I'm sad to announce ...

Apr 14, 2023 3:01 pm

The Between-Book Blues

I finally finished the first draft of the latest Kit Melbourne novel, which I'm going to call Wizard's Bunker. It's not really the first draft, more like the second or third draft, because I continually hone and revise it as I go. I sent it to my beta readers and already got edits from one and am pending feedback from the other. After I get their feedback, I'll incorporate the edits that make sense.

Then I have to format it, which takes a few days. I'll write the backflap copy and contact my artist about cover art (which takes a couple of weeks, or more, depending on how busy she is.) Once I have the cover art and I've formatted the book and given it another once-over with the spell check, publishing it only takes a couple of hours.

I should feel accomplished, but I just feel sad, because finishing the draft means that for a while, my Friday nights won't be spent plotting out adventures for my imaginary friends. I've spent a long time with these guys.

You're gonna like this novel. In Mulberry Wands, I got to create an entire society, and in Dryad's Blade I got to create a secondary world, and I managed to do that again in this novel. It's hard to sneak a second-world setting into an urban fantasy novel. (My solitary attempt to create a second-world novel stalled at 110,000 words, which was a costly way to learn high fantasy is not my genre.)

Mulberry Wands

Tiny people live in the walls surrounding Susan's new yard. They will stop at nothing to bring her to justice.

Did you read this book? I'd love your reviews and recommendations!

So I shouldn't be sad that I won't be writing this novel anymore, because it means I can start a new one, with new ideas, and new adventures.

But I will miss my friends.

This week's question: What book or series were you the most sad to see end?

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The Faeries Want Me Dead

The creatures Richard Williams remembers from childhood fairy tales are terrifying. When he discovers they are stalking him, he is glad of the Fae Defence Society’s help. But when a message from his late grandfather casts doubt on their motivations, he must decide who to trust and make strange alliances to prevent a devastating magical attack on the streets of Britain. (Amazon)

Blood Will Out

I used to hunt vampires, until a hunt went wrong and I woke up in the morgue. I don't know why or how, but I'm not human. If - when - I lose control, my life is forfeit. I don't trust the rebel vampire Grey, but he and the mysterious witch Felix are my only option to find the vampires who killed me. I'll find out what I am, or die trying. (Amazon)

The Curse of the Orion Stones

Sage has the ability to transform into a cougar, which she struggles to control. She sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and her tribe's future, feeling trapped in an unfamiliar world, struggling to fit in and trust those around her. As the final battle approaches, Sage and her allies must work together to bring down the curse that has plagued her people for centuries. (Amazon)