Krys E Jay Author blog

Step into a world of elemental magic, where a kidnapped princess meets her match in the one keeping her captive.

Phoenix Caged is a dark romantic fantasy and second book in the Hiraeth Song series.

So I have some good and bad news.

The good news is that I finished Act 1 and I'm on track in terms of Act two. I've finally reached the point that on productive days, I'm able to write over 1k and on slower days, I can write about 550 words. As events are rearranging themselves, I'm hoping that I'll be able to cut down the eventual word count to something more manageable.

As for bad news....I've decided to continue my university degree. My bursary was renewed for another fully paid year and changing majors has helped in terms of motivation. But that means that book 3's progress will once again be delayed, as of September. I already know from last year that I am unable to balance both. I will try my best to not stop working on book 3 completely.

It was a hard choice to make. I have a lot of plans in terms of the Hiraeth Song series. A second edition of my first two books, with new covers and blurbs, having more of a presence in terms of marketing, networking, and finishing book three. Fingers crossed, I'll be able to achieve all of those things next year.

There is strength in silence.

I have reached the kicking off point of the climax to act 1 and I don't want to write it. It's a sinking dread of entering the next act and knowing what happens. And knowing I will have to rewrite most of it.

As for progress, I am on chapter 24 out of a potential 27. I had a lot of plot points to untangle from the last draft, which slowed me down. But I'm really enjoying the new flow.

I had some new ideas on book 4 as well as the ancient past, with the life of the original Phoenix. Last semester of uni, I developed more of Vexus, introducing storm chasers. They're heavily inspired by the Twister movie and soundtrack. One character in particular, takes a central role in one of the major events in book 4.

Happy Pride Month!

I've been slowly working through part one of book 3, chapter 17 out of 27. I've been finding myself completely rewriting most of it instead of just making small changes. It's taken 2 to 4 days per chapter depending on its length and whether Moira decides to work with me. But progress is progress.

Drafting is my favorite part of the writing process. And I'm really happy with the depth and details emerging this go through. The simplest things I'd not thought of before are making all the difference.

I am back! Woot woot! I've been working on a new cover for Phoenix Awakening as well as working on my fourth draft of book 3.

All I have left of the cover is to draw Moira, which has been a sharp learning curve. It will probably take a few weeks to get her looking right. Then I'm going to redo the book blurb and begin working redoing Phoenix Caged's cover in the new style.

I'm also on chapter 10 out of 83. There's a lot that I'm finding myself rewriting so my progress will probably be slow. Honestly chapter 10 was not working with me for the longest time, but I had a break through yesterday. Its the first smut chapter of the book and was supper cringy.

The semester is finally over!

Oh boy, what a month February was. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. The one week I had off, my body decided it was the opportune time to get sick. I had a fever for three days and was completely wiped out for the rest of it. I'm still recovering.

I miss Moira and her world. Thankfully I have a month left of my final semester of uni, then I'll be free to dedicate my full attention back on book 3.

I don't have much to say in terms of an update.

I have rediscovered my love of writing plays. I like to call my style/niche dark whimsy. Last semester I wrote a Little Red Ridding Hood retelling where in the characters were slowly coming into consciousness in a tale that was doomed in forever repeating. This semester I decided to lean into Alice in Wonderland as inspiration.

I've been writing a lot of poetry, not for any class. I'm debating whether I should put them together in a collection.

I may have pushed myself a little too hard at the end of last year, hence my lack of updates since octoberish. So going forwards, I will try to update each month. My Instagram will probably remain without updates until the end of the upcoming semester.

I'm a little late but better late than never. Here's my 2024 recap:

Published Phoenix Awakening in February

Worked on Draft 3 of Book 3

Completed Draft 3 of Book 3, aprox 120k words

Published Phoenix Caged in August

Learned how to make Instagram posts and reels

Learned how to use Instagram ads

Learned how to design covers and write book blurbs

Learned how to send out my own ARCs

Applied and got into Uni

Completed four classes with a 3.5 GPA

Took several business related workshops

Joined a local creative writing community

I've been trying to stay on top of school work, with midterms out of the way, and I've been working on assignments, attending workshops and trying to balance a social life.

On the off chance I have time and energy, I've been trying to work on new cover ideas for Awakening and Caged, as well as slowly working on draft 4 of book 3.

The dreaded midterm season has arrived. Thankfully I only have two and one of them I winged, but I know I passed it. My second one is the one I'm worried most about. I know I'll do okay, but writing an essay on the fly is not something I'm used to doing anymore. There are also some terms and a timeline for events I have yet to memorize. At least I have a week to do it.

This upcoming week is my 'reading week', so I'm hoping to jump into book 3 draft 4. I think I'm going to go through it and make small tweaks but make notes of greater things to change, so when I have more time to direct all of my energy into it, I'll have a rough list of what I have to dismantle or keep.

My brain is still pretty much mush but I did manage to write up a timeline for the evolution of the Hiraeth Song series world. I always knew vaguely how the world shifted from pure elementals to being trapped in mortal forms, but it was nice to finally writing it out.

I also was inspired by the movie Twisters, that came out a few months ago. It spurred my mind into creating Vexan storm chasers i.e those who venture out during the violent lightning storms to harvest the raw energy bolts. Since I haven't been able to work on the actual book, at the very least I've expanding the lore of the kingdoms outside of what is essential to know.

I'm staying on top of all my school work, and managed to have all of yesterday just to relax and do whatever. October is going to be an extremely busy month, with workshops, midterms, appointments and more essays. So I'm not sure when I'll be able to post my next update after this one.

Today, I will be working on draft 4 for book 3 finally and potentially creating some reels and posts for instagram. I've gotta see how much brain power I've got left.

I have been writing for my classes, two short stories and a short play, which I'm really proud of. Most of the things I'm 'learning' are things I already taught myself, which makes those classes kind of a waste of my time. But on the other hand, I guess its good to see how much I was able to figure out on my own. Plot structure, character, implied vs concrete information (shown vs telling), foreshadowing, exectra. Everything you place down on the page has to be there for a reason, especially in a short story. How to write complex narratives ie layers.

Hiraeth Song/ Moira's story went through a massive overhaul between the first, second and third drafts. Especially the first two books. Moira was worse, borderline intolerable and Arsento was a caricature of himself. Think of a muhahahah mustache curling villain from a children's show.

I learned during that process not to be afraid to get rid of ideas/scenes/dialogue that no longer work or can be improved by going in another direction. You learn who your characters are the more time you spend with them. Arsento's generals didn't pop up until the second draft and were only developed into people in the third.

I am exhausted.

I have always struggled with having enough energy to do multiple things a day. Juggling school work readings, classes, exercises, papers and time wasted in travel with socials and marketing and drafting, is not something I'm capable of doing. I am trying to make university work, reaching out to different resources available. I'm just not sure if it will be enough. My mind constantly goes back and forth between staying for a second semester or not.

I don't have the energy to create posts for instagram, or reels with treading songs. I was able to work a bit on draft 4 of book 3 but not enough to be satisfied with the progress.

Diablus is the kingdom of shadows in a world of elemental magic.

It's people are gifted in warfare and the creation of armor and weaponry. Lead by a Warlord, they were to supply the rest of the Five Kingdoms with a means of defense against the Outlanders.

Zephyr is it's capital city, rumored to be built on the back of an ancient onyx dragon. Separated into three tiers, the Ironkeep Fortress towers above the rest and serves as the main setting for Phoenix Caged and further books in the series.

Seducing the Warlord's son is hardly a chore. Not when she had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Phoenix Caged is an adult dark romantic fantasy and the second book in the Hiraeth song series. It's perfect for readers who wanted more from Fourth Wing and the ACOTAR series.

Featuring:

Enemies to Lovers

Only One Bed

Feminine Rage

Morally Gray FMC

First week of uni is over. My classes aren't that bad. So I was able to spend time brainstorming book 4 and begin my fourth draft of book 3.

I was a bit naive in thinking that university would offer anything for authors. There is no support for those publishing or those who have been published. There are no writer specific business classes that I know of. As of right now, I will not be completing another semester after this one.

It was a gamble as to whether it would be useful, but to learn just two weeks in that it isn't, is disappointing.

If you look online, as an indie author looking for support, it will tell you to reach out to your local libraries. Mine don't have anything. There was nothing there when I went to seek local artists for my covers. Nor did they have any information about how to establish a writing career. One does have a local writing group, I'm a part of, which I'm grateful for. But they are not striving for a career in writing.

There are websites and authors who have youtube channels, speaking to their own experiences, but there is nothing local. Not unless I want to pay for memberships or workshops. Which I will probably have to do starting next year.