I finished Book 8 draft of the Consortium series

Finished Book 8 draft

Well, well, good news; I finished Book 8 draft of the Consortium series. Yes, the first draft is done. Now it is time to edit. I know it took a long time. Honestly, it took longer than I expected. I struggled with the last 25% of the book. I knew how I wanted to end it, but getting there was more difficult than I expected. But I got there. Whew!

Rewrite edit rewrite.  Finished Book 8 draft
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

While I finished book 8 draft, there is much more work to do. I even struggled with the book’s title. I considered several options, but I liked none of them. So, I went to the Internet. Nope, I still didn’t find one. Then, I went to my trusty thesaurus. I believe I have found the perfect title, ‘Counterblow.’

Def: Counterblow – a blow given in return or retaliation, as in boxing.

This seems the perfect title, although I plan on a first edit of the book before deciding. After that, I’ll turn it over to others for further editing. From the title, you can guess that the story is one counterblow after another throughout. In the end, I love how it all came together. I’m feeling uplifted and eager to get it to you.

I’d love it if you had any other suggestions.

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The Trafficking Consortium, third edition

The Trafficking Consortium, third edition

The Trafficking Consortium, third edition

I’m especially proud of The Trafficking Consortium, third edition. I ran into an issue with writing the last couple of chapters of book 8. I know how I want to end it, yet I didn’t know how to transition from story to it. So, I took a break. What did I do? I wanted to issue an audiobook version of the first book in the Consortium series.

That led to a rewrite of the entire book, a dozen or more edits using several sources, and perhaps five walk throughs of the audiobook. And before any of you ask, I have several people reading and editing it, just in case something got missed. I wanted to get the cadence just right, and it provided me an opportunity to delve deeper into the mindsets of the characters. Overall, it’s the same story. And as you can see, while I was at it, I gave it a new book cover. Frankly, I was bored with the original one.

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Writing Projects for 2025 in the works

Here is a list of my writing projects for 2025, in the coming year. Since so many of you have asked me questions about my stories and their status, I compiled this list as I was drifting in and out of sleep in the wee hours of this morning.

  1. Finish, edit, and publish Consortium Book 8, yet unnamed.
  2. Finish edit of Consortium book 1 ‘The Trafficking Consortium’ for audio books.
    • Yes, I’m writing Book 8 and working on this concurrently. I can’t help it. When I started this, I thought it would be quick and dirty. I surprised myself. This is a romantic story mixed with abuse and erotica from Avril’s POV. She’s the main character that permeates the entire series.
    • What surprised me the most, I wrote the story from her point of view. I had forgotten that. I err’d when I thought it was a mix between Sir’s and Avril’s POV. Wrong, although I’m sure I will discover it more of a mix in the later stories.
    • As I work on this version, I decided to publish it as a new edition. I added so much to the story, delving deeper into Avril’s state-of-mind, and her responses to new experiences and conflicts. Don’t worry, the overall story remains the same. I learned a lot about writing over the years since I first started, and this is a perfect opportunity to integrate that new knowledge into my stories.
  3. Work with a video content creator to create book trailers to market my books.
  4. Write Consortium Origin 2.
    • outlined and ready to put manuscript pen to paper, or rather type to document.
  5. Edit Consortium books 2-7 for audio books
  6. Edit Mona Bendarova books 1-4 for audiobooks,
    • (I can’t start book 5 until I read Mona 1-4, might as well edit too.)
  7. Write Mona books 5 & 6 (I may close out the series? It depends.)
  8. Write Consortium Origin 3, outline is already in development.
  9. Start writing Consortium book 9. Yes, there will be another one.

God, I hope I don’t add to this list. Who knows, my mind goes where it wants when it comes to my writing.

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Consortium Book 8 Progress

I’ve given a lot of thought to updating you on my Consortium Book 8 Progress. Being honest, I don’t really know what to tell you. I’ve written a lot, continuing the story line and adding more twists and turns.

Two days ago, I realized I had left open a couple of subplots that needing followup. With thirty-seven chapters and 80% of the book written, I felt stymied. Where to insert additionally chapters in the book without disturbing the continuity of the story line so far written. I was at a loss.

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Archway Publishing

Archway Publishing
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Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

A Consortium Origins Tale, Book 1

Why read Shadowed Inheritance? Searching various online book review sites, a reader found the following:

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

“Shadowed Inheritance” by Richard Verry is a compelling prequel in the Consortium series. This dark suspense novel delves into the lives of its future leaders. Raised in a household where their parents groom the siblings to take over a sinister organization known as the Consortium. Raven’s perspective drives the story as she grows from a young girl to a young adult, preparing with her brother to lead a dangerous group.

There are other reviews and commentaries that I will share in the coming weeks. Go ahead. Read “Shadowed Inheritance?”

Where to get the book.

The eBook (Kindle) and Audiobook versions are live on Amazon. The paperback version will be out in a couple of weeks while I await and approve the proof.

The eBook and audio book are also available on Draft2Digital, Apple Books, Barnes & Nobel, Google Books and Google Play Books, Kobo, and a dozen other electronic booksellers.

I’m excited about this book. It’s a prequel story of the Consortium Series.

Read Shadowed Inheritance today! After you do, please it a review, even if it’s only stars. Thank you.

more “Why Read Shadowed Inheritance”

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

A Consortium Origins Tale, Book 1

Searching various online book review sites, a reader found the following:

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

“Shadowed Inheritance” by Richard Verry is a compelling prequel in the Consortium Origin Tales series. This dark suspense novel delves into the lives of Raven and her brother, raised in a household where their parents groom them to take over a sinister organization known as the Consortium. The story unfolds from Raven’s perspective, chronicling her journey from preadolescence to her mid-twenties as she and her brother prepare to lead this deadly group.

There are other reviews and commentaries that I will share in the coming weeks. Go ahead. Read “Shadowed Inheritance?”

Where to get the book.

The eBook (Kindle) and Audiobook versions are live on Amazon. The paperback version will be out in a couple of weeks while I await and approve the proof.

The eBook and audio book are also available on Draft2Digital, Apple Books, Barnes & Nobel, Google Books and Google Play Books, Kobo, and a dozen other electronic booksellers.

I’m excited about this book. It’s a prequel story of the Consortium Series.

Read Shadowed Inheritance today! After you do, please it a review, even if it’s only stars. Thank you.

more “Why Read Shadowed Inheritance”

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

A Consortium Origins Tale, Book 1

Searching various online book review sites, a reader found the following:

Why Read Shadowed Inheritance

“Shadowed Inheritance” by Richard Verry is a compelling prequel in the Consortium Origin Tales series. This dark suspense novel delves into the lives of Raven and her brother, raised in a household where their parents groom them to take over a sinister organization known as the Consortium. The story unfolds from Raven’s perspective, chronicling her journey from preadolescence to her mid-twenties as she and her brother prepare to lead this deadly group.

There are other reviews and commentaries that I will share in the coming weeks. Go ahead. Read “Shadowed Inheritance?”

Where to get the book.

The eBook (Kindle) and Audiobook versions are live on Amazon. The paperback version will be out in a couple of weeks while I await and approve the proof.

The eBook and audio book are also available on Draft2Digital, Apple Books, Barnes & Nobel, Google Books and Google Play Books, Kobo, and a dozen other electronic booksellers.

I’m excited about this book. It’s a prequel story of the Consortium Series.

Read Shadowed Inheritance today! After you do, please it a review, even if it’s only stars. Thank you.

more “Why Read Shadowed Inheritance”

First draft of book 7 in the Consortium Series

Hello all, my faithful readers, I want you to know I just finished the first draft of book 7 in the Consortium Series. I know it’s been about six weeks since my last post, and I’m sorry about that. Well, maybe not. You see, I’ve been on a roll, writing nearly every morning while my partner sleeps.

pen and notebook
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I get up at around 7am and she gets up at around 11am. This gives me several hours of uninterrupted time to write.

I really like how this story developed, and I hope you do too. It’s odd. I did not know how the book would turn out, but as I got into it, things fell into place. I’m very proud of this first draft of book 7 in the Consortium series.

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After effects of writing Shadowed Inheritance

After effects of writing Shadowed Inheritance

A Consortium Origins Tale, #1

As I wrote in my last entry, the after effects of writing Shadowed Inheritance. sparked countless creative ideas for the Consortium Series. What I didn’t expect was writing day after day, drafting new scenes/chapters and doing initial edits on what I had written. This last chapter I worked on is over 4000 words long and took two days to get it just about right. I’m enthralled.

Book 7 follows the action after the destruction of the Consortium training center and Sir’s estate. Sir escapes capture to take up residence in his sister Raven’s house. Sir and Raven are putting their heads together to try and salvage what is left of the Consortium. Raven, being her normal self, is looking at getting back at those that ravaged the auction facility and her brother’s estate. Sir, on the other hand, is struggling to put things back to normal. His emotional state is in turmoil. He’s afraid of letting the membership down, and more importantly, is ancestral legacy. You’ll understand that last reference if you have already read ‘Shadowed Inheritance.’

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