This season has been a busy and exciting one for my writing life.
The Dark Blade Trilogy Kickstarter recently reached its initial funding goal, which is something I’m deeply grateful for. Every pledge, comment, and message of encouragement reminds me how much stories grow through community.
Now that the project is funded, we’re moving into the stretch goal phase of the campaign, which means unlocking some fun extras for readers.
The next stretch goal is a set of character cards from the world of Aramatir, and I’ve been having a wonderful time creating them. Each card highlights one of the characters from the story along with a few details about who they are and the role they play in the world.
As I design them, I keep discovering little nuances about the characters—small reminders of why I love telling stories in this world.
Beyond the character cards, there’s another stretch goal I’m especially excited about: a bonus story from the world of Aramatir. I’m still letting that idea take shape. There are a few possibilities swirling around right now, and sometimes the best stories appear when we give them a little space to grow.
Walking and the Creative Life
Many of my ideas begin while I’m walking.
Recently I’ve been reading 52 Ways to Walk, which explores different approaches to walking and paying attention to how we move through the world. Even something as simple as focusing on your breathing while climbing a hill can change the experience completely.
It’s interesting to realize that we can spend our entire lives walking—and still discover new ways to experience it.
Writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were famous for their long walks together. Those conversations and journeys shaped some of the stories we still love today.
For me, walking creates space for stories to form. The rhythm of steps and breath often helps ideas come together in ways that don’t happen when I’m sitting at a desk.
Behind the Scenes on the Podcast
I recently shared some of this process on my podcast, The Truth About Storytelling.
In the newest episode I talk about:
- Preparing the updated edition of Dark Blade Forged
- Ordering proof copies through BookVault
- Discovering a digital signature feature for signed books
- Thoughts on writing tools and the creative process
I also read Chapters 28 and 29 from the novel.
If you enjoy listening to stories, you can also hear Chapter One of Dark Blade Forged in an earlier podcast episode.
🎧 Listen to the podcast here:
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Thank You
To everyone who has supported the Kickstarter, shared the campaign, or taken the time to leave comments on the updates—thank you.
Independent storytelling truly grows through the encouragement of readers and the community around it.
And wherever you are today, I hope you find a moment to step outside, take a walk, and notice the world around you.
Sometimes stories begin with something as simple as that.
— Tyrean Martinson