As promised, I have added another chapter for your viewing pleasure. The new chapter lays some groundwork for where Calvin and Amelia are headed and how the events in Accord Village have influenced them. If you are looking forward to more Dr. Vincent and the Perownes, don’t worry. I will be adding another chapter that focuses on them shortly. While I will continue to post additional chapters, be cognizant of the fact that I will edit and revise sections as the contest progresses. The main themes and plot points will persist. I will simply be tidying up dialogue, adding/removing scene and character descriptions, or fixing those illusive grammatical errors.

"Tracing the Synapse" is the first story I have ever shared publicly. Some of you have read how Calvin’s journey unfolds and seen the difficulties that lie ahead for Dr. Vincent. For that, I am extremely grateful and hope you enjoyed it so far. However, some of my friends have told me I have shared too much. The premise is engaging enough and, by writing more than many other entries, I have revealed my hand prematurely. I couldn’t disagree more. 

My story is both fantasy and science fiction. Each world that Calvin and Amelia visit is different from the one they visited before, and the differences change how Calvin’s memories interact, so the video games he fondly remembers begin to collide and create brand new worlds. Yes, some aspects are shared - the characters, the central plot, and the history of the world itself (Gods of Three, the Ethereal Realm, etc.) - but if I were to reveal only the premise and a short excerpt, I would do a disservice to the readers I have asked to support me. 

I firmly believe that Inkshares is not a platform in which a skill in deception is required. If I were to ask for your support, but decide to hide my writing style, to hide who my characters are, or to hide my ability to deliver a final product worthy of your support, I would be asking you to support me based on nothing more than your own imagination. I have read countless premises and thought of all the subjectively amazing ways in which the stories could have been executed. Sometimes, I have been sadly disappointed by the final work. We all know that feeling. However, it is a fantastic feeling when you discover an author who takes an idea and crafts something original and imaginative. The last thing I want is for a reader to support me and be disappointed by the result. 

As such, I will continue to share more of my story as it is completed. You may read a few pages and decide it is not for you. I am genuinely glad I wrote enough to allow for an informed decision. After all, an uninformed pre-order is evidence that I have failed you as an author and convinced you to believe in me instead of my work. For those of you who have either pre-ordered based on what you saw or decided to follow the project, I will share more to ensure your support is earned. Thank you for believing in "Tracing the Synapse."