Took a little time to go back in my notes and see where I have been and where I am at in The Crystal Crux series. The latest book, the 4th book, Shimmer, was released in February of this year. That was only 9 months ago although it feels longer.

I officially began working on the next book, the 5th and last book in The Crystal Crux series on May 14 of this year. That was only 6 months ago.

I was starting to feel a little impatient with my progress but realized I’m doing fine.

Looking back on my timeline, my books were released in this order.

1. Betrayal – January 2016
2. Blue Grotto – November 2016
3. Cold Knight – December 2017
4. Shimmer – February 2021

I had much of the first two books already scripted out for years which made those easier.

Because I adapted and changed much of the story in those first two books, several characters taking on a life of their own, things I had not foreseen, new characters appearing and old ones disappearing, the 3rd book took a little longer.

And the 4th took was extremely time-consuming because of all the plot holes I had to insure were being filled. I know only the most ardent readers might discover plot holes but I would know they are there and that would irritate me to no end.

During the writing of the 4th book, I really started thinking about how I was going to end this.

After I published Shimmer, I took some time to digest the suggestions I had made to myself as well as the examining the course of the story. I began to jot down notes and make rough outlines.

It wasn’t until May 14 I actually officially began to type the first draft of the next book.

I do have a working title which I will not share at this time. All the chapters are scripted out but a few are just script and no actual meat, just bones. A few chapters have been edited and re-edited several times. I have a habit of following the Spirit and going with my mood and some chapters just haven’t come to light while others are sprinting ahead and ready to go.

Looking at my timeline and work habits, juggling a full-time job and my family, my children and grandchildren, I’m pretty darn sure, without some miraculous stroke of good fortune, we won’t see the completed version of the 5th book until 2022. And if I continue to beat myself up over every word and sentence, closing every plot hole I can find, it wouldn’t surprise me if it is not until late Fall 2022 that it is completed.

I’m not going to rush it no matter how impatient I get with it. And I’ll probably come back here and re-read this post from time to time to remind myself to slow down and relax.

Patience is a virtue. The Lord makes a way out of no way.

I am so looking forward to sharing this book with my readers! Time passes swiftly. 2022 will be here all too soon. But I’m not really a person who looks forward. I prefer the present.

To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more. It means you are thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” – Tony Gaskins

You can expect a few more Tarfane short stories in the coming months. Hopefully they are building a framework for an eventual sci-fi novel. We shall see. I still have a prequel to The Crystal Crux sitting in mothballs waiting to be exhumed. So much to write. So much to publish. 🙂 And still so much to read and review from other great authors.

Allen M Werner is the author of the Epic Fantasy series The Crystal Crux