Nightfighter
In a burst of madness, I finally started writing a new novel.
This can’t possibly be a good idea. In the last ten years, I’ve written fifteen novels, ranging from abysmal to average. So I have no excuse. I know exactly what kind of mess I’m getting myself into, and yet I’m doing it anyway.
Ah, well. I suppose one can only deny one’s nature for so long. And it’s probably a better hobby than watching TV or recreational narcotics abuse, anyway.
The book is called “Nightfighter”, and it’s basically the origin story of Caina, my character from the “Sword & Sorceress” anthology series. After spending four weeks hashing out an outline, I started the rough draft today with a solid 2600 words. I want to have the rough draft done by December 22nd. That should be doable, right? 34 chapters and 95,000 words (or so) by December 22nd? I can pull that off.
(I want to finish by Christmas so I can spend Christmas eating. Also, drinking eggnog, which is delicious. Thanksgiving also offers delicious food, but, alas, no eggnog.)
An excerpt:
“Do you know,” murmured Laeria, taking Caina’s chin in her hand, “why I had you?”
Caina said nothing. She couldn’t, not with Laeria’s spell wrapped about her mind like iron fingers.
“I wanted to go back,” sighed Laeria, black hair sliding over her pale face. “They put me out, only four years into my novitiate. They said I wasn’t strong enough, that I could never wield the power of a full magus. But if I had a talented child…then the Magisterium would have to take me back.”
She growled and slapped Caina across the face.
“But you’re useless,” she hissed. “Not a spark of arcane talent. Useless, utterly useless. How I wish I had never had you. I should have purged my womb of you, spared myself the bother.”
Caina’s rage burned inside her like something alive.
“And your father,” said Laeria. “I cannot believe I let myself be chained to that sniveling weakling. It is not fair! I was meant for so much more. For greater things than to waste my life with a useless child and a pathetic weakling of a husband…”
Caina’s rage flared.
And she felt something within her mother’s spell crack.
-JM
Oh, good! I really like Caina!
And if you like Caina & the old “choose your own adventure” books, be sure to tune in on Friday…
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