It's been a long time now since I last was able to both update this blog and publish the next installment of The Acaethian Chronicles. And for that I apologize. I would certainly like to be able to produce content for you, my lovely reader, more often. However, the life of motherhood has taken over my writing life and my writing has not been able to be a priority these last few months. I have been writing as I can, but that is usually an average of twenty minutes a day. So really quickly, I would like to give you and update on what you might get to expect in the future.
First! As the search for the perfect literary agent continues, the existing Acaethian Chronicles installments have undergone significant work. As I continue to get feedback from my readers and as my own abilities as a writer develop, I have seen a great need in the content that has already been published. And as I search for the perfect literary agent to whom I hope to hand over my precious world and characters, I have realized that the story in its current format will not easily catch the eye of an agent. Simply, Book 1, The One Who Lives, is too long for a new author in the YA market. If a YA agent sees 128,000 words (the book in its current form), they will probably move on. I wouldn't blame them. The average YA book word count is 55k to 90k. (There is hope for me, however. The Hunger Games is just over 99k. Even Twilight, as much as I hate to even mention it, is 119k.)
And so, readers, The Acaethian Chronicles is in the process of finding itself--same story--in a new division of novels. The One Who Lives is about to become Book One, Finding Chaos, and Book Two, Under the Fire Sky. I aim for each of these books to be between 90k and 100k. If you can do simple math, you must see what that means. That means, though the story of The One Who Lives will be split into two, there will be lots of new content, much of which was originally cut from the novel to bring the word count down to its current 128k. (The first manuscript was about 160k.)
So instead of hurrying home from Arawana (Earth), as Baeou did, readers will get the whole story of what actually happened to he and the others on their way through the Mysthanon. Irochidayu will have more time to haunt and torment Baeou, and Baeou will have more time to give the finger to destiny.
Are you wondering about The Thirteenth? It will undergo the same treatment. It will become Book Three, The Thirteenth, and Book Four, Wind of the Citadel.
So...when will they be published!? Well...unfortunately, I won't be self-publishing these books. I self-published The Acaethian Chronicles originally in order to get feedback on the story and prepare it for literary agent submission. That goal has been accomplished. So the first time these new books will be available to the public will be when they are published traditionally.
So your prayers and good vibes for the future of The Acaethian Chronicles are appreciated. I want these stories to be in your hands more than anything, but they have reached a point where I have enough faith in them to put them in the hands of a publisher first. With hard work and a little time, they will be on your bookstore shelves before we know it.
First! As the search for the perfect literary agent continues, the existing Acaethian Chronicles installments have undergone significant work. As I continue to get feedback from my readers and as my own abilities as a writer develop, I have seen a great need in the content that has already been published. And as I search for the perfect literary agent to whom I hope to hand over my precious world and characters, I have realized that the story in its current format will not easily catch the eye of an agent. Simply, Book 1, The One Who Lives, is too long for a new author in the YA market. If a YA agent sees 128,000 words (the book in its current form), they will probably move on. I wouldn't blame them. The average YA book word count is 55k to 90k. (There is hope for me, however. The Hunger Games is just over 99k. Even Twilight, as much as I hate to even mention it, is 119k.)
And so, readers, The Acaethian Chronicles is in the process of finding itself--same story--in a new division of novels. The One Who Lives is about to become Book One, Finding Chaos, and Book Two, Under the Fire Sky. I aim for each of these books to be between 90k and 100k. If you can do simple math, you must see what that means. That means, though the story of The One Who Lives will be split into two, there will be lots of new content, much of which was originally cut from the novel to bring the word count down to its current 128k. (The first manuscript was about 160k.)
So instead of hurrying home from Arawana (Earth), as Baeou did, readers will get the whole story of what actually happened to he and the others on their way through the Mysthanon. Irochidayu will have more time to haunt and torment Baeou, and Baeou will have more time to give the finger to destiny.
Are you wondering about The Thirteenth? It will undergo the same treatment. It will become Book Three, The Thirteenth, and Book Four, Wind of the Citadel.
So...when will they be published!? Well...unfortunately, I won't be self-publishing these books. I self-published The Acaethian Chronicles originally in order to get feedback on the story and prepare it for literary agent submission. That goal has been accomplished. So the first time these new books will be available to the public will be when they are published traditionally.
So your prayers and good vibes for the future of The Acaethian Chronicles are appreciated. I want these stories to be in your hands more than anything, but they have reached a point where I have enough faith in them to put them in the hands of a publisher first. With hard work and a little time, they will be on your bookstore shelves before we know it.
