W. B. Hudson

Hello! Figured that I should do one of these since I'm looking to start posting on here :).

My name: W. B. Hudson

Age: 29

Who am I? > A big gamer, from the UK, I work from home, big food lover! In terms of experience I've written a feature film before (not that it went anywhere),

What I'm writing: Currently work in progress on draft two of my debut novel with the working title of > Poisoned Sands

The book: A young-adult speculative gladiator thriller set in an alternate 22nd century Rome; with elements of found family, romance, action and investigation.

The blurb:

Young fighters enter the arena for fame, fortune, and the chance to rise above their class. Most retire or die long before they get it.

Lucas Collina signs his Damnati combat licence knowing the risks but ready to begin his career as a first-tier gladiator.

But when two of the people he loves most become targets of one of the biggest combat schools in the empire, everything changes.

With the police refusing to help, and a mysterious woman watching his every move, Lucas and his friends are forced into a dangerous hunt for answers.

Because in New Rome, blood makes legends, and someone has decided Lucas is meant to become one.

***

🧡: So i've had a few titles for the book. New Rome, New Rome: Damnati (and each book would be a different gladiator rank), Lucas Collina: Gladiator, Lucas Collina and the poison plot, Poisoned Gladius. Still not sure where it will actually end up but I quite like my current Poisoned Sands! Since I just answered green I'll choose 💓 :D : It is the first in a planned series of 6 books, 5 main and one prequel. The five main ones have been planned (though I know things will change) and the prequel I have a rough idea.

💚: how long have you been working on it?

❣️: which scene has been hardest to write so far?

—for the writer wip ask game!

Thank you for the questions!

💛: since i change my mind about the title regularly I'll go with the current one! Essentially since I have further books planned I want the title of book one to both function independently as it's own title, but also as the series name. I came up with the idea Poisoned Sands (though now I'm wondering if Tainted works as well) because it works as both a reference to what happens in book one but also that the sands of the arena are like a poison to the main characters as many things go wrong during their careers as gladiators.

Seeking beta readers to read and provide feedback for the first 18 chapters of my novel.

Manuscript is complete but editing is tough and this is where I've edited up to as a few new chapters are being added after 18.

The book:

A young-adult/adult crossover speculative gladiator thriller set in an alternate 22nd century Rome; with elements of found family, romance, action and investigation.

Blurb for the novel:

Young fighters enter the arena for fame, fortune, and the chance to rise above their class. Most retire or die long before they get it.

Lucas Collina signs his Damnati combat licence knowing the risks, ready to begin his career as a first-tier gladiator.

But when two of the people he loves most become targets of one of the biggest combat schools in the empire, everything changes.

With the police refusing to help, and a mysterious woman watching his every move, Lucas and his friends are forced into a dangerous hunt for answers.

Because in New Rome, blood makes legends, and someone has decided Lucas is meant to become one.

If you enjoy:

The Combat Codes, Red Rising, anything with gladiators; then this may interest you.

What I'm looking for:

I'm essentially looking to see what works, what you think is too much, whether the pacing is good and if you feel anything drags

Content:

Violence, blood, consistent with genre norms

***

Like, i know my story inside and out... but....