So I am actually an author

With so much going on in my life, it’s no wonder these Adventures posts of mine have been focused on other things. But, as I’ve mentioned, I am an author. And part of the reason for blogging it to try and get my name out there,.And to do so in the most cost effective way possible. I write every day. It’s part of my morning routine regardless as to whether or not I’m working. Something those of you following these Adventures blogs will know. But, what I haven’t done so far, is talk about my writing.

So, whilst we’re in this current lull. The one between applying for a mortgage and hearing whether or not it’s been accepted. Why not spend a little time talking about my actual passion?

I am at heart a fantasy writer. I lean a little more towards slice of life storytelling. But there’s always some magical element. Sometimes more towards the magical realism side of things. Sometimes more pure fantasy. Over the last eight years or so, my writing has been focused on the world where Neva Aton exists. Neva Aton is a town within an Earth very similar to the one we live on. Only this Earth has magic, obviously.

I hadn’t intended to become so focused on this particular reality. It all started when I was re-editing Hyena Boy. At the time Hyena Boy was set in an unspecified town in Devon. It was also a standalone story I’d first written when I was doing my A-Levels. This was not the first time I’d tackled edits/re-writes with it. But this was the time that would go on to change everything.

It all started with little moments I noticed between two of the characters. Queer little moments. Queer little shippable moments, And the more passes I did with the story, the more defined I made those moments. Until, eventually, I figured I should just make it actual text. Text with curious little moments, hinting an entire other story might be going on. And, well, if anyone was going to write the fanfiction for that, it should be the author, right?

Writing The Colours I See, as a companion book to Hyena Boy, meant giving the town a name. Neva Aton. Never a ton. Never a town. Basic, maybe. But it fit with naming conventions in Devon. At least enough to sound like it might exist there. The Colours I See shared Hyena Boy’s timeline. Even having crossover moments shown from the POV of the new main character. As such, I did not expect The Colours I See to become the absolute doorstop of a narrative it became. Nor did I expect writing it to sow the seeds of another book. No Doors Allowed. And, once again, there’s a different character taking the lead. Only this time the story is set after the events of Hyena Boy and The Colours I See.

And then, when you have stories for three of the four main friends, you shouldn’t ignore the fourth one. We Giants. Set part way through No Doors Allowed. Four stories. Four friends. Two sets of companion books. One collection. The Neva Aton Collection. A collection and not a series, because the books can be read in any order. Even if there is an earlier part of the timeline and a later part of it.

I spent a lot of time in this world, with these characters. Both when writing and editing the stories. So it was only natural I would start wondering about what happens next. Who are their children. What kind of family do these four friends go on to create. And who’s perspective do I want to see that future from? Step in Toby. The first book in what would become the What Makes Me series. And from there my obsession with this world and these characters became a driving passion. And eagerly I was there, ready and waiting, to explore everything on offer.

With each subsequent series, more of the fantasy elements come into focus. But the heart of the story remains the same. The characters and their relationships to and with each other. Sometimes they’re just twisty slices of life. Sometimes they take much more dramatic turns. But the same love, care, and passion goes into writing and editing each one. So, hopefully soon, the next series set within this world will come out. I just need to feel as though I’ve finished the editing process first. And come up with a name for the series. Oh, and covers. I need covers too.

But still, hopefully soon, the next expansion of Neva Aton’s world will be released. Standing alongside it’s grandparent and parent series. Creating an impact on those who read. Because that’s why I write. I write to reach people. To move people. To share emotions. Joy. Love. Sadness. Anger. I write because stories matter. And now I kind of sound pretentious or whatever, so I’ll stop there.

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