The third book in the trilogy. The grand finale. The final verse of the Raincatcher’s Ballad.
On the 31st of August, Serena’s story ends with Choir of the Damned.
It’s a strange feeling.
Gallows, Damien and the rest of the crew have been in my head for 6 years or so (and Serena much longer), yet during the course of each book, they surprised me again and again. Every time I knew where their arc would take them, they’d say or do something that sent them barreling off-course.
And they’d pull me with them! I saw different corners of familiar places, ventured into new realms and explored deeper veins of in-world lore. These characters and their journeys shaped the story in ways I didn’t – couldn’t – foresee; like how the way they spoke to each other highlighted different pieces of their backstory, or how the things they’d laugh at together would reveal hidden similarties. The different facets of this rag-tag group’s personalities reflected things in the Raincatcher’s Ballad universe that I didn’t even know existed.
I’ve learned so much since writing this trilogy – about the craft of writing, about myself. Knowing I won’t embark on any more crazy adventures with these characters people?
Yeah, it’s a strange feeling.
Choir of the Damned took a lot longer to write than I’d planned. It took a lot out of me.
Writing is a great way to retreat from the world, but every once in a while, an author needs to take a break from their own imagination – and the majority of drafting took place amidst the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the rest of the world closed and nowhere physical to escape to, I have to admit, I struggled. The words did not come easily. Why couldn’t I concentrate? Why were things that I’d meticulously planned and set up in previous books refusing to coalesce? Cue lots of mood swings, word-scrapping and fruitless plot-wrangling.
With not much else to do and my local gym closed, I turned my focus to home workouts and better eating habits (readers familiar with Boldly Going Nowhere will remember my mental health struggles and how I have a tendency to use the gym as a refuge, for better or worse). My diet itself has never been too bad, but Gods above, I did not portion correctly.
After a while, I started working with a personal trainer. For the first time in my life, I tracked exactly what was going into my body. I cut calories, built muscle and worked on problem areas.
Workout apps and long, urban walks became the norm. And – after a few weeks of leaving it smouldering in the corner – the creative furnace roared again. The characters who’d spent more than half a decade living inside my head came back fully armed with new things to say, solutions and good ideas.
From then, the words spilled out faster than I could type them. Plot points resolved, new faces appeared and I uncovered yet more of the world that I swear I created.
Anyway, I guess the point is this: Take the time to look after yourself. It pays back tenfold, and not always in obvious ways. I’m happier, healthier, and Choir of the Damned is all the better for it. I’m immensely proud of it.
See you on August 31st.
