A New Dawn

Another rotation around the sun has returned to its inevitable origin. We’re back at the start, another turn around the boiling sphere of light that ensures we can see another day, another dawn, that brings an end to the night.  
It's been a tough year for a lot of us, me included. A roller coaster of ups and downs, of positives and not so positives and a flurry of days that seem to have all passed in the blink of an eye.    
I finished my developmental edits between the holidays over the last week. I sent in the manuscript and immediately panicked that I’d fucked it up. That I missed some critical theme, point, character development, etc etc and that my manuscript would be found lacking. Because I am technically self-publishing I am determined to hold the whole project to a higher standard than that of a traditionally published book. I want you, dear reader, to look at that finished book in your hands and know that everyone put in everything they had to make it an enjoyable, beautiful, and cherished product for you to consume and be proud to have in your hands. So, you can understand why I have a panic attack every step of the way.  
I’m sad to say that I did not find time over the last month to write a single word for the second installment of the Aeternum Series. It was on the back burner as I painstakingly took apart Dawning of the Sun and put it back together with more emotion, more character interaction, and more connection. The deep dark part of my heart knows that I’ve improved the manuscript with the help of my wonderful editor Rebecca. I am a nervous writer, I am constantly doubting and questioning if my words are well written, if they are understood, if I’ve made the point I’ve trying to make. Rebecca’s responses to my (probably very primitive and stupid questions) gave me the confidence to actually admit that I, in fact, am pretty good at this.  
I had planned to finish the first draft of Waning of the Moon, Book two in the Aeternum Series by the eve of December 31, 2023. I did not get there. I have all my scenes planned out, and while I did hit a very respectable 100,863 word count, there are still a whopping sixteen scenes I have planned until I reach the inevitable end of that story. I suspect that the first draft will come in at a staggering 150,000, but this number will ebb and flow with every revision. I can’t even guess what the final count will end up being.  
So, for anyone keeping up with my progress, for anyone interested in the upcoming release of Dawning of the Sun, it is happening. Work is always being done. I have a variety of other universes on the back burners, simmering. I’m hoping to build a respectable career from all these stories overflowing in my head. Thank you for being with me along the way, as I take my first steps on the path to becoming a real, honest to goodness, author. I am so grateful that you even considering spending your time with my little words.