An Actual Update??
It’s been a minute since I’ve posted - and there’s a good reason for that!
I’ve been hard at work not just getting ready to release Shattered Stars, but also working on the rest of the trilogy - Shattered Kings and Shattered Souls. And as of a few days ago, the first manuscript for the third book (Souls) is DONE! ✨
I finally feel like I can take a nap. 💤
Despite these drafts still being rough and functional prose, I can’t help but be proud of where it ended up. When I set out in this trilogy endeavor, I wanted each book to really circle each of our protagonists, and I feel like each of them truly gets their chance to shine.
Book 1 - Shattered Stars, is all about Xela - and it focuses on her journey from careless assassin to actual human being. While the most straightforward romantic fantasy of the three, it’s a fun space adventure that I (and probably Jack) have always wanted to read.
Book 2 - Shattered Kings, focuses not only on the fallout from the first book, but on Nigel’s struggles as her choice to leave her family comes back to haunt her. It’s a darker political story, and contains some of the bravest choices in the trilogy (which unfortunately is all I can say without spoilers!).
This leaves Book 3 - Shattered Souls, for Jack. Souls hits the lowest lows and the highest highs. It’s more gothic space opera than the books before it - but it forces Jack to confront both his place in the universe, and who he really is underneath the mask. It deals with the fallout from both books 1 and 2, as well as keeping an eye toward the future.
With the draft manuscripts done, this means I can focus on editing, drawing, and all the fun supplemental parts of being an indie author.
I also made some cool summer art! ☀️
I wanted to do a character/color series - that quickly became a character/color/flower series. It was somewhat ambitious for me as I work on improving my art ability. That said - it was a fun one.
Nigel of course got orange as a color - a nod to her fake Citrine Gem and sunny disposition. The flower I picked for her was a marigold for its positive meanings - though sunflowers was quite close behind.
For Jack and Xela - I actually switched their signature colors. Usually Xela gets violet for her eyes and cosmic themes, and Jack is all blood and garnet. But as a couple, I wanted to show them in each other colors. Jack gets clothes that were very heavily inspired by Mamoru from Sailor Moon (and a morally grey Tuxedo Mask is way to close for comfort for reasons I’ll disclose at a later date), and Xela gets some cool streetwear - a slightly different take on her usually revealing wardrobe.
I have more to share in the coming weeks as we get closer to the release - and truly I am bursting with fun things to share once Shattered Stars is finally out in the world.
In the meantime, I will be taking a short reprieve to rest, relax and recoup my sanity, and celebrate with a very generous double of whiskey.
until next time,
lexe
