In this edition: a title reveal, a contest winner, and a NEW contest.

Editing Tip of the Week

Choose your influences wisely. I recently finished reading The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann. It’s a riveting historical account, and incredibly well-written. But five minutes after finishing it, when I sat down to draft SPOOKY SEQUEL, I realized my writing was veering away from my style and toward Grann’s. Not fitting for a YA fantasy novel.

Your voice will change. But it’s YOUR voice. Keep it that way; your readers will love you for it.

Title Reveal for Codename SPOOKY

I’m so excited to share this with you! The title is…

Premise

In a world shaped by ancient relics of incredible power, a teenage thief gets the opportunity to bring her parents back to life using the mystical Ghost Tablet.

She just has to steal it first.

This book went through several different titles before I settled on Marrow and Soul. Those three words encapsulate the themes and motifs—life and death, spirit and flesh, temples and slums—in such a unique way. But you’ll have to read it to find out how!

The #towerflashfiction winner is…

In the midst of dozens of excellent entries, Gabriella Lee (@fantasticalmusings) captivated me with her story. I want a movie that starts like this.

Gabriella, email/DM me to claim your prize. I’ll share this on Instagram later today.

This was still a HARD decision, though. Check out #towerflashfiction on Instagram to read some brilliant stories.

Thoughts on Threads

It’s weird, y’all. It’s like a minimalist proto-Twitter. You can’t use hashtags, tag people, or send messages (yet), but I’m enjoying it.

Thanks to the Instagram integration, I reached 200 followers two days after launching. To celebrate, I’m launching another flash fiction contest! The winner gets a copy of YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER. Not assoc. with Meta or Brandon Sanderson.

To enter:

• FOLLOW me

• LIKE the original post

• REPOST or QUOTE the original post

• REPLY with your story on the original post + tag 2 friends

PROMPT: In 50 words, tell a fantasy story that uses the word “thread” (or threads, threadbare, etc.) about a piece of clothing.

STARTS July 9, 2023. ENDS July 16, 2023. WINNER July 19, 2023.

Check out the inaugural Thread Flash Fiction contest on my Threads account (addisonhornerauthor)!

Writing Updates

Marrow and Soul: Final cover art came in yesterday, and it’s looking incredible. I’m waiting on feedback from my sensitivity readers; after that, I’ll print proofs. Soon, for the first time, I’ll hold a book I’ve written in my hands.

Codename SPOOKY SEQUEL: We’re 80% through the first draft! The hero has landed squarely in her Dark Night of the Soul, and it is a doozy. Every single chapter from here to the end is breakneck-speed, keep-both-hands-inside-the-railing-at-all-times actions and tension. If you’ve read Brandon Sanderson’s Oathbringer—specifically, the climactic battle—you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Codename MEMORY: The outline chugs along. The two toughest parts of this story are 1) digging deep into each POV character’s psyche and 2) fleshing out the ensemble surrounding my main characters. But I relish the challenge because I’m so excited to see what this story can become.