On the Taleweaver's Desk Issue 6: Novmeber 2022

 

Hello, everyone! Once again, my Taleweaver's Desk update is coming out a month after I originally intended it to; if this happens a third time, I'm going to have to think about permanently adjusting the schedule. In any case, the post is here now, and that's the important thing. As a reminder, On the Taleweaver's Desk is my quarterly broad-view update on my writing projects. If you want to know more about any project in this post, you can ask me in comments or take a look at my Works in Progress page. Also, you may notice that a couple projects have been removed from the list. This doesn't mean I've abandoned them entirely; it just means that they're not currently a significant enough consideration to include.

On the Taleweaver's Desk Issue 6: November 2022

On the Desktop

These are the projects you might find open on my laptop or desk if you took a peek at it during a normal day. They're currently in progress and at the top of the priority chart.

Through a Shattered Glass

What is it? A dark-ish portal fantasy remix of Lewis Carroll's Alice books combined with The Snow Queen.

Status: Almost fully edited and in the process of being formatted! Anyone want to sign up for the release tour?

I'm really pleased with how Through a Shattered Glass came out after my beta feedback, and I can hardly believe that there's only a month left before it releases into the world! I'm currently working on getting it formatted so I can send out ARCs and upload it to Amazon well in advance of the release date. Speaking of which, don't forget to preorder it on Amazon so you can get it as soon as it comes out — or, if you want it even sooner and you have a place to review it, request an ARC! And, of course, we're currently taking signups for the release tour; if you have any form of social media, blog, or newsletter, you can help — there are options for any level of commitment. 

Bastian Dennel, PI #4

What is it? Book 4 in my Bastian Dennel, PI series and my first murder mystery.

Status: Seventeen chapters drafted and counting.

My work on this story hit a few hiccups at the start, but it's been coming along at a slow-but-steady pace since I restarted. There's lots of interesting character dynamics to work with, so that's nice. The most stressful bits have been keeping my timeline in order, balancing POVs, and making sure characters find the right information at the right time. I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up the pace on this soon, as I'd like to have it drafted by the end of the year.

D&D Campaign: Defenders of Serys

What is it? Defenders of Serys is the homebrew D&D campaign that I run for my D&D group.

Status: Still slowly writing the Middle Earth adventure, currently a session or two ahead.

My aim lately has been to write a little bit of D&D stuff each week, and that's worked out so far. I don't think that the Middle Earth adventure will be done by the end of the year unless the group decides to go home early, but that's ok. The fact that we're playing through an established story makes it easier for me to figure out things that need to happen, if nothing else. And we've been trying some new things, including some optional rules, to help keep things moving smoothly, and they've gone over well for the most part.

Stacked on the Side

These are the stories that I'm not actively working on (at least not officially), but I'm keeping close at hand because I plan to get back to them soon (or I just work on them sporadically as the urge takes me).

There are no significant changes to any of these projects since my last update, but I'll leave the list here for anyone who hasn't seen it before!

Blood in the Earth

What is it? Blood in the Earth is the sequel to Blood in the Snow and a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses crossed with the myth of Hades and Persephone.

Status: First draft finished; awaiting rewrites. I probably won't get back to it until late 2023 at this point due to all the Bastian Dennel, PI books I have planned.

Once Upon a Dream

What is it? A light steampunk (or gaslamp fantasy?) Sleeping Beauty retelling; the predecessor to The Midnight Show

Status: Edited several times over. Awaiting another round of rewrites/expansion/edits.

Shelved for Now

These are stories that are also on hold, but which I don't have specific plans to work on very soon. They're still within easy reach should I decide to return to them, but they aren't a top priority.

There are no significant changes to any of these projects since my last update, but I'll leave the list here for anyone who hasn't seen it before!

Dust of Silver

What is it? Classic-ish fantasy retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses crossed with Rapunzel, the first book in what has the potential to be a rather long series. Also, a rewrite of a book I wrote years ago that won't let go of me because CHARACTERS.

Status: Several chapters into the rewrite, though those several chapters haven't been touched in a few years.

Between Two Worlds

What is it? A portal fantasy adventure about what happens when you come home from the adventure, only to discover that the adventure isn't quite as done with you as you thought.

Status: Awaiting another round of edits/rewrites while I write other things and daydream about its sequels.

The Way of the Pen

What is it? Self-aware fantasy adventure about a girl and her author.

Status: The first draft is sitting on my shelf, patiently waiting for its turn back in the spotlight, as it has been for some time. Of everything in this section, this is the most likely book to move up to Stacked on the Side or On the Desktop, as I occasionally have wild thoughts of editing it and shopping it 'round to traditional publisher

Berstru Tales series

What is it? A classic epic fantasy series and the longest-running series I've worked on (either in the number of books written or in how long I've worked on it.

Status: Needs to be rewritten from the ground up, but the bones are good. There's a particular character who's getting a whole new arc, and I'm really excited to write it . . . when I have time.

Awaiting Delivery

These are the stories that are on their way, but haven't quite arrived yet to the point where I can write them: ideas I'm toying with but haven't even started to draft because they're still too nebulous.

Additional Bastian Dennel, PI novels

What is it? Exactly what the heading said.

Status: Books 5 and 6 have been locked in as far as plots and source stories go — barring calamity, Book 5 will be Jack and the Beanstalk, and Book 6 will be The Little Mermaid (plus a surprise non-fairytale that will be revealed at a later date). I'm hoping Book 5 will be short to make up for the fact that Book 6 will almost certainly not be. I am very excited for both stories, especially Book 6 — I've been doing a lot of planning for it via brainstorming chats with one of my author friends (hi, Wyn), and it's just going to be so good. Another reason I want to hurry up and finish Book 4, ha! Past those two, I have another three ideas that are reasonably solid in terms of what fairy tale I want to retell (The Goose Girl, The Nutcracker, and part of the story of Pwyll, Prince of Dyved) and how they'll fit into Bastian's world, though I don't know exactly what order they'll land in.

Novellas from the world of Blood in the Snow

What are they? Currently, three ideas for spinoffs, most of which are also fairy tale retellings: one Puss in Boots (no, really), one Orpheus and Eurydice (probably crossed with a similar Japanese myth, Izanagi and Izanami), and one that's not currently a fairy tale retelling but would be about Gan and Azuma before they were animal-keepers at the emperor's palace (inspired the summer I spent watching a lot of Hogan's Heroes).

Status: Won't be written until after I edit Blood in the Earth.

Unnamed Fantasy Murder Mystery

What is it? Exactly what the headline says. A prominent noble is murdered; his adoptive daughter is poised to inherit his lands and position — but some are saying her hand was behind his death.

Status: Still just an idea, but it's an idea with a really good soundtrack. Still not going to be tackled until after Blood in the Earth.

What projects (writing or otherwise) are you currently working on? Any guesses what non-fairytale I'm planning to mix with The Little Mermaid? Have you signed up for the Broken Mirrors Release Tour yet? Tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!