'Missionary' has been out for nearly a month! There are numerous things I underestimated about the pre and post-publishing process, but ultimately I am happy with the first story I've put out into the world.

There was a lot of fretting about making this one book, and I'd cut many pages (some entire chapters) from the first book, anticipating an eventual decision to cram the other two parts of my adventure into a singular reading experience. But when the cutting of Book One still turned out 230 pages, and Book Two is only 2/3rds of the way complete and already 270 pages, I couldn't justify finishing a three-part story as a tome numbering well beyond 700 pages.

I'd wondered in the months and weeks leading up to publishing what life would look like after it got into the hands of readers beyond those with advanced copies. How might the world look and feel a little different?

Turns out, when one publishes a novel—especially self-publishes—nothing extraordinary happens outside of the immense pride that comes with completing a project. As for the rest of the world, it keeps on turning and people go about their lives. That fact is what dissolved the initial anxiety about releasing my story into the world—people will read, they’ll love it, like it, hate it, or feel nothing at all, and then read the next book on their list. See? No pressure! :)

In seriousness, there is an answer to my question. What does one do once they’ve completed Book One? They start in on Book Two. And then Three, and so on until the fingers can’t clack away at keys any longer.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m reaching the final ~150 pages or so of my second book and hope to have it copyedited this winter. There’s a lot I’d like to share about the writing process and the ways in which this book will be similar and also very different than the first, and will do so over the coming days and weeks.

One update I have is a new cover design for Book One that I’m excited to unveil soon! It was a collaborative effort, though ultimately sketched, edited, and colored by me with an Apple Pencil in Procreate. Book One will be re-released as a second edition with this new cover art ahead of Book Two sometime in late winter or early spring.

Thank you to all who’ve read and supported me in this journey thus far. I’m so excited to share forthcoming updates!