Taking a Break

Why I do this:

What is the motivation for the world I’ve created? Why did I start writing this series in the first place? Is the watermark on that artwork really dated “2003”? Why have you chosen now to go into details about this type of things?

It all started early in 2003 while watching the previews at the beginning of a Saiyuki video. There was a commercial for The Twelve Kingdoms and it was showing this girl with red hair fighting a large group of soldiers. “That’s her!” I realized. That’s the main character for the book series I’m finally going to write and publish. Here’s where I stipulate that I’d written several iterations of the idea that would ultimately become the Way of the Fist series. However, that character clinched it for me.

So, that’s when I sat down and started to write the pantheon of the world I called Terra. I fashioned it after the Greek pantheon because, at that time, not only was I a huge student of Greek mythology, but I was a teen in the 1990s and so grew up watching Xena: Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X-Men: the animated series, and (in the 80s) She-Ra, Voltron, and Sailor Moon. I named two of the deities after my children and two others after near and dear friends. The Royal Tournament of Iskenderun’s reigning champion, I named after my step-son. As the years have gone by I’ve named shop keepers and soldiers after friends who have made an impression or who have passed.

As I got going, the story line evolved and I quickly realized this would be a multi-book production. Over the course of half a dozen composition notebooks (several have, regrettably been lost in my multiple moves) the whole thing began to unfold. And then I got divorced and The Way of the Fist was back-burnered.

After I published The Zoey Jane Files (https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24758) I returned my attention to The Way of the Fist. Older, wiser, and more experienced, I expanded the story to encompass more of the world. I added characters (Kaylin, Tarak, Hajib, the whole of the Vahkahran, Anya, Glaive, etc.) I added storylines to up the stakes for the final three books (yes, this will still be an 8-book series). I applied what I had learned in my various professions over the years, as well as my continuing education (I returned to college in spring 2024 to eventually get my PhD in prion research) to lend authenticity to certain portions. I learned how to research, and so I do, ad nauseum, to make it as real and believable as possible while still making it engaging. I learned how to market and promote my work (at the end of December I had “sold” a total of 1096 books between the eight I have published so far).

As a result, this world has become real. All those living in it invade my thoughts and every part of my life at all hours of the day and night. I’m currently working in geriatric health care and talk to one of my residents about my work on a regular basis. When I swim laps after work, before my classes, all I think about is the section of the book I’m working on, at present. During my down-time and between classes I’m at my tablet writing or editing.

So, now that I’ve sufficiently rambled, I’ll include the links to all my social media that promotes both series. And, now you know (at least a little) why I do what I do.

Book Series:

Way of the Fist: https://www.smashwords.com/books/booksbyseries/101784

The Zoey Jane Files: https://www.smashwords.com/books/booksbyseries/24758

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/heather.wrightbarone

https://www.facebook.com/ZoeyJaneFiles

https://www.facebook.com/HMBaroneAuthor

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/hmbaronewriter

Tiktok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@hmbaronewriter

Youtube: