Fezariu's Epiphany by David Brown

The publication of Fezariu’s Epiphany in May was the end of a long journey for myself and my wife, Donna. The novel was still in the planning stages when we first got together and I’m honoured that Donna has remained with me and we’re celebrating the book’s publication together. The first draft was completed in September 2009 and in total it took six drafts before the novel was ready for publication. College and work commitments, as well as the desire to make sure the book was absolutely right, were the factors that delayed its arrival until now but it’s been worth the wait. This is a book I believe in, one Donna has faith in as well, but now we’ve released it into the world it is time to move on to new projects.

I’ve now started my second novel, A World Apart, which I hope will be an even better book than Fezariu’s Epiphany. Approaching the opening pages was something of a challenge. The skeleton of the story I have had in my mind for some time but there are many gaps I’ve yet to fill in. The prologue came to me quite easily but the start of the novel, setting the scene and introducing the three central characters, was very difficult. After being in the life of Fezariu for so long I found it hard to immerse myself in a different period of Elenchera’s history and share in the adversities of my new trio of protagonists who share fates that could rival anything Fezariu went through.

Despite writing blogs regularly I think I have become a little bit rusty when it comes to my fiction. I’m slowly easing myself back into the creative flow but after the many redrafts Fezariu’s Epiphany went through I’m still in editing mode. The best thing about writing A World Apart is that I’ve grown as a writer and learned many things just getting Fezariu’s story out there. Donna has been my rock over the last two years and I know I’ll be relying on her continued support as I write A World Apart and the many future novels I have planned from the world of Elenchera. I have instructions on how to make her life easier this time round!

As this first draft begins to take shape I’ll be listening out carefully for the feedback of those readers who have set sail with Fezariu in search of his epiphany. I spent years on that boat helping him find the answers and I’m honoured by those of you that have decided to take the same journey. Some will be exhilarated by their voyage, others will despair at every rock of the boat, but it’s important I hear both sides. As happy as I am with Fezariu’s Epiphany I will always aim to do better with every new book I write and that means listening to my readers. I never want to write just enough to satisfy readers, I want to stun them every time. With that in mind it’s time for me to return to my latest ship. Three new characters are waiting for me to help them find the answers in their lives and fill in those lingering gaps in A World Apart.

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