Just Breathe: Novel Announcement and Beta Readers Wanted!

Good news, everybody! I’m almost always working on my next novel, and while some of them don’t make the cut to revisions, this next one did! Announcing: Just Breathe, a contemporary fantasy for young adults! (The title is likely to change, especially since Just Breathe is a common book name according to Goodreads. But for now, I don’t have anything better. Suggestions are welcome!)

Update: Just Breathe has been renamed to Origami Swan.

Agatha Jordan never expected a used car for her graduation any more than she expected to get stranded in the middle of a corn field during its first drive. She heads to the nearest town in the hopes of calling a tow truck and covering it all up. But the nearest town is abandoned, and there’s more to the Midwest than ghost towns—there’s the North American Labyrinth, the legendary home of the lost. And Agatha finds herself stuck within its never-ending walls where ordinary physics don’t seem to apply.

Determined to escape, Agatha takes paths that will take her to the Pool of Reflection and the Riddle Square to the Summer Inn and the Maze Market. Along the way, she meets with peers and con artists and struggles to separate myth and reality. Because ultimately, before she can leave the Labyrinth, she must confront her past before she can choose her future. 

1. Why am I writing this novel in particular?

One of the questions I always get tired of people asking is “What are you going to do next?” Sometimes, I don’t know. And that’s okay. I don’t have to have all the answers. Neither does my protagonist, even though she may want to. 

The Labyrinth in this story is known as the home of the lost. When people, specifically those in North America, don’t know what they’re going to do next in their lives, one way or another, they end up in the Labyrinth. Sure, such metaphors can only go so far, but they make for interesting stories. I’ve drawn from elements both real and imaginary, mashed them together, and experimented with how they might react. 

For example, what would a farmer’s market look like in the confines of three-foot wide passageways? How does technology respond within a parallel dimension? And how does a mythical place from Ancient Greece end up in the Midwest in the first place? 

2. Why is this novel important to me?

This novel has to be the hardest story I’ve ever done. Not because of the amount of the research that’s had to go into it, and not even because of the plot points. This novel has been the hardest because it’s so close to my heart. Like me, Agatha struggles with anxiety. And while I’ve put a fantastical twist on her panic attacks—this is fantasy, after all—they have been hard to write because they’re so personal. 

3. Why am I the one to write this novel?

In order to write this book, I’ve not only done research on anxiety, but I’ve had to draw from my own fears and insecurities. Although I’ve never had a panic attack that’s nearly as intense as Agatha’s, that doesn’t make them any less impactful. Every time I wrote such scenes, I had to take a step back and do something uplifting, like take a walk, read a book, or talk to a friend. 

I’ve touched on depression before in Last of the Memory Keepers, but Just Breathe deals with mental illness on a deeper level. 

Beta readers wanted! 

Update: I am currently in the querying stage of this novel, so I am not looking for beta readers at this time.

Do you enjoy reading contemporary fantasy? Does the book blurb interest you? Would you like to read a book before it gets published and have your name added to the acknowledgements? Then beta reading is for you! 

I’m currently looking for 3-5 more beta readers for my novel. If you’re interested in becoming a beta reader for Just Breathe, please get in touch. If you want to serve as a beta reader, please answer the following questions. They’re just a way for me to get to know you as a reader before I send you my latest draft. 

• Do you subscribe to the Word Storm Newsletter? (Recommended, not required.) 
• Are you a writer? If yes, what have you written/published? Do you have a blog? (Recommended, not required.)
• What are your favorite genres? List three of the best books you’ve read this year. 
• Are you willing to commit 6-10 hours of unpaid reading to an unpublished novel? 
• Why do you want to be a beta reader for Just Breathe? (e.g. I know somebody with/have experience with mental illness. OR I’m a book blogger. Etc…)

Once you’ve got all your responses, please send them to me on Facebook, Twitter, or at word.storm.blog@gmail.com

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Similar posts: Last of the Memory Keepers: Series Announcement and Anxiety, Depression, and Literature: Studying Abroad in England

Let’s chat! What did you think of the book blurb for Just Breathe? Is this the kind of novel you would like to read? Do you have any alternate title suggestions? What are some of your favorite contemporary fantasies?

Last of the Memory Keepers Series Announcement

For the past couple of months, I’ve been dropping hints about my next big project. While Breaking a Thief is in the query process, I’ve decided to write something for readers to enjoy (potentially) before that is published. Although my latest project may not be nearly as long as a novel, it is no less ambitions because I intend to self-publish it.

That aside, the mystery is over! Lately, I’ve been writing a fantasy short story series called Last of the Memory Keepers. Six 10,000-ish-word stories follow the adventures of the three apprentice Memory Keepers, Rhona, Ellard, and Finley. Told in first person from the perspectives of Rhona and Ellard, the Elders are entertaining talk of unifying the five races, and negotiations are progressing smoothly. Or are they?

This series is geared towards a college-age audience (but not limited to them either!) who enjoys reading fantasy, particularly fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’ve attempted to copy either. You’ll find no elves, dwarves, or even—dare I say it?—dragons in this world. In my attempt to shy away from fantasy stereotypes, I’ve opted instead for five races, each with particular Gifts, magical abilities loosely based off the five wits of the Middle Ages.

Below I’ve included my mission statement for these stories, much thanks to Hannah Heath for the for questions and inspiring me to answer them!

1.     Why are you a writer?

I’m a writer because I enjoy a well-told story that brings me alongside the characters and makes me think about life. I torture myself by staying up ‘till two in the morning because I had to know how the book ends. The written word is an art form—sometimes messy, sometimes neat—but I enjoy finding beauty in things great and small.  I’d like to share stories of my own with like-minded readers because I’ve got a couple crazy ideas of my own.

2.     Why are you writing this series in particular?

I’m currently writing a short story series because fantasy is the genre I tend to come back to when I’m looking for a new release or something nostalgic, like The Chronicles of Narnia. The short story series I’m working on—The Last of the Memory Keepers—fits the fantasy genre but has characteristics that would appeal to a modern audience, such as new adult protagonists, multiple races with their own Gifts, and anti-stereotypical characters.

3.     Why is this series important to you?

These particular stories are important to me because they explore different views of what it means to be human, from sacrificial love and betrayal to self-righteous campaigns and the naïve struggles of youth. In many societies today, some people have little regard for life and others fail to recognize the human nature of others because of racial or gender differences.  While these stories do not seek to be preachy, they come from an author whose worldview reflects the value of every human life, no matter how great or small or different.

4.     Why are you the one to write this series?

In many ways, I can relate with some of the characters because I’ve drawn from my personal experiences. Like me, Rhona, one of the protagonists, is a daughter of multiple cultures caught between the unknowns of life. Coming from a military lifestyle and recent college experiences, I have interacted with different cultures and made and parted with many friends.

Ellard, the other protagonist, has a strong desire to help his race, but to do so, he’ll have to overcome the failures of his past only to learn he can’t do it by himself. Yet each character differs from me in other ways, such as Rhona’s passion for history and Ellard’s aptitude for verbal communication. Where I lack the experience, such as with the fantastical Gifts bestowed upon the five races, I have done my best to use my imagination.

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So, let me know what you think! Would you be interested in reading these stories? What appeals most to you? If you’re a writer, how would you answer the above questions?

I’m also looking for beta readers to help critique these stories. If you’re interested in the writing process and reading a pre-publication copy, feel free to let me know by commenting below or sending me a message on Facebook or Twitter. Please keep in mind that such a role takes time and effort (1-2 hours a week for about 1 month). Your help is greatly appreciated!