Introducing The Forest Dispatch: A Weekly Newsletter Straight from the Forest

I have spent the last year writing Sentinels, and somewhere in that process, I realized something, this book does not belong to just me anymore. It belongs to readers like you. The ones who wonder what moves through the forest at night, who listen to sounds others ignore, who ask questions about the creatures living just beyond our sight. You are the ones who feel like there is something more out there, who feel brave, even when they are scared and wonder what magical things are hiding in the trees. That is why we started The Forest Dispatch.

What is it?

The Forest Dispatch is a weekly newsletter we’re writing directly to you. Every Wednesday you will get:

🌰A personal note from me about the story, the guardians, or what inspired the book

🌰Behind the scenes secrets from inside the writing process

🌰Stories from the readers just like you

🌰Surprises hidden in each letter for you to find

This Newsletter is a way for us to stay connected as we count down to November 10th when Sentinels arrives in the world.

The Forest Keepers Challenge

Starting week 3, I am inviting you to create a guardian. Draw it, write about it, or paint it. Imagine a creature, real or fantastical that protects something in your world. Post it on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube with #SentinelsGuardian, and you might be featured in the weekly newsletter.

Here is the truth: the forest needs all kinds of guardians. Big ones and small ones, loud ones, and quiet ones. I want to see the guardians living in your imagination.

Become a Forest Keepers Founding Member

If you join as one of the first 500 founding members you get:

🌰 Early access to first chapter (48 hours before launch)

🌰 A live Q&A with me

🌰 Exclusive behind the scenes videos

🌰 First access to the upcoming Sentinels book 2 and 3

🌰 First 200 members are entered into a draw to win a free, signed copy of Sentinels

It is my way of honoring the readers who believed in this story before the world did.

Why am I doing this?

Writing can be lonely. You’re alone in a room imagining a forest and the creatures that live there, but reading doesn’t have to be lonely. Readers can find each other. You can discover that someone across the world drew a guardian that looks just like the one you imagined. You can learn that another reader also wonders what bravery really means.

The Forest Dispatch is about building that community together, before the book even launches.

How to Subscribe

Head to our Substack@forestdispatch and hit subscribe. It’s free (though founding members get exclusive rewards). You will get the newsletter every week.

A Note for Kids and Parents

Please ask you parent or guardian for permission before subscribing to The Forest Dispatch. We want to build a safe, fun community and want your family on board with this adventure!

Welcome to the forest. I can’t wait to hear your stories.

Kate

#SentinelsGuardian #Forestkeepers #KateOHearn