R. J. Rani's Reflections: Thank Yous, Updates & Sneak Peeks

My dear readers and fellow creators,

Greetings from a cozy Airbnb, roughly 3,534 miles (5,687 km) from home. The wind is throwing raindrops against the window, blotting out the already grey skies, while wet cars and blue-teal double-decker buses and folks bundled up in thick winter jackets rush by on the streets below.

As I sit here, sipping a cup of fresh hot chocolate, I am filled with gratitude for each of you. Nearly two weeks after Vocal announced the Under Purple Clouds challenge winners, I’m still blown away and humbled by the feedback and response to Chapter 1 of Muriel’s Second Hand Book Emporium.

Many, many of you have expressed a desire to read more. Some of you have requested the next chapter, while others have declared that you’re looking forward to the completed novel (or even a whole series of novels)! Thank you!

Your encouragement, engagement, and thoughtful comments have inspired me to keep writing this story. Knowing that you’re as captivated by the characters’ adventures as I am, fuels my imagination! Your support makes this process truly magical, and I can’t wait to share more of this enchanting world with you.

So, I am excited to invite you on a journey with me as I delve deeper into the world of Muriel, Eva, Sam, and the other delightful characters that show up at the bookstore. I’ll be sharing snippets and sneak peeks right here on Vocal, starting with the first one in the next section of this article.

I also suspect that some of my upcoming challenge entries will be set in the same universe. So, do keep your eyes peeled for those.

When I return from my holiday abroad, I’ll be writing a lot more and tracking this month's progress on NaNoWriMo. Are you participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this April? If so, I’d love to hear how it’s going for you! Please let me know in the comments below 🤗

The promised sneak peek

Eva Spellman of Muriel’s Second Hand Book Emporium receives some rather unwelcome guests:

Eva knew what they’d look like before they even stepped through the front door. It had been years since she’d seen them, but from the sound of their voices coming up the freshly swept path, she knew that they hadn’t changed one bit.

And she was right.

Ezra strode through the doorway, his back straight, his long limbs moving with a stiff hesitancy that betrayed his disdain for all that wasn’t yet his. The young magpie at his shoulder chattered something harsh and guttural, and he tilted his ear to listen.

Shortly behind him, stumbling over the hem of her overly large dress, Talia nearly fell into the bookstore.

“Oh, must we go in, brother?” she said, trying to find her feet under the fabric, “You know how allergic I am to… to books.”

Her words were snuffed out by a fit of sneezes that startled a little rainbow-colored finch that had, until then, clung to her frilly ruff. It fluttered in a spray of fuzzy feathers as it flitted, chirping, around Talia’s curls.

“Hm? Well, yes.” Ezra said, turning his back on his sister as he surveyed the bookstore. His eyes finally rested on Eva. “Yes, I’m afraid we must.”

Eva sighed and walked toward the pair.

Let me know in the comments: Who do you think these two newcomers are?

More writing updates

In other writing news, I’m continuing to write Journey to Illenor, the first in my Dragon of Deverelle fantasy adventure.

Journey to Illenor is a coming-of-age story that follows a number of interconnected characters, including a rebellious teen acrobat named Mara Suratan, her father Deodan, and Temuren, the grand emperor of a vast, fantastical land.

There will be dragons in this story, too… eventually!

Note: The video below is a teaser trailer - but the story is no longer available on Kindle Vella. Hopefully, I'll be able to bring it to Vocal as a series when subscriptions are available on this platform!

One more exciting milestone

I am thrilled and so grateful to share that I have recently passed 100 subscribers on Vocal! I never imagined how much I’d grow as a writer and a person when I started posting here a few months ago. Vocal has been instrumental in bolstering my confidence and helping me overcome self-doubt.

More than that, it’s been wonderful to be a part of this stunningly creative community of storytellers!

I love meeting each of you through comments here, knowing full well that real, deep, and lasting friendships are forming as we share our words and get to know each other.

So, I can’t wait to hear from you. What are your milestones and achievements - whether here on Vocal or elsewhere? What recent accomplishments are you proud of? What goals are you working towards? Let’s celebrate together and continue to support each other on our creative journeys.

Always in your corner,

R. J. Rani