BRAVESOUL

An upcoming book series with heart, humor, magic, and disability representation!

I'm finally, publicly, revealing my first novel! So listen close, yet listen loose, 'cause everything is still tentative to change and in the early stages. Like a flower still in germination, these things cannot be rushed, only tended and dreamed.

The Bravesoul Project Blog | Soon to Come

An Introduction to The Bravesoul Project

ID: On the left, a photo of a tree standing in the leafy ruins of a courtyard. In the middle, a photo of a large balcony made of stalactite vaulting bathed in warm sunlight. On the right, a photo of a lush neighborhood with water canals in place of streets.

Names!

At this current time, the project name of the overall series is ...

The Bravesoul Saga

... as it will consist of stories about various, brave individuals.

As for the first novel, its project title is simply ...

The Adventures of Koa

... though, I'll likely come up with a more meaningful and clever title closer to publication. It will introduce readers to the world of the series, its rules, allude to the overarching conflict, and give a healthy handful of fun characters to fall in love with.

I also dream of writing some small-scale picture books that take place in the same world and feature the same characters going on simpler adventures, so those future titles are still up in the air.

IDs: On the left, a photo of snowy mountains reflected in a clear, forested lake. In the middle, art of a neighborhood of multi-tiered treehouses. On the right, a photo of a tropical archipelago of jade lagoons and lush cliffs. 

What's The Series All About?

The Bravesoul Saga, set in the world of Bles and during the 2nd century of the Fourth Age, will consist of several, loosely related stories about different characters as they effect and are affected by a major global conflict. Every book will focus on a small cast of characters and their own adventure. However, I plan for some characters to show up in more than one book, even as just a cameo. I also plan for the main characters of each book to eventually meet for a final, glorious book which will be the ultimate culmination of every previous adventure. Think The Avengers!

Thus far, I have ideas for three different adventures. As to which characters will be included and where is still at my discretion. I love these characters and, as much as I'm itching to give them stories, they deserve the right ones. So, come and bear some patience with me.

Some common themes will include: family, grief, love, bitterness, friendship, mental illness, trauma, transformation, the medical/social model dichotomy, and - yes - bravery.

IDs: On the left, a photo of vast, undulating grasslands. On the right, a rainbow countryside of fields, wildflowers, and treelines.

What's The First Book About?

Here's the elevator pitch / jacket blurb I've written for the The Adventures of Koa project:

Caught in the crosshairs of an international plot, a sixteen-year-old boy with Down Syndrome and a knack for magic must dig deep to find the true meaning of bravery as he and his family escape to a fabled sanctuary in the mountains and a mysterious coven of sorcerers hunts them down.

*whew!* A lot, I know.

It will tackle themes such as heroism, love, empathy, worthiness, and more, while serving as an introduction into the world, its rules, and the overarching conflict. 

IDs: From left to right, cover art for The Wingfeather Saga: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.L. Lewis, and a poster for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

What's the Vibe™

I would compare the genre and overall feels of this project to the likes of The Wingfeather Saga, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Chronicles of Narnia, and even Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some other inspirations have been The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, The Numina Parables by McKenzie Catron, and Dungeons & Dragons. Monsters, magic, and lore galore!

It's a second-world fantasy, meaning that it takes place in another reality separate from our own, so no children will be falling through wardrobes here. While it does follow the classic Good vs Evil, there will still be enough grey area to offer social exploration and personal interpretation. Also, and especially with the first book, I'm interested in injecting some Western vibes: traversing open country, running from the law, roughriding bandits, wagon chases, etc. I'm fascinated by the intersectionality of Cowboys, Knights, Samurai, and Wizards, so expect a unique amalgamation of the four. I'm still on the fence about whether this series better fits into the middle grade or young adult genre, but so far I'm favoring middle grade since it places equal/greater value on fun over drama. Of course, people of all ages (numerically and mentally) are invited to enjoy! 

IDs: On the left, a photo of a heavy burst of firework sparks. On the right, a photo of a Victory Sword firework.

How Did This Get Started?

When people ask how I came up with this idea, it's a much, much longer story than they may be expecting. It's certainly not a one-word answer, or even a one-sentence answer. Rather, it's a bunch of small, individual instances that have come together over the years into one larger concept.

Over six years ago, I watched the mini-documentary about one of my favorite YouTubers in the disability corner: "Meet Shane," a friendly introduction to Shane Burcaw, a young guy living with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), and his brother + best friend Andrew Burcaw. As a sibling of a person with severe disability, I delightfully related to the brothers, even more so after finding Shane's podcast. Their casual humor and insouciant attitudes about caretaking mirror my and my own brother Matthew's relationship. Seeing their personal similarities and differences struck my creative fancy and got me imagining a duo of princes - one a sarcastic wizard and the other a soft-spoken knight - going on ragtag adventures across their realm. Nothing came of this idea - except a princess friend who would balance their personalities and expertise - so I filed them away in my mental folder until I could find them a proper home and story. 

Not too long after, I had a dream that I have to credit to the Lord. Most of the time, my dreams don't follow a linear sequence of events or have many logical details, but this one was different. I saw a beautiful centaur woman in a city of sandstone, a seer in a purple shawl, and mentionings of a "book." It was vivid, otherworldly, and packed with mysterious details. I made another mental note to try and use it as inspiration later down the line.

But then, everything changed on New Years Eve, 2019. We had our family-friends the Elders over for dinner and fireworks, the same ones who started Beloved & Beyond, a Christian camp for kids and adults with disabilities. We've endured a lot of life together, feeling more like cousins than simply friends. Two of their five kids happen to have special needs, the youngest having Down Syndrome and whom I've known since he was a baby. He's adventurous, imaginative, funny, hardworking, servant-hearted, and just an all around great guy!

One of the fireworks they bought was pretty cool; It was shaped like a shortsword, with a fuse that spat sparks out the tip - sometimes called a "Victory Sword" or "Mighty Sword" by retailers, I have found. That night, as I huddled in the garage out of the biting winter wind, I watched my friend, in all his himness, swing around this sparking sword, appearing so in his element and looking like a total badass! And in that moment, I had this thought that occupied every inch of my mind:

"I want to see more of this."

I had had this thought before about other things, but only things I found online. Whether it was someone's unique art style, a culture I had never learned about before, or a Kickstarter project, a deep desire to see more examples like it in media, books, movies, and tv would take root. But that cold night, however, was the first time I had that thought for something I was seeing in front of me, in person!

Starting that very night, I began imagining characters, names, and general vibes for a Fantasy adventure centered around disabled protagonists, something I had never seen before. For my whole life, it has always been easy and fun to come up with ideas for original characters - their appearances, backstories, skills, and personalities - but not so much fully fleshed out plots. This idea grabbed me by the shirt collar and then moved in to the creative rental space of my brain, rent-free.

A teen with an extra chomosome wielding a sparking sword.

A lad in a blue beanie wielding a crossbow.

A lad in a wheelchair and wizard's robes.

A centaur queen with an awe-striking presence.

A knight with a soft smile.

A princess of color assuming a throne.

A nonverbal lass in a wheelchair levitating her teacup.

Many different characters and ideas have rented that imaginative space in my mind before this, coming and going as my hyperfixations ebbed and flowed with my life's tide. I had believed that God gave me my imagination to (1) visualize and connect with Him better, and (2) entertain myself. As far as I knew, my imagination was for my own personal benefit and something I had to keep to myself as I pursued more practical callings. But, I could tell that this one was different. I realized that, for the first time in my life, I had come upon a story that others could enjoy as much I do! I could name specific people in my life who would want this too! I Googled "fantasy books with disabled characters," but was disappointed by the sparse inventory. Where are the stories of heroes with disabilities - developmental and/or learning disabilities, specifically - going on epic quests? The demand is there, but the market is lacking.

Before this, I was often hesitant to put my ideas onto the page, for fear that I would reread it and then hate it. It had happened before, and I didn't want to lose my darlings before they even got a chance to fly. But I wanted it so badly. I wanted this idea to be outside of me. So, I sat down at my laptop and cranked out a theoretical first chapter for a theoretical first book. It was a simple, calm piece: Three characters having breakfast together. Not only did the disdain not come, but a warmth bloomed in my heart and a smile spread across my face! I was falling in love with these people and I wanted more!

Low and behold, when I started developing the idea further, the prior conceived characters fit into the world like fingers in a glove! I injected the two brothers into the basic layout of the dream with the centaur, and it ended up being a good exercise in worldbuilding - a theoretic chapter for another theoretic book. I had an expanding world on my hands. Literally! I drew up a rough map soon after!

I got so excited that I started working on a rough draft that following spring for the first book. However, I soon hit a wall after the first Act, and realized that the story was suffering for lack of context. So, I took a break from chapter writing for almost two whole years just to focus on worldbuilding. I didn't want the book to have just one selling point - disability representation - but to be a place that people would actually want to visit! I was also starting college at the time, so who knows if it could have happened any quicker.  

IDs: From left to right, cover art for Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need by Jessica Brody, Kill the Dog: The First Book on Screenwriting to Tell You the Truth by Paul Guyot, and The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass.

How's Progress Going?

During my college tenure, development periods were few and far between, since I was too busy learning how to write ... to write.  Though, I got my hands on some books about plot writing and emotional engagement, found some experienced professionals on YouTube, and slipped in more worldbuilding and narrative crafting when possible. 

And so, I've kept up this pattern as a post-grad, trying to balance the project with internships and job seeking. Chipping away at a better Act One, cracking at Act Two, and finalizing some worldbuilding details has been somewhat daunting but integral. Building vision boards on Pinterest and Instagram, as well as creating a "soundtrack" on Spotify, has been fun. (I'm considering making a future post where I share some of the things I've collected so y'all can get a picture of the world. *wink, wink*) Learning about real-life cultures for inspiration and doing interviews in tattoo parlors has been its own fun too! (Don't ask.)

Even way back then, when this was still a vague, nebulous concept, I made a vow to myself that not a single word would ever get published if it wasn't greenlit, reviewed, and approved by the Disabled community. Thus, I have been on the constant hunt for other novels written by disabled authors to take point from their process and to learn what truly dignified and realistic prose looks like. Just because I grew up in the disabled community and have numerous friends and close family members with various diagnoses, I don't want to have any blindspots. I try to stay up-to-date on current issues within the community and its intersections with relevant topics like pop culture, history, and literature. You can likely see some examples here on my blog!

What's the Plan for the Future?

I plan to print the books in large, easy-to-read font and to release audiobook versions so that folks with visual and/or reading difficulties can enjoy them too. As mentioned above, I would also love to publish tactile picture books of the same characters going on simpler adventures so that readers of all developmental ages and preferences can dive in! I'm already keeping my eyes peeled for prospective artists for illustrations and cover art. So, if you're a disabled artist interested in novel illustrations, I would be ecstatic to check out your work!

If you're wondering about publication dates, so am I! Development is still in the early stages of planning, outlining, and building - not to mention that I don't have a crew of editors or publishers on this ride yet. I plan and pray to hire community members as beta readers and editors in the future. Until then, I can only answer "soon."

I'm so excited - and astounded - to finally and formally invite you to hop onto the Bravesoul train with me! Be sure to check back here every now and then for updates, sneak peaks, and more!