I'm not sure many authors have left it this late to reveal the name of their hotly anticipated sequel.
Then again, I was never your typical scribe.
In an ideal world, the title would land on my lap before I write a single word. It would allow me to commission my cover design early and have something to lark about here in the Legion.
But the real world cares little for our ideals.
It cares only about what we can give it.
So, I gave it Book 6 of The Divided Region, and in return, it gave me a title that I did not NOT like — I just felt it was lacking.
And that name was:
Blood & Stone.
It's not the worst title by any stretch. In fact, there are many reasons I love it.
For starters, there's a lot of bloodshed to be found in this one, which won't surprise seasoned readers and listeners of the series.
So the 'Blood' part is apt.
The 'Stone' part, well… without giving too much away, has something to do with a certain part of Vlencia that has stood unchallenged for the better part of 1,000 years, ever since the First Great Battle.
I'm referring, of course, to the Great Wall.
For those not in the know, it's a huge monolith structure made from some of the densest stone the realm has to offer. It stands high enough to scrape low-hanging clouds and spans the narrow strait of water that separates Kaudon from Vlencia.
But as you'll see in the sequel, that millennium of peace — that facade of safety — will be challenged for the first time in centuries.
I shall say no 'mo.
So, yes. I liked the name.
And while there was definitely some alignment to be had there with the theme of the story, it just didn't have the pizzazz — the pulse, if you will — that the new one does.
It only took me to edit the manuscript twice, send it off to my editor, and then comb through their edits for the Universe to finally grant me the winning title.
But hey, the wait was worth it.
Just looking at the cover gives me chills.
What's that I hear?
You want to see it?
Of course you can, my faithful Legionnaire!
You just have to…
… tune into Monday's email. 😉
(C'mon. It's release month. Building up some hype is permissible, even if it is agonising!)
In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about the Great Wall, or the houses that rule both kingdoms, or the fauna that roam them, or the flora that takes root there…
Then I strongly suggest you check out Lore & Order: Chronicles of Estos.
It's a quick read, and it'll add layers of context that the books, by their speedy, fast-paced nature, simply cannot without inhibiting their tempo.
The link is here:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/lore-and-order
Have a cracking weekend. Stay classy out there!
DJJW