A blade of whispers. A boy without direction. A world on the brink of chaos.
Dawn of the Lightbearer is the beginning of an epic journey in the realm of Lucardia, a land on the verge of collapse. The story follows Erikson Gray, a young blacksmith’s apprentice whose life takes a sudden turn when he discovers an ancient and mysterious sword known as Lightbearer in the dark and forbidden depths of Acheron Forest. This discovery not only unearths secrets from the past but also awakens forces both within Erik and within the realm itself.
As tensions rise between rival factions vying for power, Erik must navigate a complex web of loyalties, deception, and old rivalries that threaten to pull Lucardia into chaos. Accompanied by a small band of unlikely allies, including his enigmatic uncle Brant and the cunning Knight Agar, Erik finds himself on the run, pursued by those who see him as a threat to their ambitions. Along the way, he is forced to confront hidden truths about his lineage and the heavy weight of his family’s legacy.
The narrative explores Erik’s internal struggle to accept his newfound destiny while resisting the seductive influence of the sword he now wields. The blade, rumored to hold a connection to a long-forgotten power, seems to have a will of its own, leading Erik deeper into a conflict that is not just political but also spiritual.
With rich world-building, political intrigue, and the looming presence of dark magic, Dawn of the Lightbearer sets the stage for an epic tale of transformation, power, and the struggle between light and shadow. Erik’s journey from an ordinary youth to a pivotal figure in the fate of Lucardia is both thrilling and introspective, challenging him to choose between what he desires and what the realm needs.
Writing Log:
3/20/21 – Reached 100k word mark
4/4/21 – First draft complete!
4/5/21 – Cover created
4/16/21 – First full read-through complete
4/17/21 – Editing process begins.
5/1/21 – Teasers out, 1st draft synopsis complete
5/3/21 – Major chapter rewrite
5/5/21 – Second read-through complete. Third read-through begun
5/13/21 – Still editing 🙂 First chapter available if you click the book cover above
5/21/21 – Editing continues. Just when confidence builds, I find something that douses that flame. Keep telling myself it will happen 🙂
5/22/21 – Available soon for pre-order. Release scheduled for July 2nd. Just in time for Fourth of July weekend!
5/23/21 – Third read-through complete. Edit for content done- holes plugged and this part of the story complete. Edit for grammar and remaining typos begins… ugh. Deadline will keep me moving.
5/30/21 – Did another read-through and started close edit on Friday. Up to chapter 10 of 34. Once close edit done, will do a final read-through and then start formatting for layout.
6/1/21 – After very productive weekend, completed first close edit pass.
6/2/21 – Second close pass begun. Book is polishing up nicely. Finding less and less fixes. Thinking of producing a family tree, timeline, and map, but will get the content done first and do that if I have time.
6/5/21 – Updated sample chapter with a more edited version. Here. Enjoy!
6/8/21 – Second close edit pass complete. Need to do a few housekeeping things and then will start to format for publication! Will then do a pass or two for good measure depending on time, but still have a little under a month before the deadline.
6/10/21 – Going through and cutting as many adverbs as I can. Tedious, but tightens prose. Stupid adverbs 😦
6/12/21 – Mission against adverbs complete. Time for the final read-through and then it will be time for formatting publication!
6/16/21 – On chapter 23 of 34 of final read-through. Worked on some ads. Should be able to start formatting for publication this weekend. End in sight!
6/19/21 – Finished final read-through and started formatting for Kindle. As I have some time before the deadline, I may do one more spot check.
6/24/21 – Final read-through and formatting for Kindle complete!
6/25/21 – Finished back mater for the book- timeline, map, diagram of the Galleass Lion (an important part of the story), thank you, and other material. The book is now finished, uploaded, and waiting for July 2nd!
6/25/21 – Official start of chapter 1 in book 2, titled The Mourning Son!
7/2/21 – Dawn of the Lightbearer is now available on Amazon!
