Mysteries of the Material is Now Live!

Welcome to the release day of Mysteries of the Material!

This is the second book in The Way of the Wielder series, and my second published book to date. I love it so much, and I hope you will, too!

Paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited options are available. Order your copy—or add it to your KU library—on Amazon now!

(If you’ve come from my blog, feel free to skip to “Additional Insights”, below.)

The Story Continues

Mysteries of the Material picks up almost immediately after the events of The Way of the Wielder. If you read my newsletter from a couple of weeks ago, you’ll know that it starts off with a new character—one of the new main characters who will play an important role as the story unfolds over the remaining three books.

But I’m getting ahead of myself! Today’s about Mysteries of the Material. What’s the book all about, you wonder? Here’s the blurb:

The Great Wielders have awakened.

Fresh from torturous captivity, Jaslan and Francis search for their Fire and Terra counterparts. As Jack guides them south, they gain both information and support—and encounter a powerful new foe whose only goal is to help the Idol finish what she started.

While the Great Wielders test the extent of their powers, Jack investigates the Idol’s suspicious activities. Old wounds heal, new friendships bloom, and love grows stronger. But as Jaslan and Jack settle into a peaceful routine and explore the depths of their passion, the Idol sets her plan into motion.

When Jack is sent on a mission to investigate Ironite, he discovers a truth about the Idol that puts more than just the Great Wielders in danger. He and an unexpected ally aim to thwart the Idol’s plan, setting into motion a series of events that help the Great Wielders in their fight—but have disastrous consequences no one expected.

Mysteries of the Material is the sequel to the riveting romantic fantasy novel, The Way of the Wielder. Join Jaslan and Jack as they advance their magic, confront foes old and new, and venture into the unknown.

Additional Insights

In keeping with tradition (which is only two book releases long… but hey, I’ve gotta start somewhere!), I’d like to offer a bit of additional insight into this book. If you’re interested, read on!

The Difference Process Makes

Writing Mysteries of the Material was a much different experience than writing The Way of the Wielder. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, The Way of the Wielder began as an experiment in creative writing after our Dungeons & Dragons sessions. The more I wrote, the more I realized that Jaslan’s story didn’t belong in that universe—so I made one for her. Because I was developing the world and plot as I wrote, I didn’t have any clear direction. I sort of just…let the story flow, and straightened it out once the first draft was done. (This is known as “discovery writing”, or—in writer’s lingo—”pantsing”.)

But with Mysteries of the Material, much of the world already existed, and I had a much clearer vision for the plot. I started out by listing what needed to happen in the book, using 1-2 sentences for each point. Then, I took those points and organized them chronologically. Once in order, I separated them into chapters, including 2-3 points per chapter. (FYI: Each scene break within a chapter represents one point.) And viola—the outline was complete.

Having an outline helped me not only stay on track, it helped me write the book faster. It took me almost two years to write the first draft of The Way of the Wielder; I wrote Mysteries of the Material in about seven months. (I had also transitioned to writing full time, which helped speed things up.)

This process might sound regimented, but I assure you it’s not. While the plot and some character growth is outlined, there’s still plenty of room for creative freedom. The characters, plot, and world building (landscapes, magic, societal history, etc.) all inform each other, and as the story unfolds, the outline adjusts as necessary. In essence, it’s a happy middle-ground between “pantsing” and “planning”, and it has become my standard writing process for every book written since.

More of What You Love

Processes aside, Mysteries of the Material is—in my opinion—a much more active book than The Way of the Wielder. Feisty new main characters are introduced, the magic is more dynamic and mysterious, the stakes are higher (if you can believe that), and—of course—the romance continues to bloom (and not just with Jaslan and Jack). And through all of that, adventure for everyone is afoot. It’s sure to be a wild ride!

Music

Sometimes people ask me if I write to music. The answer is somewhat complicated. Yes, I write with music playing in the background, but it cannot have lyrics. Lyrics are so distracting for me while I’m writing. Instead, I’ll throw on some magical fantasy music that puts me in an “otherworld” trance. The Magical Forest Music channel on YouTube is my go-to. They have 11-hour-long videos of instrumental music, and as a bonus, the imagery is so pretty!

But while I don’t write with lyrical music in the background, music does have a part to play in my writing. In particular, I associate each book’s main action sequence with a song.

• The Way of the Wielder — Won’t Back Down, by Fuel

• Mysteries of the Material — My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark, by Fall Out Boy

Book three is a bit different. So much happens in that book, and while I do associate the main action sequence with a song (two, actually), there are many scenes I associate with songs. But you’ll have to wait for that…

I enjoyed writing Mysteries of the Material so much, and I’m so thrilled it’s now available for you to enjoy, too. Again, you can order your copy on Amazon now. And who knows, maybe you’ll have it in time to read it while your dad snoozes during Thanksgiving football! (For the record, I won’t be snoozing during Thanksgiving football. I’ll be rooting for the Lions!)

Thanks for reading. Until next time, be well, and stay creative. And for all of my USA readers, Happy Thanksgiving!

~Sarah