Postcards from Liminal Space—As I’m beginning to work on the new series (as yet unnamed, but don’t worry, readers here will be among the first to know), I realize that my characters are also traveling through the “between” places. They’re grappling with questions like—who are you when everything has been stripped away? If you lost everything, what would you try to rebuild, and what could you let go of? When all the old markers of power and position no longer exist, can you still define yourself? We’ve certainly seen a lot of people struggling with those kinds of questions in the real world, and coming to a variety of answers. I’m fascinated with the process of reinvention, reawakening, re-imagining. So as January ends and I step out of liminal space, I’m excited about the insights and possibilities, and enthusiastic about diving into the new series. Here’s to reinvention!
Tag Archives: liminal space
The Two-Faced God
Postcards from Liminal Space—January was named for Janus, the two-faced god. It makes sense. It’s a month when we look forward and backward, when we’re nostalgic over what’s ending and tentatively excited about what’s beginning. I can relate. I’m wading into beginning a brand new series—new characters, a new world, a whole new world building exercise. At the same time, I’m getting ready for the launch of The Sworn, which is the newest book set in the world of the Winter Kingdoms. So I’ve got a foot in old and new, and it’s a little strange.
It’s really exciting to flex my imagination and bring a whole new cast of characters to life. My mind is becoming a very crowded place! And it’s also fun to work out their history, the culture and society, the beliefs and mythology—I’m exploring brand new territory, and once I find my way around, I’ll bring you with me. At the same time, the beginning of any new journey is unsettling, because the traveling always changes the traveler. Should be interesting.
Filed under Gail Z. Martin
Postcards from Liminal Space
Postcards from Liminal Space—I am trying to open up some new ideas, not just for my writing, but for my vision of the future. So in this first month of a new year, I am trying to be open to subtle nudges from my intuition, to dreams and memories, and to nature as it prepares for rebirth. There have been times in my life when I felt so clearly that I was standing in-between what was and what would be, but I couldn’t see far enough to know what was going to happen, only that something was about to. I have that sense now. I think it’s a good thing, but any time your routine gets knocked topsy turvey there is an in-betweenness that is awkward.
I’m just finishing up The Dread, which is either book 6 in the Chronicles series or Book Two in the Fallen Kings Cycle, depending on which reader or publisher you talk to. I’m going to take a bit of a break from the world of the Winter Kingdoms and Tris and the gang after this book, so finishing it makes me a little sad. I have many other Winter Kingdoms stories in mind that I hope to write, but I’ve got a brand new series that I’m excited to write, and so that’s going to consume the next few books. It’s definitely luminal space for me—one thing drawing to a hiatus while something else opens up.
Filed under Gail Z. Martin