First Draft Done!

It's messy and chaotic, and I'm celebrating!

I’m still in a state of shock. I knew that I was coming near to the end of my novel, and that I’d written the culminating scene and had finished off the different character arcs, but when I wrote what was definitely the final sentence yesterday, I didn’t believe it.

I’ve been working on this book for a year. (I have creatively named it ‘Book Four’ since my actual working title gives too much away.)

It took time to find my way into the story. I had done a lot of research into quantum reality and consciousness and awareness, some of which I’ve shared in this newsletter, and I needed time to let that sit before I could see how it would fit into the narrative.

I’d also done an outline for the first time, which was a life raft during the first half of the book when I was heading into unknown waters. I was feeling my way around, looking for the thread, so it was good to have a guide to hold onto.

However, shortly after the mid-point, my characters started moving in new directions that weren’t part of the plan. This is my favourite part of the writing process and when the real magic happens: when you know your characters well enough and are deep enough into the story that they start to act on their own.

For the second half of the book, the story took on a life of its own. I held on for the ride, trying to do justice to the character’s new plans, and loved seeing how it all came together. It is different than what I originally planned, and so much better.

I made copious amounts of notes while writing the second half, of everything I needed to change in the first half so that it would all fit into a lovely, unified, compelling whole. That will be where I start after I do the first read through this week. All the notes I made of backstory and relationships and ulterior motives need to find a place in the next version.

I am so, so excited. Partially because I wasn’t sure this book would make it this far, and mostly because I love this story. And I hope you will too.

Once I get further into the edits I’ll be setting a launch date and I’ll keep everyone posted here. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Upcoming Events

Can-Con, Bookstreet Hotel, Ottawa, October 18 & 19. My favourite speculative conference. I won’t be on any panels this time round since I’m attempting to keep life simple, but I’ll be volunteering and generally hanging out if you’re in the area.

Local Author Book Fair, Barrie Public Library, December 6, 10 - 3. A wonderful Christmas market filled with local authors and artisans.

Book Talk

I finished reading Love at First Plight this week, a book written by two women who I absolutely love. We’ve been next to each other at several local book fairs (see photo on the RHS below) and they always make the day so much fun.

I had read this during the pandemic, but after seeing them recently picked it up again to refresh my memory before I read book two in their Perspective Series.

It is a wonderful, refreshing Young Adult fantasy featuring two strong, resilient young women who are having their reality questioned and their place in it, in all the best ways. What I really enjoyed was how they laid out the world and the story in tantalizing, methodical bread crumbs so that I kept reading, wanting to know more about them, their situation, and the world they were in. Qarradune is beautifully drawn with fascinating contradictions, i.e. the best kind of world.

The good part is that there are five more books in the series that I am now on my way to read.

Geek Corner

I attended Comic Fest at our local library at the end of September. It was my second time at this kind of event and since the organizers ‘encourage costumes and cosplay’ I thought I would up my costume this time around and add a wig to Storm Freeman, the main character of The Gatherer series. The silver suit protects her from electromagnetic fields.

A few of the more experienced co-splayers at Comic Fest, along with yours truly.

It was a day filled with hanging out with cosplayers who are passionate and dedicated to their craft, and seeing some of the most amazing costumes I have ever seen. It was also a day of recognizing the amount of talent in our community and how each one of us has a different way of expressing it. We are lucky to have such an active library that provides great support for its local authors and creatives.