My Book Is Out. And I Don't Quite Know How to Feel
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Hi guys! It's me, AiTommy✨️
By the time you're reading this, The Princess and the Blade is officially available on Amazon, both ebook and paperback.
This is my biggest goal of 2026. I've been working on this project since last year, and I poured my time and energy into this one project.
I'm happy. I really am. After a year of writing and drawing and formatting and stressing, my book is actually out there in the world. That's huge.
But... it's also hard to feel purely happy right now.
I found myself scrolling through Twitter for the first time in a long time this week. Reading posts about war. And I just sat there thinking, I don't know what comes next. Like, nobody does.
But, we are quite certain that things will not turn out well. It will likely be bad, worse, or even the worst.
Back in December, someone reached out to me on TikTok asking about the book. They live in Iran. They told me they couldn't buy it through Amazon because of where they live, and asked if there was another way. At the time, Japan still had postal service to Iran, so I told them we'd figure something out once it launched.
I reached out to them recently. I haven't heard back yet.
I don't know if I can send them a copy anymore. I don't know what's happening where they are. And that uncertainty sits heavy.
We went through something like this during COVID. Months of not being able to see people, masks every single day, classes cancelled, no end in sight. That same feeling of not knowing is back.
And where I am in Japan, things are calm right now, my daily life is peaceful, but I'm aware that could change. I know prices are already going up. I think a lot of us, if we're being honest, have this quiet dread that the future isn't looking super bright.
So here I am, in the middle of all of that, saying: hey, look at my art, buy my book.
I know how that sounds. I feel a little strange about it too.
But I'm still going to say it, show up and share my work, because I spent a year pouring myself into this project.
That said: you absolutely do not have to buy it.
If money is tight, if you're saving up, if the world just feels too heavy right now, please, don't worry about it.
Here's what you can do instead for me, and for any creator you want to support:
Watch their free content. If you usually skip ads or use an ad blocker, consider letting a few run.
Binge-watch my animatic playlists!
Use affiliate links when you shop on Amazon. You don't even have to buy the specific thing that's linked. As long as you enter Amazon through someone's affiliate link and purchase anything, they get a small commission.
I have affiliate links too. Check my book and my storefront from the buttons down below if you're curious.
And here's something not everyone knows: you don't even have to buy a product at all.
If you sign up for a free trial of Kindle Unlimited or Audible through an affiliate link, the person who shared that link still gets a bonus, even if you cancel before the trial ends.
If you've never tried Kindle Unlimited, or it's been a long time since you had a subscription, you can actually read my book for free through the trial. Worth checking out!
Leave comments. Reply to other people's comments. Start little conversations. It sounds like nothing, but it actually signals to the algorithm that people are engaged and it genuinely means a lot to creators to feel like someone's listening.
These things feel tiny. But for artists working independently, they really, truly add up.
And most importantly, take care of yourself.
A lot of you are probably anxious right now. Maybe someone you love is somewhere dangerous. Maybe you're worried about money, or stability, or what the next year is going to look like.
If that's you: do something enjoyable today. Watch something free. Borrow a book from the library. Draw something on a scrap of paper.
That's really all I wanted to say. If you have a little room in your budget and want to check out the book. It's full of illustrations, so if you like my art, I think you'll enjoy it. I'll be sharing some behind-the-scenes looks at the interior soon too.
Oh, and one more thing: reach out to a friend or family member you haven't talked to in a while. Just check in. Share a video. Ask how they're doing. It doesn't need to be anything big.
Just let someone know you're thinking of them.
Take care, everyone. See you in the next one. 🌸
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