Relentless Blades: Book Two underway

 I'm happy to report that I've begun work on Relentless Blades: Book Two. As I write this, I'm four chapters, and 18,000 words into it. It's rough at this stage, but I like where it's going. It's not going as fast as I'd like, because real-life and putting the finishing touches on Book One is interfering.

On that note, Relentless Blades: Book One has passed its first round of line/copy edits with the fabulous Evelyn Cammon with redinkedits.com. She's currently working through pass two. I don't think there will be much left to finish once she sends her second round of edits. Maybe a few minor things to clean up, but it should be in great shape. She recommended a manuscript formatter for me, and I've been in touch with him, so he's ready to go as soon as the editing is complete. 

I've already found several cover illustrators I love. Once the book is formatted, and I have the dimensions, the cover art is all that remains. I'm getting both excited and nervous at the prospect of completing this long journey. By the time I publish it will have been a roughly two-year journey since September 2022 when I first sat down to create my "world bible."  

I'm very appreciative of all of you who read these blogs. As I get close to the finish line, I could really use your help in reposting my blog link or passing this on to any fantasy fans you know who may be interested in reading Relentless Blades when it's published. I'd love to generate some interest and enthusiasm!

I'll continue to update you as I go along this fascinating journey. 

I sympathize with George R.R. Martin

 My apologies for being absent from my blog for months. I don't have a good excuse, so I'll give you the truth. From November 2023 through March 2024, I sent out sixty-nine (69) queries seeking either a literary agent to represent me or a publishing deal with a small, independent publisher. As I write this blog, I've received thirty-eight (38) rejections and no response to the rest. Quite honestly, it depressed me and all but killed my enthusiasm to further polish my manuscript or to think about writing a sequel.

However, I'm happy to report that I've progressed through my pity-party and am re-focused on finishing up Relentless Blades, which I'm now calling: Relentless Blades: Book One - The Scepter of Cymathu. I've always hoped to be traditionally published, even though I knew it was a long shot. With self-publishing becoming more and more viable, I've reached my rejection threshold and have decided I'm going to self-publish my novel. To that end, I hired a copy/line editor and she's busy editing it as I type this. I hope to work with her the rest of this month and into June to polish it up and finish it. 

I've researched great cover artists and think I've found someone who can deliver an exceptional, original cover illustration. I don't support generic covers using stock images or those made with AI. I want something unique and created by an artist. 

My goal is to self-publish by the end of this year. 

As I wait on the first round of edits to come back, I've finally worked out the high-level plot for the next two books. It's been much harder than I thought and I sympathize a bit with George R.R. Martin. I admit to being in over my head when I started the process. I wrote what I think is a fun and interesting first book, but understood as a first-time novelist that I'd have limitations. To that end, I consciously crafted the story to be fairly linear and to focus primarily on Vig and Grim. I always knew the second book would have to expand the world, expand the characters and expand the plots. I have come to realize over the last year and a half, that I only had the vaguest idea of what was going to happen in the next two books. For the life of me, I could not figure out what story I really wanted to tell. However, I think I'm finally onto something. It's just the first draft now, but I'm happy with what I've come up with. I'll tweak it a bit more and then I should be able to get started. 

Stay tuned as I hope to have more good news to share in the coming months!