I have been working on this novel for… three and… a half(?) years. I started dreaming up the world/plot of this story when I was nine verging on ten years old. I drew pictures of my characters, the pictures looked… like I was in fourth grade. They weren’t my best work, but I was also trying to draw Zootopia people with fingers and human proportions. Also, it was people. Not a lot of fourth graders can even draw a good-looking stick figure. Just saying.

The Secret of Moonflower Valley is about a group of humanimals (Human + Animal) who, after learning that the city where their friend lives is in danger, set out into the Black Forest to seek help to overthrow the regent. Along the way, they run into friends and foes; assassins, fire-breathing wyverns, a witch, even, and when they finally reach their destination, they’re taken prisoner and mistaken for trespassers. Will they succeed and save the two rival kingdoms? Or will the Southern Fox Pack be swallowed in the flames of the regent’s victory?

My characters are essentially shapeshifters with a more original name. They’re born human, and then by the age of two they can turn into a specific animal. Just one. For example, my main character, Clementine, can turn into a cat. A small calico with stubby little legs!! She’s just the cutest. My other main character, Flynne, can turn into a cinnamon-colored fox.

Moonflower Valley is a kingdom in the continent of Reverie Realm. It’s snuggled between two mountains (that was probably self-explanatory) in a temperate forest. It’s currently under the rule of a regent, Oleander, after the tragically suspicious passing of most of the royal family.

So, I’m going to be real for a little bit. This has been a work in progress for a very long time, and I’m ready for it to be done. I want to finish this book, or at least the second draft, before the end of 2024. That’s it, I’m declaring it now. And, to keep myself on it, every week I’m going to do a check-in on the forum and post my word count and what I’ve accomplished.

Warning: It may not always be impressive.

But that’s okay. Writing isn’t about being perfect, that’s why there are erasers at the end of a pencil. That’s why there are multiple drafts. If I can write for thirty minutes, minimum, every day, by January 10th, 2025, I’ll have written for 183 hours total. Minimum! Some days I’ll write longer than others, sometimes I’ll be incredibly inspired and write works of genius, and other days I’ll look at what I’ve done and put a little x on top of the page.

My Writing Goals for 2024:

• Complete my second draft for The Secret of Moonflower Valley

• Edit it

• Have a Beta Reader read it through

• Edit again

• Celebrate the completion of my second draft!

Okay. I’m ready for it. Does anybody else have any goals for this next year? Which is, by the way, a leap year?

-Leah Larkspur (13)

P.S. I totally forgot that I was doing the whole name and age at the bottom of posts. 😅 Well, I’m doing it again now, hehehe….