Gild the lily

Before it Began was a story born of necessity. It was the second one I’d written, after my debut novel “From Whence They Came,” for I needed to explain the origin of the aliens (Phoebians) and some of the plotline to that first book. I found myself inspired by various documentaries I’d seen over the years, and as always the Holy Bible, setting the basis from which I would draft the primary story. I needed to bring my two books together because I knew the importance of there being a coexistence between them. In doing so, I needed to avoid repeating the same narrative, and so focused embellishment on what would be similar points yet from an alternate (alien) perspective.

When I had first released Before it Began, it was the best I could produce at that early stage in my career; however, it was never completely done. Select editing was called for. Over the years I would occasionally refer to the story while writing my other books in continuance of the Neuphobes Series, reading over key sections again and again so as to keep facts straight, characters in check. It was then during a break from my latest novel (it having been shipped off for a beta-reading) that I gave Before It Began a thorough going through, this time with an ever critical eye, identifying errors and highlighting technical flaws. I avowed to expand concepts I had earlier felt completed—yet were not—further working them into a more comprehensive storyline, even referring to several of the novel’s critical reviews as to how I could structurally improve my book. I felt that in my growth as a writer I could now deliver a better work than what had been. So, after an additional twenty thousand words, and a thorough going over with my editor, I have now re-released one of my most revered works.