Editing the internal proof of my third novel

Very short update for this month because I've been so swamped with work, editing, and life. In listicle-fashion, here we go:

(1) The book fair I mentioned last update was a complete bust. Three hours and not one sale, and even worse, only one or two people even came up to chat. Bummer experience all around and I'm thinking of not attending next year's event.

(2) Got a first look at the internal proof for my third novel. Definitely the highlight of the month as far as writing is concerned. I've been editing two chapters a night. Right now, I've got 94 edits, which is surprisingly fewer on a page-per-page comparison with my last novel. I'm going to give all the credit to my editors for catching many errors the first time around.

(3) I've got one podcast interview lined up for early 2027 and I'm working on another for the end of 2026. As details become available I'll share them in future updates.

(4) For my work and family life, October is the start of an end-of-the-year sprint. Deadlines seem to come out of the woodwork this time of year.

(5) Given (4), perhaps it's not surprising that I have not resumed drafting my latest novel. I'm still stuck at 51k words, with the story stalled out just before the mid-point turn. I won't be able to return to it in earnest until the edits for An Alchemy that Kills are done and the manuscript is back with my editor.

(6) To end the month's update, I'd like to share one of the very nice blurbs I've gotten for An Alchemy that Kills. It comes from fellow Apprentice House Press author J.P. Lee, author of Shift. This is what she had to say about the novel:

“An Alchemy That Kills draws readers into a well-crafted world of dangerous magic and forbidden alchemy. Gardner expertly blends science into his magic system, lending it an academic and skillful air that will definitely appeal to lovers of the high fantasy genre. Thorne and Reihana’s contrasting journeys and motives make this story all the more engaging. Filled with high stakes, complex characters, intrigue, and a stroke of mystery, Gardner creates a fast-paced, richly immersive novel that will have fantasy fans turning the pages late into the night.”

— J.P. Lee, author of The Shiftwork Chronicles

There are a few other blurbs that I have gotten, and I'll share those in future updates.

Thanks for stopping by.