Oh, Wait, What is this Book About Anyway?

You know, it’s occurred to me that shortly the cover artist will start work on the cover for This Hour, Our Vigil, and once I have the cover, I can both do final editing and drop it at my Patreon, AND put it up for preorder on Amazon. Massively far in advance, which will be odd, but even so, if I’ve got the cover, why wait? But of course I will then need description for it.

I will never forget putting Invictus up for preorder with “Description here” for the description, because I didn’t realize Amazon would show it to readers without my saying by the way, this is up for preorder to ANYBODY, so I thought I would have time to add the description before anybody saw it. Whoops, no, and now I am more careful to add the description before I put a book up for preorder, as you can imagine.

Also, I’ve got the cover for Hedesa right here, and although I’m not at all likely to put it up for preorder until I know for sure I can make whatever deadline, I AM likely to put it up for preorder pretty soon. Remember, it has to drop at my Patreon well in advance of going up on Amazon. Two weeks is about the minimum, I feel. It is April, or near enough. Assuming I’m ALMOST finished with this draft and get revision comments back from early readers by the end of April … May, June, July … hmm. I would like to drop Hedesa at Amazon June 2nd. Not sure I can make that, though. I do want to drop it early in whatever month, so if I don’t feel secure about June 2nd, then probably July 2nd. Which seems a long way away, but really isn’t.

So I need description for that one as well.

***

THIS HOUR, OUR VIGIL

The veil between the worlds is growing thin.

At midwinter, as the old year dies and before the new year dawns, Tenai Ponanon Chaisa-e, Nolas-Kuomon, Lord Death’s lady, can open the veil at a whim. She may do so if she chooses, for herself or for anyone else who has the need, or the desire, to step from one world to another. After all the dire peril of the past summer, no one could be surprised if Nola Danyel or his daughter Jenna chose to return to their own world.

Taranah Berangilan-sa, the king’s aunt, would strongly prefer that both Danyel and his daughter remain in Talasayan. Indeed, everyone sensible will surely set that prayer before God as midwinter approaches. Taranah has more reason than most to hold that hope, but nor does she wish to persuade Danyel to a choice he may regret.

As the long nights stretch out, everyone must face the decisions and risks midwinter brings …

***

What do you think? You’ve mostly read the story, I expect, and if not, you basically know what it’s about, I’m sure. I’m inclined to put the back cover description into Taranah’s voice, as you see. I threw all the names into the description, which I would NEVER do for the first book in a new world, because a bunch of unfamiliar names would be a serious turn-off to lots of readers. I’m assuming very few readers will ever pick this book up without having read the earlier books in the series, and I’m assuming that even though many readers won’t remember the exact names, they’ll be all right with SEEING the names in the description. But I could be persuaded this isn’t true.

Next:

***

HEDESA

Two years ago, a brave and desperate Tarashana woman asked the Ugaro and Lord Aras for help against mysterious enemies who threatened to destroy her people. Those enemies were thrown back and cast into disarray, but the threat has not ended. The peaceful Tarashana may not be able to face that threat on their own.

Now that woman’s father, Hedesaveriel, has asked both the Ugaro and the Lau to help his people remove that threat.

Offended by the actions of those enemies, the king of the winter country will permit an expedition to investigate and, if necessary, forcefully express Ugaro displeasure. Curious regarding all those distant people and events, the king of the summer country is inclined to support that expedition and send people of his own to witness unfolding events and recommend the appropriate Lau response.

Raga inGara speaks the Tarashana language as well as any of his people — he’ll accompany that expedition. He looks forward to it with delighted enthusiasm.

Tano inGara isn’t so confident the expedition will be easy or safe, but he certainly doesn’t intend to let Raga go without him.

***

This was a lot harder than THIS HOUR.

I feel it’s necessary to re-orient readers to the basic idea and offer a reminder about where this story falls in the timeline of events. HEDESA begins immediately after TASMAKAT, which means before RIHASI, though by the time everyone actually returns from this expedition, it might be about the same time. I’ll have to keep track and either integrate events so the timeline continues to make sense or make sure the stories don’t step on each other’s toes.

But this means I reserved Tano’s name for the end. Of course the ending line is emphasized almost as much as the first line.

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