Noonday in the North continues Erikson Gray’s epic journey in the land of Lucardia, now teetering on the edge of civil war and internal strife. As new threats emerge and old alliances fracture, Erik finds himself navigating an increasingly hostile landscape filled with political rivalries, supernatural forces, and the remnants of ancient powers that refuse to stay buried.
Erik’s quest leads him deep into the northern territories, where he must seek the support of powerful leaders and deal with the rising tensions between the empire’s fragmented factions. The Northlands, known for their harsh climate and equally harsh people, hold both potential allies and dangerous adversaries. Erik must carefully tread this delicate ground while trying to unite those who have little reason to trust one another.
In this installment, Erik faces the consequences of past actions, both his own and those of his family, as he struggles to forge a path forward. With each new revelation, the stakes grow higher, and Erik must make difficult choices that will shape not only his destiny but the fate of Lucardia itself. His connection to the ancient sword, Lightbearer, remains a constant source of both strength and temptation, pushing him to question what kind of leader he will become.
Noonday in the North is a tale of loyalty, ambition, and the fine line between hero and villain. As the threads of Erik’s journey intertwine with the ambitions of rival factions and hidden forces, the novel explores themes of power, sacrifice, and the resilience needed to confront the ever-present shadows looming over Lucardia’s future.
Writing Log:
2/18- After a month off to promote The Mourning Son and plan, I’ve started to write Noonday in the North!
2/21- 3,584 words. First chapter developing nicely.
3/1- 13,350. Wrote 10k in a week, so moving along. Chapter 3 is almost done.
3/18- 26,064. My day job has been a bear, and it is tiring wrestling with a bear, but still doing my best to write.
3/26- 29,323. Discovered the “theory of magic” in the Lucardian world. Exciting.
4/17- 44,890. Lost in the world of the giants 😉
5/5- 52,314. Trucking along. About a 3rd of the way through the story. Am I on schedule? No, but I’m trying to get words on the page daily. A bit of sickness and stress at work got in the way, but I’m still moving.
5/25- 66,016. Still moving. Been a while since I reached my typical 1,000, but I still write every day. Today wrote 1,142. Feels good to reach the goal!
5/29- 68,944. On a roll!
6/11- 78,589
6/28- 87,206. Still have a lot to write, but the hazy finish line is in the distance!
7/7- 95,609. 100k is so close I can taste it!
7/12- 100k words!
7/19- 106,626
7/30- 113,114
8/6- 120,465
8/18- 130,310- 3-4 chapters left and then done with the story!
9/2- 138,830- So very close. Should come in around 140k.
9/14- 144,089- The first draft is done! I estimated I would finish on 9/16 at 150,000, so I am two days ahead of schedule and under budget 🙂
11/20- Had a vacation, so there was a slight delay, but the first read-through is complete. Time for the second 😉
12/31- Noonday is the North is now available for pre-order!
1/13- On, what I hope, is my final readthrough. The manuscript is due on 1/27 and will publish on 1/31! Noonday is coming.
1/20- Finished final read-through and edit. Doing some final touches and then on to formatting 🙂 Noonday is coming!
