The Alchemist Baker of Rosen
A grandmother's old recipes.
A city on the hunt for magic.
And bread that makes things better.
Preorders are open.
Quick Overview
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen was supposed to be a short story stretch goal for the Mosswood Apothecary kickstarter.
It didn’t stay short.
What started as a glimpse into Rosen’s history became a full novel about love, community, and the magic of creation.
Now it’s ready for preorder, and I’m inviting readers to help bring this edition to life.
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen
PREORDER - The Alchemist Baker of Rosen
Tales of Valdaes · Set two hundred years before Mosswood Apothecary · Releases 8 December 2026 · Signed by the Author
NOTE: This is a PREORDER for an 8 December 2026 release (please order separately from anything physical you want now).
A grandmother's old recipes.
A city on the hunt for magic.
And bread that makes things better.
Choose your edition below.
Standard Paperback and Standard Hardcover — every copy includes:
- Custom chapter header icons and page breaks (Brett Mitchell Kent)
- The updated map of Valdaes
- 2 Full-Page Colour Illustrations
- Signed by the author
Special Edition Hardcover — the collector's copy, only available here. The special edition is hardcover only. Every copy includes:
- Foil title on the cover
- Sprayed edges
- Custom chapter header icons and page breaks (Brett Mitchell Kent)
- The updated map of Valdaes
- 3 Full-Page Colour Illustrations
- Signed and hand-numbered by the author
Erik never expected his grandmother's old baking secrets to change anything beyond keeping his neighbors fed. Working quietly in Master Garrick's shop, he uses hints of magic to stretch meager supplies, ever since the city's tension with refugees worsened. It's nothing grand, just a few prayers and simple etchings, but it's enough to ease hunger in Rosen's struggling harbor district.
When a licensed mage appears at the bakery door, Erik fears his careful balance is crumbling. But as word spreads about this miracle bread, he discovers something unexpected: a community beginning to form around his kitchen table. From Master Garrick's gruff protectiveness to young Theo's eager friendship, Erik finds himself building the very thing he thought he'd lost—a place to belong.
The old ways his grandmother taught him are stirring something deeper than simple heating sigils, and Erik must decide how much of himself he's willing to share.
Because sometimes the most powerful magic isn't about changing the world—it's about feeding the people who matter, one loaf at a time.
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen is a cozy fantasy novel about food, community, and magic. It is set in the world of Mosswood Apothecary two hundred years earlier and can be read on its own. The magic Erik uses to feed his community is forbidden, feared by a city guard too stuck in its ways to help the poor. The stakes are the community's. The romance is sweet and queer. If you like cozy fantasy with baking in it, this is that.
Also available: Ebook | Mosswood Apothecary Special Edition
Cover art by Ever After Cover Design
PREORDER - The Alchemist Baker of Rosen - E-Book
Tales of Valdaes · Set two hundred years before Mosswood Apothecary · Releases 8 December 2026
NOTE: This is a PREORDER for an 8 December 2026 release. Get it in print, signed.
A grandmother's old recipes.
A city on the hunt for magic.
And bread that makes things better.
This ebook includes:
- The updated map of Valdaes
- Custom chapter header icons and page breaks (Brett Mitchell Kent)
- 2 Full-Page Colour Illustrations
Erik never expected his grandmother's old baking secrets to change anything beyond keeping his neighbors fed. Working quietly in Master Garrick's shop, he uses hints of magic to stretch meager supplies, ever since the city's tension with refugees worsened. It's nothing grand, just a few prayers and simple etchings, but it's enough to ease hunger in Rosen's struggling harbor district.
When a licensed mage appears at the bakery door, Erik fears his careful balance is crumbling. But as word spreads about this miracle bread, he discovers something unexpected: a community beginning to form around his kitchen table. From Master Garrick's gruff protectiveness to young Theo's eager friendship, Erik finds himself building the very thing he thought he'd lost—a place to belong.
The old ways his grandmother taught him are stirring something deeper than simple heating sigils, and Erik must decide how much of himself he's willing to share.
Because sometimes the most powerful magic isn't about changing the world—it's about feeding the people who matter, one loaf at a time.
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen is a cozy fantasy novel about food, community, and magic. It is set in the world of Mosswood Apothecary two hundred years earlier and can be read on its own. The magic Erik uses to feed his community is forbidden, feared by a city guard too stuck in its ways to help the poor. The stakes are the community's. The romance is sweet and queer. If you like cozy fantasy with baking in it, this is that.
Digital books are delivered instantly via BookFunnel and can be read on Kindle, Kobo, Nook, iPad, phone, or any reading app.
Also available: Signed Print Editions | Mosswood Apothecary Ebook
Cover art by Ever After Cover Design
The Story Behind the Book
When I wrote Mosswood Apothecary, I hinted at a rich history, and readers were interested in more.
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen began as a short story exploring a romance and how that world looked two hundred years earlier: a place where magic wasn't unified, and people hid their craft.
It became much longer than a short story and turned into a story about community and belonging that I am proud to include in the Mosswood Apothecary universe.
The Book
Erik never expected his grandmother's old baking secrets to change anything beyond keeping his neighbors fed. Working quietly in Master Garrick's shop, he uses hints of magic to stretch meager supplies, ever since the city's tension with refugees worsened. It's nothing grand, just a few prayers and simple etchings, but it's enough to ease hunger in Rosen's struggling harbor district.
When a licensed mage appears at the bakery door, Erik fears his careful balance is crumbling. But as word spreads about this miracle bread, he discovers something unexpected: a community beginning to form around his kitchen table. From Master Garrick's gruff protectiveness to young Theo's eager friendship, Erik finds himself building the very thing he thought he'd lost—a place to belong.
The old ways his grandmother taught him are stirring something deeper than simple heating sigils, and Erik must decide how much of himself he's willing to share. Because sometimes the most powerful magic isn't about changing the world—it's about feeding the people who matter, one loaf at a time.
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen expands on the world first seen in Mosswood Apothecary, traveling back two centuries to uncover the origins of alchemy. This cozy queer fantasy blends soft magic, found family, and the resilience of community.
Where Mosswood celebrates healing through craft, TABOR shows how that legacy began—with a baker, a secret spell, and the belief that community can be its own kind of magic. Expect gruff mentors, unexpected friendships, and a slow warmth that builds from the oven outward.
Tropes and Themes:
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Secret magic hidden in everyday life
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Found family and small acts of care
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Queer love and belonging
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Healing through craft and food
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Low-stakes, high-heart storytelling
What the Preorder Campaign Unlocked
Between 13 December 2025 and 30 April 2026, every purchase on this shop counted toward adding art and design enhancements to The Alchemist Baker of Rosen. Here is where it landed.
Unlocked
$500 – Updated Map
An updated world map connecting Rosen (later known as Neosilica) to the locations featured in Mosswood Apothecary. In every edition.
$1,000 – Chapter Header Icons + Custom Page Breaks
Each chapter receives a unique icon and matching divider by Brett Mitchell Kent. In every edition.
$1,500 – Custom Chapter Header Icons
Each chapter gains its own header tailored to its events. In every edition.
$2,500 – Full-Page Illustration #1
In every edition.
$4,000 – Full-Page Illustration #2
In every edition.
Not reached
$6,000 – Full-Page Illustration #3
Not unlocked by the campaign, but I am including it in the Special Edition hardcover anyway.
$8,000 – City Map of Rosen
Not unlocked. I have more planned for this one, and I will say more after the book releases.
Thank you to everyone who ordered during the window. The standard paperback and hardcover carry everything that was unlocked. The Special Edition hardcover adds a foil title, sprayed edges, the third full-page illustration, and a hand-numbered signature.
How to Support
Preorder The Alchemist Baker of Rosen.
Every preorder tells me how many copies to print, and every print copy ships signed.
Pick the edition you want.
The standard paperback and hardcover carry all the art the preorder campaign unlocked. The Special Edition hardcover is the collector’s copy: foil title, sprayed edges, three full-page colour illustrations, signed and numbered.
Spread the word.
Share this page with friends who enjoy cozy queer fantasy or the Mosswood universe.
Timeline
Preorders open: now, through 7 December 2026
Printing: November 2026
Release and shipping: 8 December 2026. Print orders ship through December, signed.
Why This Matters
The Alchemist Baker of Rosen started as a bonus short story. However, there was so much to say about love, community, and magic that it couldn’t be contained.
It became another heart of what makes the world of Mosswood Apothecary special: queer people creating small miracles.
Your preorder tells me how many copies to print, and it means I get to sign every one before it ships.
Thank you for being part of it.