The End of Arc 1 of A Crucible of Light
We have finally reached the end of Arc 1 [Solstice/Introduction Arc] and the beginning of Arc 2 [Ghost Hounds Arc].
When I first started work on A Crucible of Light the beginning chapter/prologue was what is currently Interlude IX of Arc 1. I re-wrote it several times, trying to make it work as a beginning - a reader's introduction to Mags and the world of Iardyss. It didn't work. There was simply too much context (worldbuilding, character relationships, why you should even care about Mags, etc.) and the chapter would just fall apart at the seams no matter what I tried.
So, I decided to start with where Mags is currently at in the story's timeline. Show who she is now, and drip feed parts of her past through flashbacks to either inform the current plot or take aspects of the current plot and play with perception by provided new insights. I think this approach was successful and definitely helped with the pacing. We've now gotten our full introduction to Magdalena of Solstice and her story is just beginning.
I love the idea of using Interludes in between chapters to expand the scope of worldbuilding and flesh out certain concepts (avoiding too many info dumps bogging down the plot). Sometimes I write the Interludes in bunches, and then decide where I should place them within the chapters proper. Sometimes I finish a chapter and realize an idea may require some more spotlight than the plot itself can naturally support. In those cases, I will write an Interlude that was, perhaps, not originally included in my Master Outline.
The Interludes in Arc 1 were largely centered around Mags' past, though did not include all flashbacks I outlined (some questions will be answered in later Arcs). In Arc 2, the majority of the Interludes will be setting up key pieces (characters and concepts) that will play a role in Arc 3. So, expect to see some new faces (and maybe even a familiar face or two for those of you who are close readers).
Thank you for reading and joining me on this journey!
New Publishing Schedule
As some of you may have read in the blurb when I first published A Crucible of Light, the plan was to expedite release of Arc 1 and get the groundwork set for the long, long, loooooooong story ahead of us. Now that that task has been completed, I will be transitioning into release schedule that I am planning on maintaining through the end of the story (unless I add an additional release day, which will depend on my time - if you want to support my writing, see below for information on a Patreon).
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
A Crucible of Light will release chapters every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00am ET.
Note, there will still be occasional Interludes. If there is an Interlude between chapters, those will be uploaded on either the Wednesday or Friday following a chapter release.
Rising Stars / Bonus Chapters
There are also still potential bonus chapters available for release while the story is on the Rising Stars list. I am so incredibly surprised at the support the story has garnered thus far (seriously, thank you). We're close to hitting #20 on Rising Stars. I plan on releasing a bonus chapter at #20, and #10. If we hit #7 or above, I have something else in the works to show my appreciation for the continued and amazing support from you, the readers.
Please consider leaving a detailed review if you're enjoying the story. It makes my day, but more importantly is useful for other prospective readers to determine whether they want to give the story a try.
Updated Index & Glossary
I've updated Chapter 0.
First, the Dramatis Personae table has been updated through Arc 1. This story has, and will continue to have, a large cast of named characters, some of which are named (not a huge part of the story) then re-appear or are named dropped later. Rest assured, this list can be used as a handy dandy reference.
Second, I added a section for Art. This is to host any future commissioned pieces of art depicting characters or scenes from the story. Currently, it's only a placeholder.
Finally, I've added the first official map.
Official Map
Yes, you heard that correctly! As I promised when A Crucible of Light became a Rising Star, I wanted to show my appreciation for you all and commission a high quality map. The first of many because, unfortunately, the world of Iardyss is massive. This map depicts the southern portion of the Ovethian Continent and key locations for the first three story Arcs.
The map was created by the talented Kacper Zwarzany (check him out in the link in the post-chapter author note).
Patreon
After a lot of back-and-forth on the subject, I've decided to start a Patreon, which has been linked to my author profile and is linked in the author note below.
For those of you itching to read more of the story and not wait for the two weekly chapters to come in, Patrons will be able to read 4 weeks ahead of Royal Road for A Crucible of Light (currently 8 chapters and several Interludes) and be able to read draft chapters of my next project which is slated for Q1 2025 release on Royal Road and will be published alongside A Crucible of Light: GOD EATER.
GOD EATER is set in the same world as A Crucible of Light. Draft chapters won't be available to patrons for another month or so (and may vary from what ultimately makes it onto Royal Road in the future). More information to coming relatively soon.
Anyways, back to writing!
Cheers,
RM
image [https://i.imgur.com/B98Upjr.png]