We Press Onward

When I first started writing Maleki, I was surprised at how easy the process felt. I had a first draft after only a few months of working on it very part-time. I wondered how it was that people spent years working on a single book. Well, here I am, years later, and Maleki is still not out. I've learned that it is actually the editing of a book that is hard, not the initial writing (at least for me).

I initially dropped Maleki for a time after it went through its first round of edits. As my first book, the rough draft was really, well, rough at times. Having written first drafts for several more books and having studied the craft a bit more, I think my newer work is better. I believe something that also helped me was simply reading more in general.

If you didn’t know, the creators of The Realms of Manetera are actually involved in another project: Leafbound Review. The goal of LBR is to help authors get their first book review. You can find the site here: https://leafboundreview.blogspot.com/p/submit-your-book.html

Anyway, back to me. The first round of comments from my editor for Brotherhood of Light is in! It is now up to me to incorporate them into the next version of the book. I hope it won't be much longer until I'm ready to publish. I’ll try to keep everyone updated on that process here.

Discover the World of Manetara: Why You Should Read Maleki

If you are looking for a fresh take on the fantasy genre, look no further than "Maleki: The Realms of Manetara." This isn't your typical story of knights in shining armor; it is a unique journey that explores identity, belonging, and the complicated nature of peace between vastly different races.

Here is why this 2022 "Must Read" belongs on your bookshelf:

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A Hero Caught Between Two Worlds

The story follows Maleki, a character who defies every fantasy stereotype. Standing at a staggering 8 foot 7, he is a handsome half-ogre who was raised among humans but finds himself seeking his own path. He isn't the mindless brute most humans expect; he is literate, thoughtful, and travels with a mysterious book known as The Lexicon.

An Unlikely Partnership

Maleki’s journey is made all the more entertaining by his companion, Gulpag, a wingless, three-foot-tall Imp. Their dynamic—pairing a soft-spoken giant with a fire-wielding creature of chaos—provides both humor and heart as they navigate the treacherous landscapes of Manetara.

Rich, Immersive World-Building

From the blistering heat of the sandy deserts to the mysterious green-lit underground cities and the frigid northern tundras, the setting of this book is vast and varied. You will encounter:

• Drow Statesmen navigating high-stakes political alliances.

• Orc Raiders looking for a new purpose beyond the sea.

• Ancient Golems that roam the sandstone wastes.

Themes of Identity and Peace

At its core, Maleki asks what it means to truly belong. Whether it is Maleki trying to find a place where he isn't viewed as a "devil," or the ogress Marsha representing her tribe in a complicated diplomatic council, the book dives deep into the struggle of overcoming prejudice to build a unified future.

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"Wow, Just Wow" — A Must Read Half-Ogre Related Book.

Which cover do you like best?

 

Here are two AI generated cover concepts for a sequel to Maleki. Let me know which one you like best!

A non-update

To give you a little update, work and editing on Maleki is still going on. Hopefully I will have a better update for you shortly. It doesn't look like any more books are coming out this year though. 

On another note, I don't think I have blogged about the status of the books on this website much before, but I am now. We will see if it is a trend that continues though. If you think I should leave a comment and if you don't, just do nothing (or say) and I will probably stop. 

If I haven't said it on here before, editing a book is brutal. I wrote the book, a first draft, and thought I was close to done, but no, the writing is the easy part, the editing is the hard part. Anyways, work goes on and updates will follow. If you haven't already, make sure to sub to the email list on here, as updates will be provided there.

An update on Maleki

I’m thrilled to share a quick update: I think the book Maleki is nearly ready for release! I’ve finally gotten through nearly all of my editor's comments. Hopefully they feel the same! After this last check, it's just the final polish with my proofreader, and then—we are off to the races! 

Granted, I have been thinking this for quite a while at this point. It is a little funny; years ago I finished the first draft and thought, 'Ha, writing a book is so tough.' Little did I know, writing a book indeed isn’t that hard, but editing one is entirely a different story. So people say that if I plotted the book, it would be different, but really, I’m not entirely sure. Most of the issues with my story were not of plot, but rather of being intimate in the details of it. In any case, I think the book is fully fleshed out now, which is great.

I can’t wait for you all to finally  see the end of Maleki’s tale (or perhaps just the beginning?) and follow his brutal, eye-opening journey. Get ready for a story about outcasts, cults, and more.

Thanks for sticking with me on this long journey. To celebrate the finishing line being in sight: What’s the one thing you can’t wait to read about Maleki and his world?

An Epic Journey into the Realms of Manetera: Unraveling the Secrets of Maleki

 

An Epic Journey into the Realms of Manetera: Unraveling the Secrets of Maleki

Ready for a fantasy adventure unlike any other? Immerse yourself in the rich world of Manetera with Maleki, the thrilling tale of one half-ogre’s quest to find his destiny and uncover a conspiracy that could change everything.

Maleki is more than a hero’s journey—it’s a search for truth. Our story begins with Maleki, a lonely half-ogre in the desert, who dreams of a mysterious glowing book. This isn’t just a dream, but a calling. He finds the book, and it sets him on a path to find the enigmatic being known as Dracena on the distant island of Dreskorn. What starts as a simple search for purpose becomes a perilous voyage that reveals a hidden conflict and a deep-seated conspiracy.

As Maleki travels across Manetera, he encounters a diverse cast of characters, including an eccentric imp and a powerful drow who challenge his understanding of the world. He discovers that the very identity he's been wrestling with—his heritage as a half-ogre—is a central part of a larger plan by a cult that wants to eradicate all non-humans. Maleki is not just a participant in this adventure; he is at the very heart of the conflict.

This book is perfect for readers who love a good mystery and are looking for a fantasy story that isn't afraid to ask big questions about identity, belonging, and the nature of truth. Follow Maleki as he navigates a world filled with danger and intrigue, and help him unravel the secrets of his past to secure a future for all.

Grab your copy of Maleki today and begin the journey!

The Realms of Manetera Series Summary

 The Realms of Manetera is a fantasy world created by Andrew Wright and Ricky Hirschi. The setting is a world on the brink of a major war, primarily involving a Drow-Ogre alliance and the kingdom of Ladenthreau. The books can be read in any order and explore themes of identity, purpose, and moral compromise through various perspectives.

The enigmatic figure or entity named Dracena appears to be a key element connecting several of the major storylines.

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Book Summaries

1. Maleki 

• Protagonist: Maleki, a handsome, literate half-ogre who feels alienated by his desert tribe and is viewed as an "other."

• Plot: The story begins when Maleki is called to adventure by a mysterious glowing book, which spurs him to leave his tribe and seek his destiny by finding the entity/being Dracena on the island of Dreskorn.

2. Jax 

• Protagonist: Jax, a conflicted mercenary haunted by the desert sun, who seeks a place in the cool, underground city of Claycall.

• Plot: After being rejected by Claycall years ago, Jax joins a mercenary company led by the ruthless Turnus to raid the city. The mission's success is corrupted when Turnus brutally murders the city's unarmed mayor, triggering a profound moral crisis in Jax.

• Journey to the Brotherhood: Seeking atonement or a new purpose, Jax abandons the mercenary life and joins the Brotherhood of Light. 

3. Brotherhood of Light

• Protagonist: Brundin, a new initiate to the prestigious Order of Light, plagued by anxiety and self-doubt about the huge responsibility placed upon him.

• Plot: His training is suddenly cut short as a war breaks out, forcing him to rise to the challenge and battle orcish enemies.

• Key Scene: He is first introduced at a tavern, where he is counseled and inspired by a gnome bard named Little Grey.

4. Vera

• Protagonist: Vera, a skilled drow spy and member of the powerful Bourreaux organization.

• Plot: Vera and her mentor, Dranor, go on a covert mission to infiltrate the human settlement of Bronzehelm. They use magic to disguise their drow appearance and track the activities of the cult of Dracena.

5. Mist Company: Part 1 The Making of a King

• Protagonist: Dastan, a lieutenant in the Royal Guard of Ladenthreau.

• Plot: Dastan must use his wit to repel an invasion from the Drow-Ogre alliance that threatens the kingdom, becoming the sole survivor of an attack on his outpost and accompanying a faerie maid on a quest.