Unveiling Book 2 of the Genesis: The Echoes Saga and Its Journey to "Near" Perfection
Updated: Jun 24
Completing the first draft of Book 2, Genesis: Ascension marks a major milestone. After pouring hours into getting the story on the digital page, I've finished my personal rewrites and edits, and sent the manuscript to a developmental editor. One more step closer to a polished version readers will enjoy. I want to share the process behind this achievement, the challenges I faced, and what readers can expect from this next installment.
Why I said "near" perfect
Writing the first draft is often the hardest part of any book. It’s where ideas take shape, characters come alive, and the plot begins to unfold. For Ascension, this meant evolving and expanding the world introduced in the first book, deepening character arcs, and setting up new conflicts that will drive the saga forward.
Without giving anything away:
This book is darker...darker than Resonance, but still builds on the main characters
The settings are different and more visual. I want you to be in the story right alongside Mario and the team
Scope and scale are better portrayed...that all I'll say about that
Personal Rewrites: Shaping the Story
I won't bore you all with all the blah blah blah, but I will say after I completed the first round, I told myself I was going to leave it alone for a couple weeks and then re-read and start editing. That lasted about 16 hours. In bed at 03:00 AM it hit me that I hated the opening of the book. Which led to me hating the first ten chapters. And it became clear to me that I wrote the first half of the book in one state of mind, and the second half in another state.
Eventually I got my shit together and produced something I could turn over to my editor.
The Role of the Developmental Editor
This collaboration is invaluable. It’s not just about fixing grammar or typos but about making the story stronger and more compelling. The editor’s fresh perspective helps catch issues I might have missed after being so close to the manuscript for so long.
Mark (my editor for Ascension) has been great. He messaged me to let me know he'd written the longest report he'd ever done for my manuscript...but I shouldn't worry about it. It was a good thing he said. Well, his report was 22 pages long. I shared on TikTok what I felt about that!
To be honest, a lot of what he had to say was exactly what the story demanded and kept the pace where it needed to be. So, no complaints, and kudos to Mark for being straight up with me, which is exactly what I asked of him. A developmental editor isn't there to ego stroke. You want someone that'll tell you what's working well what's not. It can be hard to swallow if you go into it thinking you've written the greatest novel of all time and are only looking for validation. A good author knows better. Take the truth and do something with it.
Next in the Journey
After another meeting with Mark, Ascension is off for proofreading. Then I'll start working with a designer on a new book cover.
For readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Genesis: The Echoes Saga, this update is a promise that the story is progressing well and will be worth the wait. I’m committed to delivering a book that entertains.
shhhh...the second outline for the third story in the saga has been completed. I can't wait to dive into that very soon.
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