Read and Release: What Novel Writers Should Be Doing Right Now

Once upon a time, in the days before we were masked and socially isolated, we started plotting and writing a fantasy saga. It evolved into a murder mystery with magic, a hideous serial killer, and an intriguing romance that wasn’t all it seemed. Despite our agent informing us (about four years too late) her agency did not want to represent fantasy fiction anymore, we forged ahead, started our own publishing company, put out several other books for clients, and finally decided that we should take a chance on this one.

So far, it’s been the best move of our careers…

Shadows in Light: Book One of the Hidden Rims Saga by P.M. Amaras & Paul Driggere has been getting some rave reviews in the week or so since its release.

From one of the Reader’s Favorite reviewers:

“Shadows In Light is masterfully written. The prose flows gracefully; it is immaculate and crisp. I enjoyed the world into which authors P. M. Amaras and Paul Driggere plunge their readers: it is one where humans co-exist with monsters, demigods, and other magical creatures. But what will captivate readers most is the suspenseful rendering of the story. I was fascinated by the deft handling of characters, and the key figures in the story are well-explored. The connection between them deepens as readers follow them from one scene to the next. While they investigate murders, they must also fight to stay alive in a world that is both intriguing and filled with danger. Shadows In Light presents an intricate plot, an engaging work of detective fiction, and a colorful world to absorb readers. It is an immersive read indeed.”

But we digress. The insidious COVID-19 virus gave us pause to think not just about our writing but our lives as well. What if something had happened to one or both of us? Who would tell our tale? Obviously, we want other formidable or aspiring writers to feel the way we did. We’ve written together for over 25 years, through 400 articles, stories, ghostwriting projects, grants, screenplays, scripts, and seven non-fiction and fiction books.

However, at the time we did all this, there was no COVID virus. There was some sense of safety and confidence, that whenever we sat down to plan or plot out on paper, one thing we hadn’t…