Something of a 2020 wrap up/2021 goals

(some pretties just because)

I'm not planning on doing a whole lot of wrapping up for 2020. It was a sucky year and honestly I don't want to relive most of it. So here is a brief summation focusing solely on the bright points of this year:

One of my best friends (Faith) got to visit me for a whole week this summer

I grew so much closer to afore mentioned friend, my other bestie (Lila) and my family over the harshness of this year, if anything it showed me what really matters and who is really there for you

I finally had time to start playing video games again (especially Skyrim) and discovered that my love of video games had not in fact diminished over the years

I discovered two of my favorite songs Bring Me Back to Life and Just One Yesterday which I then proceeded to listen to on repeat an inordinate number of times

I think I've really made a lot of progress in my art (which was one of my 2020 Goals so score there)

To illustrate here is a  group picture of some of my characters from one of my WIPs from earlier this year.

And here is a project I recently completed of my current WIP...

I also finally started digital art in the past couple of weeks, time will tell if I actually improve with that XD

I'm reading again? But I'm going to make that sound more like a question than a statement so I don't jinx myself

I learned a lot of lessons

I didn't do a whole lot of writing in the first half of this year, I think I only accomplished one of my 2020 writing goals. Stress burnt me out y'all, but over the course of the last half of the year I did manage to finally publish Of Gold and Iron and I started a new story called Rage Like the Gods that I am now 100k words into. I absolutely adore it and have so much more going on in that world right now and just really. I love this story.

My 2020 word of the year started out of as Thrive but yeah it ended up being more like Survive. Which I did. *weak cheers*

Well that's enough of 2020. Now to 2021

I'm not really going to hold onto a whole bunch of plans for 2021. Mostly my plan is to just:

Keep on steppin...

Continue to practice my art, read more, enjoy other hobbies like video games, follow my muse

And seriously, if I can get it through my thick skull, stress less.

For writing I have a slightly more mapped out plan. Loosely mapped out anyway...

It is to work on three WIPs those being:

Rage Like the Gods

An Assassin's Guide to the Gods

A Winter Dark and Deadly

I think three projects is a good stretch for me because I like having multiple projects in different stages it offers me variety when I'm hitting writer's block with one. But three projects is also much more manageable than say five projects.

When I finish RLtG and Assassin's Guide I plan on simply moving on to their sequels.

AWDAD is what I call my fast track to publishing, so instead of working on a series like I did for my other projects, when I finish this book I will move down to the next one I'm planning to publish. So after AWDAD I plan on doing Of Gold and Iron's book two Of Stars and Shadows. After OSaS will be SoS, after that MoC and on down the line and I guess we shall see how many of my backlogged projects I get done...

A year is a very long time to determine all of everything I will write so I'm keeping my schedule flexible and leaving room for new WIP ideas or possibly finally editing LoT who knows? I certainly don't.

My word of the year is probably going to be Regrow or something like that.

And that's all, bye, 2020, you won't be missed. I know a lot of people, possibly everyone had a really hard year, but I'm hoping that you also had a list of highlights. And that 2021 is kinder to us all.

Look I can explain... no wait... no I can't

 Sooooooo I'm sure of you have probably derived from the title of this post that I have decided to switch up my writing plans. Once again.

I'd blame New Years goals and resolutions, but honestly I just changed my mind XD

I'm sure some of you remember my post NaNo report where I said that I would be working on RLtG, SoS, and OSaS. Well I was right about one of those stories XD

I have a new plan now. It's a good plan too (says me the one who made said plan). I'm still working on RLtG (it's the book that stayed, although I'm sure you already could have guessed that given my obsession over this story).

The second story is why SoS and OSaS got pushed back to farther back into 2021, and that is because I decided that I really just wanted to publish A Winter Dark and Deadly first. Imma post more about that hopefully this January, I have a lot of new ideas that I can't wait to share, but that's not the purpose of this post.

This post is about the third story I shall be working on. An introduction to my new WIP. A WIP that takes place in the same world as RLtG, the first in a companion series, having nothing to do with being the chosen one. Or being very noble at all for that matter.

A book that is... well why don't you just read the blurb for yourself XD

An Assassin's Guide to the Gods

(images from Pinterest all credit to their original creators)

Once there was an inn, and it was the center of a criminal empire...

 

Elwis the Eel used to be a silver-tongued merchant with a penchant for the illegal. Now he is an assassin lord, a vampire, a necromancer, and a father. He has done questionable things to become what he is, and he will do worse to hold onto what is rightfully his. Even from the famed Thief Queen, a vampire herself who ruled a criminal empire a thousand years ago, and apparently is still alive after all this time.  All he wants is power… and maybe to rule the world, is that too much to ask?

 

Kylne wants nothing more than to make a peaceful life for herself. To settle in a small hut in the middle of nowhere with nothing more than her alchemical supplies and maybe a dog or two. Instead, she discovers two brothers driven from their home by the dark creatures known as vampires. They are willing to pay good money to get revenge on the monsters that stole everything from them. Money that Klyne could use to finally buy that better life she always dreamed of. So long as the brothers don’t accidentally get her killed first.

 

Balemila, or Mila to her friends if she has any left after making the infamous decision to become a Magicker rather than marry her fiancé, would settle for eternal fame. When she is hired by a mysterious wealthy lord to find the cure for vampirism, a task most believe to be impossible, she jumps at the chance. What she didn’t bargain for was to find herself falling for her employer, learning the truth behind his deadly secrets, or to become a vampire herself.

 

The hunt has begun. An assassin, a ranger, and a magicker, all locked in a deadly game, pitted against each other. There can only be one victor… or can there?

So story wise, it is a standalone (I've never actually written one of those yet, so that's pretty exciting). It's the first book in a trilogy, all standalones about different characters, but with connections between them.

The common factors of this series is vampirism and crime. It's definitely going to have a much darker undertone than it's cousin series RLtG.

Since this story takes place in Ruskhazar, of course I couldn't resist the opportunity to add tie ins, and even have main characters in this be side characters from the RLtG series.

Each book in this trilogy is about three main characters each. They are different characters each book, but all connected, mostly through Elwis the Eel. I decided I'd share all three books today, and share their blurbs, since they are standalones and so sharing book 2s blurb won't spoil too much of what happens in book 1, same for book 3. And also I spent forever on these blurbs and I'm mildly proud with how they turned out XD

An Immortal's Guide to Betraying the Gods

(images from Pinterest all credit to their original creators)

Once there was a queen of thieves, but then she lost everything…

 

Talmryn used to rule an empire of outcasts, a thousand years later she finds herself cruelly awakened in a new and strange world, mortal, but not helpless. She will retake her empire, but first she needs immortality. And Talmryn will only settle for the best. However, a masked stranger who appears to be looking for the same ancient bloodline as she is, quickly disrupts her plans as he appears everywhere she goes, and even threatens to steal her heart like the thief he is. And then there is the matter of her fiancé, a man she simply needs for his family heirloom and then she can kill him. But he seems to have different plans about his destiny.

 

Ragla has a new purpose in life; killing vampires. As a werewolf she is uniquely suited to hunt down the blood suckers and end their dark reign. She has lost so much, her pack, the man she once thought she would marry, everything she once believed. As a vampire hunter at least she has the chance to help innocents and fight for what is right. Joining forces with a mercenary with just as little to lose, she sets out to inflict a some pain on the creatures of night.

 

Jarena has a legacy to live up to. As the mortal daughter of an influential vampire lord and a powerful magicker, the world is at her fingertips. She can do anything, be anything she wants to be… the only problem is she has no idea what she wants. Her journey to self discovery takes a dangerous turn as she realizes that she is a little more vampire than she had first thought. Joined in her quest by a vampire girl with amnesia and an alchemist desperate to save his dying master, Jarena is going to have to figure out just what she is looking for or else risk losing it forever.

 

Immortality is complicated, especially when people are trying to kill you. The paths of these three girls are inexplicably entwined in a very deadly way. One the hunter, one the prey, and one the victim… but which is which?

A Lady's Guide to Defying the Gods

(images from Pinterest all credit to their original creators)

Once there was an assassin lord, and he had three daughters...

 

It wasn’t always easy being the daughter of Elwis the Eel, but he had given Corallin a home when the whole world turned its back on her. And she would do anything for him. Even apparently follow through with his crazy scheme to marry her off to a stranger. A mad stranger at that. A boy touched by magic and sorcery and driven to the brink of insanity because of it.

 

Worse things could be asked of Anya than marrying her best friend, the son of a wealthy merchant and business partner of her father’s, their marriage will secure Elwis the Eel’s hold over the shipping industry. And it will secure Anya’s happiness. Once her husband, Trefil will allow her to pursue her fascination with all things having to do with sorcery. Maybe she even loves him. But her fiancé is hiding something from her, something that may cost her everything.

 

Tamara is supposed to marry the heir to the Abakumov name, problem is she hasn’t decided which brother will be the heir. The older brother is kind, but the younger brother has a dark heart to match her own, and probably wouldn’t be opposed to stealing his brother’s fiancé, his inheritance, or his life. The only obstacle is the brothers’ magicker bodyguard who seems to be the only person to see beyond Tamara’s carefully crafted façade and to the vulnerable girl underneath.

 

Their husbands have been chosen for them, but when you are an assassin’s daughter, things are never so simple. True love, the sting of betrayal, or the bond between sisters… which is stronger?

And there you have it: An Assassin's Guide. I'm in love with how stabby these books are going to be, I can't wait to start book one with this new year. Or to share more about it later down the line. And for that matter I can't wait to share more about AWDAD as well...

 Today I'm here to reveal the first book Jes Drew will be releasing into the new year. And it's cover. Merry Christmas!

The next book in the Kristian Clark multiverse, only it's starring a slightly different male protagonist...

I’m not the best of men, but I’m not the worst of them either. I’m simply a man with a hard job to do. A complicated one. A sometimes dirty one. But a duty that is absolutely necessary for the future of my nation.

And as the husband of the first ever female President of the United States, that’s a responsibility that is very close to my heart. Sort of like Arizona, not that my best friend for two decades would ever understand. Even if we are kind of married now.

There’s a lot of things she wouldn’t understand about me. But that’s okay. It’s not her job to worry about the deep state Committee that’s trying to make every politician their puppet, including her. She certainly doesn’t need to know that I’m on that Committee, or that, as my alter ego the Master Spy, I can thwart those plans. After all, that’s my job. Hers is running the free world.

But between trying to maintain three different identities, training a new henchman, hunting down the one that got away, and keeping the bad guys from hurting the woman I love, it’s all in the day’s work. The secret that gets me is my unrequited love for my best friend turned wife.

Coming January 20, 2021

One Hundred Thousand

 

(images from Pinterest, all credit to their original creators)

Folks, today is a very big day because today Rage Like the Gods has reached that ever monumental 100k. It's still going strong. I have no clue how long this story is going to be, so I guess we shall just have to wait and see.

So to celebrate I thought I would share some fun aesthetics and snippets as well as the title for book two.

But first I decided to actually make a go at writing a blurb. Which isn't exactly my favorite thing to do XD Especially not for my ginormous books, in fact I would actually describe trying to describe 100k+ books in less than 300 words as quite frankly torturous and honestly I have considered trad publishing just to get someone to write my blurb for me (jk but only slightly...). I know that some people offer services to do just that, but unfortunately I am dirt broke poor, which means I have to do my own dirty work.

But anyway here was my first attempt at writing a blurb for RLtG:

Ruskhazar is a land of mountains and magic; men and elves. And it is threatened by a dark evil. The dead are rising, commanded by a band of powerful necromancers. Things that should have stayed dead now roam free. If left unchallenged this necromantic army will only grow until nothing can stop it and the living fall to their own ancestors.

The gods have chosen their champions to stop this from happening.

Unfortunately, these champions are just strangers waking up in the same jail, with no memory of how they even got there.

 

A bandit turned assassin with nothing to fight for and no one to live for.

A bard willing to do what it takes to make it in this world, stealing hearts and coin purses as he goes.

A student whose only dream is to attend the Academy of Magickers before she is married off to a stranger for her father’s political gain.

An exile from another land, determined to make it in this new land by selling her sword arm until she has a chance to reclaim the honor she forfeited.

On their shoulders rests the future of Ruskhazar.

 

When an attack from an undead kraken sets them free, these chosen ones set out on their separate paths, unaware of each other’s presence. And unwilling to save a world that never had any place for them. Instead, they find a different fate. A second chance at life. Love worth fighting for. Monsters that come in many forms. And a mad sorceress determined to save the world no matter the cost.

Now the aesthetics and snippets! (all images are from Pinterest, credit goes to their original creators)

Meruna:

“Legend has it that this college holds every book ever written. Sometimes even the original tomes, penned straight from the author’s quill.” I run my hand across the worn covers of the nearest books. “Not just the books about magic. Or even books just written in Ruskhazar. For years faithful magickers have traveled the world in service of the college in order to find these books from other lands.”

"And it takes my breath away// what you do so naturally// you are the thunder and I am the lightning/ everything comes naturally// when you're with me baby." -Naturally by Selena Gomez

Eirik:

"I can explore a castle and court Sassa at the same time. I’m good at multitasking like that. For one I can woo a woman and save a village, sing a song and rob my patron blind. I can do bad things, for a good reason. And good things for a bad reason.

I’m the masked wolf.

I’m Eirik the bard.

And somewhere buried deep down, I’m a farmer’s son but I don’t like to talk about that."

"Mama said fulfill the prophecy// Be something greater// Go make a legacy// Manifest destiny// Shooting for the Stars when I couldn't make a killing// Didn't know how but I always had a feeling I was going to be that one in a million"- High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco

Thyre:

"Oh gods.

I was bitten by a werewolf."

"Sick of all these people talking// Sick of all this noise// And there's an old man sitting on a throne there saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean// Oh all these minutes passing sick of feeling used// if you wanna break these walls down you're gonna get bruised."- Castle The Huntsman: Winter's War Version by Halsey

Dagmy:

"My heart feels weighed down by this latest development, but I cannot allow myself to despair just yet. I make a silent vow to myself. If there is a way any way at all to restore my humanity then I will take it. A way that I do not have to wear an old mat on my head, or hide my face from the sun of all things.

I will kill for it."

"We just got to stop the flood before we lose it all and drown from fear// I've survived through rain storms, sandstorms, I fought the war// Now it's time to go home// It's time to go home." - Journey (Ready to Fly) by Natasha Blume

Azern:

“I wonder when the students will start dying.”

"The fire in my heart will burn me to the ground//I did my part I tried my best// the things I'm trying to protect// always shattering to pieces in the end"- Bring Me Back to Life by HT Bristol, Charlie Bannister, Vincent Steele, Nine One One

And because I made a specifically Hers collage above here is one for the fellas:

(images from Pinterest, all credit to their original creators)

(dis picture is actually mine, spent like three weeks on it)

And finally the title for book two (you thought I had forgotten didn't you?). Without further ado...

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Rage Like the Gods book two...

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Folly of the Gods

Eye of the Panther Blog Post

 

Eye of the Panther Synopsis

One wishes for peace, the other longs for love. Together they find adventure.

Fighting an endless war Col. Jack Shepherd begins to question if what he's fighting for is really worth it. Tired of the bloodshed the colonel tries to fulfill the prophecy given to him. The task seemed simple enough; find the amulet known as the Eye of the Panther. The powerful amulet would supposedly grant the wearer powers that would end the war. But everything changes for the worse when he finds that the current wearer is a young elvish boy.

Getting kidnapped (or adopted) by a moody colonel, Hunga Pana Jr. finally begins to hope that he has found the family he has always long for. He would do anything to win the Colonel's heart, even use his precious amulet. If only he knew how to use it himself, that is.

Two opposing kings also want the amulet for themselves. Jack finds that he can no longer trust anyone and tries to protect the young boy at all costs.

Content Advisory:

If this was a movie, I would rate it PG13+ for violence, gore, intense fantasy/sci-fi themes, fantasy monsters eating humans, intense war scenes, and a case of a character drinking water that is tinted with blood, as well as other shenanigans that might be considered as content.

The “Eye of the Panther” is a Christian faith based story about the importance of family and doing the right thing in difficult situations.

Read the first episode on Grace’s new website: https://gracemmorris.wordpress.com/

New episodes on Fridays!

About Grace M. Morris

Every hero has an origin story. Grace M. Morris traveled into a story one time, and no one has been able to pull her back ever sense. It happened kinda sudden, but she found out that she could also create worlds for others to walk in. Ever since that fateful day she has been hard at work creating her own YA speculative stories with a Christian basis. She has self published the books in the "Team Vergate" series “Before” and “The Exile”. She also writes and publishes the episodes of the blog serial the “Eye of the Panther”.

Grace never stops listening to music while writing. When she is not hard at work creating her next world, she is trying to figure out this thing called life. Currently she is helping her Dad repair the house and helping her Mom with their kids craft website. She also loves to bake (especially cakes), draw, read, spend time with her pets, spend time with her family, and watch movies. Now in her twenties she resides in the state of Washington.

Important things about me:

Believer in Jesus Christ

Author

Blog Serial Writer

Editor

Artist; Digital and with Pencils

Co-founder of KGMCrafts

Homeschooled Graduate

Night Owl

INFJ

Follow Grace on:

Website: https://gracemmorris.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMMorris

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14547051.Grace_M_Morris

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gracemmorris18/_saved/

And yours truly had the pleasure to interview this lovely individual, below are the questions

what first gave you the idea to write this story?

Short answer, I have no idea. XD Long answer, I watched "Zootopia" a couple years back and I really enjoyed the movie except for the romance subplot of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Then one day on YouTube I ended up finding a video of someone showing off the work of different artists that humanized Judy and Nick and I LOVED THEM. I really wanted to get better with my drawing and thought of no better way than to draw my pets as humans. I actually haven't drawn too many, still working on that part. XD

And somehow I came up with this. Don't ask why it's a fantasy, I can only guess that I have been enjoying my time reading books in that genre recently. I do know that the idea for the amulet came from my cat's blue collar which only he can wear, so there's that. Also my cat is a Bombay, which the history of the breed is fascinating. Apparently the breeder was trying to breed a household cat that looked like a wild panther. So there you go, the "Eye of the Panther". XD

so this story looks like it will focus mostly on the father/son type relationship, are there other relationship types that you are looking forward to delving into in this story? 

Absolutely! There are plans for romantic relationships (get ready to cast your ships, lol), sibling relationships, and friendships.

who is your favorite side character?

 

*Hugs all my characters* Don't worry my children, I love all of you! *Grabs Calida*

Sooo, Calida is probably my favorite side character. I really had to think about this, as I had three contenders, but I think that Calida wins in the end as she is the only character who is getting her own little novella which I hope to work on real soon. ("Daughter of the Phoenix"). Throughout the series she is known as Calida Hunter Songbird and she is a Thunderbird! I mean, what's not to love about her? She can create thunder, lightning, and teleport short distances. At this time, she is pretty small, only about the size of an eagle. And because she doesn't speak, umm, human, only a couple of the characters can actually understand her. But she's awesome, definitely one of the most fun and interesting side characters to write.

tell me a little about your main antagonist

 

*Starts sweating* Sooo, it was really difficult picking just one main antagonist. I was worried that this might contain some spoilers, so I can't really say much. Nyx and Varian are probably the main antagonists in the series. Though neither one of them are introduced until episode 9? 10? around that point. Nyx is a cursed fairy while Varian is a blessed fairy. (They have these really cool wings!) Varian for the most part follows Nyx's lead without interrupting her, but the minute Varian is alone? He is like the master of chaos.

Now don't get me wrong, the Black King and the Golden King will cause problems for the heroes, (primarily the Black King, because that guy is just not cool). But the difference between the two kings and Nyx is this: the kings want the amulet for lust of power or in hopes that it will end the war. While Nyx (I mean Varian too, but he doesn't quite have the motivation that she does) she wants the amulet for revenge.

And since I can’t say much about my main antagonists at this time, what I can say is a little about the fae in this series. Besides their own powers they also each have a book (called the Book of Blessings) that they use to write the names of mortals to give them powers. Though if a fairy was to use up all the pages in their book then they would give up their immortality. So most fairies refuse to bless any mortals except when they absolutely have a need too.

what part of a book (beginning, middle, climax, end?) do you find the most difficult to get through? Which part is your favorite to write?

 

I was going to say that writing the middle is the hardest part for me. I mean middles? Sometimes they just seem to drag, probably when most of my writer's block takes place. But endings? They are so hard! I usually know how I want to end the story. But I always wonder (especially in a series) if the ending is too vague, and then there's the issue of not ending it soon enough. So yeah, endings are hard.

My favorite part to write is definitely the beginning. There is always something so special about creating a new world and getting to see how it's normal for the hero before everything goes haywire.

 

Thanks for having me Nicki! You asked some really good questions and this was fun. =D

Blog Tour Schedule

December 3th

 

Grace M. Morris - Blog Tour Launch

December 4th

Grace M. Morris - First Episode of "Eye of the Panther"

Nicki Chapelway - Interview with Grace M. Morris

Jes Drew - Blog Spotlight

Oceane McAllister - Blog Spotlight and Interview with Grace M. Morris

December 6th

Shine - Interview with Grace M. Morris

December 11th

Grace M. Morris - Blog Tour Conclusion Plus Second Episode of "Eye of the Panther"

Glorious Victory, I Have Conquered NaNo!

 

November was a super stressful month for me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one to say that (the whole year has been but I don't want to get into all that). RLtG was my escape from that stress, whenever life started to seem like it was getting too much for me, I would turn on my Spotify playlist for this book and listen to that while figuring out what comes next for my characters (in other words I listened to this playlist 24/7 basically).

I focused my mental energy on brainstorming about the world of RLtG rather than stressing about everything that was going on in this world.

Took me who knows how long to figure out that focusing on something productive rather than dwelling on my negative emotions is actually a pretty good idea. Because eventually I get immersed, and then the emotions fade. But that thing that I created? That lasts.

And that's how I feel about RLtG and winning NaNo this month. It started out as an escape from stress, something else to focus my time and energy on, but as the month cycles to a close I have 50k words that I wrote in a month and I am ridiculously proud of that fact. I am making remarkable progress on my novel, it's currently sitting at 89k. And feel inspired enough to pick up two other projects that I need to work on.

Now that NaNo has been officially beaten and I even got my 30 day badge which I never accomplished before, I'm slowing down my progress on RLtG just for now, while I work to figure out what comes next. I can't wait to get to book 2, I really can't but there is still a ton of stuff that has to happen in RLtG yet and I don't know half of it.

In the meantime, I'm picking back up Of Gold and Iron's sequel Of Stars and Shadows which is basically entirely brainstormed and just waiting to be written up. I'm also finally finally going to start working on edits for A Season of Subterfuge, Courtiers, and War Councils because like... it's about time.

I have Conquered NaNoWriMo and now I am looking toward Slaying the December Dragon

(images via Pinterest)

Soldier, Savior, or Sacrifice?

(images via Pinterest)

There were rules for a reason...

(images via Pinterest)

Who has time to save the world today?

Augh, my WIPs all look so freaking cool together. I've considered making a collage of these three books together just because I like how their aesthetics compliment each other while also show how different they are, but I don't know if that would be weird? XD

(also totally not RLtG's official tagline, but I had a good chuckle at it)

How did November treat you all? What are your December reading/writing plans? Should I make that super awesome three way collage? Comment Below!

Cue your panicking because it's the final week of NaNo

(images via Pinterest)

 

As I'm typing this post up I'm wearing my NaNoWriMo shirt that says I won. Even though I have not yet won. I'm a little rebel I know, I know.

But I'm going to win, at least things are looking pretty good for right now. As I write this post I'm sitting on about 42, 530 words this month. That puts me at 81,737 words in RLtG as a whole, which is a lot and wow it doesn't feel like I'm that far into this book, but apparently I am. O_O

this is where I'm at in each individual POV:

Eirik: 31,343 words, blasted boy got a haircut and is prancing around in a hood working to save a small village from poverty by robbing from their wealthy landlord

Thyre: 19,293 words, somehow managed to get herself conscripted into an assassin family and turned into a werewolf within like 48 hours of each other, this girl has some serious skillz

Dagmy: 17,477 words, V A M P I R E S

Meruna: 13,624 words, finally made it to the Academy of Magickers

Azern: still haven't started her POV but she was just introduced in Meruna's POV so pretty soon now she will start up her own story

I'm probably only about halfway through this book? But I haven't brainstormed or plotted out this next part of the book very much, so I will probably proceed through it at a slower pace once NaNo is through. To be honest I hadn't thought I would make it this far XD But whatever happens all I know is that RLtG is going to be a looooooooong book. I was trying to find some way to shorten it because I had been planning on trying to get RLtG trad published, and publishers/agents seem to be pretty persnickety about books being "too long".

But then I took a good long time to consider why I wanted to publish RLtG traditionally and I realized I had no good reasons. I thought it would be cool to have someone want to pick up my book, the buzz that surrounds that, the excitement. Until I realized how much I was dreading signing any contract. I really like having control of my books. I like coming up with the titles, and designing the covers (I hate writing blurbs but then who doesn't?). Most of all I like being able to decide how long my books can be.

I started to come to this realization when I published OGaI myself, but I didn't want to admit it to myself then.

Indie publishing is actually the best route for my books

Not by default, but because I enjoy indie publishing and having the final say on my books.

Now I'm not saying I'll never query again, but as things stand the chances aren't that great. Indie is just such a growing market, the opportunities are endless. And am I the only one or does every Trad book that is coming out these days look like a carbon copy of the other?

What's ahead for me? Well, my job is closing down. Again. So in the next month(s?) till we manage to reopen I am hoping to finally edit up Season of Subterfuge, write Of Gold and Iron's sequel, and of course keep working on RLtG.

Happy Thanksgiving all, here's to a productive holiday season filled with cheer, family, and good health.

Rage Like the Gods and Romance

So NaNo is somewhere close to being almost over. Unfortunately I already lost my sanity. Maybe I sold my soul somewhere in there too but it's possible that was just a coffee induced hallucination.

Currently my NaNoWriMo word count is 35k words which is more or less on track for this time of the year. The word count of RLtG as a whole is a whopping 75k words and I know I said that very deadpan but believe me when I say I am quite excited about that fact.

I promised a post about the love interests in Rage Like the Gods and now I am here to deliver. I intended to write this sooner but then I got sick and when I get sick my brain packs its bags and moves out which definitely messed up a NaNo plan or two. Fortunately I was ahead of schedule at the time of my illness so I didn't suffer tooo much when I only wrote 104 words on Sunday. *coughs but like for real because I have some lingering symptoms*

But anyway, I have waited long enough to introduce you to the love interests of Rage Like the Gods! So without further ado here are the lady and gentlemen who are solely responsible for keeping my disaster characters alive. (and can I just say how much shorter this whole series would be if my MCs just like, listened to these characters? smh, guys)

Vrom

(image via Pinterest all credit to its original creator)

needs to be protected/ from like everything/ is to soft to be here/ could tear you apart with bear hands but doesn't want to

Vrom is Thyre's true love, a werewolf and member of the pack Thyre becomes a part of after she is bitten. Vrom is sweet and quiet spoken. He isn't very good with words (I feel yah buddy), and because of this, some members of his family consider him the less intelligent brother.

Vrom isn't a fan of the violent and nomadic way of werewolf life, but his loyalty to his family and loved ones outshines any of his own personal qualms. Vrom hates confrontation, and easily grows frustrated when anything he says is taken the wrong way, so he tends to very rarely speak up. Still, if you pay close enough attention to him rather than what his family all thinks of him, you will see a beautiful soul.

Sassa

(image via Pinterest all credit to its original creator)

Sassa means Queen of Sass/ but seriously Eirik has no idea what he is in for/ pretends to be a noble knight/ has the moral compass of a knave/ will kiss you to get you to shut up

Sassa is the adopted daughter of a powerful man from the house of notability who Eirik meets in his journeys. She was adopted after both her parents died in the service of defending this lord, but in her heart Sassa is a warrior just like her mother before her.

Sassa isn't shy at all and extremely outspoken. She says what is on her mind and expects everyone else to do the same. She abhors deception, and is against banditry and thieves. Still, Sassa is good humored and quite reasonable. However, if her mind is already made up on a matter... good luck convincing her otherwise.

Hakon

(image via Pinterest all credit to its original creator)

ugh who gave the winter permission to be so cold/ did I ever tell you about the time that I.../ have I mentioned yet how I.../ you know my opinion on.../ gross the vampire hunters who hired me actually expect me to go up against a vampire/ disgusting/ disheartening/ would not recommend my experience

Hakon is a... well he is an interesting individual. He is a mercenary who Dagmy hires to help her in her quest to regain her honor. A master in magic who dropped out of the academy of Magickers because it was too boring, Hakon isn't like most mercenaries. He is less in it for the money and more for the sheer thrill and adventure of it all. His favorite hobbies include talking about every inane thing under the sun, boasting about his magical prowess, and complaining about any inconvenience no matter how minor. He especially hates the cold which is unfortunate to say the least, given where he lives.

Still, Hakon isn't big on backstabbing or going back on his word, and once his loyalty is bought it cannot be sold again. He loves animals especially his giant pup Garth. And also he is actually really good with magic so maybe he deserves to boast just a tad.

Fell

(image via Pinterest all credit to its original creator)

not to brag but/ okay I will brag/ I have memorized six tomes on magical shielding/ now if a magical shield would actually work on me/ not to be too stubborn to admit needing help but I have everything perfectly under control

Fell is Meruna's fellow student. Fell and Eirik actually have quite a bit in common. Both are from mixed families (Eirik's mum was an elf and dad was a Lowlander, Fell's mom was a Lowlander and his father a Highlander) both come from backgrounds in farming, and both are determined to make their way through life and rise above their positions. But that's where the similarities end. Eirik believes that his place in the world is through his musical skills and good humor with some petty thievery thrown in to overcome the most difficult obstacles. Fell wants to be a Magicker.

Being half Highlander, magic doesn't come easily for Fell. He does have a higher resistance to most spells, but not a lot of natural magic at his disposal. Still Fell is stubborn and wickedly intelligent and once he sets his mind on any goal he will not stop until either he accomplishes it or dies trying. Fell is level headed and thinks well under pressure, he is hard working and never gives up despite the odds. Which could actually be counted as a less stellar quality when he won't give up on a goal that is very probably impossible. Fell will never forget a grudge, but is generally very slow to anger.

Magnar

(image via Pinterest all credit to its original creator)

ugh shut up please you are giving me a headache/ wait are you shivering?/ good thing I brought enough blankets to keep a small army warm/ here's some hot chocolate too/ idiot

Magnar is a magicker and a werewolf and honestly do I need to say more??? Okay I shall. Magnar did not choose to become a werewolf, in fact if he had been given a choice he would have politely turned down the offer. Fresh out of the Academy, young Magnar was mauled by a werewolf and left for dead, only to be taken in by Vrom who soon becomes his best friend. Grumpy and aloof to most, if you get to know Magnar you will find that he only pretends not to care and if you dig a little deeper past his layers of sarcasm and intellectual snobbery you will discover that actually he is a huge mom friend.

Magnar isn't a committed member of the pack, he only stays for Vrom, and still hasn't given up on finding a cure. Still, since the werewolf blessing is primarily distributed to Highlanders, his magic is a unique skillset that makes him a valuable member of his pack. And Azern's fiercest opponent as she tries to earn a way into the pack and the blessing of lycanthropy.

And there you have the love interests from RLtG... well most of them. Book two introduces the one that I would personally like to marry XD Does anyone from this list stand out to you specifically? How is NaNo going for you guys? Comment below and don't forget to ask any questions about RLtG that you will want me to answer in my next post!