I'm getting there.

I was recently referred to a book publisher. In an email to them, I asked just how long they look for. I was told around 90,000 words. Of late, I have been looking at how long Book One has gotten and realized it was over 175,000 words, and growing.
I also had the feeling that I could break what I though of as Book One in two at about a third of the way into Act 3.

So I have, and find that the new Book One is mostly done and could begin to be shopped around.

Now I need to be sure it is ready to go, and see how to set it free.
The question is: Self Publication, and all the legal control of intellectual property, or through a publishing house, and whatever level of control that house requires in exchange for publishing.

Who are these guys?

I have been meaning to post some images of characters that I have sketched along the way. But until now, I have not gotten to this. Some of these characters have a stronger presence in my text than they do in my pencil. Steven Caplan is a good example, as is the titled Caspian.

So, here are a few sketches of Karen, and Roxanne.

Karen "Silver Adder"

This is Karen getting ready to go out, in full kit. Unusually she is carrying a quiver of arrows and a unstrung short bow with her. A passable archer, Karen prefers other closer range weapons.

Also judging by the sword, this would be circa the third book.

The picture was sourced off of an image I found on the web years ago.



















This was a mock up as part of a class project in a drawing class. Here Karen is sneaking about and thuging a guard lest he get in her way later. Karen was drawn from another online image of a woman kneeing a punching bag. The guard is from scratch.








 

This is a sketch of Roxanne's 'apprentice drape' that she wears through act two, while a slave/apprentice to a Sorceress.

I sourced another online image, took it to Photoshop, and drew an outline that I printed out and scribbled on for a body template.

Most of my other images of Rox are in gesture form, and are not finished enough to post.
Again, she is stronger in test than in image.

Here is a link to my portfolio website where more of these are posted.
http://jabberwalky.squarespace.com/tywacomb-characters