Looking back: year 10 in the books

Oh, dear. Has it been a decade? Have I been writing and publishing that long? And is this where I saw myself ten years in?

Yes, yes, and no. Most decidedly the story has not unfolded as planned. Yet, it’s a funny thing about stories. When you’re in the middle of them you almost never can see how they will turn out.

But this ten chapter had its share of drama, of victories and defeats. And so let’s consider them, shall we?

A year of winter

By far the biggest event of the year for me author-wise came with the release of Rimewinter, on April 5th, 2022. The Second book in The Swordspeaker Saga was my first real preorder and I was floored by the response. So many of you preordered the book which made for quite the windfall on launch day.

This book was a little harsher than book 1, Truesilver. Kion, Tiryn, and Zinder encounter dangers at every turn as the world of Warding grows darker and the hope for and end to the war more distant.

I struggled with whether or not to keep the story as bleak as it was. In the first book the threats are more of a rumor or offstage while the characters and the world are developed. So in this stanza I wanted the evil to be even more menacing and immediate. And things will only get worse from here on out I’m afraid.

Topping the century mark

In reviewing the past year, I must review the state of reviews. Reviews are near and dear to most authors, myself included.

Nearly all mine come from Amazon. This year, Amazon allowed people to simply leave a rating of a book rather than write a text review. While a rating is less helpful since it doesn’t let anyone know why someone rated it the way they did, this change did lead to an explosion of “reviews” for Truesilver.

For the first time, one of my books actually topped 100 ratings/reviews! This was something I wondered if I would ever reach and means a great deal. If you left a rating or review, thank you ever so much. If not, I’d love it if you’d consider leaving one.

It would be lovely to pass 200 on Truesilver and get to 100 on Rimewinter (which currently sits at 44) in 2023, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Breath of fresh air

Another highlight for me in the past year did not deal with my writing directly, but it was certainly adjacent to it and that was the 2022 Lewolkien Conference.

The conference took place once again in historic Rugby, TN. I’ve often said that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are my mentors when it comes to writing and so a conference inspired and focused on the writings of these two sages of the ages is just about as good as it gets for a writer like me.

Two of the speakers gave talks on Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis’ apologetics, while I attempted to explain The Silmarillion in an hour, at which I failed miserably.

But my other talk on the twin values of myth and reality in Lewis and Tolkien’s writing went much better. I actually adapted it afterward into an article which you can find on the Lewolkien website, entitled, “Come for the Story, Stay for the Truth.” That’s really a fine motto for any author and something I hope could be said about my own work.

Aside from the talks, it was more the fellowship and the chance to get away and discuss literature with other bookish folk which afforded the chief joys of the weekend. Sometimes we need to rise up out of our submarines and breathe the fresh sea air of companionship and discussion. I left restored and reinvigorated for a fresh round of writing, reading, and even more importantly, living.

Forging ahead

After far too long a hiatus, work began at last on Grimbriar, book 3 of The Swordspeaker Saga.

This book turned out to be quite the adventure. Not only did it end up being the longest thing I’ve ever written at 160,000 words, but it took me a very long time to write. I put the finishing touches on the first draft in October and the second draft midway through December.

Though I had the story outlined before I began writing, several twists and turns presented themselves as the story moved along. That is one of the delights of writing, discovering new wrinkles and complexities that you simply cannot know until you’re down in the muck shoveling words and trying to dig your way to China.

On the horizon

Not only was 2022 another year of intense writing and editing, I also worked with my designer on the cover for book 4 and it far exceeded my expectations.

I can’t wait to get started on book 4, which will bring the series to the halfway point.

I’m also looking forward to working on the cover for book 5 next year, hosting the Silmaril Awards again, attending another Lewolkien conference, and reading more great books!

How about you, my friend? What amazing things occurred in your life in 2022 and what are you most looking forward to in 2023.

Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Until next time, I’ll see you between the pages!