To give a little context though, let me tell you about the last week of my life. Three weeks ago I sent my manuscript out for beta. I asked for feedback by last Sunday and I had a whole group of wonderful ladies comply. I dug in and in the first day ripped through the majority (let’s not be coy…it took me six hours). Then, it came time for my crit partner’s edits. Since my very first draft, she has been the brutally honest one. (She might have made me cry) I was a little nervous. Actually, I let her pile of print-outs sit on my coffee table for two days I was so nervous.
Then, I dug in. And as I dug in, I alternated between wanting to curse her name and wanting to buy her diamonds, because she GOT IT. She went line by line through 93,000 words and questioned EVERYTHING. She got annoyed. She drew hearts. She circled and crossed out and underlined. And in the midst of all of that she forced me to take this book from good to great. I’m not even done editing yet and I can tell you that between the collective beta edits I received, and her critical eye, you are going to get the best I could have possibly given you. Each person who touched this saw something different that could be improved and I took each comment to heart. I didn’t change everything, but I listened to them.
Now I’m sure you’re wondering what that has to do with my news…well, it means that I am more excited BY THE DAY about what this book is and can be. And I’m taking all of this seriously. As I thought ahead to book two and started mapping it out, I also started thinking about titles. Initially, this was supposed to be the “Duty” series, but the more I mapped out of book two on paper, and of book three in my head, I realized that just wasn’t going to work. And because I have no one to answer to but myself, I made the executive decision that I’m changing my title.
My debut novel will be titled Bound by Duty!
I know, it really isn’t a huge change. But what it does is set me up for two more books in the “Bound” series. My other secret is that I think they will be called Bound by Spells and Bound by Prophecy.
For now, that’s all I’ve got! I’m working to secure more marketing opportunities every day. I’m doing this thing up right!
— Stormy