Arbea or Albion

It’s been a hectic summer and early autumn. I got my UK citizenship, started a new job and just finished the run of the show I directed, Sunshine on Leith! So, now that that's all over and done with there will be a large chunk of time where worrying about the future and the show used to be. So, it’s time to turn back to my worlds of fiction!

Sold out performances of Sunshine on Leith in Edinburgh

I’ve just finished polishing the outline for Emersus Project Book 3. I also have ideas for the second instalment of the Age of Albion series bumping around in my brain bin. But which do I pick up first? What is the decision making process version of writer’s block?

One of the best lessons that I got from write a novel month last November is that, when I put my mind to it, I can turn out a fairly decent draft in a short time. So, feasibly I could just blast out Emersus book 3 and keep going. There are so many characters in Arbea that I miss and I’m keen to see how they get to where they’re going, new characters and creatures to discover and even some returning faces that I can’t wait to meet again! I’ve managed a few sketches of one of the new feline friends we’ll see in Book 3.

But, after a lovely trip to the highlands in August, I feel the call of Arthur and Merlin again. The picturesque landscape of the highlands, the misty lochs and verdant glens themselves conjure up ghosts and phantasms as easily as a haar rolls out across the shore. There are pixies and giants and were-beasts tramping through my imagination and they’re fighting to get out. And of course, more trows!

So, who wins? Well, first things first. I need to finish the edit on the first Age of Albion book, King Arthur Returns. That will be my November. It will be a year since I churned out the first draft and I’ve only made it half way through a first edit. The story is great and the characters deserve a proper showing before I move on the next anything. Then I think changing up the process and blasting out a draft of the third Emersus Project book will be in order. After that I can go back and do the drawings and character designs in the rewrite. I’m also toying with the idea of doing a new edition of Black Star, the first Emersus Project book, with new illustrations and edits that will make the story richer.

Sometimes it’s hard having so many ideas kicking about in my head. They all want attention and I can’t do it all at once. But, now that I have an idea of the road ahead I’m feeling excited for the journey. Gemmy and Sem are ready for action again and I can’t wait to properly introduce you all to Ash and Ana our new heroes from Age of Albion!

Hope you enjoy!
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