Sorry that it's been a little while between posts. I've been working on some pretty big things, and it's kept me busy. I'll give you a little summary of what's going on, and then hopefully you'll understand why.
With the upcoming release of The Elements and the Exodus (The Kingdom Chronicles: Book Two), I am also releasing a second edition of The Kingdom and the Crown (The Kingdom Chronicles: Book One). At the same time, I am working to finish the first book in an entirely new trilogy, and have started work on The Kingdom Chronicles: Book Three. Hopefully that explains a little bit and really piques your interest.
Now, if you'll grant me the privilege, I would like to wet your tongues with a drop of insights into The Elements and the Exodus.
First off, if you didn't read the excerpt at the end of Book One and you're worried about there being an enormous gap in time between Book One and Book Two, you can be at peace. Book Two picks up only a few weeks later.
If you picked up from Book One the fact that in only a few months four lost orphans really had the world turned upside-down on them, then you'll expect that Book Two involves having to cope with the deluge of events that they've experienced. In some regards, Zarrys and the others will require a bit of backtracking to have some things reiterated for them, as well as having new things revealed. Don't worry, you're not reading the same story twice. I promise. However, some events will mirror the past for a purpose. Please remember, Zarrys is only 17 years old. He's young and we all learn by repetition. He's been made Pukwan's king and prophet, but that doesn't mean he isn't still a teenager trying to figure out the world around him. The same goes for Namine, Kirah, and the others.
The Elements and the Exodus is going to be very important in preparing you for the rest of the series. In several ways I almost see it more as Book One: Part Two. To understand what is coming in Books Three and beyond, you'll want to understand the principles in Book Two. Yes, some parts are a little deep, but I hope you will stick through it, because they foreshadow some exciting things yet to come and answer some of the questions left behind in Book One. (Some of which, do not get spelled out for you.)
Now before you get worried that Book Two is going to be a boring textbook, DON'T! There's still loads of fighting and romance. There's still mystery and plotting. You'll still scream at the characters and cry with them. Shunul and Prozon are still very much alive and kicking, and there are several new characters who will come onto the stage for you to fall in love with.
I don't want to give away too much, so I'm going to let your deductive powers go to work on the cover below with only this little revelation: the runes you see both above and below the Celestial Crown are, in fact, Vagan characters. Those are real words and phrases that I've made sure are on the cover to help you imagine what the characters are reading.
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My purpose in writing The Kingdom Chronicles, as is written in the preface, is to open the door for your mind to go on a journey no matter how old you are or how much you like to dig into books. For this purpose, I don't include much illustration within the pages because I want you to be able to create as masterful a world as your brain can conceive.
I think I've said enough to be content for now. If you have questions, feel free to include them in a comment below or jump over to The Kingdom Chronicles Facebook page and post them there because I keep close tabs on it. (To get there, see the link on top right of this page.) If you leave comments or questions, I'd be glad to answer them.
Klalumpelo!
S. R. Ford
