Book 3 Update!
Dear Friend,
Book 3 Update is here!
Finally! It has been a long, long while since I’ve given any update regarding my progress on Book 3…well…maybe that’s mainly because I don’t have much to share with you! Haha. In truth, that is a bit of it, and yet, you know me, I always have something to say.
Side note: This Book 3 update! was written several months ago (I think around April), and I do have yet another wild update to share, however, since this one was already written to you, I decided to just go with it again and let you read what I’d written. But keep in mind, I have a better update coming!
But for now? Let’s see what I had to say back then!
What’s been happening in my life?
A lot! If you’ve perused my Blog at all, then I’m sure you’ve seen that I added a convention this year, which was super exciting! I attended the Teach Them Diligently Convention in Dayton, Ohio, in March. You can read about how it all went by going here.
Then, at the end of April, I attended the Great Homeschool Convention held in Columbus, Ohio, for the first and only time. You can read all about my adventures there by clicking on this link.
Ready for actual Book 3 happenings?!
Believe it not, I am still working on Chapter One of Book 3! Ahhhh!
I know…is that what you’re feeling and thinking as well? I’m right there with you. I can’t believe myself either.
Why the hang up?
Nothing. Just me…and mainly my perfectionistic mentality.
So, what am I currently doing?
Tweaking and fine tuning to be exact.
While I do want Book 3 to be perfect for you, I also want it to be perfect for me.
It isn’t my intention to sound super selfish when I say that. I don’t mean it to be. I just want Book 3 to be something I’m proud of and something that I can look back on and relish the thought that I’ve committed myself to giving this final installment the best of all that I had. Without a doubt, I definitely don’t want to end this series with the attitude of “that’s good enough” because I’m certain that it will show. I know I’d be able to detect it, which I couldn’t live with, and I think you’d see it, too. For sure and for certain, I don’t want to leave you with that impression after everything you’ve invested in with Finockt and her friends! That’s just unacceptable!
How far then have I gotten on Chapter One?
Quite surprisingly, I’ve made a lot of headway, despite everything I’ve shared with you.
I spent the last few months (since January honestly) revamping and rewriting Chapter One until I believed I might actually go crazy. I had so many versions of Chapter One (8 at the time) that I almost couldn’t figure out which one I enjoyed the most. There were parts of one I liked and then parts of others, but I felt so overwhelmed, I had to just put it aside.
Until an unexpected bit of help arrived…
An avid supporter and reader of Finockt’s tales encouraged me to join Versions 4 and 8, which I did and was much happier with the outcome. However, this unexpectedly turned into rewriting Chapter One yet again…6 more times!
I was elated when I finally breezed through Version 14 (after setting it aside for a few days), and it stuck! I felt more confident that this was the exact one that was meant to be the opening pages of Book 3! Not that this version didn’t require a little more tweaking and editing, of course. Mainly just a quick run-through. Chapters Two and Three also made the editing stage for the final, final edits.
If you’re new here, yes, I do an insane amount of final edits that never seem to end. Eventually, they do. It just takes a really, really long time. But hopefully this makes what you get to read that much better.
am I done with Chapter One?
Haha, I wish!
I let Chapter One percolate while I attended the Great Homeschool Convention, then I picked it back up to review it one final time about a week after the convention annnd…found that the second paragraph is not to my liking. There’s something off about it. It just wasn’t singing its final song for me. I still can’t put a finger on it. I’m intensely wrestling with it for sure, which I feel is pretty typical for the first page of any book, whether it’s the first book or whatever number in a series.
Without a doubt, the first pages either make you or break you. That being said, I’d like to pause and express a heartfelt thank you for always giving my books a chance. I’m not sure if I ever nailed the first pages in either Book 1-The Lost King’s Daughter or Book 2-The Heir, but I personally want to extend my gratitude for your generosity in giving Finockt and her story a fighting chance!
How much longer will it take me to finish Chapter One?
I’m so very close to closing this chapter (haha, no pun intended)!
The best part was I realized something when I was playing around with the wording and praying for insight and creativity. If I continue choosing this particular wording and/or something similar, it will end up paralleling Book 1, which I think would actually be pretty sweet.
What follows?
Excitement. Relief. Joy! I’ll finally be done with Chapter One, feel good about it, and know it was done well!
On the heels of this, I will be editing through Chapters 5-30! A big chunk, but it will be like the final, final read-through, which means that basically I’m nearly totally and completely done!
Conclusion
I’ll keep you posted on what’s happening with the progression of Book 3! My editor is still pounding away at the last bulk of the book. Her mother’s had some health issues, so she hasn’t been able to devote as much time to editing the latter half of Book 3. So, we both appreciate your patience as you await this final installment.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this Book 3 Update!
Until next time…happy reading and God bless. xoxo
