I created a new project for NaNoWriMo. Here is a cover prototype and a synopsis for this novel. I drew various inspiration from a dream I had, some research I did into the Fossegrim, and a song by Of Monsters and Men.
The Yellow Light of Lethderg
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| The Yellow Light of Lethderg by Kelly R. Michaels |
Women and children have gone missing in the past. Emeline, a fairly quiet and often lonely girl, finds herself in the midst of scandal once the disappearings start happening again. With the help of the huntsman Favian, Emeline seeks refuge in her beloved forest that her parents have forbidden her from entering. Emeline doesn't understand their apprehension for the forest, having seen no danger from it before.
But it is where the Grim lives, the spirit responsible for so many deaths and kidnappings.
Tensions rise in the town of Lethderg, particularly over the construction of a new mine that Emeline's new husband helps to establish. As a result, Emeline runs away from home, hiding out in the forest. It is that night she meets the yellow light of legend and discovers that he is not so evil. It turns to be quite a task to convince the townspeople of that.
But the people of Lethberg are not so open as Emeline, because they have not forgotten the death of Arabella. And if this Grim isn't the evil spirit responsible for so many deaths, than that must mean her murderer remains at large.
Word Counts:
Day One Day Two
1,879 words 1,796 words
(1, 879 / 1,666) (3,674 / 3,333)
Day Three Day Four
1,339 words 3,354 words
(5,013 / 5,000) (8,364 / 6,666)
Day Five Day Six
536 words 1,363 words
(8,900 / 8,333) (10,263 / 10,000)
Day Seven
1,627 words
(11,890 / 11,666)
So, I was doing rather well for the first part of the week, enough where I could slack off towards the end and still remain marginally above my word count quota. However, I should point out that Days 6 & 7 were spent working on Archer rewrites. So I've been cheating, sort of. But at least I'm putting out words, which is the entire point. Besides, something inside of me nags when I work on anything besides finishing Archer.
Speaking of Archer, everyone is probably wondering, what's the deal with that? Come on, Kelly. You finished writing the book. Then you got a cover. And now you're rewriting it? Give us a book already!
I know, I know. But this new version of Archer is much BETTER. At least ten times better. As confirmed by my editor when I sent her a preview.
I promise that I'm offering more than just empty promises for a book release (because I have had several people ask me about its release). I've done a lot more organization as far as scene sequencing and chapter divisions. I'd like to think there is more character and world development compared to the original. So I promise that the wait will be worth it.
I am over 20,000 words in this new rewrite. When completed, I will have 15 chapters, of which I am currently on chapter number five. So a third of the way total, but I would like to think I am halfway through the rewrite. I'm aiming to rework the next five chapters, and after that, the last third of the book won't need any major work. Just some touching up to account for logical fallacies of the rewrite.
Then it's off to my editor and then I shall format it for ebooks! I'm being very ambitious by wanting a December release. I'm hoping it won't be any later than January, but we'll see how it goes. I just want Archer to be done so I can guiltlessly work on other projects, because I have many in mind!
