S.M. Boyce's Blog: My Journal, page 3

The question

I got an email today that echoes a question I’ve been asked a lot lately:

When will Wraithblade 2 be ready?

It’s a fair question, especially since I cancelled the original preorder.

The short answer

I don’t know yet.

I am, however, hard at work on it and loving how the story has evolved. I think you’ll be pleased.

The long answer

Book 2 was delayed because of the re-launch. It’s a blessing in disguise, though, because I’ve been reworking the plot and I think the new direction is miles ahead of what I originally had.

I know it sucks to have a story delayed when you just want to sink your teeth into it ASAP, but I think this will be worth the wait.

My publisher hasn’t given me an official launch date yet, but I’ll email everyone on my mailing list as soon as I know more. Join now to make sure you get the update:

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My guess is it’ll be late summer/early autumn of this year, but again that’s the publisher’s final choice.

If you want more frequent updates, you can join my Facebook Group. I’m going to try out weekly writing updates to keep everyone up to date on the book 2 progress.

Either way, I’ll keep you posted.

Thank you for reading Wraithblade. I can’t wait to see what you think of the sequel!

– Boyce

I’m trying something new.

Usually, I put the author notes for a book in the backmatter.

However, I’m going to switch things up with Wraithblade and see what sticks. Give me some feedback in the comments about what you think of this approach.

What are Author Notes?

Author Notes are a fun bonus at the end of a book, where I jot down a little note for you about my experience writing the novel. It’s a neat way to share the process of writing a series and bring you along for the ride. It’s also where I share some cool behind the scenes features about what went into the story design and creation.

Below are my thoughts & notes for Wraithblade.

They’re meant to be read after you finish the novel, so if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, head here first to get your copy.

 

https://smboyce.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Wraithblade-1-Animation.mp4

Animation courtesy of Wraithmarked Publishing

 

Author Notes

Hey, boss.

Glad to have you here.

Thank you for reading Wraithblade. I’ve spent the better part of a year refining the concept and writing the first book, but I’ve been exploring the saga for far longer than that. Of course, you may know about unpublishing the book to relaunch it with Wraithmarked Publishing and cancelling the book two preorder because of scheduling issues, so it seems almost miraculous that this book is actually, well, done.

To finish book one and put it in your hands is an unmatched feeling. As surreal (and ironic) as it is to admit, I don’t truly have the words right now to explain what it’s like to be finished.

As I’ve seen readers’ incredible reaction to this story, I’ve been beyond humbled and relieved to see that you love it as much as I do. More than anything, I’m grateful. I’m thankful you took the time out of your day to go on this adventure with me.

The Vibe

As the book evolved, I fell in love with the twangy vibe in this series. Even as an epic fantasy novel, it has a distinctly wild west feel to it. There are obvious references, like sheriffs and lawman badges, but there are also the underlying ribbons of freedom and individualism woven into the plot.

In Saldia, everyone needs to be self-sufficient. These are hardy people who won’t be controlled. It’s a somewhat lawless land, so when troublemakers come to town, you have to band together and deal with them yourself.

It was a treat to explore all of that, and I’ll continue delving into it in the sequels.

The Quote

We writers are creatures of habit, and one of the many habits I’ve picked up since finishing the Grimoire Saga (my last series) is that I now add a quote at the beginning of each novel. This is meant to capture its soul & give you an idea of what you’re about to read.

Choosing an opening quote for Wraithblade was a challenge. How do I sum up a saga like this in a single sentence? What nugget of wisdom would best capture its themes? When there are so many lingering mysteries that I literally have a database to keep track, how do I pick just one to tease you at the beginning?

(I do, in fact, have a database for all things Wraithblade. Because I am a geek and cannot help myself. There are an embarrassing number of spreadsheets, too, if we’re being honest here.)

But… what to choose? For quite a while, I was stumped.

You probably already guessed this, but Wraithblade is an ode to our fathers. It’s about how these men influence who we become, though it’s ultimately up to us to decide who we truly are.

In the end, I opted for this quote to open the series:

“Though you plant the seed of thought in another, be patient, for how and when it sprouts is not yours to control.”

I said the author was unknown, but I lied a little. I couldn’t find a quote that perfectly summed up what I wanted to say, so I just made one up.

(If you do find an existing quote that captures this idea, though, please tell me so I can properly credit the original author.)

It does, however, capture what I feel is the essence of the story: we’re all gardens, of sorts, and the lessons we’ve learned over the years are all the seeds planted in our soil by the people who have touched our lives.

What we allow to thrive and grow in our dirt, though, is entirely up to us.

Wraithblade is dedicated to the fathers who plant those seeds of thought and have helped us become stronger, better people.

Parting Thoughts

I could go into the themes and symbolism I planted in the book (haha get it), but what matters is what you took away. What sat with you.

What matters most is which seeds you decided to plant in your garden.

Whichever you chose to plant, I hope they grow and thrive. Wraithblade will always be here for you when you want to come back to Saldia and look for more.

Until next time,

P. S. Comment below & tell me what you think about all of this…

What do you think of this format, of having the Author Notes online?What did you think about Wraithblade?What are you hoping to see in the next book?

 

Info on book 2

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Happy March!

My goodness, so much has been going on…

I cancelled the Wraith of Kings preorder… but here’s why.I took down Wraithblade… but it’s a good thing & here’s what’s next.Updates from my writing deskThe Wraithblade Book 2 outline continues…

Dude, I know.

Still. Not. Done.

It’s taking a while, but it is going to kick so much ass.

I’m thrilled with the direction its taking. I know you’ve been hearing that from me since January, and you’re probably sick of hearing it at this point. With the way this is evolving, I truly think it’ll be worth the wait.

That said, I’ve given us the firm deadline of March to finish the damn thing so that I can get writing.

I’m tweakin’ for a fix of that sweet, sweet word count.

This outline is taking longer than I expected, but I’m happy with it! I think you’re going to love the twists.

That said, I’m jonesing to get writing. I haven’t written in months and I’m starting to go a little crazy.

Anyone else addicted to that sweet, sweet word count?

— SM Boyce | Fantasy Author (@thesmboyce) February 21, 2021

Updated schedule:

The plan is to take this book at a more relaxed pace. In the past, I’ve had trouble with writing in unsustainable sprints that burn me out, and I’m going to shoot for a more sustainable “1 chapter per day” goal, 5 days per week.

March – finish the outline & start writing Wraithblade #2.April – write up to Ch. 30May – write up to Ch. 55June – finish the rough drafts & begin the final polishJuly – finish the book & hand it over to my publisher

 

I’ll be posting my progress each day and week on Twitter, so come join me if you haven’t already.

What’s on your radar for March?

Comment below with your TBR, any stay-cations planned, and any fun things on your to-do list for this month.

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Join the nerds-only Facebook group

I created this group specifically for readers like you to come together and share your lives and interests. You’ll get early insights to new releases and fun discussions to help you escape into magical worlds. I’m in here often & it’s a great way to connect.

Everyone in here is amazing, and you’ll fit right in. Head over and introduce yourself.

 

As you may have seen in my previous Boyce Nation update, this is actually very good news because it means the Wraithblade relaunch is almost here!

The short version: the Wraithblade Saga has been picked up by a publisher, and as such, we will see a full-scale relaunch of the series in the next few months.

Because of that, I had to take down book 1.

(If you’re curious as to where the book 2 preorder went, you read my update on that here.)

Never fear. In almost no time at all, you’re going to see Wraithblade relaunch with a new cover and a new book description.

So please pardon our dust while we handle the backend Amazon things. More details to come soon.

I’m thrilled to see what happens next with Wraithblade as a series, and I hope you join me for the ride.

More updates soon,

Boyce

Today, I cancelled the Wraith of Kings preorder.

Don’t be mad

Me, already in the box of shame

As dire as that may sound, this is actually a really good thing.

I’ll explain in a minute.

First and foremost, I want to apologize.

I know you must be disappointed, and I’m sorry to have caused you such a gunky feeling.

I know how much it sucks to wait for sequels.

I know how annoying it is when those pesky authors keep pushing back their publishing dates on your favorite series.

This decision did not come easily.

Several incredible reviews currently up on Wraithblade mention that waiting several months for book 2 was the only downside to book 1. These reviews absolutely made my day, and each time I saw comments like these, I felt a twinge of guilt because I knew I was about to make you all wait even longer.

 

So, to put it simply, I’m sorry.

You will not be charged for Wraith of Kings. Amazon is already processing the cancellations, so you have nothing to worry about on that end.

You will, however, get another chance to snag a copy of Wraith of Kings, possibly under a new title. I can guarantee you that. I can’t promise when it will publish (you’ll see why in a minute), but it will be the absolute best I can possibly do once you read it.

Why I cancelled the preorder

I need to give you some context before I officially answer this question.

To start, I’m incredibly proud of Wraithblade as a series. I know exactly where the story is going, and I will do everything in my power to ensure it blows your mind.

Wraithblade itself (book 1) took a solid year for me to write, when my usual writing speed is a comfortable 5,000 – 7,000 words per day. In theory, I should’ve written it in about 10-12 weeks, but this one has been the greatest challenge of my life so far… and the greatest reward.

I spent over 3 months designing the world and magic system alone. I spent another several months writing a detailed outline. I lost track of the final word count, but at one point the outline alone was as long as a standard novel. I deleted whole chunks of the book and rewrote them. Several times. I redid the outline in its entirety. Twice.

For those who know my meticulous writing process, that probably sounds confusing as hell. I’m usually focused and finish each step before I move onto the next, but Wraithblade was different. It taught me so much and pushed me to be better as a writer.

I poured myself and my life into Wraithblade to such an intense degree that I’m somewhat astonished I actually finished… and I’ve gotta say, without that preorder up, I might not have actually completed it in 2020. The world of Saldia is massive, the magic system is the most challenging and detailed of any I’ve ever created, and there’s so much soul and love in this book that I want it and every sequel to be perfect.

As the preorder deadline looms, however, I realized just how much more work there is to be done on book 2. It’s just not ready. I got ahead of myself. I put the preorder up too early. Based on Amazon’s TOS and my new publisher’s marketing plan for the series relaunch, I simply don’t have the wiggle room I need to push back the date without taking it down. Cancelling or rushing were my two options.

To my delight (and as a huge boost to my ego), there were a ton of preorders on Wraith of Kings. Cancelling it would disappoint a lot of people, and I hemmed and hawed for ages about whether or not I was going to go through with this. I even mentioned in my February Boyce Nation Update that I was going to release it on time.

But you deserve so much better than a rushed book.

Yes, you have to wait a little longer for the book, but I promise:

It’ll be worth it.

What happens next

The Wraithblade Saga has been picked up by a publisher, and you will see a massive relaunch of the series starting this year.

I’ll be able to share more as details are finalized, but for now, I can promise that you will see at least book 1 relaunch this year.

Wraithblade and all its sequels will get new covers (I’ve seen book 1’s draft already and it’s drop dead gorgeous). I’ve been tweaking and perfecting the narrative. I’ve changed a few minor things thanks to some truly stellar reviews I’ve gotten that have incredible feedback in them.

In short, I’m thrilled for the next stage of Wraithblade’s life, and I hope you are too.

Please forgive the cancelled preorder, and I dearly hope I see you in the sequels after our relaunch.

Much love,

Boyce

 

I love that we stay in touch. Writing you this update to you each month helps me stay grounded and in the moment, so thanks as always for reading.

There have been some especially exciting developments this month, so let’s dive in.

Updates from my writing deskThe outline for Wraith of Kings  is nearly done.

My brother Dan & I have been hard at work designing the absolute best, most kick-ass, epic saga I’ve ever written (and, Fates willing, that you’ve ever read…) It makes me squirm with wicked glee, and I can’t wait for you to read it.

“But Boyce,” I hear you saying, “isn’t that book set to publish in April?”

Yes. Yes, it is.

I’m a mutant, and I write quickly. I don’t usually like to cut it that close, so it’s going to be a little tighter than I’d ideally like, but I’ve had worse deadlines before.

With my writing style, I need a solid outline before I can start. This one is currently 135 pages, and I suspect it’ll just get bigger before we’re done.

Nothing but the best for you. I won’t cut corners.

A publisher has bought the rights to Wraithblade

It’s very exciting and very good news.

I’ve been in back-and-forth negotiations with a publisher that I respect immensely, and we signed the paperwork last week. It’s official. I don’t know how much I can share just yet, but I can give you a bit of high-level info on what this means.

We will be re-launching Wraithblade, since my solo launch didn’t go to plan (to put it nicely). That means new covers, new descriptions, lots of marketing magic on the backend, and a light dusting of editing/tweaks before we try this again.

How this affects book 2

When you re-launch a book, it’s best to take down the original book and its sequels asap. I know that sounds weird, but it’s what you need to do to appease the marketing gnomes that live in Amazon’s servers. Trust me.

My new publisher is very politely letting me fulfill my Wraith of Kings preorder, but book two won’t be up for long. Less than 24 hours, probably. Since you’re in my inner circle & already knew about Wraithblade, you might want to grab the preorder now if you want to read book 2 before late 2021.

I know my new publisher will do an incredible job of promoting Wraithblade. I’m so excited to see what happens next.

General Health

Part of why I’m so late getting the outline done is because of the bone I had removed from my foot. It’s been a painful recovery, but I’m getting better.

My morning view of my feet for the past two months has been one foot in a fuzzy pink slipper and the other velcro-strapped into a honking black boot. I have a distinct gait of clonk, clonk, clonk. My husband always knows where I am thanks to the reverberating thuds of this boat anchor that’s passing for a shoe right now.

Melo-dramatic descriptors aside, it’s healing well and I should be back on my feet soon.

via GIPHY

What’s on the schedule:February – Write to chapter 30 in Wraith of KingsMarch – Finish Wraith of Kings April – Final edits & launch

I’ll be posting my progress each day and week on Twitter, so come join me if you haven’t already.

Stay Connected

Let’s keep in touch. This is the best way to get new release updates.

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You get:

My sassy self drops in your inbox once a month with bad jokes. (You’re welcome.)You get first dibs on new releasesYou find out things first because you’re special

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Join the nerds-only Facebook group

I created this group specifically for readers like you to come together and share your lives and interests. You’ll get early insights to new releases and fun discussions to help you escape into magical worlds. I’m in here often & it’s a great way to connect.

Everyone in here is amazing, and you’ll fit right in. Head over and introduce yourself.

Tweet of the Month

I leave you today with this gift of absolute gold. Enjoy.

you are tough. you are scary. you are a good boy. but also a scary one. if the situation calls for it https://t.co/KWXCX5uEbn

— Thoughts of Dog® (@dog_feelings) January 28, 2021

I’ve been staring at the screen for awhile now, trying to think of what to write about 2020.

Perhaps I should sum it up thusly: 2020 was the first year I started making digital scrapbooks, and most of my scrapbook is world events as opposed to me and my family creating memories. In 2020, we didn’t so much “create memories” as we had them seared into our brains.

So, with all the grace and pomp of a new year’s party, I suggest we dig a deep, dark hole and shove 2020 down into it.

Ready?

Go!

via GIPHY

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the update!

Looking back at 2020

I started the Boyce Nation updates in January 2020 with every intention of continuing them monthly. I posted in February, April, and July before promptly rage quitting on the year, because honestly, we all had a lot more to think about than my posts.

The intention was there. That counts, right?

Here’s a look back at what I was up to last year:

I caught Covid, which utterly decimated my well-laid publishing plans.
I published Wraithblade anyway!
I had surgery to cope with my daily migraines.
I had a friggin’ bone removed from my foot.

 

Yeah, quite a list of highlights, ain’t it?

Wraithblade

As you know, Wraithblade is my current series. The launch didn’t go as well as I’d expected, but the feedback and reviews I’ve gotten are phenomenal and encouraging. In 2021, I’ll be re-launching and taking a second swing at putting this in front of more readers. I’m fairly certain I know what went wrong with the launch, and I’m getting a pretty good idea of how to better position it on take 2.

Wraithblade is going to get fresh new covers, and I’ll be completely reworking the sales page to better entice new readers.

Most importantly, though, the story itself is haunting in the best way. I’ve loved and read every single fan letter, and all I can say is thank you. Thank you so much. The feedback and compliments I’ve heard on this story, even though all you have is book 1 so far, truly makes my day sunnier.

Thank you.

I’m so looking forward to seeing what you think about the sequels. I have twists and turns planned that’ll leave you breathless and begging for more.

‘cuz I’m a tease.

The Current Plan

If 2020 taught me anything, it’s that plans change and we need to be flexible. To find ways to sustain our joy and optimism even if things don’t go as we expected.

Therefore, everything I’m about to say could change on a dime, and it could be moot in a month for all I know. I’m trying to let the future be hypothetical, rather than trying to set my plans in stone.

My writing goals for 2021:

Finish the last 4 of the Wraithblade novels. (That’s right — you’ll get 5 in the series!)
Re-launch Wraithblade (book 1) in March or April.
Launch Wraith of Kings (book 2) in April or May.
Publishing the remaining novels this year in a rapid-release fashion.

 

As the months wear on, I’ll keep you posted on what’s happening.

Of course, if you’d like to watch my daily writing progress & hear what my word count goals are each day, I share all of that live on Twitter as it happens. Feel free to follow & join in the fun with your own accountability goals.

Talk to you soon, buddy.

-Boyce

Hey, boss! More awesome news! via GIPHY I had a great chat with Jennifer Blanchard of The Feel-Good Life, a radio show dedicated to being an unconventional guide to creating the life of your dreams. In this interview, we talk about designing a creative life that feels good and how ... Read More

Hey, boss! I have some great news for you. via GIPHY I was interviewed by Morgan Wylie of The Lotus Bloom Podcast a little while ago, and it was a great chat. We covered everything from pen names to outlining to magic and burnout. We also discussed how to stay ... Read More

Today, we have a bit of a feature from a recent request I got: to share a bit on my outlining process. Below is the original recording of the snippet I sent to my friend Morgan Wylie, who runs the Lotus Bloom podcast.   Below is a transcription with mild ... Read More