The Re:Apotheosis update and news thread

RobertBMarks 2022-08-09 14:53:11 UTC #1

Right...enough is happening that I figured I should actually give this novel its own thread for news and updates.

https://tapas.io/series/ReApotheosis/info

For today (August 9th):

A bit of news - the draft of the sequel to Re:Apotheosis, The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato, is complete and is now in editing. This came out at just under 50,000 words (and around 20,000 words longer than I thought it would be), and will start serializing the week after Re:Apotheosis wraps up on November 25th (the sequel chapters will be part of the same series as the original on the website, so nobody will need to worry about subscribing to a new series for it). The plan is to publish it on Tapas as well as in print and e-book formats along with two new stories in an anthology titled Re:Apotheosis: Aftermath (title subject to change).

EDIT: For clarification, the two new stories will not be appearing on Tapas.

For those who are enjoying Re:Apotheosis and want a copy for their shelves, it is now available for pre-order in print and e-book formats from Amazon. These editions contain a new afterword in which I talk about where this book came from and the many references and inspirations. They will release on November 21st (so anybody buying a copy will get to read the final chapter and epilogue early):

Print:

Kindle:

Also, if you have an external blog or write reviews on external websites, review copies ARE available - just contact me if you want one (I own the publishing company).

A reminder that chapter XII is live! Princess Stella, her fiancé Adam, Captain Infinite, Atria Silversword, and Atria’s creators are confined to barracks, awaiting news of their fate. And there are two new arrivals, creators who have been arrested and told an impossible story about fictional characters coming to life...

Chapters XIII and XIV go live on Friday (the two of them together were short enough that just one chapter didn't quite seem like enough for a weekly update). In them, Jack Death will pick a side, and isekai protagonist Daiki Yamato will fall into the real world and receive a truly heartbreaking surprise...

And that's it for now! More to come later.

RobertBMarks 2022-08-11 14:09:01 UTC #2

And, there is some news to share today!

First, a signed copy of the print edition of Re:Apotheosis will be part of a prize pack at this year's Desert Bus for Hope. This is an online telethon supporting the Child's Play charity, which is all about making life better for children in hospital beds. Desert Bus will be streaming on Twitch in November.

Second, I have finished the initial edit of The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato, and started work on the third story in volume 2, "Apotheosis." This story is set ten years after the events in Re:Apotheosis. The reason I'm writing it before story #2 is that it has two new characters who will be appearing on the book cover, and I want to be able to get their scenes to the cover artist sooner rather than later.

And that's it for now - two new chapters dropping tomorrow morning at 3:00 AM EDT!

RobertBMarks 2022-08-12 13:14:11 UTC #3

Chapters XIII and XIV are live! First, Jack Death picks a side and the race begins to find and recruit a new creation who has just entered the real world. Then, isekai protagonist Daiki Yamato falls out of his story into his home city of Osaka...but is it HIS Osaka?

RobertBMarks 2022-08-17 18:50:10 UTC #4

Some news to share!

I just finished the rough draft of the 3rd story in the second volume, which will be titled Re:Apotheosis Aftermath. And, it's looking like, if all goes well, I'll have cover art to share for both The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato and the book as a whole within the next few weeks.

And here's a little preview of the opening paragraph for that third story:

I guess I’m writing this so that I don’t forget who I was. That seems to be a danger for my kind in this place. It was Stella’s idea, anyway. I hope it helps.

I start work on story #2 tomorrow. The goal is to have everything edited, locked down, and ready for the printer by the end of September so that the book can have a full 5 months of pre-release publicity. The plan is to release it the week that the final installment of The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato goes live.

I'm also thinking of starting a Patreon as of the beginning of September. So, if anybody has any comments about that (or, hopefully, encouragement), please do comment!

RobertBMarks 2022-08-19 14:52:26 UTC #5

Chapter XV is live! Alice Matson learns the reality of what it is to be Captain Infinite, Kaguyama reveals his secret, and Atria Silversword learns why her story will never get its happy ending...

A word about this chapter: Kaguyama's situation is based on Sir Terry Pratchett, who I had the great honour of meeting and having a cup of coffee with at WorldCon in Toronto in 2003 when I launched my first print book. For those who are wondering, he was indeed as funny and charming in person as he was in his novels. He also managed the amazing feat of continuing to write to the very end. Kaguyama is not so lucky, and his character forgiving him for not being able to finish her story is very much an author's fantasy.

On to happier news: my cover artist sent me the first draft of the cover for The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato yesterday, and it is looking good. It's always a special feeling when you get to see your characters in the flesh for the very first time, and Aquila and Kasumi look wonderful. It's not ready to be shared quite yet, but I don't imagine it will be long...

RobertBMarks 2022-08-24 19:07:56 UTC #6

Some news! I just finished the rough draft of the second story from Re:Apotheosis Aftermath, which means that the first draft of the entire book is now complete. Editing starts tomorrow.

And, a preview of what is coming on Friday, as the hunt for Daiki Yamato heats up and Stella and Adam come face to face with Jack Death:

Daiki Yamato took a deep breath and was about to speak when a new voice spoke in an American accent, saying in English, “You must be Daiki Yamato.”

Stella turned to face a tall, well-built American with short dark hair, dressed in a black three-piece suit. The man looked at her. “And I recognize you two from my colleague’s surveillance spell.”

“Who are you?” Stella asked in English.

“I am a representative of the other side,” he said, and then turned to Daiki Yamato. “Did they suggest that they were the only interested party in this matter? That’s quite dishonest of them.”

“What is he saying?” Daiki asked in Japanese.

“Joke’s on you, pal,” Adam said in English. “He only speaks Japanese.”

“Unfortunately, my associate and interpreter has yet to arrive, although he is on his way,” the man said, and then held up a flip phone. “You’re not the only ones with cell phones. That said, I was given one Japanese phrase should this situation arise.” He turned to Daiki and said, in accented Japanese, “Don’t trust them. Trust us instead.”

RobertBMarks 2022-08-26 13:46:09 UTC #7

Chapter XVI is live! The race to recruit Daiki Yamato comes to a head in Osaka. As Stella and Adam make contact, they come face-to-face with super-assassin Jack Death – and Jack Death doesn’t take “no” for an answer...

RobertBMarks 2022-08-29 19:40:58 UTC #8

Update time!

First, I just finished uploading The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato, the sequel to Re:Apotheosis, into the queue. It will run every Friday from December 2nd to March 3rd. No need to resubscribe to anything - it will just be added as new chapters to Re:Apotheosis (it was simpler to do it this way).

The text is now locked down and the initial typeset completed for Re:Apotheosis - Aftermath. The collection will include three stories ("The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato," "First Contact," and "Apotheosis"), as well as a 2-part Coda and a special introduction by one of the returning characters from Re:Apotheosis. I also got the ISBN numbers and copyright registrations taken care of today. The current plan to release this book on February 27th, 2023.

(For those who are wondering, only "The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato" will be serialized on Tapas - the other stories will be exclusive to the book.)

RobertBMarks 2022-08-31 13:57:55 UTC #9

So, time to show off two new characters from the sequel, fresh from my artist!

This is Aquila and Kasumi (Aquila's the one in the coat). They are a former god of destruction and her creator, and both of them will be joining Daiki Yamato on his journey home. Aquila is looking to atone for the many bad things she did during her own war against the world of her creators, and Kasumi is trying to make sure that Aquila doesn't get herself killed while doing something stupid along the way. Everybody will get to meet them properly in December!

RobertBMarks 2022-09-01 12:33:27 UTC #10

A preview of tomorrow's new chapter:

“Quite a conundrum,” Adam heard the man in the suit say to Captain Infinite as Atria and Jenny fought. “You are known in my world, superhero. You could end the fight between our associates in less time than I could blink, but your friends still wouldn’t be able to draw their guns before I killed them.”

“Just let them leave,” Cap said.

“I haven’t lived this long by allowing people to shoot me in the back,” the man in the suit said. “Threats get neutralized as soon as they are identified. That is how it works.”

“Will you at least give me your name?” Cap asked.

The man smiled and shook his head. “Against a god among men, a mere mortal requires every advantage he can get, wouldn’t you agree? Speaking of advantages, I believe you have met my other associate.”

Adam looked around, and then up. Gliding to the ground behind Cap was the tall thief with the horns, the orb floating behind him. As he descended, he raised his hand. The masonry around them began to shake.

“And now the fight is fair,” the man in the suit stated.

RobertBMarks 2022-09-02 14:11:40 UTC #11

Chapter XV is live! The battle over Daiki Yamato comes to its brutal climax as Jack Death claims his first victim – and Jack Death never misses...

The story is now past its halfway point, so please let me know what you think by commenting - also, please like and subscribe!

RobertBMarks 2022-09-06 17:36:37 UTC #12

Since it's already been unveiling in another thread, here's the cover art for the sequel, The Odyssey of Daiki Yamato, which will be going live on December 2nd.

RobertBMarks 2022-09-09 13:23:36 UTC #13

Chapter XVI is live! The life of Princess Stellaria’s fiancé hangs in the balance after being shot in the chest by Jack Death. As the creators and creations gather and wait anxiously to see if he will live or die, Atria Silversword faces the consequences of her mistakes...

Please comment, like, and subscribe!

RobertBMarks 2022-09-15 14:53:09 UTC #14

A preview of tomorrow's chapter, Chapter XIX (this time properly numbered)...

The Destroyer took a moment to watch Habiki Matoyami tap away at his computer. The man was so focused on the screen he hadn’t even noticed three people enter his apartment, Jack taking a position to block the door and Jenny blocking the window. The Destroyer collected his thoughts – this was the man who created him, the god of his world. The first words he spoke to this man had to be properly chosen.

“Who the hell are you people, and how did you get in here?” the man said in Japanese, looking around frantically.

“Are you Habiki Matoyami?” The Destroyer asked in Japanese.

“Who’s asking?” Matoyami demanded.

“I am your creation,” The Destroyer replied. “I am The Destroyer.”

Matoyami looked at him with incredulity. “Prove it.” Then his eyes flickered to the orb floating behind The Destroyer, and widened.

The Destroyer raised his hand. An unseen hand lifted Matoyami off the floor. “Since getting to this world I have improved my skills, creator. I no longer need spoken incantations.” He lowered his hand, the unseen force putting Matoyami back down.

Matoyami sat down, his jaw open. “How is this possible? How are you here?”

“You created me to have the powers of a god. I used them. I have questions.”

RobertBMarks 2022-09-16 13:27:20 UTC #15

Chapter XIX is live! At long last, The Destroyer meets his creator, and his war of liberation begins...

Please comment, like, share, and subscribe!

RobertBMarks 2022-09-21 19:09:05 UTC #16

Here's a preview of Friday's chapter:

“So, have you met your creator yet?” Fred asked. “Or author, or designer, or whatever the term is?”

Stella shook her head. “We came to Japan just so that we could do that, but with everything that happened, we missed our chance. I keep telling myself that we’ll do it another year, but it took us years to save up for this trip, so I don’t know if it will ever happen.”

“And what would you say if you did meet him?”

Stella shrugged. “I don’t know. When I first got to this world, I had all of these questions about what I was, why my world existed, why it was the way it was, why we had to quest and fight...but most of those were answered in developer interviews Adam showed me. And then, as I built a life in this world, so many of the things I once cared about stopped mattering so much. I still miss everybody I left behind, but that place is not my home anymore. I know that I’m somebody’s creation, and I still want to meet the person who created me. But I’m also a graduate student, and a fiancee, and a friend, and all those matter so much more. I guess all that would be left is to say ‘thank you’, but since I’d never be able to prove who I am, they’d never know what I was thanking them for. I don’t know what else there would be to say.”

“Well, I would suggest that you figure it out in the next couple of minutes,” Fred said. “The development lead of Chronicles of Arcaniana is waiting in the hallway for you right now.”

Stella blinked. “My creator is here?”

RobertBMarks 2022-09-23 15:48:25 UTC #17

Chapter XX is live! Princess Stella’s fiancé Adam is stable, but in a post-operative coma. As Adam’s family gathers and Stella sits her long vigil, waiting for her beloved to wake up, she hears some startling news – her creator has come to find her, and has an important question to ask her...

Please comment, like, and subscribe!

RobertBMarks 2022-09-28 14:04:53 UTC #18

A preview of Friday's chapter:

As the others stood and left, Atria took a deep breath. Cap remained seated beside her.

“There is something we need to do,” he said once they were alone in the room. “Golf. Tomorrow morning.”

Atria shook her head. “Not the time.”

“It is exactly the right time, and you need it. I can tell.”

“How?”

“Well, there’s that thousand-yard stare you just did, for one thing.”

“There’s too much to do here.”

“‘Captain’ isn’t a superhero name, you know,” Cap stated. “It was my rank in the American Army back in the Second World War. I led men into combat in the largest war my country ever fought, and I was on the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge, which was our most desperate moment of that war. And a week into that battle, my men looked better than you do right now.”

RobertBMarks 2022-09-30 15:51:11 UTC #19

Chapter XXI is live! While Princess Stella sits vigil over her comatose fiancé in the hospital, Atria Silversword, Captain Infinite, and the creators plan their next move...and Atria makes a fateful promise.

RobertBMarks 2022-10-05 12:38:12 UTC #20

A preview of Friday's chapter:

Stella took stock. It was just after dinner. Adam was still in his post-operative coma, but the doctors said that he should wake up any day now. Fred and Rachel were back at their hotel room getting some much needed sleep. Mitsubi and Kaguyama had already been for a visit and left. Atria had held a meeting in the morning, had work she needed to do all afternoon, and would be coming by in a couple of hours to tell her all about it, and Cap and Alice would be stopping by later in the evening, but otherwise she would be sitting vigil alone for the time being. Until Atria arrived, it was just her and Adam.

So, who was the third person in the room?

Stella’s heart sank as she looked into the shadow in the corner of the room. The man in the black three-piece suit who had shot Adam looked back at her.

“Good,” he said in English. “You’re awake.”

Stella swallowed. A cold sweat ran down her back. She mustered her courage. “Kill me if you must, but please let him live.”

“Stop,” the man said. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d have done so. I have questions. You are going to answer them, and you will be honest and forthcoming. I don’t need to tell you what will happen if you aren’t.”