Flight of the Sunsparrow is done. (I renamed it. It used to be The Cuttlefish. I still like the old title, but I can see how a marketng department would not.)

This final round of edits cut 11,000 words, slowed the opening so readers have time to settle into the world before everything catches fire, tightened character motivations until every choice makes sense, and both clarified and shortened the worldbuilding. What's left feels leaner and stronger, (though I will admit to 24 hours of boneless wailing when the editorial letter came in.)

Yesterday, I submitted it to The Novelry to see if it qualifies for their agent submission pipeline. We'll see. I feel confident in this manuscript, whether or not it passes muster there.

For now, I'm celebrating. The book that's lived in my head since 2022—the one I've rewritten, restructured, and revised until I could recite whole chapters from memory—is ready to leave my desk and find its way into the world.

(Here's an idea of what this last round of edits looks like.)

 I'm taking a few weeks off to breathe and remember what household chores look like. Then I'll begin outlining the sequel, Fall of the Star Queen. I've already bought a new TWSBI fountain pen and fresh composition books for the occasion. There's something about starting a new project with new notebooks!

More updates as they come. For now, I'm just sitting with this: I wrote a novel. I finished it. And whatever happens next, that's something.

If you'd like to follow along with the submission journey, or if you're working on your own manuscript and want occasional updates, craft thoughts, and commiseration—you can subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Instagram and Bluesky.

Thank you to everyone who's encouraged me along the way! This book wouldn't exist without you.