Volume V & Beyond

…And I’m back! This will be short, so let’s dive right in.

Without preambling over another year coming to a close, let’s fixate on the important stuff. I’ve kept up my writing through December, and volume V now has a second draft, the word count increasing from 75k to 95k. Yes, it will be the shortest book in my series. I’m rather pleased with how everything turned out, after spending a good deal of time finding how to ‘crack’ it. This will shape the narration of future books to the culmination of the series. So, let’s talk about volume V for a bit.

This book is a stand-alone within the series. It’s a bridge between the first half and the second half. It follows three characters that weren’t featured prominently in the front half of the series, but they will be part of the main cast in the latter half. Theoretically, you could skip volume V on a second read through because volumes IV and VI are back to back in the timeline, but if skipped the first time around, you’ll miss a lot of crucial elements that shape the end of the series.

Thus far, the series has asked a lot of questions and hasn’t given many answers. A lot is revealed in volume V, not only because the plot necessitated it, but readers need to know for the future installments. I play close to the chest when writing, but there needs to be dividends to keep readers engaged and coming back. It’s time that investment pays off.

I will reveal a character in the book, and I believe I’ve touched on it before: En Rohg Guhl Suhr. The best way to describe him is an entity. His name means ‘the god among us,’ and he certainly lives up to such a lofty title. He will be an antagonist moving forward, and in the same vein of Darth Vader and Voldemort, less is more. In magic—or in the Force for Star Wars fans—you often face a question, ‘who is more powerful?’ I can say this with confidence, few can stand against him. The triumvirate of Starriace, Judas, and Xilor would have to work in concert to stand the minutest chance of surviving. It’s akin to A New Hope Luke Skywalker facing Darth Vader, or the sensation of dread you get after Dumbledore dies, leaving Harry to face Voldemort alone. It should be an oh shit moment, and it is. Down the road, I will discuss En Rohg in detail, how this entity came to be, and why he’s so powerful. For now, don’t want to give too much away.

So, where does that leave me now? I’m currently finishing the last draft to a novella called Red Creek, and it’ll need to hit the editor’s desk. It’s due out next year, as is volume III: The Jackal of Shades. Both need cover art, so I’ll be searching for an artist after the tax season. Also, during the first four months of next year, I plan to write draft three of volume IV: Lord of the Underworld, and I plan to flesh out and finish the first draft of Warmaster, the sequel to The Demon’s Fate. A lot of moving parts, but I’m all for it. I work better once goals are written down. Perhaps I should do it more often.

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