Fantastic America has gone through dozens of re-writes since I finished the original manuscript. Rounds of self editing, expansion, developmental editing, and polishing have (I hope) focused and refined the story. In that months long process, I kind of lost that loving feeling for the book. It wasn’t what I envisioned, and I wasn’t sure how to fix it. I hear a lot that the only way to learn to write a book is to write a book, and I believe it.
I have learned a lot that will help me with Midwestern Magicians and every other book I write in the future. Those lesson fortunately came before I tried to send my first book out into the wide world. Which brings me to my new appreciation of FA. It sings to me again. The characters are deeper, their struggles have more impact, and their service of the larger narrative is back in harmony with my original vision.
I can’t wait to share that with the world (or at least my small audience within the world)!