by Ian Fallis

The White-Silver House, the fifth and final book in the series The Day Magic Died, recently hit two important milestones.

Last week I finished the second draft. That incorporated all the additional sequences I had written, as well as all the changes that had to be made because of changes in the first four books since I originally drafted Book 5.

This week, I completed the final draft. That meant going through the second draft looking at consistency, storyline development and character development. I also caught a few typos and some awkward wordings (and one or two places where I had to ask, “What on earth were you trying to write here?”).

Now, the final draft is winging its way to my team of critical readers. Each brings their own strengths to the process, whether that’s expertise in proofreading, an eye for character development, talent with consistency or an understanding of teenage girls like our heroine, Karia.

All this suggests the question: “When will The White-Silver House be released?”

And I have to answer, “I don’t know.”

You see, the book is now in the hands of my critical readers. And I have been guilty in the past of making my critical readers feel rushed. That’s wrong.

It’s wrong, first, because they’re all volunteers, helping me out as their time allows. Rushing them does not express the gratitude I feel for their help.

It’s also wrong because rushing them makes it hard for them to give me the feedback I really need.

And giving them time is especially important on this fifth and final book. This is where so many of the plot lines need to be wrapped up. (And there need to be good reasons if some of them aren’t.) This is the destination that the characters have been evolving toward.

Equally important is the pace of this final book. We started slowly in The House in the Old Wood, and while the action began to pick up at the end, the pace then slowed again, all the way through Book 3, The Hall of the Prophetess. Things began accelerating in Book 4, The Dwarf’s Legacy, and this continues in Book 5, The White-Silver House, as our story races toward its conclusion.

On top of all that, I’m asking my team of critical readers to take on this task just as the holiday season hits. And you know how busy that can be.

So hang in there, good readers. Book 5, The White-Silver House, is coming. It’s closer than it’s ever been.

In the meantime, would you help me out? If you haven’t already told your friends about the series The Day Magic Died that they avoid you like the plague, would you consider doing so? I hope you’ve been enjoying the journey, and will recommend it to people you know. (And if you haven’t been enjoying the books, please recommend them to people you don’t like.)

Here’s where they can start …

Tags: books, fiction, The White Silver House, writing