Dear readers,
Time to leave the sunshine behind and embrace the magic of spice-scented candles, spooky books, and cozy knit sweaters. Fall is like the beginning of a new year, it gives us the chance to refocus on personal and professional goals.
There is nothing quite like writing a spooky book during the fall!
My main focus this month has been my Novella The Heart of Anna Cecilia. I will also be expanding this newsletter by writing short pieces of flash fiction each month. For now, enjoy this excerpt of my current project.
Gia Amato was the first to fall to madness. It was rumored she was locked away after attacking her husband with a fragment of broken mirror.
Although there is no surefire formula for creating a perfect book, it is crucial to identify and address any weak areas of the story. Recently, I read a book that was exceptional in terms of its prose and world-building. However, despite these strengths, I repeatedly put the book down and ultimately did not finish it. The reason?
The characters lacked clear motivation.
To avoid the same pitfall in my own work, I ask myself the following:
✨How can the stakes be raised? ✨
CHARACTER
- What do they want?
- What stops them from getting it?
- How do they change?
- What is their voice?
WORLD
- What’s unique?
- Is the world an antagonist or a protagonist towards the hero?
- (If applicable) Is the society for or against magic?
- How does that affect them?
THEME
- Is there enough foreshadowing of the themes?
- How can I bring the themes forward?
Emma Fox
I was introduced to Emma’s work through Instagram. And I fell in love with her historical fairytale retellings. She has written two books, The Arrow And The Crown and The Carver And The Queen.
The Arrow And The Crown is a lyrically written Beauty And The Beast retelling that takes place in Germany. It is the perfect read for fans of Robin Mckinley and Pixar’s Brave. I found myself lost in the magical tale, and I didn’t want it to end.
Emma is celebrating the anniversary of her first book and she asked me to create an art print of her characters. She is hosting a Book Giveaway. Follow @emmafoxbooks and @aubreyc.sanders on Instagram for future details!
T.W. Clawson
A new genre in fiction is Fantasy Sitcoms.
I am excited to introduce you to The Penny Lich, which is the third volume in a series of comedic short stories set in the same world. Although I have not read the series yet, it is on my reading list!
Designing the cover for this book was a lot of fun. I chose a minimalistic background and tried to make the characters complement the title. This project was unique for me because Tyler, who is also a talented graphic designer, helped me with the font placement and design.
