7/30/2023
Greetings, book people, from Gunnison, CO and the campus of Western Colorado University. I’m here all week participating in a writing residency, and excited to talk about books, writing, and publishing with a talented group of writers.
On to announcements. I’ve had some major developments in my work in progress. I have finished the final pre-proof edits of my middle grade fantasy, which will be called “The Quickwild Odyssey.” And while unfortunately my previous cover designer for “The Quickborn Odyssey” was unavailable, art arrangements have been made, and I should see cover sketches in the next two weeks. After that, it’s on to the meticulous work of final production.
With the last unknown behind me, I am happy to announce a launch date of November 2nd, 2023. Mark your calendars.
Here is a back jacket sample of the project. I’ll share some interior art and designs in the next edition.
The Quickwild Odyssey (middle-grade, fantasy, adventure)
It’s the end of the world at the end of the world.
When Lindsay is sent to the South Pole for her winter break, she expects a lot of ice, snow, boring scientists, and nothing else. What’s more, she has to deal with her annoyingly optimistic brother. But when her geologist uncle finds a crystal pillar sealed beneath the ice, the whole world is about to change.
Now, flung across a bizarre Antarctica transformed by magic, Lindsay wants nothing more than to get home. But first she must face mechanized penguins, flying whales, and an army of guardian ferrets—each with an agenda of their own. To escape, she’ll need to be faster, luckier, and cleverer than the rest. More importantly, she has to learn that sometimes to be free, you must do more than run away, you must face the truth about your actions, your family, and above all, yourself.
“The Quickwild Odyssey” is an adventurous romp across a land where science and magic melt into one. The story mixes humor, fantasy, exploration, wonder, and frustration into a delightful blend at the bottom of the world—and quite possibly the end of it.
I hope that you are having a wonderful summer.
Happy reading,
Phil Coleman