The End of a Story Never Really is the end. (But it's exciting either way.)

I've been writing the same story for over five months. It's been a hatchling for ten to twelve years.

Five months ago, I turned in my manuscript to a hybrid press, and they handed it over to an incredible DE (Developmental Editor). And, while I left the hybrid press, I'll recommend her to anyone anytime, anywhere.

So, revisions.

First Draft: was to try to build mystery. It got good reviews from the beta readers, and they also got good reviews from my DE, BUT they all said the same thing: This reads like book two.

Technically, it was the second half of the waaaaaay back original story (written in 2010). Originally, I wrote 160k words of a dark fantasy. Back then, everyone told me there was no way I would sell that large book.

Those words have been proven wrong many times between now and back then.

But I had my own journey to take.

In September 2023, I decided it was time to start my novel in earnest. So, I wrote book two, as book one, with the intention of writing three smaller books—novellas—to explain what happened with the "missing" months the female main character was trying to remember.

When I got the reviews on book one (now back to book two, sorry for all the jumping around) and I'd written the first novella, I knew I had to return to the beginning.

However, I didn't want to write a novel that was 160,000 words this time.

I wanted to break the books up into a series of trilogies, and that's what I'm doing.

Book one, Cinders Burn at Midnight, is now in its fourth revision (including the previously mentioned "book two."). Besides the copy edits, it's completed.

It's a fantastic and surreal feeling, and while the book's publication is Jan. 2025, and while the story is technically "done," there are many other things to put into action.

I'll focus on those things throughout my blogs in hopes of helping teach others about the self-publishing or indie publishing process and encouraging them to write their stories.

While I've written The End, this is just the beginning.

I'm excited for you to come along on the journey.

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