Update for 3 February 2024

(originally posted 3 Feb 2024)

Current workspace:

Sweet Jeebus, the last update was too long ago – but for reasons. In early October (right before my birthday of all things), my team and I were let go from our remote jobs. I had to spend the rest of the month looking for work (it was grim and depressing). Luckily, I was back to work for the same client but as an independent contractor by early November. That contract just extended, so I am good until May if not beyond (crossing my fingers).

But then, in early December, I broke my ankle quite badly and have been recovering ever since. Needless to say, it’s been a challenge to write, but regardless I have been plugging along.

Output - What I’m Writing

Since January, I have been drafting a new Vensa novel with a working title of The Destroyer, which is set in the ancient past. It was inspired by my novella Ancient History (more on that below), and I’m quite excited about it.

Also in the works, but more on the back burner for now, is a Vensa story I call Star Augur, which is sort of a prequel to the main novel I have been working on for the better part of my writing life, Veils: Awakening.

All three are linked, the same world and history, if not with the same characters.

Status of Works

The Vensa short story, Gem Finder has been returned by my editor and needs some work, which is what I expected. I’m just glad to have the elusive problems pointed out to me. I will need to set aside time to do revisions, probably while I let the first draft of The Destroyer rest.

I completed the revisions for Ancient History and sent that back to the editor for a look-through in January. I love this story and I feel like it is almost done, so I’m looking forward to the feedback. If there is anyone who wants to beta-reading it, please reach out!

Input - What I’m reading, watching, listening to, etc.

I have been trying to get back into reading more regularly. I am currently reading a new novel by the indie Canadian author James Fuller called The Queen of the Seas (The Pirate Queen Series Book 1), which is a fun ride so far. I also await my copy of The Famine Witch by indie Belfast author Stephen Black (also my amazing editor) which is in the mail and I can’t wait to dive in.

Can’t say I’ve been watching anything amazing, just random shows on Netflix with my husband. Does anyone know of any good fantasy series? I feel like there should be something I haven’t already seen that’s not full of death and dismemberment. Lately, I’ve become averse to consuming violence.

As far as music goes, I mostly have Twitch techno DJs on during the workday, a far cry from where I used to be musically.

If you have any awesome recommendations, drop me a line.

Coming up…

If you would like to support my writing and help me reach my first goal of getting published, please stop by my Ko-Fi page. Paying my editor is not cheap, and I will be giving up bits ‘n’ bobs (snippets, previews, or discarded gems) for a coin or two if you can spare any. Stay tuned!

Cheers,

~Liriel