A Writer's Week #149: Taking a Big Steppe Forward

 This week I wrote a relatively small amount of words--only about 700--but I came a long way. Shadra is currently travelling the steppes of Jongchin on foot, tracking an unknown foe. The book, still unnamed, has reached almost 4,100 words. As it stands now she has just met up with two comrades from her clan. What will happen? We shall see.

Also this week, I received a five star review from Readers' Favorite for the first book in the Dragon Island Legends series, Fire & Ice. 

Thanks very much to Susan Sewell for the following review:

In the enchanting children’s fantasy, Fire & Ice (Dragon Island Legends) by Gregory S. Slomba, the Silver Dragon of the North attacks the villages in the islands and abducts the children to work in its mines and fields. Fifteen-year-old Benchu and Mai-Lin were saved by the Golden Dragon when they were younger and now live in an orphanage. To avenge their parents’ deaths, they want to become Denchi Assassins. Then they will have the skills to take revenge on the Northmen and the Silver Dragon. When Benchu learns that he and Mai-Lin are being moved to the Dragon Palace, they run away to join the Denchi. A shabby old man finds them in an alley and takes them to Master, who promises to train them and introduce them to the Denchi. Instead, they are forced to pick purses. How can they escape Master? Will Benchu ever get revenge for the deaths of his parents?

Fire & Ice by Gregory S. Slomba is a captivating children's story with a meaningful plot and a well-developed storyline. The story is beautifully executed with the right amount of conflict, tension, and resolution. I enjoyed meeting all the characters, even the villainous ones; each is well-rounded and authentic. Relatable and engaging, Benchu's and Mai-Lin’s characters meet their challenges with realistic youthful rebellion and audacity. The setting and the dragons create a lovely story resembling a Chinese legend imbued with lessons grounded in moral strength and personal growth. Young and young-at-heart readers will enjoy this poignant and charming story.

So, honestly, this unnamed book 2 has been a little bit of a struggle as far as figuring out what path it's going to take to get to the ending I'm envisioning. But it's nice to receive a review like this. It encourages me that if I keep plugging away at the current book, it will all come out all right. I'll keep you updated on all its twists and turns in my next Writer's Week.

Peace