Talyn: Blooming is up to about 105,000 words, and I think I’m heading into the ending stages of the book at this point! No idea how long they’ll be, in all honesty, there’s a lot of ways things could go, but it feels relatively close to me. I’m excited and nervous both.
Either way, it’s going to take as long as it takes, and I want to make sure it’s enjoyable. At the same time, I’ve also commissioned an updated map of Castra from Silver Compass Maps, which I received this past week! I should note that I was the one who did the district labels in this test piece below, so if anyone’s to blame for it being sub-par, it’d be me. Hopefully you like the map! I think it’s useful for me to keep track of things.
I don’t have anything else to share this week, so I hope you have a wonderful time!
Ancient Dreams 
One of the things I like most about your works is those little details that really bring the world to life! I love how you weave in the everyday moments, like the shopping trips and street scenes, alongside the more fantastical elements of the powerful beings and their gifts. It creates such a rich and immersive experience. Speaking of gifts, I’m still absolutely captivated by the dryad’s tear. It feels like it holds so much significance, and I’m dying to know more about its properties. Is there a hint you could give us about what it might do? Or perhaps, should we just wait and see? Killer map btw.
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I do try to get lots of little details, just to make the world feel more real.
As for the dryad’s tear… can you tell me where it’s from? I have no memory of it at all!
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It was from Soul bound 2, Xandra made a Dryad able to see how her tree affected the world, that moved her to tears and gave one to Xandra as a gift without strings attached. BTW i would love to see Xandra in Through the Fire.
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I talked to some other readers, and they reminded me of that. I assumed it was in Talyn’s Saga for some reason, and was panicking over not remembering it.
As for the tear, realistically it’s more of a symbolic thing, in my mind. It’s a tear of joy, from a dryad steeped in calm and mind magic. It’d be an ideal component for trade among fey, where such things have meaning, but it’s also perfect for mental protection/tempering when it comes to magical items.
As for Xandra in TtF… unlikely. She’s hanging out in a deific realm, so her story is essentially done.
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