I can’t believe it’s already time to reveal the cover for book 6 in my series. I mean, After Our Castle is still a little baby idea, right? Still mine and mine alone?
Here’s the thing. I didn’t expect to write this novel. It was a relatively new development in the last few years because, as I looked at the overall arc of my series, I realized something was missing.
You can scroll down and look at the pretty if you want, but for those of you who appreciate this kind of thing, allow me to wax eloquent.
Because before some time last year, I wasn’t going to have After Our Castle be book 6. I was going to have it … well, not exist. But as I was mapping out Ivy’s arc for the series–and more than that, Violet’s arc–I realized that hopping right to my intended book 6 wouldn’t work.
More than that, I realized I wasn’t going to be done after that book. Simply put, I needed four more to complete the series after book 6.
So while the series was going to end with book 6 and have various books afterwards to wrap up some miscellaneous threads, suddenly I was going all the way to book 10.
Which meant that I had more time to develop the plot line.
Which meant that, before some Big Plot Events happening in what is now book 8, I had time for an in-between novel of sorts that covered vital events and explained why things got to the place they will be in book 8.
(Plus, I argue that what I came up with is a great story overall, but you know. Also all that in-between stuff.)
This meant creating more story for Alice. Which wasn’t much of a challenge, as there was a lot of plot that I had planned to showcase through side series that made more sense to show through Alice’s perspective.
But back to our dearest Ivy and her pals, Violet and Jordy.
There came at point at which After Our Castle needed to exist. And as I developed it, I realized it was a story that not only belonged in the series … but that I needed to write.
For the first time, I found myself living through Ivy’s emotional turmoil. Instead of simply understanding the character, I came to understand her heart.
Meanwhile, for the first time, Violet was the one hiding from me … slinking around as she always does. Yet I found her and made her come out into the light, for better or for worst.
And then it was time for book 6 to see the light of day.
After Our Castle by Kellyn Roth
And they lived … well, happily ever after.
A year into a blissfully happy marriage, Violet Angel admits to a dose of skepticism. She’s not married, granted—but as the closest friend of the bride and groom, she feels she has a perspective no one but the people directly involved could have. There’s no such thing as a happy ending, and it’s only a matter of time before the castle in the sky plummets to earth.
If only Violet were always wrong instead of just mostly wrong. Ivy McAllen doesn’t believe she and her new husband are out of the honeymoon period—if they are, she isn’t going to admit it to herself—but there are certainly areas of adjustment that she hadn’t expected.
Changes at the village of Keefmore and in Ivy’s life lead to complications, and Violet spirals further and further from reality. When a castle in the sky turns out to be more cloud than stronghold, finding a foothold proves more than a little difficult.
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TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.
Do you like the new cover? Have you ever added books unexpectedly to a series? And, of course, are you excited for book 6?
