I’ve begun querying my current work-in-progress (WIP)! It has been a wild ride. I began this project in 2020 and have been working on it in my free time since. Now, it’s finally ready to query. This WIP is an epic adult fantasy filled with action, tested loyalties, and sacrifice. Check out my book blurb below! Heir Commander Oreia Oksuna returns home from the battlefields victorious and ready to begin building her reign as the next Empress of Teralis. The war is over, the tyrant High Lord of Urlen is dead, and his people are finally free. Oreia returns to her city, Teres Novae, expecting a celebration, not bodies hanging from the city walls. Oreia soon learns that those bodies were once spies for an enemy nation to the north, Garcium. That realization reignites old animosities fueled by a betrayal ten years earlier. Now, the need for vengeance throws Teres Novae into a frenzied hunt for more traitors and spies. Oreia’s mother, Empress Moira, and aunt, Commander Urma, are leading the charge, imprisoning and executing anyone who might be a Garci sympathizer. When Garcium retaliates and abducts Oreia’s half-brother Orion, Teralis launches towards another war with Oreia leading the charge. But this war is not what it seems. As Oreia digs deeper, she begins to question who her real enemies are. She has sworn to do anything to protect her people. Defending Teralis has been her purpose for her entire life. Oreia is the unshakeable, unyielding Heir of Stone, but the events that are unfolding will force her to decide if her loyalty is worth the price of war. As the line between right and wrong blurs, Oreia will discover if she has the strength to face the trials and sacrifices ahead.
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Each of my works in progress have a nature-related theme. I don’t do it on purpose, but these themes are influenced by places that I've traveled.
Oreia’s story is closely tied to the mountains. Her father’s people are from the rugged Idatari Mountains to the north of the empire of Teralis. The Idatari clans thrive among of the brutal ice and granite walls of the Idatari Mountains. Oreia loves their raw, honest way of life. Oreia is also called the Heir of Stone. Like the mountains, she is sturdy, unrelenting, and dauntless. Mountains have always inspired me to write Oreia’s story. This photo is from Yosemite National Park in California, USA. I visited and hiked there in 2019, and it was absolutely beautiful. In my mind, the Idatari Mountains in Oreia’s story look exactly like these mountains and pine forests. Check Oreia’s story here to see the other inspirational photos that I've taken on my travels. http://www.jenaldenbooks.com/oreia.html Also, if you’re interested, here is the link to the National Park Service’s Yosemite page: https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm Last week, I revealed what Oreia and I have most in common. Fashion sense is a small thing, but my main character and I are very different. She has to deal with assassins, betrayal, battlefields, and unimaginable sacrifice. I’m a writer who hikes and crochets in her spare time.
That being said, I think the biggest difference between my main character and I is how we deal with stress. Oreia was born and raised to lead her empire. She has trained for political fights and killing fields. The trials and challenges Oreia faces in my current work-in-progress will push her to the limits of her courage and strength. Towards the end of the story, the pressure does begin to weigh on Oreia, but she relies on the support of her close confidantes and trusted friends. If I had to endure the same stresses and sacrifices as Oreia, I would be a puddle of anxiety. I have incredible respect for people who deal with high-stress decisions on a regular basis, and I hope I've realistically depicted how a warrior might handle the pressures and anxiety of running an army. Every author will tell you that they put a piece of themselves in their stories, and I am no different. In my most complete work-in-progress, the main character, Oreia, and I share one trait in particular. We both have a practical, functional sense of style.
Oreia is a warrior (and I am obviously not), so she often wears uniforms. However, when Oreia gets a chance to wear regular clothes, she prefers comfortable, functional clothes. She likes wearing different colors, but nothing too flashy. In one of the opening scenes of Oreia’s story, Oreia wears a yellow dress that is just a little too bright for her comfort. She doesn’t mind standing out, but she prefers more muted colors. Oreia also only wears shoes she can run and fight in because you never know when the enemy will strike. My clothing style is very similar. I work from home in my day job, so I wear a lot of tank tops, shorts, and leggings. When I go out, I prefer simple dresses or colorful tops and plain jeans. I usually wear boots, sandals, or sneakers. It’s a silly thing to have in common, but there it is. I’m a writer, and Oreia is a warrior with the weight of an entire empire on her shoulders. We have very little else in common. Stay tuned for my post next week where I’ll reveal the thing that Oreia and I have least in common. |
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