A Character Meet & Greet
Introducing The Sapphire Crown
A few weeks ago, I briefly mentioned my other WIP, The Sapphire Crown (working title). As it turns out, my creative brain wanted to go play with Edwardian-esque magic and royalty, so I’ve been pulling that draft together from the bits and pieces I wrote over the last two years. I’m having so much fun diving into this world, which is growing ever more complex as I write. It’s 60% drafted which is super exciting.
(If you’re here for Swiss Guard content, never fear! It will come back in future newsletters.)
What’s The Sapphire Crown about, you ask? Well…
Disgraced mage Sira Firtree has been living in disguise since the Reapers — who murder mages to steal their power — destroyed her life. Prince Gabriel Remington, preparing to become the Archduke over the country of Eson, faces a complicated tangle of politics and single-fatherhood. When Sira intervenes in an accident involving Gabriel’s young daughter, the widowed prince and the disguised mage are drawn together. They must battle the Reapers’ growing reign of terror, while navigating political intrigue and their growing attraction for each other. But the Reapers turn out to be closer to Gabriel and Sira than they could have imagined, and betrayal threatens to end both their budding romance and Eson’s way of life.
Would you like to meet (some of) the characters? Good, because I want to introduce them to you!
(Yes, these are all AI. I have no visual imagination and no drawing skills. I’ll only be sharing these via email, not on social media.)
Top left— Prince Gabriel Remington, the ruler of the principality of Teigh, on his way to becoming Archduke of the whole country of Eson. He’s determined to be the best ruler he can, but he often feels overwhelmed by the complexity of his role and wishes he had more time just to spend time with his young daughter.
Top center— Sira Firtree, a.k.a. Augusta Snow, a young medical mage determined to survive anything the Reapers throw at her. Born into the minor nobility and educated in the Collegium of the Mage Guild, she’s a street-smart spitfire with a fierce loyalty to those she loves.
Top right— Princess Lia Remington, Gabriel’s daughter, is a sweet little girl who everyone loves. But with a busy father and a deceased mother, she’s close to becoming a spoiled brat until Sira comes along.
Bottom left— Martin Foucalt, the Dextro (right hand) of Prince Gabriel, handles most of the day-to-day running of the principality — and soon, the whole country. He’s incredibly capable and organized, and knows everything there is to know about politics.
Bottom center— Baroness Pearl Hamlein is a rich, up-and-coming young widow with her sights set on the eligible Gabriel. She and Sira share a complicated history…
Bottom right— Princess Zaralva of Samandura is the younger daughter of the Emperor of Samandura, whose armies are slowly approaching Eson’s borders as the empire absorbs much of the continent. She’s offered her hand to Gabriel in a marriage alliance, but such an agreement threatens Eson’s independence. Also did I mention she has a pet ocelot? Because why not. And she’s beginning to clamor for her own book. Zaralva, not the ocelot.
SO MANY LAYERS. There’s a plot and then there’s about five subplots. Maybe not that much, but…all this intrigue is a beast to try and sort out, much less articulate in a sensible way. I’m keeping notes of things that need to be adjusted later, but letting myself be drawn along by the flow of the story. Some of the characters have already surprised me by adding twists and turns (like Zaralva with her ocelots.)
And, if this story concept intrigues you, you should check out WhiteCrown Publishing, which is home to a whole host of fun royal fiction!
*cracks knuckles*
Time to get into the home stretch of November. I have twelve days left to finish another twelve chapters, so wish me luck!
P.S. If you love virtuous fluff like I do, check out this new release!
Love,
R
That's an interesting concept, though. The ocelot getting it's own book.