New Characters, Covers, and Cliffhangers. I’ll get better at naming these, I promise XD

HELLLLLLO EVERYBODY! And welcome to the weekly blog post. Here’s how these are gonna go: Every Friday, I’m going to make a blog post (if I can’t do it on Friday, I’ll write it some other day and schedule it to update, or I’ll tell you guys beforehand that I’ll be unable to make one) and you all can comment on it! This way, y’all can keep track of where I’m at with Checkmate (and the second book’s rework!) and the series and all that jazz.
The format is as follows (after this introductory post, that is)–We will first have any pictures I’ve drawn during the respective week (if I haven’t drawn any, I’ll post a doodle I did from a while ago) and then a small sneak peek for one of my books or short stories. We’ll see if I decide to post short stories on this website–I might decide to, but we’ll see. After that, I’ll give you a small life update if anything’s happened and leave you with a fun quote or maybe a question to see how y’all are doing.

Alright, I think I’ve covered the bases, on with the actual post!

This is a doodle of two new characters who I haven’t even written anything with yet! I’ve got plans for them though. We’ll probably hear more about them in the future.

NOW as for this one…This is the cover picture of Checkmate. Yes, the cover (though the picture’s been cropped–Leo and Sadha are on the center line I promise). This is not the professional picture my sister and I took of it, so it looks a little less-good than it will when it’s on the cover of the book. It took me three days to draw, and I’m immensely proud of it. The only place big/flat enough to draw it on was the kitchen counter, so luckily Mom let me borrow it (because she’s just awesome like that). I used irl models as references for the chess pieces, and bowls to outline the domes and the two large arches. I also used the bottom of a shot glass to outline the little thingies on top of the domes, and I used a yardstick in place of a ruler (because the picture is basically 2ft by 3ft) to keep everything neat and mostly straight. I colored it with a vAriOus array of colored pencils. I used no professional tools, just things I could find around the house.

Onto a sneak peek!!! This is a scene from Checkmate (Chapter One) from Sadha’s point of view. (Sadha is the main character).

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“What’s going on?!” [Sadha] exclaimed, her voice an octave higher than usual out of fright. It came out as a sort of squeak.

“Sadha,” Halen said, looking startled and slightly frightened. But before he could explain anything, his sister had rushed over and flung her arms around him, looking over at the warlocks, very frightened.

“And this is your daughter?” the warlock leader asked Lysander, who fearfully nodded in confirmation.

Halen’s strong arms tightened around Sadha, comforting her. But she could feel her usually calm older brother’s heart beating even faster than her own, which scared her even further.

“Miss Verkinsen?” The warlock’s tone was almost friendly. He had taken off his black bandanna, and she was surprised to see the warm expression on his face. He had darker skin which was oddly paired with his ice-blue eyes and white-blond hair that shone in the sunlight which streamed through the trees.

Sadha said nothing to this man, though even he looked uncomfortable with the situation. She hugged Halen more tightly, feeling that if she were to let go of her brother one of them would die.

The warlock looked slightly disheartened, but took her silence for confirmation. His ice-blue eyes were hesitant, and he glanced at one of his fellows, a dark man with dark-brown curls, who shot a furtive glance at Sadha.

“Sadha has nothing to do with this.” Lysander Verkinsen, Sadha’s father, spoke up at last, frowning at the warlock in front. His quiet voice seemed loud in the terrible, spiraling silence.

“I have nothing to do with what?” Sadha asked frantically as she looked between her father and the tall warlock, who simply shrugged.

“We have come to take you away, Miss Verkinsen,” he answered quietly. Sadha’s full attention snapped to him instantly.

“Take me away where?!” she gasped, feeling her breathing become shallow. The world around her felt as though it were spinning, and she vaguely registered that if she became any more agitated, she would have a fainting spell.

“To the capital, Miss Verkinsen,” the warlock hesitantly informed her. Sadha was now completely convinced that this had to be some sort of strange nightmare; the warlocks couldn’t take her away–they just couldn’t.

“The capital?! Why?!” she asked, panic tearing at her insides like some sort of vicious dragon.

“Sadha.” The sound of Lysander’s voice distracted her. “Sadha, everything will be alright; I promise.”

Sadha felt disbelief spread through her as she stared at her father.

“You–you want them to take me away?” she asked softly, feeling even dizzier by the second. “What–”

“Sadha,” Lysander said again, walking over and attempting to free her from Halen’s death grip, “Sadha, you have to go with them; do you understand me?”

Halen growled and refused to relax his hold upon his sister, taking a half-step away from his father.

“Miss Verkinsen, I don’t want to force you,” the warlock spoke once again, startling Sadha even further. She felt as though she were holding Halen more tightly than he was holding her.

“No! No, I won’t go! Halen, don’t let them take me!” she cried, hanging onto her brother, supporting her weight on him.

“Sadha, you have to go. Don’t make them hurt you,” Lysander pleaded. “You’ll come home soon, I’ll make sure of it–”

“STOP! I’M NOT GOING!” Sadha cried loudly, her vision going blurry with unshed tears.

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And that’s the sneak peek for this week (yes I know it cut off abruptly, I’ll try to do better in the future. I’ve got laundry to do and a backpack to pack since I’m going to Chicago tomorrow!!!)

As for a life update…well, book is closer to being published than ever, which is very good. My editor Elaina is one of the sweetest people and she’s been helping me a ton and I’m so grateful for it honestly. I’ve been rather stressed, but that’s just part of life and we’ve all got times like this. Positives are, website is up, cover is done and photographed and my parents want to frame it. I gotta pack to go to Chicago to see my grandfather tomorrow, and though it’s only an overnight trip, it’ll be a good time.

The next time I post one of these, I’ll be at college.

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“dO Ya gOT aNy chEESE?” –Luke