Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Mirrordom

What’s involved in writing a book: yet more editing

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It’s all hands on deck, as we get closer to publication day!

What stage are we at?

Venom and Blaze has just been through the second editor. (Yes, even after being through the first editor about twenty million times, there’s still more to fix.) My second editor caught a few things that didn’t make sense and formatted the book to their house style.

What happens next?

After this, it’ll go to the formatters where I’ll get sent a print .pdf for review. I get two chances to spot any other minor things to change (the time for developmental editing has passed.)

Once that’s done, I’ll start working with a designer to come up with a cover that encapsulates my vision for Venom and Blaze.

In other news, the first draft of Fable and Legend is with the publisher and she is currently reading it. I think Fable and Legend is one of the most mature books I’ve written in the series (I don’t mean mature in the sense of content, but in the sense of being written with maturity.)

Is anything else happening?

I’m glad you asked. Yes. I’m currently working on plotting the fourth book in the series, which has a working title of Flame and Phoenix. Whether it ever sees the light of day is another matter. And I’m also editing a YA novel I wrote over lockdown that I recently revisited and found to not be entirely dross. Again, whether that ever sees the light of day, I am unsure. It’s totally separate from the Mirrordom universe.

Oops – I did it again

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The blog has been extra quiet lately. This is because I’ve been working on another story set in Mirrordom (once which is likely going to muck up the trilogy concept because it’ll make four in total. And I’m not even going to mention at this stage that I have plans for a fifth.)

I’ve been working on this one over the winter, simply because I felt the character of Quiver’s mother deserved her own story. And because I ended up writing a throwaway remark in Venom and Blaze that I later realised was quite a cool concept I wanted to explore further.

I can’t say too much at this time – and, of course, there’s no guarantee this book will ever see the light of day. Frankly, if I were my publisher, I’d tell me to go and have a good long think about my actions because I seem to have no concept of the words “chronological order.” Other seasoned authors seem to manage to write their books in the order things happen, rather than my haphazard Oh-I-Think-This-Character-Needs-Their-Own-Story-So-I’ll-Go-Back-And-Write-It-And-Give-No-Heed-To-The-Fact-It-Mucks-Up-The-Planned-Order sort of way. Because this book would come directly after the events of Venom and Blaze so it would become the second in the series, bumping City and Shadow down (again) to third in the series.

I know we’re not supposed to have favourites but this one might just be my new favourite. In a way, it’s quite fitting that Quiver’s mother gets her own story because the very first Mirrordom book I wrote began with her. Although she’s largely overshadowed by other characters, it’s her actions that end up setting a chain of events in motion. Writing about her in her own right gave me a chance to explore her complexities and develop her character.

So what can I say about this book?

Well, we have some new settings. Most of the action of the other books takes place around the castle and the caves. This book features the Glittering City, a farmhouse on the edge of the woods and a lot of taverns – all brand-new locations.

We also have some brand new characters, like Cobalt, Legend and Ballad. Every one of them has their own secrets and Fable finds herself caught up in their stories. We also get to see the return of another familiar character, but I can’t say too much about that.

Part of the reason for writing this blog has always been to document the whole process of writing books and aiming to get them published. At the very least, it’ll be something for me to look back on later and perhaps learn from. So here’s another stitch in the tapestry of working on Mirrordom: throwing yet another novel into the mix. I daresay everyone will be quite used to that by now.

Last night, I typed “The End”

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I’m excited to announce the first draft of Quiver and Arrow is finished!

What happens next?

Nothing. I let the story sit for a few months. Then, I format it using Reedsy (they have a brilliant, free formatting tool) and read it like it’s a normal book. I find the fallow period combined with the change in formatting helps me spot errors more easily.

After that, I’ll submit Quiver and Arrow to my publisher to see if they think it’s got any merit.

And the rest of the Mirrordom Trilogy?

Venom and Blaze will need edited nearer to its publication date. And then begins the fun bits, like choosing a cover and promoting the story. The same process will happen with City and Shadow.

Will there be any other books in the Mirrordom Universe?

Let’s not rule anything out. I do have a novella planned, but that’s not progressed beyond a scribbled note in my journal.

What else is in the pipeline?

I’m writing a psychological novel for adults, purely for my own pleasure. I’m also working on another YA novel, completely unrelated to Mirrordom.

And then there will be all the work of promotion, engaging with readers, approaching booksellers and, hopefully, achieving my dream of getting Venom and Blaze into Waterstones!

What am I reading?

At the moment, I’m reading The Toll by Neal Shusterman – the last in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy. I’m absolutely loving his work. I’m also still reading The Dark Queen by Dana Gricken. I’ll be writing reviews on both when I’m done.

Are you reading anything riveting? I’d love to hear all about it.

An update from Mirrordom

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January is (finally) about to draw to a close as I write this. In spite of it being January the 3,001st, payday still being days away and the weather showing no signs of improving, brighter days are on the horizon.

There is something to be said for dark winter nights. There’s a plausible reason to stay home, write books, read books and not socialise. But I am more than ready for the summer!

I’m also one step closer to writing “THE END” on Quiver and Arrow. The book has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I hope you get to enjoy it one day.

I can already see myself going back to Mirrordom and delving into the backstory of Quiver’s mother. But we’ll see if anything comes of that. One thing for sure, she is a fascinating, resourceful woman who definitely has a few stories to tell.

As far as we know for now, though, this is the end of the Mirrordom stories – and definitely the end of the Mirrordom Trilogy. So, it’s important to me that we get a satisfying ending with plenty character resolution and development. Although the stories all happen over the course of one year, there’s numerous events that cause our protagonists all manner of consequences. However, I can safely say the most drastic of all those consequences has happened in Quiver and Arrow.

Meanwhile, in the world of Mirrordom, I’m looking forward to starting the process of editing Venom and Blaze, so it can go straight from my imagination into your hands.

How is your endless January going? I’d love to hear all about it.

Back to Mirrordom

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It’s the dreariest of January days as I’m writing this. Rain sluices down the window and biting winds bend the trees into submission. Perfect writing weather – I’m just missing a crackling fire and a mug of hot chocolate.

I’m taking a break from writing Quiver and Arrow, the third and final (is it final, though? Are we sure?) book in the Mirrordom Trilogy. And, let’s just say, it’s the darkest one yet. I’m slightly traumatised writing it. There are a lot of deaths.

And there’s also a lot of new characters. You’ll get to meet Arrow, Zenith, Fang, Sapient and more.

How do I keep my writing sharp?

Behind the scenes, I’ve been watching Harlan Coben’s BBC Maestro course on writing thrillers. Now, I’d be the first to admit I don’t have the brains to write a thriller. But I love Harlan Coben, both his books and his Netflix adaptations (do yourself a favour: stop reading this and watch The Stranger. You can thank me later.), but Quiver and Arrow isn’t like the other books in the Mirrordom Trilogy. You can expect more twists and turns than a Scottish single track road. And there’s no one who knows more about twists and turns than Harlan Coben.

You see Quiver and Arrow starts with a mystery. In fact, there’s quite a few mysteries. And they’re all throwing Quiver’s world into total chaos.

If I’m being honest, Quiver was my least favourite character in the Mirrordom Trilogy. I found his ideals naïve and didn’t think he was especially nice to City, a character I always felt terribly protective of. But now Quiver has come into his own – I can sympathise with his actions and choices. And, let’s be real, he’s getting a really tough time in this book. Will it end happily? There are no guarantees with this series.

How much plotting do I do?

I plot a lot. But I find that it doesn’t really matter if I do or not. I can write the entire plot out, chapter by chapter, and still I get surprised. The act of writing the book, for me, is an entirely organic process. By that I mean that it grows like a plant. I can encourage it in a certain direction. But I have no real control over it. It happens how it happens. Which is very annoying because I’m a planner by nature and I’d quite like to stick to the plan I had at the start.

How do I think of new characters?

The character of Arrow was actually dreamed up back when I wrote the first book in the series. I liked the way her name matches with Quiver’s. However, I never got round to doing anything with her until the third book.

I also decided I wanted Quiver to have a pet, so I gave him a beautiful, pure-white wolf called Fang that never leaves his side.

And what book would be complete without a villain? You’ll have to wait to find out who the villain of this story is, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

What are you working on this January? Are you reading anything exciting? I’d love to hear all about it.

Venom and Blaze: coming soon!

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My debut novel, Venom and Blaze, is due out in Summer 2024. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the release date:

What’s the book about?

“During a time when unicorns roamed free and dragons cast shadows across the sun, the wise men and women of the land told stories of a troubled future. The legends whispered of a time when every baby born would be blonde, genial and entirely Good. But straight after it would emerge a baby with black hair, dark eyes – and an entirely different nature. They would be called Mirrors and nobody would know from whence they came or what to do with them once they arrived.”
Venom… wants a normal life where no one can tell her what to do. (Especially her father, King Viper.)
Blaze… wants to be free. (After all, he has been imprisoned in a dungeon since he was a
baby.)
Thorn… wants to get the girl. (Which is a shame, because the girl has other things on her mind.)
At least one of them is going to be disappointed.

Who are the main characters and what are they like?

This is the first book in the Mirrordom Trilogy to have dual perspectives. The story is mostly told through the eyes of two of the main characters in alternating chapters.

Blaze was imprisoned in the castle dungeons along with four other Mirrors when they were just babies. Stone walls and scared faces are all he’s ever known. But he’s determined to get out. And, when he gets out, he’s going to make the man who put him there pay. Unfortunately, the man who put him there is the ruler of the land, King Viper.

Venom is King Viper’s seventeen-year-old daughter, who hates her father almost as much as Blaze does. All she wants is a normal life. All her father wants is to pair her off with a politically-advantageous match. But Venom has never been keen on sticking to the rules. And when she discovers and falls in love with the boy down in the dungeons, everything changes. Oh, and did I mention she can communicate with spiders? Because she absolutely can.

Thorn is a Lawkeeper who looks after and befriends Venom. He quickly falls in love with her – but can he compete with Blaze?

Does the book come with a trigger warning?

Yes – I anticipate that all books in the Mirrordom Trilogy will have trigger warnings. It’s not for the faint of heart.

What ages should read the book?

This book is for older teenagers. There is one intimate, tasteful scene in it (sorry, Mum!) and a few swear words (really sorry, Mum!). There are also quite dark scenes.

Will there be another story in the Mirrordom Trilogy?

Yes. There will be a third. I have a title, a plot and a bunch of cool characters I can’t wait to introduce you to. After that, I have no idea. I do know that none of these characters have let me go. Even once I thought their stories were over, I found there were still more to tell.

Which character from Venom and Blaze is my favourite?

I try not to have favourite characters but I love the character of Queen Saffron. She doesn’t feature hugely, but what she does and says is powerful – and ends up shaping Venom’s character.

Why did you write the trilogy backwards?

Because I’m an idiot.

City and Shadow was written first. And then I wrote a prequel, which subsequently ended up being first in the series. Even though it was written second. If I could go back and do it differently, I would. But I’m not sure I could have done it any differently.

Two of the main characters in Venom and Blaze become the main villains in City and Shadow. But this is far more than just an origin story. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.

Summer 2024 is ages away! What about right now?

It’ll be here before we know it! There’s a lot of work to be done in the meantime, including editing, selecting a cover and book promotion – all of which will be completely new to me.

Exciting news – and a bit of a surprise!

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“Are you sure you don’t want to write more about these characters?” my beta reader asked. “I think they have more stories to tell.”

“No, definitely not. I don’t see what else could possibly be done in this world,” I said, decisively.

Cut to me, less than three months later, starting a prequel. A prequel nobody asked for. A prequel I didn’t think anybody would want to read. But a prequel that simply wouldn’t stop flowing.

A prequel that just got accepted for publication next year!

Which left us all with a conundrum. Because the events in Venom and Blaze definitely take place before City and Shadow and set the stage for a potential third novel too. And, when submitting it to my publisher, I (equally as decisively as when I told my beta teacher I wouldn’t be writing more) declared it definitely wasn’t part of a series and I had no plans for one either. So what should I do? Release City and Shadow as planned and then release the prequel? Being a chronic overthinker, the entanglement I got myself in caused me much consternation. However, my lovely publisher effortlessly solved this conundrum by a simple tweak of the scheduling.

The result? City and Shadow will be coming out in Autumn 2024. Venom and Blaze will be coming out in Summer 2024. And, yes, there will be a third in the trilogy (the clue is kind of in the name, I guess!). Once I get myself in gear and actually write it. Because it turns out I was wrong. There’s an abundance of stories to be told in the world of Good and Mirrors.

So, apologies to everyone (mainly my mother) who was hyped up waiting for City and Shadow but I promise* it’ll be worth the wait.

Venom and Blaze

In a game of power, love is the ultimate weapon.

Venom… wants a normal life where no one can tell her what to do. (Especially her father, King Viper.)
Blaze… wants to be free. (After all, he has been imprisoned in a dungeon since he was a baby.)
Thorn… wants to get the girl. (Which is a shame, because the girl has other things on her mind.)
At least one of them is going to be disappointed.

As soon as I have more details, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful time over the holidays.

Welcome to The Mirrordom Trilogy.

*Disclaimer: I am not to be held responsible if, upon reading City and Shadow, you felt it was not, in fact, worth the wait.

City and Shadow: coming soon!

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UPDATE: As of 28 December, City and Shadow‘s release date has been changed. It was originally due out in Summer 2024. I have not edited the blog to reflect the change.

My debut novel, City and Shadow, is due out in Summer 2024. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the release date:

What’s the book about?

“At first, they tried to co-exist. The Good and their Mirror. The firstborn and the twin that emerged immediately after…”
In a world where every person has a Mirror twin capable of doing only bad things, Quiver is the only one born Mirrorless. Along with his best friend, City, the two must navigate a society ruled by a tyrannical queen and threatened by a dangerous rebel. And, when City’s Mirror escapes from her island prison, a chain of events is set in motion that thrusts Quiver, City and her Mirror into a dangerous struggle for power and survival.

Who are the main characters and what are they like?

My book ended up having three main characters, all of equal importance. It centres around the story of three very different teenagers, who each have their own complexities and problems.

Quiver is a revolutionary. He’s never fitted in and he channels that to create a world of chance. He’s not afraid to make the tough choices, even if that means sacrificing something he cares about.

The story is told through the eyes and from the perspective of his best friend, City. City is a quiet girl who just wants to maintain the status quo. Unfortunately, for her, life has other plans…

Shadow is City’s Mirror – and my favourite character, if I’m allowed to have favourites. Funny, sarcastic, slightly aggressive and never taking no for an answer, Shadow has personality in bucketloads and she’s not afraid to make it known.

What about the villain?

I couldn’t pick one protagonist – so I definitely couldn’t pick one villain either. This book has two.

Queen Venom is a cool, calculating monarch who’s found a way round the fact that she’s Good and unable to kill, lie, steal or do anything particularly bad. At least, not directly. As you’ll find in the book, she can do quite a lot of bad things.

Blaze is the other villain. He pops up later in the book but makes up for it by doing an awful lot of damage in a short space of time.

Villains are my favourite characters to write as you can have such fun describing them, what makes them tick and why they made the choices they did.

Does the book come with a trigger warning?

It’s very dark, so I wouldn’t recommend it for the faint of heart.

What ages should read the book?

Ages 13+ would be able to read my book. There’s one swear word in it (sorry, Mum) but that’s about it, apart from the aforementioned darkness.

What’s with all the spiders?

Early on, I had a vision for a character that wore a dress of live spiders. This morphed into a character that literally just wore spiders. Queen Venom became that character. She’s covered entirely in spiders that reshape themselves, depending on what sort of outfit she needs. I anticipate this will gross a few people out, but I’ve always been very fond of spiders.

Will there be another story in the Mirrordom universe?

I’m already planning a prequel and a sequel. Whether they ever see the light of day or not is another matter. I have working titles and vague plots for both, but the prequel will aim to explore the relationship between Venom and Blaze, while teeing up the City and Shadow sequel. The sequel will explain how Quiver came to be Mirrorless.

Summer 2024 is ages away. What about right now?

Right now, you can take my Which City and Shadow Character Are You? quiz, which will let you know which of my three protagonists you’ll resonate with the most. And I’m planning a blog post on books I’ve loved that you might want to check out.