Between Books

Here I sit.

Another early morning, the sun still waiting somewhere below the horizon, tucked into my writing corner in the nerd cave. It’s not a dedicated writing cave. More of a small corner surrounded by shelves of books, collectible figures, video game posters, and all the other things that make it feel like mine.

Normally, this is where I sit clacking away at the keyboard while the cats take their positions around me, standing guard against whatever imaginary intruders might threaten my concentration. I hammer away at whatever novel I happen to be working on.

Except now, I’m not.

The first draft of On Days It Rains is finished.

It feels a little strange to write that.

The truth is, I started writing it almost as soon as Beyond That Starry Sky went into proofreading, editing, beta reading, and polishing. I had read somewhere that if you want to be a successful author, you should start your next book before you finish your current one.

So I did.

And it worked.

In fact, I also managed to finish the first draft of an anime-inspired novel. Young adult might be the closest description, although perhaps what I have in mind is closer to what would be called a light novel in Japan. Whether I eventually illustrate it and publish it is still very much an open question.

Which means that, for the first time since I started taking this whole writing thing seriously, I don't have another novel waiting in the wings.

I have to admit, that feels a little unsettling.

Not that On Days It Rains is finished finished. There is still proofreading. Editing. Rewriting. Beta-reader feedback to consider—and, hopefully, changes to make where I agree with it. There will be another round of polishing before I can call the manuscript ready.

And then there's the cover.

My go-to artist, and more importantly my friend, Rin Nakajima, is busy with his own design work. So it will probably be spring of next year, or later, before the next When the Hills Were Ours novel finds its way into readers' hands.

Which leaves me with a funny little problem.

How do I start building some anticipation for the new book without feeling as though I'm abandoning the old one?

Because while I believe I've created something truly special in On Days It Rains, I still feel every bit as strongly about Beyond That Starry Sky.

I don't want to rush past it just because I've written something new.

I suppose I'll figure it out.

I usually do.

That's how this entire journey has gone so far: a healthy combination of doubt, swearing, frustration, and an almost unreasonable amount of determination.

It's what got me through learning to format a book in Affinity. Learning to make graphics in Canva. Figuring out how to put my books out into the world. Even figuring out how to tolerate social media.

Though I remain steadfastly unwilling to become self-unconscious enough to post actual video of myself.

Ew.

So here I am, at another stage of this strange author journey. Another thing I've never done before.

And I hope you'll continue to come along with me.

For now, though, it's time to get back to On Days It Rains and make it the best version of itself I can.

Because ultimately, that's what all of this is for.

Not bestseller lists. Not algorithms. Not even sales.

I want someone to read it.

And if it is read and enjoyed by even one solitary reader out there, then I'll consider it a success.

That's not only the truth.

It's the Word of Godbey.