Coming: Verse 3 Remastered

Hello folks!

It's gradually starting to look like summer's here!

But come rain or shine, our work must go on.

Next up on my list of tricks is, as previously teased, Amazon revamp of A Hero Past the 25th: Old Empire, the epic third part of the web novel saga, which I believe has brought most of you here (and which has also driven half the number away).

The third "verse", as I took to calling them, has been hailed by many readers as the best one. During its serialization, it gained 5-star reviews and ratings one after the other and climbed as high as the top 70 of RR's all time best rated fictions, the achievement of which still decorates my profile.

Sic transit gloria mundi, it didn't stay there for very long, but it was the only time in my life that my writing has earned a modicum of public praise, so it'll always stay a fond memory in my heart.

Verse 3 is also an episode I'm particularly fond of for many other reasons, which is why I'm very happy for the opportunity to revisit the tale and see if it can't be made even better.

Many things clicked at this part and I found what I felt was the appropriate voice for the series, which I then sought to maintain from there on to the present, more or less. Thinking how pleased I was with this part in the past, I believed I wouldn't have a lot of work left in editing the script anew for its fabulous print/Kindle release. Had anyone asked me a year ago, "what would you change about this book if you had the chance to?", I would've confidently answered: nothing.

That was then.

But now that I'm actually back sitting here, looking at the text, I find myself less than confident. It so happens there is a lot to change.

How come?

Let's go back in time a bit.

I wrote the original Old Empire in the fall of 2018.

Wrapping up my cook school studies, I made a trip to another city for a 2-month internship at a certain high-profile restaurant. I couldn't afford to rent an apartment of my own, and it wouldn't have made much sense for only two months, so I stayed with my uncle's family who lived nearby. Alas, it turned out not all of them were very pleased to have me.

The work days were long and tiring, and the time spent at home even more stressful, in many ways. It was a very, very challenging time for me. To distract myself from the small stuff, I spent my few free hours each week immersed in writing at my faithful laptop that I bring everywhere with me.

The joy of adventuring with Izumi in another world kept my spirits high, no matter what trials I was saddled with, and I was able to return to my own home 2 months later many fulfilling experiences richer—and with a new book to share online.

However, writing while stressed, distracted, and sleep-deprived did leave its unavoidable mark on the result, which editing failed to fully repair. Readers have helped me weed out various misspellings over the years, but the real issues of the text go beyond the surface.

There are conversations where the underlying point is rather difficult to discern and which play out more by the rule of cool than logic, sometimes clouding the characters' motivations. The image I had in my head of many of the new characters was yet unclear at the time and they behave occasionally in ways that contradict their core personality.

Earlier in the year, I'd read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and wanted to portray the city of Bhastifal with the same meticulous detail and passion that Victor Hugo uses to describe Paris.

Needless to say, I wasn't Victor Hugo then any more than I am now.

In some scenes, the descriptions are left only partial, as I've apparently forgotten to write out the rest, or are so derailed in the flowery phrasings, that it's difficult to tell where the events actually take place. To share an example, at one point I spend half a paragraph attempting and failing to describe a pergola.

So yeah.

These are the sort of things I wish to mend for the upcoming relaunch of this story, as it becomes available to Amazon customers around the world. Small hiccups may pass in a free web novel, but obviously I want a physical product with a price tag to be as flawless and enjoyable as it can be. Even if only Sovery Simple's mom reads it.

Above: The flag of Tratovia I designed back in the day but never had an opportunity to put anywhere.

Above: The emblem of the Imperial Court, the same story as with the flag. Around, it says something in the Old Tongue, but I can't remember what (lol).

I also want to throw a couple of new twists into the mix. Those who've read the previous two parts may already have a hunch what to expect. Changes are needed, but at the same time, they mustn't take away the magic of the original work, but rather, bring it out better. That's the mission.

I will do my best to get this project done ASAP, but can't yet give a precise release date. July would be ideal, at worst August, but there are many elements in my life that are currently out of my hands. So if it gets delayed, I can only apologize in advance.

Besides OE revisited, I have lots and lots of awesome, completely new projects underway and can't wait to show them to you guys! I've also been leveling up my 3D-modeling skills, in order to bring these fantasies of mine to life in ways never seen before.

At any rate, I'll keep you updated along the way!

As usual, I'm all open for comments and thoughts. You can send me a private message if you're too shy to comment directly on the articles.

That's all for now!

Thank you for your support once again, and see you next time!