Yeah, the cover looks great in person as well as digitally!
Hope you enjoy the read

I’ve posted them with her permission to my Patreon at Patreon.com/vanguardsmike

Read about Dina’s adventures in VANGUARDS: THE WORLD WAITS FOR NO ONE, available now. Links and more info at michaelgilroyauthor.com

Still, her studious mind has brought her within reach of joining a famous Vanguard academy. Now, she must rely on new friends and quick wits to take hold her dream of becoming a Vanguard…

Dina must fight to keep up with friend and rival alike, racing to learn magic and outsmart her enemies, but the more she learns about the Vanguards and herself, the further she is entangled in the greatest secrets of her world.

a five-day trial of combat and survival, where failure would put an end to Dina’s dream. In desperation, she finds allies in two other competitors — the carefree, energetic athlete Tala, and the prideful, stoic swordswoman Najida.

Dina Carroll’s only desire is to join their ranks, but while her mind is sharp, years of dealing with depression and anxiety have left her body frail and magic skills lacking. Still, she has been accepted into the Chorus Vanguards Academy, and only one obstacle remains…

Beyond the borders of the united lands of Rave, danger and mystery lie in wait for the Vanguards. They are an organization dedicated to humanity’s survival, unity, and knowledge, who bravely explore the unknown with strong bodies and powerful magic.

The story:
The Vanguards series arrives with its first story. Enter an expansive and diverse world with characters of all different backgrounds, identities, colors, and creeds, where their resolve decides the future.

That describes so many people, and the ultimate lesson to be yourself and to find where you will grow best is not only still relevant, but is a lesson that my own work proclaims as well.

He’s a kid whose brain works differently, who’s more of a creative than anything, and who struggles with normal schoolwork because he’s not built the same as other kids.

I could list plenty of famous fantasy epics I’ve read in recent years, but a series like this from back in childhood really can make all the difference. Not only were the Hank Zipzer books fun, easy reads for me, but the protagonist still hits home.

The human designs have had a big influence on how I put together my own fantasy designs, and I don’t see that changing much even as the franchise must now move on. With remakes and new entries on the horizon, I’m beyond excited to see where this all goes, and I say again, RIP to a true legend.

Even when I had only played a single game in the series, I was enamored with the style of these games and picked up this artbook to see what else I was missing. These illustrations just ooze charm. Simple, but never too sparse, and just the right balance of silly monsters and fun humans.

While I love his most famous series, Dragon Ball, to death, and have certainly been inspired in my own work, I’ll share my favorite work of his next week…

More than anything, he’s inspired so many. Even if you don’t know or like his work, you have almost certainly seen the work of someone who was influenced by him.

The man was the patron saint of writing by the seat of your pants, but somehow, he always found the right amount of charm in his work, even when quality varied. His design work embodied the old adage of “less is more,” and so much of it has become instantly iconic.