A Letter from Chris — 09/01/2023

Hello dear reader!

As of today I am a published author.

I need to write that out again: I’m a published author.

I’m a published author!

A look back

Five years. Five years from inception to completion. Five years of hard work, unexpected difficulties, a fair bit of money spent, and a whole lot of fun.

Upon finishing my book and holding its first printed copy in my hands I felt as though I stood atop a mountain. Now I’m over the moon.

I may have mentioned this in previous newsletters but for the past year I’ve largely taken a step back from writing. Its still my passion, but at the end of writing The Dance Between I found I had become something of a slave to it. I no longer wrote because I had stories and characters I longed to share with others but because it had become routine.

I think I may have now reached the end of my respite, however.

I feel as though I stand on the threshold of change both in myself and in the world around me, and its strange. Humans are creatures of stability; we don’t enjoy walking on uneven ground and here I am in a period of transition. But its even odder to recognize transition as happening, for it will happen, and I am powerless to stop it. All I can do is watch and steer myself as best as I can.

(For the record I’m being melodramatic on purpose. Its a momentous occasion for me after all.)

My theatrical mood may in part be due to the people I met at Pennsic this year. For those of you who don’t know, Pennsic is the largest renaissance festival on the east coast (and possibly the whole USA.) I was there for its 50th celebration at the start of August and frankly had something of a spiritual experience. Through luck and happenstance I fell in with a crowd of bards who love storytelling as much as I do, and I even found a spoken storytelling mentor.

Next to communal dining, spoken storytelling is civilization’s oldest tradition. For thousands of years our species has huddled around the fire listening to the wisest among us speak of astounding magics and adventures from lands far away. There is something intimate, something electric about being within arm’s reach of a master storyteller telling their tale; to sit among a crowd of silent listeners while a lone speaker commands the attention of everyone in the room. Its a shame that such art has largely fallen out of fashion in favor of movies, netflix, and tiktok, because on more than one occasion I felt chills crawl up my spine. I felt part of a community.

As per my mentor’s advice I’ve taken to carrying a small pocket-sized notebook around with me to jot down ideas. Its already paying for itself because unlike this last year the ideas are starting to flow like water. Needless to say I feel inspired, refreshed, and ready to start again.

A look forward

Still working on getting an audiobook version of TDB ready! Once the narration is finished I’ll get it mastered and then its off to the presses! I’m expecting this to happen sometime in the next 2-3 weeks.

As dramatically stated above I’ve earnestly started putting pen to paper in writing out my next work: a novella set in the same world as TDB from the perspective of Lily, one of my main characters. Its working title is The Briar Abiding.

Other than that I will be making an appearance at Vallis Alps’ show in Washington DC on September 17th. They guestlisted me because my book happens to have been inspired by one of their songs (which is a whole story in itself.) I should have some hard copies with me but honestly you should go to one of their shows just because the band is worth it. They’re on tour showcasing their new album so check them out if they come by your area!

Until next time,

Christopher

The Dance Between is out now! Get your copy here! You may also find me on Twitter at @ChrisWritesNow

A new word that found me: Obsequious: full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.