anna-stephens.comNew Horizons
There has been A LOT going on in the background over the last two years.
The Dark Feather, book 3 of Songs of the Drowned, came out in March 2024 and the paperback in February 2025. I have, of course, been writing ever since, and I’m hoping that the as-yet-unannounced Exciting Project With New Publisher will in fact be soon-to-be-announced.
But before that announcement, there is this announcement:
I’m taking a dive into the world of self-publishing.
Due to the timing of the Thing We Cannot Yet Talk About, there was a good chance that if I went the traditional route with this one, it would clash with that one, so to avoid that, and because I’ve been curious about the self-publishing route for a while and I know a lot of authors who very successfully juggle trad and indie publishing, I thought I’d give it a go. It was that or sit on this one for who knows how long while I fulfilled contract obligations on New Secret Thing.
This new story is also a departure for me in terms of sub-genre. It’s very much still fantasy – hopefully, the presence of dragons in the moodboard below makes that clear – but it’s also … got lots of romance. It is not quite a romantasy, because the worldbuilding/world/events take equal billing with the romance, but it is very much a love story. A fantasy romance.
Le Vibes
So, what exactly is it all about? Don’t worry, I have a whole blurb right here:
The Sport of Wings follows the struggles and triumphs of Ogawa Ryota, disgraced son of the famous Scarlet Triple dragon-racing stable, and Keaton Merriwether, petty criminal and illegal night-race jockey.
The pair are thrown together in a risky venture, setting up a tiny, ramshackle stable to take on the sport’s greatest dragons and wealthiest owners. Over the course of their first season, they must navigate many challenges, from an untrusting, traumatised young dragon in need of love and training, to vengeful rivals and a disbelieving sporting press.
Through it all, and despite both good sense and contractual obligations, Ryota’s and Keaton’s feelings for each other at first interfere and then bolster their partnership. But can love survive the rigours of being the smallest outfit on the racing circuit, when both Ryota’s family and his ex are out for revenge?
Perfect for fans of the crossover point between sports romance and epic fantasy, The Sport of Wings is an adrenaline-fueled fantasy romance packed with yearning, misunderstandings, and zero fade to black.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, they stay tuned here, or sign up to my newsletter/social media. I’m excited and not a little nervous about the process and getting it right, but I’m going to be sharing more over the next few months, both about my self-publishing journey, and the characters and world.
I’ve already got the excellent Ed Crocker lined up as my editor, and you should also check out his Everlands trilogy – Lightfall and Moonfall are both now published. Once the edit’s done, I’ll be looking for ARC reviewers, so shout out early if you’re interested.
I’m sorting out the cover art as we speak, and frantically doing all I can to educate myself on the art of self-publishing.
One thing’s for sure, though: it’s going to be exciting.
#bookReview #books #dragons #fantasy #fantasyNovel #fantasyRomance #publishing #romance #romantasy #selfPublishing #Writing
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