Have you ever heard advice that you know is good, but you still want to ignore it?

I think for writers, and especially epic fantasy writers like myself, the best advice that is the hardest to follow is "finished, not perfect."

So the good and amazing and absolutely fantastical news of the week is that the proofreading for The Shattered Wing is done! Thanks to our amazing copyeditor Katrina Roets, and a few days of review by yours truly, the first part of this epic fantasy is locked in.

That is such a scary thing to write.

I spent days reviewing the proofed copy. Learning that I apparently use WAY too many commas (sorry for the snarky response to some of my beta readers), and that apparently the work is good.

Beta readers tell me the book is good. Professional editors tell me the book is good. Some of my closest critics have said this is the best book of mine they've ever read.

But while I was reviewing the book I kept thinking...could I add something new here? Could I maybe flesh out this scene more? Maybe give a full rundown of every single one of the Thirty Kingdoms? And a thousand other ideas that bubbled up to the surface about what I could do to make this book even more perfect.

I listened to pretty much none of those thoughts in my head, and closed the book.

There's a strange tightrope that must be walked as an indie author. You must put your best foot forward with your art. Hone your craft, hone your narrative tone. Make the characters sparkle and shine like individual stars.

But if you spend so much time editing and reworking and refining it, you'll never actually start walking that tightrope.

There's many ways to phrase this. "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good." "Potential only goes so far." "The only perfect is a blank page."

But what I focused on was the conversations I've had with fans and readers. Like one who commented on how excited he was to read the rest of the book after reading the first chapter on the website.

​(psst! You can read that too, here)​

What's helped been seeing the amazing art of the world come to life. And it has been wondrous just to see the response of everyone who is so excited about this series.

The Shattered Wing is completed. And I hope you will enjoy when it launches in January.

State of the Inkdustries

Legends of the Realm - MASSIVE UPDATE! For the books are here!

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It was so insane on Friday to be able to bring all of those boxes inside and get to see this. Volume 1 of Legends of the Realm is the first trade paperback of Arcane Inkdustries.

Many, many thanks to everyone who backed. And to the creative team that made it all possible. Evan, Micah, John, Rusty, Jay, Alana, Chris, Amanda, Joe, and Tony.

This week I'll be working on fulfilling as many rewards as possible so that maybe we can have an October surprise appearance of our volume 1 at our last event of the year!

The Innkeeper's Dirge - As mentioned before, The Shattered Wing is in its final stages. The book is being typeset and formatted so it looks all professional and cool. We're hoping that the book will be in its final format before Thanksgiving to give to ARC readers and more.

The Lore Corner

Aulph Fortress

In the Fairmonts, the hills east of Fiora, there lies a ruined fortress. A crumbled wreck that no one goes near, known only as Aulph Fortress.

While many in the area would struggle to know its history, Aulph’s founding was in the beginning of the War of Unanswered Prayers. As the elves moved south after the failed council of Naubleroth, they often sought new places to call home. Aulph was a first attempt. A fortress overlooking a small valley, and near to the river Eirennal.

But this was in the early years of the war. The elves believed themselves to be the more powerful race on Tir Aileni. Still able to wield magic, blessed with a life that was measured in centuries, not decades. When the fledgling Gallantine Empire learned of a fortress to the south, only a week’s march from their borders, they attacked. Laid siege to Aulph fortress with siege weapons and catapults.

The elves were quickly overwhelmed, and the fortress gates were reduced to rubble. While they had more magical ability, the elves never truly grasped the concept of gritty, brutal warfare. Always their minds had turned to fleeing, to finding someplace better and more resplendent. Aulph was quickly abandoned as the elves moved further south and east, searching for a home of their own.

The Empire, amazingly, did not refortify Aulph or claim the area for themselves. Their sights were set further to the south, and on total Gallantine control of the continent. Taking the time and manpower to protect one small valley of little consequence made no sense to the Empire. Little did the Gallantines realize that in just a few short months they would be repelled back to their modern-day borders. Not by the elves, but by bands of warriors that rose up against both theocracies. Demanding peace for their kinfolk. And establishing the Thirty Kingdoms.

And so Aulph Fortress lays abandoned. An attempted statement from both theocracies, that failed both of them utterly.

Strangely, the siege of Aulph has a rather significant event that no one recognizes. Neither the Owls of Naubleroth or the Shards of the Starlit Wood realize that at Aulph, for the first time, both Gallantines and what would be the elves of Silvastorn would call upon Gallantil’s light in their battle. And neither received their blessings from the one-winged goddess.

For whatever reason, Gallantil would not take sides in this war between her followers. She would heal her faithful, but the Empire and Confederacy would have to fight as mortals, not weapons of the goddess.

Where to Find Us Next

If you want to read more of our short stories, poetry, see behind-the-scenes work, or support everything that Arcane Inkdustries is doing, click the link and sign up to be a Patreon supporter now.

Thank you for reading. I hope that this sparked a piece of magic for you this week.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Jack Holder

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