You’re doing what?!?
Writing a 21 book/novella series… and in my sleep Cthulhu eats my brain.
This came about thanks to @lilcrow during a flurry of twitter when she asked me what I wrote, and I blabbed about my series, later realising I’d given her the complete wrong impression. She’d assumed I’d actually finished this mammoth task, and flattering as it was, I’m a long way off. But I am determined… if somewhat crazy.
And she’s not the only person to question my sanity, or in fact, what it actually is I’m doing.
So here goes – I’m writing a 21 book/novella series.
10 books and 11 novellas.
3 are available now;
The Hidden Monastery; Novella 1
The Last Prophecy; Novella 2
The Well of Youth; Book 1
I will hopefully this year release the next two books in the series;
To Chase a Prophecy; Novella 3
A Phantom Presence; Book 2
The books revolve around a prophecy found during the 2nd novella – and thus what the series is named after… the Last Prophecy;
Since capture and taming of fire
Cross worlds lit by man’s pyre
Relics of old will not rust
Lost in time, crowned in dust
In man’s hands, certain fate
Gripped by limitless hate
Frozen tears start to thaw
Sleepers awaken from before
Shadows slink in puppet’s guise
Striking the sinless, led by the wise
Words of gods cross the night sky
Struck black earth, letting virtue die
Let loose the howling beast
Hear its lies on devouring feast
Twisting thoughts through fear
Singing to silence not to hear
See echoes of a soul unknown
Holding deceit in the heart of its throne
Turning the key on misguided fool
Exhausting the dead, endless pool
Feel the lingering touch of blight
Stealing from seer, sacred light
By the fists of many, a realm will quake
Time for world’s end to awake
Brought together by faith, led by a lie
Till the end, where darkness comes to die
Found in a sealed cave written by a mad immortal, it tells of an age when the word faced a time of great distress. And in such times, humanity always turns to the surest methods of survival, even at the cost of their own morality.
The overarching story features a series of books that are mostly standalone, but are best read with the novellas. This will change as the series progresses, but for the moment the books can be read by themselves. They feature a range of characters of different countries and backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, in a world that changes them, and what they choose to do about it.
The novellas for the most part follow Lady Katarina Salisbury, as she does her best to discover the origins of the prophecy, and how best to stop its unimaginable power falling into the hands of those that would misuse it. Or so she thinks. Her story is interwoven between the novellas and in some of the books.
At the moment I have also got half of two of the books in the series done, and a couple of the novellas, so while I have not even reached half way on this project, I am cutting through it, one book at a time. I write a book every year, and a novella every November for Nanowrimo.
Each book is about 130k words, and each novella ranges between 45 and 70k words.
WHY??
Why would I do this to myself?! What unhinged dream that came swirling out of my dark imagination convinced me that I could do this, let alone would? Still got a good guess for who I blame…
Ever hear the saying that in ever person is a book? Well… I have a series.
I’ve never been convinced I couldn’t. Every time I wonder if tackling this self publishing thing is worth it, I have to remind myself that underneath it all is a very definitive purpose, I’ve been as sure of this book series as though its my own breath.
And this is why I self published. I couldn’t let anyone else dictate to me how these books had to be written, I just knew that this is how it would be. When you have a gut instinct driving you to spend your weekends indoors writing, and throwing every single penny you have at it, it becomes everything you are.
And I’ve never been prouder of myself – and from someone who has contemplated suicide in a fit of depression, anxiety, and an overwhelming feeling of uselessness, that statement speaks for itself.
So, writers and creators, don’t let anyone stop you, no matter how crazy you think your idea is, because otherwise it will be stuck inside you until the day you die and you’ll only have regret. And if that’s not a scary enough threat for you, then try this; imagine how proud you’ll be when you’re done. I know I will be, because I already am.
