3 – 2 – 1 Launch

I’m the curious type who likes to know what goes on “behind the scenes.” Operating under the assumption that I’m not the only one, here’s what’s happening in the background with all three books in the Winnie and the “Wizard” fantasy series. Counting backward beginning with …

Book 3 – Aylen Isle – Timeline

July 24, 2023 – Submitted Aylen Isle to The Wild Rose Press

July 25, 2023 – Submitted synopsis for Aylen Isle to The Wild Rose Press (Oops! I should’ve done that on the 24^th)

August 28, 2024 – Received acceptance and contract from The Wild Rose Press for Aylen Isle.

September 23, 2023 – First round of edits from my editor, Jo.

October 9, 2023 – Returned my corrections quickly because Jo didn’t need many changes.

October 23, 2023 – Submitted the tagline and blurb for Aylen Isle after much grumbling and stumbling.

November 6, 2023 – Second round of edits from Jo.

November 13, 2023 – Manuscript returned to Jo with my changes.

November 20, 2023 – Submitted the required manuscript info sheet (including a dedication page, author bio and ideas for the cover art) after much grumbling and gnashing of teeth.

November 22, 2023 – Format Galley Review requiring edits to get rid of “orphans.” That might sound mean, kicking poor orphans to the curb, but in publishing, an orphan is when a chapter ends with a single line on the page.

November 27, 2023 – Returned my edits, banishing all orphans.

January 2, 2024 – Proofreader Corrections Galley arrived.

January 3, 2024 – Returned manuscript with changes.

January 4, 2024 – Revised Galley – last call for text changes – read full manuscript.

January 8, 2024 – Returned Galley with minor requested changes.

January 8, 2024 – Final Galley Review

January 8, 2024 – Okayed Final Galley – fast because I could only look for formatting glitches.

January 9, 2024 – Note from Jo that we should receive notice with my release date and ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) within four weeks or so.

January 19, 2024 – Still waiting for the cover art. As mentioned above, I submitted an idea for how it might look, but in the back of my mind I wanted the cover to show the bush Winnie, Mikey and Kip pass through to get to Aylen Isle on the other side. I have a photo that represents that bush, but authors are only allowed to submit a written description, and offer sample covers from books already published. It’s probably a copyright thing.

Book 2 – Hutra – Deleted Scene

I’d almost forgotten that I had to pare my second book from a whopping 100,000 words down to 63,000. Naturally, for that to happen, I had to cut a lot of beloved scenes. Here is the original scene that introduced Nor, which ended up on the cutting room floor.

Portals shimmer, portals glow – In the sky they always go.

Nine and twenty days and then – See the portals rise again.

If you step inside, you’ll be – Lost for all eternity. (A child’s rhyme from the Reserve)

Lesser Norved Nommis, celebrated his fifteenth birthday by creeping through Master Belack’s woods toward the portal site in Sector Eight. As a rule, sons of lords rarely skulked about on private property, but how else could he witness a portal rising?

Never mind that only Portal Authority members were permitted in the area on Rising Day. And never mind that he’d been caught last time. Master Belack had even threatened to sic a pack of hounds on him if it happened again. That didn’t stop Nor from crouching behind a pine tree on the southern edge of Master Belack’s narrow strip of woods. As promised, the landowner’s three hounds charged. Within seconds, two snuffled lovingly at his ankles while the third licked his right hand. The old man must have overlooked Nor’s animal communication abilities. If the Guild got wind that he’d used his aura to pacify guard animals, he’d be sent before the Ethics Board for sure. But it was his birthday.

After a short wait, a one-horse-drawn cart entered the bottom of the open field beyond the tree line. The male driver, dressed in a one-piece Portal Authority uniform, stopped his cart on the plateau of a small incline.

The agent, not much older than Nor, removed a collection of red and white striped planks from his cart. He constructed the pieces into eight trestles and positioned them around a circle of blackened ground.

Nor’s mouth dropped open. Those meager trestles protected Reserve residents from a rising portal? Also surprising, the agent didn’t scan the woods for suspicious characters lurking in the area. Instead, he leaned against his cart and keyed into his communications device. He frowned at his com, muttered to himself and shoved the device into his pocket. Next, he leaped onto his cart, snapped the reins and sped away.

Nor stood frozen, eyes bulging. What stopped anyone from vaulting the fence and diving into the portal? Well, the fact that no one ever returned probably acted as the best deterrent.

Time ticked by with no change to the charred circle inside the barricade. Even the hounds lost interest and bounded away. Nor considered giving up when a hissing, crackling sound reached his ears. He jumped to attention and edged to the front of the tree. Swirling sparks slowly rose from beneath the ground in the shape of a cylinder. Nor stood mesmerized by the sparkling display as it slowly rose, inch by inch.

“Give them back, you little troll!” The shouted voice from below the portal site belonged to fourteen-year-old Tenna, Lord Maz’s eldest heir. Her family’s property abutted the section of unoccupied land that held the portal site.

Nor slid deeper between the tree branches as Master Kinny, her six-year-old brother, and current victim of her bossiness, bolted from a copse of trees.

A barefoot, red-faced Tenna, skirts hiked above her shins, charged after him. “I said give them back!”

Kinny laughed, running as fast as his little legs would allow. Each chubby hand clasped a black ballroom slipper. When the little boy veered toward the portal, his sister skidded to a stop. “No! We’re not allowed to go there.”

He glanced over his shoulder with a mischievous grin before continuing toward the sizzling column that had risen to a height just above his head.

“If Papa finds out, he’ll thrash you.”

“I just want to listen. Cam said there’s a kitty in there.”

Nor appraised the portal. In the time he’d been spying, he’d heard only static.

“Cam is a cobbler’s son,” Tenna said in a tone that implied he couldn’t possibly be an expert on portals. “Come away from there before the Portal Authority arrests you. They’re probably watching you right now.”

“Nobody’s here,” Kinny said.

“Someone should be.”

Nor raised an eyebrow. Had the agent violated Portal Authority procedure by abandoning his post?

Kinny inched toward the trestles. “I’m allowed to touch the fence.”

Tenna put her hands on her hips. “Who told you that? Cam? I’m counting to three. If you don’t come away from there, I’ll tell Papa. One … two …”

“Wait. I really do hear something inside.”

Kinny took only one step closer. An unseen force sucked him through the gap between two trestles and into the shimmering portal.

Book 1 – Frama-12 – Update

I’m excited to report that, after some discussions and planning, the English teacher in my building ordered twelve copies of Frama-12 for her students. My book is part of a creative writing lesson. When they reach the half-way mark, she’ll have me come in to meet the class. I can’t wait to hear what the kids have to say about the book.

Until next time – happy living, reading and writing!