My big announcement is that I have settled on a date for my debut novel. I chose 5 September for a few reasons. The number 5 makes a few appearances in the story. It’ll be late summer in the northern hemisphere, which seemed a good fit for my story’s mood. It’s heady and warm, but with each day, the sunshine lessens, and a chill creeps in. It’ll be late winter where I am, which also works. Spring is a good time for new life and new books.
In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, I thought it might be fun to play a game.
In the afternoon of April the 1st, I will post the title of my WIP on my socials (and update this post). Which of the following do you think is the real title?
2 April Edit: I’m updating this a bit later than I said I would. As expected, many on my Twitter poll voted for the options besides the true title, Far Removed (which came in at 8.7%). Understandable, as I even started second guessing my choice. I think in the context of the story it works. Fallen Rogue came in at 39.1%, Feral Realm 34.8%, and Furthest Reaches 17.4% (there wasn’t space for Foreigner’s Respite as an option). Thanks for playing along.
- A) Feral Realm
- B) Far Removed
- C) Foreigner’s Respite
- D) Furthest Reaches
- E) Fallen Rogue
You’re probably going to prefer the fake titles! There’s a grain of truth in all of them; they either say something about the characters or the setting. I promise I am not using the results of this poll to choose one. It’s settled, and I’ve created the lettering for the cover.
Unedited Synopsis
This has some way to go before it appears on the back cover of my book. Still, it might answer some questions about the setting and my two MCs. They’re still unnamed here, but I’m releasing their names with the free novelette in the next month or so. Fun fact: these alien beings are loosely based on naiads. Think Greek Mythology with a sci-fi spin.
“On the moon of Knyadrea, the sea yields intelligent life. For a species shaped by tides, change is the only constant.
Little can be hidden in the glare of a spotlight.
Charismatic and innovative, O_ __ has risen to prominence in the moon’s capital city. A deputy minister and college director, he has the resources to affect the changes he envisions for the world. All that stands in his way are the sovereigns he serves.
But his privileged status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, O_ must secure her safety while hiding his involvement from the authorities.
A spark in the dank depths.
Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty from her fast-fading dreams. Years ago, she gambled everything on her ambitions and lost. Though employed as a lowly projectionist, P_ fills her remaining time accumulating specialised knowledge. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left?
Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged?”
– C. B. Lansdell
MailerLite and Upcoming Novelette
I’m very grateful to anyone following my monthly blog, but if you want to receive a link to my upcoming free novelette on Bookfunnel, you will need to subscribe to my Mailerlite newsletter. I hope to set this up in late April or early May. The newsletter will only be used to notify you about important updates or special offers so you won’t see these emails as frequently as my blog posts.
Last Points
I recently submitted a copyright claim for a few of my WIPs under “Group Unpublished Works”. It’s probably unnecessary, but I’ll feel better having a certificate proving the stories are mine. Just in case someone tries to impersonate me on AMZ or bots trawl through my prose, looking for something to recycle.
My proofreader, Laura, is currently reviewing the final draft of my novel. It will be formatted in May. Around that time, I’ll be looking for readers interested in receiving an ARC. If the synopsis piqued your interest, please consider contacting me about this. Ideally, I’d like the reviews to be in by the start of September.
C B Lansdell 