Weekly update on Feathered Hearts main and side stories · 2:16pm May 9th, 2021
Well, I've been a busy boi. In the past week, I have written a whopping 16,000 words on both the main and side story, though mostly the side story. I've worked on two chapters for that, with a brand new one completed at 11k words. Though at that length, there's a good chance I'm going to break it in two, and then turn what it describes into a three-chapter arc. That would give me no less than five finished side story chapters, and put us on track for a Memorial Day weekend (late May) publish date, just two weeks away.
I also started working on the first main story chapter after the side story, to basically give me some idea of what I was aiming for and what aftermath I needed to work towards. I promised there was intrigue at play in these events, and you're going to find out just what it was, including who was responsible, what they did, and what they hoped to happen/gain. Expect a rather dramatic reveal, resulting in a badly embarrassed Council of Crows.
I want that chapter ready in time for the side story launch, so I'll have an entry point to the side story from the main story--that way, I can link the freshly-launched side story from within the author's notes of the new main story chapter, hopefully boosting traffic to it and the chances it'll catch fire.
If you'd like at least a mild spoiler of something that's going to happen, I'll say that I will be bringing Giraldi into the side story, for a very good reason--he's needed. If you want more information: As I thought about it, I realized that neither Tara nor Fortrakt are experienced and might not be able to make things work right away, particularly with Tara as confused and uncertain as she would initially be, even with the cider's help.
So why not have Tara be with an experienced and observant griffon who can give her a gentle introduction to griffon sensuality and teach her what she needs to know, helping her overcome her fears and worries first? This way, I can also use Giraldi to teach the reader about griffon sexual culture--it goes well beyond mating rounds--including their concepts of foreplay, marriage and faithfulness.
That will be a test of making an unexpected encounter work, and then still saving something for Fortrakt after. Actually, you definitely don't need to worry about the latter. He'll have plenty when the time comes, and Tara will put what she learned to good use. And likely not only with him!
More updates to follow. Bottom line: still no sign of this story train stopping. With my muse still having a whale of a time and churning out chapters one after another, target release date remains two weeks from today, with at least six side story chapters ready to go plus the new main story one.
That is quite a bank of chapters you're getting there. I look forward to the release whenever they, and you, are ready!
Busy busy busy
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And I look forward to releasing them! It's been hard waiting, to be honest, to have all this material ready but have to hold it back. It's just as well, though. That way, I can make sure everything's consistent first and come back and edit the earlier chapters before release if I have to.
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Indeed I am! I haven't been this inspired in a while.