Oh. My. Gosh. (She's Alive)
Hello, night wanderers.
I was exhausted. Am exhausted. (Let's be honest, I think "exhausted" is just my personality now.)
After the release of Bound by Secrets, I wanted to hibernate—and I sort of did. Between all the damage control that went into that book and the sprint to the finish line, the marketing opponent won a few rounds. Some of you reached out privately asking if I was still around...
Yes. I'm here.
And like a raccoon, some of you found me in the corner anyway. (I love you for that.)
So Where Did the Time Go?
Wisely, I hope.
I've been deep in the first drafts of Book Three: Bound by _____—and I am absolutely in love with this story.
No more juggling 10+ characters. We're working with three and a half. (You'll understand the half when the book is out. Ha!)
I've outlined 46 chapters, and right now it's sitting at 21. Which sounds low, but if you know The Bound Series, you know I follow the same structure as my inspirational author, James Patterson—shorter chapters that hit hard and keep moving.
Something Different This Time
Books 1 and 2 were mostly through Celeste's eyes. But for Book Three, I've been strengthening Andrew's voice—really leaning into that tactical mind of his so you can see how he thinks.
And honestly? I'm so tempted to shape this POV into another character entirely because I'm enjoying it that much.
Tactical thinking is probably my biggest strength as a writer, and if you read When He Stayed, you got a small taste of it through Jace. His mind works similarly—just softer than what I originally planned for Andrew. Think of it as a warm-up.
I hope you'll like where this goes.
A Little Sprinkle of Science
Yes, you read that right.
The Bound Series has always been rooted in fantasy—that structure is still very much there. But thanks to some genuinely unhinged science thread posts I fell down a rabbit hole on, I wanted to try something.
A little science. Woven in carefully.
And I must say... I'm pretty happy with how some of these scenes are turning out. The way the impossible starts to feel possible with just the right explanation? I didn't expect to love it as much as I do.
And Now for the Announcement I Didn't Know I Was Making
Okay. Deep breath.
I'm starting to plan the series that comes after The Bound Series.
"...Wait. MORE books? Isn't three enough?"
I'm so glad you didn't ask.
The Bound Series will only be three books, but it tells the story from the military standpoint of Condinia: how bonds work and why they kept them secret.
What if I told you there's an Unbound Series in the future, told from the perspective of the 'enemy' nation Ashland—how they work with bonds, and why their culture keeps them in the open?
Yup.
It's not even in the outline phase yet. I'm still working out the two main characters. (Yes, it will be a slow burn romance. Yes, it will be done properly.)
Lessons From the Chaos
Here's the thing—Bound by Fire was largely winged.
I felt it. You probably felt it. And the damage control that bled into Book 2 was stressful in a way I never want to repeat again. I think I handled it well enough, but... but. Closing up plot holes mid-series is not an experience I'm looking to relive.
So this time, I want to build that plot line with intention, across all three Unbound books, before I start writing. Structure first. Heart second. (Well—okay, heart first. But structure immediately after.)
One More Thing
I also have a standalone in the works.
It's hit a snag—one I need to sit with before I move forward. This story is inspired by true events from my life, and I want to tell it well. I'm in love with the characters. One of them is probably the most challenging, most fun character I've ever created. But it needs more time.
The goal had been to release it this August... but instead, Bound by _____ got bumped up to August. (Fingers crossed.) That pushes the finale to this year rather than March 2027—which means The Bound Series lands once a year, right on schedule. The fans deserve that.
Thank You
To the fellow authors who checked in on me, who are helping with my drafts and beta reading—thank you. Genuinely. You know who you are. I'm so looking forward to finishing this with your help and support alongside me.
And to you, reading this—thank you for still being here.
I didn't make it easy.
Until next time! Keep wondering, keep creating, and let the night light burn a little longer.
-Van LaCar
Follow my journey through the Bound Series and beyond on Instagram: @vanlacar
New stories are stirring in the dark. Stay tuned for Bound by _____.
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