Tag: <span>Writing Progress</span>

Draft complete…

I am stoked to report I’ve turned in a complete draft for THE EMPIRE’S EDGE, the second book in my Mage and Empire series.

Around September of last year, I’d sunk into the dark depths of writer despair. The first third of the book worked just fine. I also knew the ending, or so I thought. But each iteration of the middle left me with a raging headache from frustration. Too complicated. Too implausible. Too convenient.

So in January, I went on a mini-vacation to Alaska. In between drinking Alaskan beer, walking around on frozen rivers, and a splendid visit to the Arctic Circle, I finally realized where the plot had meandered into the swamp, and how to rescue it.

In the last month, I’ve laid down 18K new words and met my deadline. The middle section needs expanding, and the second half could do with a lot of polish, but oh my gosh, I am so happy with how the story ties together.

Writing, writing, writing…

In case I hadn’t mentioned it before, I have two, possibly three books coming out this year. One is The Hound of Justice, the second entry in my Janet Watson Chronicles. The second is A Jewel Bright Sea, the first in my Mage and Empire series. It’s a good thing for my stress levels that HOUND is done, done, done and through production. The last items for JEWEL just arrived in my inbox: queries from the cover artist and the page proofs, which I need to read and mark up for any mistakes.

Meanwhile, I am writing the second Mage and Empire book as fast as I can. I wrote and tossed at least two versions of the opening chapters, but things are clicking now. Plot, emotional layers, themes of loyalty, and more. I am excited. 🙂

February updates…

Edits for A Jewel Bright Sea handed in and formally accepted!

Plot for The Empire’s Edge (pirates#2, formerly titled Morennioù) hashed out with my editor and the first couple chapters completed. I’m very excited about this book, which has been simmering on the backburner for several years.

Synopsis and a rough first chapter for The Sign of Three (notsherlock#3) written. This is my option book for The Janet Watson Chronicles, which means that once I have three polished chapters, those go to my editor, and the anxious waiting begins to see if they like it enough to acquire.

Now to get back to writing…