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Saturday, July 3, 2010

The Soul Mirror - in revision


What a hectic spring! The last few months have just been a blur. Writing, writing, writing. So I turned in The Soul Mirror on May 12, big and rough and raw. Only now am I feeling it tightening into shape. I've two weeks left in the revision cycle and hope to have a tight, taut story by then.

So how does the second novel of the Collegia Magica relate to The Spirit Lens?

The story begins four years after the conspirators' trial. No further attempts have been made on King Philippe's life, but all is not well in his city, his house, or his marriage...

Superstition is rife throughout Merona and the royal court. Our friend Portier is laying low, working as the queen's household administrator. Watching. But he doesn't tell this story. Our narrator is Anne de Vernase, a witness in the trial that culminated The Spirit Lens.


12 comments:

Kathy Amen said...

Another neat cover! I can hardly wait!

Lace and Books said...

Ahhhh, but I liked the Librarian...*sigh* I guess that's why your the writer and I am a humble fan.

*sticks her lower lip out very far and puts on the watery puppy-eyes just like her 2 year old* But I reallllly wanted to know what happens to him. A ex-librarian with unknown powers is my kind of guy. Just ask my husband - he's a level 20 wizard thief halfling . . . among other things. :P

carolwriter said...

Never fear, the Librarian does figure in the story, as does the Chevalier, and the Mage. Portier just doesn't narrate, and he is quite standoffish to begin with. Anne doesn't like or trust him.

Grenouille said...

Not completely related, just a new convert with praise and gratitude:

I was at the library looking to begin my "research reading"; wanting to write a fantasy novel, so wanting to read what's out there already. What's this one? Flesh and Spirit, hmm, let's look inside... yikes. First person? Ergh. Archaic phrases? Ya gotta be kidding me. Well, let's give a try, but I'm sure I won't...

...and I was hooked.

Two months later, I am the proud owner of Flesh and Spirit (re-reading)and Breath and Bone (putting off reading to delay gratification), plowed happily through The Spirit Lens (couldn't put it down) and have Son of Avonar waiting. Thank you. Thank you many times over for proving me wrong!

carolwriter said...

Grenouille - sorry about the hitch. Blogspot is weird this morning!

Anyway, I'm happy to hear you took a chance. Thanks for letting me know. Hope you enjoy the rest of the books.

Carol

Rabia said...

I finished reading The Spirit Lens late last night (when I should've been tagging items for our yard sale today!). Wow, what a splendid book with vividly-realized characters and a rich world. Naturally, I went looking for a sequel and I'm delighted there is one in the works. The only downside is that I have to wait until next year, but I'm looking forward to having Anne as the narrator.

This is the first book of yours that I have read, but I will definitely be looking out for more. :)

N. R. Williams said...

This sounds very interesting. I've read your first series. I need to catch up to the rest.

Yours,
Nancy
http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com/

carolwriter said...

Rabia, Happy to hear you enjoyed it. And next year is creeping up faster than one would think! I just turned in The Soul Mirror.

Nancy, welcome! Yes, you certainly do [-g-].

AlleyPat said...

yay! can't wait!

Raederle said...

I don't know why it's taken me so long to find you on the web! You're my favorite author and I have every single one of your books. I read Flesh & Spirit first because I loved the cover - Luis Royo is my favorite artist ironically! - and ended up buying all of your books over the following year. I've enjoyed all of them. I especially love that you manage to be slightly less... depressing than you used to be in some of your earlier books. The time one of your characters spent as a "drudge" was so difficult to read that I could only read a chapter a day and had to do something distinctly cheerful after wards. Nonetheless, you're an amazing author. I'm an aspiring writer myself, and I strive to create a style that emulates your influence without mimicking it entirely. Although, I don't quite have what it takes to mimic the style you use in the Lighthouse Duet anyway.

jayjay said...

Just put down the Spirit Lens after reading it solidly over the weekend. It is now Monday morning and I'm going to have to juggle my days at work to make up for not going in as early as I wanted. Why? Because I HAD to know what happened to Portia. And the rest. SUCH a good read, and I've frantically found your blogsite to see when the next one is due out, and (sigh) will have to live with my own imagination regarding the ongoing story until next year. THANKS for another wonderful series.

carolwriter said...

Very happy to hear you enjoyed it. I am progressing slowly with The Daemon Prism.