Covers, Crests & A New WIP
Life has been a little chaotic lately, but in the best kind of way.
The Flame Beneath is currently out having its manuscript assessment, which means I’m stuck in that very strange author limbo where there is absolutely nothing I can do except wait and overthink everything.
So far, I’ve been told the story is strong and that there are a few areas they think could be pushed further to really make it shine, which I’m genuinely excited about. I know there will be work waiting for me when the feedback comes back, but I’m actually looking forward to getting stuck into it.
My cover design is also booked for early October and I think this might be the part I’m most excited for.
Although… I’ve now had enough time to stare at other book covers and question every decision I’ve ever made, so the cover idea I had months ago may not actually be the cover idea I want anymore.
Very helpful, Aster.
I’m also still going back and forth over the final trim size: 5x8 or 6x9? Apparently choosing the size of a rectangle can become an entire personality crisis when you’re publishing a book.
On the prettier side of things, my house crests are coming along beautifully and I seriously cannot wait to share them. The same artist is also working on my character art, and my map of Vael Noctis is slowly coming together too. If everything stays on track, the map should be finished around the end of October.
Basically, all the pieces that have lived inside my head for so long are finally starting to become real things, which is equal parts exciting and terrifying.
So naturally, I started another book.
With my placements finished for the year, I suddenly have a little more breathing room.
You would think I would use that time to rest.
I did not.
Instead, I decided it was the perfect time to start properly working on another book.
Technically, this one isn’t completely new. I started writing it when I was going through a bit of a slump with The Flame Beneath, but once I pulled myself out of that slump, this poor manuscript was shoved onto the back burner while TFB took over my entire existence again.
Now that TFB is off with someone else and I’m stuck in waiting mode, I’ve gone back to it.
And I’m kind of obsessed.
It’s a completely different genre for me, which makes me a little nervous because there is always that voice in the back of my head going, what if you’re actually terrible at this?
But I’m about halfway through now and, so far, I think it’s holding up okay.
The ending is the part making me nervous. I know what I want it to do. I know how I want the reader to feel. Whether I can actually pull that off is another question entirely.
But that’s a problem for future Aster.
Meanwhile, in query-land…
The Flame Beneath received its first — and so far only — full manuscript request three weeks ago.
I’m still waiting.
Do I expect it to end in a rejection? Absolutely.
Am I still ridiculously proud that someone read my query and pages and thought, yes, I want to read the entire book?
Also absolutely.
Querying can be such a confidence-destroying process, so getting that full request was honestly the morale boost I needed.
No matter what happens with it, TFB is still moving forward, and at the moment everything is pointing toward a January/February release next year, which feels both ages away and terrifyingly close.
And somehow winter is nearly over?
It feels like Melbourne winter arrived five minutes ago, but spring is already starting to creep back in and apparently Australia is preparing itself for a ripper of a hot, dry summer.
I’m heading off on a cruise to New Zealand in December, uni finishes for the year in a few short months, and I have already started thinking about the important questions.
Which books am I reading first when uni is finished?
How many books is considered an unreasonable number to pack for a cruise?
And, most importantly…
Could I write a cosy little story set on a cruise ship?
Or, knowing me, would someone be dead by chapter four?
We’ll see.
Till next time
A <3
