The Queendoms Series – Amazon Series Page Is Up!

Amazon has a new feature for indie authors – a series page.

I wrote some copy for The Queendoms Series page, and in doing so I came to a realization about what the series is actually about.

Here’s what I wrote:

“In a post-apocalyptic Northern California... out of the ruins of the dark times... a new civilization rises.

A civilization built on the values of women: peace and nonviolence, inclusivity and tolerance, and the welfare of children above all.

The violent ways of men are forbidden. The old hierarchy and its path to destruction are gone forever. But all is not well in the queendoms.

A discontent is growing among some of the citizens. From a small spark can come a raging fire.

A man named Anming Lee is the key. Will he lead the queendoms to a greater peace, or to a new and terrible destruction?

Four hundred years from now – it’s a woman’s world. After the worldwide collapse of nations and governments, a new multicultural civilization based on female rule and values is established in the area formerly known as Northern California.

The queendoms shun technology. Violence is forbidden, and a simple agrarian way of life ensures humanity’s survival.

In the Queendom of Califia, brash and outspoken Anming Lee argues for men’s rights while the polite but equally stubborn Kellen Cassidy opposes him. Their mothers Chen and Kieren share the same views as their sons, and are at constant odds on the Ruling Council.

The council is being torn apart and the High Councilor decides there’s only one way to resolve the deadlock: to have Anming and Kellen be bonded in marriage!

The Queendoms Series begins with The Califia Trilogy (Rebellion, The Hunt, Queen of Califia) and the trilogy’s sequel, Second Bond. The first two books of The Queendoms Trilogy are Homestead and Sanctuary. The final book, To the Farthest Shore, will be released in 2021.”

First of all, I’ve never enjoyed writing blurbs for my books. It’s hard for most authors to switch to a sales hat and know what to say. You’ll notice that most of the above is the blurb for Rebellion anyway. ;-)

That said – the first part of it, the text in italics, is original stuff I wrote for the series page. And it wasn’t until I was writing it that something came together for me about the story.

While there are four main characters: Anming Lee, Kellen Cassidy, Tavon Alexander, and Ryn Chan (Prince Ryosuke), the protagonist of the series is undeniably Anming. His perspective dominates the narrative and his growth as a character represents an underlying theme of the whole series.

I knew that, of course, but what I hadn’t realized until I wrote the description was that a lot of the tension in the series comes from Anming’s reactions to events. Because he starts out as a men’s rights believer in a female-dominated society, he’s at odds with the world he lives in. Kellen, the matriarchy loyalist, enters his life and presents another challenge to his thinking. Anming has little outlet for his beliefs at first, and we don’t know which direction he’ll ultimately turn in.

The second book, The Hunt, is where we see the worst of Anming. He’s arrogant and domineering and tries to control his bond mate Kellen, with harsh consequences for both of them. Being in a group of men outside the village without the usual constraints and on a dangerous mission, we wonder if this is the real Anming, this angry lone wolf lurking beneath a civilized surface.

As the story proceeds through the next books, Anming’s growth is slow but steady. By the end of the fourth book, Second Bond, we see him as Prince Eduardo sees him; a capable and honorable young man who has earned the position of Queen’s Knight, the Queen’s personal knight and the highest law enforcement officer in the Queendom of Califia.

So my final question about Anming in the series page description was a rhetorical one. If you’ve read the first six books, you know he won’t suddenly turn anti-hero or into a villain in the upcoming seventh book. ;-) Like I said, writing sales copy for your own works is a weird thing. You want to reveal enough so that the book sounds interesting without revealing too much. It’s the same for series descriptions, I guess.

A quick update on that seventh book... I’m taking advantage of Camp Nanowrimo and plan to write 50,000 words in April. Then I should finish the first draft in May or June (fingers crossed). If I can start editing sometime in July, the release date would then be in late August.

I’ll update again as time permits. Thanks for reading this, as always. :-)