Alright, not much got done this week. I did another editing pass on my side project, then sent it off to my editor to take a look at it. Then I spent two days reading a whole pile of books and essentially ignoring the world, so… yeah, not much happened.
However, I did want to share one thing that I commissioned a while back, a character reference sheet for Joy to make artwork of her more consistent in the future. No, this doesn’t mean I’m working on Apis & Asps next, but I am laying the groundwork. Otherwise I wouldn’t have commissioned both the map and reference art. Anyway, hope you like it!
Ancient Dreams 
So, I finally finished Queen’s Gambit, and it was, definitely, bitter sweet 🥲. There were many great moments, and I wish you had immediate plans to continue. Dang, delayed gratification 😠😂! I’ll just have to wait several years 🤷♀️. Some of the things, I saw coming (in sake of spoilers, I won’t mention which ones), but, others, I didn’t. Lilith and her relationships, I swear 🤣.
I hope many people caught the Princess Bride reference because I laughed at that (and awwed). I also laughed at the mythology references because I thought of them before you brought them up (I like mythology, OK 😁)
Again, you’ve done it! Stealing from my life, I swear 😁😂. The shifting point in the book is something extremely similar to what happened several months ago (again vague cause spoilers, just in case).
I’ve enjoyed all of your books, but this series in particular is one that I’m glad that I’ve had the chance to experience 😊. Lilith is someone that I deeply resonated with and am glad that this book turned me on to that name. No regerts (yeah, I couldn’t resist doing that) about my decision (not that, that happens much)
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Alas, too many stories clamoring for attention, so this one needs a break. But I’m glad you enjoyed it! I tried to bring several things in a full circle, with references all the way back to Born a Queen here and there. I’ll freely admit I originally intended to resolve Lilith’s relationships, but then Daemonia got involved and made me stop and think.
I’m really happy that so many people have enjoyed Queen’s Gambit and Lilith’s Shadow in general! I very well may write a few short stories in it here and there. I’ll admit, I once hoped to make the setting a shared universe where many people could write, but that never panned out.
Also, coincidences are weird!
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I’ll admit that my 2 favorite ships are still alive, so I’ll let it slide 😁🤭. I do hope you’ll address that situation though. I would kinda be disheartened if it’s not explained, ya know (It is Slice of Life mixed with superheroes). *I’ve already resigned myself to heart break 😥* Deamonia is oddly refreshing for me in the story though (she’s still not one of my Lilith ships…unless 😂)
I get fully why you intend to not jump straight back into her story! There’s some other stuff you have that I’m awaiting 😁
You wouldn’t believe the coincidences. Book 1, 5, and 6, at the least, have been released around weird coincidences in my life 🤯
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Is it really shipping if they might happen, though?
Now, on a slightly more tricky subject that authors have do deal with. When it comes to a book with multiple romance options as an author, one of the dangers of choosing one is all the people you’ll anger if you ‘choose wrong’. Personally, I think this is a large part of why so many anime/manga finish without resolving the question. It’s also a reason why I’m /usually/ like “Why choose?”. The issue with Lilith’s Shadow is that so many characters aren’t willing to play nice with other characters. I intend to resolve it eventually, but like Daemonia said, Lilith needs time and space to decide what she wants.
As for coincidences, I’m a little surprised, but not too much. It’s sort of the nature of the world, with how many people there are. The more surprising thing is that you read the books with said coincidences, at least to me! Now, if you gained/altered superpowers, that’d be a good bit more surprising to me, though…
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Fair play, Mr. Medrano. Fair play, indeed.
True. There are many people who will get upset with you if you don’t agree with them. Personally, I don’t get it. 🤷♀️ As long as it feels natural to the character, I don’t mind it (sure I have preferences, but it’s not like right>wrong). While I feel I’m a pretty good judge of character, humans often confuse me.
*Sidenote* I feel like just about every character in Lilith’s Shadow needs therapy, badly! Beyond time to decide, Lilith /probably/ also needs to process the events of Queen’s Gambit (you know which event, I mean 😥)
Who says I don’t have altered/superpowers? I have the ability to be perceived as above average while being cripplingly mediocre 🤣. Also, like Lilith, finding myself in situations where I go, “Are you serious? Why me? *sigh* Of course, I am. *cracks neck and gets to work*
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I think you’re quite right on characters needing therapy. There’s a reason I pushed comments about it pretty firmly during Queen’s Journey, and I figure that the characters are going to make sure they get it. It’s a mess. But yes, I know exactly which event you’re meaning for Lilith. It was brutal.
Well, if you have superpowers, congratulations! I wish I had anything useful, but alas, I’ve never noticed anything. But yeah, I hear you there! I hope that the situations clear up for you.
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