As we head into the final third of Book #5’s edits, something is plaguing me.
No… it’s toying with me.
You see, without giving too much of the mustard away, Book #5 sets up a historic meeting for the sequel (Book #6) at a “certain” location that has remained mostly unexplored in The Divided Region.
The reason this is a problem?
Because I planned on concluding TDR on the sixth instalment — not a seventh.
However, ideas are now sprouting faster than mushrooms in a damp greenhouse for the location in question. Now I’m stuck between a rock and a sweaty armpit. To gloss over the location would feel like a disservice to the story and its fans.
To devote multiple chapters of the sequel (or an entire novel) to exploring this place risks slowing down the overarching plot that has picked up a lot of steam in this instalment.
Decisions, decisions. 🤔
Cheers, Mr. Muse.
What I do is anyone’s guess at this point.
As I’ve said numerous times before: I follow wherever the muse takes me, however dimly lit and winding the path might be. If that means extending the series by another book, then so be it. If that means writing several additional chapters and finishing this series on a door-stopping Book #6, then… well, I guess God wants me to atone for my public loathing of tomes by having me write one.
“I repent!” I plead to the roiling clouds. 🙏
In any case, whatever the path turns out to be, I shall keep the Legion informed.
But until then?
I’m going to continue steaming through these edits passage by passage.
When I say I cannot wait for you to read this one, I’m not whistling Dixie. It’s definitely the best of the series to date by far — readers are in for a treat with this one.
And if you’re yet to taste the crisp, cruel air of Estos?
Then for the sake of your weekend, go grab the starter bundle here:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/divided-region-starter-bundle
(It’s now finally available as an audiobook thanks to the power of Digital Voice.)
DJJW