2014 is coming to an end, and so is the process of creating Heroic Lies. Soon, my latest novel will be available on the web, and 2015 will force me to face a question I've been wrestling with for weeks:
What should I write next?
It's not a decision I'm taking lightly. I intend to create and publish a book every year, and to do that, I need to pick a project and stick with it for the next twelve months, or until the book is finished. That being the case, I'd better make a choice that will make me happy.
But there are so many to choose from!
Ultimately, I'll be the one to decide what I spend the next year or so working on, but I'd love to get your feedback on the top three contenders. Which of these book ideas are you the most interested in?
Catgirl Roommate
When Sam was offered a free place to stay in exchange for watching over the landlord's eccentric ward, he thought it was a great deal. A nice house at no cost, and a roommate who was described as 'friendly and beautiful'... what more could a broke college student want?
Then he discovered the horrible truth: his roommate is a catgirl. And not the sane, sexy kind who knows she's a human even as she rubs her graceful body against you.
Nyla is the kind of catgirl who annexes boxes, steals food, mangles houseplants, tries to lie on the keyboard, and brings gifts of dead animals to her new friend. And he's got to cope with her until he can scrape up the cash to move out.
If you enjoyed "Cat-Friend Vs Dog-Friend", or you own a cat and want to laugh at a fictional character's relatable trials, I think you'll enjoy this book.
Mindscape
All Anya and Senekai wanted was a classic fairytale. He would slay the dragon, she would be saved, and they'd live happily ever after.
And for a while, it looked like the Mindscape was going to give them what they sought. All they needed was for the author who'd imagined them to write the book, to solidify their story into written form, and their happy fate would be sealed.
But then the Mindscape changed. Scarred by events outside their safe imaginary realm, the young writer decided that happy endings were unrealistic, and the only fitting end to their tale would be stained by tears and blood.
Now, the knight and the princess are faced with a choice: allow their grim fate to be sealed by the writing of their story, or find a way to heal the Mindscape before it is too late.
Counterbalance
On countless planets throughout the cosmos, the forces of Heaven and Hell do battle for billions of mortal souls.
On Kalidar, that war has turned deadly in a new way.
The Kalidans have discovered how to channel the power of demons directly through their bodies, and the influence of Heaven has been all but forgotten. War has swept across a once-peaceful nation, and with no knowing mortals remaining to summon them, the angels' hands are tied.
But they aren't prepared to surrender Kalidar. Instead, a Counterbalance is appointed: a young believer from Earth, who must act as a catalyst to turn the tide and prevent a world from destroying itself.
Unlike the first two, Counterbalance is not a stand-alone, but is rather the beginning of an ongoing Christian Fantasy series. (It was originally a standalone, but it mushroomed on me against my will.) This is the one that daunts me most; it's the foundation of a vast and intricate continuity, so I desperately want to make sure I get it right.
What should I write next?
It's not a decision I'm taking lightly. I intend to create and publish a book every year, and to do that, I need to pick a project and stick with it for the next twelve months, or until the book is finished. That being the case, I'd better make a choice that will make me happy.
But there are so many to choose from!
Ultimately, I'll be the one to decide what I spend the next year or so working on, but I'd love to get your feedback on the top three contenders. Which of these book ideas are you the most interested in?
Catgirl Roommate
When Sam was offered a free place to stay in exchange for watching over the landlord's eccentric ward, he thought it was a great deal. A nice house at no cost, and a roommate who was described as 'friendly and beautiful'... what more could a broke college student want?
Then he discovered the horrible truth: his roommate is a catgirl. And not the sane, sexy kind who knows she's a human even as she rubs her graceful body against you.
Nyla is the kind of catgirl who annexes boxes, steals food, mangles houseplants, tries to lie on the keyboard, and brings gifts of dead animals to her new friend. And he's got to cope with her until he can scrape up the cash to move out.
If you enjoyed "Cat-Friend Vs Dog-Friend", or you own a cat and want to laugh at a fictional character's relatable trials, I think you'll enjoy this book.
Mindscape
All Anya and Senekai wanted was a classic fairytale. He would slay the dragon, she would be saved, and they'd live happily ever after.
And for a while, it looked like the Mindscape was going to give them what they sought. All they needed was for the author who'd imagined them to write the book, to solidify their story into written form, and their happy fate would be sealed.
But then the Mindscape changed. Scarred by events outside their safe imaginary realm, the young writer decided that happy endings were unrealistic, and the only fitting end to their tale would be stained by tears and blood.
Now, the knight and the princess are faced with a choice: allow their grim fate to be sealed by the writing of their story, or find a way to heal the Mindscape before it is too late.
Counterbalance
On countless planets throughout the cosmos, the forces of Heaven and Hell do battle for billions of mortal souls.
On Kalidar, that war has turned deadly in a new way.
The Kalidans have discovered how to channel the power of demons directly through their bodies, and the influence of Heaven has been all but forgotten. War has swept across a once-peaceful nation, and with no knowing mortals remaining to summon them, the angels' hands are tied.
But they aren't prepared to surrender Kalidar. Instead, a Counterbalance is appointed: a young believer from Earth, who must act as a catalyst to turn the tide and prevent a world from destroying itself.
Unlike the first two, Counterbalance is not a stand-alone, but is rather the beginning of an ongoing Christian Fantasy series. (It was originally a standalone, but it mushroomed on me against my will.) This is the one that daunts me most; it's the foundation of a vast and intricate continuity, so I desperately want to make sure I get it right.
Now it's time for you to vote.
Which of these concepts interests you the most, and why? Please take a moment to vote in the poll, and if you're feeling extra generous, share your opinion in the comments.
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