Book One: Moon’s Purpose
Two untrained sisters. A dying spirit gate. A debt that isn’t theirs but belongs to them anyway.
The story
Janida is seventeen, the striker on her kataw team, and very good at pretending spirits aren’t real. Her little sister Janmani is eight, draws all day, and hears them anyway.
When trouble at their father’s lab sends the family running from the city, they land at their grandmother’s house in Ban Fai, deep in the forest. Out there stands the Vongfai (ວົງໄຟ), a ring of fire between the human world and the spirit world, and it is dying. One night a voice calls Janmani through it. Janida has to go after her.
The family
-
Janida
Older sister. Earbuds in, arms crossed. She buried her gift years ago and would like it to stay buried.
-
Janmani
Younger sister. Carries her civet plush Sivilay everywhere and hears the dead as plainly as you hear the radio.
-
Jitara
Their mother, lost the night Janmani was born. The village calls her Mae Phed. It’s complicated.
-
Mae Tu Yen
Their grandmother, Jaiyen, keeper of the gate. Every time she opens it, it takes something from her.
-
Non
Their father. No powers, plenty of rules, and a grief he won’t talk about.
The world
- The Vongfai ວົງໄຟ
- A ring of fire between the human world and the spirit world. Lately, it’s dying.
- Ban Fai ບ້ານໄຟ
- Mae Tu Yen’s village, deep in the forest and close to the gate. Where the family lands when the city stops being safe.
- Meung Suliya ເມືອງສຸລິຍາ
- The Sun City, where the girls grew up. Bright, busy and lit at night by glowing Nakeye stones.
- The Pala ປາລາ
- Say it PAH-luh. Spirit Bridge Guardians: people trained to work the gate and speak for both worlds.
Who's making it
-
Nor Sanavongsay
-
Amy Linsamouth
-
Lanna Souvanny
The road to Kickstarter
Full calendar- Character designs In progress
- Script lock In progress
- Kickstarter pre-launch page goes live
- Sample pages, cover and character lineup
- Kickstarter launches
- Script to the co-writer for notes
The book
Book One of a trilogy, in 88 pages across four chapters. Written by Nor Sanavongsay and Amy Linsamouth, illustrated by Lanna Souvanny.
Can’t wait until May? Mysterious Connections: A Vongfai Tale is a short one-shot with Janida and Janmani, in the shop now.
Follow the Kickstarter
The campaign launches in May 2027. Hit Follow on Kickstarter and they’ll email you the day it goes live. Want sketches and pages along the way? Sign up for It Is Well, the Sahtu Press newsletter.