On finishing stuff...

Well, I have finally completed my first book, Hallows Realm (meaning the first draft has been edited and edited, and edited some more... till by eyeballs burned and nearly dropped onto the laptop's keyboard). It's currently undergoing a second eye (or two), then I will have to give it a final going over and decide what to do with the bloody thing! *shiver*

I have a feeling I've been rather over-ambitious for a first novel, mixing contemporary fiction (kids being forced to survive on the dangerous city streets) with high fantasy (being the race and civilization I created in the Underworld) in a supernatural adventure (when the two worlds collide; the one world housing the souls of humans who descend to the Underworld in their death), and dealing with a complex theme to boot—morality in the face of being homeless and forgotten, punishment, redemption. All of this told from the perspective (third person point-of-view, close; past tense) of an ancient dino-lizard boy.

Here's a sneak peek of the working sketch for Zorzum. He looks pretty happy here, but I assure you, Ligortheans can be quite frightening when they need to be. I was also trying to figure out how he'd wear a 'polymorphic cloak'. (I had to invent a crazy technology for getting him to the Surface and then appearing human).

The challenges encountered along this arduous story-writing journey, have at times caused me to consider abandoning writing altogether and apply for work at a chicken butchering facility instead. And it hasn't been easy for my husband either, facing a constant barrage of ludicrous questions and miniature brain explosions from me.

I'm sure there will be a few more brain explosions when I receive the next round of feedback, but for now: thank frig I made it this far.