25 September 2026 · Weekly update

The small changes that strengthen a story

A week of careful Book One revisions has made important moments clearer while keeping the heart of Beatrice's story intact.

This week I went back into Book One for the kind of work that rarely looks dramatic from the outside, but can make all the difference when you're reading. Two small but important sections needed a little more clarity, so I concentrated on making the conversation, movement and consequences flow naturally from one moment to the next. The changes are modest in length, but they help the closing stretch of the story feel steadier and easier to follow.

I'm always wary of explaining too much in a fantasy novel. Part of the pleasure is discovering the world alongside the characters, especially when places such as Aventis carry their own history and mystery. At the same time, a reader should never have to stop because the practical shape of a scene is unclear. This pass was about finding that balance: enough information to keep the action grounded, without slowing the pace or giving away anything that belongs to the journey itself.

Both refinements now sit inside the current complete manuscript, where they've been checked in the context of the chapters around them. Just as importantly, the rest of the book has been preserved rather than quietly rewritten around those changes. I'm still treating this as a review copy, not declaring the novel finished. My own careful read-through remains the next big step, and I'm sure there will be more small notes waiting for me when I get there.

For now, I'm pleased with what this quieter week has achieved. It has been a useful reminder that progress isn't always a new map, a new character portrait or a sweeping rewrite. Sometimes it's a handful of carefully chosen sentences that let the story carry its weight more naturally. The Power of Family is available to pre-order, and I'll keep sharing these glimpses of the road towards publication. Thank you for following along.