March/April roundup and other things
Well, the last 2 months have been busy, in different ways. In March I focused on The Man Who Came with Winter, adding and subtracting pieces to make the story complete. As is the case with any writer (yes, ANY writer) nothing is ever quite good enough. I am still learning how to leave well enough alone. Overall, the story of Maykea and Broma is one filled with heartache, compassion and forgiveness, and should leave you wanting so much more.
I never thought I would write a short story, mainly because all my stories tend to gravitate toward 300k word counts. As of today, this draft comes in at 14,792 words, so not too bad. I have one more pass to do on it this weekend before it is off to another editing phase, which means I again get to read a lovely story from a SSP author. I read fellow Shadow Spark Publishing author Erika McCorkle’s short story, and it is absolutely lovely. Her style of writing is relaxed and flows effortlessly to tell a story, a talent many of us writers long to have.
She did compare my writing style to Robert Jordan… so there is that.
April has been spent reworking on elements of the story that needed improvement, the things that as a writer can often be hard to see. One thing about writing that amazes me and always will is how each of us has a unique voice. When I read Shannara, my life changed. It was the first time I had ever read fantasy, and it immediately took me places no other story did. Then, when I read The Wheel of Time, my writing life was changed. Both Robert Jordan, the original author, and Brandon Sanderson, who did an amazing job finishing it, paved the way for me finding my comfort zone when it came to my own writing. So, for Erica to tell me my style reminded her of Robert Jordan is above and beyond any compliment I ever expected.
Now, do you know what happens in 18 months?
November 2, 2025, will mark the anticipated release of Winds of the World, book one in The Echoing and Eclipse series.
As of today, I have 16 chapters left in book 2, Dark of Dreams. This story continues to speak to me, the characters and settings are so rich. When I started writing the first book nearly a decade ago, I had no idea where the story was going. To be honest, even when I began writing again at the end of 2020, I still did not have a clue what was really going to happen. Now, I’ve had the ending for as long as I can remember, but I needed to find my way there. The most satisfying thing for me as a writer is not only completing a story and having people like it, but also the evolution of it all.
When my publisher told me they saw the next Game of Thrones within that manuscript, I won’t lie and say I wasn’t surprised. Truth is, when people asked me what I could compare my story to, I always said Wheel of Time and Game of Thrones. The last 4 years have proven to me that my story has touched a lot of people in many different ways, and for that I am grateful. I think a story needs to have that effect on someone because so many stories have had that lasting effect on me.
All in all, The Man Who Came with Winter will be released June 21 from Shadow Spark Publishing. The Cozyish anthology is filled with amazing stories by amazing authors. I will have a pre-order link in the next month, so look for that near the end of May. Also, for anyone who is interested in listening to other authors and myself discuss all things writing, our podcasts are available on YouTube. Below is the most recent one that I was on, so feel free to give it a listen.
Character Flaws (Pt. 1) (youtube.com)
May and June will without a doubt be busier than usual, but more about that in a few months. My characters are calling for me and I must go.
For now, read on and we will speak soon.