Now that the Wandering Stars series is complete, I’m receiving more emails and Facebook comments about The Awakened. Everyone wants to know when Book 7 is coming out.

First off, let me assure you that I will definitely finish The Awakened. I still have one more trilogy to write before the series is complete. And if you thought the first six books were intense, buckle your seatbelts—it’s going to be a wild ride! It will bring to resolution every plot and subplot from previous books, including the prequels. My goal is for the last trilogy to be the epic conclusion that the characters need, that the series deserves, and that readers are waiting for.

But I can already see that it’s going to be challenging—creatively, mentally, and emotionally. So I’m preparing myself. And a big part of that preparation is to take a step back and catch my breath. Recharge my creative batteries.

While I’ve allowed myself to do this, another story idea has captured my imagination. It’s something totally new and unrelated to anything I’ve written so far.

The overall concept came to me in fragments over the last couple years—separate ideas that were like pieces of a puzzle. Only recently did I understand how those pieces fit together. And all of a sudden, a story began to grow. It was such an exciting revelation that I immediately dove into research, plotting, character development, storyboarding, and even writing the first few scenes.

As you’ve come to expect from me, this new story will blend elements from several genres and include plenty of action, suspense, mystery, internal conflict, and inter-personal struggle. However, this one is a sci-fi thriller featuring a female protagonist. The working title for this project is Consensus. It’s planned as a stand-alone novel at this point, but it could easily become a trilogy if there is enough interest from readers.

So, without further ado …

Here is a sneak peek at the description for my next novel!

CONSENSUS

In a self-governed society where morals are determine by votes, and social rating is the currency, truth can be a dangerous notion.

Sixteen-year-old Rena has only a few memories of her early childhood before adoption. Peaceful forests. Towering mountains. The man who raised her there. But these things don’t exist in Esh, a gleaming metropolis shielded from the harsh environment by an artificial sky. And beyond the protective canopy lie the Barrens, an endless wasteland of fog and freezing rain where no one ventures.

When Rena’s violent instincts save the lives of her friends, her forgotten past begins disrupting her prospects for the future. A search for answers leads to more questions and puts Rena at the center of a war being waged beneath the surface of her polite society.

Citizen. Rebel. Orphan. Survivor. As Rena pieces together the fragments of her true identity, she discovers a connection to the city’s unknown history and must decide if truth is worth the cost of uncovering it.

I hope you’re as excited about this new novel as I am. I’ll keep you updated with any major developments.

Jason Tesar