Dear ,

I hope March is going well for you. Here in the UK, there seems to be no end to the drizzly grey weather, but fingers crossed, spring will be here soon. The end of winter also marks the final changes to ‘The Discovery of Magic’ before it goes to the Copy Editor in April. Surpassing 500 pages, it’s an epic story, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

Over the coming months, I’ll share insights on the development of this book, including the world and the characters. To start with, I’d like to introduce the Enneagram. There are many personality tests – like Myers Briggs – but the Enneagram is ideal for authors because it focuses on fears and desires. No character is complete without both, and exploring these reveals character motivations.

For this first email focussing on ‘The Discovery of Magic’, meet Alice - the main protagonist.

Seventeen-year-old Alice yearns for control over her life. She is a talented archer and possesses an adventurous spirit, but is determined not to let her parents drag her away from everything she knows. With her desire to be in control, and to protect those around her, Alice is a typical Type 8 personality - also known as ‘The Challenger’. Unfortunately for Alice, the world she ends up in permits her little control, but that is where the story unfolds …

Another aspect of the Enneagram is that it tells us how character will change under pressure. When a Type 8 is stressed, they adopt unhealthy Type 4 traits. So when Alice is tested, we may see her becoming more self-absorbed and temperamental - not ideal for getting everyone home.

Do you recognise these traits in anyone you know? If so, they may be a Type 8. If not, stay tuned for future emails with more characters.

If you’re interested in reading more about the Enneagram, these are good places to start:

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/how-the-enneagram-system-works/

https://www.integrative9.com/enneagram/

For more stories, check out these promotions:

If you missed these in my last email, these promotions are ending soon:

Happy reading,

L. J. Evias