise invites you to turn inward and listen to your own voice again. Through carefully crafted prompts, you’ll explore your current emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as your inner patterns, without judgment or pressure.

Each page offers a quiet conversation between you, your inner child, and your Higher Self. It allows you to:

• Reflect on who you are in this present moment

• Identify emotions and thoughts you may have been avoiding

• Gain clarity on your personal triggers and habits

• Strengthen your ability to observe yourself with compassion

• Begin building a deeper, more honest relationship with your inner self

This worksheet is perfect for journaling beginners. Reprintable for as many times as you want, as many times as your thoughts and feelings go.

Download this worksheet

Soul Writing Exercise #3: 30 Journal Prompts, Become the Version of You That Feels Right

Who are you becoming beneath the noise of the world? If you don’t know who you truly are, here’s a guided journey to self-expansion and inner alignment.

This collection of 30 deeply reflective journal prompts is designed to help you peel back layers of conditioning, fear, and distraction, so you can reconnect with the version of yourself that feels true, aligned, and free.

Inspired by themes of growth, balance, and emotional honesty, these prompts guide you through powerful inner territories: self-expansion, childhood patterns, emotional control, life balance, and spiritual evolution.

Aligned and rooted in Jupiter energy, the force of expansion, abundance, luck, optimism, wisdom, and possibilities, this soul exercise invites you to think bigger, feel deeper, and live more authentically.

Inside this journaling journey, you will explore:

• Where your life feels small, and how to make it spacious again

• The difference between your Old Self, Present Self (evolving self), and Future Self

• What is truly within your control (and what isn’t)

• Emotional balance through the four inner elements (air, water, fire, and earth)

• Tension between freedom and emotional depth

• Honest truths you may have been avoiding

• Modern distractions that pull you away from alignment

• What it really means to become the version of you that feels right

These prompts aren’t surface-level questions, as they’re designed to invite you to meet yourself with brutal honesty. Each one is crafted to spark insight, emotional release, and meaningful self-discovery.

Perfect for:

• Shadow work and self-awareness practices

• Personal growth journaling

• Spiritual and emotional healing

• Anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves

This worksheet is perfect for journaling beginners. Reprintable for as many times as you want, as many times as your thoughts and feelings go.

Quick note: You don’t have to finish the entries in one sitting if you can’t. One prompt per day is already good. Treat each question like a daily ritual, a meaningful reflective moment to guide you to find answers and ponder for the rest of the day. No rush. The real world has already enough of it.

Download this worksheet

Soul Writing Exercise #4: Finding Magic in Mundane

Life-changing insights don’t only live in big moments. Most of the time, they hide inside ordinary days.

This soul exercise invites you to slow down and rediscover the quiet magic woven in your everyday life. Through simple but meaningful reflection, you’ll be guided to look at the small events of your day, both good and bad, and uncover the deeper emotions and lessons within them.

You’ll reflect on 1-3 highlights from your day and explore:

• How each moment unfolded

• Why they’re meaningful to you

• The thoughts and emotions it stirred

• The people, places, things, or situations involved

• Any triggers, realizations, or personal insights that emerged

What may seem ordinary on the surface carries hidden wisdom, only when you take the time to look around and look within. This exercise will help you practice mindful awareness, turning daily experiences into opportunities for growth, gratitude, and self-understanding in ways you haven’t done before.

Perfect for:

• Building a consistent journaling habit

• Developing emotional awareness

• Practicing gratitude and mindfulness

• Processing difficult days with compassion

• Learning to see meaning in the present moment

There’s no right or wrong way to do it. All you need is the courage to start being honest with yourself. A meaningful life isn’t made of grand events alone, but from small, honest moments noticed, cared for, and loved.

You can print this worksheet as many times as you like. Use it as a daily or weekly reflection tool.

Download this worksheet

Final Note - More Worksheets to Come! 👏

I love journaling, journals, planners—basically books of all kinds. Hahahaha! The obsession is real.

To date, I am still designing worksheets; hopefully, they’ll be ready to publish soon. They’ve been stored in my digital clutter for years!

If everything goes well, I can slowly release them on our online shop.

Click here to explore my books, planners, worksheets, and more. Just stay tuned.

If you’ve downloaded them from the MG Pub online shop, please note that I’ll use your email address to send announcements. Let me know if you want your data deleted.

Also, make sure you follow me and subscribe to the Writer Warriors community to make sure you won’t miss any updates. You can also reach me via Chat (on the Substack App).

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Reply to this email, or leave them in the comment section below if you receive this via your Substack app.

To end this post, I want to say I love you. Puh-leassse, take care of yourself. See you in the next one. Tschüßieee! 🤗

Check out these fantastic books & support independent authors:

‘Strokes of Desire #1’ by M. Gaspary

In a world where passion meets danger, love becomes a double-edged sword—irresistible yet perilous, a blessing and a curse. Clay, a brilliant surgeon, fell in love with Valon, an enigmatic painter. As the fire between them blazes hotter with every stolen moment, their affair pulls more hearts into the storm.

Valon’s younger sister, Agatha, a bold social media star with charm to burn, meets Clay’s fiancée, Liz, a dedicated social worker who’s as strong as she is compassionate. What begins as a chance meeting soon spirals into something far more dangerous. Caught between secrets and strokes of desire, they must decide how far they will go.

Then, here comes Alain. Clay’s sharp, dependable brother. The kind of man Liz can always count on at work. Always the professional, always the friend. But never more. That is, until one fateful night. His control slipped. He crossed a line he could never take back. A mistake he can’t mend and forgive.

M. Gaspary’s first installment of the Cult of Eros series introduces five lives intertwined in a complex web of passion, art, and deceit. Each character harbors haunting secrets that could either bind or tear them apart. As the collision of their hearts becomes inevitable, no one emerges unscathed.

Get a copy here

Find more bookstores

‘The Billionaire’s Game’ by Ryan Moore

What begins as a forced arrangement spirals into a seductive, high-stakes game of dominance and desire. For seven days, Dominic owns his time—and has full access to his body. But neither of them expects what follows: late-night confessions, heat that blurs the rules, and a connection neither of them can shake.

Theo is just trying to survive. Dominic doesn’t believe in emotional risk. But when the game ends, both men might discover that the real prize was never the contract—it was the person standing across from them.

A short, high-heat M/M romance from the Private Encounters universe
✔️ Billionaire x escort
✔️ Power play, forced proximity
✔️ Seven-day deal, intense chemistry
✔️ Standalone story with bonus content

Get a copy here

Thank you for reading Writer Warriors! This is going to be a quick message from my desk, while I’m preparing for the next mind-blowing article scheduled for this week.

If you enjoy reading my work so far, it would mean the world to me if you invited friends to subscribe and read with us. If you refer friends, you will receive benefits that give you special access to Writer Warriors.

How to participate - Simple steps!

1. Share Writer Warriors. When you use the referral link below, or the “Share” button on any post, you'll get credit for any new subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media with friends.

Refer a friend

2. Earn benefits. When more friends use your referral link to subscribe (free or paid), you’ll receive special benefits.

• Get a 1-month comp for 3 referrals

• Get a 3-month comp for 5 referrals

• Get a 6-month comp for 25 referrals

Visit the leaderboard

To learn more, check out Substack’s FAQ.

Again, thank you for helping get the word out about Writer Warriors! Always remember that I love you from the depths of my being. Take care of yourself, just as I do. See you in the next one. Tschüßieee! :)))

“Ad majorem Dei gloriam.” A Latin sentence, which means ‘For the greater glory of God,’ popped out of my mind when I thought about this article last night. A set of words that remained in me even after I left the Jesuit university twelve years ago. The words that kept whispering in my ears, even when I felt lost in life.

True. This simple thought sums up why the novel ‘Strokes of Desire #1’ became possible despite the obvious life challenges and emotional turmoil. I realized that all the hard work wasn’t just for my own mental health’s sake, but for others who might need those words to feel heard.

Three years ago, this was once considered an impossible feat. Despite having little to no understanding of why I had sacrificed so much for a book, I kept going.

Word after word. Sentence by sentence. The book formed.

“I began writing this book with a blank page, emotionally numbed from exhaustion and drugs. Sleepless, I remember feeling so sorry for myself, for not being able to help my soul.

I couldn’t see tomorrow anymore…

After years of writing for SEO and algorithms had somehow taken my creative cells, I thought. Although I excelled in essay writing in HS, I found myself unable to find the right word—safe enough for a jumpstart.

At one moment, I felt like an engine that refused to start a car, ignoring the driver’s frustrations.”

—Edited excerpt from my published Notes

If my Old Self had known that she would’ve had to write seven drafts from scratch, more than half a million words nonstop for a fleeting dream, while drowning in threats of financial debt and homelessness, bullied in a foreign land, and almost losing her husband to a stroke, I’m uncertain if she would’ve taken the risk for an uncertainty, knowing she’s an otrovert, known for risk-averse tendencies.

“Three years ago, I had no idea that a simple decision to take on the challenge of writing a novel after long years of hiatus—since I left Wattpad—would lead me to a life-changing adventure, bringing me to where I am right now. A place where I can say I could never return to where I was before: to the first day when I wrote the first blank page.”

—Excerpt from ‘The ‘Cult of Eros Series’ Begins: A Story Born from Darkness and Love’

Since she chose to be brave, it is right for me to write this quick email to share my wondrous life behind the veil. Even though I feel resistant to marketing, I’m doing this for her.

Why? Because she deserves it. ❤️‍🔥

So, today, I am thrilled to invite you to get a copy of my upcoming LGBT romance novel and enjoy a sensual, thought-provoking story.

It’s about a talented surgeon who got entangled with an enigmatic painter. As their friendship transformed, they unknowingly pulled more hearts into the storm.

Interested? Click the button below to check it out.

Buy my book

Why buy ‘Strokes of Desire #1’?

For me, it’s not just a written novel, as I mentioned in my previous article, but an anecdote of my healing and years of shadow work. I consider it a confession, revealing parts of me that I’ve kept hidden for most of my life.

That includes my shadows, my hidden fantasies, childhood trauma, etc. All is revealed to you for your entertainment. JK! 😂

As an artist, I’ll always be pulled to reveal because it’s the best way for me to heal, especially as a Scorpio Moon. “To heal is to reveal,” as I often say in my YouTube videos. Click here to subscribe to my channel.

It’s also a silent prayer to those who are going through the same events as I did. Born out of desperation, when I had no other outlets to release the stuck negativity in my veins, wishing it were enough of an effort to survive the ‘Black Blob’ that cursed generations of my family and took lives.

“[Writing this novel] has allowed me to appreciate the depth of self-awareness and confront the unwanted parts of myself without offending my sensitive spirit. It has enabled me to understand myself a little bit better and to exercise self-compassion without guilt and shame.”

This book is a testament to that healing. And it’s an ongoing series.

Don’t forget to leave feedback.

If you have purchased and read the book (either in print or as an eBook), I would appreciate it if you left feedback on Goodreads or on the platform where you purchased it. Even if you leave a 1 out of 5-star rating, it’s fine as long as you’re honest.

Here’s one from Sans (@sansbookstation on Instagram):

Gaspary’s writing feels raw and intimate. Each of the five intertwined characters carries secrets that slowly unravel, exposing the fragility of love, art, and trust. The emotional tension is so well-crafted that even when you think you understand the characters, they surprise you with another layer of complexity.

What I liked most is how the author doesn’t romanticize pain or passion; instead, she explores how desire can be both healing and ruinous. The atmosphere is sensual, tragic, and almost cinematic at times, like walking through a gallery of emotions.

If you enjoy stories that explore love in all its flawed beauty, especially through a queer lens, this book will stay with you long after you finish it. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the Cult of Eros series unfolds.

Read full review on Goodreads

Every thought helps improve my craft and exposure, helping me, as a self-publisher, reach as many readers as possible. So, the more reviews I get, the better.

To end, I want to give you my warm hugs and kisses to thank you for being part of my healing journey through the Writer Warriors community. 💗

As we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, it is my deepest wish to see us all grow with steadfast determination, be feisty towards our childhood dreams, and expand as living souls with passion.

As our Present Selves, it is our task to prepare our vessels (our human bodies) with practical spiritual habits (during our harvest under the Capricorn Full Moon), to welcome the miracles and abundance of 2026 and the following years to come with open arms and big smiles.

This is my prayer. I love you. Take care of yourself. See you in the next one. Tschüßieee! 👏

Check out these fantastic books & support independent authors:

‘The First Few Weeks’ by Samantha Jayne Grubey

Princess Amelia is struggling to live with day to day life, with guards quitting after only a mere twenty-four hours of silence she finds herself with another new guard. Only this one, he’s different. He’s not like the other Palace guards.

Agent Ethan Sparks has just finished his SWAT training when he’s called upon to protect the Princess he knows he can’t refuse.

Life in the Palace is strange, a family torn apart by a tragic murder. The Princess who doesn’t want to live, how do you protect someone from themself?

Get your copy here

‘Forging the Blade’ by Arwen Falvey

Avalia is the most lethal assassin in the world, but when she runs afoul of a fire-starting terrorist, she finds herself charged with a terrible crime. Through luck, skill, and the help of her innate empathic abilities, she has weathered many a storm, but this might be the biggest yet.

Dragged before the Court of the Regents, the highest court in the land, she must recount her life story to convince the elemental regents of her innocence. Will her tale save her life? Or is this the end of her story?

Get your copy here

‘Days of Winter’ by Cora Flynn

For 21 years, I’ve lived a relatively quiet life in Cascade Falls. But there’s more than meets the eye to our small tourist town, and I seem to get caught up in a not-so-hidden criminal empire that I never wanted any part of.

The tangle I'd much rather get caught up in?

The heartfelt boy next door who I’ve been crushing on for years.

The sexier than sin liar who has made it his mission to keep me.

The man who already has my heart but could never have my body.

The sweet southern gentleman whose darkness can’t be tamed.

The bastard, pretty-boy millionaire who would rather destroy me.

The cascade of lies within our pretty little town binds us together, and it’ll take all of us to untangle ourselves from the chaos and make it out alive.

If we don’t kill each other first.

Get your copy here

‘Blade of Justice’ by CJ Bishop

When Axel and Maddy encounter Cord, an old friend of Wade (Axel's brother), the man reminisces about the "good ole days" of partying with Wade—and sexually abusing Maddy's brother, Angel. Cord realizes too late that only he considers those times the good ole days and his day of reconning has finally come.

Get your copy here

‘Blurred Lens’ by Morgan Klein

Character tales exploring change, loss, sexuality, identity, and hope.

Get your copy here

‘Friends Like These’ by Trevann Rogers

Cheyenne finally got the break he was hoping for: He was hired at a local bar for a weekly gig. He has regular paychecks, the job he’s always wanted, and fans that appreciate him for his talent and not for his incubus nature. Speaking of fans, the perks of being a rocker aren’t bad either.

When two vampires from his past show up, they dump life-changing news and then, as is their habit, they leave. Cheyenne must cope with the fallout alone. This time, there is more than his dream on the line.

Warning: This story contains frenemies with benefits, a bisexual incubus who makes grown men question their life choices, and a decision not even a mother could love.

Get your copy here

This Sagittarius Full Moon pulls me to share with you my updates and news about my life behind the scenes, blindly following my soul’s purpose behind it.

After writing and publishing my last article about the New Moon last week, I found myself in a sacred pause, creating space to reflect and dive deep. It was unexpected but needed.

During this time, I’ve begun digging into parts of me that were left dormant for quite some time, like exploring my (rejected and feared) spiritual gifts in a way I haven’t done before, through:

• Tarot and oracle readings

• Divination

• Dream interpretations

• Astrology

• Numerology

• Symbolisms

• Recollecting childhood memories of me unknowingly learning witchy rituals from the adults and talking to my dying loved ones shortly before they passed (in my late twenties to the present).

Without judgment, I recorded all the magical events in my life in my journal, filling every page with plans, thoughts, and feelings about this change. And I’ve never been comfortable with change. Who does, right? 🤔

Introduction

As much as I wish to cling to what I know is true and proven to be real as an adult, at the back of my mind, I also understand that the only constant in this world is change.

So, even if it means breaking my heart sometimes for a necessary shift, to become a better me, to return to who I truly was, it must be done. There’s no way around it.

It is my soul’s purpose.

This Message hit me so hard that I asked myself how I could expand and welcome Jupiter’s energy in my own ways after years of confronting my wounded inner child and her demons. This decision, in turn, became the hallmark of the possibilities I could explore after the collapse of the Old Self.

As a Sagittarius person, this is my North Node. My path to expand myself as a living soul, embodying Jupiter’s superpowers. It means that it is my task as the Present Self to rise to meet my Future Self with an open mind and a ready heart to receive her wondrous glory.

Therefore, I can’t be sulking in melancholy of the ‘Now,’ drowning myself in memories of what we call the ‘Past,’ when I have a bright ‘Future’ to prepare for. Something I haven’t felt and thought about for a while.

And I’m excited to see what would come ahead if I were to remain centered and grounded, to trust in the unknown and the unseen, to remain open and willing to receive my Spirit Team’s instructions and understand God’s language in my own creative way.

For this reason, I sat down on the couch despite my groans and aches and wrote a quick outline of what I’ve done over the last couple of days and weeks since my previous update to see my life from a bird’s-eye view.

Without overthinking them, here’s what I listed. 🙉

Do you want to know your North Node? Click here to get your unique astrological chart for FREE.

Updates and news from my desk to yours:

Reopening of the Etsy shop

My husband’s stroke last year forced me to re-evaluate my life through a different lens. It was the stress brought by having little to no support at a time when I had no options left but to set aside things and change priorities.

As much as I wished to continue production, I was too overwhelmed by responsibilities, such as accounting and the paperwork involved in running a business as a self-employed individual in Germany, while spending longer hours awake to care for my husband.

On top of the already stressful business, the ongoing changes in Etsy’s policies and the challenges with dynamic shipping agreements between the US and EU led to a radical decision to pause for the first time since its opening in 2017.

As a result, I reopened the online shop to host my digital products (to please my designing itch), and, as a temporary measure, I canceled sales of physical books, planners, and journals until the shipping situation is resolved.

If you’re interested in writing planners, undated year planners, and journals, you can visit our Etsy shop and take a look at our designs. If you purchase one, please don’t forget to leave feedback. :)

Visit our Etsy shop

Rekindling my lost love for art

Aside from reopening our Etsy shop, I found myself down a rabbit hole of digital design, exploring my hobby on Spreadshirt. Inspired by Clay’s story, I rekindled my interest in design and my lost art, crafting statement shirts in our online shop.

Like him, I lost my Medusa’s touch in crafting and art from my teens through adulthood, when my ego was running my life. Although I love handcrafting notebooks and binding books, in general, in the last couple of years, they have become a source of dread.

Becoming a successful person was at the top of my head, ignoring the little whispers in my heart, saying, ‘Hey, do you have time to paint, sketch, design—whatever?’

Thinking these were childish, I was convinced loving art once again would make me weak and vulnerable. In my twenties, I wasn’t willing to let my career go down the drain and listen to my screaming, wounded inner child, assuming sitting down with my little soul would shatter my plans and my “success.”

Little did I know in a snap God would put me in seemingly inescapable circumstances, such as losing our home and our personal belongings from bullies, almost losing my husband from stroke, trying to survive with bread and butter (literally, for months) and keep our home standing despite the hunger and exhaustion and worries and tears and fears—all of these shrank my ego and shook me to the core.

If that wasn’t what people call the Dark Night of the Soul, then what was it? Why did I have to go through all of that? For what purpose? If they weren’t meant to be life-changing lessons, what gives?

This is why I’m thrilled to share our Spreadshop with you and invite you to check out our new designs. If you find one item that sparks your interest, don’t hesitate to order it.

Every purchase means your support in building a comfortable nest for our little one. Baby Zoe wants to thank you in advance.

Explore our latest designs

Challenging fear through livestreaming

For most of my life, I’ve always feared being seen, like I never felt comfortable doing anything when someone was watching me, let alone speaking in front of the camera, like a fool, a delooloo, talking to air, to a ghost while filming myself on the street, or livestreaming alone in my room.

Yet, I did something my Past Self would’ve found ludicrous. Something she would’ve thrown a big, fricking ‘No’ and might’ve pushed back, fearing the consequences of showing her most authentic self to thousands of people worldwide. The fact that she wouldn’t even know who and where they came from would’ve terrified her to the bone.

No damn way she would expose herself that way without knowing the ROI (Return of Investment).

Despite the inhibitions, I went through the process and sat in my office in silence, offering a prayer with a lit candle on the side. For a few minutes, I closed my eyes, letting my intrusive thoughts float in my head before clicking ‘Live.’

To my surprise, my first livestream gained more than 3k likes and earned my first 0.14 USD reward. On top of that, my sister joined, listening to whatever I was saying at the time, such as introducing myself and what I do.

Here’s what I learned.

Embodying Jupiter’s energy ain’t easy, even for people born with a Sagittarius Sun like me. Seeing yourself in such an expansive way is a daily challenge, especially nowadays, when we’re surrounded by people who love mediocrity, when complacency is normalized.

Although I’ve confronted my inner demons through years of shadow work and have uploaded more than 200 videos on YouTube, 400+ videos on TikTok, I’m still facing this classic problem: my deep-seated fear of being seen, noticed, and heard, when it’s my wish to find my soul tribe across the globe.

If I failed to find the right people in my community before, maybe this time, I will. The very people who could truly understand and accept me.

It’s a continuous healing journey, indeed. And I’m working on that. In the coming weeks, I’ll experiment with Substack Live as well.

Make sure you follow me on the following channels to join my future livestreams. Thank you in advance for your support in my soulful adventure. ❤️

Follow me on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mgasparywriter

Follow me on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mecyllwrites

Follow me on Substack: https://substack.com/@mgasparyauthor

‘Strokes of Desire #2” Draft 1 In-Progress

Aside from exploring my strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, I’m currently working on the second book of ‘Strokes of Desire.’ As of now, the manuscript has more than 35k words, based on seven drafts written over the last three years (since I started my self-publishing journey).

Story-wise, I already have a feeling of how this is going to end, but I honestly still don’t have a strong sense of how each scene will ultimately unfold.

That is, if you’re asking me specifics, like how Clay and Valon’s love story would turn out in the last chapter, how Liz and Agatha’s blossoming friendship would go as the pages move, or what would Alain do as the events destroy what he’s built.

These? I don’t know. The details are blurry.

All I could tell you is that each chapter is intense, and as it builds up, I keep feeling like I’m going to pee my pants. JK! 😂

If you found the first book intense, just as Sans did, this one is spicier simply because I’m feeling the feelings more than writing the first installment of the series. It gets deeper.

Each chapter reveals a part of me I feel uncomfortable sharing with you in detail, the past I tried to run away from. Details about my history of self-harm and discreet mental suffering expressed through body and self-image issues, depression, etc., based on what I wrote in my journal entries (to keep the essence and emotional strength of the characters and the story).

And rewriting them is like entering the same home that I know destroyed me and drained my childhood dreams to almost extinction; confronting the bullies with a changed perspective, from a higher lens.

If you’ve been to therapy, you would hear the therapists talk about CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which aids in changing perspectives about certain traumatic events, patterns, and behaviors.

This is my way of CBT, confronting the pain, preparing myself mentally, spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, without overwhelming my system, paving the way to expose myself physically to these people and places that had once hurt me.

For me, re-experiencing the trauma in writing is in itself part of the healing process because it allows you to examine your thoughts and feelings, resulting in tangible actions and spoken words that would either build or destroy you… again. This is your way of acknowledging what happened and what is going on right now.

Why am I using my pain for my novels if I could simply stick to the conventional ways of entertaining people, you ask?

As much as I wish to go somewhere else and indulge in pleasure, I know that I am meant to re-enter this room to reflect on where I am standing right now and realize what I went through.

Because I know that my pain was meant to be told, to help people, so nobody would’ve to go through the same tunnel totally blind just as I did. My work speaks the unsaid, the unheard, and the unfelt.

You know what I’m saying? I don’t know if you understand what I’m trying to say here. Hahahaha! 😂

Decluttering

As we prepare our living space for Baby Zoe’s arrival, my husband and I are decluttering our apartment. It has been going on since we moved in here in 2023, and it is still going on. But this time, we’re somehow pressured to clear our space up because of the due date.

What I’ve realized in the last couple of months since the pregnancy news is that not only is the act of throwing away unused possessions hard, but it can also be emotionally tolling for someone. Especially if these things felt like they belonged to this place and brought good, old stories, memories, and sometimes toxic attachments.

Since we moved out of Brennet, we’ve sold more than 2k items from our apartment, big and small. As we go through each thing, we aren’t just cleaning and packing each article like it was nothing, but an object, a lovely antique toy, or a piece of ceramic or porcelain.

For us, they bring sentiment, a story where it came from, and how this piece gave us stories; how some gave me inspirations for my novels. Without them, a big chunk of my Cult of Eros series wouldn’t have been written in a way that is so special to me.

And placing them in shipping boxes, taping them up for security, is like offering our last goodbyes, hoping the next pair of hands will take care of them the same way we did.

Doing this more than a thousand times can be emotionally draining. Imagine saying goodbye to a friend two thousand times. I swear to God. I could count how many times I tried to quit this for that reason, but I also know I have to do this for survival, to pay the bills and everything.

Despite the struggle, we know that we have to build a better, cleaner home, a cozy, comfortable nest, for myself, my mental health, and my future family. Thus, we keep moving on until we’re done.

Late birthday celebration

Believe me or not. I could only remember a handful of times when someone remembered my birthday. Aside from my family, no one knows when it will be, with a simple lechon manok on the table. So, it was normal for me to receive no greetings by phone or email, thinking that people were too busy to care.

In my mind’s eye, I could see myself in grade school with a piece of mini cake I bought from the sari-sari store. Alone in the dark living room, I pricked it with a candle I got somewhere and lit it up, singing, wishing myself a happy birthday with a smile.

This is one of the earliest birthday memories I have, which, to my surprise, still brings heartache to my adult heart simply because it explains why I feel a strong resistance to indulging my heart’s desire, even though I know and believe I deserve it, even if indulgence means going to the ice cream stand and getting some nice strawberry iced yoghurt.

I hadn’t realized the impact of harboring painful birthday memories like this in my adult brain until recently, when I scrolled through the Amazon Shopping App and found the items I liked and had placed in my cart several months ago.

My conscious brain knows I won’t buy them until I have enough money. At the time, we were in a tight financial situation, so there was no way I could purchase them. And it was great. Preventing my itching fingers was pleasurable. Call me a masochist in that sense. Maybe I am.

However, the story shifted when I found myself struggling to make a purchase even when the budget already allowed it. And it wasn’t like I was spending $500, blowing up the household’s grocery budget. It was less than 30, yet I still couldn’t do it. It was excruciating.

My husband had to convince me to buy them for my own sake. He told me I deserved some gifts after all the hard work I’d done this year; that I deserved to feel happy, like every human being does, to please myself. Not just energetically but physically. Like a child who loved to play with new toys every Christmas!

“Because if you won’t do it, you’ll never know when this offer could come soon. Or it may never come to you ever again,” he coaxed, obviously triggering my deep-seated ‘I don’t deserve the good things in life’ thinking.

Despite the resistance and the harrowing ache in my chest, I did purchase them. Yehey! Whew, it was hard work. I never thought buying stuff for myself was yet another shadow I have to overcome. 👏

Yet, I offer my wallet to Others so easily.

Regardless, I’m so happy that I did because I will have a new book on my shelf and divination tools to hone and sharpen my channeling skills.

In my future posts, I’ll share these books with you, as well as why and how I use the moon cycles, tarot, oracles, and divination tools in my shadow work, and how they improve GTKY. GTKY, as in Getting To Know Yourself, on a deeper level.

Book launch updates

Before its official book release this coming December 31, ‘Strokes of Desire #1’ has already received a 5-star rating from a review! Here’s what the reviewer wrote on his website:

Gaspary’s writing feels raw and intimate. Each of the five intertwined characters carries secrets that slowly unravel, exposing the fragility of love, art, and trust. The emotional tension is so well-crafted that even when you think you understand the characters, they surprise you with another layer of complexity.

What I liked most is how the author doesn’t romanticize pain or passion. Instead, she explores how desire can be both healing and ruinous. The atmosphere is sensual, tragic, and almost cinematic at times, like walking through a gallery of emotions.

Sans, @sansbookstation on Instagram

If you like to experience the story, I’m inviting you to get a copy for less than a dollar. It’s a special preorder offer that will last until December 31, 2025.

That means each copy will be sold at its SRP (Suggested Retail Price) of $5 on January 1, 2026. So, if you want to save, make sure you purchase now while it lasts.

Get my book on Google Play

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Already purchased?

Please don’t forget to leave a review on the platform (where you bought the book) and on Goodreads. Every bit of feedback means a lot to me in improving my craft, and to other readers, too, who are on the hunt for the next great story.

Thank you very much! 🙂

Leave a review on Goodreads

Conclusion

This post took me a while to finish, and I know I published it hours later than the schedule. I would’ve spent my morning disappointed that I didn’t make it on time, that I failed. But, on the other side of the spectrum, it also won’t make sense for me if I do.

The reason for the delay isn’t just because this post inadvertently reached more than 3k words long, but because of the ongoing fight against my inner demons, trying to hide and embrace toxic secrecy.

Unlike most Substack posts published, which take a day or two to finish, this one took a week, if not more. It got me thinking why, when it’s actually lovely to look back at the things I’ve done, big and small feats, to keep track of my progress and appreciate my slow way of doing things vs. society’s rushed system.

There must be something about this topic that my ego repels, wanting me to distract and do something else; if not, slow me down. Here’s why.

While writing this post, my conscious brain knows I move too slowly in life, yet my ego says I am wasting too much time. The constant push-and-pull quickly turned into a wild piece of—Oh, well, it’s driving me crazy.

While others move faster, publishing several articles in a week on Substack, I’m here, trying to finish one, overcoming my shallow breaths as anxiety peaks in my temporal lobes. Some days paralyze me, some are bearable.

Sure, it’s easy to compare myself with others simply by looking at the archives. Like many of my batchmates, who have gone on to post-graduate studies and have titles attached to their names. I don’t have any of those.

And it’s okay.

For me, being a late bloomer and embracing its slowness has been the best productivity method I’ve tried, helping me achieve more without overdoing it and burning myself out. While others find stability in their 20s, I explored.

By consciously choosing to live intentionally, I can find reasons to celebrate life and move forward each day with a smile, taking note of every little thing I do with inspiration and motivation.

By moving slowly, I can finally sit down at the bus station, looking at the people in a frenzy, lining up at the bus station without feeling like I missed out on a lot. Besides, I’m doing the things I love, and in the process, I’ve found myself. So why rush?

I may not appreciate the bigger picture right now, but imagine when I reach 40, 50, 60—with God’s grace, I’ll get 80, 90, or even 100. God knows how my life would turn out at that time. Regardless, at least I can say to myself, ‘Dang, your life was an adventure!’

So by the time this soul chooses to leave this lifetime, I will have no regrets to carry into my next life. Instead, I’ll bring a smile and laughter to my heart, welcoming the new world waiting for me. This is the best gift I can give to myself and my next of kin. 💗

If you reached this part of my lengthy post, thank you soooooo much for taking the time to read my weekly soulful reflection. I genuinely appreciate every minute of it, as well as your likes and comments about this update.

If you like to share your thoughts and feelings, please don’t hesitate to leave them in your reply or in the comment section below (if you’re reading this article on your Substack app). Let’s engage!

I love you. Take care of yourself. See you at the next one. Tschüßieee! ✍️

Check out these fantastic books & support independent authors:

‘Strokes of Desire, Cult of Eros #1’ by M. Gaspary

In a world where passion meets danger, love becomes a double-edged sword—irresistible yet perilous, a blessing and a curse. Clay, a brilliant surgeon, fell in love with Valon, an enigmatic painter. As the fire between them blazes hotter with every stolen moment, their affair pulls more hearts into the storm.

M. Gaspary’s first installment of the Cult of Eros series introduces five lives intertwined in a complex web of passion, art, and deceit. Each character harbors haunting secrets that could either bind or tear them apart. As the collision of their hearts becomes inevitable, no one emerges unscathed.

Get your copy here

‘Binding Fate’ by Cecile Tellier

When Cillian finds himself drawn to a human woman in the dream realm, he discovers that his dark nature may be harming her health in the waking world. Despite trying to reverse this by no longer visiting her, he will find it’s harder to give up their visits than he thought.

When things worsen in Annabelle’s waking life, will Cillian merely observe and allow things to proceed, or will he intervene? Will Annabelle understand Cillian’s fae world and the magic he has?

Get your copy here

‘Fetch’ by Sara Blake

Being covered in crap was only the beginning of Ben’s bad week…

Working in the gardens at Olive Tree Academy for Supernatural Studies is hard enough, especially when he always seems to be too filthy to say “hi” to the cute guy he keeps seeing.

But when he sees something he shouldn’t during a visit to the chupacabra pen, things go from dirty to dangerous. Fast.

Get your copy here

‘Postcards from Paris’ by Rebekah Dodson

One night ruined our friendship, ten years down the drain. We had been everything for each other. Elijah was my rock, my brick. He had been there through my parents’ divorce, my many breakups, and we had started a magazine out of my garage together. We built that baby from the ground up.

Then I got an email that would change my life; 10,000 flier miles, the world at my fingertips…

Get your copy here

First of all, why? Since the Writer Warriors newsletter was launched 4 years ago, I haven’t made the necessary changes, though I do make content updates from time to time for the sake of relevance.

Although I’ve been writing content for years, I’ve always felt something was missing in every piece I write. There’s always that constant pressure to produce, and that prolonged exposure to produce eventually wore me out in every aspect. Even though I love what I do, it has become a job.

Sadly, I’ve been missing the spark, not at the same level as before (where I drowned with melancholy for years). This whispery denial screams back at me when I hit ‘Publish.’

And to see my life turning out like that is a sad thing. This is why I’ve decided to clean up my digital home, to simplify my life. I’ll go through each of these in a minute.

I’m a writer. That’s clear to me. I love my own company, and my husband respects that hard line. But nowadays, with the advent of rapid technology, everybody expects express content.

And I notice that my job isn’t just about writing stories anymore. There’s a notable shift in mindset, particularly among indie authors, given the available tools in the market.

Suppose you’re on Substack or actively writing on it. In that case, you’ll notice the content assets, such as photos and videos, created for you solely for this purpose because everyone has normalized the idea of content sharing. Because the more content you produce, the higher the exposure.

Almost all platforms have AI installed in their features to speed up this process, so everybody eventually raises quality standards because consumers raise the bar. If you can’t get their attention and keep it for 5 seconds, you’re done. Your content will be out of sight, out of mind.

“In hindsight, she knew she’d just finished the first step. Far, far away from her vision for herself and this book in mind. Knowing her tight budget, there was no way she could hire a professional editor. She had to learn how to design book covers herself, studying the trends based on research while eyeing the recently published ones.

The work involved in her project was immense. It drew a lot from her, offering her heart and soul in her newly found art while somehow losing her mind in the process.”

— Excerpt from the article, “I finished writing the first draft. Now what?”

That constant demand is something I’m struggling to cope with as a digital writer. Despite years of experience in digital content writing, I still struggle to keep up with the rush. By default, I move slowly. That means, I appreciate slow writing, slow life.

Yet, as I slow down, it’s become easier to get distracted by details, leading to a loss of clarity on the bigger picture. As a perfectionist, I shouldn’t let the value of pausing and resting be overshadowed by analysis paralysis.

But because everyone’s working like a bull, my mind’s tricked into believing that overproduction is hard work, and hard work is key to success.

You see, as an indie author, my work doesn’t exclusively include writing alone. I have to become my own social media marketer, publicist, book designer, editor, and publisher. Whatever it takes to build my author brand, I’m doing them all solo.

Even before AI, when I worked with several online magazines as a staff writer and later, as a freelance content writer, I succumbed to the daily pressure to write a thousand words each day, at least. To earn more, I opted to increase my daily count for the sake of it. And I’d gotten used to the system.

For years, I was doing it as a hustler, and then one day I woke up and thought, ‘I killed something.’ This is my wake-up call. I’ve got to do something to change that.

Do you remember the feeling when you enter a bookstore? The moment you step inside, you’re hit with the strong scent of the fresh pages, just unpacked from storage boxes.

Your eyes wander through shelves of new books. And your senses heightened, your excitement getting stronger the closer you are to the shelf.

Ah, you feel that? That pleasure you feel when your fingers meet the pages? As you leaf through the following pages, you close your eyes, sniffing the fresh ink against your nose.

Then, out of impulse, you look at the back cover to see if you could afford a copy. That exact copy of that novel you have in hand. And you can’t wait to get home to spend the whole night reading the entire book.

By saying that, this is exactly what I’m trying to bring back into my life. For 11 years, despite having written more than a million words, I’ve always felt this missing piece.

That undeniable missing piece. That lost excitement. That elusive feeling of forgetting time, that unforgettable pleasure in reading (in a world where reading becomes a myth).

Underneath the ambition is a desire to bring those youthful experiences back to me, those long-forgotten tales I sat with under the mansanitas tree. As a ‘90s kid, I wish to feel all those again with every piece I write and publish.

This is why I’ve decided to make radical changes.

New logo

Following the clean-up, a decision is made to change the branding elements, such as the landing page, the newsletter logo, and the Writer Warriors letterhead image. Upon publishing content in ‘Sections,’ new logos will be uploaded to match the brand.

Author website (null)

My 7-year-old author website, mgaspary.com, is no more. 😔 This means, I’m letting go of 200+ articles, 50+ webpages—all the hard work in my 20s. Honestly, it’s a hard, ongoing process. Until now, I’m still mourning the loss because it’s like letting go of a home I built when I began my writing journey.

During the transition, I’ll focus on writing content on Substack while migrating some of my published posts (the ones I saved from the old website). I’ve removed the old links on the main page, especially those that contain external links from my old website.

Use of AI-generated images

To enhance the visual experience of my newsletters, I’m utilizing DeepAI.org to create featured images. Each image is publicly owned upon generation according to its terms.

Publishing schedule

A lesson I learned after I paused, forcibly slowing my schedule down to the minimum due to pregnancy. That means I’ll publish new content every Saturday, 3 AM CET.

New Pages

Upon letting go of my old website, I’ve migrated my webpages (at least some of the most essential content) and published them successfully on Substack. I had more than 50 webpages; now, I only have 2. You can see them on the website’s navigation (see the screenshot below).

About

You can find everything you need to know about me and the Writer Warriors’ history on this page, from the author’s background, publisher’s description, and more. Click here to learn more about me.

My Work

If you’re curious about my work, you can head over to this page and see a list of my published books, submitted short stories, and other writing projects.

Featuring ‘Sections’

Since I love talking about a bunch of things and want to keep our community organized, it’s best to add ‘Sections’ in the newsletter, which include:

• Publisher’s Desk

• Author’s Desk

• Romance Lovers

• Motherhood & Parenting

• Short Stories

• And more, as we expand topics 🙂

If you’re on the Substack app, you have the option to subscribe to each section. That is, if you opt to receive the content under that particular section exclusively.

Click here to learn more about subscribing and unsubscribing to sections.

Subscription plans

I want to emphasize the value of give and take in this community. That means I would appreciate it if you could support me in whatever way you can by reading and sharing my posts, upgrading your subscription to engage with me and the community, and more. (Details below)

This two-way exchange of energy helps strengthen this community more. As the creator, my vision is to reach and discover as many Writer Warriors in the world as possible.

This is more than just a newsletter or an online platform to house soul-friendly content. It is a home for those who couldn’t find their place on the internet and the world (like me).

• Free plan (0 USD)

• Monthly plan (5 USD)

• Annual plan (50 USD)

Note: Starting September 2025, the annual subscription will increase to 50USD, while the monthly plan stays at 5USD.

20% Discount Coupon

If you’re looking to save, consider using a 20% Discount Coupon for the first 12 months for Substack paid subscribers. Click here to avail.

Referrals

If you’ve enjoyed reading my content so far, you can help us spread the word and earn the following rewards from Substack:

• Tier 1 Reward (1 month comp) - 3 referrals

• Tier 2 Reward (3 months comp) - 10 referrals

• Tier 3 Reward (6 months comp) - 25 referrals

How to participate?

1. Share Writer Warriors. When you use the referral link below, or the ‘Share’ button on any post, you’ll get credit for any new subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media.

2. Earn benefits. When you bring in more friends using the referral link to subscribe (free or paid), you’ll receive special benefits (as mentioned above).

Interested? Click here to start inviting your friends and family to subscribe.

Social media

I rely on scheduling tools like TikTok Studio and Meta Business Suite to manage my extensive workload, mainly because I find the social media hustling culture appalling.

That’s why I’m not actively using them, so I’m trying to figure out ways to keep my distance, and hopefully, it stays that way. (I’m more active on Substack Notes.)

Despite my reservations, I acknowledge the urgency to be seen by the majority, which means I have to post anything under the sun.

Although self-marketing isn’t my strong suit, I have to deal with the demand to produce posts that could bring traffic to my content. For exposure. For book marketing. Whatever.

What I can do now is to recognize the delicate balance of Yin and Yang, especially with my YouTube film production (vlogging), and adjust my publication schedule according to my daily condition. In other words, I can’t simply put myself in full throttle 7 days a week, 10 hours per day.

Consequently, I will not be able to publish videos as regularly as before. Instead, I’ll be actively posting on Substack Notes, FB, Instagram, and TikTok, sharing my thoughts as regularly as I can.

Additionally, I have over 200 videos on YouTube, so you can head over to the following playlists if you’d like to dive deeper into my world and life.

• Building Self Series

• Leaving Brennet Series

• Healing Trauma Through Writing

• Author Talks

• Author Jams

• Author & Tarot

• Author Vlogs

If you’re not active on YouTube, you can also follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Author’s updates

Two months after I published my first short story anthology, ‘Chasing Echoes,’ which is one of a few of my experiments, I’m proud to announce that I have a new LGBT romance series coming this year called ‘Cult of Eros.’

You say, whaaaaat? You just said you recently published your debut short story anthology, and here you are, publishing a full-length novel? Are you crazy?

Yes, and I’ve got more unfinished manuscripts to finish. These are the ones I secretly wrote behind the scenes at late nights when I worked heavily with freelance content writing.

Strokes of Desire #1

After 3 years of continuous writing, with more than 80k words, 20 chapters, eight drafts, and over 500k words in total, I’m thrilled to introduce the ‘Cult of Eros’ series, wearing the widest smile on my face. :)

The story introduces Clay and Valon, who fell in love. As their romance blossoms, it drags three different lives into the mess. These five different souls will go through their life’s journey, entangled in a web of lies and the love of art.

Click here to learn more about this series.

Why? This is the tangible result of my shadow work, and I couldn’t put into words how I feel right now.

Before this book, I was wrecked. Suicidal. Hopeless. Even though I never understood why I decided to write it, now, I do because it saved me.

Writing about Clay, Valon, Liz, Agatha, and Alain, as well as Albert, Almirah, Rafael, etc., allowed me to confront the ugly truths about myself. The ones I don’t want to recognize and process.

None of the chapters would’ve been written if I hadn’t done the arduous work of confronting my ‘Shadow Self,’ having coffee breaks with my inner demons for years.

None of the characters would exist and tell their life’s stories if I hadn’t undergone the painful, unlinear, messy journey of healing. Imagine. If I weren’t true to myself, what kind of story would I write? Trash. BS.

• Now available on preorder for less than a dollar

• Available in print

• Samples available on your preferred eBook platforms (30% of the content)

• Release date: December 31, 2025

Find 'Strokes of Desire #1' online

Strokes of Desire #2 Draft 1

While waiting for the book release this December, I’m working on the second book—the sequel to this ‘Cult of Eros’ series.

As of now, I’ve written two chapters, not knowing where this story could take me, what lessons it would teach me. Although I could picture the ending, the specifics remain a mystery to me, which calls for a writing adventure.

Since it’s only the first draft, it’s not my job to figure everything out. I’m not pressuring myself to know the details, as I’m following the character’s lead. That means I rely on each character to tell their story, one beat at a time.

As time goes by, I trust that the story will form at some point, though it looks discombobulated at the start. What matters to me is learning to enjoy the messy drafting process, rather than obsessing over the details.

If everything goes well, I can finish it in 2-3 years (after 7-8 drafts). That means the possible release date would be December 2027. (This is only the estimated date and is subject to change.)

Final note

As a self-publisher and author, I recognize the amount of work required to keep this going. Yet, I pursue it because this is precisely where my inner child wants to take me: to bring all those daydreams and visions into the real world through written words. A vocation I was born to pursue.

As an artist, it’s my responsibility to create a sacred digital space for experimentation, to discover my unique creative self-expression, and to understand my own art without feeling small and undeserving.

In today’s age, with the advent of AI, I need something to remind me why I write. A place where I can be myself and express my heart. A safe outlet for my soul to release pent-up emotions and thoughts for mental health’s sake.

By bringing all these elements together—overflowing love for love and life, mischievous childhood dreams, constant yearning for the old bookstore vibes and the memories with it, the incoming opportunities to build a platform and a community of like-minded people—I realize I already have what I need to start again.

As Clay said,

“If one had enough will to believe in an impossible dream, the Universe would always find a way to make it real. Only when you truly believed in something did God listen. Because God never loved bullshit. And his love for art was never a joke.”

— Excerpt, Chapter 5, ‘Strokes of Desire #1’