November 12, 2022 - Update

Hi!

Go ahead and jump down to the news, I’ll wait.

Exciting, right!

Now that we got that huge news out of the way, I want to talk a little about this week’s chapters.

When writing the three chapters this week, they all struck me differently. The first, probably because I held this scene in my head for hours as I wrote it, exhausted me emotionally. The situation Ruwen got himself in and the method used to try and solve it took immense focus and concentration as I tried to convey a sort of complex solution. Regardless, I felt that chapter when I finished.

The second one was difficult to write for obvious reasons you will see in the beginning, and then transitioned into something fun and revealing. Revealing for both entities involved. It gives a reminder, once again, that not everyone is as simple as they appear. Anyway, that chapter took a lot of effort because it didn’t take place in a very long timeframe, and I wanted to reveal different sides to those involved. Whew.

Then the third chapter. A lot of world building that I did my best to make interesting via dialogue. I’m not sure I got this chapter right and might need to circle back to it when the book is finished. Did I reveal too much? Did Ruwen put too much together? Is now the right time for those revelations that were hinted at in previous books? Constant thinking and weighing of every word, and I’m still thinking about it. WHY IS WRITING SO STRESSFUL!

I wanted to talk about my thoughts for a title, but I think I’ll save that for next week. Too much is happening tonight already.

Ok, so here is the NEWS I cruelly posted about earlier today. Please note, initially I had planned on starting it this Wednesday, FIVE DAYS after telling you. I came to my senses. You’re welcome.

If you caught my post, you’ve probably spent a few seconds wondering what I kept secret. It could be about anything. But it’s not. It’s a book.

Now I wish I was Brandon Sanderson and could pull out twelve novels from under my desk. I don’t have twelve novels, but I have most of one.

And I only contributed to it.

That’s right, a co-authored novel in the Divine Apostasy universe.

What can an author do when he struggles to meet his current literary commitments? How does he answer when so many fans of the series want a broader picture of what is happening? Many fans are interested in other events away from Ruwen and his limited point of view. Why can’t AFK just write some books about other people?

The answer is AFK will BRB.

Credit for that incredible combination goes to my great friend Sara Tonin (please see the comments for her debut novel).

A. F. Kay and B. R. Bea have succeeded where AFK alone has failed.

The result is an entire book from someone else’s point of view. Who is it? Why can’t you get to the point already? Are you some kind of sick author who is enjoying dragging this out? What kind of writer keeps switching between third, second, and first points of view, anyway? Why didn’t you give us a hint?

I did. I told you earlier your “prayers” had been answered.

That’s right. Hamma has her own novel, and it’s called: Hamma’s Last Prayer

Yay! Hamma!

Now, who is this co-author?

She is one of you, and you know her as Betsy.

Betsy is a friend of mine from the earliest days of the Divine Apostasy. She is part of my writing group and a superb writer. She is also a super fan of the series, and you can see her comments on the weekly chapters.

For months, Betsy has listened to Hamma and told her story. I’ve helped guide the details and made sure it still felt like a Divine Apostasy novel.

I will say this upfront. I could have never written this novel. There is an authenticity to Hamma and Lylan and the others. For the first time, I have experienced the Divine Apostasy series as a reader. I didn’t know what would happen next. I grinned. I laughed. I felt terrible and even uncomfortable a couple of times. It is superb. It is Hamma and Lylan like you’ve never experienced before, in a place you all love.

Hamma’s Last Prayer starts shortly after Hamma and Lylan leave Ruwen and Sift at the Blood Gate in book six. It continues in parallel with book seven.

We'll post chapters going forward every Wednesday.

We hope to have it out early next year, before the release of book seven.

We decided to post chapters of the first draft on Patreon so we can get helpful and constructive feedback before the novel is finished. Please let us know what you like as well.

This is the longest update I think I’ve ever posted. Sheesh.

Next week, we’ll talk about audio for Hamma’s story and the title for the seventh DA book.

I’ve opened chapters 37, 38, and 39 of book seven for Root.

I’ve opened chapter 1 of the secret book for Root.

I’ve opened chapters 40, 41, and 42 of book seven for Harvester.

I’ve opened chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the secret book for Harvester.

I’ve added chapters 43, 44, and 45 of book seven for Step Master, Blapy’s Favorite, and Divine.

I’ve added chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the secret book for Step Master, Blapy’s Favorite, and Divine.

Enjoy!

If you made it all the way down here without suffering a stroke or migraine, pat yourself on the back. You are awesome. If this wall of text caused a stroke or migraine, please call emergency services, but you remain awesome as well. Thank you so much for being here, and supporting this story, and now, other stories as well. You are the best.

Take care,

AFK