The Grandmaster's Son: Creator's Journal

The Big Move

Hello there!

I realize some of you may be wondering why I've taken my work down from Wattpad. Primarily, it's because I've decided to make the move to self-published author. If you've been a fan of my work and are curious about my latest work, please check out my website (wcmarkarian dot com). I'm offering writing tips and tools there, samples of my artwork, and, of course, links to my various writing projects. I currently have a novel out (a sci-fi near-future thriller) you've yet to see, and I've also begun posting several stories to Vella.

Most of you, though, have followed me because of my Watty-winning book, Forged by Fire. So, here's an update on that series, first and foremost:

Let me start by saying Oz's adventures are extremely near and dear to my heart. Over the years, I am sure I've frustrated more than a few of you because of my reluctance to update the Grandmaster's Son. A few of you checked out the prequel to this story while it was posted here—The Paladin's Promise—and told me it was worth the wait. But now, I've pulled that story down, too.

Why? Because I want to give you the best, most immersive fantasy experience possible. And to do that, several things had to change:

1. I wanted to get better as a writer. Forged by Fire was my first-ever novel. Mistakes were made along the way. My style was inconsistent and overwritten. As a former academic writer, I needed to adjust to writing fiction. So, I studied various narrative techniques and honed my skills. I also invested in feedback from professional editors to take my writing to the next level.

2. My art was ... sloppy. And like my writing style, my drawings lacked a signature style. I'm not sure I have one yet, but I have improved. I hope you will enjoy what I soon release.

3. My worldbuilding, characters, and magic systems needed greater depth. I wanted to know more about Oz's world—so in short, I had to build it. All of it. I wanted to know my characters' motivations and histories—so again, I had to create them.

So where am I today? Well, I've laid out the entire Grandmaster series (seven books), the Edward the Paladin Prince series (four books), and three spinoff books (that should help with the worldbuilding). I've started a wiki for all of this, as well, which I will make public when I release these books. It should include character art, "historical" documents, a bestiary, maps, and more. And I've slowly but surely started scratching out the grand adventure for you.

I suspect, though, that all of this won't hit the bookstore shelves for a while yet. You see, in the meantime, I need to clear a mess of stories from my plate. They range from sci-fi to dark fantasy to young adult stories. I'm posting them as I write them so aspiring writers and curious fans can see my drafts as I go. Currently, I have three posted to Kindle Vella. But expect a bunch more to follow. At the same time, I am writing three Grandmaster spin-off stories: The Codex of Insula Angelica, My Sister's War, and Jinn of the Hidden City. I'm not sure when I will release these books, but they are foundational pieces to the Grandmaster Universe. The Codex explains the magic system used by the paladins. My Sister's War explains the origins of dragons. And Jinn is the story that started it all. I have other spinoffs on the back burner, too. But there are only so many years in a lifespan!

I hope this gives you an idea of where I am as an author. If you've been a fan, I hope you stay a fan. Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts. As I make progress, I'll be sure to keep you updated here. And if you are a writer, I hope my transparency will help you better navigate the journey of becoming a professional author.

Best wishes,

WCM

P. S. Look for me on Facebook (wcmarkarianauthor), Instagram (markarianarts), and TikTok (w.c.markarian.author). Please stop by and say "hi." Let me know that you're from Wattpad!