It’s been a long time since I’ve given an update on where I am with my fantasy book titled The Rise of the Winged Assassin. I have been working on it but with the holidays and hurting my foot I’ve been occupied with so much. But I have an update that I would like to share.
As I was writing it I was a member of a critique group where we read each other’s work and shared our comments, constructive criticisms and suggestions with each other. Anyone who has been in one of these groups knows how trying it can be. Placing you baby out on display for all to see, knowing that at any moment someone could attempt to murder your precious love. But I know now that it’s necessary and my book is all the better for it.
Rise has been through the initial rough draft edits and then through another round. Next I put it all back together and sent it out to beta readers to see what a reader would think about things like character development, plot progression, readability, whether the beginning caught their attention and if they felt for the character, how the climax ran and of course the ending. There was a whole page of questions I sent off with the readers for feedback. And no, none of my readers were family members.
After receiving them back over the past few months I got allot of useful comments, some fantastic and others wishing for some big changes. As with any critique you have to review all the comments fairly and consider them at least and then take what you think you can use and discard the rest. Allot of it I used, including revamping my ending. Some comments were unexpected such as wishes for Shiralia. She’s a tormented soul and then is further tormented by Hayden. A couple of readers wanted to know more about her, such as why she put up with it. Was she abused prior? She was created as a plot mover and a way to show the cruelty in Hayden but also to make you wonder if there is some possibility of humanity left in him. The rule goes if more than one person makes the same comment you must consider it. And I think I’m going to add some touches to her. The readers connected with her.
After making those changes I set out to get the dreaded package together. This included the query, the long and short synopsis, the elevator pitch and cover letter. This was grueling. I can write a full book but had so much trouble coming up with these. But after many nights of forcing myself to sit at the desk for hours I got it done. Now I’ve sent it off to a few agencies and I’m searching for more that would be a good fit. I’ve struggled with marketing it as YA Fantasy or just Fantasy. She’s young but it’s not love and boy driven and her struggles are very much life and death adult situations. I also searched for pure fantasy YA and haven’t found much. There’s plenty of YA urban fantasy YA. For now I’m going with pure fantasy. I’ve searched for a sub-genre but none really fit perfectly. There’s some coming of age, some high, but there are no dragons or sorcery.
Now I continue to submit and wait. I’ve already received a form letter rejection but I’m trudging on. After I get them all out there I may work some more on Shadow Life.