This is from my newsletter on Substack that I’ll start sharing here on my blog sometimes too.
Today we have…
- An example of over describing
- A book cover reveal
- A book release celebration
- A new newsletter and free story offer
- Just thinking
My daughter tells me I have tendency to try to rival Charles Dickens in my descriptions. Oh dear!
So, let’s start with a little fun…making fun…of my writing. Shall we? I promise, it’s totally okay. This is why we edit. I’ve been trying to hard to nail down the beginning of this prequel novel, and I’ve taken some great advice to start at the ball instead of before, so that’s what we’re doing.
Starting from a later point does mean reframing some of the previous material, though. That meant reintroducing characters in a different way, which is actually making the relationships much stronger, I think.
BUT sometimes, in the first drafts, things that come out of your head are either lacking good description or have too much, so here we go! I’m sharing with you an example of…
Rachael Over Describing
Here’s the kicker: The below text is AFTER a chopping revision. ha!
The prince stood almost half a foot taller than his father, but their features spoke of a strong family lineage. Othniel, broad shoulders erect, carried himself every bit as a regal prince should. His dark green tunic with gold thread woven in intricate patterns over the surface seemed to glitter, and his sword belt rested at a jaunty angle over his trim waist. The only thing that made Ismene question how seriously he took his role was his unruly waves of trimmed but wild honey blond hair that appeared to have been ignored in his preparations for the evening.
That was bad enough. Just imagine what it was like before! haha!
Let’s try again:
The prince stood over six feet, a little taller than his father, but their features spoke of a clear family lineage. Strong jawline, straight nose, broad shoulders. Othniel carried himself every bit as a regal prince should. The swirling pattern of his gold-threaded tunic seemed to glitter against its dark green material. The only thing that made Ismene question how seriously he took his role was his unruly waves of honey blond hair.
Can you picture that? Not so verbose but still quite descriptive. What do you prefer? I’m thinking most people will like the pared down version!
Book Cover Reveal
I’m so excited for the fifth and final book in my friend Morgan Wylie’s The Age of Alandria series! The Sol-Lumieth, a YA portal fantasy novel will arrive August 1st! The ebook is available for preorder now!
And TA DA!
It turned out so pretty! I want to say a big congrats to Morgan Wylie on completing this epic fantasy series!
Cover by: Evelyne Paniez, www.secretdartiste.be (no AI used)
Here’s a universal link to go buy The Sol-Lumieth from: https://books2read.com/ap/xdq6pR/Morgan-Wylie
Here’s the whole set of books together! Don’t they look great! The first four books are available now, and you can preorder the ebook of The Sol-Lumieth today! It releases August 1st, 2024.
Book Release Celebration
Releasing tomorrow! The DOSA files anthology by H. L. Burke and nine other talented authors!
10 Authors, 10 Stories, Endless Ways to Save the Day!
The Award-Winning Supervillain Rehabilitation Project series expands with this new ten-story anthology of exciting superhero (and villain!) tales.
Enter a world of superpowered heroes… and villains. Of epic adventure and hope.
In this collection you’ll find tales of humor, action, and suspense. Meet brave heroes, quippy villains, and desperate vigilantes.
All featured stories are PG or lower, making this a great read for all ages, but especially for fans of superhero fiction, heartfelt moments, and snarky humor.
Featuring New Superhero Stories from Award Winning authors as well as exciting new voices in the genre.
Are you ready to save the day?
Available on Amazon June 27th
Add the DOSA Files on Goodreads
I’ve mentioned H. L. Burke’s Supervillain Rehabilitation universe before, when I talked about her YA book GAME ON that just came out not too long ago. Well, this is a fun addition to her universe where she invited other authors to write a superhero/villain story in her world! I backed the book on Kickstarter and received my early print copy yesterday! I’ll share more about it on my social media, if you’re interested.
There is currently a Book Launch Tour running that has some prizes available! I got to join in and did an interview with one of the authors!
To be entered to win one of the prize packs, you just need to collect all the clues for the form.
Start here: https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/post/dosa-files-blog-tour
Or start from my blog and work your way backward through the direct links, and then forward: https://rachaelritchey.com/2024/06/25/dosa-files-mhouston/
A Friend’s Newsletter & Free Book Offer
I have something special for you from my sweet friend and fellow author Karen L.Higgins. It’s a free ebook!
Karen is working on finding a publisher for her first book, and in the mean time, she’s doing what we all need to do and looking to find her audience, all the people who will love her books and characters like she does!
So, for you to find out more about her, and to find out if you will like her writing, she’s offering a free e-book when you sign up for her e-newsletter. I encourage you to do it! If you decide it’s not for you, you can unsubscribe any time. It’s all free!
Just use the button above and head to Karen’s website to easily sign up for her newsletter and gain access to a free ebook called Out of the Depths.
Oh! I shared with you about her cover design a few weeks ago.
Here’s a teaser for Out of the Depths
A desperate plea, a busybody neighbor and a pot of clam chowder…can they possibly bring healing after trauma?
A mom would do anything for her kids, even when it means jumping into the deep—without a life jacket. But Jane’s son asks for something she vowed she’d never do again. How can she say ‘yes’ when it means bringing trauma to the surface again? But how can she say ‘no’ when her son is desperate? She must dive in and help… even though it may feel a whole lot more like drowning.
Just Thinking
I’ve had some discouraging thoughts about myself as a writer niggling their way in this week. Thinking about who God is and who he says I am in light of His person helps me to find gratitude for what I am able to do—even as a mom and writer and artist. In every facet of life, I want to lean in and trust Him for all the outcomes. I’m comforted by the knowledge that all I need to do is trust and obey…persevere in the faith. That will give success for my whole life.
Is there something in your life that sometimes discourages you? How do you deal with that feeling? What do you turn to for comfort?
How can I pray for you this week? Please feel free to reach out!
Have a beautiful week and I hope you find some great new books to check out today!
~Rachael
Rachael Ritchey 
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