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Regvand - Planet of the Six Systems Behind the Book The Progenitor Chronicles

Behind the book information about the water planet Regvand. One of the six planets featured in The Progenitor Chronicles by Sara Wright.

Behind the Book The Progenitor Chronicles

Background of the Planet Regvand:

Regvand is pronounced Reg-vand. The name litteraly means rain water. As its name suggests, it is a planet filled with water and aquatic life. If fact more than 90% of the planet is filled with either salt or fresh water. If you were to visit this beautiful blue planet, you’ll need underwater vehicles like a submarine. Why? Most of the cities are deep underwater.

This planet was inspired by several Star Trek planets and my husbands love of the beach. Regvand is very close to Xardenora because living things can't live without water and oxygen.

Regvand

It is the closest habitable planet to the two suns. The planet has a tropical climate. It is humid. This planet was the first planet to be terraformed. Small islands and small continents dot the surface of the planet. Their buildings on the surface are made of various forms of rock with blue, silver, and opal being the dominate color. The buildings in the depths of the oceans are built into rock and coral shelves. Each city is surrounded by a forcefield that keeps the water out, but allows Regvands and vehicles to pass through. The main palace is located on the largest content near the equator. It is surrounded by soft white sand. It is rumored that a grove of Pluma trees were cultivated by the Crown Prince Darijus. They were a gift from his longtime friend the Crown Princess Xendara of Xardenora. Regvands are an offshoot of Xardens that specialized in water manipulation. Regvands spaceships are filled will enormous tanks of water that power its ships. These tanks include plants and animals.

Regvands:

The Regvands are even tempered, loving, and calm. When under pressure they usually have the ability to relax everyone in the room. But if provoked, they will defend the Six System's with their lives.

Regvands are not telepathic like their Xarden cousins. But they are empathic and can feel their emotions.

Regardless of rank, most Regvands wear the same grey tunic with a silver sun pin on the lapel. Their tunics are specially designed to remain dry underwater which allow them to swim for long periods of time. The only time they wear dress clothes is for state events, such as meetings with dignitaries and special occasions.

They follow the teachings of their ancestors called the Ancients. They honor the fact that the Xardens were placed in charge of the Six Systems. Many regularly visit Xardenora to commune with the large sentient Golden Wood trees.

Regvands are very close to Xardenora. They usually coordinate their missions with them and side with them during Planetary Counsel Meetings.

Many Progenitors from Xardenora choose to bond with someone from Regvand. This had led many to speculate about a secret alliance between the two planets.

Progenitor Companions:

Every seven thousand years, a person is born on Xardenora with the DNA of the ancient Progenitors. With these powers a Progenitor can manipulate any molecule in the Universe including time. Once a Progenitor reaches adulthood their power becomes too great to contain inside them. Because of their unique physiology they can only bond with those who have the specific gene markers to be able to receive a portion of their powers. Many Progenitor Companions have come from Regvand. One of the most notable is Lady Vandra the Progenitor Companion of the Progenitor Xandar. Their bond to the Progenitor can become so great they mimic all their powers including manipulation of time. They are capable of opening up portals that allow them to not only travel through space, but also time. Once the 7,000 years has passed, the Progenitor and Companion leave this plane of existence to live with the Ancients. Golden Wood trees are said to play a role in the selection of the Progenitor and their future companion.Regvand Characters featured in The Progenitor Chronicles

King Tahvo

Queen Reya

Crown Prince Darijus

Princess Chellee

Lord Ronan

Lord Chamberlin Earwyn

Lady Ceto

Lady Cordelia (Family is from Regvand and Desdemona)

Vandra (The Previous Progenitor Companion)

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Sara Wright is a science fantasy author who loves to add dash of sweet romance to her books.

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

Sara Wright participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The choice is yours as to whether you’d like to purchase and read them.

What Inspired The Progenitor Chronicles book series?

Each book of The Progenitor Chronicles is a little different. Books one and three lean fantasy, while book 2 leans sci-fi. It all comes down to what was going on in my life and what inspired me to write these books.

What inspired me to write a book about intergalactic superheroes in space?

When I lost my job, I had time on my hands. I learned a variety of new skills and binged a lot of old shows, Star Trek being one of them. The inspiration for a star system with six inhabited planets was the Xindi from Star Trek: Enterprise. If you’ve never watched these Star Trek episodes, the Xindi were six different species originating from one planet. Does that sound familiar?

My twist to this inspiration was that instead of being six different species, they wielded six different powers.

Xardenora = Life or earth powers Regvand = Water powers Desdemona = Fire powers Ja’Frysta = Ice powers Texveda = Light or technology powers Rhyolite = Mineral powers

Only one person every 7,000 years can wield all the powers and alter time and space called the Progenitor.

Instead of having a United Federation of Planets, I changed it to a monarchy government with multiple levels of royals and dignitaries.

Book 1–The Progenitor

What inspired the Progenitor?

Once I had my basic idea, I drew upon some of my favorite books, which happen to be epic fantasy and fairy tale retellings.

The elves of Lord of the Rings inspired Xardenora. Their love for balance and nature are at the planet’s foundation. I try to bring that out when Acacia finds trees, but with a lot more exuberance. Most of her mannerisms comes from Ce’Nedra in The Belgariad by David Eddings.

The basic love story in the Progenitor comes from reading Camile Peters’ and Melanie Cellier’s books. They write clean fairytales retellings and similar unique fantasy romances. I love their stories because they are adventurous, exciting, and clean, which was important to me when writing The Progenitor.

Book 2–The Equinox

What inspired The Equinox?

When I finally published the first book, I had read hundreds of sci-fi books, trying to find a book similar to mine. I basically wrote a fantasy in a space setting with futuristic technology, so this wasn’t exactly easy. In the end, I narrowed my book down to Star Wars, The Last Lumenian series, Star Bandits: Uprising series, and The Starship’s Mage series.

I asked myself what these books have in common. They all contain some type of “magical” person explained away by some vague scientific explanation (i.e., aliens, midichlorians, etc.), bounty hunters, space flight, and a cantina (because you have to find the scruffy, scoundrels of the Universe somewhere). I included these elements in The Equinox.

Book 3-The Ancients

What inspired The Ancients?

One word: Grief. I wrote the first two chapters of the Ancients while my mother-in-law was dying. I didn’t know she was dying, but I knew something was very wrong. With all my stress of caring for her, moving, and doctor’s appointments, writing was a way to escape. One thing that helped me through that time was the main character, Xendara.

At the beginning of the series, she is unsure of herself. She’s led a very sheltered life and wasn’t prepared to take on the role within her star system. By the time this book was written, Xendara had overcome that handicap and she did so full of positive energy and hope. Because of my grief and the problems she faces in the second book, I took away her hopeful nature. I asked: How does she get hope back?

After my mother-in-law died, I wrote a majority of the book a month later. Then my aunt died. Then I took a break from the book. I finished my copyediting certificate, took some marketing classes, binged Gilmore Girls, watched Wheel of Time, and read some books.

A few months later, I came back to the Ancients. I’m glad I did that because the book would have been too dark had I written the ending while completely devastated. One thing that I love about The Progenitor Chronicles is its hopeful nature. I really want to keep positive messaging.

Here are some books that I read that likely inspired the third book.

You can check out The Progenitor Chronicles below. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive Time Crystal, a free short story prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles.

If you have other questions about the Progenitor Chronicles, drop them in the comments below.

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Sara Wright is a science fantasy author who loves to add dash of sweet romance to her books.

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

Sara Wright participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The choice is yours as to whether you’d like to purchase and read them.

Review of Comstock Chronicles

An adventurous clean epic fantasy with slow burn romance series that takes you through the elemental powers of the Guardians.

Earth Spark by Vanessa Thurgood

Synopsis:

The elements are waking. The primordial Guardians stir. Evil lurks in the shadows, waiting for the one person who can set it free.

Nienna’s ancestors labeled the Earthspark, and everything associated with it, as black magic. After she lands in the heart of an extinct lava chute, she discovers the fabled power is real. And that she’s the first one in over a thousand years to possess the cursed gift.

As her ill-fated power grows, the number of dark creatures bent on using her power increases. If that weren't bad enough, the Guardians have reappeared, and the elements are on the move. Nienna must choose to embrace the Earthspark or live the rest of her life like a hunted animal.

However, accepting the Earthspark means her family's greatest enemy may be her only ally in the fight against the rising evil of the Fire Witch. With her choice in the balance, the fate of her people rests on the untried shoulders of Tellidus's second-born and the infamous Guardian of Earth.

THE EARTHSPARK is the first novel in the Comstock Chronicles, a clean Young Adult epic fantasy that will take you on a journey of elemental magic, love, honor, and family. This book is for readers who love fantasy adventure, self-discovery, and a slow-burn romance.

Review:

I found this book when the author was looking for ARC readers. I saw the cover and I wanted to read this book, so I jumped at the chance. I am so glad I did.

Nienna is not just any princess. She is a cartographer that has no intentions of acting like a typical princess. Much to her mother's ire, she attends a university to advance her skills. Thankfully it's those very skills, her father needs in this adventure, because the Guardians are awakening, but so are the bad guys.

The Earth Spark is the first story in the Comstock Chronicles. It does a fantastic job of building up this unique world where the builders of the planet once walked among the people. I found it to be a refreshingly unique adventure with chosen one, good vs. evil, and elemental power tropes. The author does a fantastic job leading the reader down one path, only to twist it later to reveal the truth.

Nienna was an amazing hero. She maybe lacking in her knowledge of the Earthspark, but she's smart, humble, and loving. All of which she uses to aid the group. I particularly loved when she met Tellen. It was a such a creative way to bring the Guardian to life.

I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.

The Raider's Curse by Vanessa Thurgood

Synopsis:

The dragon is waking. The raiders proved they are willing to kill to set him free. Nienna must stop them or watch her homeland burn.

Handed down for generations, hatred for the south is rampant in the Northern Reach. That enmity reaches a point of no return when the raiders mark Nienna as the key to unlocking the gate of the dragon's prison. The acid green dragon's return could mean the end of Tellidus and the reunited Pathfinders.

Entangled in an age-old battle of sibling rivalry, Tellidus's princess must drag herself out of the depths of despair and find her power once again. When the raiders threaten her brother's life, Nienna sets out to even the odds and hopefully find the missing Earth Guardian, Tellen.

Through the help of her new friends, Nienna is determined to stop the raiders and their fateful plan to free the dragon. But to survive, she must navigate the maze of her nightmares long enough to battle the demons of the real world. She may lose the only man she's loved and see her home erupt in flames if she can't.

Spread your wings and take flight in the second installment of The Comstock Chronicles, exploring elemental magic with thrilling adventure and gut-dropping twists in this clean young adult epic fantasy series. If you love heart-pounding action, elemental magic, stormy secrets, and slow-burn romance with a sprinkle of a love triangle, you'll devour this book.

Review:

The sequel to the Comstock Chronicles is amazing. In this tale, Nienna and Tellen are in a dark place, which leads to heartbreak. I found myself wanting to, on more than one occasion, yell at the characters not to take the actions that they did. Which makes me love the story all that more.

The Raider's Curse takes the reader right back into the action, but there are more bad actors than before because the evil is spreading because of Fiora (who is a fellow Guardian). Fiora and her faithful followers are just so good at being evil you just have to dislike them. The sad part was seeing so many people following her.

One of the things I loved was Nienna's learning to control air. The author does such a fantastic job describing the art of flying. I really visualized myself flying with Aros and his followers.

I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.

The Raider's Curse by Vanessa Thurgood

Synopsis:

How far would you go to save yourself and those you love?

Nienna Comstock never expected her pursuit of the Earth Guardian through Peroma to lead to such dire consequences. Desperation sets in when the capricious magic of the fortress hurls her back in time, casting her into the treacherous depths of the Mountain Veil. Stripped of her elemental powers, she transforms from a rogue princess into a slave, bound to the infamous dragon that haunts Tellidine history.As the kingdom falls into the grip of a rampant slave trade, Nienna’s faith in the Guardians of Earth and Sky shatters. Surrounded by enemies who should be allies, she’s left with no one to turn to.Just when all hope seems lost, the dragon presents her with an offer she cannot refuse. Now, Nienna must grapple with the worth of her own life and the lives of her fellow countrymen. Will she forsake her loyalties to the Guardians in exchange for freedom, or cling to broken oaths, watching helplessly as her people remain ensnared in the chains of slavery?The threads of destiny weave tighter as Nienna’s choice hangs in the balance in this enchanting adventure, THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT, the third volume of THE COMSTOCK CHRONICLES. Unleash your imagination amidst a realm of elemental magic, captivating shifters, and exhilarating quests. This spellbinding, clean young adult epic fantasy will transport you on a journey of self-discovery, wrapped in a slow-burn, no-spice romance that will leave you yearning for more.

Review:

TBD - Currently Reading - Check back soon for my update and thoughts.

Keep in touch! Sign up for the monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you'll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal The Progenitor Chronicles

,Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

The reviews are the thoughts of Sara Wright about books that she's read and recommends to her readers. The choice is yours as to whether you'd like to purchase and read them too.

Sara Wright is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to ,amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to to you. These funds are used to support Sara Wright writing, blogs, and books. Thank you for your support.

Review of Prince of the Fallen

A fascinating epic fantasy series that takes you to a primitive planet ... but there is spaceships too. Science Fantasy at it's best.

Prince of the Fallen by M. H. Woodscourt

Synopsis:

Raised by ghosts. Trained by gods. How far will he go to save those who betrayed him?

Abandoned in the wilderness, Lekore lives with ghosts and fallen gods, until his efforts to rescue a traveling princess and her entourage bring him into a civilization unlike anything he’s ever known.

Caught in a net of silk and secrets, Lekore finds himself ensnared by court intrigue, midnight assassins, and a deviant faction of the Church of the Sun Gods—all thirsting for his blood.

He just wants to find the man who deserted him, until a storm rises out of the north, furious enough to destroy the city and outlying lands. Now Lekore must find the source of its wrath, deep in the wilds of the deadly Lands Beyond, if he can flee a city that won’t let him escape.

Review:

Prince of the Fallen is the first book in the Sentinel Seer series. It starts off with tragedy and along the way gives you hope. Woodscourt eloquently weaves a beautiful story of hidden royalty, mystery, and even a little sci-fi into this unique story.

The war between the Kel and Tawloomez may at first mislead the readers to choose sides because Woodscourt does an excellent job telling the story from a limited third person perspective that may color the readers perspective. But it is through the eyes of the protagonist, Lekore, that the truth is revealed.

While this epic fantasy isn't dark, it does explore some dark themes, such as slavery and religious sacrifice that some readers may not enjoy. The author warns readers of this and suggests to skip chapter twelve of the book. Despite the warning the chapter is heart wrenching, but Woodscourt handles the situation tactfully without gory details. Honestly, it does make the reader see through the eyes of someone they may not agree with which is an important life skill. So read at your own discretion.

I would recommend this book to both fantasy and sci-fi readers that love clean reads. It's a fantastic space fantasy.

I can't wait to read the next book! Thankfully, the entire series is already waiting for me to dive into.

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you'll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal The Progenitor Chronicles

,Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

The reviews are the thoughts of Sara Wright about books that she's read and recommends to her readers. The choice is yours as to whether you'd like to purchase and read them too.

Sara Wright is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to ,amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to to you.

Why I Love Imagination?

Imagination is important to human development. Especially if you're a writer.

My world came crashing down when I found out that some people didn’t have the level of imagination I did. Don’t get me wrong, I know that everyone can imagine things. Imagination is like any skill in this world, some people are more gifted than others. For example, I will never be as gifted in basketball as Michael Jordan. I will never be as gifted at swimming as Michael Phelps. I will never be as gifted in acting as Meryl Streep. But I have been gifted with a robust, active imagination.

Imagination is something I could never imagine not having. I love to imagine places that don’t exist, creatures that I’ve never seen before, or even people with superpowers that can save planets. It’s one reason I love children. Even children who don’t have an overactive imagination have an imagination. But sometimes life steals this wonderful skill.

As we age, we have to pay bills, work to live or sometimes live to work. Either way, adult life is not conducive to imagination. Stresses from our everyday life eat away at our imagination and yes, we lose what we don’t use.

This is where I found myself after I lost my job in 2014. I’d worked as an office manager for a few years. I didn’t hate the job, but it wasn’t the most rewarding position, either. So when the company closed, a part of me was relieved. I ended up taking care of my dying grandmother with nothing else to do but explore my imagination. It wasn’t too long after this that I wrote the first scenes of The Progenitor Chronicles.

What is imagination?

Merriam Webster defines imagination as:

1) The act of power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality.

2) Creative ability.

3) A creation of the mind

Now think of that definition, while considering the organ we call the brain.

According to Hopkins Medicine, our brains are about 60% fat. The remaining 40% is a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates, and salts. The structure is mostly gray and white matter that allows neurons and glial cells to send chemical and electrical impulses throughout our mind and body.

While our brains keep our body working, dealing with physical and emotional distresses, it can also create imaginative worlds for us to enjoy. It’s mind boggling to me that simple carbon atoms can weave together in a way that allows us to have this ability. If you think about it, diamonds are carbon atoms too, but they don’t have our capabilities.

Why is Imagination Important?

Our miraculous ability to imagine the past, present, and future plays a role in our mental health. Humans can use their imaginations to explore the issues that are bothering us. We can create scenarios in our minds to help us cope with problems at work. Knowledge we get through reading can help us understand the world.

This is the reason I love the quote from Albert Einstein:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

Without imagination, we lose a part of ourselves and the ability to explore our thoughts and feelings. Imagination helps us problem-solve and create new ideas. This wonderful ability ignites our passion and improves our cognitive skills.

Why do books help imagination?

Because everyday stress can erode the imaginative portions of our brain, I think it’s important to feed and fuel it every day. For that reason, I encourage everyone to read fiction books. If you’re here on this website, you probably don’t have that problem. But for your parents, friends, and children, encourage them to read something new.

Our superpower as humans is our imagination. By allowing our minds to play through reading, we gain that part of human existence that leaves us as we age. In order to trigger our imaginations, we need to work on something that is new.

Cultivating your imagination can actually improve your mood and reduce the likelihood of certain diseases like dementia. At least that was the recent study I’ve read. I know one thing: reading books can never actually hurt, unless you get a paper cut.

How do you trigger your imagination?

Here are a few things I do to activate my imagination.

Imagine a world I would like to live in. Read sci-fi and fantasy books. Visualize scenarios in my mind. Exercise by choreographing dances in my house Play made up stories in my mind at bedtime.

Some of these may or may not work for you. But try triggering your imagination with different ideas and let me know what you come up with. I’m always looking for new, creative ideas.

To be a creative person, we need our imagination. It’s our greatest tool. More importantly, imagination is our superpower. Which is why I love this ability so much.

If you'd like to learn more of Sara Wright's journey as an author, sign up for her newsletter below. You'll receive updates about her books and free short stories as a thank you.

Sara Wright is a science fantasy author who loves to add dash of sweet romance to her books.

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

Sara Wright participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The choice is yours as to whether you’d like to purchase and read them.

Writing Changed My Life!

One woman's Journey to becoming a fiction author.

As a little girl, I loved the world of books. I vividly remember loving to read, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”. The thought that humans had to feed mice cookies and, of course, a glass of milk left me tickled to no end. Of course, I graduated to more mature books as I aged, but I love those silly zany books of my childhood.

In school, I was the goodie too shoes. I did all my homework and tried to stay out of trouble as much as possible. My grades weren’t perfect, but they were above average. Even though I received decent grades on all my homework, I rarely did well on the state exams. It’s the time clock issue. It just gave me anxiety.

I tell you this because it shaped my journey as a writer. The time test exams made me believe I was not good enough to be a writer. My teachers loved my stories, but the test said I wasn’t that great. My grades told me I was a good writer, but the state test told me otherwise.

It’s these false narratives that play over in our heads as humans that shape who we become. They become our mental roommate, constantly telling us we aren’t good enough. Which is why we must evict them from our minds. For every negative thought, we need to reinforce them with a positive one.

I’m not saying evicting our negative mental roommate is easy. It’s not. But when they keep us from achieving our goals, we must try to be better. Better for ourselves, our families, and for the next generation.

My First Writing

The first thing I wrote without school prompting me was lyrics. They were songs about the Looney Toons characters. My favorite was Tweedy Bird, but I wrote about all of those zany characters in my songs. It was fun, and I found it freeing.

The second thing I wrote was a very rough script for a horror movie. My friends and I even recorded ourselves acting it out. It was fun, but our acting was far from Oscar nominated and so was the script.

The third thing I wrote was actually school related, but I was completely free to make up my story. So, I wrote “The Dreams that Haunt You.” It was a series of short stories that will never be published, but I literally thought at that moment, I would love to be a fiction author. But then I did the math.

The average fiction writer of that time only made $20k a year. There are always exceptions, but until the self-publishing explosion, those exceptions were few. Every year, I’m hearing more and more authors actually making a decent living with their writing.

But because self-publishing wasn’t really a thing back then, I didn’t pursue writing as a career. I was deterred by the math. The battle uphill was long, and the rewards were even less. But one thing I failed to consider was my passion.

Blogging

I started writing blogs for my husband’s construction business. They were just little helpful tips about maintaining doors and how to hire a contractor. But really writing these blogs brought me back to those early days of writing.

The blogs took a bit of research because I wanted to make sure the information was accurate. Each blog took me a few hours to research and about an hour or two to write. They were fun and informative. Though I needed to learn more about SEO, I was happy and content being a blogger. It was around this time that my husband met an author. She was retiring and needed new doors for her home. I’d told my husband how much I loved writing. He told my story to his client. That night he came home with a surprise. A link to a podcast called “The Creative Penn.”

At this point, I wasn’t really looking to publish the book that was floating around in my head. There were a few scenes written, but I didn’t think about publishing it. It was supposed to just be a side hoppy. But I was in charge of the blogs and social media for the company. I needed to learn more about writing and creating. If you’re a writer or creator of any kind, you really should check out Joanna Penn’s podcast. Not only does she talk about writing and the publishing industry, but she also brings the future of writing and technology to those in the writing community.

After listening to her podcast and looking at my own scribbled down ideas, I wrote a book which turned into a series.

Writing books

I’d already had this idea of a galactic space fantasy in my head. It would bring the question of technology versus nature. I would include elements of Star Trek, Star Wars, and the Lord of The Rings all in one book. But I had only a vague idea how to bring it all together.

I took online classes, listened to podcasts, and read craft books. The place that got me every time was the midpoint of a story. Everyone said the same thing, it was the middle of the story. The hero would find out something at this point and then work towards the climax. What?

I tried to read my favorite books again to find the midpoint of the story. I found them. But still had no clue how to create the midpoint in my own books. That is when I found Ramy Vance. He finally told me the midpoint is where the villain wins, and the hero is set back to zero. Ping! Lightbulb moment.

With this new information, I created a reverse outline and found my midpoint. YAY! If you must know, the midpoint in The Progenitor happens in chapter twelve. Now, when I watch television or read a book, I am mentally creating a reverse outline in my head. I smile when I find the midpoint of the story.

But what writing fictional stories has really brought me is purpose. For a really long time, I felt directionless. I had a career and goals, but they didn’t fulfill me the way writing does. In finding this new direction, I found another love—editing.

Editing

While I will never edit my own books, I am taking classes to become an editor. I’ve recently taken copy editing courses at Emerson College. With the Editors Freelancers Association, I’ve taken developmental editing classes. Though it was a lot of work, I thoroughly enjoyed the classes. They’ve expanded my horizon on what it means to be an author and editor. I have a new respect for the book community. But what I love most is the amount of imagination it takes to create fictional worlds, especially the ones in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. But the creative process doesn’t stop when the author hands over their manuscript to their editor. It continues until the book is ready to share with the world.

For this reason, I’ll eventually dip my toes in the editing world beyond my own books. But as with anything new, I’m taking my time to learn the craft as best I can. Because I know the labor it takes to produce a book, I want to handle each fiction book with care and knowledge. I won’t wait until I’m perfect because that won’t happen. But with a little practice and knowledge, I know my passion for the fiction world will help authors produce outstanding books for the future.

The Future

No one knows what the future holds for us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t plan. For me, I plan to write more fantasy books.

At least for the next few years, I will be immersed in a world of fantasy with dystopian undertones. Which means my dreams will be filled with Lord of the Rings type worlds with hints of defunct technology that no longer exists. And then, of course, altered DNA that gifts some with the ability to manipulate fire.

I will continue writing blogs for as long as I am capable. Who knows, maybe I will start a travel blog or maybe one for my dogs.

One thing that has always stayed with me from "The Creative Penn" podcast was her focus on creating multiple streams of income. That is something I will always plan to do.

Now that I’m a writer and fiction author, I can say writing has truly changed my life.

If you're reading this right now, thank you! I appreciate your time.

If you'd like to keep up to date with future blogs and get exclusive stories, please sign up for The Wright Newsletter.

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

Will Science Fiction Become Reality?

If you’re a sci-fi or fantasy fan that was born before 2000, you’ll already know the answer to this question. When I was small, there wasn’t a way to contact you if you weren’t home.

There wasn’t tiny little communication devices that fit in your ear. There weren’t handheld computers, either. And AI was only something seen on Star Trek.

Will Science fiction become reality?

The answer, in most cases, is yes. That is why the science fiction genre is so important. While it may not be for everyone, science fiction can do what fantasy can’t do: push the boundary of fantasy to become reality.

When I was a little girl, I saw Lieutenant Uhura with a Bluetooth device. When I was older, I had a Bluetooth device. It made talking on the phone so much easier. When I watched Star Trek, the people would tell the computer to open a channel on the ship to communicate with another ship. Now my car communicates with other cars and will open a channel for me to call my husband while I’m driving.

So, the science fiction of my time has already become a reality for the next generation. The question really is what science fiction authors will create today for the next generation. Will dystopian authors inspire a child to stop climate change? Will hard sci-fi authors inspire the next generations of engineers to create gadgets that make our lives easier?

The possibilities are endless for the future. But as Stan Lee wrote in Spider Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Even though we have creative powers to do what we want, we must remember to add to the human element. We must remember our brothers and sisters on this planet. Even though technology from a book or movie may be fantastic to imagine, creating that technology could be to the detriment of others.

Should we remove these villainous AI’s from our books? Certainly not. I have watched and read about the problems with the birth of AI. AI is a recent creation, but it was thought up long ago. Throughout the last century, Sci-Fi books and movies have explored the question: when does AI become a sentient being?

I can’t answer that question. But the authors of today can help ease our fears. Authors can help explore that question and more through the fantasy they create. Their books can help us define what should stay fantasy and what should become a reality. Using science fiction books as a basis for us to explore these technologies can help us find a path forward for the reality we may or may not be prepared to live in. Sci-fi books and programs are not always filled with happy hopeful thoughts like I have in my books. Books that explore our worst nightmares will help us through these fears and define the ethical lines.

A common fear I see online is, what if AI takes over my job?

After using a few of the new technologies, I can say AI isn’t ready to take over the world yet. It’s there as a tool. It can write some pretty great stories, but it’s not always accurate with its data. But it’s a genuine fear we must explore.

Either way, I’m excited to see what the next generation of sci-fi authors will be inspired to create. It’s with their imagination that they will shape the world. Science fiction will always help us learn what it means to be human.

If you want to know what the future holds, just read a sci-fi book.

Here are three suggested sci-fi books you might enjoy:

The 716 by S.J. Pratt

A vivid coming of age story about the courage of everyday heroes.

Olivia is destined to be the future leader of Meliora. She’s smart, rich, and innovative, and she has a pink Identifeye light. Andy is destined to be a waiter and househusband. His blue Identifeye light prevents him from pursuing his dream of becoming an engineer. After all, who ever heard of a male engineer? But when Andy’s life becomes entangled with Olivia’s and he gets the chance to prove himself on the female stage, everything starts to change.

In a futuristic society where men are second-class citizens and only binary gender norms are acceptable, Andy and Olivia must confront their own beliefs and decide what kind of world they want to live in. Will they do what is expected or what is right? And will the wrong choice spell disaster?

Starfire by Jenetta Penner

Two worlds collide and only one of them can survive.

Earth is doomed.

On the last day of Cassie’s starship journey to Arcadia, the new Eden, her father is killed in a mysterious explosion. Fortunately, a mysterious vanishing stranger with otherworldly blue-green eyes plucks her from danger at the last second.

Officials swear the explosion was a horrible accident, but she knows they are lying… hiding something...

About her father. About the nature of their new home.

Orphaned and alone she’s cast aside and told to keep her mouth shut. Instead, Cassie’s eyes are opened by newfound abilities and soon the boy with the cyan eyes finds his way back into her life. An instant attraction draws her to Javen and he offers her one dangerous chance to uncover the secret of what became of her father and who she really is.

But secrets the planet holds may force her into an impossible choice only she can make…

Saving humanity or saving Arcadia.

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Sara Wright is a science fantasy author who loves to add dash of sweet romance to her books.

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

Sara Wright participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The choice is yours as to whether you’d like to purchase and read them.

The Ancients – Update Three

A quick update about the third book in The Progenitor Chronicles

I finished the cover for the third book! I'm so excited. I can't wait to share it with everyone. The new cover truly encapsulates the journey Xendara takes in this third book. I'll share the new cover with everyone in my next update. If you're not already signed up for my newsletter, be the first to see the new cover and stay up to date about my latest book projects.

The editing process has taken a little longer than I anticipated, but I'm having fun finding all the loose ends and connecting the loops. I'm almost done with my personal edits which feels so great. I am exited to turn over the book to some great beta readers for the initial feedback on the book.

I am working on a few side stories that those signed up for my newsletter will receive this coming fall. These stories will fill in some of the gaps between the books. They won't be necessary to read to enjoy the main books, but they are just a little something extra I have planned for my fans.

Wish me speedy editing so I can get this book over to my editor for the final copy edit and proof read soon. October 2023 is approaching fast so stay tuned for more exciting bookish news about this project and future projects by signing up for my newsletters.

May you prosper as the Golden Wood trees!

~ Sara Wright

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Sara Wright is a science fantasy author who loves to add dash of sweet romance to her books.

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

Sara Wright participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please bear in mind that links used in this blog are affiliate links. If you go through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The choice is yours as to whether you’d like to purchase and read them.

Character Profile - Acacia

A background history of The Progenitor Chronicles most loyal friend - Acacia

Acacia is everything I am not. She is the combination of my favorite character in The Belgradian series, Ce'Nedra, and all the friends I've had in my life. It is Acacia who centers Xendara back to the reality of the situation. Her background story is sad, but she represents all the tragedy that had happened on Xardenora before Xendara was even born. It is through her that Xendara see's beyond her sheltered life within palace walls.

Acacia's Early Life:

Acacia is the daughter of Lady Lilly and Conium. Together they cultivated the famed tree network and were used on a variety of aid missions throughout the galaxy. But during one aid mission the two loving parents lost their life, leaving little Acacia in the care of her grandfather, Chancellor Oakwood.

Though she was an only child, she had many distant cousins. One of them became her best friend, Xendara. Together they roamed around the peaceful planet greeting every creature and tree until they new everyone by energy alone.

As a daughter of an engineer, Acacia showed great aptitude for organic engineering. However, she'd found herself trapped in a cave as a child because of a failed support system. Because of this incident, she didn't want to pursue the same path as her parents. Instead she pursued law and ethics with a minor in dendrology from Planetary University of Xardenora. The same one as as her best friend Xendara.

Because of her close relationship with the Crown Princess of her home world, she would accompany Xendara on many of her diplomatic missions. She was privy to many of the same advantages of Xendara, but with more freedom to move around. It was this freedom that allowed her to meet people, and to her friends horror, introduce Xendara to potential suitors.

Traveling with her friend was her favorite part of everyday. But there was an incident with one of Prince Darijus' friend that caused her to despise traveling to their sister planet of Regvand. She forced her friend to make sure Ronan was never around when they visited.

Facts about Acacia:

Age at the start of The Progenitor Chronicles: 220

Hair Color: Red

Skin: Light

Eye Color: Green

Height: 5’4

Planet of Origin: Xardenora

Powers: Telepathy, life-force manipulation in relation to healing, growing plants, or mimicking animals’ abilities.

Occupation: Lady Acacia - assistant to Princess Xendara

Education: Graduate of the Planetary University of Xardenora with a degree in politics and ethics

Parents: Lady Lilly and Conium

Siblings of significance: None

Personality: Excitable, Bubbly, Mischievous

Read more about Acacia's story.

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?

How to Turn a Rock of an Idea into a Diamond of a Book?

The Wright Writing Process

In my early years, I had inklings I wanted to do something with writing. I wrote silly songs that will never see the light of day outside my elementary school days. I will let no one read my first short stories because they were just me trying something out. But one thing I had always done was let my mind wander into imagined worlds.

Even when I was a small child, I was never alone. Maybe it’s because I didn’t have a sibling, who knows? One thing I had was my stuffed animals. I’d play campfire. I’d place my fabric friends in a circle every week and tell them stories.

Fast forward a few decades and I found myself without a job and caring for my dying grandmother. I learned a lot about myself during that time. I learned a lot of skills too. This is when I got back into writing. I let myself dream again. When I opened that gate to my imagination, it didn’t stop. That’s when I realized I needed to write my stories.

The Progenitor Chronicles Begin

The first scene I’d ever written for this story was a scene that was edited into the second book of the series, The Equinox. I’d originally planned for it to be in the first book, but it didn’t flow well with the story. So, I saved it. In its original form, Darijus had come to Xendara on a hilltop. He didn’t know about Xendara’s powers and was amazed that all the surrounding life bowed to her will.

The second dream I had of this story was a labyrinth maze that ran under the palace. The evil was after Xendara, but her castle would protect her and so would Darijus. Perhaps it was my frequent visits to the mountains that finally changed that vision to trees and the maze of caverns underneath.

Whatever it was, the book was very different after several revisions.

Mind Maps

Besides the random lighting strike of inspiration, sometimes it’s difficult to construct the full image of the idea. That’s why I start with a mind map of my ideas.

Mind maps are a great place for idea dumps. The best part about them is you can use them for anything, including coming up with ideas for a book. But for me, this is usually a time for me to write every weird, crazy idea that I can come up with—trust me, some of my ideas are bizarre.

But I love how they clear my head so that I can see the way forward with an idea. I start with the “What If” statement and go from there surrounding it with characters, plot ideas, and settings.

Plotting

I’ve said before that I am not a plotter. In fact, I can’t handle plotting. I never thought I could plot until I took a writing course and plotted like a villain. I found I didn’t actually need to plot everything out, only the key points.

For me, I use the five key points plotting style.

1) setup

2) exciting incident

3) the villain wins … sort of

4) the hero is thwarted by there’s hope

5) the climax

I put these up on a wall and, with the help of my mind map, I place sticky notes with scene ideas around each point. You can see more about this here.

Writing

I take the plot points and put them into Scrivener and beg writing. I will write a little every day. Sometimes I write about the story and other times I create side stories for the characters. In fact, I ended up in a writing block because I had to create a back story for Xendara’s friend Acacia. There had to be a reason she didn’t like Ronan, so I wrote several scenes I had no intention of sharing, but a few of them ended up in The Equinox.

Characters need a reason they react and if I, as the author, don’t know, I have to create side stories. They can vary in length. Some of them are only a paragraph, while others are several pages long, like Acacia’s story with Ronan.

It takes me about a month or two to write an entire 80k plus book. It just depends on what I have going on in real life.

Editing

Editing is, in fact, my favorite part of the writing experience. It’s where the rock becomes the diamond. But I go through several drafts before I send it to another human to read or edit.

The first step I do is arrange the scenes into chapters in Scrivener and then create a word document. The first pass through, I clean up the grammar and spelling errors with the help of ProWritingAid. This one of my favorite tools because an initial read through is difficult with glaring errors.

The second step I take is developmental and line editing. This is a little different for me than it would be for me doing this type of edit for someone else because I am the author. I take the opportunity during this phase to immerse myself into the character’s head and experience the story from their perspective. I ask myself how would I react in this situation? What would you see, feel, taste, or touch? The elements that are missing in the rough draft are then filled in while I go through the story.

It’s during this phase that I create a reverse outline of the story in Excel. I open a spreadsheet and write the five key plot points. Then for each chapter, I note when a character first appears, when significant events occur, power development if it’s a fantasy story, love interest moments, and a summary. I also include the approximate page numbers and word count.

With every draft I go though I update the information if it changes. If I find a plot hole or I realize I need a new scene to make the story flow, I mark it in the excel sheet with a summary of what I think needs to happen. I will also update how many drafts I go through.

Once the major edits are done, I copy, edit, and proofread before handing it over to human beta readers and editors. There’s a few back-and-forth weeks before I can say the story is polished into a diamond. Then I go over it one last time before I tell my launch team to get ready for a new story.

Launch Teams

Authors use launch teams or advanced reader copy teams to introduce their book to the world. They are provided with an early copy of the book with the hope that the team will leave their review on the day the book is published.

Every author will distribute the books differently, but I send out eBooks to my team for free. This is a great way for me to get feedback. Sometimes there are a few errors that were missed in the first edition that I can fix before the book goes live. The books usually go out about a month before the launch date, by the end I usually send a few extra thank you emails to my team with virtual balloons and fireworks.

I do all of this while marketing my book. I get on social media, write this blog, write blogs for a different company, write newsletters to my bookish fans, and other marketing endeavors. All of this could take anywhere from six to eight months. It just depends on the size of the book.

For readers, if you’d like to be part of my launch team, join my newsletter to be the first to know when the launch team sign ups open again.

Writing a book is a unique process for every author. While there are millions of different books and techniques about writing books, each author has to find the process that works for them.

For me, a book’s journey starts with a dream, an idea, and a mind map.

If you’re an author like me, what’s your writing process? I’d love to hear from you. Leave your comments below.

If you want to know more about my writing journey feel free to leave your questions below.

Check out The Progenitor Chronicles Below

The Progenitor by Sara Wright

Peace was all Xendara desired, but her enemies hunger for her power.Princess Xendara is the heir to the throne, but her life is turned upside-down when a mysterious spaceship attacks. She learns her father had secrets. With his untimely demise, she must uncover them before her enemies remove her from power.In her quest to keep peace within the Six Systems, she discovers a power she didn’t know she had; a power that everyone is looking to exploit. With the help of her childhood friend Darijus, she unlocks long lost memories of her past, only to find his destiny is intertwined with her own.A prophecy guides her choices to the correct timeline. But can she trust a prophecy that foretells the death of a loved one? With the destiny of the Universe on the line, who she chooses to trust will divide a galaxy.

With powers her enemies aim to exploit, will she risk galactic war?

Keep in touch! Sign up for the bi-monthly Wright newsletter to access the latest blogs, projects, sales, and more. As a thank you, you’ll receive the prequel to The Progenitor Chronicles, Time Crystal, for free. Use the signup form below!

Time Crystal by Sara WrightThe Progenitor Chronicles

Synopsis:

Time Crystals are forbidden for a reason, but King Oren must use one to save a civilization.

King Oren’s only goal was to be a peaceful caretaker of the galaxy. But when a girl falls through a portal into his courtyard clutching a forbidden Time Crystal, his life changes.

With a cataclysmic event imminent, he must lead a group from his home system to the opposite side of the galaxy. Everyone looks to their seemingly immortal race for aid, but even with their elemental powers, they are far from perfect.

Armed with the Time Crystal, they seek to stop an exploding star from decimating an entire population. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to use the crystal. Even worse, he might die trying.

Will King Oren stop the star from exploding? Or will time unravel?