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December Update!

by Dec 2, 2021Wonderings36 comments

Update from me…

Hey y’all,

I’m so, so happy to say that A Necessary Heresy is finally done! It was actually completed in September, but then I realized that there was a massive chunk in the middle that just didn’t make much sense. The scenes were interesting in and of themselves, but they just didn’t add anything to the underlying story/plot. The section in question was 34,000 words long, and it had to be significantly trimmed (btw, for reference, 34,000 words is about 130 pages of text).

Ultimately, I got that section down to 13,000 words, and that was the limit since some of those scenes are absolutely critical for later events, especially in terms of linking Instrument of Omens with the happenings told about Cinder and Anya in William Wilde. And the scenes are still with me. I have them stored away, and one day, I might make them available since they are fun vignettes.

Another also, the extra work I’m whining about wasn’t all bad. It was actually a good thing since it made the final result for A Necessary Heresy a much more engaging story. In reality, this whole frustrating process was like a trip through some brambles that led out to a better path. It forced me to refocus on what I want for this series and also what I don’t want.

All along, I’ve wanted a tight lens on Cinder and Anya, and with those particular scenes, the scope had broadened. But now, by going through this work, I’ve got a means of making sure books 4 and onward maintain that attention on Cinder and Anya.

​​Success!

As for the book itself, it’s now with the beta readers, and if early results hold true, then I’m starting to get a cautiously optimistic feeling about it… which also means it goes out into the world in late December or early January, which would be awesome!

After that, I’m going to take a break from writing Instrument of Omens. Book 3 sucked a lot out of me, and I need to recharge the batteries with a vacation from the series. Otherwise, I’ll be facing book 4 with resentment rather than freshness. But no worries.  It won’t be a long break. Just a couple of months.

Other stuff. Let’s see. I’m in the middle of watching Wheel of Time, and hopefully it will improve. It’s not bad, but the show doesn’t seem to know what direction it wants to take. That is a common situation. Buffy in season one was nearly unwatchable. Same with Seinfeld and Star Trek: TNG (it took two seasons to find its footing). Hopefully, as the writers get through the worldbuilding, they can focus on the storytelling and characterization.

However, one series that hits the ground running and is awesome from the very start is Arcane on Netflix. What a powerhouse of a series! So elegant in how the worldbuilding is introduced without losing focus on the characters or the plot. That’s a show I’ll have to watch again just to see how the writers did that. I’ll probably even take notes.

That’s about from me. Hopefully everyone has a wonderful Christmas/holiday season!

Davis

36 Comments

  1. Eddie

    I’m very excited for book three I can’t wait.

    Reply
    • Davis

      I’m just as excited (if not more so) to see it out in the world!

      Davis

      Reply
      • Rusty

        What a pleasant surprise! I didn’t think book 3 would be out that soon considering your so busy. And, I would rather have a good book that took time to develop than one that ‘jumped the shark.’

        Reply
        • dustin williams

          Dude fucking stellar series can’t wait for book 3 as I just shit through the first 2 in a couple days and since I just figured out all your work is connect I’m of to read those, keep up the good work

          Reply
          • Davis

            Glad you’re liking it, and book 3 is right around the corner! Literally. Just waiting on final proofread and cover art, and it should be good to go in early January 2022. I’m trying to think of something clever to say about being a physician and how you shit through the first two books. That can’t be healthy for your intestines or your gut biome. Sadly, though, nothing clever comes to mind. Oh, well. Happy reading with the other series, too!

            Davis

          • John walker

            Haha, same.

            I shit through a warriors path through a testament of Steele in less than a month.

            And it was nothing but healthy for my intestines.

      • Lorenz Ledesma

        Can’t wait for book 3 to continue Cinder and Anya’s journey! Meanwhile happy to be listening to book 2 after reading it twice…..Nick Podehl does an amazing job narrating. By the way took your advice to try out Phil Tuckers series starting with Path of Flames….wow truly amazing stuff. On book 3 now and thoroughly enjoying. Thanks for the recommendation!

        Reply
        • Davis

          Book 3 is chugging along. It’s done, actually. I’m just waiting for the final edits from the proofreader, the final version of the cover art, and then it’s off to the world a few weeks later (gotta give the ARC readers a chance to read the book first).

          And I keep saying this, but Nick really is so talented at what he does. He brings the book to life in a completely different way.

          And you’re welcome for the recommendation, and I should point out that Phil is a friend of mine. But even if he wasn’t, I’d still love his stuff. I love his Chronicles of the Black Gate, and while I haven’t read his Sumerian heist trilogy or his LitRPG, Bastion, his progression fantasy, is as good as Chronicles.

          Reply
      • Aimee

        I’m listening to Prophecy right now and realized Wilde will connect the series, right? I think I’ve missed something….

        Reply
        • Davis

          Yep. William Wilde helps to connect Castes to Instruments. There are two unwritten series that finalizes all those connections, but if you’re hankering for more Rukh and Jessira, they are in William Wilde, but they really only take on a role starting in book 2.

          Davis

          Reply
          • John Dove

            Unwritten series or do you mean books by chance? All for more of your books, but I just want to clarify considering that is big difference (to me at least).
            Also, I thoroughly enjoy your three series thus far and am writing a few myself in inspiration! Preaching to the choir, but damn, writing is a pain in the beginning!

          • Davis

            I mean unwritten series. There will eventually be a series set after the events from Castes and the OutCastes, which will detail the nature of Mistress Arisa and why Rukh/Jessira felt the need to leave their world to come to Earth. There will also be a series that picks up where Rukh/Jessira and Aia/Shon were cast back into Earth’s past and how they became known as Shokan and Sira and their first war against Shet. They won’t be massive series. I’m thinking 3-4 books each. There will also be a follow on to William Wilde (single large volume) to show what happened to Arylyn after the war against the Servitor.

            One day, I might even pick up Sapient and Manifold’s redemption story (this would be a series) in the Realms of the Rakshasas. There are other books, too, like a novel detailing what happened to Landon Wilde after his encounter with Kohl Obsidian in William Wilde.

            There are lots of stories, some of which might be single volumes and others that will certainly be series, in the Anchored Worlds.

            Davis

    • Chris Telarico

      I am very disappointed in the tv version of the Wheel of Time. It looks like they tried to make it more appealing to the audience by adding gratuitous sex and changing the story.

      I have really enjoyed your stories so far the way you develop each character and background. I think your proof readers could do a better job of editing.

      Reply
      • Davis

        I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the stories! And agree about Wheel of Time. I’m not sure why they’re changing the plot. Changing certain character backgrounds (like Perrin being married), I can understand, but the plot itself… maybe they had to change it because of cost constraints. Like they could build a White Tower set and all the others, but not also Caemlyn just yet. Hopefully, it sorts itself out and gets good.

        Davis

        Reply
  2. Urszula

    I recently saw “The Testament of Steel” randomly on Facebook ad and loved the cover, so decided to give it a try. What a ride!!! I’m on book 2 now and can’t put it down, which creates a bit of an issue as I should be finishing my Christmas shopping and cookie baking lol Oh well.
    I love how you added an Asian/Indian twist to your story. I was not sure if I was going to like it at first, but more I read the more I enjoyed it. Who decided that elves have to be faired skinned, with blond hair and blue eyes anyways? I can’t wait to read more of your books.
    Thank you so much for writing such an amazing story.
    P.S. Now I need a snow tiger named Brilliance for Christmas 🙂

    Reply
    • Davis

      Glad the ad worked, and even happier that you liked the book! And we all need a Brilliance for Christmas. Her and cookies, the baking of which should never be halted for any reason.

      Davis

      Reply
  3. Madelyn

    I am so excited for the next book! I found the series early this year, and couldn’t put it down. I have been anxiously waiting for the newest addition to the series, and I am glad that you took your time writing it rather than jumping the gun to get it published! I love the creative world building, as well as how you folded it into their greater story!

    Actually, I found this series before reading The Castes and the Outcastes. This made me go back and read them (which I really enjoyed). Let me just say, this book is much funnier after having read the others! You get all of the little inside jokes, and it just makes more sense!

    Congrats on getting done with another book!

    Reply
    • Davis

      Hi Madelyn,

      So very happy to hear how much you’ve enjoyed the books! And thank you especially for reaching out to me and for the kind words. Hopefully, you’ll love book 3, which should be out in early January just as much as the first two books in the series!

      Sincerely,

      Davis

      Reply
  4. Connor

    I’ll admit, I’m not a book reader. I can’t sit still long enough to actually read through one, which can be frustrating as I know how powerful a good book can be. Fortunately for me, I’ve discovered the brilliance of audiobooks. In the last 6 months, I think I’ve been able to get through 14? I’ve been lucky enough to find your books (brilliantly narrated by Nick Podehl!) and hot damn has it been fantastic. Loving Cinder and his story, and almost finished going through book 2, which was just released a few days ago. If book 3 really does come out this month of next, it might be the first book I try to sit down and read out of pure impatience to continue the story!

    All of that to say, thank you for writing such a great story, and I look forward to going back listening to some/most/all of your other works as well!

    Reply
    • Davis

      So glad for audiobooks! They really have opened up a whole new world for so many people. And having talented folks like Nick Podehl, Travis Baldree, etc do the narration really brings those stories to life. Good luck with reading book 3! Hopefully it goes well, and you enjoy the book.

      Davis

      Reply
  5. Eric

    I’m hooked! Can’t wait for book 3 after a marathon through 1 and 2. Fantastic story so far. Please keep it up and go all the way to the finish line!

    Reply
    • Davis

      Getting to the finish line with a story that keeps the pace is definitely the goal!

      Reply
  6. Sanjay

    Wait wait, did I misunderstand you or do you have beta readers for book 3? How do I do that? Purely professional of course. I don’t want to sneak a peak at the next book or anything 🙂

    Reply
    • Davis

      Sometimes all you have to do is send me a DM to get on the alpha/beta or ARC teams. But only for purely professional reasons, of course.🙂

      Davis

      Reply
  7. S. Trice

    OMG!!!! I discovered ‘A Testament of Steel’ on audible by accident. I had accidentally purchased it and just decided to go with it. What a jewel of a story. ‘Memories of Prophecies’ made me love the story further. Cannot wait for book 3.

    I plan to get into the ‘Castes & the Outcastes’ and the ‘William Wilde’ books. Should I get started on those or should I wait for ‘A Necessary Heresy’ while I savor to delight from my first experience with your work?

    Reply
  8. S Trice

    OMG!!!! I discovered ‘A Testament of Steel’ on audible by accident. I had accidentally purchased it and just decided to go with it. What a jewel of a story. ‘Memories of Prophecies’ made me love the story further. Cannot wait for book 3.

    I plan to get into the ‘Castes & the Outcastes’ and the ‘William Wilde’ books. Should I get started on those or should I wait for ‘A Necessary Heresy’ while I savor to delight from my first experience with your work?

    Reply
    • Davis

      Glad you had that lucky discovery! A Necessary Heresy should be out in a few weeks, but if you can’t wait, William Wilde gives a lot of hints of what’s to come. However, if you really want to know Rukh/Cinder and Jessira/Anya’s true backstory, it would have to be the Castes and the OutCastes.

      Davis

      Reply
  9. Kristen

    How soon can we expect the audible version of book 3 to come out? Just finished book 2 and so excited for the next one!

    Reply
    • Davis

      I’m not sure about the audiobook release date for book 3, but I think it’s likely to be in June or July 2022.

      Davis

      Reply
      • Taylor Fallentine

        Honestly, what I love kost is when an author creates a Universe that intertwines and connect and gives me the opportunity to learn more and more about it little by little supported by fun and lovable characters. You have absolutely nailed that! In the past 5 years I have listened to about 200 Audiobooks (I love reading but I simply don’t have the time). The universe you have created is a wonder to behold. Without knowing it I luckily started with Casts and Outcasts. I then saw a Testament of Steel and devoured that. I waiting for book 2 and couldn’t wait for more and now I am in book 4 of William Wilde. I have loved every moment. Even finished more of the William Wilde books the same day I bought them. Thank you for creating such an enjoyable/uplifting Universe.

        Reply
        • Davis

          Hi Taylor,

          Thank you for those kind words! It means more than you know. When I started the Castes and the OutCastes, I meant it to be a simple series focused on characters only, and before I knew it, I had a massive world that kept on growing in depth, history, and culture. It felt real to me, which was unexpected and wonderful. Then, I wrote William Wilde, with no intention that it was linked to Arisa. But Jessira insisted she belonged. It was that very first chapter, and she pushed her way into the story. It’s been fun and a bit terrifying to see what happens next.

          Davis

          Reply
  10. John walker

    I am super excited for more of what has easily became my favorite series.
    Thanks for being cool/creative enough to produce such a gem.

    While I’m excited, I’m also a little fearful.

    In Wilde when young Jessira calls out elf Jessira for being filthe and that Rukh would have done a 100 fold, which was absolutely true btw, was emotionally intense for me lol.

    So the fearful part comes knowing there has to be some falling out between Cinder and Anya. Which sucks, bc this entire last series has been me wanting them to remember their eternal love.

    But I’m guessing, with no evidence, that them remembering will play a role in the falling out.

    Long story long, I love this series!

    Ps, I get a good laugh out of you/author making fun of his own made up curse words from his first series through the more edgy/modern characters in the later series. Love it

    Reply
    • Davis

      If I’m touching feelers of any sort, then it means I did my job as a writer. As for the worries you have, all will be explained in book 3.

      Davis

      Reply
      • John walker

        That just made my day, can’t wait!

        Thank you, happy new year!

        Reply
  11. Remington Baker

    When will the new book release on audible?

    Reply
    • Davis

      I’m not sure, but I imagine it should be out in June or July.

      Davis

      Reply

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