This past week, I finished a huge revision on my book The Great Hunt. It’s set to publish with HarperTeen Winter 2016 (somewhere between Jan-March 2016). This novel is the first in a 2-book duology. This will be my first book to release in hardback – EVER! That feels so huge to me. And intimidating. And scary. One more year! *bites nails* Now that The Great Hunt is off to the copy editors, I can finally get excited and tell you more about it! This book was VERY challenging for me. It’s a high fantasy, based on the introduction to the Grimm Brothers tale “The Singing Bone.” It’s my first ever attempt at high fantasy, and wow. I have a whole new respect for authors like Sarah J. Maas, Rae Carson, Kristin Cashore, and Marie Rutkiski, who make it look easy. I can’t even imagine what went into those books. Fantasy is first and foremost about world building. Making up a land with all its rules and dialects and idiosyncrasies requires massive layering and keeping track of details. I was in over my head. Thank God for good editors and thorough beta readers! Not to mention professional artists who will make an awesome map to replace the sad excuse for a map that I made. In this story, the world is called Eurona. There are five lands, or kingdoms, in Eurona: Lochlanach: The Waterlands (primary setting) Ascomanni: The Coldlands Toresta: The Ridgelands Zorfina: The Drylands Kalor: The Hotlands There are people who can perform magic with their hands, but it is outlawed. These magical people are called the Lashed, because when they do magic it causes a purple line to show under their nail, like a bruised lash mark. I’m also working on the blurb. I will share this draft, but I’m certain the official blurb will change a bit before it’s finalized. This one will give you a general idea, though. I seriously cannot wait for you to meet Aerity and Paxton.
For those of you who are visual people, I made a PINTEREST BOARD of images that I found inspirational for characters, scenes, and setting while writing. I hope you enjoy!
Add The Great Hunt to your GOODREADS to-read shelf! You can read more HERE about how the idea for The Great Hunt originated. Big hugs, everyone!
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