Planning and Plotting (for book releases & new series) – nothing sinister – I keep that for the books.
This week has been all about planning—because apparently, to really get shit out there for people to read, I’ve got to become a project manager and marketer, in addition to being a writer.
This side of the writing business is not as fun as the writing. Making stuff up and turning it into pretty words rocks—all the other stuff is kind of ho-hum. And don’t get me started on trying to advertise on social media. The whole process is enough to make me cry – and not in a happy tears way. So much work with so few results is frustrating.
But back to my week. I’ve spent it plotting the same dark fantasy series I mentioned last week, only I’ve ditched the first plot and restarted fresh. I’ve also been making and scheduling social media posts (see those tears above), writing some words, and editing.
And I’ve been wrangling release dates for the next two in the Vampire King’s Daughter series, so I can make sure I do final edits on those books in a timely fashion.
Dark Fantasy Dreams and Gothic Vibes
As I mentioned I’m tinkering with a dark fantasy series on the side while juggling my 15-book Evitia series. Think gothic vibes, a dash of horror (if you’ve read my books in my Grave Robber series, Grave Robber for Hire and Grave Robbing’s Gone to Hell), you know I like a bit of horror in my stories.
Now, back to my dark fantasy series. I’m hoping to write a world so eerie it’ll make you sleep with the lights on, or a least so you have to stay up to read the book all night.
Will it be a duology or a trilogy? Who knows! I’m still in the “staring at my notebook and muttering to myself” phase of planning. Creating a whole new world is fun but also a slow process as it has to make sense and more important—make me happy.
The Rise of Dragons, Seer Cats, and Callie’s Journey
Over in Evitia-land, The Rise (Book 2 in Evitia Trilogy 1) is coming along nicely. Dragons are multiplying like rabbits, seer cats are getting sassier, and Callie, my main character, is figuring out how to escape one life without walking into another that’s just as restrictive (albeit less cruel). It’s like watching someone navigate a maze while holding a sword (that glows) and a map written in dragon language.
Speaking of Evitia, I’ve decided to name the entire series The Evitia Series (pronounced ee-vee-she-a). Each trilogy will be numbered, so it’s Evitia Trilogy 1, Evitia Trilogy 2, and so on. Book 1 is still with my professional beta reader , and I’m oscillating between “I can’t wait to get their feedback and I don’t want their feedback!”
Callie and her ice dragon, Echo.
The second part being because I’m chicken and I’ve worked long long hours on this book and am freaking proud of it. But of course, I also want my readers to think it’s fantastic too – so ….
It’s not due back until the end of February which feels like a long way away, until the time comes and I’m too scared to open the file.
Vampires, Lycans, and Pre-Order Madness
Meanwhile, in the Vampire King’s Daughter series, Blood Secrets (Book 2) is almost ready for pre-order, with a release date of March 28, 2025. This one has more vampires, more lycans (werewolves, for the uninitiated), and more drama and action.
Favorite paragraph from Blood Secrets I’ve worked on this the Week
Book 3, Blood Revealed, will also be up for pre-order soon, with a release date of May 30, 2025. Mark your calendars, because things are about to get bloody.
This week’s recommended read:
One Dark Window, by Rachel Gillig.
Meet “Oh, Fuzzy One,” the Frizzle Rooster
And now, for the real star of this week’s newsletter: my frizzle pekin rooster. He doesn’t have an official name, but I call him “Oh, Fuzzy One” when he’s being adorable and “You Fuzzy Sh*t” when he’s lunging at me for daring to touch one of his hens. He’s small, feisty, and ridiculously pretty—like a fluffy, feathery Napoleon with a serious attitude problem
Well that’s it for this week, I hope your week finds you snuggled with good books with wonderful worlds.
Cassandra
Cassandra L Shaw.
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