Otherworld (Book 2)

## Synopsis

With more leather pants references, chaos, and drunk unicorn action than its predecessor, OTHERWORLD is a rollicking fairy tale ride!

## Preview of Chapter One

https://www.llstarling.com/post/a-sneak-peek-of-otherworld

## Current Progress

From the Buddy Read group:

**SO ... where \*IS\* OTHERWORLD, Starling?**

I've seen a few questions/comments about OTHERWORLD's publication date scattered around the group, so I thought I'd answer them here.

**WHEN WILL OTHERWORLD BE RELEASED?**

I'm so very sorry, but there still isn't a firm publication date yet. I was hoping to have it all done by the end of fall, just in time for the Buddy Read. Although I worked ridiculously hard to get it done, it's still in its feral first draft form. The storyline of OTHERWORLD is, as Divinian Fanton would say, 'Intricate,' so it's taking a lot longer to wrangle into submission than I'd expected.

Like most indies, I'm not a full-time writer, so when I *do* get a small chunk of time to write, I have to figure out whether I should use it to write, market, drum up excitement/fear about the book on social media, or have a small existential crisis in the closet of my choice where I wail and eat expired Doritos (i.e., self-care).

If you go to the bottom of my incredibly lackluster website (https://www.llstarling.com) you'll find an 'OTHERWORLD Progress' section (see the photo below), and that'll tell you where I am in the writing process.

**IS IT GOING TO TAKE EIGHT YEARS?**

No, thank goodness! I'm old--I can't afford to take eight years to write each book in this series. If I did, I'd be nothing more than a husk by the last one, I tell you. A HUSK! BETWEEN took eight years because I wrote it while I was an academic. Back then, I was so busy that my only free time was at the end of November (the last two-ish weeks) after all my administrative duties were finalized. I'd write BETWEEN during those two-ish weeks and then put it away until the following year or my next sabbatical. It sucked. I'm no longer an academic, so the writing process is a little faster. However, I did lose a year of writing after publishing BETWEEN because of various Ordeals (one of which included a squirrel war), so that's one of the reasons why OTHERWORLD is running behind.

Please know that I'm *incredibly* grateful to everyone who has asked about the sequel; I find it absolutely extraordinary (and humbling and bewildering) that people other than my mother want to read more about this drunk unicorn-encrusted world. When I was writing BETWEEN, my editor Louisa Gallie and I tried to come up with a list of ten people who would buy it (other than our mothers), and it was hard (honestly, we didn't even want to subject our mothers to it; they are fancy ladies!). I think we only managed seven-ish. So the fact that there are 200 people in this group absolutely blows my amydgala. I am absolutely in awe of you all. Moreover, I truly appreciate all of your encouragement and patience (especially from those who have been waiting three LONG years for the sequel).

Ultimately, I don't want to rush something out just to get it done by a particular deadline. You're incredible readers, THE BEST (I will fight any author with a curtain rod if they say their readers are better), and you deserve the most enchanting, leather-pant-filled sequel *ever*; as I see it, if you're gonna risk your wrists and retinas to read it, it had better be worth it!

So please bear with me a little longer, and I promise to release lots of sneak peeks and previews until OTHERWORLD is ready to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting world. And those sneak peeks start tomorrow when Chapter 1 will be live on the website. HOORAY!

If you have any questions, please let me know below, and I will happily answer them xx

## Other Info

1. "There ARE other books planned after OTHERWORLD. Right now, it looks as though there will be four books in total, including one devoted to Ash and Lyla's fairy tale. " (Goodreads)
2. "things I can tell/tease about OTHERWORLD? Well, it takes place immediately after BETWEEN ... literally! The story opens with Sasha stepping through the Gateway to begin her trial run as the True Queen of Between. While Sasha grapples with learning how to rule (and how to handle very pointy weapons), Lorn will be trying to come to terms with the fact that he's now married, and all the wretchedly dramatic feelings that come with that new state of being. Meanwhile, the Shadow and Between will be playing matchmaker (there's only one bed, people!). Throw in political intrigue, a Lorn bath scene, shenanigans, and at least 110% more drunk unicorn action, and you have OTHERWORLD. I truly hope you'll enjoy it!" (Goodreads)