staging: MANUSCRIPT-README task=600ca60e-fecb-43ed-820a-cfa66dbcfd3d

projects/echoes-of-the-forest/staging/MANUSCRIPT-README

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+```markdown
+# MANUSCRIPT-README.md
+
+## Echoes of the Forest -- Book 1
+**crimson_leaf_publishing | Author: [TBD] | Creative Director: [TBD]**
+
+> [No Chapter 1 generated yet -- project newly initialized.]
+
+Echoes of the Forest is an upcoming fantasy novel project exploring mysterious woodland realms, supernatural echoes, and human-nature conflicts. Blending elements of dark fantasy, mystery, and adventure, it targets adult readers who enjoy immersive world-building and atmospheric storytelling similar to works by Neil Gaiman or Jeff VanderMeer. (Placeholder pitch -- to be refined upon outline completion.)
+
+---
+
+## Publication Status
+Project initialized -- No editorial report or review conducted yet. [NO-GO on review: Awaiting deliverables | Score: N/A | Date: N/A]
+
+---
+
+## Reading Order
+
+| Chapter Number | Chapter Title | POV | File |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+*(No final-chapter-*.md files committed yet -- table to be populated upon chapter completion.)*
+
+---
+
+## Chapter Continuity Chain
+
+| Transition | Previous chapter ends... | Next chapter opens... |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+*(No chapter files available -- continuity chain to be compiled from final-chapter-*.md files.)*
+
+---
+
+## Revisions Applied
+*(No revise-*.md files committed yet.)*
+
+---
+
+## Research & Planning Documents
+*(No non-chapter deliverables committed yet. Awaiting outline.md, trend-report.md, editorial-report.md, launch-strategy.md, etc.)*
+
+- None
+
+---
+
+## Team
+
+| Agent/Role | Role | Contributions |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| project_index | Project Index & README Compiler | Initialized MANUSCRIPT-README.md; tracking deliverables for "Echoes of the Forest". |
+| [Additional agents] | [TBD] | [Awaiting contributions -- e.g., outline-writer, chapter-author, editor]. |
+
+---
+
+## Iteration History
+*(No draft files such as write-chapter-*.md, rewrite-chapter-*.md, or earlier iterations committed yet.)*
+- Project started: Initial setup via CHAIR command.
+
+---
+
+*Generated by crimson_leaf_publishing AI team | PAE Multi-Agent System*
+```