I finished the second draft of A BOY FROM NORRU on December 17, 2022. Shortly thereafter, I distributed copies of the manuscript to a handful of beta readers. The feedback I’ve received has been largely positive thus far. As I suspected, the story’s greatest strength is that it moves. It’s action-packed and holds the reader’s attention.
Obviously, it’s not ready for querying yet. I’ll need to take some space from the manuscript before I can return to polishing. But since it seems I won’t need to rework any major story elements, I won’t need to take as much space from the project as I originally thought. I’ll wait for all my beta readers to finish, hear their opinions, and get back to work. In the meantime, I’ll start drafting query material.
Since I’m currently taking space from this manuscript, I’d like to talk about something else in this progress update. Last year, I read 27 books. That number would be higher, but I’m a bit of a slow reader (I like to take my time and catch all the little details). Moreover, epic fantasy books take a long time to read.
I read a lot of middle grade last year, since I’m writing middle grade. Some of those books were absolutely incredible, but one in particular that stood out above the rest.
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (2000).
Oh man, I could not put this book down. I don’t think I experienced just-one-more-chapter syndrome so acutely since childhood.
This is the story of two runaway brothers, Prosper and Bo, who are being pursued by a private detective. By chance, they fall in with other vagrant children led by Scipio the Thief Lord. The band of orphans is offered an incredibly high-paying job, but as secrets are revealed, everything starts to fall apart. And with the detective hot on their tail, the odds are stacked against them.
The book takes place in Venice, Italy, and the setting acts as a dynamic character of its own. The city’s ancient beauty provides a colorful backdrop for the suspense.
The story unravels so beautifully. It’s exciting and inspires awe, but it’s also grounded and real. I won’t say any more, for I don’t want to spoil too much of the magic. But I cannot recommend this book enough. It is precisely the kind of book I want to write, and that much is clear in A BOY FROM NORRU.
Happy New Year, and happy reading!
– AJG
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