Closing a book, Opening a series

It is sometimes said that taking the first step towards a new adventure is the hardest step you take. But all the steps in the middle can be fairly challenging as well.

Perhaps the more honest statement would be that the next step is the hardest step to take.

If you reach my age (46, if you're curious) there are few things that are true "first steps" now anyway. Most ventures had their roots in something that I had already started. Even writing my first book, which on the surface seemed like a new challenge a few years ago, had its roots in a sports writing career that started when I was 22.

I've decided that it is time for me to take the next step in my writing journey. I need to start writing my third novel.

While I will still be having signing events and promoting my first two books - The Pride of Central and The Jewelry of Grace - my focus is going to shift more and more each day to producing the third story in that particular literary universe:

The Fire of Life.

This will involve all the smaller steps that one must traverse when writing: outlining, drafting, revising, and the step that has caused the most callouses on my literary feet, editing.

Approaching my third novel is no less nerve-wracking than the first two. It may not be entirely a new experience, but before getting up off the couch and moving my feet, I have to accept that I will face new challenges. First among them, this will be my first sequel. Yes, those who have read the first two novels know that they take place in the same area and have a few of the same supporting characters, but the main characters and the main storylines are different.

The Fire of Life, however, will serve as a sequel to both The Pride of Central and The Jewelry of Grace. It will have its own new storyline, but will also resolve some unfinished plot threads from the other two stories.

That's a step I've never taken before. But it's time to put one step in front of the other.

It can be hard to know when it is time to take the next step. For some writers, the work on the next book would have started before the previous novel was finished. Others would say I'm rushing myself. Each situation is different.

But I feel it is time to start these new steps.

That also means stopping this blog.

I will be putting much of my time into a third novel, and the rest of life won't stop for me. I do not feel I can give this blog the attention it needs to get a quality post in every week while I am also working on my next novel.

When The Fire of Life nears publication (I wrote fall of 2023 on the back page of The Jewelry of Grace) I will open a new blog to share my insights that I gain from this next writing journey. Until then, continue to visit this blog or the blog from my The Pride of Central site if you feel my words have helped you.

See you soon.

2 Corinthians 13:11