A comprehensive writing update

It’s been a long time since I did an actual update, so here we go!

First, in non-writing news, we just did a quick weekend trip to Amelia Island on the very northeast corner of Florida, which was amazing and much-needed, even if the recent hurricanes had churned up so many shells it was painful to walk. We paired it with a short fishing charter, and while I didn’t fish, it was so much fun to watch my husband and son—my five-year-old reeled in a HUGE red drum. And when I say huge, I mean it was just a few inches shy of his height and too big to keep! My husband caught a smaller one (still too big to keep), plus a shark and giant sting ray. I’ll spare you the video of us releasing the shark (mostly because I got hit in the mouth with the line), but let’s just say that dangerous is always more entertaining to watch.

But back to writing!

Right now, I have seven works in progress. Yes, you read that correctly—SEVEN. So here we go, in vague order of possibly being finished. WITH QUOTES!

Faded Embers (Shadows of War #4)

In case you missed it, YES, Faded Embers is coming! This one heads off to the copy editor on November 1, which is both too soon and too long to wait. That’s about all I have to say about it, besides that I’m hoping for a January/February release, depending on proofreading and cover design. Will keep everyone posted once I can firm up a date. I’m beyond thrilled to continue Avery’s story, even if I can’t read a few scenes without tearing up.

How dare he shush her with that detestable calm tone? What did he know about hurt? What did he know about pain? He didn’t know a damn thing, that’s what he knew. Still, she didn’t fight him as he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to her sides. She didn’t fight him as he pulled her closer and tried to check the wound on her head, just screamed and sobbed harder into his shirt as an older memory assaulted her.

‘Last Mission’

‘Last Mission’ began as a piece of flash fiction I meant to submit to a journal who was looking for pieces with the theme of “backcountry.” Instead of hiking through the Mojave in peace like I’d intended, my main character turned into a sniper evading the enemy on an occupied planet by the third sentence (oops?). It languished on my hard drive for a while, but you might have the opportunity to read the expanded 10,000-word military scifi novelette sometime this winter. This one has the honor of requiring the most research I’ve ever done for a story, so I’m kind of proud of it. (Also, since there’s been some confusion, this is completely standalone and NOT part of Shadows of War)

His skill behind the scope probably accounted for a lot of that mindset, but as Michel had reassured him when command had first suggested his skills would be better used elsewhere, any fool could aim and fire a gun. His gut instinct had turned out to be true, and Jean’s analytical mind had already made him a legendary spotter in the North Esintian Army by the time the Sult had arrived. Junior in rank, senior in skill. It was a paradox Jean wore with ease and more than a little arrogance when the situation called for it.

The Stars Wait Not (The Star Realm Saga #1)

Some know this is the book that started as my own fun Asrian Skies fan fiction and turned into something else by the end of the second paragraph. Beta reading for this sci-fantasy romance is complete, and it has both copy editing and cover slots scheduled in March. March is, again, too long to wait, but I’m really excited about the cover designer and had to wait forever to get a slot with her. Also! It’s going to be illustrated! I have the first illustration in my hands from Meaghan Ward and can’t wait to see the rest.

If only he could read her mind. One or two small black circles on her forearm—maybe more if she was unusually resistant—and he’d have access to all of her conscious thoughts, most of her unconscious ones, and a good deal of her memories.

A House of Nebulas (The Star Realm Saga #2)

Because I can’t write a standalone book to save my life, I’m 23,000 words in this one. There’s absolutely no time frame and barely any plot so far, but I’m having fun. I’d like to fast draft it, but other stories keep getting in the way.

“You know that your desires come second to the needs of the Star Realm, and that the acceptance of your resignation can be rescinded at any time.” His father planted himself, finally, on the ornate throne against the far wall. “You serve the Fleet at the pleasure of the emperor—who is me, in case you’ve forgotten. This cannot have come as a surprise to you.”

Untitled WIP (Shadows of War #5, aka the Grace book)

Not much to say here. This one takes place about 20 years after the end of Unbroken Fire and is the story of the daughter of two secondary characters. I changed the plot a bit from when I started (it was too ambitious and not personal enough for Grace), and it’s currently stalled out around 25,000 words. Ok, fine, I’ll confess—I got sidetracked with The Stars Wait Not. It will be finished! Just…after a bunch of other stories.

“You feel that way because you still love Asria.”

“Yeah.” She should have left her bangs longer, because they weren’t hiding a bit of her emotion. She turned away instead, staring without seeing at a panel of switches and buttons. “And I always will, no matter what happens. There’s still so much good, so much history, so much potential.”

Untitled Shadows of War novella, aka Cardell’s story

Because contrary to popular belief, the author is not actually the one running this circus, I made the mistake of listening to a major character in the Grace book when he told me his rather intriguing backstory. Naturally, it then needed to be written, and I’ve enjoyed going back to the worst days of the Third Commonwealth-Haederan War. I have the beginning, I have the end, I have some bits in the middle, but I need to find a way to tie it all together into a coherent story. There’s a lot of testosterone and even more language and quite enough prisoner of war stories out there already, so I may never share this one, but…never say never, right? I can say that if I do release it, it’ll be alongside the Grace book.

“He flew in the invasion?”

“Yeah.” Felix squinted at him like he was an idiot. “Nightflares. Why?”

Taron wanted to fall into the mud between the buildings and die. “I accused him of not knowing what war was really like. I told him he didn’t know what it was like to fight.”

“You didn’t.” A kind of horrified awe laced Felix’s voice.

Untitled, co-written, low fantasy

Yes! The rumors are true. My critique partner and I are working on an enemies to lovers fake husband medieval-ish low fantasy book. She’s deleting my spaceship and wormhole references as fast as she can, and I’m trying valiantly to keep her word count under 100,000. Promise.

Matthieu woke with a start. Dim light filtered through the filthy pane of glass across the thin quilt covering him. Astrid lay beside him, half a foot away, her back still toward him and rising evenly in sleep. The long length of her hair had come undone, covering the thin quilt with its deep, fiery shade that seemed to glow as the rays of light fell upon it.

He sucked in a breath and barely stopped himself from touching it. Quickly, he snatched his fingers back into a fist. He was too strong to be tempted by a Svaloran woman, even if she’d once been a queen.

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And that’s it! If all goes well, Faded Embers and ‘Last Mission’ will drop off this list verrrry shortly, and that The Stars Wait Not will soon follow. Four WIPs is a lot more manageable! In any event, not much will be happening next month, since we’re off to Maine (!) and then to Florida for another quick trip. Maybe some of these will finish themselves while I’m gone?