The goal for Novel Accountability is to share the progress and/or hurdles I have either overcome or are still battling. I have decided to share the names of the places, races, and individuals along with how each relate to the main protagonist. However, I will not be sharing any details to my plotlines. The next three months, I will be sharing the concept drawings, by Emily Hills, that might become cover art for my novel(s).

Welcome to the World of Vast-teren (pronounced Vast-tare-ren)

Step into a world where ADHD is neurotypical and the neurotypical are considered neurodivergent. Add in a dash of fantasy, and the familiar Hero’s Coming of Age Story; I hope to entertain you with this hopeful journey.

Follow my writing successes and struggles about my heroine, Emra, the rightful heir to Vast-teren.

Although Emra was born in Vast-teren; as an infant, she was teleported to the province of Ontario in Canada to keep her hidden from the one who wanted her dead. Around her 18^th birthday, Emra is coerced back to her birthplace. Dive into Emra’s unexpected societal norms, as she partners with the dragon Men-neric (pronounced Men-nare-rick) to discover her unique gifts. Wonderous, non-magical distractions threaten to keep Emra’s mind off her monumental task of ruling an unfamiliar world. Emra struggles with unmasking characteristics that caused frequent rejection and failure throughout her childhood. Yet the only way Emra will gain the respect of her peers is to reveal the traits she has been conditioned to hide.

Skrill is hyperfixated on vengence for the rejection he received as a young man. He believes that when he has purified all of the Vast-teri people, the world will be a better place for everyone.

Emra must choose between conforming to the advice of the Vast-teri High Counsel, or choose her unique creative solutions to defeat Skrill and bring back a time of peace to Vast-teren. Emra doubts she has the skills that are necessary to lead the kingdom to victory.

From November 28^th’s Writing Journal Entry: Anything within square brackets has been changed from my original journal entry to wording that will explain my progress with minimal spoilers.

I can’t believe I have completed 11 chapters. Without a professional editor, it is tough to know what should stay and what shouldn’t. With the basic understanding that any sub-plots should help push the main plot and/or support character development, I think I can cut out significant portions. The portions I’m thinking about are ones that sound like an encyclopaedia entry. Even though I have written 11 chapters, perhaps it might turn into 5 chapters. I just don’t know. I’m kinda learning this as I go.

Last night, I finally came up with a name for the Protagonists’ capital city: Flaymon with Flaymon’s Keep being the name of the castle that is currently Emra’s home.

I’m still not sure if Bonded [the title to Emra’s Journey] will be its own book or will be part one of the entire story. I know I’m jumping ahead. From what I have read, many authors don’t name their book until the story is complete.

I struggle with writing violent scenes. It takes me weeks to buckle down and get them done. Trying to get inside the mind of a soldier, who has accepted the mind frame of “Kill or be killed”, is near impossible. If I were face to face with an enemy, who wanted to kill me, I would assuredly hesitate to even harm my adversary let alone kill them. In my hesitation, my opponent would get the upper hand. I thought by watching documentaries about wars, particularly the one that my grandfather fought in, would help me to wrap my brain around a warring mentality. This didn’t work. Then my husband asked me, “What would you do if someone was threatening to murder one of your children?” That did the trick. I may be a pacifist, but when it comes to any of my children, the murderer better watch out, because I’m coming for them.

Grief of losing someone I love, is a notion I’m a little more familiar with. With that said, I’m heading over [to the manuscript] to write a scene where one of my supporting characters will die.

I will be sharing the Prolog from my book, which I have temporarily entitled, Bonded. Watch for THE GREAT FALL in the Story Time section on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.