I believe this is the last of the deleted chapters. There were quite a few chapters ADDED during editing -- most prominently the ones with Xavier and Tobimar travelling together -- but I don't *think* there are any other fully deleted chapters. This chapter gave us a look at the training the two went through, and another look at the Justiciars, and set up the situation which actually begins Chapter 1 of the final book.   -----     Chapter 12.        Lighter blade parried greatsword with a chiming impact that [ Continue reading... ]

  This chapter introduced some of the concepts that pervade the story -- procedures of investigation that are similar to those seen today -- and also showed us the Justiciars as Kyri knew them. In terms of plot, this was some of the hardest material to lose (and the following chapter) because it established who the Justiciars were to Kyri and how they were seen prior to things going south.   -----   Chapter 3.        "No, Milady." Thornfalcon's face seemed even longer and sadder than usual beneath the silver-beaked helm. [ Continue reading... ]

  Continuing this glimpse into what was removed from the early drafts. As I mentioned, the main content of these is background and character information on Kyri and her life before the main action begins.   -----     Chapter 2.        Kyri stared numbly down at the remains of the front door; with cruel irony, the fire-charm on the door had remained intact, so the huge portals were unscorched, smeared only with water and soot from the rest of the mansion but otherwise marred only by the deep crescent-shaped gouges [ Continue reading... ]

  The original draft of Phoenix Rising included several chapters which were cut, mainly because they slowed our approach to the main action of the book. The downside, in my view, was that we lost a glimpse at how Kyri became the way she was, and other characters' interactions with her before the main events. The only changes I've made to these chapters are titles and names which were changed for the published version.     -----   Chapter 1.        Kyri smiled at her little sister Urelle as she ran, zig-zag fashion, [ Continue reading... ]