Another book on the Horizon
It’s been nearly a year since the release of our first book; Kleo the Kererū meets Cohen the Kiwi.
Maybe you’re wondering what’s next?
Well as it happens ‘Book 2’ has been underway for a while now.
The idea came along pretty soon after we started working on Kleo meets Cohen. The draft came along around June last year, there might have even been a few test paragraphs earlier than that.
Publishing Kleo the Kererū meets Cohen the Kiwi and working through the world of developing, promoting, and selling a book has taken up much of our time; life has filled in the rest. So getting around to pulling ‘Book 2’ together has taken some effort
At this stage we can’t give a timeline but we can give a little teaser of the story.
If you want, jump to the end of today’s post for the teaser or read on for a little insight to the process I’m developing as I learn and grow through the books.
My Developing Process
When I wrote Kleo meets Cohen it came quite easily. The ideas and words flowed, and the story formed itself quickly (for the most part in a single afternoon).
Writing the new stories has been a little bit harder. I think there is a mix of reasons for this; pressure on myself to do the work, finding the kernel of truth that sparks the story, making sure the stories are written for our audience among others.
Some of the new stories and adventures have come easily, the ideas forming quickly and the writing growing from there. For others it’s not so smooth. Often I spend a lot of the time scribbling down ideas, sentences, and paragraphs until something begins to form. And perhaps some might say that is probably the usual way it happens; not every idea can be perfect from the outset.
I’d agree, and yet it does sometimes make it feel like things are out of reach.
But eventually the scribbles form ideas and the ideas form into stories which begin to flow. I’m also finding that as I write more stories it’s becoming easier to get new ideas and to write the next one. I sit with one idea and then try a new way of looking at it and that opens up the whole thing. And now I also have a new tool in… well.. in wherever a writer would keep their tools. A pencil case? A desk? A folio?
As it stands I would say that the bones (or more) of around 6 stories exists with ideas and sections of more waiting for their moment in the spotlight.
My work on our website (and my years behind personal travel diary) continue to remind me of little things that Kleo and I did on our travels that might inspire a story. So depsite the effort, it is another tool I find useful in developing the books.
Now from Draft to Page is another matter entirely. The artwork for our first book was incredible and I am looking forward to what comes together for ‘Book 2’ but I have to be patient and let the art come to life in its own time. On top of that is the work of editing, and then formatting it all together.
This patience has however caused its own set of problems for me.
The lack of pressure for the next story or the need to serve the audience (and my own personal ambition) with a new printed story meant that I found myself delaying on developing the ideas.
I needed to find something that would keep me more accountable to writing. And that is in part what brought Kleo the Kererū meets Cohen the Kiwi to life as an Audiobook.
Now has that kept me under pressure? Not so much as I would have liked. I haven’t created ‘Book 2’ audio version yet, but the timeline between the two is undoubtedly going to be shorter.
For starters, I’ve now added my own deadline to have it up by October, in time for our next Quarterly Newsletter – The Kererū Almanac – as I need to talk about some success we’ve had.
I’ve also done it once already and doing it again will be easier, and I’ll slowly start to bring it all together a bit faster. I made a goal earlier this to put out 5 Audio books before the end of 2025. I’ll have to do one a month to achieve it so I best get working.
So, as you can see my process is very much in an evolutionary stage. I’m testing new ways to create the ideas, to build on the idea, and then get to the story.
The stories are making their way down essentially two different paths at the same time; one to get them to the page, the other to get them to the speaker.
And I keep finding more ways to improve my confidence in the writing and remove my own tendencies to procrastinate.
If you read through this whole process explanation then I’d really love to open up discussion in the comments. Any advice for keeping the ball rolling? What works for you in your creative pursuits?
And if you made it then it’s time to enjoy a little taste of what ‘Book 2’ has to offer.
Enjoy
Cohen ‘the Kiwi’ Stephens
Book 2: Kleo the Kererū and the Palace Cat
Kleo slowly drifted above the palace and looked at the world below.
Down below she spotted something strange.
Deciding to take a closer look she spiralled to the ground.
As she got closer she saw them, Cages! For Birds!
Surely that wasn’t right.
Kleo landed near one of the cages calling to the birds inside.
Cohen soon caught up to her. He explained that this was an aviary and it was meant to keep birds safe. Kleo wasn’t too sure about that. How were they going to fly in such a small space.
Together they walked around meeting the birds. But in the shadows a small figure began to follow them. Creeping closer, and closer, and closer. Soon the birds in the aviary began to squawk and call, and leaping from the shadows came a black cat; Heading straight for Kleo!
In the blink of an eye Kleo took off, the cat’s claws brushing past her tail feathers. The cat began to chase Kleo and once Cohen recovered from his fright he joined the chase.
How was he going to save Kleo?
What do you think? I’d love to hear any thoughts you might have.
We’ll be bringing this to life as an Audiobook soon.
Polishing up the editing and preparing my vocal cords at the moment.
Stayed tuned.