Hello friends! Lots of updates for you all today, both in books and in life, so let’s get started!
Alright, so a lot has been in the works on the writing front. The Five Fates series is rapidly approaching its debut (release date coming soon, so stay tuned!), and things are coming together beautifully.
I’ve just completed another draft of book 1, and it’s been sent off to my editor for a copyedit. This means the most recent round of edits should be the last that impacts the story. Everything from here on out should be focused on cleaning up the text and making the language as polished as possible. And as far as publication goes, the map, the blurb, and the cover are DONE! We’ve got a release date! We’ve also got character art by the amazing art.bymikki that I have been sitting on for literally months! In case you can’t tell from the copious amount of exclamation points in this paragraph, I am so excited to share all of this with you 🎉, but we have to be patient. All of these goodies will start dropping early next year. Newsletter subscribers will get first looks at everything, as well as early access to ARC/street team signups and preorders when they open. (Not signed up for my newsletter yet? That’s ok—click here to sign up and you’ll get access to the prologue and first five chapters of Five Fates book 1.)
Book 2 is fully drafted and is currently undergoing revisions. Draft one is a bit of a dumpster fire, but I keep reminding myself that that’s exactly what a first draft is supposed to be, so really everything is going as according to plan. But also, am I using this blog post to procrastinate working on revisions? Yes, yes I am. 😅 Lastly, book 3 is roughly outlined and books 4 and 5 are currently in the “no-plot-just-vibes” stage (but omg the vibes!).
I also have a prequel novella planned for one of the beloved secondary characters, but sadly life is getting in the way of me drafting that one as I’d hoped. It’ll still happen, but it may end up being something like a Kindle Vella serial, rather than a fully published novella. We’ll have to see how things shake out, but for now I’ll be focusing my efforts on the main books of the series.
I’m definitely behind on my reading goals for the year (re: aforementioned life-getting-in-the-way-edness), but I’ve still read some delightful books this year. The current read is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I’m still in the early parts of the book, but so far I’m definitely enjoying the aesthetic and mystery.
This year has been a year for romance novels with all of their varying subgenres. Highlights of my 2023 reading list include Under Darkened Skies, Forged by Flames, and Into Whispering Shadows, all part of H. E. Bauman’s Under Darkened Skies series (and I’m anxiously awaiting the next book!). I also finished the Folk of Air series by reading The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, and How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, all by Holly Black. In the contemporary romance category, I read One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, as well as Boyfriend Material and Husband Material by Alexis Hall, among a smattering of others. I also finally read (and enjoyed) the cozy fantasy Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree.
Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I’m a huge gamer. I love all kinds of games. But honestly, the answer to the “what am I playing?” question right now is, sadly, “Not much.” I’m playing some Mario Wonder and Mario 3D World with my son (he’s six and is really into Mario right now). We also sometimes play Rayman Legends together, which is a lot of fun. Aside from that, there’s been a bit of The New Pokemon Snap, which is often the super chill experience that I need right now.
On Steam, I often play Hades, which is one of my favorite games of all time, though I haven’t had as much time or motivation for that one lately. I’ve also dabbled a bit with Baldur’s Gate 3. And while I am a big fan of the series and am enjoying what I’ve seen of the game so far, I have trouble finding a large enough block of time where I feel like I can sit down and really get immersed.
I think that about sums things up for right now. Lots happening on the writing side, and a little less on the reading and gaming sides than I would normally prefer, but sometimes that’s just how things go. As book 1 of the Five Fates series gets closer to launch, keep an eye out for art, cover reveals, teasers, and more!
Stick around, because we’re just getting started. 💜
Lindsey Brounstein - Author 