4/13/23: As of right now, Octavia has been given the push she needed to leave her home village of Cydir. This is a choice that takes her to Ivrinia’s west-side, the Dire Woods, an enchanted (“forbidden”) forest that harbors inconceivable magic.

12/18/23: Coming up on the end of the year, I can safely say that Outkast will have a beginning, middle, and end sometime in 2024. The idea is that it will happen soon and most of the year will be spent contacting agents, publishers, and whoever else I can in order to get Octavia on her way to the market for you all to read part one of her journey. As it stands, Octavia and her witty companion are deep into strategizing, learning more about each other as Octavia’s magic develops in a way that will help them out of the Dire Woods and towards change.

10/23/2024: With the inciting incident rewritten, progress moves onward to bring Octavia, Burmi, and Aever closer to their cataclysmic fight with Slivan. Octavia has learned some new magic skills, gained confidence in her ability to perform under pressure, all while unraveling truths about the world around her that had gone undetected as she herself tried to hide. Finding Carlisle and escaping the Woods are now only part one of a larger undertaking to dispel the fear of magic and restore trust within communities.

1/11/2025: Beetles, bark, shedded skin, and ant-like critters called byntz all make rather tasty snacks for Keepers…Major twists and turns have been uncovered as Octavia’s journey continues. Encounters with other beings, creatures, repeat creatures, and new territories have expanded Octavia’s worldview. Proper rising action has elevated the story its coming end, which is really only the beginning. Naturally, at this point in progress, I am hesitant to reveal much of anything about the plot so that everything remains a question when you, the readers, finally get your hands on a printed copy. So for now, you get to know that this draft has reached 90,000 words with the probable final number being around 120,000. This is the first draft, and I already know how I’m going to begin the first round of edits. Wish me luck in cleaning it up and finding an agent, or editor, or publisher to take Mythic to unimaginable heights.

2/8/2025: Mythic has reached 112,347 words in its first draft! This number will fluctuate as I move into the editing stage. I already know there are aspects I need to add, scenes I need to adjust, and possibly sections to get rid of altogether. For now, we celebrate that book one has a beginning, middle, and end, no matter what changes are made between now and publication. I know better than to start querying now since this will be my first fantasy, and my first series. I have to have more done before reaching out to editors, agents, or publications. The tricky part will be stepping away from the project in order to let it prove like bread dough. I gave it two weeks and now I’m halfway through making handwritten notes on a hard copy. Still many steps away from actually making the edits, which will indeed involve adding, removing, and altering bits and pieces. It was rough for a minute, but I’m back now. I feel good.

9/27/23: Depicted to the right is the first mockup for a potential cover of Book One. Outkast is the first installation in the adventurous trilogy involving magic, mystery, adventure, and revolution. Octavia is well into the Dire Woods now and is well on her way to answers as she explores her magical abilities in a way she never thought possible. An unlikely companion retells the history of Ivrinia in a way that further propels Octavia’s ambition for reform.

10/9/24: Scratch the previous section. Outkast has gone through a reawakening. The series will no longer be a trilogy, but a five part series. And it will no longer be called “Outkast.” While the titles of each individual book is still being brainstormed (concept cover art to the right), the plot is vivid and actively being written. I am glad to have this dated entry tracking the story’s progress because it shows the very authentic process of story writing.

10/31/2024: A picture above is yours truly, dressed as close to my vision of Octavia as I can get with short, purple hair. The amber scarf is an essential part of her ensemble as it is how she hides the sickle-shaped mark that appeared on her chin the day her mother died. Now that I look like Octavia, it’s time to push her story to its first climax.

3/8/2025: I am almost halfway through editing Mythic, and it has been a true testament of my love for this story that I haven’t scrapped half of what’s written nor keep everything how it was. There have been additions, subtractions, replacements, and detailing. I have added a chapter, and will be adding another later. I have removed various segments because of repetition or for otherwise not serving the plot. I have corrected the capitalization of words, spellings of names, and even changed a name completely! Slivan is now Samall. Final decision. Detailing has involved applying more witchcraft to Octavia’s character and better representing her five years of apothecary practices that was moments away from being declared her official profession. Only, I’m adding more words than I am subtracting and agents say to try to keep fantasy novels at 115,00 maximum…It is my first fantasy, my first series, my first attempt at traditional publishing, so I really have to try to stick to that guideline. I am currently looking at over 116,000 and expect to be at 122,000 by the time the second draft is complete. Wish me luck!