Update!

Sorry I've been AWOL lately, everyone! Things have been CRAZY for me! My husband and I moved--twice. Why twice? We moved because he got a new job two hours away from where we were living. The commute was not fun. So we stayed with family until we were able to move into our new house.

I've also been really sick lately. For those of you who don't know, I have a nervous system disorder that keeps me from doing...well, much of anything most days.

Now, the news you've all been waiting for--FORESHADOW update! It's still in the editing process, but should be out soon. I approved the cover proof the other day, so I should have it soon to share with everyone. As soon as I have a release date, I will let everyone know. I'll tell you one thing, though: there will be a giveaway to celebrate its release!

In other writing news, I'm about 2/3rds of the way done with OVERSHADOW, the sequel to FORESHADOW. I have other projects I'm also attempting to work on, that are in various stages of completion.

I also have a website now! Check it out: http://breaessex.com/ You can also email me now at brea@breaessex.com.

That's all the news for now! I'm planning to be back next week with Why I Love Wednesdays and Six Sentence Sunday, so stay tuned!

Fun Fact Friday: No Sophomore Slump

On Sunday, I typed the last words of the first draft of “Overshadow”. If you haven’t heard me talk about “Overshadow” yet, it’s my second book (book two of the Shadow Imperium series). I was even more excited and nervous about it than I was about “Foreshadow”, my first novel and the first book in the Shadow Imperium series. I was excited because I really wanted to continue Raena, Logan and Andrei’s story. I was nervous because it’s my second novel. I had a hard enough time completing the first one. Could I do it again?

I’ve heard it said that a lot of people want to write a book, but very few (2%, research says) actually do. Even fewer complete a second book. Some do, but the second book just isn’t quite “as good” as the first. They call this the “sophomore slump”. Granted, no one has read “Overshadow” yet. Even my beta reader hasn’t finished it. I don’t know if it’s any good. I hope it is. All I know is that I had a lot of fun writing it, and I cried when I finished it.

It probably makes me sound crazy to say that I cried when I finished writing “Overshadow”. I didn’t cry because it was over. I cried because I got so caught up in Raena’s emotions that I felt as though I were experiencing everything with her. She’s become so real to me. If that makes me crazy, so be it. I’d rather be a little crazy if it means I’m able to bring readers a believable character.

“Overshadow” is far from being done. It still needs editing and expanding. This was just the first draft. I’m already outlining book three, tentatively titled “Queen of Shadows”. I’ll probably cry when that one’s done too. Hopefully by then, you will all be able to follow Raena’s story with me. I hope you love her as much as I do.

© Brea Essex 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Brea Essex.

Outlining Overshadow

Today, I'm beginning the outline for Overshadow, the second book in the Shadow Imperium trilogy.  (Are you seeing the "shadow" trend here?)  I have to admit, I've never done a book outline before.  From everything I hear from professional authors, though, outlines are excellent ideas.  I think that if I start doing outlines, I won't have to keep backtracking like I did with Foreshadow.


I will eventually come up with a more creative title for this blog.  I know "Brea Essex's blog" is dull.  Titles are always the hardest for me.  I changed Foreshadow's title three or four times before I finally settled on it.

Now, a side note from my writing:  My husband and I currently live in a townhouse.  We have extremely loud neighbors (who I hope never read this!).  It seems like my husband is constantly going over there, asking them to be quiet (which they do not like).  He's complained to our Home Owner's Association and all they said was that they have "had a lot of complaints about them".  I don't mind a little noise, but when they are banging doors at 2:00 am, it's not fun.  Anyway, a friend of mine came over last night, who is not so quiet herself.  She kept asking if she was too loud.  I figured it was our turn to be loud for once.  I was surprised the neighbors didn't come over to complain to us.  Maybe they just don't notice noise as much as we do.  Needless to say, I can't wait to move into a single-family home.

One more thing, before I go.  For those of you who aren't interested in young adult (YA) books, or urban fantasy, I am planning an adult epic fantasy series, tentatively titled The Erendirian.  The outline is finished and I've just started writing it.  I will be updating on that later as well.