In my monthly newsletter, I usually update readers on the status of my work-in-progress, but I haven’t posted about it on this blog in several months. (So subscribe to my newsletter!)
My story is progressing, albeit slowly. I drafted the whole story during NaNoWriMo last November, ending the month with a very rough draft of 95,000 words. Since then, I have been filling in holes, adding a subplot, developing a couple of others, and deepening the characters’ personalities as I go.
The current draft is about 114,000 words. It doesn’t need to be any longer. In fact, I hope the final version is closer to 110,000 words or even fewer. I have a lot more work to shape the book and polish it. I will finish this draft in May sometime, then go back through it again. And again. And probably again.
One of my 2021 goals is to publish this book by year-end. (Originally, I said Labor Day, but I don’t think I’ll make that.) I’m behind where I had hoped to be at this point in the year. I can’t predict a publication date at this time, though I still believe I can have it done by the end of 2021. I’m now hoping for late autumn.
One fun aspect of this novel is that I have already landed on the cover image I will probably use. I’m planning to make the cover from a painting by Albert Bierstadt, called “Evening on the Prairie.” The painting depicts a man on horseback pulling a laden pack mule. In my work-in-progress, the protagonist works as a mule packer for several months, so this painting is perfect. The sunset colors are lovely, though I will have to brighten it up a bit for the book cover.
One advantage of writing historical fiction is that I can use paintings in the public domain. There are many beautiful images of the American West as it was in the mid- to late-19th century, and more of this art enters the public domain every year. Albert Bierstadt was one of the era’s most prolific famous painters. I will run out of plot ideas before I run out of potential covers.
Now, just to pique your interest on my long-term plans: After this book, I have two more in mind for this series. Then, after I finish all seven novels, I think I will be done with the series, and I’ll have to find new characters to write about.
But one never knows.
Almost a third of the way through 2021, how are you doing on your goals?
Love the Bierstadt painting, but like you say it will certainly need “brightening up” to make the cover more welcoming and the objects/cowboy more distinct. But you can play with it when the time comes and see what works.