In the country of Alcabast, magic is neither deep nor mysterious, in fact it’s quite useful for daily life. Terrible creatures do roam the forests, but a sharp blade and a cool head will see you through. Steam-powered skycraft transport people and goods through the clouds, provided they remain current on their permits. Neighboring countries cooperate for trade and peace. Well, mostly...
Sel spent her life hunting for meat, but now she hunts for the perfect street corner to bring in a crowd. Life as a traveling minstrel is different, but the alternative is far worse. What she’s really hunting for is a place where she can finally be free.
Lierza has never had trouble making decisions, but following through with them is always much harder. When she runs away from her only home, she has no idea what sort of consequences she'll bring on herself, or on those around her.
A fateful encounter will tangle them both together and propel them onwards and downwards, into a brilliant mess of danger and intrigue, pursuit and escapes. One is guided by Fate, the other by her Celestial Queen. What path will they find themselves on?
Enter a rich, vibrant world where technology and nature are integrated, benevolent spirits walk among mortals, and all life is important. Experience everyday, slice-of-life fantasy in the second book of the Euphony of Seasons series.
Counterbalance is the newest story in the Euphony of Seasons series, set on the charming noblebright world of Laviere, where the technology to recycle nearly any matter into its basic elemental components has all but eliminated the competition for resources. Another hallmark of the series is the low-stakes (personal stakes) nature of the conflict, so no world-spanning quests to defeat ancient evil here. Just the struggles of everyday people, despite their natures being very extraordinary.
One of my favorite parts of Euphony is how each story examines a different aspect of the world, slowly revealing more and more of the bigger picture as you go. I’ve likened it to a tapestry, where every thread works together to make up the whole. In one story you get to see a little bit of life over here, and in another, a completely different angle.
Paper & Feathers was a quiet, melancholy reflection on life and the effects that sudden change can have on a person. Scarlet Cavaliers will be a raucous comedy about a troupe of traveling performers and all the zany antics they get into along the way.
That leaves Counterbalance to even the scales as a tragedy, but not in the traditional sense. It deals with themes like the purpose of death, living with disabilities, and moving from adolescence to adulthood. All set against a backdrop of mystery and mistaken identities, decorated with action and excitement.
That’s not to say it will be all serious, though. Sel is the grumpy half of the pair, but she has a sardonic wit and doesn’t hesitate to use it. Once Lierza feels a little more comfortable with her new situation, she starts trading barbs in kind. Humor is an important part of every story, this one included.
And now for some details about the writing and publishing process, formatted in an entertaining FAQ format! I’m trying something different with this story, releasing an early access version to supporters as I write it, and taking their feedback into consideration when needed. Early access posts began November 1st, 2025, and will continue until it’s done.
How long is this thing supposed to be, anyway?
The last draft of the story that I finished in 2020 (!) is 33,000 words in length, so about 2/3 the length of Paper & Feathers. By the outline I have mapped out, it should end up at about 50-60K words again. At 2K words per chapter, and 5 days per week, the alpha version should run for about six weeks. So definitely not a 1000 page epic novel.
What formats will it be released in when it’s done?
While I really wanted this story to have a triple-deluxe release (paper, audio, and digital), it’s more likely that it will be double-super instead. My audio pipeline will be full for most of next year, so trying to get even a standard audio version probably won’t happen. But, paper copies will be ready right out of the chute, unlike the last three books!
If you buy a paper copy (most likely hardcover) you’ll get the audio version (when it’s ready) and ebook for free.
If you buy the audiobook, you’ll get both the “immersive” edition with music and sound effects alongside the narration, and a “vanilla” edition with just the narration. Some people prefer one over the other, so both will be included as DRM-free music files. You’ll also get the ebook.
If you buy the ebook, you can download it DRM-free to any device you like, or read it online. You’ll also get the bonus material, which will likely include the completed 2020 draft as well….
Every option will be available at store.zmthomas.com, since other marketplaces like Kobo and B&N don’t really seem to work out. Of course, if you remain a supporter until publishing time, you’ll get all the digital content included as part of your plan. AND, if you become a supporter during the early access period, you’ll get an ebook of the final version, even if you cancel later. How’s that for a deal?
Will I get the early version in my email inbox or do I have to open a tab to read it?
The full text of each chapter should be included in your email when it’s released. Your email client may truncate the message, but there will be a link to read the full version in the supporter portal.
Why are you using Payhip Memberships for supporters? I prefer Patreon/Ko-Fi/Subscribestar/Substack (etc).
I understand this concern. Some authors and creators try to cast as wide a net as possible when it comes to paid support, but the time involved in maintaining multiple platforms and making sure every one is in sync is outside of what I can commit to at this time. The Payhip store is already set up and all previous stories are already there.
Substack is a popular choice, but I moved away from that service a while ago and want to stick with this one, Beehiiv. I also didn’t choose to set up a paid subscription here on this newsletter because I can’t. Subscriber support is a premium feature for the Beehiiv platform, so it isn’t an option.
Will this story be family-friendly and safe for children like your other works?
Absolutely. Euphony of Seasons is designed for adults and older readers, since the style is purposefully dense and florid, and the themes require more life experience to fully appreciate, but it will still lack any excessive violence, real-world swearing, or inappropriate intimacy or relations.
Will there be illustrations in the book like with Paper & Feathers?
At this point, maybe. Both Michelle and I have to balance a full load of salaried and/or domestic work, school, social, and family life. She wants to provide more snapshot-style illustrations of various scenes in the book, and the more support we can get, paid and otherwise, the more likely we will be able to make it happen.
Do I need to have read Paper & Feathers before this story?
No, but. Each Euphony story is self-contained, with separate characters and plotlines. This is why I keep saying that Counterbalance is the second book in the series, NOT Book 2. However, if you have read P&F, you’ll pick up on some interesting details that you might miss otherwise…
So there you have it! I’m so excited to be working on this goofy yet tragic story, and I’m glad to have you all along for the journey. If you have more questions that I haven’t covered above, please reply or comment. Keep an eye out for free preview posts as well. Cheers!