Martyn Stanley's Blog - Posts Tagged "epic-fantasy"

Well, part 2 WAS going to be 'The Temple of the Mad God' but I got to a point in the story and realised. 'I've just written a complete story!'.

It's about 60,000 words, the same length as the first one, but the trouble was the companions are nowhere near 'The Temple of the Mad God' so I've had to come up with a new title - as to use that wouldn't have made sense. I didn't want to keep everyone waiting until autumn to find out what happens after 'The Last Dragon Slayer' so I've re-structured the series, though not really the central plot.

1. The Last Dragon Slayer
2. The Verkreath Horror
3. The Temple of the Mad God
4. Emergence

I have a solid plot line for all of these books, my main fear is it will take too long to move the characters from the places they are to the places they need to be. I've found writing a journey, without skipping huge chunks takes a defined amount of writing you can't spend 60,000 words writing them halfway up the map, then get them the whole way back down in 60,000 words, it simply doesn't work!

I am really pleased with 'The Verkreath Horror' though, I've given the companions a horrible, horrible time together in this book, they really have been through the wringer. But they are a stronger group for it I think.

I've decided as well as 'The Temple of the Mad God' to take on another interesting little writing project.

I'm going to write a series of short stories which lead up to the start of 'The Last Dragon Slayer' which cover the lead-up of Korhan, Harald, Votrex, Saul and Vashni before we meet them in Deathsworn 1.

Still thinking about them in my head, I have a few themes ready to use though and a good idea for how at least 3 of these are going to go... Watch this space!

I was thinking about this last night, my content editor has finished going through 'The Verkreath Horror' I need a meeting to go through some minor edits. Then while he's working on book 1 I'm going to put Book 2 to a proof-reader to fine-tune the grammar and punctuation. Once books 1 and 2 are fully sorted, they are off to my literary agent and my intended illustrator (Daniel Johnson is the current likely candidate.) to have new covers designed.

Then when the new covers are done and the texts are really polished, I will release a full 2nd Edition of books 1 and 2. Finish up book 3, and this time put it through my content editor and proof-reader before passing it onto my illustrator for a cover and waiting for the new cover before I publish! Target date for book three 'The Temple of the Mad God' is being pushed back to about 15th December I think. The reason for this are down to personal reasons, why I haven't been able to spend as much time on it, the increased length over the first two books and the fact that I want to do things differently. I rushed books 1 and 2 out to gain some momentum, get some feedback and build awareness. I have those things, I get mixed criticism, but mostly very positive feedback. So I now really want 'Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Temple of the Mad God' to be great on it's first release and not need to publish as many revisions as the first two books. I expect to raise the price once all the three books are what I consider 'finished' but that's to be decided yet. If I can move to the traditional publishing model it might be that I don't have control over pricing any more.

I am sorry about the wait, but it will be worth it. 'Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Temple of the Mad God' is going to be best yet!

Martyn

Well, part 3 is progressing nicely! My volunteer editor is now going through the first half of part 3, and I'm now over 51,000 words. There's still a long way to go though! It is going to be bigger, in fact it's going to be huge. I can't see it being less than 100,000 at the moment, but after careful deliberation I've decided not to break up the books again. I did think book 3 could have become, 'Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Blood Trials' but it's starting to get ridiculous! So I'm going to press on and release a late, but double the expected size. 'Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Temple of the Mad God'

It's coming, I know it's late, but it will be worth the wait!

Martyn

I have to say, given the vastly increase in size of book 3 and the fact that I'm approaching a logical point to end a book. (Which is still miles away from the Temple of the Mad God) I am seriously looking at changing book 3 into 'The Blood Queen'

When will it be out? Early 2014 I think, and I think it will be longer than 1 and 2, but not double or triple the size as it would have been if I kept it as 'The Temple of the Mad God'

Mad God will follow, eventually... But for now, start looking forward to 'The Blood Queen'

The Blood Queen is coming! It's going to be long and different. We're going to learn what 'Deathsworn' means and we're going to have a much better feel for who Vashni really is. I can't wait to get it finished and out there!

Martyn

I'm getting closer! I have worked out a rescue plan for a difficult scenario, where several of the companions are incapacitated. By January the 1st I will be on the editing, proofing, tweaking and polishing things!

I really hope this goes down well and people enjoy it as much as they enjoyed the first two books.

Martyn

If you have, did you enjoy it? If you did, how about supporting it by voting it on one or two of these lists:-

https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/1...

Can you remember the story? Why not have a go at the trivia questions! Book 1 quiz can be found here:-

https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/work...

Book 2 quiz is here:-

https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/work...

Enjoy!

Martyn

I'm over 78,000 words! I've titled what I think will be the penultimate chapter! The last chapter should be epic if I can get it write, I'm really excited about it, I've been looking forward to writing this bit for weeks! Really excited! I will be releasing all three parts along with an anthology of all three, all freshly edited and proofed, with brand new covers, by the excellent artist, and my very good friend Isis Sousa. I also have agent interest and am working on a book proposal for a print deal with a publisher! 2014 could be a very exciting year for The Deathsworn Arc !

My author interview got posted on the 'cult of me' blog:-

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

My revised version of book 2 is coming along nicely. The cover is looking great, it's going to be in the same style as the new cover for book 1 but will feature Brael and Votrex as they play bigger parts in the second installment.

I an toning down the dark tone of the second book ever so slightly. Mainly to make it appeal to a broader audience and to be more sure of falling within what constitutes 'good taste' I wanted 2 to be edgy and challenging, but in certain aspects I think I went too far. The new version which will feature the Brael and Votrex Cover should rectify this.

I'm also working hard on the editing and polishing of book 3! The cover for three I think will feature Vashni and Saul. When I have all the cover for one two and three, I am going to crop the images for new portraits to insert into book 1.

Is the series concluded in book 3? No, it really gets started I think towards the end of book 4, thats when things will start to make sense and the main villain of the series will be introduced.

Sorry about the long wait for book 3 and the revision of book 2 - I really want to get them out, but I want the next version of 2 to be definitive and I don't want to continue the bad habit of releasing things too early. So hopefully book 3 will be worth the wait!

I can't wait to see it up there and get some feedback on it. I'm really excited about book 3, and I can't wait to start book 4!

Plus I have some interest from literary agents and publishers! Only really 'interest' at the moment, but interest is good!

Please bear with me, the revised book 2 and book 3 are on the way!