Have you ever seen a Sandworm light a 🚬 for a Disney princess?

No? Well, keep reading!

Dragon Con has been a wild, nerdy, extravagant carnival of debauchery and pocky.

For those of you who have never attended, the convention takes place in the heart of downtown Atlanta in not just one but six different hotels. It attracts upwards of 85,000 people from all over the globe, not to mention a few tens of thousands more who show up in their finest cosplay and wait for the unticketed after-parties.

I've had a very full schedule of panels so I've sadly not been able to stick around for the late-night shenanigans, but I have still managed to:

• Disrupt a parade by running across the street to get to a panel on time (It just kept going and going!)

• Made 6 different rooms of people yell BOOBS! at the top of their lungs (to make sure the other nearby panels all had sufficient FOMO)

• Get locked in a stairwell (Not my fault.)

• Receive a BEAUTIFUL crocheted potato (with prominent buttcheeks on its posterior) from an amazingly generous reader

• Watch Alan Tudyk give a limp banana to a fan (She was thrilled)

• Offend a prominent urban fantasy writer during our panel by spilling a cup of water in my lap and telling the audience, "Ack, I've wet myself!" while she was monologuing about her book. (She did not find this funny.)

• Clandestinely play Tic Tac Toe with A.J. Hartley during a live panel (and lost)

• Hang out with Jim Butcher without putting my foot in my mouth (Yet.)

  
  

I've also gotten to meet some wonderful authors and readers in-person, see some of the coolest cosplays I've ever seen, AND witness a sandworm light a cigarette for Belle!

Here are a few more of my favorite photos from the weekend:

Dr. Doom is my little brother, Joey, who braved 100 degree weather in a tin can made out of airplane sheet metal!

Hanging out with authors who are far more intelligent than me (including Kim Harrison!) at the "Scientists Who Ditched Math for Magic" Panel

<3

I even made Jim Butcher laugh - and I'm 97% sure it was with me, not at me!

Speaking of the Dresden Files, if you love paranormal PI's with humor and (a surprising amount of heart), my friend and Pilfered Quill co-writer David Green just released the newest installment in his Hell in Haven series and I hear it's the best one yet. I personally don't believe it since I've read the others and there's pretty much no way they can be topped. But we shall see, Mr. Green. We Shall see.

Do yourself a favor and go nab your Labor Day binge-read now!

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I have one more panel tonight and then tomorrow my husband and I are headed to the Georgia Aquarium for a behind the scenes tour. After that, we are off to Scotland for RARE! (Britt is coming too!!) Wanna know the coolest part? While Britt and I are away, we have a brand new FULFILLMENT MANAGER who will be handling orders! You heard it here: the Rachel Rener dream team is up to three!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Fish Heads Do Not Go In Pants (or so my PA has just informed me 🐟)

Happy Friday, Friends!!🥳

As you know, I try not to spam your inboxes unless I have interesting things or big announcements to share with you, and this newsletter is no different! I have tons of exciting stuff to tell you, so please stick with me until the end!

But first, I should probably explain that subject line. You see, Britt And I were at Fort Collins Comic Con this past weekend, where we had an absolute blast hanging out with readers, convention participants, and fellow authors! One such author, Hayley Rae Johnson, joined Britt and I for dinner at a sushi restaurant. I'm not going to lie to you; sake was involved. And, well, one thing led to another, and before I knew it I was telling Britt and Hayley about the time I lived in Japan for 6 months. I was a traveling English teacher in Machida, Tokyo, and had four elementary schools (and something like 2,000 students) under my wing. What that meant is that anytime I showed up to teach for the day, the students would get really excited and would request that I eat lunch with them in the cafeteria. (Super cute, I know.) I want to preface this story by saying that I love Japanese cuisine, which IMO boasts some of the tastiest, most innovative dishes on the planet.

That said, I don't love all Japanese food. For example, I would sometimes see things like this being plated on my tray:

Those are baby mackerel - a Japanese staple - and they are served exactly like that: bones, scales, eyeballs, and all.

Now, Japanese people are very particular about their food and show it a great deal of respect while eating: Not pouring soy sauce on rice or shoving their chopsticks in their food to prop them upright, for example. It's also very important in Japanese culture that you finish every bit of food on your plate, down to the last grain of rice.

Chopstick finagling aside, that's not exactly an easy feat when you have the pallet of a picky toddler and a strong gag reflex. But I also couldn't risk getting in trouble or dishonoring myself, or worse, offending their local cultural norms, by not eating all of the food on my tray.

So, anyway, long story short, on more than one occasion I would randomly jerk my attention to the ceiling, pull a funny face like I had just seen Godzilla walk by the second story window, wait for all of the students to turn and inspect aforementioned giant reptile... And then shove the dried mackerel in my pants to avoid the very real possibility of regurgitating fish eyeballs.

And no, I will not be answering further questions about any post-prandial activities regarding the trouser fish.

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Now that we've taken a moment to revel in my past humiliation, I have some cool book stuff to share - specifically special edition book stuff!

First and foremost, The Lightning Conjurer Series Special Edition is getting a SEGGSY makeover in the form of silver foil and sprayed edges!

The Lightning Conjurer series was my very first book baby and I'm so excited to show it even more love as I venture into the super fun world of special edition books.

***NOTE: If you already bought the first version of the special edition and are also eyeing the newly-revamped version, please shoot me an email and I'll make you a special invoice with $40 off and free shipping (a $50 discount in total). I never want my readers - especially those who have supported me the longest - to feel put out when I release new products. You guys are my reason for writing, after all!

If you haven't read TLC yet, you can read the complete series for $9.99 (or FREE with a KU membership!) Or you are also welcome to preorder the special edition, which we expect to arrive in early November! Just select "Preorder - REVAMPED Collectible Hardcover Omnibus" from the drop-down menu and you'll be among the first to receive your copy this fall!

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In case you missed my FB poll yesterday,I have some exciting news about the Gilded Blood Deluxe Edition Omnibus as well!

Demand has been so steadily high, we're looking to get a warehouse and dedicated fulfillment team for 2025! This means we'll be able to handle more orders faster, and I'll have WAY more time to write, which will be fantastic! The downside, and something we've been discussing in-depth, is that hand-signing books will be much harder. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the same joint-affecting condition Rebecca Yarros has. Currently, I can handle signing 10-20 books a day as there are breaks in between. But I won't be able to sign 5,000+ tip-in sheets to be sewn into the books ahead of time without doing serious damage to my wrist. But here's the good news: after polling you guys and getting some BRILLIANT suggestions, I have decided to do an embossed gold foil stamp of my signature on the title page. It'll cost a bit extra (for me) but will be so worth it in the end! So thank you so much for helping me puzzle that out AND come up with a really fun and beautiful solution! Until then, my local team will be using transparent matte bookplates that are hand-signed by me and look REALLY nice :)

✨💖IMPORTANT NOTE💖✨

I have decided that I will NOT be doing another print run of the gold-foiled edition. It's my favorite of the two variants and has the most meaning, given Talia's gold blood. Therefore, I think it's only appropriate that it remains rare and elusive, kind of like Gilded Blood :) So if you've been eyeing the gold version, I recommend you order it as soon as possible because I don't expect to have any left in stock by 2025.

Lastly, don't forget we're doing our big SCRATCH 'N' DENT SALE on holographic rainbow omnibuses, which will only last as long as our limited stock allows. We're talking BIG discounts (up to $40 off) for some seriously minor damage! So get on that while you can!!

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Well friends, that's about it for now :) This Wednesday I head down to Atlanta for Dragon Con, where my schedule is insanely chock-full 😱

Once Dragon Con is over, I'll be heading directly to Edinburgh, Scotland for RARE. And then after that comes FanX in Salt Lake City and Mile Hi Con in Denver. I hope to see you at one or more of those events! (BTW, Australia readers, I'll be heading to Sydney for BABE in May of 2025 and cannot wait to see you there!!)

Be well and have a wonderful weekend ahead!

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Rubbing Elbows with Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)

Hi friends!

I'm keeping this NL extra short and sweet because the Time of Insanity is officially upon us. (Or, well, upon me.) As convention season ramps up to full swing, I'll pretty much be in a different state/country every weekend for the next 6 weeks! (WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, PAST RACHEL?!😱)

This week, for example, I'm heading to World Con in Glasgow, Scotland to sign books, attend a couple of panels, and hang with some of my favorite book-loving Europeans! After that will be Fort Collins Comic Con, followed by a tiny break, and then Dragon Con in Atlanta (followed by RARE in Edinburgh, Scotland (and yes, I am going to Scotland twice in one month🥴)).

Speaking of Dragon Con, you wanna know what's really, really, REALLY cool/terrifying? I just got my panel schedule, and it's a doozy. First of all, I'm confirmed on five panels and a backup for several others. But the craziest thing of all is that I'll be on multiple panels with JIM BUTCHER, worldwide bestselling author phenomenon of the Dresden Files.

(Please excuse me while I go hyperventilate into a paper bag.)

I also get to talk to a room of people with my brother, Joey (DM of the popular D&D podcast, Of Dice and Friends), about world-building and magic systems in fantasy and D&D! 🥲💙

Broseph and Me in Moab!

If you're planning on going to Dragon Con at the end of the month, here's my (tentative) schedule!

Title: Supernatural, Super Stories

Description: Vampires, werewolves, ghosts - paranormal is back in YA in a big way. Let's talk about the books about things that go bump in the night.

Panelists: TBD

Time: Friday, 01:00 p.m.

Location: YA Lit track

Title: 15-Minute Author Mentor Session

Description: A chance for budding authors to talk one-on-one with a successful industry professional about business, promotion, the writing process, & career advice. Sign up in the Writer's Track. (Embassy E/F)

Panelists: Jessica Cage, Todd J McCaffrey, Alex Shvartsman, Rachel Rener

Time: Friday 04:00 pm

Location: Embassy G Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Book signing at The [Fantasy] Gather:

When: Friday, August 30th, 2024

Time: 08:00 pm to Midnight

Location: International Ballroom, Hyatt Hotel

Title: Scientists Who Ditch the Math for the Might of Magic

Description: Coming from a wide range of science backgrounds, our panelists will talk about what drove them into the tender loving arms of magic and how it has held them their with all its might.

Panelists: Milton J. Davis, Kim Harrison, Rachel Rener, Michael J Allen, Robert W Ross(M), Katie Cross

Time: Saturday 11:30 am

Location: Embassy CD Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: How Hot is Too Hot? How Violent is Too Violent for YA

Description: One of the hottest markets these days is YA fiction. But, where does a writer draw the line with sex, violence, & other "mature" topics?

Panelists: TBD

Time: Saturday 04:00 pm

Location: Writer's Track

Title: Building Better Worlds: The Sorcery of Storytelling

Description: Come join international bestselling author (and DnD voice actor!) Rachel Rener as she sits down with Joey Rener - acclaimed Dungeon Master from the popular Dnd Podcast, Of Dice and Friends - to discuss the magic and wonder of worldbuilding, word-smithing, and magic-casting. All ages welcome!

Panelists: Rachel Rener(M), Joey Rener

Time: Saturday 08:30 pm

Location: Galleria 7 Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Magical Artifacts & Items of Power

Description: Artifacts and imbued items have long been a staple of fantasy. Our panelists will discuss how they use this feature within their own work, and how it has evolved over time.

Panelists: Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey, Rachel Rener, D.B. Jackson, Carol Malcolm(M), Andrea Stewart

Time: Sunday 10:00 am

Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Favors, Bargains, & Schemes: The Fae in UF

Description: In folklore & contemporary fiction the Fae take various forms & have a wide range of characteristics & goals. Our panel of authors will discuss the depictions used in their work, & how the variety of traits & features led to their choices.

Panelists: Sarah J. Sover, Jim Butcher, Rachel Rener, D.B. Jackson, Jennifer Blackstream, Carol Malcolm(M)

Time: Sunday 08:30 pm

Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

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Before I run off to finish packing, I wanted to thank each and every one of you who preordered the Gilded Blood Deluxe Edition Omnibus and the Bone Whisperer Special Edition Duology. As of this week, ALL 2500 preorders have been sent. Seeing the giant green ZERO by the unfulfilled orders section in my website shop elicited a literal sob of joy😭💗

Also, to those of you who have already read and reviewed Amethysts and Alchemy, you have my entire heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the overwhelming love and support you've shown Delaney, Heath, and Topie. I truly could not ask for better readers than you!❤️

Hope to see you soon!

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If you're reading this on Goodreads or on my blog, be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get the most exciting updates sent directly to your inbox!