Fair Warning: Things Get Geeky
You have been duly warned
“From her place on the raised platform, Johanna could see that the evening had turned. Wine that once filled pewter cups now bloomed angrily on men’s cheeks.” — The Prophecy of the Yubriy Tree
Hey everyone! While I continue to struggle over the best way to utilize the newsletter, I thought I’d get a bit geeky this go-around and share some of the pre-planning that went into writing The Prophecy of the Yubriy Tree.
Most writers who use Substack write extensively about the writing process. Many of them do it incredibly well. That’s never been a passion of mine, so I figure it’s best left to the duly inspired. For now, my Substack will focus on providing a deeper understanding of the world of The Song of the Burning Heart. It won’t be for everyone, but for those who enjoyed the book and want to know more about the history of Ragar Or, it should be rewarding.
Before I started writing The Prophecy of the Yubriy Tree (but after finishing Last Performance at the Three Dragons Inn), I sat down and sketched out a pretty extensive outline of the history of The Song of the Burning Heart universe. This included a chronological list of the Salk and Dayborn kings and queens who ruled Ragar Or after the union of the Struvan and Ontish people. I’m sharing the list below.
The Salk Dynasty
1 - 18 Daguss I the Unifier
18 - 52 Brogan I the Healer, or the Beloved; Eldest son of Daguss I and Penelope Sparrot
52 - 52 Brogan II grandson of Brogan I
52 - 59 Reuel I second son of Brogan I, infamously dies by dragonfire with wife and five children while visiting Low Osgood
59 - 90 Portia I the Wise, sister of Reul I, dies in a mysterious fire at the Three Dragons Inn
90 - 103 Caeress I second daughter of Portia I, bonds Theron Redd, gives birth to twin boys, Baron and Daguss
103 - 106 Baron I the Redd, son of Caeress I, dies in a duel with his brother Daguss
106 - 119 Daguss II the Ascendant, twin brother of Baron I, dies without issue
119 - 154 Johanna I the Traveling Queen, firstborn daughter of Baron I
154 - 156 Portia II eldest granddaughter of Johanna I, ascends to throne at age of seven, dies at nine
156 - 170 Reuel II uncle of Portia II, regent during Portia’s rule, second child of Johanna I
170 - 173 Brogan III eldest son of Reuel II, king when the War of the 3 Brothers begins. (The War of the Three Brothers is a misnomer).
173 - 174 Silas I third son of Reuel II, claims the crown after defeating his brother Brogan III in battle
174 - 174 Xeuel I fourth son of Reuel II, last of the Salk dynasty, dies shortly after defeating Silas I in battle
The Dayborn Dynasty
174 - 207 Cedric I the Redeemer, the first Dayborn king, right-hand man of Xeuel I, declared the Twin Ascendant after the death of Xeuel I; descended from the line of Julet Salk, daughter of Caeress I
207 - 217 Orius I son of Cedric I
217 - 242 Micah I son of Orius I
Current Year: 242
The series, in my humble opinion, has a real “lived-in” feel. When I reference historical events in The Prophecy of the Yubriy Tree, I’ve either written about them in a novella or taken extensive notes on the subject. My favorite works of epic fantasy have a depth that is derived from the author’s understanding of the history of his/her world. My intention is for readers to experience that same feeling when they dive into the pages of any of the novels or novellas connected to The Song of the Burning Heart.
The Song of the Burning Heart (Status Update)
Book One: The Prophecy of the Yubriy Tree (Finished: Available HERE)
Book Two: In Progress.
Novella: Last Performance at the Three Dragons Inn (Finished: Digital edition available for free to all Substack newsletter subscribers. Also available in print HERE)
Novella: Falling From a Golden Sky (95% complete. Will be available in 2025).
Note: The aforementioned novellas explore historical episodes or stories mentioned or referred to in the main series. Last Performance at the Three Dragons Inn takes place in Low Osgood a little more than one-hundred-and-fifty years before events of the main series. Falling From a Golden Sky takes place in Kalandragote thirty-three years before the events of the main series.
Alright, that’s it! I’m trying to find ways to promote the book without losing sight of the main reason that I write, which is to imagine deeply, forge connections with readers, and feed my creative soul. It’s a tough balance, but I persevere. Comment below if you have any thoughts or questions about the book.
P.S. One last thing. I’ve been touched by the passionate reviewers who have championed the book on Netgalley, Booksirens, Goodreads, and Amazon, as well as social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Fable, etc., etc. It’s truly meant the world to me. Some of you have been so darn cool….well, I don’t even have the words. Thank you to everyone who channels their love of reading into championing independent books.
Photo Credit: Anna Gru