Darkest Powers is a young adult urban fantasy
trilogy. It's set in the same universe as my Otherworld series,
but with entirely new characters. The first book,
The Summoning, is due out July 1, 2008. I've created a new website for the
trilogy, which you'll find at
www.ChloeSaunders.com (Chloe is the narrator). You'll find
some general information on the page here for The Summoning, but there's
a lot more there (more information, contests, bonus material, blog etc)
For readers of my Otherworld series, I've answered some questions below.
In short, it's a book with a teenage protagonist. This trilogy will
be written from the perspective of a fifteen year
old supernatural in the Otherworld just coming into her powers. So it deals with the problems and issues that she would encounter,
which are different from those my adult protagonists face. Content
in young adult novels varies wildly. If I'd rate my adult series as
"R," these would be "PG" with a warning for frightening scenes.
It's definitely not a lighter, fluffier version of the
Otherworld--I've just toned down the language & sexual content to
make it more appropriate for readers who may be as young as
preteens.
I've been toying with the idea since 2005. I had an idea for a
plotline with younger characters, which meant I needed to do it
outside the regular series. I really wanted to explore the idea of
what it's like to be that age, coming into your powers. And the
plotline I had in mind added a lot of extra twists and hurdles to
what would already be a difficult time in a young supernatural's
life.
Not in this trilogy. There are references that make it
clear to Otherworld readers that this is the same universe (it
takes place in New York state, so there's a reference in book 2
to werewolves living near Syracuse) Part of the fun for me
in writing these was exploring a different part of the universe
I've already created. New characters, new situations, new
institutions--that's what I've tried to play with here.
You'll still see an Otherworld book a year (and two for 2008
because, despite this new project, I'm working well ahead of
schedule) I'm careful to devote just as much attention to each
book as I always did, shifting other projects (like the
Men of the Otherworld anthology)
if I'm concerned about timing. Nothing comes out until I'm
satisfied with it.
