Monthly Wrap Up
February Fun
February blew by with all sorts of fun.
The Light Series Updates
I spent most of my time writing book 3 of the Light Series. Working title that may stay the title is Council of Light. It works well with where Rhoanda and Versont now find themselves. It’s a third of the way through the initial draft. At the rate I write around everything else I do, I’m thinking it will be April when I type The End on the draft.
The schedule for book 3 looks something like:
Finish initial draft in April - preferably the first half of the month
Cool off period of one month (into May) - starts from when I type The End
Objective read through/no changes allowed/note taking (May) - one week
Deep dive edit - two months (into July) - concept and line editing
Proofreading (July) - one week
Beta reader time! - August - one month - epic fantasy beach read anyone?
Edits from beta readers (September) - two weeks to a month depending on feedback
Final editing and clean up - final editorial feedback cleanup
Final version ready in October
Possible launch in November
This matches the schedule for Truth Bearer, book 2. My writing is improving, but I doubt I’ll turn around a book much faster if I want it done well.
Truth Bearer Launch
It was small but successful. I already made back enough to recuperate the cover cost. It’s received a few great reviews and I’ve received some great comments about the cover. Thanks to everyone who made this book possible.
Truth Bearer was added to the Realm Makers book list on the RealmSphere on the day it realeased, February 14th.
I also had a guest blog post on release day on Jenelle Leanne Schmidts blog for Fantasy February. You can check it out here.
Tales of Karnum and Beyond Plans
I know I’ve said I plan on adding more. It is still planned. I’ve realized I need to put my primary effort into getting the Light Series done. I have two flash fictions that first appeared on Havok in 2022 that I want to put up in March.
In preparation of putting more stories here, I added Stories to my top menu and took Cataclysm off there. I created a stories page that will have pics and a quick blurb with a link to the main page for that story. Serials like Cataclysm will have their own page with a detail blurb followed by a table of contents. Stories that fit into one post will be linked on a Flash and One Post Short Stories page. I’ll have that set up when I put up the flash fiction in March.
April into May, while book 3 is cooling off before I edit, I plan on cleaning up a short story already written so I can post it here. I also will submit it to the Finding Fantasy Reads Podcast to see if they will turn it into a fun audio rendition that they share. It features two dragons as the main point of view characters. It is a prequel to a novel idea called Last of Dragon. I have two-thirds or more done from a couple of years ago. These stories are earlier in the history of Karnum, leading up to the time prophesied about the Last of Dragons and the waning of the old magics.
I also have a sci-fi tale I wrote some time ago that I like well enough to revamp. I’m thinking of putting it here as a serial like I did with Cataclysm. The first three episodes will always be free, like Cataclysm. The difference will be that all will have a period of being free as I roll them out weekly. Stay tuned because I will need time to prep it and see if I can work it in around all the work book 3 is going to need. Good thing writing is my full-time gig and I love it.
To Kickstarter or Not to Kickstarter
I’ve never done one before but I know a few people that have. I have a few ideas in my head. I would put them in a poll, but the text option is too short.
Small Light Series Finale - to help with finale costs with stretch goals for special edition box sets, hardcovers, and audiobooks. (Summer 2024)
Wait to do one for Last of Dragons to include cover, production costs and stretch goals for special editions. (2025
Do both of the smaller ones.
Larger Karnum - both combined
All would include levels of rewards of swag, electronic book copies, signed book copies, etc. Physical items would only apply to US citizens due to shipping costs.
Let me know which one interests you the most and what kind of rewards would peak your interest if I do one.
Thank You
To all my fans, I thank you for your feedback on my posts, stories, and books. It encourages me to keep sharing and working through all the ideas I have. Keep letting me know what you think of my stories or tell me ideas you would like to see here.