I am really getting excited about bringing you my next Pax Imperium novel, On the Far Bank of the Rubicon. Over the next couple of weeks, you can expect frequent announcements. I have a HUGE announcement about my cover, which will blow your mind! But I can’t say anything about that quite yet.
Tonight I am happy to start the festivities by presenting you with a description:
All young men face adversity as they come of age, but few grow up as they defend themselves against a crusade to stamp out their way of life. Only the sons of the House of Athena mature as they confront their own annihilation.
The hopes of the family rest with Jonas Athena’s older brother, Stephen. Raised in the spotlight, the two boys rebel against the bars of their gilded cage. Stifled and alone, the adolescent Jonas takes up a secret friendship with the one person who can relate to his plight, the daughter of his father’s biggest rival. But when an unwanted war is forced upon them all, the House of Athena looks to Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. Now, Jonas must choose between the freedom he craves and serving the family he loves.
On the Far Bank of the Rubicon is volume one of the Pax Imperium Trilogy by Erik Wecks. It begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised first novel, Aetna Adrift.
What do you think? Ready to read it?
Update: May 19th
So the thing about blurbs is they’re never done when you think they’re done. The simple fact is that the blurb is more important than anything else I write. If I don’t get the blurb just so, readers will move along to the next book and miss all the great stuff I put between the covers of mine.
Blurbs also have a way of sounding perfect in the moment and then falling apart later. I will probably rewrite this thing another ten times and each time say, “Yep. That’s it.” As always, I’m not afraid to let you in on that process. I got up this morning and reread this and the blurb above and said, “Nope. That’s not it.” Here is the next “final” draft.
When the Unity starts a galactic crusade to stamp out the House of Athena, Jonas must grow up immediately or face his own defeat.
Even though the future of the family rests with his older brother, sixteen-year-old Jonas still can’t escape from the gilded cage in which he is raised. Stifled and alone, the adolescent rebels in the only way allowed. He takes up a secret friendship with the one person who can relate to his plight, the daughter of his father’s biggest rival.
But when an unwanted war is forced upon them all, the House of Athena looks to Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. Now facing a menace the empire is ill prepared to fight, Jonas must choose between the freedom he craves and serving the family he loves.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, new adult space opera. The first volume of the Pax Imperium Trilogy by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 19, Draft Number 3:
When the Unity Corporation mobilizes to stamp out the House of Athena, Jonas must grow up immediately or face his own defeat.
Raised in a time of peace, the future of the family rests with his older brother, but Jonas still can’t escape the gilded cage in which he lives. Stifled and alone, the adolescent rebels in the only way allowed. He takes up a secret friendship with the one person who can relate, the daughter of his father’s biggest rival.
When an unwanted war is forced upon them all, the House of Athena expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. Now, facing a committed enemy the empire is ill prepared to fight, Jonas must serve his family or watch it go down in flames. His own life and the lives of those he loves hang in the balance.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, new adult space opera. The first volume of the Pax Imperium Trilogy by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 20, Draft Number 4:
When the Unity Corporation mobilizes to stamp out the House of Athena, Jonas must grow up immediately or face his own defeat.
Raised in a time of peace, the future of the family rests with his older brother, but Jonas still can’t escape the gilded cage in which he lives. Stifled and alone, the adolescent rebels in the only way allowed. He takes up a secret friendship with the one person who can relate, the daughter of his father’s biggest rival.
When an unwanted war is forced upon them all, the House of Athena expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. With the empire facing a crusade it is ill prepared to fight, Jonas must serve his family or watch it go down in flames. His own life and the lives of those he loves hang in the balance.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, new adult space opera. The first volume of the Pax Imperium Trilogy by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 20, Draft Number 5:
So after a real butt kicking by some good friends on this here is a revised draft five. Am I at least getting closer?
When an unwanted war is forced upon the Pax Imperium, the House of Athena expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. Brutal interstellar combat forces the young prince to grow up immediately or face his own death. Soon it becomes clear that the lives of those he loves also hang in the balance.
With the empire confronting a crusade it is ill prepared to fight, Jonas is called upon to bring hope when all seems dark, but Jonas isn’t much for playing the hero. His gilded cage was not of his choosing, and he longs to make his own way, free of the weight placed upon him. When his secret relationship with the daughter of his father’s biggest rival becomes a liability, Jonas must decide how much he is willing to give up for the sake of his family.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters, and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, new adult space opera. The first volume of the Pax Imperium Wars by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 21, Draft Number 6:
I think we’re finally getting closer. Thanks to Andy Sherwood for helping me see it was time to cut things for efficiency.
When interstellar war is forced upon the House of Athena, it expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. Brutal combat compels the young prince to grow up fast or risk losing those he loves.
With the empire buckling under the Unity crusade, Jonas is called upon to bring hope when all seems dark, but Jonas isn’t much for playing the hero. He longs to make his own way, free of the weight placed upon him. When his secret relationship with the daughter of his father’s biggest rival becomes a liability, Jonas must decide how much he is willing to give up for the sake of his family.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters, and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, adult space opera. Volume one of the Pax Imperium Wars by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 21, Draft Number 7:
When interstellar war is forced upon the House of Athena, it expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. However, unexpectedly brutal combat compels the young prince to grow up fast, and a war thought well in hand becomes a fight for survival.
With the empire buckling under the Unity crusade, Jonas is called upon to bring hope when all seems dark, but Jonas isn’t much for playing the hero. He longs to make his own way, free of the weight placed upon him. When his secret relationship becomes a liability, Jonas must decide how much he is willing to give up for the sake of his family.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters, and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, adult space opera. Volume one of the Pax Imperium Wars by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 21, Draft Number 8:
Ok now we are down to minor tweaks. That’s good. It’s almost done.
When interstellar war is forced upon the House of Athena, it expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. However, unexpectedly brutal combat compels the young prince to grow up fast, and a war thought well in hand slips from their grasp.
With the empire buckling under the Unity crusade, Jonas is called upon to bring hope when all seems dark, but Jonas isn’t much for playing the hero. He longs to make his own way, free of the weight placed upon him. When his secret relationship becomes a liability, Jonas must decide how much he is willing to give up for the sake of his family.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters, and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, adult space opera. Volume one of the Pax Imperium Wars by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 21, Draft Number 9:
When interstellar war is forced upon the House of Athena, it expects Jonas to represent the family as a soldier. However, unexpectedly brutal combat compels the young prince to grow up fast, and a war thought well in hand slips from their grasp.
With the Empire buckling under the Unity crusade, Jonas is called upon to bring hope when all seems dark, but Jonas isn’t much for playing the hero. He longs to make his own way, free of the weight placed upon him. When his secret romance becomes a liability, Jonas must decide how much he is willing to give up for the sake of saving the Empire.
Full of epic battles, authentic characters, and great technology, The Far Bank of the Rubicon is high intensity, adult space opera. Volume one of the Pax Imperium Wars by Erik Wecks, it begins immediately following Wecks’ critically praised novel, Aetna Adrift.
May 23, Draft Number 10:
See I told you I would write ten more drafts! A fresh set of eyes yielded a new perspective and much cleaner blurb. I like it better and better each time. Thanks, to Jason Gurley for his help.
When interstellar war comes to the House of Athena, Jonas abandons his gilded home to become a marine.
As the war progresses, Athena lays impossible expectations on the young prince. When things reach their desperate conclusion, his secret affair with daughter of a rival threatens both his mission and the legacy his family spent centuries to build. Now, Jonas must choose between his own desires… or the ideals his family fought to preserve.
The Far Bank of the Rubicon is a fearless new Pax Imperium novel by Erik Wecks and a fitting spinoff from his critically praised, Aetna Adrift.
May 23, Draft 11:
When interstellar war comes to the House of Athena, Jonas is forced to abandon his gilded home to become a marine.
As the war rages, Athena lays impossible expectations on the young prince. When the stakes are raised, his secret affair with daughter of a rival threatens both his mission and the legacy his family spent centuries to build. Now, Jonas must choose between love… and the ideals his family fights to preserve.
The Far Bank of the Rubicon is an adult science fiction novel by Erik Wecks, creator of the Pax Imperium and author of the critically acclaimed Aetna Adrift.
May 26, Draft 12:
So after all the kibitzing and changes. This will be the draft I publish. I am much happier with it than when I started.
For three hundred years the Pax Imperium secured peace throughout the galaxy, now the empire teeters on the brink of collapse.
As war brews, the House of Athena expects Jonas to enlist. Unable to escape his gilded cage, the young prince accepts his fate. But when the factions come to blows, his secret affair with the daughter of a rival becomes a liability. As territory falls, Athena lays impossible demands on Jonas, and he is forced to choose between love and the ideals his family fights to preserve.
The Far Bank of the Rubicon is adult science fiction from Erik Wecks, creator of the Pax Imperium and author of the critically acclaimed Aetna Adrift.
Reflections: I think I find this process to be more difficult for a novel than I do for a short story. Short stories have fewer themes so what’s at stake in the story is much clearer to me. In my novels, particularly this one, I have so many themes, and it has such a large scope, it was quite difficult for me to figure out how to get them all into the blurb, and frankly I didn’t succeed.
Fans of my first novel will note that Jack and Anna don’t appear at all in the final blurb. That doesn’t mean they don’t appear. On the contrary, they have a large roll to play. The main reason for excluding them is to make sure that new readers feel comfortable starting with this book and don’t feel obligated to pick up Aetna Adrift first.
I also struggled with how to introduce the romance theme of the book without undermining the rest of the blurb with it. In most versions, the romance ended up feeling like an unexpected focal point that came out of nowhere. That wasn’t going to work. I solved this problem by first, taking a few steps back—I didn’t think about it for a day or so— and then changing when and how the romance theme is introduced.
That change was strongly aided by getting the right start. The book might be about Jonas, but the themes are much larger than a family drama. By starting with the Empire and then moving to Jonas. The blurb has a funnel like feel to it even as the personal intensity ramps up as it moves forward. The scope narrows and the stakes for Jonas increase.
In the end, this blurb leaves out important themes but captures the central thread—Jonas growing up and becoming a leader—as well as the scope of the overall tale—galactic war. I think I finally have one which works.
Think I like #9….but I could be wrong!!
I like that one too Danny. I just decided to go with a little more streamlined version. What did you like about it?
Well for me…me only…I just like the way #9 has enough hard edge to draw me in, yet mixed with a softer edge to add a feel of a complete story and not just a pirate space adventure full of swash buckling scenes galore….I need a balanced story and for me that’s what I feel I’ll get!
Of course now..having seen the final I can say I like it as well. It serves the purpose AND is a condensed version as well. So…I’m good to go with the final!! Just ready to hold it in my hands!!
Great work for a great need!!