What can I say? I’m still writing the first draft of To Gain Knowledge: Coins of Destiny 3.  It’s been a difficult book to write, and as such I’ve been fighting motivation—or not having as much as I’d like. I consider the book a “serious” book. By that, I mean there is very little humor in it. It’s not the type of book I enjoy writing, but it’s one I want to write.

I love all the characters, but they are always struggling. They’ve changed and grown since I introduced them in the first book. But as the saying goes, they can’t catch a break.

Rachael, my main character, is struggling with PTSD after the events of the first two books and has turned against her friends, Lee, and Leroy,after the government takes her daughter. We learn the President has the third coin, the Coin of Knowledge, and with its help, needs Rachael’s coins to consolidate his power.

Rachael needs to regain her daughter while maintaining her sanity. Lee and Leroy still consider Rachael a friend and set out to help her, despite Rachael’s distrust.

That’s a bit of what’s going on in the story. I still need to finish the draft, edit, and rewrite portions. I’m still aiming for a holiday release this year. We shall see.

I’m also brainstorming the next book I want to write, “The Cat and the Enchantress”, This is the next book after my “The Cat and the Warlock”. It’s not a sequel, so I guess that makes it a series.

I wanted to call this “The Cat and the Witch”, but as my mind churned story ideas, I settled on a theme of personal freedom and free-will. This made me rethink the title. “Enchantress” works better than “Witch” given the theme. Unlike “To Gain Knowledge”, this book is going to be more humorous and “light”, Also, it” s going to be a pulp novel, as was the first book—a quick fun read.

I’m looking forward to writing it and revisiting the characters, including the cat. The first book was a ball to write and I’m hoping to spin a good mystery yarn again this time.

That’s the latest.

Word up!