If you're following me on the old social media, you may have seen that I'm writing a new book. And no, it's not the fourth book in the Merit-Hunters Series.
You're probably thinking, 'Erm, Lydia, what are you doing? Haven't you got a story to finish?'
My answer would be, absolutely yes, and it is ticking away, don't worry. Book four is in the works, but I've taken on a new mantra this year and that is, not to rush. As part of this slowing down, my creativity has skyrocketed and I have been reading a lot more romance. And enjoying it.
As an author at the end of my twenties, my writing has become very reflective. It's a mirror to the twentysomething experience and romantic relationships are a huge part of being in your twenties. If you know me well, you'll know that I've never been in the 'dating game.' My husband and I met when we were teenagers so I haven't had a true dating experience. Yet, I've seen what it means to love together, struggle together and change together. I've wanted to get that into a story for a while, along with all the romantic tropes we know and love.
Now, a shout out to my friend Jo. Last year, she encouraged me to write a romance that's set in the same world as the Merit-Hunters Series and boy, has it translated well! I've been loving flexing this slightly different writing muscle with a coming-of-age story from a first-person perspective. My main female protagonist is Gloria. She's eighteen and she's about to enter the world of 'work' - the merit system that exists in Tulo City.
That's all I'll tell you for now because I'm only 6,000 words into the manuscript and things change. But to give you a sneak peek into a rough draft, do indulge yourself in the first few lines of my 'enemies-to-lovers dystopian novel, the title of which you'll not know for a while.' Enjoy!
Sneak peek into the dystopian romance
My parents should never have had eight children.
It was a long, costly gamble and yet somehow, they pulled it off and it isn’t even over.
I’m the last to turn eighteen, the last to face my Initiation, and I have to be the best one yet.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, tracing the plump lines of my cheeks, feeling the weight of what’s to come. The sound of my mother’s shrill voice echoes down the hall, a telltale sign that another sibling must have arrived.
Which one is it? Is it Jason? I remind myself that he won’t bother showing up, and it’s a good thing too. Mum would barely be able to contain her excitement, and that would only make the rest of us feel worse.
He is, after all, the main reason she’s still Worthy.
Letting out a deep breath, I tell myself this is the last day I’ll be treated as the kid. By the end of today, I’ll be a Tulo citizen in my own right. Jason — and the rest of them — will be left behind, trailing in my wake.
I’ll earn Mum and Dad more indirect merit in my first year of work than he’s managed in five.
That may be a tall order for most, but not for someone on the Prosper Programme.
And that someone… will hopefully be me.
Is the suspense killing you? I hope so.
Love, Lydia x
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