Progress Update

Now that I've decided to break the second story arc into two books, I've been writing away at the third book in the series. I really want to get it all written so I can make sure there's nothing I'll need planted in the second book for the third.

I'm afraid that that writing out this whole story arc at once is going to delay the release of the second book from my original target date, which is why I never announced it. On the bright side, as soon as I finish the draft of the third arc, then I'll have a better idea of when I can have the second book out, as well as the third. These two might hit very close together. For readers who like series books, this is good news. There's nothing like having to wait a whole year or more between books.

But, how about a sneak peek? Mind you, this is in absolute rough draft state. Right out of Celtx. By the way, it looks like their Android version is now out, so the second I finish writing this blog, I'm off to look for it - Yippee! Anyway, here is your sneak peek preview of book 2. Enjoy.


Steigan awakens from dreams of fighting gargaxes among wood, stone, and fire. He looks around the room searching for enemies in the now familiar room. Morning light pushes against the curtains in the window.

Getting up, he gets dressed and leaves his room. He quietly slips down the hallway and out the door.

He heads into Searn's barn and finds an empty stable toward the back. Inside he closes the gate behind him, puts a rope over the door post, a squats down in the corner and covers his face with his hands.

Steigan (thought): Not today. Not now. Control it.

His body starts to shake. Already he knows it's going to be bad. His throat still hurts from the dry screams of two nights ago when he'd been awoken in the middle of the night. He hadn't made it out of the house then and had feared that his thrashing would awaken Searn and his wife. Searn had enough to worry about without knowing about Steigan's nearly nightly tremors. He grabs his ankles and puts his head on his knees, starting to rock back and forth. The pain racks through him.

His first scream is silent, head thrown back against the wooden wall. His breath comes in ragged gasps. For a moment, just a moment, he feels released. Maybe it won't be as bad as before. Maybe he's overcoming whatever this is.

His arms start to tremble anew.

Steigan (whispering): Miex'calidori.

The alien sound of his own voice frightens him. He tries to whisper the word again, but no sound comes.

Pain stabs through his gut. He chokes on the sound of a scream that wants to come out. He next scream seems to come right out from his feet, pulsing pain through his entire body.

He closes his eyes and wills the pain away, but it doesn't go, rather instead coming on with another powerful wave.

Steigan awakes with a start, not realizing that he'd passed out from the pain.

Searn peers over the top of the gate.

Searn: Steigan, what are you doing in here? Are you all right?

Steigan tries to speak, but no words come out. With a shrug, he nods and gets up.

Searn: Seriously, what are you doing out here? You can't tell me that a pile of straw is more comfortable than your bed.

Steigan shrugs again.

Searn: You don't know what you're doing out here?

Steigan nods.

Searn: Sleep walking?

Steigan nods again.

Searn: Don't worry. I did the same at your age. You'll grow out of it.


If you liked it, let me know. If you sweet talk me, I might just release more! :)

One book becoming two, Part 2 of the tale

I've spent several days now working on the beginning of what will now be the third book in the series. It does feel like a beginning and sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that it is the start of a new book. It's weird because I'm so use to thinking of it as one story arc. But as I've said before, it's all a matter of working the story harder.

Speaking of which, I suppose I ought to explain why I decided to break it into two.

As readers may guess after reading The Three Books (aka book 1), the second story arc is about the life of St. Steigan. There is so much to set up, more of the magical world to build, new characters, etc. Overall, there is a lot! I do work to develop my stories, so there's work to do to make sure you, my fabulous reader, has lots of paths to explore. What is truth and what is a lie? Is this character a friend or a betrayer? What really lies beneath the Temple in the catacombs? I'm sitting here with a wicked grin on my face. Already I'm ready to go get back to work on the story. I love diving into this world! Really, this story is not meant to be read only once. There is enough here to read multiple times and deeper levels of meaning found each time. Wonderful parallels are cropping up between book 1 and 2. I am delighted and surprised each time I discover something new.

Just today, in fact, I started writing about Laurient (see previous posts) and St. Steigan going out to fight the gargaxes and St. Steigan comes up with this brilliant idea to transfer magic to Laurient. I hadn't seen this coming, didn't have it planned, it just popped in there. But it adds so many dimensions to the story. Because of this one thought, I can now spider several more things (like some foreshadowing for events in what will now be book 5) into the story. I love it!

Some of you may be wondering what will happen to the release date of the second book now that the preliminary draft is done. That's coming soon, I promise. The good thing is that I actually finished the draft by the date that I had set as my deadline so right now the story is still on track. As for my working title, I've had to change it because it no longer works. The Saint and the Betrayer, when split into to becomes The Saint (first title) and The Betrayer (second title). Somehow this just doesn't inspire me in the same way. Sigh. However, I have a new plan for the titles. I'm giving it a settling period to make sure I like it, but I'll probably make the title known at the same time I announce the release date for the second book.

So wait eagerly for more to come!

Happy reading!

The Three Books Has Escaped!

“You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you. If you don't have that kind of feeling for what it is you are doing, you'll stop at the first giant hurdle.” -- George Lucas


Sacred Knight: The Three Books has escaped!

Physical copy here.

Coming soon to Amazon, only because it takes awhile for them to list the title after my approval. It'll probably come to my Amazon store the fastest.

eBook versions available for NOOK and Kindle.

For all versions, keep an eye on my publishing website as I'll list all the links as they become available.

Yada! It's party time!