Deciding POV: Single or Multiple?
Forged Series: Walk in someone else's shoes
To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.
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Deciding POV: Single or Multiple?
Just like the Big Theme in Shattered started with Tessa’s “Who am I?” questions, the point of view (POV) for book one kept the readers close to her. In Shattered, we heard only Tessa’s version of what was happening. However, there is always more than one side to a story.
As part of my writing process, I’d written the early drafts of the manuscript with several scenes from different characters’ POV. Sometimes I did this because Tessa wasn’t the catalyst in the scene, so I needed to figure out from the driver’s seat what was happening and why. After seeing the scene from their POV, I could go back and complete Tessa’s version of the events.
At first, I’d planned to include Isaiah’s POV sprinkled throughout Shattered. Based on beta reader feedback and my own desire to keep a tight rein on the mystery, I removed his chapters from the book. But don’t worry, I didn’t delete them.
For those of you who downloaded the temporarily available novellas, you were able to see the same timeline from Isaiah’s viewpoint. If you missed out on the novellas, don’t worry, they will be back! I have plans to repackage the three novellas as a book later this year.
Telling the other side
When I reached Merged, Tessa’s focus shifted outward. Instead of her self-identity, it becomes more about her social identity. With the truth of her past revealed, she asks “Who am I willing to become?” and begins to see how she fits within the Elites.
To match the expansion of exploring her social identity, readers will find the circle of POVs also widening. Instead of only Tessa’s POV, Merged contains chapters from the three boys’ POVs: Isaiah, Zeke, and the hazel-eyed boy of Tessa’s breakthrough memories.
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The result
I’d like to say that I purposely planned the chapters so there would be equal representation. And that they were strategically placed to give a uniform ebb-and-flow of head-hopping. I did not. I wrote from the POV that made the most sense at each step in the journey. The majority of Merged is still from Tessa’s POV, but I also included Isaiah’s and Zeke’s in the original manuscript.
The flow was okay, but something was missing. On the suggestion of Angela, my original-publisher-turned-mentor, I looked at adding in several chapters for the hazel-eyed boy from the Underground.
At that point, I mapped out the chapters and discovered the natural lulls in boy POVs. It was in these lulls in the storyline that the third boy’s POV fit very nicely. The result is a nearly perfect pattern of viewpoints. Phew! (As a person who counts steps as I climb, patterns are important, so I’m pleased that the boy characters behaved and gave me their stories in a nice pattern.)
Did you know?
The planned release of Merged is coming up fast! ARC readers, both Street Team members and Reviewers, have their digital copies of the book. Did you want an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review? Let me know! Send an email to bycbmason@gmail.com or DM me. Find out more here. I’ve left the sign-up forms active for now.
Early reviews give the social proof new readers need to find an indie-published book. If you plan on buying the book anyway, why not get an early copy, leave a review, and help hype the release? You can still purchase a released copy of the finalized book to support my work (and put it on your bookshelf).
Other ways to show your support
Add Merged to your “Want to Read” status on Goodreads, Fable, and Storygraph.
If you are an Amazon customer, follow me, watch for Merged to be listed (soon).
Interact with my social media posts on Instagram and Facebook. Follow, like, comment, share to stories, and save my posts—each interaction tells the algorithm to show the book to more people!
Give Shattered a review any place you look for books—and yes, you can post the same review in each place! Here are a few review sites: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Goodreads, Fable, Storygraph.
Upcoming Events & Happenings
Friday, September 4, 2026 and Sunday, September 6, 2026, 10am to 8pm, Oregon State Fair - I will have a booth in the Columbia Hall (between the quilts and cakes) at the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Oregon. I will have copies of Merged with me to sell along with Shattered and some free swag! Cost: admission to the state fair. For more info and a complete list of authors in attendance by day, visit here.
ARC Opportunity! - Want to help hype up the release of Merged? Or maybe you are willing to post a review to give social proof for other readers to find and take a chance on an indie author? I’m sending out free digital Advance Reader Copies of Merged! I’ve kept the forms open so you can still join! For the full experience as a Street Team Member (with behind-the-scenes, first looks, and interactions with other Street Team members and me), join here. To be a Review Team Member who leaves a review anywhere you look for books, join here.
Before you go
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I love learning about these decisions because readers only see the finished puzzle, not all the pieces that had to be moved around first.
Wishing you lots of success with Merged.