Book Update 🌚 new moon letter
The manuscript is done!
A new moon is a time to start fresh. Well, I’m freshly back at the ol’ day job after five weeks away. (Not so fresh feeling.) But more importantly…
I am fresh off my book manuscript! I sent it to my alpha reader (aka first reader, aka my friend Jess, who is a writer with critique experience) on May 4: one day before my goal date!
While she marks it up with comments and addresses my concerns (I know it’s not perfect, but I had to get it off to someone at some point), I’m not going to look at it or write for a few weeks. I’ll be busy with the day job (doing Cannes online aka watching movies 12 hours/day for a week) and doing publisher things (this manuscript needs a book cover and an ISBN) when I have time.
I’m very proud of myself for finishing the book! When I started my leave, I had much tighter goals for finishing writing and being ready to publish by the end of the month. It turned out I could not rise n grind every day and, in fact, needed rest (what a concept), so I adjusted my goals and actually met them!
I got to open my reward I pre-bought for myself: an exclusive card deck from The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic called Enchant. Each card has a prompt based on a fairy tale character- could be used for journaling, self-reflection, or story ideas. They’re pretty and shiny and a nice treat for a job well done!
Next time I check in, I hope to have a big share like a book cover(!) but until then…
Another sneak peek at Ebony, Blood, and Snow
The ‘what if’ that sparked each story:
Ebony
How did Snow White’s mother come to value beauty above all else?
Bone
What if Gretel sided with the witch?
Red
What if Little Red grew up and fought a different kind of wolf?
Indigo
What if Bluebeard’s wife sought revenge?
Night
What if the Beauty became the Beast?
Pine
What if the Twelve Dancing Princesses weren't just dancing every night?
Plum
What if Rapunzel escaped the tower on her own?
Lily
What if the Six Swans’ sister refused to break their curse?
Thistle
Why was Sleeping Beauty cursed?
Ash
What if Cinderella went to a different kind of party?
Roan
What if Tatterhood didn’t get along with her sister?
Amethyst
What if the Goose Girl and her maid had more in common than they thought?
Lapis
What if Scheherazade led an underground resistance?
Hope you have a nice May! I’m hoping to get out on bike rides soon, but the forecast does not look promising. 🌧️ And I hope I don’t miss the lilacs blooming because I’m stuck inside watching movies.
.tish