Hey everyone,
A brief update before changing the topic slightly.
An Ascendant of Kings is currently with the editor. I wait patiently to receive the manuscript back to make the final changes to the manuscript. Then, the novel goes on preorder for a July release date. I will be making small updates to the website, Goodreads, and Inkspired in particular during that process in preparation for launch.
The Reaper of the Mortal Sands is ready to go to the editor in the August timeframe for the same treatment.
Then, once we are in the month of September, it is time to commence the audiobook production for Whispers of White Sapphire. I am really excited for this, as this audiobook collaboration will kick off a series of audiobooks and releases planned throughout 2027. With good fortune, we will see the team of Laura Horowitz, Marcus Freeman, and myself continue on for more future audiobook productions to coincide with future, unnamed releases.
The Crystalline Ocean is now delayed to an ebook, hardcover, and paperback release in June. Audiobook release in Q3 2027.
The Sanctum of Swords: Ascension of Kings edition is now delayed to an ebook, hardcover, and paperback release in Q3 2027. Audibook Release in Q1 2028.
Planning releases for In the Shadow of Aurelia, An Anathema to Gods, and maybe a few other things in 2028 – depending on the completion of the former two in terms of manuscript creation and revision process.
What is The Sanctum of Swords: Ascension of Kings Edition?
In 2023, the first iteration of A Sanctum of Swords was born. No edition tag added to the title or anything, just the original text. It launched to a variety of reviews, many with constructive feedback, while others were not so much. It became apparent that the launch was rushed and had some internal flaws that needed addressing.
Throughout the rest of 2023 and half of 2024, I compiled user feedback that I found constructive and useful. Then, I began to work on upgrading the manuscript to a great degree, to the point where the manuscript became an evolved version of the original Sanctum of Swords. The story had changed in several key ways, but was overall the same narrative, just upgraded and expanded upon.
That version of A Sanctum of Swords came to be known as the Embers Edition, which is what the audiobook with Marcus Freeman was made from.
In time after releasing A Sanctum of Swords: Embers Edition, in addition to Whispers of White Sapphire, the first of my books in a series of standalone stories, I received a healthy number of much stronger reviews from readers, in addition to the ones from the original release.
Although it was never truly necessary, The Sanctum of Swords: Ascension of Kings Edition is not another upgrade of the same narrative in the original and Embers edition.
The Ascension of Kings edition is a reimagining of the events of A Sanctum of Swords, and a total rewrite of the book down to the very last word. No scenes from the old book are in this latest rewrite, as they were in the old book.
So, why write the Ascension of Kings Edition?
I learned so much about writing during my time revising Whispers of White Sapphire from the feedback I received from editors and beta readers. Across Whispers of White Sapphire, An Ascendant of Kings, and The Reaper of the Mortal Sands – I eventually wanted to implement all the quality of life improvements I learned to create for those works into the first, original book of The Embers of the Past Series.
Though the Embers Edition did a lot for A Sanctum of Swords, the manuscript still had some lingering issues that only a full rewrite would solve. So, now I am doing just that, and am working on bringing the events of A Sanctum of Swords up to par with my later works.
The Ascension of Kings Beta has reached about 113k words, and is probably about 30k or more words from completion still.
Though, unfortunately, the release is coming in the 2nd Half of 2027, I think it will be quite worth the wait.
What will happen to A Sanctum of Swords: Embers Edition?
The Embers Edition will remain on sale wherever it is available now as a legacy version. There are still many scenes in the Embers Edition that are important to me, and I’d rather keep them available to people who might be curious to read or listen to them.
That is all the updates I have for now, until next time!