Hi all,

Now that I’ve released the first book in my new series, The War of Light and Shadow, I’ve already started working on my next novel. The biggest mistake I’ve made in my writing career was losing momentum during covid and taking over four years to finish my last book. My audience dissipated and moved on to other authors, naturally, and I’ve had to start at square one again. I feel like I did back in 2015 when I released my very first book on Amazon.

It’s a weird feeling, but it’s also quite invigorating. I am motivated to carry on with the series because the characters and plot from the first book are still fresh in my mind. Unlike many other authors, I don’t start writing a new book by outlining where it will begin and end. I don’t foresee the plot, except in very general terms. I am almost always surprised by what my characters do and don’t do in any given situation. Writing by the seat of my pants, I believe is the term. It’s chaotic and leads to many rewrites and changes, but it’s exciting too. I’m a passenger on a runaway train and I can only hope that it doesn’t go off the rails before it reaches the station.

Hmm, that’s a bit of an odd metaphor, but you get the idea. My hero, Simon O’Toole, has already decided to do something quite unexpected in the new book and I’m only just finishing chapter one! Where is this going? No idea, but I’m hanging on and enjoying the ride.

To those of you who have picked up the first book in the series, I want to say thank you. I write because I love telling stories and it’s a true pleasure to know that others enjoy those tales as well. More of them are coming, I promise you.

Take care,

J. J.