Writing Progress & Projects: Insights and Updates

What a productive summer it has been! I’m excited to share some major developments across multiple projects that have kept me busy these past few months.

Nights of the Purple Sky - A Fresh Start

The biggest news is that I’ve completed the first draft of Nights of the Purple Sky after the bold decision to completely rewrite it in March. Sometimes, as writers, we must make tough calls about our work, and this was one of those moments. The original draft was heading in directions I didn't like—too many characters and too much complexity for my first full-length novel. Frankly, it wasn’t serving the world I'm passionate about creating.

For those reading my blog for the first time, this story explores how magic comes to our Earth. I’ve always been fascinated by fantasy stories set in a future Earth where magical creatures and magic exist. I often wondered: how did that happen? We don’t have magical creatures or magic now, so I really wanted to write a novel that explores this question.

The rewrite took just over eight weeks, and I’m thrilled with where the story has landed. Kanyin Robinson, my protagonist, is still a former NFL cornerback. However, the story now takes place five years after a solar storm knocks out all electronics on Earth. In this version, instead of joining a community with a business leader and doctor who can wield magic, Kanyin chooses to stay with his team to prepare for the AFC championship game. The story opens with Kanyin married to Isabel, living alongside a young man named Jonas. Together, they embark on an adventure that’s darker and more graphic than my previous work.

This version has pushed me outside my comfort zone—both intentionally and as the story demanded it. If I want to write for the general public, I can’t soften what real life looks like. In a post-apocalyptic world mirroring our current reality, the story requires that level of grittiness in both actions and language. It has been a growth experience, and I think readers will appreciate the authenticity.

My manuscript should end up around 100,000 words when fully edited and polished. My next steps involve a thorough re-edit over the coming months, focusing on character voice and plot refinement. I won’t promise a happy ending, but I will promise a satisfying one—especially if you enjoy plot twists.

All for Sister Marisa - Contest Bound

I’ve also completed and submitted a short story called All for Sister Marisa to the Writers of the Future contest for the second quarter. This might be the best thing I've ever written—I truly mean that. After receiving positive feedback from professional reviewers, I felt confident enough to submit it to this prestigious contest.

For those unfamiliar with Writers of the Future, it's a quarterly contest for science fiction and fantasy authors, with lucrative rewards for the top three winners. This is my third submission to the contest, and I’ve learned that writers simply improve as they practice their craft. My first submission, looking back, wasn’t very good; I’m not surprised it didn’t advance. My second submission, "Immortal of the Saltless Sea," which you can get free from my homepage, was too long for the contest criteria. When I edited it down, I stripped out too much of the story’s heart.

All for Sister Marisa follows Eduardo, a monk-like character on a world different from ours, practicing ascetic religious beliefs unlike our own. I feel good about this story because it addresses themes many people of faith struggle with, regardless of their specific beliefs. It explores why we act the way we do as believers and examines what comes from human interpretation versus divine inspiration, particularly around ritual and practice.

Tarik of Kadikoy - Anthology Adventure

Finally, I’m putting the finishing touches on Tarik of Kadikoy, a short story for an anthology releasing in July. Tarik is a tattoo artist living in Kadikoy, a district of Istanbul, Turkey, famous for being the go-to artist for Turkish professional football players.

This story was written for the Allies of Majesty anthology, where thirteen authors were asked to create stories that mirror the activities of the Christian-targeted role-playing game of the same name. The RPG involves role-playing elohim, similar to biblical angels, who fight battles against dark elohim—those who have left the side of righteousness. Our stories put character arcs and plot behind those spiritual battles.

I was introduced to the anthology producer at last year's Realm Makers conference in St. Louis, the same conference I'll be attending again this summer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Having grown up playing Dungeons & Dragons, I thought this would blend fantasy storytelling and Christian RPG themes perfectly. As these books become available, I’ll keep an eye out for how you may find them. If the game sounds interesting, hop over to its discord. Disclaimer: I haven't played the game.

The Learning Curve

Perhaps the biggest lesson from this summer's work is that practice truly makes the product better. My first project took 400% more effort to achieve 25% of the quality I'm producing now—and I'm still climbing that learning curve. The progression is clear: the rewritten Nights of the Purple Sky is much better than the original, Tarik of Kadikoy surpassed that first draft, and All for Sister Marisa represents my strongest work yet.

It’s encouraging to see tangible improvement across projects, and I’m excited to see where this momentum takes me next.

Looking Ahead

The rest of 2025 is shaping up to be transformative, both professionally and creatively, and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s coming.

Realm Makers 2025 - Grand Rapids

This summer, I'm heading back to Realm Makers in Grand Rapids, Michigan—my second year attending this fantastic conference. What continues to draw me back is the community. Attendees genuinely want to help each other succeed and uplift each other. The networking opportunities are incredible, but it’s the supportive atmosphere that truly sets this conference apart.

I’m particularly thrilled about several opportunities I’ve lined up. First, I snagged the last available slot for a 15-minute mentoring session with New York Times bestselling author Brent Weeks, author of the Night Angel trilogy and the Lightbringer series. If you’re familiar with Brent’s work, you know he’s not afraid to go dark and edgy with both action and language—an area where I could use some guidance. Getting that final slot feels like a stroke of luck, or maybe providence, which I don’t take lightly.

I’m also taking two classes from Donald Maass, the well-known agent and author. These classes will focus on creating great characters and crafting compelling first chapters—foundational skills I’m eager to strengthen as my writing evolves.

Beyond the learning opportunities, I’m hoping to get some new headshots taken and continue building relationships with other authors in the speculative fiction community.

Book Progress and Cover Reveal

Looking toward late summer, I’m planning to finish the second draft of Nights of the Purple Sky and preview the cover, likely around August or September. I’ve contracted with a cover designer I met at last year’s Realm Makers conference, and I suspect the aesthetic will resemble my current book cover for Immortal of the Saltless Sea, which you can see on my homepage.

The Big Leap - Going Full-Time

Perhaps the most exciting news is that I’m just over nine months away from converting to full-time authorship. After nearly thirty-five years in my current career, I’m finally ready to make writing my primary focus.

I’ve been preparing for this transition by immersing myself in writing and the self-publishing industry. However, I’m looking forward to the day when I can dedicate eight hours daily to the craft. Since I plan to remain self-published, I expect to split my time between writing and managing the business side—marketing, promotion, and all the entrepreneurial aspects. General wisdom suggests that half your time goes to the craft, and half to the business.

Future Projects and Magic Systems

Once Nights of the Purple Sky goes out to editors, I’ll begin pre-work on a new, as-yet-unnamed story that features what I believe is the coolest magic system I’ve ever conceived. I’m genuinely excited about this project; it’s such a compelling magical concept that I’m now working to find the right world to place it in and the perfect story to anchor it. I think readers will be fascinated by how this magic system works.

My Mission as an Author

I believe all authors should ask themselves: Why do I write? What’s my purpose? I haven’t pinpointed a perfect mission statement or motto, but I’ve realized something important: I want to change my readers' lives just a little for the better by the time they finish one of my stories. If I can accomplish that, I’ll consider myself successful.

Don’t get me wrong—I don’t need to make a fortune writing and selling books, but it would be nice to break even. More than anything, I want my stories to matter to the people who read them, to leave with something valuable they didn’t have before opening the book.

The journey ahead feels both daunting and exhilarating, and I’m grateful to have readers like you along for the ride.

What I'm Reading

Since my last update, I’ve immersed myself in everything Brent Weeks has ever written and published—partly as preparation for our upcoming mentoring session, but mostly because his work is just that compelling.

I started with Night Angel Nemesis, which brings us back into Kylar Stern’s life for another adventure. It was a fantastic read, reminding me why I fell in love with Weeks's storytelling in the first place. From there, I dove into the five volumes of the Lightbringer saga, which I’ve almost completed. Following Kip’s journey from dirt-poor beginnings to becoming the world’s most important person has been absolutely captivating.

Reading all of these books has been particularly rewarding since I read Weeks's first three Night Angel books about a year and a half ago, so returning to his universe felt like reconnecting with old friends. My favorite author in the fantasy genre is probably the late Robert Jordan, and I’ve found that Brent's work comes remarkably close to Jordan’s style and voice. Weeks is definitely darker and grittier than Jordan, but the storytelling approach and character development feel remarkably similar.

For fellow fantasy readers looking for their next series, I can’t recommend the Weeks catalog highly enough. His ability to balance complex magic systems, morally gray characters, and epic scope while maintaining emotional depth is exactly what I aspire to in my writing.

You can find all of Brent Weeks's books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. I’d recommend starting with either the original Night Angel trilogy or diving straight into the Lightbringer series. Here is a link to his website.

One thing I hope this blog becomes is a place to interact with friends and other interested (and maybe interesting) folks. Who will be the next to comment? Let’s start a discussion!