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Category: Shay Lark

July Update!

Published by Jack on July 2, 2023

So, it\’s been a few minutes (or hours or days…) since I last updated everyone on the progress of the book. Well, it\’s coming along fantastically! New characters. New twists and turns. And everything else you\’d expect from an adventurer in Mexico.

Along the way, our fearless heroine Shay comes across many locations throughout Mexico. Those places actually exist as the story is set in the real world. So you can go and visit them, read about them, and even be immersed in the culture. The world is your oyster!

If you\’re interested, the book page is updated to provide links to those locations. You can find it here.

As always, I\’m chugging along with everything and will hopefully be providing you, my anxious readers, an update that gives more details. In the meantime, if you haven\’t, join the Facebook page and you\’ll stay up to date on items surrounding the book. There are almost 1000 followers, so if you haven\’t joined, hop in line!

J

Major Update!

Published by Jack on April 17, 2023

So, a big change has occurred with my novel. No longer is it Shay Lark and the Silver Skull, but it has been changed to Shay Lark and the Pyramid of Cholula!

This change was made as Silver Skull was just a bit too close to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Silver Skull. Crystal Skull. Yea, just a wee bit too much. But the new name now reflects a major segment and setting for our novel.

And to update y\’all, the developmental edits are coming along very well! It is evolving the story into a real vision of what I want to present to the world. It is bringing Shay into a greater light, really honing in on her character and showing the world that girls can run the world! (Right Beyonce?)

Continue to stay with me via this blog or sign up and subscribe to the Shay Lark newsletter (here!)

Until next time, ciao!

Next, Please!

Published by Jack on April 10, 2023

And just like that, the first half of my book has had a development edit. There are some awesome things that are going to be changing, but they will add so much more to the book. Which got me thinking…

I\’ve never written this much, like ever. Maybe if you add up all of my graduate level papers. Maybe…

The book is sitting at about 45,000 words, but by no means is it going to end there. It might actually grow some more, making the tale even more exciting and fulfilling! Most young adult fiction – adventure books run around 50,000 words, or about 160 pages. So it\’s getting there!

Until then, you can sign up for the series\’ newsletter and you\’ll get first dibs on knowing what\’s going on, and potentially \”leaked\” paragraphs or pages of the book for you to dive into. Who knows what will all go in it! So sign up today!

Until next time, readers!

Redesign and Updates

Published by Jack on March 29, 2023

The website has recently undergone a redesign. I feel that this makes it a bit more modern looking, while keeping a creative edge to it.

If you haven\’t checked it out (or haven\’t looked recently), the layout has changed quite a bit.

But, enough about the website…

The illustrator is working hard on updating the Larks images, and I\’m really excited to see where they are going! They are fabulous at their job, and I expect to have great things coming soon that will help reimagine the characters.

Additionally, a developmental and line editor is helping out to go over the novel, helping me out by asking about plot holes, characters, character arcs, and all that fun stuff a writer has to go through. While it\’s a long period, the hope is to complete the book edits within a month or so. Then, it\’s time for public relations and marketing!

And Just Like That…

Published by Jack on March 15, 2023

The first draft of Shay Lark and the Silver Skull is complete!

Pop the champagne. Eat a big steak. All those other fun things that I can do with this draft finished.

Of course, my editor will come back with changes, but that\’s to be expected. No one ever gets the 1st draft flawless. (But hey, it could happen!)

So, stay tuned to this blog or to any of the social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) to be the first to hear when the next phase of the book is complete!