Today I’m excited to welcome our friend, writer, teacher and the queen of world-building, Jacqui Murray as she launches Laws of Nature, Book Two in the Dawn of Humanity series. It’s a fascinating read.
Before I share a little about the book, I thought it would be fun for Jacqui to tell us how she organizes her writing. Those who know her know she is extremely organized.
Here’s Jacqui!
I am by nature a scheduled person. I thrive on organization, logic, and an orderly approach. In the case of my writing, I have TODO lists all over the place–and follow them. This one is in Google Keep which keeps me synced across all my digital devices:
I had about ten items on the Laws of Nature TODO list, prior to launch, which I thankfully completed.
Prior to a final read-through, I spend a lot of time on Autocrit, figuring out if I’m communicating clearly. They have a lot of online tools to assist that process that go well beyond grammar and spelling. Some of my favorites are repeated words, cliches, weak starts to paragraphs, passive voice, and filler words. Here’s how I did at one point in my editing:
Once the book is written, publishing can be complicated. There are lots of option and their requirements are never the same. I publish print and digital to KDP–Kindle–and another Kindle format for educators called Ignite. Each has different guidelines for things like page size, submittal requirements, file type, with or without a cover, and more. I keep that on a spreadsheet:.
This is much more involved for those of you who also publish through B&N, Smashwords, Nook, and all the rest.
To organize my series in my own head, I post Milestones on the side of my blog, WordDreams. It tells readers when the next book in the series is expected and reminds me that I’ve made a commitment to a timely publication of books–at least one a year.
Tagline introduction
A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help.
Summary
In this second of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the first trilogy in the Man vs. Nature saga, Lucy and her eclectic group escape the treacherous tribe that has been hunting them and find a safe haven in the famous Wonderwerk caves in South Africa. Though they don’t know it, they will be the oldest known occupation of caves by humans. They don’t have clothing, fire, or weapons, but the caves keep them warm and food is plentiful. But they can’t stay, not with the rest of the tribe enslaved by an enemy. To free them requires not only the prodigious skills of Lucy’s unique group–which includes a proto-wolf and a female raised by the pack–but others who have no reason to assist her and instinct tells Lucy she shouldn’t trust.
Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.
A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!
Book information:
Title and author: Laws of Nature
Series: Book 2 in the Dawn of Humanity series
Genre: Prehistoric fiction
Editor: The extraordinary Anneli Purchase
Available print or digital) at:Kindle US Kindle UK Kindle CA Kindle AU Kindle India
Author bio:

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022.
Social Media contacts:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/
Blog: https://worddreams.wordpress.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquimurraywriter/
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jacquimurray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher
Twitter: http://twitter.com/worddreams
Website: https://jacquimurray.net