The Gatherers Have Arrived

The Gatherers have arrived.

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Tomorrow, The Gatherers and the Illness of the Isle will be out officially. I've been working toward this day for over a year, and I'm so excited to finally see this story released. I'm even more excited about what its release means for me: I'm going to be able to move on and write new stories. The book's sequel is going to be an entirely new challenge, and before I tackle it, I plan to gather up as many new experiences as I can. I hope to spend an abundance of time reading and studying my craft.

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It's a time of great reflection and pause, and I think it will be a time of growth. So many people write books in this world, and, with the explosion of the self-publishing industry, so many new books are arriving on the market. Though I'm not unique for having a completed a novel, I still feel an overwhelming sense of pride, because I know I gave this project a serious, heartfelt attempt. I know I didn't give this book any less than my absolute best. It may fall short of the traditionally published fantasy giants, but I know it's a good start for me. I think I'll grow immensely with the next novel, just as I've grown immensely in writing this one. And though the competition is daunting, I am confident that I've found strategies to align myself with wonderful people to bring to life a community around these stories.

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Nobody ever writes the perfect novel. I know this one wasn't perfect. Even now, after I've sealed away its fate and published it, I've found some things that I could've approached in a better way. But the nature of growth is not so singular. It's not just about dwelling on what we could've done better but also about actually doing better. In order to grow, we must take lessons from our pasts and use them in our futures.

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This whole process has taught me so much. Next time, I'll be prepared for some of the pitfalls that I endured this time, and my next novel will be all the better for it.

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Pick up The Gatherers and the Illness of the Isle today! I implore you to share this story with as many people as you can, but only if it resonates with you.

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As always, thank you so much for reading and for being part of this site!