RANT INCOMING: I just hit 50,000 words of the Ashen Queen book 3 of my dark fantasy series and am half-way through! I’ve incidentally also written the last paragraph of the novel to close out the series and I can’t believe the journey is almost over. Each character, each encounter, each scene is carefully crafted to complete the series as a whole in a fantastic and satisfying way but one thing has begun to itch at the back of my mind. So the concept of the series (and my writing style in general) is as follows:
I offer no political statement or call to action in my novels. Despite the fact some encounters or scenarios may be considered culturally or socially motivated, I promise our current 2020-2025 western climate has absolutely no bearing on my stories. I am no politician. You don’t care what I think and I don’t think you should.
I am an escape artist.
Not that I could get out of an escape room easily because I probably couldn’t, but more that I am the class of artist to provide an escape from reality into a world different than our own.
If I write a scene in The Ashen Queen or any of my other stories that you think is politically or socially motivated, trust me, it is just a coincidence. A lot of the concepts for this trilogy were planned out in 2016 and I haven’t deviated from them very much if at all.
What’s funny is most small artists like myself think this way. We prioritize our stories over our own personal bias or agendas. We are silent and work purely on our craft.
It’s part of sacrificing ourselves for our art. It’s the corporate artist that pushes a collective bias that processes a localized and potentially fantastic story through a cheese-grater that ends up as bullet points on a chart.
We hear from too many personalities and celebrities and by now, I think they’ve figured out that we don’t care what they think. I’m in that same camp. You shouldn’t look to what I or someone else thinks (or writes) especially if it doesn’t align with your lived experience or world-view. I’m not here to preach to you. I’m here to entertain you. (I guess right now may be the only exception but it is the last and only time. 🙂 )
I don’t cater. I write from the heart without compromise. I won’t engage with political commentary becuase that’s not me artistically. I probably don’t have to write this, but if it ever comes up, this is my official response. RANT OVER. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Also, if you made it this far, here is a treat for you. March I will be posting promo art for The Ashen Queen! Stay tuned!!!
If you wish to find out what I’m talking about or get caught up for the Ashen Queen book 3 in time for it’s worlwide release in 2026 check out the links to the first two novels below!
Knights without Kings (Book 1) – https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Without-Kings-Harmony-Apostles/dp/099970740X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1513607910&sr=8-1
The Twin Princes (Book 2) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0999707426/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
The Ashen Queen (Book 3) – TBA late 2026
Author J.M. Topp 