Writing in the Shadows – A Turning Point

It’s been a long road through the twists and turns of my second novel, and I’m finally at a point where the story feels alive in its own right. With the bulk of the first draft no longer just words on a page—it’s a breathing narrative with characters that keep surprising me, and threads that are starting to weave together in ways I didn’t fully anticipate at the start.

This stage is always a strange mix of exhilaration and discipline. On one hand, I can see the horizon of the story coming into view, with big set-pieces and emotional payoffs waiting just ahead. On the other, I know the hard work of completing, refining, editing, and polishing is only beginning. That’s part of the craft—turning raw draft energy into something taut, compelling, and worthy of the reader’s time.

For me, the most rewarding part has been rediscovering how much these characters have grown since Shadow Empire. They’ve faced impossible choices, their loyalties have been tested, and in many ways they’ve surprised me by charting their own course. That’s the beauty of writing—you think you’re steering the ship, and then suddenly the story takes the wheel.

I won’t give away what’s coming (no spoilers here), but I will say this: the world of Jensen Calbright and his team is larger, darker, and more intricate than before.

And I can’t wait to share it with you.