MONSTERS & MIST UPDATE

 

UPDATE:

Hi bookdragons, readers, bloggers, and friends. I regret the words I have to say here, it's so cliche 2020, but there's no way around it. I have to push back the release of MONSTERS & MIST. 

I've been trying to push through and get it ready for it's December 29th release but it's become impossible for several very important reasons. 

First, my grandmother has been very ill over the past few months. She's been in and out of the hospital in addition to trying to recover at home but over the past week we found out that a wound she has on her body has become septic, she's in renal failure, and needs a bevy of other treatments. At this time she's chosen not to pursue treatment and transition over to hospice care. With Covid measures we're having a hell of a time trying to find a facility to go to, the hospital isn't really letting us in to see her at this time, and we're all trying to come to terms that this is the end. Whether it's days, weeks, or a month, the strong, fiesty woman who raised me does not have much time left and we want her to be as comfortable as possible. 

Second, with her transition into a hospice facility and eventual passing I lose my day job which makes me unable to keep the apartment I shared with my grandmother so I have begun packing things up to move back into my mother's house. I'm not sure how much time it will take but I'm eking out at least until the end of January to get everything packed up, moved or sold, and the apartment's minor cleaning. 

Lastly, and the main writing-related reason that I am unable to deliver MONSTERS & MIST to you on the release date is that it's not completely ready. Usually a month before publication I sit down and spend a few days reading through the book one last time to catch any spelling or punctuation errors that slipped through all other edits of the book (they're usually minor - the word "they" instead of "the", etc.) and I haven't had enough time to devote to a good read-through in the past few weeks. There are also a few minor formatting issues that need to be hammered out before the paperback edition is ready. 

I don't want to send out a sloppy work that I'm not proud of so for all of these reasons I'm choosing to push the publication date into the new year. The new release date is: March 19, 2021. 

Taylor's Shieldmaidens Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173197950281995

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Thank you for your patience and support! I appreciate you more than you could know! Happy Holidays! 

xo

Writer Thursday: March/April Book Update & Goals

Hey readers! This #WriterThursday I'm giving you updates on all my bookish projects...

Monsters & Mist

With the coronavirus pandemic (or is it epidemic now? which is worse?) I've pushed the release of Monsters & Mist off until late September / early October in the hopes that things will have gone back to normal by then. That will also give me ample time to really polish each draft and add more to the mythology of the world. 

Titania Project

I didn't make any progress on this project in March. With everything going to hell the way it has I really wasn't motivated but I'm hoping to get back on track. 

Untitled Retelling/Romance/Mystery

I've written two short chapters for this project and have been working on adding to the first chapter before I continue writing. The story is inspired by two classic novels but will have a murder mystery that the source material doesn't. This will be most likely a New Adult/Adult Fiction Thriller Retelling.

Goals For April 2020:

- Camp NaNoWriMo to work on Titania and the NA Retelling
- Keep editing Monsters & Mist
- Add to the mythology/history of the world sections

Writer Thursday: Q&A, Story Outline, and Vision Board - Monsters & Mist

Hey readers! This #WriterThursday I'm doing a little Q&A, sharing the process of developing Monsters & Mist and showing a bit more of the visuals inspired me while writing.
Q&A
Q: Is Monsters & Mist a retelling? A: No, originally it was meant to be but the story took off in a completely different, original direction.
Q: Will Monsters & Mist be a stand-alone or part of a series?A: At this time Monsters & Mist is a stand-alone, but I may revisit the world and the characters in the future.
Q: What was your favorite part of writing Monsters & Mist?A: Creating the mythology that the world of Monsters & Mist sprung from. I wanted a wholly original fantasy world so I didn’t want to base the mythology on any of our world mythology. 
Q: What inspired Monsters & Mist?A: Orignally I wanted to do a retelling of a folktale I was read as a child, The Fog’s Net. It’s a story about a  creeping fog that devours boats and people and a weaver girl  tasked with making a new net for the fog in exchange for keeping her family safe. The fog goes back on it’s promise and takes her younger brother and she goes on a quest to bring him back. That was the bones of where I wanted to develop the story but it soon became clear that the villain of the story was not who I would have expected it to be. 
Story Outlining / Development / Process
Monsters & Mist was written on this formation: 1 section divider on The History of Esternwhorl (the world in Monsters & Mist to every 2-3 chapters of story. 
The History of Esternwhorl covers the origin of the world, the mythology, and the origins of any organization or religion mentioned within. 
The first initial chapters follow Andromeda Mistsplitter the technical main character before fracturing off to the other main characters’ perspectives: Thane, Lyra, Daegan, Cygni, and Octavia.
In lieu of HoE sections, several chapters begin in 3rd person narrative of a newly introduced character to build a “meanwhile in...” omniscient feel to the story.  
Vision BoardFrom my Pinterest board...
The view from the coast when you live in a world cloaked in thick mist.

The poorest people live on the coast of Vacantia so I pictured them living in shacks thrown together from driftwood thrown up on the coast.

My initial vision of what the Mistborn people would look like, perhaps a depiction of what the Vacantian people think the Mistborn look like. 


While the world above is reminiscent of long ago times, the world below the sea is home to a highly tech advanced kingdom and a palace built on waterways like the city of Venice. 


Mythological creatures are a thing in Esternwhorl. Below the surface of the sea a legion of creatures that are part sea serpent and part dragon called Krayverns are bred to be mounts for the queen’s warrior riders. The Starborn kingdom boasts an all female army of stormriders who ride giant phoenix-inspired beasts borne of lightning, cloud, and storms.

The fifth and most well hidden kingdom in Esternwhorl, the Starborn kingdom resides in the Sky any only those born with the map inside them can find their way. 
🔹🔹🔹

Monsters & Mist releases July 2020! Stay tuned for preorder links! 

Writer Thursday: Meet the Cast Of Monsters & Mist

Hey readers! This #WriterThursday I'm giving you a peek at the visual inspiration of the character cast of Monsters & Mist...
Andromeda MistsplitterAndromeda is our heroine, an aspiring warrior about to uncover a monstrous secret about her origins.
General Thane Cruelseas

The youngest General the Watierai Warriors has ever seen Thane teeters between the duty he has trained for his whole life and the loss long ago he has never gotten over that drives everything he does and how he views the world.

Daegan Brykmaker

His family disgraced by their queen, Daegan captains a rag-tag crew of bounty hunters aboard his ship, The Internment. What will he have to do to regain favor from the royal family?

Octavia Starkova

Left on the steps of a temple honoring the Starborn goddess baring an unusual facial birthmark and trained as a Watierai Warrior from the moment she was old enough to walk, Octavia is nobody to underestimate. But could there be a hidden destiny within her waiting for the right moment to show itself?

Cygni of the House Vacant

Heir presumptive to the throne of Vacantia but not ready to give up nights of drowning himself in drink and women Cygni will find himself thrust into the role of the leader of a revolution. 

Queen Lyra of the House Vacant

Ruthless, cunning, and charming - Lyra could slit your throat and you’d thank her for it as you gasp for your final breaths. 

King Pavo of the House Vacant

Once a strong, unstoppable warrior Pavo has been cursed with a mysterious ailment that no healer in any of the kingdoms can identify. Is there an assassin in his home?

Queen Carina of the House of Faeta’s Blessed Chosen Ones

Once a young, innocent princess before something was stolen from her long ago Carina became a respected, yet feared queen of her people and the kind of ruler you’d hate to make an enemy of.

The Three

The Three are the eyes and hands of the Starborn Goddess, Adventrya. They see all and report all while under strict orders not to interfere in the quarrels of Landborn men.

Cutter Longbone

Right hand of General Cruelseas, Cutter holds no ill will toward the monsters they hunt. No more loyal a friend will you find in any of the five kingdoms.

Castor Windwhirl

Among General Cruelseas’s inner circle, Castor’s talent with a sword is as legendary as his temper.

Grus Mistsplitter

Just an honest man who made the mistake of loving the wrong woman, Grus’s past will set off a collision course of what is to come.
🔹🔹🔹Monsters & Mist releases July 2020! Stay tuned for preorder links!