The origins of "The Secrets of Society" trace back to March 2022, when Cailin was a junior in high school. based on her own family, she envisioned a story set in Boston and Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War, focusing on the lives of the children. As a new writer, Cailin struggled with ho to fully develop and articulate her ideas, unsure of how to transform her vision into a compelling narrative. The idea never fully left Cailin's mind; it would resurface now and then, sparked by fleeting moments of inspiration.
Fast forward to her senior year, during a weekly phone call with Anna, where we were discussing "A Court of Thorns and Roses." Anna mentioned her desire to write a book and suggested they co-author one. Enthusiastic about the idea, Cailin shared her concept of a historical fiction set in 1775, following a family during the onset of the Revolutionary War. Anna adored the concept, and our conversation quickly evolved into an exciting collaboration.
However, after Cailin graduated high school and Anna prepared to go off to law school. Life got busy and the idea was temporarily forgotten. The demand of our new routines took over, and our collaborative project was put on hold.
In November 2023, Anna rekindled the spark of our old conversation, reminding Cailin of their ambition. Determined to make it a reality this time, we decided to start outlining and writing the story. We dove into the process with renewed enthusiasm, and together we managed to complete six chapters. Everything started to look promising as we made plans to self-publish. However, tragedy struck on December 6, 2023, when our grandmother passed away. The loss hit us deeply, yet it also fueled our determination to honor her memory through our writing. Our grandmother had cherished classic stories like "Little House on the Prairie," "The Waltons," and "Beauty and the Beast," tales filled with enduring love and heartfelt narratives -- themes we aspired to weave into our own book.
Christmas arrived, and Anna came to visit. As they drove home, Anna and Cailin excitedly discussed plot ideas for their book. Kelly, sitting quietly in the backseat, finally piped up and asked what they were so animatedly discussing. Eagerly, Anna and Cailin shared all about our writing project and even had Kelly read the first six chapters they had written. Kelly response was a simple and dry "Cool."
After a couple of idea suggestions from the peanut gallery. Anna and Cailin asked if Kelly would like to join. What had initially been the brainchild of A.C. McClure was now evolving into the masterminds A.C.K. McClure, with Kelly's involvement adding a new dimension to our collaborative efforts.
"The Secrets of Society" came to life swiftly a tapestry of secrets, love, war, and lies, encapsulating everything we love in books across 42 thrilling chapters in just three short months. By March, we proudly completed the first draft and christened it "A Symphony of Flames and Liberty." Our dedication knew no bounds; the project had become an all-consuming obsession. With the manuscript ready for editing, we eagerly began the search for May beta readers and explored publishing options. The dream was becoming real as we selected a release date, but time seemed to accelerate with each passing moment.
After extensive editing, the book blossomed to 51 chapters and was finally ready to be sent out to beta readers. The mix of emotions was real-- excitement blended with nerves as we prepared to share five months of hard work and late nights with others. Even now, as we await feedback, the anticipation feel both exciting yet surreal. We are beyond grateful for our beta readers for taking a chance on our book. Writing a book with three authors with distinct voices is unconventional, but we believe it enriches the narrative adding different perspectives and depth. We couldn't imagine embarking on this journey with anyone else.
Throughout this process, we have grown closer, sharing countless laughs, some tears, and engaging in spirited debates about Kelly's lobsters' analogies and punctuation reminiscent of Cailin's Charles Dickens descriptions. Anna's using to many exclamation marks-- a testament to our shared dedication and joy in creating something truly special together.
This book is dear to us, and we sincerely hope you all enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed writing it. We've poured our hearts and souls into this story, aiming to deliver a story that resonates deeply with themes of true love, resilience through difficult times, the turmoil of war, a nation's struggle for freedom, the consequences of life-altering choices, and the complexities of mental health. It's a clean read, drawing inspiration from the best elements of beloved books without delving into explicit content, however, tension is real. Our goal has been to craft a narrative that captures the essence of human experience in a way that is relatable and meaningful to readers.
Until the next time the tea is poured,
A.C.K. McClure
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