My current WIP is the first book in my fantasy Dragons of Astria series. As this is a three book series, I’m finding a balance between ensuring the world feels real with a rich history and culture, but not revealing so much about it that it feels like I’m info dumping.
Aric and Denys, the MCs, still have a lot to discover about a world they thought they knew, and this will unfold over the course of the series.
Writing a world from scratch means that I’ve had to think about its geography, beliefs, society, and history, as well as those who in habit it. As with many places, its written history isn’t exactly what really happened, so it’s up to our MCs to discover the truth and in doing so unite the different factions of Astria in order to save it from a dangerous foe.
With Astria being inhabited by dragons and mages—although Aric’s father, the king, is trying to ensure it isn’t—I’ve also set up a magic system, and the biology of dragons who are able to shift into human form.
I started drawing a map by hand, then discovered that wasn’t really one of my skills, so am using graphic paper and arrows, and slowly transferring that into an online map maker. I love maps for fantasy worlds.
Watch for this series next year. With it being a finite series and three books, I’ll be releasing the series close together. The first two books are pretty much done, with just the third to be written.
World building isn’t only limited to fantasy worlds. My sale book this month is a contemporary romance set in Wellington. Many of the locations are real, but I still had to create new places, such as Avalon High School, and businesses, and Joel and Marcus’s perspective of something I usually see through my own.
#contemporaryromance #mmromance #gayromance #sweetwithheat #oppositesattract #friendstolovers #slowburn #smalltownromance #newzealandromance #ku #kindleunlimited
Prelude to Love
Blurb:
Music speaks directly to the heart.
Joel is a music teacher who knows it’s time to forget his ex and move on, while Marcus runs a lawn-mowing business and has come to Wellington to escape the reminders of a recent breakup. Although they’re opposites, when Joel and Marcus connect, their romance has the potential to hit all the right notes.
Too bad neither of them feels ready for new love.
With family and friends in common, dating is risky and things could get messy if it doesn’t work out. When the sweet song of possibility draws them towards romance, a Chopin prelude ends in a seductive kiss. But it will take some practice and perseverance to find their perfect harmony…
Author’s note: This is the second edition of Prelude to Love. The first edition was released by another publishing house. This edition has some added content, and has been revised and re-edited with the end result being a better, stronger story. It uses New Zealand spelling to reflect its setting.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link | Paperback
Meantime I’d love to see some of you in my readers group and/or signing up for my newsletter. Elizabeth Noble and I also have a Facebook group for our shared world, The Sleepless City.
