First Words: September 03, 2018—The Dockmaster

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When I designed the cover for this novel, I put in a tentative series title. Today, I realised ex
actly how much I needed that. The story is complex and I hadn’t realised just how much. This will definitely be a series, and I entered the plotting stage, to day. If you’re wondering what the ETA will be, I have another project that will replace this one, if it is approved. If that project is approved, then I’ll be looking at around 9 months for that series, during which there will be minimal writing on this one. If the other project falls through, then the main Dockmaster series will take around six months to write, once I have the outline sorted—which should be by the end of the week. Either way, unless the other project is approved earlier than expected, this novel will be complete by the end of the month, and should release at around the same time as Mack ‘n’ Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9, which I’m also writing, right now.
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Tescha waited, her attention on her student. After a moment’s pause, Keskesh continued, and it wasn’t what Tescha expected.
“Not all those born into the nest are born to perfection,” the newest sevarthin queen explained. “Some are born looking like they belong, and others are born… different.”
She did not expand on her choice of words, but hurried on, as though her next words were as repugnant to her as they were to Tescha.
“In some nests, the misborn are destroyed on hatching, and, in others, they are taken far away and abandoned so that the gods of nature may decide their fate.”
She stopped and bowed her head, distress emanating off her in the scent of bitter lemons mixed with marsh weed. The queens nearest her stirred restlessly.
“In our nest, they are kept and assured they have some purpose, even if we cannot divine what it is.”

Location: Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

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