Writing Update - Feb 7th, 2024

Hey guys!

As always, expect them every Friday at Noon EST along with a video talking about my reading and some other writing updates if that suits you better.

I segment writing updates into current drafting phases and refer to whatever projects I have in the works to be as transparent as possible. I’m excited for you all to be engaged with the world of Mercy—so here. we. go.

Primary Novel Update:

Book Two — Mercy: (Title to be announced) — is back on the CHOPPING BLOCK.

More like a revising block… but you get it.

Current Word Count: 185,521

(Really looking forward to diving back into this one)

Book two has been fascinating to go back into. Seeing my first draft writing and now having the tools given to me by Dave Butler and his edits of book one are drastically changing how I look at this manuscript.

By word count, you can tell it’s shorter than last week. But it feels far more concise already and like I’m getting across more.

I will be looking for alpha/beta readers in the early summer time for those interested! Please… as I said leave in the comments if you are.

Once Book two has been revised thoroughly enough (we’re looking at April) I will be starting my first draft of book three! Something I think about constantly in terms of where the story is going. And drafting a book ahead while book two is still being worked will help story a lot of how I foreshadow and bake things into the narrative—which always feels amazing.

Book one — Mercy: Tears of the Fallen

(Here for continuity)

Developmental Editing Progress: Donezo!

Current word count: 192,945 words

~202,500 from the initial start of this round of edits and from ~235,000 overall at the start of the editing phase.

Excited the York Editing Guild and Gracie have my manuscript. Really excited to see how it turns out and the corrections that will need to be made.

I have 2 proofreaders lined up and came up with a cool introduction to the dramatic personae as written by an archivist I’m excited to see through.

Novellas:

Mercy: During Reckoning Collection

(Here for continuity)

The timeline for my Web-Serial Novella ‘Snow Mane’ is looking to be coming together.

After I get my first round of edits/rewrites of book 2 done, I will start putting more time into this project so you guys can get a chapter a week of Halvayne’s at the start of the Reckoning.

Short Stories:

Before Reckoning (Anthology Title)

(Here for continuity)

The Blood Rebellion Short Story is available in the “Before Reckoning” collection! If you haven’t, check it out and let me know your thoughts—I’ve been very excited to share this one.

Artwork:

I’m working on another art commission currently to bring the opening scene of Book One to life!

A map done by Jack Shepherd is currently being worked on! We will see some drafts I believe in February—cannot wait to share it with you guys.

I’m getting more excited about getting a cover done for book two prior to book one’s release. I have some great ideas and I’m fortunate to have Abel in my corner when it comes to typography and interior design/formatting.

There will be so much more shared over the course of these writing updates, in the video above, I discuss some audiobook hopefuls for who will narrate the project!

(Copy pasted for continuity)

In terms of a cover for book two, I’m penciled in with the same artist for Book one’s (Stuart Bache—who’s done Jacquelyn Haegen’s work and Ryan Cahill’s as well). I should be starting that process come July, so a book two cover will be ready to rock come August/September of this year!! I will later announce a date for book two once I dive back into rework the first draft.

See you guys next Friday!

P.S—if you’re interested in an E-ARC and we haven’t spoke, let me know in the comments as well!

P.P(lol). S—if you’d consider being an alpha beta reader for me, please let me know. I’m thinking of eventually making this a Paid Patreon tier situation—not too sure. But for right now, if people are interested in this, I would be happy to have you along for the rest of the series and projects further down the road.

Stay dangerous,

Chance