[FINAL EPISODE] Journey with me through a magical world (Epilogue | Book 3)

The 29th and final excerpt (including Prologue and Epilogue) from "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

Dec 13, 2024

Each Friday, I have been sending you the opening paragraphs from a chapter of Do You Believe in Miracles? (book 3). I’ve also broken down the excerpt with comments about context, themes, and conflict. Finally, I’ve included writing tips. Previously, I did the same for Do You Believe in Magic? (book 1) and Do You Believe in Monsters? (book 2).

With a tint of sadness, I would like to announce that today is the 75th and final episode of “Journey with me through a magical world.” The weekly serialized excerpts spanned almost a year and a half and included 75 Writing Tips and 75 deeper thoughts I called “Between the Lines.” I believe some writers could benefit from reading these, but that’s up to you. (The links to each episode can be found below.)
Beginning in January, I am going to start publishing a free biweekly series that will explore the ups and downs of my own publishing journey, including my experiences as a traditionally and self-published author. I’m going to keep these episodes short so that you won’t have to spend all day reading each one. Most authors out there who aren’t international bestsellers will be able to relate to what I’ll have to say and also glean some value.
Please stay tuned.

Though my series is appropriate for ages 13 and older, I’m finding that readers younger than 13 — and many who are a lot older than 13 — are enjoying it.

Here is a brief synopsis of the series: When Charlie Magus enters a fantastical world hidden deep in the forest, his life is turned upside down. The timid 13-year-old transforms into a powerful wizard wielding formidable powers.

Below are the opening paragraphs of the Epilogue of book 3. My author’s breakdown follows this short segment.

Spoiler alert: This excerpt contains spoilers. Don’t read any further if this is a concern.

Context: The grand conclusion.

EPILOGUE
Ten years later … (in Lowery time).
It was a cool fall Friday on the campus of Clemson University. The sun was bright. The sky was pale blue. Charlie’s favorite color.
He was now a first-year grad student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. As you might imagine, Charlie had a special interest in the stars.
He had just finished his lunch and now stood in a grassy area outside the Kinard Laboratory of Physics. His professors had loaded him up with research and writing projects, so he treasured times like these when he could relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Unlike Virgil and Garrick, Charlie did not return to Pacchann, choosing to remain in Lowery with his mom, Poppy, and Mawmaw. His dad visited a few times but then went his own way, and his mom ended up marrying an ordinary guy whom Charlie really liked.
In the first year after they defeated the Niddukk, Charlie saw Virgil and Garrick twice, but after that never again. He missed them and thought about them often, but the more time passed, the more dreamlike it all became.
Zola also didn’t return to Pacchann, but she and Charlie remained boyfriend and girlfriend and were planning to be married once they earned their PhDs and entered the workforce. Money wasn’t an issue. Poppy and Mawmaw had died on the same day exactly two years earlier and had left his mom and him millions of dollars. (Apparently, being an ancient Elder paid well.) This meant Charlie didn’t need to work, but he wasn’t the type to sit around and do nothing. Plus, he felt like he could bring some things to the table that other scientists could not. Heck, he had already saved the world once. Maybe he could do it again.
End of excerpt.

Themes: The passage of time; the joys of reunion; life goes on.

Between the lines: This is it, folks — the final “between the lines.” I hope you’ve enjoyed what I have had to say over the past 75 Fridays. For better or worse, I meant every word and wrote from the heart.

I’ll leave you with this …

Some people only swim on the surface. Others fill their lungs with oxygen and then dive deep. One isn’t necessarily superior to the other. But those who dive deep will see things that surface dwellers tend to miss.

Not everything you’ll see will be good or make you happy. Some things might have the opposite effect.

However, the deeper you dive the more your wisdom will grow.

Writing tips: As you’re finishing the final few pages of the first draft of your novel, don’t apologize to anyone for having a good cry. I’ve cried at the end of every novel I’ve ever written. There’s no shame in it. In fact, it would be a shame if you didn’t.

Past episodes of Book 3 (Do You Believe in Miracles?)

Past episodes of Book 2 (Do You Believe in Monsters?)

Past episodes of Book 1 (Do You Believe in Magic?)

Promotional notes

Dark Circles is appropriate for ages 13 and older, but readers as young as 10 and as old as 80 have told me they loved it — sort of like the Harry Potter series or C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. This heartfelt coming of age saga has won thirteen international awards.

DARK CIRCLES (13 and older)
Book 1: Do You Believe in Magic?
Book 2: Do You Believe in Monsters?
Book 3: Do You Believe in Miracles?

All told, more than 28,500 copies of books 1-3 of Dark Circles have been purchased, with an additional 120,000-plus pages read on Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP).

Caro Henry

Dec 13

Ah, Jim! Looking forward to your new series. Yes, there’s no shame in crying when you’ve completed something that was initially a dream.

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1 reply by Jim Melvin

C. Lee McKenzie

Jan 27

I do cry when I finish writing a novel, but then panic wipes away my tears. Did I get it right? Will a publisher take it? Will anyone read it? And what in the h@!! will I do now?

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