Print Book Update

Yes, you probably noticed that Forged in Ancient Fire, the Substack serialized version, wrapped up late last month.

If you made it all the way through (and I’ve heard from a few of you—thank you!), I’d genuinely love to hear what you thought.

How did the two-chapters-a-week format feel? Did the slow burn work for you? Were there any twists that caught you off guard? And how did the ending land for you—and for Jia?

Any feedback is welcome, so feel free to drop a note.

I also know at least one reader held off, waiting for the print version—which I completely understand. Reading a full novel straight through is a very different experience from following it week by week.

When I started the serialization last June, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know whether I’d get five subscribers or fifty. Or more. Anything more than a handful was good enough, frankly. I’m a total unknown author; this is just a fun project, and whoever finds it and enjoys it is great. I’m satisfied with how it turned out. For the record, by the time the serialization came to a close and I shut down the handful of paying readers, I had two dozen on the list. Yay!

The good news: things are moving forward.

I’ve contracted with a New Zealand agency that specializes in book covers (they came highly recommended), and I’m currently waiting on the first draft concepts. Their communication has been excellent, and their work speaks for itself—so I’m excited to see what they come back with.

They also handle interior formatting, which I plan to move forward with once the cover is finalized. From there, it’s on to preparing the book for print.

Like many authors these days, I’ll be using a Print-On-Demand approach. I’ve done this before with my nonfiction books, and it simply makes the most sense—no boxes of unsold books sitting in the garage. Copies are printed as needed, and they’ve continued to sell steadily over time.

I’m also beginning to explore ways to get the book into local stores—along with possible signings, readings, and regional events. For a new fiction author, the goal is simple: stay consistent, keep showing up, and build readership one step at a time.

While preparing the manuscript for print, I quickly realized something:

It needed work. A lot of it.

The Substack version was incredibly valuable as a process—but it wasn’t the final version.

After a full revision, the manuscript is now about 40% shorter.

That surprised even me.

What I discovered was that I’d let the story wander. Too many extended descriptions—rooms, furniture, clothing, details that didn’t move the story forward. Individually, they weren’t bad. But collectively, they slowed everything down.

So the goal became simple:
keep the story moving.

Cut to the action. Keep the tension building. Remove the distractions while preserving what matters.

It sounds straightforward. It’s not.

Writers tend to hold onto passages they like—even when they don’t serve the story. Letting those go is part of the work.

There’s no single “right” way to tell a story, of course. But for me, this version is tighter, more focused, and much closer to what I originally intended.

And yes—there is a next book.

It’s underway, slowly but steadily. I’ve written the first few chapters and mapped out much of the story. Some pieces are still shifting, but I know where it’s headed—and I’m looking forward to throwing Jia right back into the fire and seeing what she does next.

More soon.

Leave a comment