My first book, The Phoenix and the Ant, has been out for a little while. Minor success so far (about 50-60 sales altogether). People seem to be enjoying it quite a bit, which is wonderful.
However, the sequel is going through its second/third round of edits, and I want to get the ball rolling on a subtitle (so I can get the ball rolling on cover art). If you check out this Strawpoll you can see a bunch of ideas I have had, my wife had, and a good friend of mine have had for subtitles. I put parenthesis on ones that either exact subtitles, or very similar ones already exist in some form or another.
Anyway, if you’re interested, let me know what you think by doing the Strawpoll: https://strawpoll.com/w4nWr2qQNyA
As well, please give the first novel a read if you have the chance, it’s on Kindle Unlimited, E-book, and Softcover (and honestly the cover is absolutely beautiful). https://a.co/d/8d4PG8O
Thanks!
Tag: fantasy
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It’s summer break as a teacher, as well as recovering from a (very minor) surgery has given me a bit of extra time. Time that should have been spent on writing book 2 of “The Phoenix and the Ant” series, but has been used on making up some fun little products instead.
Using the website Printful, I’ve made up a few simple products, and will likely add some more in the near future. I have all the products available up at Etsy (I may transfer over to WooCommerce at some point, if things take off).
On there so far you can find a variety of stickers, and A mug (yes a single mug). Not much else so far, hoping to get a few shirts, a sweater, and some other things made up. Let me know if you have any ideas.
Or really, any sort of tips, tricks, etc…
Link: ThePhoenixAndTheAnt.etsy.com -
I have ambitions for a Winter 2023 release (perfect holiday gift!). Things are wrapping up. Last minute editing, then formatting it to look real good. Then send it off to AmazonKDP and IngramSpark to be delivered digitally or physically.
I’ll say, I’m nervous. I’ve done so much reading about publishing a novel in the last few months that it’s all become an absolute blur.
Included is a picture of what the book will look like. It’s been a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money to get here, but we’re almost done (then book two).
For new people here’s a breakdown of my novel:
A young girl named Ti stumbles onto Were Magic, which allows her to transform into an animal, a phoenix! However, long ago the royal family was assassinated by Were Wizards, and the grudge never ended, it is the highest crime to have Were Magic in Djat. Ti’s father, a general in the Djat army, ensures her safety by sending her to the prodigious wizarding school, Yaudi School, where she can learn Were Magic safely. She is sent with the Calydronian captain, Captain Arence of the Tubby Whale and his eclectic crew. Although Ti hated living in Djat because the kingdom had too many rules, she is afraid to leave her father and friends behind, she knows she doesn’t belong in Djat, but she has no home, no where she belongs. Sailing with her is another young man, Sea Lion of the Air, who has just passed top of his class at Level Two Wind Magic and his ego shows it. Together Ti and Sea Lion of the Air, along with Ti’s trusted Animal Partner, Priot, a large silver-tipped falcon, go on an adventure through the oceans of the shattered continent, Ptansia. Ti makes new friends, beholds great and ancient beasts, gains new magic, and becomes a pawn in one kingdom’s desire for war. -
Hello out there,
It has been too long, and I have been way too negligent. As some of you may be aware, we have a new addition to the family, my lovely daughter Aurelia, who is now almost 7 months old. She has been a major time sink (a lovely, amazing time sink, but one nonetheless).
However, good-ish news and okay-ish news:
Good-ish: I am working on the sequel to Book of Yaudi (now tentatively known as “The Phoenix and the Ant”, the sequel is quite fun so far, it maintains the adventure, but has a lot more familiarity to it. Don’t worry, fan favourite characters are back, as well as many new additions.
Okay-ish: I’ve been working on querying the initial novel. No luck so far. I’m constantly upgrading and fixing up my query letter, and have found a few more Beta-Readers to get my draft to its best possible form.
I won’t be posting the second book on here, but I’ll try to post a bit more often in general.
Here is the first snippet from the second novel:
Chapter 1 – A Girl in a World She Created
Buzzing,
Constant buzzing
The sounds reverberate around me
The buzzing all the time
Always buzzing
No reason no rhyme
What was my power
Now my curse
What was my glory
Now my curse
What was my treasure
Now my curse
Buzzing
Constant buzzing- Scribblings written on a piece of paper by an unnamed prisoner in the Yaudi Detention Centre for Wizard’s of Superior Source
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I wanted to take the time and show the new map of Ptansia. I’ve changed not a ton, but added some new information, fixed it up, and resized some things.
I also made sure to add the names of the points that are visited in the story, hopefully it gives you a visual idea of where Ti and company had been (as well as a couple other ones).
I will continue to update the map as it is a nice way to feel like I’m working on my project while procrastinating my editing.
Made with Inkarnate.com
SMVLTRUDEAU 