December Update

Well that’s the year done – I started out with the fabulous opportunity of helping HavenXR build their ‘The Keeper’ interactive project, and now I’m helping fellow authors to see their books in print with my self-publishing service at essentialselfpub.com.au.

‘Serpent Princess’

I’m about 80% of the way through revising Katie’s edits of ‘Serpent Princess’. So far she hasn’t found any of the story hard to follow, so it does work as a new entry point (I still need to find a better way of saying that, all suggestions welcome) to the Dark Heavens universe.

Here’s some of her comments:

On Genbu being a recurring character in Final Fantasy:

The first time Simone teleports (sometimes I feel this way as well):

When Simone says ‘I don’t want you at my prospectus presentation’ and Emma says ‘sure I’ll stay away’:

(Obviously I am making the conscious choice to model supportive relationships throughout my works, and Katie’s picked up on it!)

This happens again when John tells Simone where to find the really good alcohol as she’s having an emotional time of things:

Here’s something, that nine full-length novels, three novellas, and a hybrid graphic novel later, that someone has never asked before:

An obvious reference (and an in-joke between me and Katie):

And finally, yes there is an info dump. Yes, it is the summarised content of nine books. I think it is needed. It’s still there. I hope new readers will bear with me through it. I promise that the visuals are very pretty:

Options for ‘Serpent Princess’

I’m still debating whether I should create an additional paperback of ‘Serpent Princess’ that’s a ‘director’s cut’ that has all the Emma stuff that I’ve removed – back in. I still have yet to decide. Of course, I can always include it in the new John/Emma book that I’m writing (spoiler alert: they visit Rooster Village!). I’ll decide later.

All the best for the end of the year, and I hope we all have a wonderful 2025!