Going All In: Two Novels, Two Challenges

Thanks to my semester off, I have a concentrated five months to write. Gotta make the most of it!

So I’m biting off more than I can chew (probably).

While I work at revising (ahem, rewriting) Phoenix Cells, I’m also starting a new novel. And, through Jennie’s company, Author Accelerator, I’m working with another coach, Heather Ezell, on that one. While Jennie can help me untangle Lyra–it’s more complicated because, with a full manuscript, I’m fighting all my old instincts–I have no preconceived notions about this new project, so Heather can help me from the start.

And it’s all backwards…

One of the first steps is to write the jacket copy–the summary on the back of the book.

What?! I don’t know what my book is about yet–how can I write, well, what it’s about?

But the process I used for Lyra–finishing the manuscript, then writing the back copy–obviously didn’t work so I might as well try the reverse.

You know what? This  might actually work…

Here, in draft form (read: in draft form, as in, very subject to change), is my back cover copy for my new novel, On the Side of Angels. 

War rages in the Seven Heavens between Lucifer and God’s army. Common Angels, the lowest and most exploited class in the Heavens, have been commanded to Earth to act as guardians to God’s newest species, the humans. Furious at what they see as banishment, Lucifer and his followers rise up against God.

Evangeline, Lucifer’s 18-year-old daughter, wholly supports him—until she witnesses him slaughter a whole village of Common Angels loyal to God. She doesn’t want believe it. Her father is a loving, caring, doting man who wants only the best for his people; she must not have understood what she saw.

When Lucifer learns of a book that contains the secret to ending the war, he needs Evangeline’s help to retrieve it. She sets out on the quest, relieved; once she finds the book, she can help stop the war—and her father’s mounting cruelties—without having to confront him.

When Evangeline and Lucifer get captured, Evangeline is given an ultimatum: secure the book for the enemy Archangels or watch her father die.

To save Lucifer, she continues on her journey with Michael, her Archangel guard. He is adamant that Lucifer now knows how to overthrow God, and Evangeline begins to fear Michael is right. But how can she abandon her father? He’s all she has; if she ruins him, she destroys herself. As they search for the book, Evangeline struggles to choose between what feels right and what is right. Does she choose the love and comfort of her father or the safety of every other angel? The stakes are high: the fate of the Heavens—and the fate of humanity—now rests in her hands.

Whaddaya think? You’d read it, right? Right? (please say yes… 🙂 )