I feel like I just finished writing the Crossroads trilogy, about early man 850,000 years ago, but it’s actually been a few months. For my next book, I’m going back to earliest men–Homo habilis–who lived 1.8 million years ago. I already published the first book in that trilogy, Born in a Treacherous Time (the trilogy is called Dawn of Humanity) The tagline for Laws of Nature might be:
Lucy and her tribe struggle to survive a prehistoric time when Nature rules but a new challenge–future man–may mean her end.
…and a quick summary:
Lucy and her band of early humans struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world.
If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. It will bring that world to life in a way never seen before.
Here’s what I did the past few months:
- I’m organizing the spreadsheet for the last two books in the Dawn of Humanity trilogy. Book 2 is called Laws of Nature and Book 3 In the Shadow of Giants. Thanks to Diana Peach’s role modeling, I decided to try to publish both at the same time. I have about 98,000 words so far. Probably by next month’s update, I’ll transfer the spreadsheet to a Word doc.
- I’m working on the trailer for the Crossroads trilogy. After that, I’ll make one for the entire saga of Man vs Nature
- I’m trying a new marketing effort with a social media group. I’m actually paying them, something I rarely do! So far, it’s not working at all. We’ll see…
- I joined a prehistoric fiction Facebook group, thanks to a chance connection from Goodreads. I found many of the authors I’ve been reading which makes it a fascinating group.
- I finally found the macro vision for the Man vs. Nature trilogies. You might have read it in a guest post during the Against All Odds book launch so I’ll summarize: Each trilogy will deal with a seminal event in man’s evolution. So far:
- Dawn of Humanity–the first bipedal creature of our genus
- Crossroads–the most successful species in our genus (the original trilogy will probably be expanded to a second trilogy with the same characters)
- Savage Land–when Man almost became extinct
Here’s a graphic of that:
- Though I’m working on the saga’s first trilogy, Dawn of Humanity, my subconscious is really pondering Savage Land. This was an amazing time in man’s evolution (70,000 years ago) when we almost became extinct. Why? How? What saved us? All will be revealed in the Savage Land trilogy.
- The Laws of Nature book cover is simply a place-saver. I won’t have the real one for many months!
How are you doing on your latest WIP? I’d love to hear!
More on Dawn of Humanity
Born in a Treacherous Time Receives an Award
Prehistoric Fiction Authors: Great Books For You
Will my new book be a bang or a whimper?
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Man vs. Nature saga, and the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers,. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Laws of Nature, Fall 2020.
Hi Jacqui! I received your last blog post in my inbox about an update for your Laws of Nature, but the link was invalid. So, I returned here for a second time. 🙂 Did you post another update recently? It seems like you got everything pretty much figured out, but “Ruled by Nature” might be a decent runner-up title. I loved that phrase in your blurb. 🙂 Happy writing and plotting.
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I saw that and it absolutely confused me. It was an old post, dated for April, that suddenly went out as though new. I couldn’t figure it out so I unpublished it. I’m so sorry for the confusion. I do have an update coming next week–that will be dated next week!
I’ve never had that happen before. Sigh.
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Not a big deal. WordPress does funky things sometimes. That part is annoying!
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Hi Jacqui – you are amazing … your thought processes are prodigious … and I’ve just noted all you do in your bio – I guess I never looked before! Superhuman lady … enjoy the break … all the best – Hilary
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I’m easily bored!
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Loving your books thank you so much!!!
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Well aren’t you nice!
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As always, I learn from your posts and I get inspired by your posts. I love the way you are organizing and explaining each of your book series. And the diagram is perfect. I’m so excited for you and your own deep excitement and passion for your books..
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Oddly, organizing my thinking about my trilogies helped me understand what I was doing. I can’t wait to get to Savage Land!
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The offenses from me and others may have accumulated.
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Hunh. I don’t know what that means!
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Me and many of my associates should have a better relationship with Mother Earth, and instead of nurturing the soil that always gives back, we nurture all forms of commercialism .😷
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Good point. I follow a few nomads on my blog and they keep me centered on the importance of the earth. If I need centering!
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These are deviating times. I just hope carelessness doesn’t increase and if it does we may find ourselves more isolated and controlled than now: hint … how the initial COVID produced empty food shelves at stores.
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I feel like I’m falling behind after all you have done, Jacqui! I’ve still to finish the edits on Book 3. I’m waiting to hear back on a beta reader for my new series and my historical novel is on hiatus. Sigh…
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Well, I’m not teaching full time. I do teach but online which makes a big difference in the time commitment. Your fans still await the next book!
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I hope so!
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Best wishes on finishing, Jacqui, congrats and looking forward to it!
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Thanks, Terri! I’m enjoying this one. The drafting is going a lot better than I expected.
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I’d say you’re well organized and on your way!
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I’m having a good time drafting this one right now. I hope that continues through the editing!
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Good luck!
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You’re WAY more organized than I am, lol. I’m glad you’re going back to Lucy’s story, I’m anxious to see what happened to her!
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As the first of our kind, she was an amazing creature in a predatory world!
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Sounds like you’re super productive, which is great! I’m still working on edits for my urban fantasy and am coming close to the end of draft #5. I’ve started an online critique group with writers whose work I’m familiar with and after our first session have already gotten great feedback. So, now I’m anxious to get going on the 6th draft. Also need to finalize a Casey Holland mystery novella, which will be released next year. It’s a busy fall, but this time, with more writing and no day job 🙂
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I couldn’t believe how busy you were in that post of yours. Oh my! Is your online group a virtual meeting or just in a forum?
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It’s a virtual meeting on Zoom.
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Go, you! I’m awed by your organisation, Jacqui.
I’m just under 20K words into book 4 (last in current series) of the Five Kingdoms. It took me a while to get my head around a story that would carry the individual book, in addition to wrapping up the overall arc of all 4, but I have it now, although I’m a bit daunted by how big I think this one might end up!
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I don’t have the beautiful distractions of nature around me as you do, Deborah. though I do have a lovely yard view.
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Always inspiring, Jacqui. 🙂
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Just having fun!
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That’s the best part. 🙂
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You’re really taking this genealogy thing seriously! My WIPs are on hold until after I move early next month. Now my boxing, I’m mastering it!
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Boxing! That is great exercise and useful, too. Exciting move for you, Jeff.
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You haven’t had much of a break after Against All Odds, jacqui! Your progress is wonderful and publishing two books at the same time must make you feel good. Diana did very well on that.
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I don’t know what I’d do during a break! I don’t have any other hobbies. I guess I don’t need one.
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I have friends whose only hobby is reading. They don’t write. You have more than enough to occupy your time, Jacqui!
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You’re in the writing groove right now, Jacqui. I know this is going back a bit in your books, but I just passed the halfway point of Survival of the Fittest last night. I’m enjoying it very much.
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Thank you so much, Pete. Love hearing that!
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Wow. You are BUSY! I didn’t realize that you were moving back in time again. I’m fascinated by the stories and you’ve dropped a few good teasers. I’m curious about what you think of releasing two books at once. I think you have the discipline to push through. And if it doesn’t work for you, you can always publish one first, nothing lost. Good luck with the books, Jacqui.
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That’s my attitude, too, Diana–I can always publish them separately. I’m surprised how many people do publish several at a time. Hmm…
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I’m sure there are upsides and downsides. If you do publish both at once, I’ll be curious about your experience and the difference.
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I’ll definitely share.
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No time off for the wicked, eh? Best of luck, Jacqui, though who needs luck when starting a brand new shiny story!
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I don’t know what I’d do with all the hours in the day if I didn’t write, Jessica. Garden? Don’t think so. Cook? Yikes!
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Hahaha, when you put it like that … 😉
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Yes! woaw
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Thanks.
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Wow! You are so inspiring Jacqui, wishing you all the best.
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I have about four stories in my head. When they are done, I’m not sure where I’ll go!
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You have a lot going on Jacqui. Marketing can be frustrating and time consuming. I keep hoping to find tbat perfect way to do it.
Im still editing an older children’s book. Im thinking on a new project but not decided or inspired yet. So I write poetry.
Congrats on your award!
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That’s my fear–the ‘not inspired’. Someday. It’s interesting you can write poetry as well as fiction. I love that.
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Well done Jacqui and also for winning an award! Why am i not surprised? Keep on truckin’ ..
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Thanks, Susan. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t write. There’s not much else I enjoy.
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Your Crossroads Trilogy is certainly a hit with my husband. He’s away on a fishing trip with my Kindle tucked under his arm and I had to download Against All Odds for him before he left in case he finishes The Quest for Home before he gets back. He’s hooked! Well done, Jacqui!
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Well you can tell me that anytime! That’s wonderful, Anneli. I hope his fishing trip is going well. That sounds like he’d have some reading time.
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He’s away from the distractions of TV and the Internet in the evenings so lots of reading time and he is really enjoying your books! I miss my Kindle! I might have to get another one. This has never been a problem until Crossroads came along. 😉
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Wow! You’re doing well on that.
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Finding the overarching theme really helped me understand my goal. Who knew?
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You never stop. All the best. xi
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Can you imagine no longer writing your Amanda series? They become part of who you are, don’t you think?
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So true!
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You are so organized! And it all ties together neatly.
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As for my Universe/saga–I really didn’t see it until a few months ago, 25 years after starting the saga. Face palm on myself!
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Wishing you all the best, Jacqui. It sounds like you definitely have things planned out. That’s great about the Facebook group, too. I bet you’re really enjoying it!
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I wish I did. This is new territory for me, doing two books at once. I’m trying to treat it like one long story with a mini-ending in the middle!
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That’s awesome that you found the Facebook group with authors who write in your genre. As usual, it sounds like you’re really organized.
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I’ve been on Goodreads for over a decade and this is the first time I think it headed me in the right direction. I’m thrilled.
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My WIP is coming along. I’m becoming very fond of my protagnist. Strange, to feel swells of emotion for a person who doesn’t exist. Ah, the writing life!
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It’s great when that happens. I think it moves the book along better and in the end, makes for a great book if you love the characters and are emotionally involved with them. I remember thinking about my characters at 3 in the morning as if they were real people.
We may lose sleep, but it makes writing fun!
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There’s something about that 3 am brain that can solve plot problems and see through the haze. I bet that works well for you, Anneli.
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I bet you dream Xhosa and friends too.
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Yes, it does!
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That’s funny how that works, innit? I’ve found myself calling people in the real world by my character’s names!
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I don’t think I’ve ever done that!
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You are making so much progress, Jacqui! Your mind must be constantly shifting between these prehistoric times/trilogies. How cool you found a Facebook group of prehistoric fiction authors. That will be fun and helpful. Happy writing and plotting!
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More importantly, how is your memoir going? I have questions, you know… That whole nomad thing–I am pretty darn curious.
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🙂 I’ll write another update for the next IWSG blog hop, the first Wednesday in October. Researching cover artists at the moment and going through my entire “sailing photo archive”. After a week of that, I’m halfway. I think. And, “perfecting” my blurb, which seems to be an ongoing WIP itself!
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(Not so) fond memories of those tasks…
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You’re a brave woman to not only use your own imagination, but research to make certain your story is factual to the era. Bravo!
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The research is fun. I am so excited to find out what man 70,000 years ago was like. I don’t even know which iteration that was–Cro magnin? I give up. I’m Googling that…
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… and you’re off doing research again…. Hi-O-Silver…..
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Very interesting to read that you hope to publish books 2 and 3 at the same time. That’s a lot of work, but sounds like a good idea. Hi Jacqui. Here’s to a productive week!
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I’m taking David Gaughran’s course on marketing for self-publishers. He’s a big proponent of launching books in a series simultaneously.
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That’s interesting, Liz. I hope you share your thoughts about the class. It sounds pretty good.
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Much of it doesn’t apply to the type of writing I do, but I’m picking up some good nuggets
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Is it the Starting from Zero course?
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Yes, it is. Have you taken it?
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No but I am struggling with marketing. You like it? Maybe I’ll try it.
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Given the kind of books you write, I think you’d find it useful. The only strategy I really disagree with is going after people to sign up for the writer’s newletter “list.” The strategy obviously works for him, but it’s too hard sell and spammy for me. Plus that, I would have nothing newsletter-worthy to say week after week.
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I’m not sure I’ll make it. I don’t think I can keep that much info in memory!
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You sound so in control, Jacqui. I’m rather jealous 😉
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You wouldn’t say that if you were here!
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This is fabulous, Jacqui. I’ve been really enjoying the Crossroads trilogy. Each has been an exciting read. I’m not quite finished Against All Odds. They certainly have some difficulties to contend with. It’s nail-biting stuff at times. I’m both looking forward, and not, to the conclusion, but there are still plenty more to read once I get to the end of this one. I’ve never read anything else like these books. Well done!
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I was very excited about the ending. I didn’t expect it and then, found out (research, you know) that someone did it–why not my characters? I hope you like it.
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I am enjoying it, Jacqui. Though I’m a bit worried about them (Xhosa’s people) when one of the Others who you-know-what seems to be untrustworthy. So much fear. So much excitement. 🙂
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Nice, Jacqui. It seems as if it is necessary to do some book marketing, it’s finding the right mix that is difficult.
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That is true. I love the blogging but everyone doesn’t. I’m working on expanding out of my comfort zone.
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It looks like you’re making good progress, Jacqui. I recently turned in book five and now I’m working on my proposal for book six, due on October 1st. No rest for the weary, eh? Oh, I’m finally getting my wrist checked out on Thursday…praying no surgery is required. Have a great week!
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They really keep you writing, don’t they? Well, you are a natural storyteller in this genre. I can’t wait for your next!
I hope the wrist surgery isn’t serious? I had wrist surgery–a tendon threatened to pop/tear/something. I don’t wish it on anyone.
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Oh no…really! That’s what I’m afraid of. I have a high tolerance for pain, so I’ve been putting off getting it checked. The pain has changed over the weeks and is definitely worse. No tingling or numbness, so I don’t think it’s tendonitis. Could you use the computer after your surgery? I have deadlines! I need to email you.
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You have it well figured out it seems 😉 Good luck with this!!
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Hehee–I have you fooled! I am working it out as I go. Luckily, there really aren’t wrong answers.
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Ha, excellent 😉 I love the breadth of your imagination!
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Good luck!
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Thanks, Joanna. I really enjoy it.
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