Umbra Completed!

So it's taken the better part of half a year, but the first draft of Umbra is finally complete. I'm currently editing it (In fact, I've taken a break from editing to write this update), and I'm polishing out those slight scuffs that I've had to ignore for months now.

This book is written from three interlocking perspectives, and as such I have chosen to edit the novel by character rather than by chapter. By working on only one character at a time, I'm keeping the voice consistent, and it's just simply interesting. After writing it all start to finish with all three protagonists mixed together, it's rewarding to see the story through the eyes of a single protagonist.

But anyways, this was mainly to update you, my readers, of what's been going on over here. (Good things!)

In the (near-ish) future, I will be writing a follow-up episode to go with the Einhjorn, and then I will be taking a tonal break from the dreary horror/fantasy world of Umbra to work on something more 'fun'. Ideally something in a contemporary setting to refresh myself!

I'll keep you posted on progress, and any postings you might hope to see from me in the future!

Love,

Arreana

A Giant Leap in the Right Direction

So Fall. It's Fall. And in a continuation of my good year, I've kicked off September with bounce in my stride and new horizons to explore. It hasn't be easy on a financial level. My hubby calls it the 'transitional phase'. We've needed to take time away from our 'true loves' (Me: writing. Him: programming.) to get all our ducks sorted on the home front.

In a nutshell, my husband has landed a job, and I've bowed out of mine. I'll still be working part-time at home, but finally, after several years of struggling to scrape by, I have the opportunity to focus full-time on my writing. I haven't had that luxury since I was unemployed back in 2010, and that whole adventure came with it's own set of stressors (mainly the unemployed part).

Of course, the last couple weeks have been a rollercoaster ride of emotions as we've tried to settle into this new routine. I'm not used to be home so much, and my husband isn't used to waking up so early. I'm the sort of person that gets a bit stir-crazy on a daily basis, so I've been spending more time running and bicycling around town. This is, after all, likely my last chance to soak in the last bit of sunshine before fall and winter truly set in.

I'm still clicking away at Umbra. Still loving it and hating it and dreading the pain I must cause my characters all the time. My plan is to finish the writing process in the next month and give it to the hubby to read while I work on the next installment of The Relics of Asgard series.

I'm happy but, as always, tired. I'm looking forward to the near-future, once the dust clouds have cleared and I can focus on being the author I've always wanted to be.