Hey guys,
Just wanted to give my monthly update. Here’s your fill on the news.
Facebook group posts
As some of you may have noticed, I’ve made a few more posts on my Facebook author page. I thought it would be fun to posts poll and field questions for what you’d like to see for the next book in the Vestige Saga. The last post we voted for names of a fantasy creature called a shrink (a miniature half shrew half mink.)
The third contenders: Psyche, Filch and (Mc)-Tavish, duked it out, but no one scraped out a top slot. (Pockets was an honorable mention, but never officially made the comment section.) So, I’ve decided to use all the names in the story somehow and keep Filch for the Shrink’s name as it was the first vote cast.
Thanks to all who participated. I’ve asked a friend of mine to draw something for an upcoming post. Hopefully, this will liven up that one and make it easier to visualize. My goal is for posts twice a month like here.
In the meantime, if you want to decide what comes next for the Vestige’s world, here’s a link to the page. Drop it a like to stay up to date. I’d like to make the community a bit more active.
New Editions of the Vestige Saga
I’m happy to announce Book one’s editions went live much faster than anticipated. The paperback turned out much thinner and dropped the production cost significantly. This means it will be cheaper on my readers and me, so it’s a win-win.
I’m looking to have a new edition of Book two ready by early 2021. I’m just waiting on my scheduling with my editor. Unfortunately, that won’t start until January.
Lafonda and Leo Heroes of the land
Good news, my middle grade fantasy is nearing completion of its first draft. Although I’ve labeled it differently. Technically, it comes together as first complete draft. I’ll rewrite and post chapters on the Write Practice Pro Workshop for feedback. Hopefully it’ll start the first round of editing in two months, but that depends on their availability.
Would you guys be interested in a preview here?
Future Projects
As far as future projects go, I have an idea for a story I’m really excited about, but don’t know how much I wanna say yet. Usually when I do, it loses its glow. Call me superstitious, I guess, lol.
Previously, I tossed around alternating books between The Vestige Saga/ its world, and something new.
Since Lafonda and Leo’s basically finished, this book would take place in Kanaa, but not a direct follow-up to What Lies Beneath. I wanted to explore a new set of characters and Beauregard’s master plan. I found a character from Sonia’s circus backstory very alluring. The working title is The Trapezist’s Lullaby: A Vestige Story.
I also have a few other projects that I started pursuing, but I’m not sure if there’d be interest. Before I’d mentioned I tried chasing many rabbits and caught none. If you think you’d like to see any of these more than the others, let me know in the comments.
These stories were:
-
Synder’s Gate- (pronounced like cinder)
An urban fantasy exploring how modern wizardry would work. The story follows a teenage girl who uncovers an underground wizarding world cleverly disguised as MMO where evil forces known as Trojans wish to destroy her link to the updating pocket dimension.
My major problem is I hated the main character, Paige Price, and I couldn’t make it work for the life of me. Generally, I felt she was too bland. She was a typical teenage girl, but slightly out of place with other kids, especially with her military family background always making her move. Her mother works hard to make ends meet while her father’s deployed. I wrote four or five chapters and rewrote them in different POV’s but couldn’t figure out what wasn’t working.
-
The Veldt, a novella-
Inspired by Ray Bradbury & the works of fellow SPS alumni J. Sharpe and Jali Henry, it followed a paranormal adventure where a detective and her poly-morphed partner must travel the twisted mindscape and confront the demons orchestrating a series of murders before they force the culprit to strike again.
A few months ago, I posted the rough opening here and wrote more, but I can’t recall whether I posted the rest. I felt there was too much horror, and that’s not my style. Also, I received the SPFBO news around that time too. But I loved playing with the cadence and poetry of the narration.
-
The Lotus Waltz–
For a little while, I tried writing a prequel/standalone novel from Sonia’s perspective on the circus, her childhood, and Jasper, and I planned to pair it with Desmodius’s past in alternating POVs, ending with their meeting.
Someone I know really wanted more on Des, and it pains me I can’t find the time to write it. I wrote three or four chapters of Sonia’s story and couldn’t make Jasper work without being creepy. However, I fell in love with a few of the characters though. One, (now named Psyche Bates ;)) is the main character in her own story.
-
Vestige Isle of Infection (Vestige Saga Book Three)-
Currently, I don’t plan on finishing this until there seems to be more interest in book two to justify it. I just can’t afford it yet, and more importantly, I want to get it right. Many loose ends and plot threads need following. It may take a bit.
Here Sinopa’s must learn mastery over sorcery to prepare for war and stop the saryx disease before it consumes her. Edith played a crucial role on the Isles of Jahara, and the story dove into potions, the four beasts, and the White Lilly Oracle.
I’d also plotted in my head a companion novel focusing on Des and his hunt for revenge, love, and power/purpose with the working title How Deep the Stripes, a tragic love story. It just needed writing.
Please let me know if any of these stories interest you.
I plan on writing the some short stories and Trapezist’s Lullaby next, but if any of these seem more enticing, let me know. The Veldt was probably the closest to completion.
Audiobook Production
Vestige Rise of the Pureblood’s becoming an audiobook. Currently, the narrator received his copy for the studio. and he will send a fifteen minute sample. If I approve it, the book goes forward. It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Conclusion
Thanks for checking in. Until next time,
Keep Writing!
Antonio