
January Thoughts
January always feels like a good time to take stock and look ahead. This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about rituals and cycles—not just in life, but in how we build our fantasy worlds. Keep reading for my thoughts on how to make your worldbuilding simpler, but more immersive.
I’ve also got some thoughts to share on why that “strong men create good times” meme is not the circular model you should be using. For anything. Ever. Not even for humor.
On the writing front, I’m thrilled to say that book 4 of Sangwheel Chronicles, The Keeper of the Gate, is finished! At 600 thousand words, the series is now complete and out in the world. Let’s dig into all of it together, starting with Keeper of the Gate.
Table of Contents
Keeper of the Gate

Cue the applause! I’m thrilled to announce that Sangwheel Chronicles, my four-book epic saga, is now complete! Starting with Hidden Blade and concluding with the explosive Keeper of the Gate, this series is officially available for purchase on Amazon and other major ebook retailers. For the month of its release (until 28 Feb 2025), each book is priced at just $1.00, so you can grab the entire series for $4.00! Paperbacks and hardbacks are also available, and for those who enjoy collector’s editions, signed copies can be found on my Ko-fi page (but read on about the new look before heading over there).
Those of you who are audio book fans, it is coming, including an actual physical mp3 file download version on my ko-fi site. The audio book is recorded, and is currently in production. I expected it will be out by end of Feb at the latest.
You can pick up the e-books on Amazon (or elsewhere as it slowly works its way into stores, rollout is a process).
​​
Blurb for The Keeper of the Gate:
Sangwheel Chronicles - Book Four
The Blood Gate quakes under the strain of unleashed power, threatening to unravel the very fabric of Lumiaron. Helewys, the ambitious usurper of the Imperial Sash, rallies her forces for a final, decisive confrontation with Alund’s defiant armies. Across blood-soaked battlefields, the clash of swords is matched by dueling sang sorcellerie as their feud for the Empire reaches its fiery crescendo.
Dodging the chaos of war as best he can, Louis de la Roche races the candle with a desperate plan to stabilize the collapsing Blood Gate. But the answers lie buried in forbidden lore, and the final price is staggering, even for an assassin. As allies falter and foes grow bolder, the cost of saving the Empire may be more than Louis is willing to pay.
Meanwhile, Naira journeys deep into the ancient prophecies of the Goddess, seeking her own destiny. Her quest leads her to dire lands and into the heart of long-forgotten truths. Guided by the scent of the divine, she must unearth the Gods’ secrets to tip the scales of fate—before it’s too late.
War, prophecy, and forbidden power collide in The Keeper of the Gate, the breathtaking final installment of the Sangwheel Chronicles. The balance of an empire—and the destiny of the divine—will be decided.
Okay, now we know about the new book, let's talk about covers!
​
A New Look for the Series
The current covers are striking in red, reflecting the intensity and drama (and blood magic) of the series. If you have the red covers and want to complete the series, they'll remain on sale until April 2025 (Hardback and Paperback).
However! I'm working on a redesign which will feature a fresh artistic direction, emphasizing the series' evolution and depth.
While the content of the books will remain the same, these updated versions will include internal line art from the talented artist behind my new YouTube channel logo and will have new covers, based on symbolic elements of the books.
This is the concept art for the new covers, generated using AI (not the final covers, final artwork will be created by a human, but I needed something to show said human).
​
​

So, long story short, if you like the new covers, wait till the re-launch to buy the physical books. If you have the red covers for the first 3 and want to complete the series, or if you like the red covers better, get your physical book buys in now :)
(Amazon won't let me have the same book with 2 different covers, so it's one or the other).
What’s Next for Sangwheel?
Sangwheel Chronicles tells a complete story centered on the Northern Empire of Lumiaron, introducing the characters Louis, Naira, Isabella, Herself and others. Despite a dangling thread or two, that story is now complete. But that doesn't mean Sangwheel is over. It's not the end, but it is end of the beginning.
The next chapter of the Sangwheel Saga will take us south to Kisangi in a trilogy called Sangwheel Tales. This new series will explore fresh characters, complex cultures, and new challenges while weaving into the overarching saga.
In Tales, you can expect immersive worldbuilding inspired by African and pre-Islamic Middle Eastern cultures. The Empire of Imevun especially draws heavily from my research on the Hittite Empire, offering what I hope will be an interesting take on empires, power, and politics.
The first book in the trilogy is planned for release in 2026, with subsequent books following annually. (First books require a lot of world building, hence why I don't want to commit to a 2025 release).
Special Bonus for Newsletter Readers
As a thank-you for reading my yapping, I’ve included an exclusive link to the prologue of Sangwheel Tales. However, beware of spoilers! Only click this link after you’ve read Keeper of the Gate. I’m serious. Go read that and then come back here and click the link 😊
Prologue for Sangwheel Tales​​
​
One question I sometimes get is why I broke the saga up into pieces and why Hidden Blade feels almost like a stand alone book. So, let's talk about my writing journey.
My Writing Journey
When I began writing Sangwheel, I wasn’t sure if I could finish even one book, let alone four. That’s why I designed each book—and the series—to have its own payoff, giving readers a complete story within the larger saga. With 600,000 words now under my belt, I feel ready to take on the intricate storytelling required for Kisangi's part of the saga.
Like with Chronicles, I’m still going to tell the saga’s story in pieces, because I think it makes it easier for new and old readers alike. New readers can dip into any of the series in the saga without needing to backread ten books, and old readers get regular story payoffs in each series and novel.
And speaking of novels, in addition to Sangwheel Tales, I plan to release standalone novels exploring pivotal moments in the Empire of Lumiaron. These books will add depth to the world while being accessible to new readers. They’ll also explore the changes resulting from the events in Sangwheel Chronicles.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Don’t forget to leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other platforms—they mean the world to me!
If you want to share just the news about Keeper, here's a button to the blog post.
Creating Rituals in Fantasy Worlds
When I recorded my video on rituals in December (linked above), it sparked a lot of thoughts about the role rituals play—not just in fantasy worlds but in real life. It also shifted my perspective on some of the things I do. For instance, I’ve been running a Tuesday role-playing game for years, and I’ve come to see it as a kind of ritual in my life. It builds community, reinforces my identity as a table-top role-player, helps me disconnect from the chaos of the world, and gives me a chance to reset my thought patterns. This realization got me thinking about the core purposes of rituals and how to incorporate them meaningfully into fantasy worldbuilding.
The Core Purposes of Rituals
Rituals can often feel overly formal or structured, leading us to focus too much on the "how" rather than the "why." But rituals serve essential functions:
-
Establishing Community: Rituals create a shared experience, reinforcing bonds between participants. Pride parades, for example, are not just celebratory events; they are rituals that affirm queer identity and foster solidarity.
-
Identity Formation and Affirmation: Rituals solidify individual and group identities. Whether it’s a D&D group sharing in storytelling or a congregation attending Mass, rituals reinforce the participants’ sense of belonging and their role within the community.
-
Switching Off from the World: Many rituals allow people to disconnect from daily distractions. This aspect struck me when I read about young American men returning to traditional Orthodox churches. These churches often conduct Mass in Latin, a language many attendees don’t understand. To an outsider, this might seem strange—why attend a service where you don’t understand the words? But that’s precisely the point. The incomprehensibility becomes a feature, not a bug, helping attendees disengage from the noise of the outside world and enter a meditative state.
-
Encouraging Mental Reset: By stepping away from "productivity" and engaging in ritual (which is focused on other things than being productive), participants often find clarity and renewal. The repetitive or symbolic nature of rituals can create space for introspection and mental rest.
Applying Rituals to Fantasy Worlds
When creating rituals for your fantasy worlds, it’s important to design them with these purposes in mind. Here’s how you can make your rituals meaningful and organic:
1. Tie Rituals to Community and Identity
Think about the communities and identities within your world. What are the shared experiences, values, or beliefs that these groups want to affirm? For example:
-
A guild of blacksmiths might perform a ritual before forging, invoking the favor of a god of fire and craftsmanship.
-
A desert tribe might hold a communal dance at dawn to celebrate survival and solidarity in a harsh environment.
-
A mage’s circle might enact a ritual that reaffirms their dedication to their arcane studies and shared knowledge.
These rituals should feel natural within the culture and reflect the group’s core identity.
2. Incorporate Disconnecting Elements
Consider adding elements that help participants switch off from the outside world. This could involve sensory immersion, such as chanting, incense, or rhythmic movements. For instance:
-
A ritual performed in darkness with glowing crystals could create a calming atmosphere that helps participants focus inward.
-
An elven ceremony in a sacred grove might involve listening to the wind through the trees, creating a space of meditative stillness.
3. Encourage Symbolism and Repetition
Symbolism and repetition are key to creating rituals that resonate. These elements can build familiarity and comfort, allowing participants to mentally reset. Examples might include:
-
Repeating chants or phrases that evoke the history or values of the group.
-
Using symbolic objects, like a warrior’s sword blessed in a ceremony before battle.
4. Reflect Cultural and Environmental Contexts
Your rituals should emerge organically from the culture and environment of your world. For example:
-
In a society living near active volcanoes, rituals might center on appeasing fire spirits.
-
A seafaring culture might have rituals involving water offerings or blessings before a voyage.
Why This Matters
Rituals are a powerful way to add depth and authenticity to your fantasy world. They reveal the values, fears, and hopes of your cultures while providing moments of connection for your characters. By grounding your rituals in the purposes they serve—establishing community, affirming identity, encouraging mental resets, and creating space for introspection—you can make them feel both meaningful and believable.
So, the next time you’re designing a culture, ask yourself: what rituals would naturally emerge? Who do they bring together, and why? What identity do they affirm? These questions will guide you in creating rituals that resonate, not just with your characters but also with your readers.
The Power and Pitfalls of Cyclical Models in Worldbuilding
This month on Just In Time Worldbuilding, we’re kicking off a new series about the life cycle of empires and how patterns drawn from history can add depth to your fantasy worlds. To shape this discussion, I’ve drawn heavily from Sir John Glubb’s model of the rise and fall of empires (detailed in the essay Fate of Empires). This is a fascinating cyclical framework that offers plenty for worldbuilders to sink their teeth into.
Glubb’s model suggests that empires go through distinct stages:
-
The brash rise to power, where a dominant culture begins conquering and asserting itself.
-
A golden age, characterized by wealth, flourishing arts, and mercantile success.
-
An intellectual and academic era, where the culture becomes highly educated but also begins to show cracks of corruption.
-
The bureaucratic decline, as systems grow unwieldy and corruption spreads.
-
The collapse, paving the way for new empires to emerge from the ruins.
Now, let’s be honest—models like this are inherently reductive. They simplify complex histories, glossing over the unique contexts of civilizations like the Mayans, the Chinese dynasties, or African empires. Especially Glubb, who is a mid-twentieth century Englishman with all the perspective that implies :).
In the real world, history doesn’t always fit neatly into cycles. It’s not a fixed progression, nor is it entirely random. History is more like a drunken lurch from one crisis to the next, with echoes of past events repeating because people, at their core, remain people.
So, where does this leave us? While I don’t think cyclical models are ideal descriptors of history in our world, they are fantastic tools for fantasy worldbuilders.
Why Worldbuilders Should Love Cyclical Models
Here’s the thing: worldbuilding isn’t about perfect historical accuracy. It’s about creating a rich, immersive world that feels real to your audience and allows you to tell your story.
Cyclical models, despite their flaws, help achieve this by distilling historical complexity into something accessible and recognizable.
When you integrate a cycle of imperial rise and fall into your fantasy world, readers will sense echoes of our own history. It gives your world an underlying structure, a sense of depth and continuity, without requiring you to map out every cultural nuance.
For example, say your story is set in an empire on the brink of collapse. By applying Glubb’s framework, you can weave in societal stagnation, bureaucratic overreach, and whispers of corruption—all of which resonate with readers as believable. It’s not the whole truth of history, but it’s enough truth to ground your story in a familiar reality.
The beauty of cyclical models is their simplicity. You can adapt them to fit your world without overwhelming yourself or your audience with unnecessary complexity. They’re tools, not absolutes, and when used well, they’re golden.
But when used badly....Let's talk about THAT MEME. I'm sure you've seen around:
“Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create bad times. Bad times create strong men.”
This is the worst cyclical model I’ve ever encountered, and I despise it.
First, it’s hopelessly vague. What does “strong” even mean? Physical strength? Moral strength? Magical prowess? How many times you can skip a rock over a pond? All of these are valid definition of strength.
The way the meme normally used, it implies that strength is synonymous with soldiers or rugged determination. That, IMO, completely ignores the reality that in every era—whether in times of prosperity or hardship—there are people willing to rise to the occasion and people who falter. Strength and weakness aren’t fixed attributes of an era; they’re human responses to circumstance.
And speaking of prosperity and hardship, what does good times mean? Good times for who? Bad times defined by what metric? Food? Wealth? Health? The amount of boardgames you can own? All those can be definitions of good times and they all drastically change the meme.
So the meme completely falls down on the definition of terms.
Second point of failure, it’s reductive to the point of absurdity. Societies don’t succeed or fail based on some simplistic moral calculus of “strong vs. weak men.” History is shaped by countless factors: economics, politics, technology, environmental conditions, and yes, the choices of individuals—but not in the cartoonishly linear way this meme suggests.
So let's leave this meme where it belons—in the trash heap of oversimplified history and focus on well researched cyclical models.
They may not perfectly capture the nuances of real history, but for fantasy worldbuilders, they’re an invaluable shortcut to creating believable, layered worlds. Whether you’re exploring the rise of an empire or its fall, these patterns help shape narratives that resonate with readers.
Don’t forget to check out the Empire Series on Just In Time Worldbuilding for a deeper dive into using these cycles in your worldbuilding.
​
And that's that for this quarter's newsletter! Hope you enjoyed it. Remember that you can submit questions for the newsletter on my website, right below the signup for the newsletter form: Newsletter | Marie Mullany
I'll see you in April for more news, new covers and maybe some questions and answers!