Today we’re excited to be connecting with Stone Abdullah again. We’re excited to feature one of their products in our gift guide – learn more below and we encourage you to use your gift budget to support small businesses & creatives whenever possible.

Stone, we loved learning your story, but I think our audience is going to appreciate learning about the product side of your story as well. So, maybe you can help bring everyone up to speed?
Fantastic! “Journey of the Shadow” is a science fiction, alien romance, space opera, erotica, and urban fantasy adventure set in a modern-day setting.

In the first novel “Volume One,” 19-year-old Commander Tsumisu, a supernatural ninja with incredible abilities, leads a 300-warrior Sonzai clan whose job is to destroy the forces of darkness unseen by humanity. Their mission is to investigate the ensuing resurrection of an ancient evil necromancer– Nyugo and stop him at any cost. Along the way, Tsumisu discovers his best friend Shujin is an alien leader that two extraterrestrial civilizations have sought for over 800 years, represented by Elite Mercenary Tetyana Ordovicia and her arch-rival Imperial Commander Princess Suzuka Devonia, who land on Earth and fight to claim his power, sovereignty, and affection. Thinking himself free of Shujin’s troubles, fate sends First Lieutenant Arlette Sauveterre of the Devonian military police crash-landing into Tsumisu’s arms, literally, and begins her investigation of the Sonzai commander. Blind-sided by the sudden appearance of galactic denizens, Tsumisu then confronts a highly advanced cyborg terrorist wanted by the Devonian empire and runs across his captive: Doctor Nataliya Artemis, a cunning, redheaded supernatural genius who somehow knows about Tsumisu’s powers and launches a fierce and salacious “research campaign” against him. Is there a connection between these extraterrestrials and Nyugo’s resurrection? Or maybe there’s a connection to him? If so, how?

Welcome to the next entry, “Darkness Falls,” where the lore expands dramatically! Commander Tsumisu and the Sonzai encounter a new evil: Yorro, The Wretched. He’s a pawn for Nyugo, walking the Earth to do his master’s bidding. Now Tsumisu confronts a power unlike any he’s ever faced, and as the bodies pile up, so does his despair. What’s worse, the galaxy at large is Nyugo’s next target alongside one of the three Novum goddesses of the Universe. Even with all his abilities, Tsumisu battles himself against thoughts of failure, that Nyugo and Yorro will win despite his efforts. However, Nataliya, Tetyana, Arlette, and Suzuka empathize with Tsumisu’s plight and combine their intuition, intellect, strength, and love to lift the burdens he shoulders. If the women’s gifts and grace cannot save the Sonzai commander, then darkness will fall upon the galaxy and the Universe itself.

The story was born from a dream 24 years ago of a goddess resting on a bench during a brisk fall day. She awoke, and we made eye contact for several moments. I remember her smile and how it brought comfort, reassurance, and solace—like the best hug you’ve ever received. I wanted to recreate and share that sensation with as many people as possible! To that end, I equally wanted to make the characters’ arcs and relationships meaningful, so romance helped leverage that objective. I see no deep and meaningful romance in the market where there’s more “smut,” fleeting intentions, and impulsivity. “Journey of the Shadow” strays away from that and offers an experience to anyone seeking to immerse themselves in a world rife with mysteries, dynamic and engaging dialogue, rich backstories, cool sci-fi metaphysical battles, and poetically inspired intimacy.

Do you have any interesting customer success stories you can share about folks for whom your product was a great fit?
Oh goodness, absolutely! “Journey of the Shadow” fans always tell me how much they love the characters, especially the extraterrestrial women! Customer Sarah N. says, “Each lady has a distinct personality, and I can relate to them. They’re so wholesome and well written.” Customer Destiny W. says, “I love how the women possess ruthless ambition toward Tsumisu but are absolute sweethearts at the same time.” Not to be outdone, customer Darnell B. says, “It’s incredible how the ladies set up so many minefields, and Tsumisu does backflips over them! It makes me nervous and entertained.”

Have you tried any fun, non-traditional marketing ideas? If so, we’d love to hear the story and details.
Yes, I have! For about two months, I took up being an Uber driver. Sure, the goal is to provide a safe and pleasant riding experience. But if you’re going to strike up a conversation, forget the weather, market your product! And so, armed with business cards featuring character artwork and contact info, I set the stage to pitch Journey of the Shadow! So, whenever the moment presented itself, I gave my “elevator pitch.” To my surprise, many people were interested. And that’s when I’d drop my business card on them! People would repeatedly reveal their favorite sci-fi shows or express elements of Journey of the Shadow that they immediately found familiar with other forms of media, such as movies, manga, video games, anime, etc. Some people would get so excited they’d contact friends or family about Journey of the Shadow during the ride! But what did this all lead to? A warm customer base? Growth on social media? Sales? The answer is all of the above! The experience reminded me that word-of-mouth remains king in advertising and marketing.

Do you have any advice for folks who are just starting out?
My friends, starting any business is challenging. And once you get your business established, running it is even harder! And yes, entrepreneurship is a profession not made for everyone. But if you can implement patience, discipline, and persistence into your ethic every day, with time, you will see success. Instant gratification is self-sabotage, and adversity is necessary for your growth. You can only fail if you do not try. So, no matter the circumstances or how negative people around you are about your ideas, do yourself some justice and keep trying. There are people out there waiting for your ideas, services, or products to come to life, and they don’t realize it yet! There is a gift within you that the world needs!

And most importantly, there is a purpose before you that will fulfill your life. My friends, being afraid to take the first step is okay. I was afraid. Everyone was afraid. But a few years from now, you’ll look back, smile, and be grateful that you did. Peace and one love.

Image Credits
Stone Abdullah