March 19, 2022 - Update
Added 2022-03-19 08:57:32 +0000 UTCHi!
What a week. I stayed up late tonight as I desperately wanted to get this scene out. It has been in my head for two years, and its time had finally come.
Working against me this week was the worst attack of food poisoning I’ve ever experienced. It wiped me out for three days. Thankfully, that is behind me, and I had the energy to get some chapters done.
I don’t want to spoil the content this week, but if the first couple of chapters are missing things you think should be there, please leave a comment. I had started with a huge list, and then narrowed it down as I tend to overcomplicate everything. I’m hoping what I ended up with is a good balance.
As you’ve probably already noticed, I also worked on another cover for book six. The first one was okay. The designer gave me exactly what I asked for. But it didn’t excite me like I wanted it to. I made the decision to spend the money on a second cover, hoping I could find something that better captured what I tried to communicate to the first designer.
I think it's great, and I hope you do too. Please leave me your thoughts. There is something subtle about the person on the cover. It is hard to see when small, but I’m hoping the paperback size at least will reveal it. It is something I almost didn’t do because I thought it would be too hard to pull off, but the designer did amazing in my opinion.
Anyway, enough rambling. It is almost three in the morning, and I need to get some sleep.
I opened up chapters 55, 56, and 57 to Root.
I opened up chapters 58, 59, 60 and 61 to Harvester.
I added chapters 62, 63, 64 and 65 to Step Master, Blapy’s Favorite, and Divine.
Enjoy!
I appreciate you and your support so much. Thank you!
Take care,
AFK
PS-My food poisoning cratered my plans to send signed books out this week. I will get them done this weekend and out the door on Monday. I’m including April’s as well since I’m so behind. Thanks!
Comments
On the cover, I don't think it is sure that it'll hurt you. I think those who have been following the story to this point will not stop reading because of it, and once they understand why he looks that way, they will appreciate the cover more.
Joe
2022-04-10 05:40:17 +0000 UTCThank you for the comments, they are very appreciated. What you described is all accurate, and what I asked for. In hindsight, maybe this was a mistake. I guess we will see and if it turns out to be a big negative I'll redo the cover. Thanks!
A. F. Kay
2022-03-26 04:49:49 +0000 UTCThanks for the feedback!!! I'm torn on the notifications. I had another dozen, all related to work he'd done with his Architect Role. I might still add them, but it seems wrong to get skill levels from Architect Role activities. Also, if you think about what Ruwen did for those 18 months, he was super focused on a few activities. Regarding the cover. I'm glad you think it is better. The color is what I asked for, since each book has a major color theme and I thought black/grey fit this book. I tried to be too realistic with the character model and I think it backfired. He is very weak. He is also in armor that is very untraditional and hard to represent. I think I should have just left him in black clothes and not tried to stay true to the scene. It probably will hurt me.
A. F. Kay
2022-03-26 04:48:15 +0000 UTC"There is something subtle about the person on the cover. It is hard to see when small, but I’m hoping the paperback size at least will reveal it." Well, you can clearly make out armor and other items (what looks like a cowl) and an awkward stance, not sure if the stance is supposed to be like that or not. The character looks injured, tired, and a little weak (simpering, timid, cowardly). On the other hand, the overall image is better than the first cover, though it lacks a bit of vividness.
Carl Mason
2022-03-20 00:43:39 +0000 UTCI appreciate you reducing the notifications list down. Based on everything he accomplished, though, it seems too small a list. I think you could have gone on for chapters about just the notifications - which might have been too much, but I wonder if what we were left with isn't too little. Also, about the new cover - It is truly great. I like it as a whole better than the last one. I just thought the coloring was a little light and the person standing before the dragon (Ruwen?) gave off the look of being weak. I think it's the way he's standing. If that's what you were going for, then they nailed it. Maybe it's just me, but I don't enjoy seeing him look weak.
Joe
2022-03-19 14:48:06 +0000 UTC
