Silver Mystic #10 - No story is ever truly finished

But every story ends.

Silver Mystic is ended

Well this is it. My final post for a while. I didn’t send updates like I’d planned for each individual installment in the series, because, well, with racial inequity in the limelight, I didn’t feel it was appropriate for me to clamor for attention. I’m vain, but I understand when bigger things are happening than my little project.

Speaking of which, before I go any further, please take the opportunity to educate yourself on matters of race and justice. Things need to change, and I hope now is the time when they will.

That said, I wanted to send one final update for Silver Mystic. As of today, all four novels—as well as the compendium—are now live on Amazon. You can see everything at amazon.com/author/lorenandrews. For some reason, the compendium isn’t showing up there, but you can see that here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734602805

I’m incredibly pleased with how the final product turned out, especially the cover art (thanks again, Nic!).

This has been a journey that I officially began in early 2015, when I finally decided to write a novel and stick with it until it was finished. I had a handful of ideas that I thought were compelling enough to see to completion, but I had to choose one. I chose this one, and I’m glad I did. It turned out to be just as important to my personal development to write this exact story. Only my therapist will truly understand what that means, but you get the idea. It’s personal, or it became that way.

I do like it as a series, but in hindsight I think if I was back a few months ago, I’d decide to just publish as a single volume. But hey, now I can say I wrote four books, right?

So when does the famous thing happen?

Well, probably never. I’d be lying if I said that I never hoped that this thing would be an instant, runaway success. Over the past five and a half years I’ve fantasized often about fame, book tours, and financial independence. And three months after publishing, I have yet to break even (ISBNs are expensive, yo).

But you know what? I’m surprisingly okay with it. Partly because I’ve received such positive feedback from many of you (please keep sending cuz I get goosebumps every time). In fact, one dear, misguided friend told me it was they best fiction they’d ever read. I can accept that that’s ridiculous, but still feel really good about it (seriously Tony, you should probably read more). So yeah, part of my current contentment is from you all. I mean, check this out:

One hundred and twenty-five books sold. That’s really something. 74 of you were willing to give my first book a shot, and for that, I am so grateful. Most people didn’t get past City of Husks, but honestly, I’m not mad. It’s really rough. I thought about rewriting that whole first bit, and even started on it, but the passion wasn’t there. I decided to leave it as-is, lumps and all. And whew are there lumps. The more I read the first volume, the more impressed I am at the 21 of you who went on.

By far though, the biggest reason why I’m okay with not being famous is that this whole thing was ultimately for just one person. In fact, it’s the same person I dedicated the compendium to (spoilers). Me. This was always for me. The only reason I published it was because I thought it was good. I remain, warts and all, completely in love with what I wrote. At times it’s rough, sad, or ridiculous. But I’m so happy with it. So I don’t care anymore if it “gets big.” It’s already big. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done.

So what now?

Now that I’m really really finally done with this saga, it’s time to get back to the handful of ideas I spoke about earlier. And in the time since I started Silver Mystic, I’ve had a few (read: a lot) more ideas come my way. In case I haven’t spoken about how I get these, I’ll tell you. I dream them. Silver Mystic was the product of one long and very intense dream I had some time in 2014. I know, because I document these when I have them. Here’s a sample for some more that I have in the queue:

Oh, and those are since March of 2017. I have more. Oh you want to see them? Okay, here are some more:

Obviously, these are working titles. That is a very personal screen share, by the way, so don’t make fun.

They are all epic dreams that I’ve had, which I think would make good books (some movies). Now I’m in the unenviable position of having to choose which of my children to feed, but it’s a good problem to have. I’m fortunate to have never had “writer’s block” during the process for Silver Mystic. Then again, I never wrote when I didn’t feel like it, and that’s why it took five years.

So it’s time for the next multi-year project. And honestly, I’m ready. I don’t need to be famous to write. I just need to be able to. Thank you all, again, from the bottom of my heart (again) for your support, encouragement, and tolerance of all my silliness.

I’m here, at the end of this road. And you helped get me here. I love you.

No story is ever truly finished. But every story ends.

Until the next beginning,

Loren