This writing update is brought to you the letter W, for What the hell happened to this year? Well, here we go again, I guess.

Writing Update

Greystone

I’ve been in the middle of a massive overhaul of the Greystone series. What does this mean exactly? Well, for starters, I took a deep dive into Signs of Portents. Some people–friends and family–think I’m insane for doing so. They love the book as it stands.

But it isn’t universally praised. Those critical of the book aren’t wrong. I would never write Signs the same way if I were to tackle it from scratch. I’ve changed over the years and my sensibilities have shifted. I wouldn’t say for the better, but I would like to think I’ve grown into the role of novelist respectably.

Anyway, I retooled the whole book. The narrative is the same. The mystery at the heart of the book remains intact. There are slight additions for pacing purposes. The most jarring changes are with POV. I switched POVs mid-chapter A LOT in Signs. I found ways around doing that for the revision, building up images in some cases and switching events around in others.

The book is vastly improved. VASTLY.

New covers!

The overhaul also entails new covers for the series. I tried–really, I did–to get on-brand, genre covers for the series. I hated every design sent my way. The characters models looked weird and the edge was lost on the monster angle. None of them felt right to me.

The original covers always made the series for me. So, I went back to the well and found someone able to update the original covers to include… THE BOOK NUMBER ON THE SPINE! (WOOHOO!)

Not only that, but hardcover editions are coming your way next year!

The Signs edit has been my life for the last two months. Now, it is time to turn my attention to Tales and the rest of the Greystone series to get the books prepped for a huge push in 2025.

Terminal Point

I’m doing my final lap on the DSA Season Two finale. I love this book, personally, which is not something I so readily say when it comes to my work. There are some great Ben-Morgan moments in the book as well as a cliffhanger that will have you screaming at me for quite some time.

Be sure to pre-order your copy now for only $0.99!

Coventry

Next month, I’m back to work on Coventry to get the two short stories already written into shape for release in December. I don’t usually like to play it this close, but this year has been a mess all around for me. Don’t worry about the tales, they’re a blast and you’ll enjoy them. I just wish I had more time to play around in the world before the launch.

Is that it? Come on, Lou.

I know, right? Pretty lackluster performance from me this year on the writing side. Next year, the game changes, hopefully. A little less worrying about what’s already out and more focus on building new narratives.