It's Me, Hi! (and I've got news)
drafting's never been this fun
#ProjectReaperFae has a blurb!
You're receiving this email because you opted into my Reader Newsletter. This is where I share my reader exclusives like early access and behind-the-scenes fun.
Welcome back, friend!
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve written to you. Life has been crazy here and I’ve been hiding out by our AC like a cave troll - grouchy and hoarding all the chips and chocolate while following my poor family members around to shut off lights and close the curtains. Typically, I’d like to think of myself as more of a vampire, but alas, something tells me Dracula wasn’t hanging out in pajamas while trying not to melt off his couch. 😅
If nothing else, I have been making ✨progress✨ with my story, and it’s been so much fun!
There’s quite a bit to catch you up on, so I made a handy-dandy list to guide this foray into Woodwardia (roll with me here, my brain is running on too much sugar 🫠).
What's coming up in this newsletter:
Writing Update - re-branding, refocusing, and re-plotting, oh my!
Reading Recs - here there be pirates 🏴☠
Newsletter Exclusives - get the inside scoop about a side story idea and its mock-up cover
P.S. If this is your first newsletter from me, welcome! You most likely signed up on my website where I shared a brief blurb of my current story: Project Reaper Fae. However you joined, I'm so excited to have you come along on my author journey!
Ready for the first blurb of #ProjectReaperFae??
Reaper. Fae. Prince. And the girl he can't stand.
Armin learned the hard way that being a hero can cost you everything. After a year as the High Council's indentured reaper, he's ready to retake his true name in a bid for his last chance at freedom: the empty throne of the first mirrorworld. This time, however, he's determined not to take any chances. Not for anyone, but especially not for his old-rival-turned-reluctant-bodyguard who's starting to reveal the cracks in her armor, or the young teen who stumbles across his path, desperately in need of training her magic.
When the past refuses to stay buried, Armin will have to face his own ghosts in order to protect the ones he loves from the demons trying to conquer all the seven mirrorworlds.
I am SO excited about how far this story is coming! There’s several things (besides the blurb) that I’ve been working on, like
the new mock cover to fit the theme/overall vibe better
several character name changes that makes it easier to keep track of everyone
a solid outline that makes me genuinely giddy about writing again
Now that the plot is all in place, I’ve been able to get back into drafting after what feels like a very long time. I tried a new technique called “skeleton drafting” that gave me a bare-bones draft of the first 15 scenes and it has been a lifesaver! If everything goes well, I should have at least a few story snippets and sneak-peaks to share in the next newsletter. I can’t wait to share these characters with you!
What do you think of the blurb or the new project title? Feel free to hit reply and share your thoughts with me. 😊
Reading Recs!!
In more exciting news, I’ve been reading again! I’ve read several books over the last few weeks and am in middle of quite a few more. Apparently, I am incapable of reading one book at a time like a sane person. 😉
One of my favorite reads lately is On Wings of Ash and Dust by Brittany Wang. It has pirates, fairies, tournament-style competitions, and more! I absolutely adored the found family elements and the swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance. ❤
It was a lot of fun reading a book that has a similar style of tournament and world building that I’ve been working on for #ProjectReaperFae and has made me that much more excited to dive back into my own story worlds.
If you’re looking for a story with Pixie Hollow meets The Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, then I highly recommend you give this book a try (it’s also available on Kindle Unlimited!). ⤵️
✨ Newsletter Exclusives ✨
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, then you probably know that I have a little bit of an obsession with making mock covers in Canva. If not, then it was only a matter of time before that became super apparent, so why not show you what I’ve been having fun with? 👀
Isn’t that so much fun?!
Aside from my Canva addiction and my work on #ProjectReaperFae, I’ve been getting a new (short) story idea that I’m hoping to finish by the end of the year as a special thank you for my awesome subscribers. 😊
The working title for now is Cake, Wizards, and Other Things That Almost Killed Me. It will be the prequel story for one of the side characters in my book. She has quite the adventure ahead of her and I hope you all get as much enjoyment out of it as I have just thinking about it.
In Case You Missed It…
I’m finally making progress on my debut novel that I’m referring to as #ProjectReaperFae for now. Plus, it has a fun blurb and an outline that makes me genuinely giddy.
You can read it again by scrolling back to the beginning of this newsletter or by checking out my new website here.
There are lots of great books I can’t wait to tell you about, but for now, I’ll leave you the fantastic On Wings of Ash and Dust. I love the fairy world that Brittany Wang created! If you’d like a sneak peek at what I’ve been reading, you can check out the post I made for National Book Lovers Day on my Instagram.
What do you think of the blurb or the new project title? Feel free to hit reply and share your thoughts with me. I read all my emails and love hearing how you’re doing/what you’re thinking. 🥰
Until next time,
happy reading,
Lydia
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Check out the Spotify playlist and Pinterest board for #ProjectReaperFae below!
