"Awakening," "Planet Hell," and The Cycle of Eternal Return · 10:04pm May 12th, 2013
So, after the day I announced that I was working on a second book (sequel isn't the right word, exactly), I went from around 70 watchers to about 160, and it keeps climbing. On top of that, I've gotten a lot of private messages asking about the sequel or telling me to get it done. People are interested in what I'm up to over here, so I thought I'd keep you all up to date on what's going on. Since I just completed the third chapter (no, none will be posted until it's all done and edited!) of the first draft, I thought now would be a good time to start talking about the direction this is headed in.
"Planet Hell" is the WIP project name (not the actual title) for the next book, which isn't a direct sequel to Awakening, but more of a companion novel. Reading the first book will, hopefully, not be required to get into and enjoy the second. Although those that have read Awakening will get a lot more out of the next book than those who didn't. I can't go into a great deal of specifics at the moment, because spoilers and other nasty things, but I can say that it's going for a completely different mood and tone. Lumina and ANIMUS will not be making an appearance, and the narrative itself will focus on the Elements of Loyalty and Kindness as they struggle to uncover the mysteries of a seemingly deserted research colony a long way from anywhere.
To give people an idea of what to expect, I've put together some thematic and tonal comparisons for you all to chew over. Awakening was, like it or not, quite spiritual and mystical in dealing with its magical elements. There's plenty of magic to be had in the next book, but it's not nearly as spiritual, and much more mythical. In fact, it feels like a Greek myth set in space. It's also much darker, not as cute (still cute at times, though!), and focuses on the relationship and growth of two characters rather than just one primary character. Most of the characters, including both the Elements, are pegasi. If Awakening is, in a nutshell, about what it's like to be a unicorn, then the next book will be about what it means to be a pegasus.
Images of the Trans Antarctic Mountains, like the one above, inspired the setting for Awakening, while "Planet Hell" takes place on a dry, hot, and desolate place. Much like the images bellow. 
I always put together a playlist for my extended writing projects, and I usually make some nods and references to particularly important, inspiration wise, songs throughout the text. I'm sure some of you must have caught this references at the end of Awakening:
If that's what Lumina's journey sounded like, this is what the Elements of Loyalty and Kindness's adventure will sound like:
(That last one in particular is incredibly important to this project, at least in my opinion. The actual title for the second book will probably be something along the lines of Icarus when all is said and done.)
What am I hoping to accomplish with this book? The Cycle of Eternal Return (which is the name I've settled on for the series itself) is a mosaic of interconnected stories rather than a sequential progression of books. The world I live in isn't constrained to one genre, so my series and books wont either. It's going to get an entirely different effect out of its Sci-Fi backdrop than Awakening pulled off. For my goals with the next book specifically, I hope to do more of what Awakening did right, and less of what it did poorly. I've gotten a lot of feedback on Awakening, and although I'm not sure if I'm ever going to get around to making all the fixes the story needs, the lessons I've learned will be applied to the very foundations of "Planet Hell." Onwards and upwards. Don't look back. That's how I write. My goal is to write something that will blow everything that I have written before out of the water.
I'll keep you guys updated as the summer progresses. My tentative goal for a release date is around mid September, however that is likely to change as I get closer to completing a, more or less, final draft.
Until then, have an excellent day and Namaste!
Excuse me while I wipe off the drool from my keyboard.
Only time will tell if my body is truly ready for this undertaking. Be swift but precise, Author, for our people are of a great and powerful
need for the next installment.
Good luck and godspeed. I'll be waiting with a smile on my face.
It's nice to see a professional blog being posted on FimFiction again. Although most of those informations are collectible in your comments, it's a good thing to see them concentrated in one blog.
The comparison with Greek mythology caught me. In Awakening you gave a brutal aspect to the pegasi. Magic seems to play next to no role at all in your first book, what supports their aggressive nature. The Greek nature religion, as most others, is preaching peace instead of (aggressive) changing or expansion. Depending on its importance, I also would think that the myths and gods within, as a nature religion, would slightly differ between the locations, especially in a kingdom (?) that spreads across multiple planets. A hot planet e.g. would see the gods, primary the celestial ones (not necessarily Celestia and Luna), as cruel gods who need to be appeased so that they don't burn the plants, their food, with the sun. What makes it even more interesting, since the opposite is the truth.
And I still have no idea who Dale Cooper is.
I would say that Icarus (the song) is more of what I felt during Awakening. To me it didn't really feel like the happiest of stories, and even at the end I still had that little voice in my mind saying "Is that what actually happened, or has her perception of reality been totally bent over backwards as she's lost in her delusions?" (I love a good psychological thriller)
Still, definitely wasn't disappointed by the ending and cant wait for the next story.
The reason why you got so many followers is because you did an really good job with Awakening, it's an really good story!
As for me I always like futuristic stories, games, music, whatever it is I mostly likely will like it!
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By way of explaining Dale Cooper to you, I must first tell you a little bit about the country called Tibet...
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Thank you! I know both pieces will have their individual merits, and be apples and oranges in some ways, but my goal is to create something, well, better and bolder than Awakening. I have high hopes, and a lot of ambition.
1073800 Not an problem Awakening was an good story I'm interested in what the next stories are going to be!
And Icarus, who flew too close to the sun fell… Combine that with flightless Pegasi who, if anything like Awakening, find themselves learning how to flay I guess that a tragedy tag may be there.
Either way, I know that I will enjoy whatever you come up with.
OK... I guess the only thing that we can really say is thy will be done
Well, this post is old, but both videos/songs for inspiration of the new story have been pulled from youtube.
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You can read the new story itself if you like; a few chapters of it have been posted.
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Read, liked, and faved already. waiting to be fed more.
I just thought I'd let you know as I was going through the blog posts of an exceptional budding author.