Given that Ashley and I finally wrapped up our final manuscript and sent it off to the editor, now seems as good as time as any to release a preview section of The Parnassus Initiative! As a disclaimer, the below has only been edited by ourselves. I take no responsibility for minor grammatical errors! Turns out that perfect grammar is pretty much your last concern when trying to write a novel! Hurrying down the stairs, Ryder mentally braced himself for the impending conversation he had now psyched himself up for as he pushed on the metal bar across the door. The exit clattered open, the noise echoing off the surrounding buildings towering over him as he stumbled from the stairwell into the narrow alley behind VistaTech. Mya and two men he didn’t recognize turned towards him with wide eyes. Ryder froze a few paces from the small group but jumped when the door slammed shut behind him. Shifting from foot to foot, Mya was the first to break the silence. “Oh, great.” At her words, the burly man next to her turned his attention to a tablet. Not one of those low-range models every kid had these days, but one
The Final Stretch
So, it finally happened. Last night Ashley and I sent the final draft of The Parnassus Initiate off to the editor. Clocking in at 128,773 words, it’s taken us two and a half years of learning, confusion and procrastination to get to this point. After a few years of back-and-forth introvert speak along the lines of ‘we should write a book’, we were on vacation with family and friends, and a friend of Ashley’s had just published her first indie novel. The surprising revelation that anyone could write and publish their own book these days spurred us into saying ‘Hey, we should actually write a book’. As it turns out, writing a book is pretty damn hard. There was a lot to figure out, and a lot of things to muddle through until we got to the point we’re at today. There is so much we would do differently going forward that we just had no clue about in the beginning. I think we had several significant characters marked with *CHARACTER NAME HERE* in the manuscript for a good few months! Despite the frustration, writer’s block and months of getting side-tracked, it’s been a fantastic learning experience. Both in the creation of
Fantasy Potion Bottles – Quick Craft
Potions, potions! Five gold only! Ever needed a quick gift for that friend or special somebody who just really looks like they could use a quick hit of HP? Know someone who could definitely chug some mana for an energy recharge? These potion bottles are a great, fast craft for those gaming or fantasy geeks in your life. This is a slightly improved version of an old craft I did a few years back. I was at the grocery store looking for some white wine vinegar for a recipe, and the moment my eyes rested upon these bottles, my mind instantly said ‘potions!’ Easy and cheap to make, you could customise these potions in so many ways. You could choose whatever colour you liked, add labels, accessories or even lights. Supplies: Here’s a list of the items you will need for this quick craft: Round vinegar bottle (Find in your local grocery store) Wine cork Food colouring Craft knife or similar Hot glue gun Twine, leather strip or other decoration of your choosing Prep work: The first step is to remove the lid, nozzle and thoroughly clean off the label (including the leftover glue!) Now, unless you get lucky in