Sigh
I have bronchitis. It is awful. After days of coughing, I feel like someone beat me along my backs and ribs. The cough is a little better since yesterday and all the meds I was given but still a little rough.
Right before I got sick, I had an epiphany with the book. I made a rather large decision and then forwarded two versions of the beginning to Emily, my assistant, and Emily, my very old friend who also happens to be one of my first fans. Probably the only person on this planet who’s read every single one of my books. Including the unpublished one 😀
The feedback returned confirmed something I already knew. The character as originally written is great. Very Kira-like. It’s a formula that has a fan base and one you all seem to like since Firebird is my most popular series. The new version, however, is unlike anything I’ve put out before and quite intriguing. She’s older. In her forties. With kids. I kind of sort of love her. Even though rewriting this to reflect who she is, is going to eat up more time and space and ugh. I just want this draft to be done. But I can’t make myself walk away when everything in me is screaming this change is the thing I’ve been searching for and the reason this book has come so difficult to me despite the amazing scenes I’ve been producing.
The words are flowing. The backstory is killer. To the point it’s hard for me not to talk my husband’s ear off with all my ideas. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited for an idea. Hopefully that means I can catch up in no time.
In the interim, here is a snippet for the unwary, introducing them to Ember of the Wastes 2.0
At the sight of the burning wreckage, the younger one let out a low, impressed whistle. “What happened to being circumspect?”
Ember shrugged. “Things happened.”
The young man shifted to look at her. “What things?”
Ember narrowed her eyes. “Things.”
“Stow it, Cole,” the second man warned, cutting off his friend’s next response.
“You don’t have to be so rude, Baron. You know you don’t like this any more than I do. The whole purpose of her going in alone was to not draw attention.” Cole gestured toward the wreck. “What about that says quiet to you?”
Baron acted like he hadn’t spoken. He looked at Ember. “Did you get it?”
“I did.” Ember plucked the stuffed gryph off the rock next to her and pried off the right eye she’d noticed was a little bit loose earlier. “Sorry about this, friend..”
Once the eye was gone, the recess behind it was revealed. Carefully, Ember removed what was inside and held it up for the other two to see.
Cole leaned down, examining the small oblong device resting on the tip of her finger. “So it really was here.”
“What about her?” Baron demanded.
“Still missing, I’m afraid.”
She caught the tiny flex of Baron’s jaw that showed he wasn’t nearly as sanguine about that news as he was pretending. Always so sensitive, this son of hers. And determined to never show it.
He’d been that way ever since the day she picked him up at the age of seven when she found him on his hands and knees digging a hole in search of water. He’d read about the technique in a book once and desperate had decided to see if it worked.
It wouldn’t have. Maybe in the territories, but not the Wastes.
By that point, she already had Raven, 8, and Cole, 4. The decision to add Baron to the family seemed like a simple one. You could never have too much family. Blood or otherwise.
She’d never regretted that choice. Not once in all the years since.
Responses to “Sigh”
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Will we ever return to the Broken Lands? While I love Kira, the Tin Man and crew, I started with your Pathfinder Series…
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Will we ever return to the Broken Lands? While I love Kira, the Tin Man and crew, I started with your Pathfinder Series…
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Squeal!
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I love your writing, all the books. If it has Kira’s snark in it, I am definitely in. And given I’m in my 40’s (sigh, 50 way too soon), I’d love to read your new version! Good luck with the rewrites.
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At 41, I’m looking for that age representation in the sci-fi and fantasy books I read. So I’m all in on a protagonist in her 40’s. I recently read The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews and it was so nice to see most of myself in the character (I don’t have kids, but I don’t mind a character who does).
Also bronchitis sucks and I hope it passes and you’re feeling better soon! -
At 41, I’m looking for that age representation in the sci-fi and fantasy books I read. So I’m all in on a protagonist in her 40’s. I recently read The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews and it was so nice to see most of myself in the character (I don’t have kids, but I don’t mind a character who does).
Also bronchitis sucks and I hope it passes and you’re feeling better soon! -
Love it!
All your books.
Wait, wasn’t there a snippet at some point about a woman waking up in the hospital not remembering her husband? Right? What happened to that?
Looking forward to this revised story. I’m in my 40s, so I am all in!Feel better! I‘m sure, you‘ve heard it… bronchitis generally just has to run its (viral) course. If it doesn’t get better after a couple of weeks, see if your doctor will consider antibiotics since it may be bacterial after all. Fluids and rest 😬. Not possible? Adulting sucks. 😉
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Feel better! I‘m sure, you‘ve heard it… bronchitis generally just has to run its (viral) course. If it doesn’t get better after a couple of weeks, see if your doctor will consider antibiotics since it may be bacterial after all. Fluids and rest 😬. Not possible? Adulting sucks. 😉
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Feel better! I‘m sure, you‘ve heard it… bronchitis generally just has to run its (viral) course. If it doesn’t get better after a couple of weeks, see if your doctor will consider antibiotics since it may be bacterial after all. Fluids and rest 😬. Not possible?
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Feel better! I‘m sure, you‘ve heard it… bronchitis generally just has to run its (viral) course. If it doesn’t get better after a couple of weeks, see if your doctor will consider antibiotics since it may be bacterial after all. Fluids and rest 😬.
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Oh. I already love her.
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Oh. I already love her.
Side note… Why does this not let me comment because it “seems like I’m a robot”?
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Ooooo I’m so invested in this story already !!!
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Get well soon!!
Love that you found your passion with the new version! All the best and can’t wait for the book 🥰 -
Hope you get better soon! Looking forward to your new book. I’ve started Firebird over and am in book 2. I really need to branch out. . . If your books weren’t so addicting. . .
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I’m 65. I’m tired of reading about 22 years with less sense than my 15 year old granddaughter. So much so that I flat-out grandma-manipulated her into joining a writing class offered by the university for hs students and the writing club at school. Her stories have intelligent teenagers who dont do stupid shit.
I’m sending healing light for the bronchitis and looking forward to a book about grown kick ass women who have more sense than a kitten.
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I just discovered the Firebird Series, but I loved it so much I read all six books in a week!!! I loved Kira and would like to see more characters like her!
Also I hope there’s more Firebird books they’re so good 🙂
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I just discovered the Firebird Series, but I loved it so much I read all six books in a week!!! I loved Kira and would like to see more characters like her!
Also I hope there’s more Firebird books they’re so good 🙂 -
Love! I’ve noticed a slow transition amongst writers who are creating older characters and I am HERE FOR IT! Not every heroine needs to be an early twenties bombshell. As I get older it’s nice to see characters get older as well. Sending well wishes to your family! I know what it feels like to have repetitive illnesses, not fun at all.
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Ooo…Ember sounds so interesting! I’m approaching my late 30’s, and it’s so nice seeing more mature and intelligent female characters in my favorite genres! We can still have fun adventures 30+. I loved everything about Ada in Ilona Andrews’ Inheritance book. Can’t wait to read more about Ember and her found family!
Bronchitis is the absolute worst. Once something gets into my lungs, it likes to throw a party and stay for months. I had a bad run with bronchitis for a good chunk of my 20’s. Like others have said, you mostly have to let it run its course. Push fluids for sure. And see if your doctor can prescribe the clear spherical cough suppressant pills (the name escapes me). I don’t know what black magic is in them, but they were a godsend for me and worked far better than codeine cough syrup. Feel better soon!
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