Cruel Summer

Yes, I realise I neglect blog posts, and the last one I wrote was in the dreaded 2020. And I am also aware that very few people read these, but of course this is more for me! (Though an internet diary somehow feels far less personal than a written diary)

Last update, I mentioned that I had written a book over lockdown and refused to disclose anything about plot, characters etc and only mentioned it was a fantasy and that I was in the process of submitting it to agents. Almost a year on from completing the book, I now realise that it needs masses of editing and, in fact, the re-writing of Bladeborn (which was the working title, now likely to be called something entirely different) is one of my next projects lined up for this year. I have finished my exams and have a very long summer ahead of me - so, naturally, I plan on having rather a lot written down and completed by the time I return to school in September.

My work ethic only improved (though whether this was a good thing, especially considering writing took over my life, even in exam season, we'll never know) after my last blog post, and in the space of seven months, I wrote four books (the untitled, unused and in need of much editing sequel to 'Bladeborn' and a series of three books that I will talk about a little more later) and am in the process of writing a new, high fantasy YA that I am having so much fun with!

My return to high fantasy came after I wrote a series of what I like to call 'low fantasy', a series about assassins and criminals in a fantasy world inspired by Victorian London and the wider world during the mid-1800s. Genuinely, I had the time of my life writing the series (first in the series being called 'Chase the Lady') and after I finish the first draft of my current project (which has a working title but not a final one, but I will disclose that it has demons, witches and dragons!) I will polish 'Chase the Lady' and start sending it off to agents. I have so much faith in this one - and I'm sure it's just the kind of book that fans of 'Six of Crows' and 'Throne of Glass' would love to read.

Wish me luck, and happy writing!

AJ xx