The Chronicles of Odde Ideas

Here are some inspirational images for the cover of my next book, The Lost Prince. It's a working title, and may change later. (This is my National Novel Writing Month project (NaNoWriMo).)

My sister and I have the idea of using something along these lines as the cover. The idea of emerging out of the darkness has a lot of metaphorical meanings, but most directly refers to one of the tasks set before the book's Heroine, Kelly Williams. She is asked to solve the riddle of the labyrinth.

Such a character... (Spoiler Alert)

     Building a character is a complicated process. I don't know about other writers but I like using character sheets. My character sheets are an amalgamation of several others I've looked up on the internet. They have the usual information, like physical traits and personality, but it also has a lot of back history. Family connections, dreams, goals, disappointments, personal quirks and pet-peeves. Some things I write down never end up in my writing, but they can explain how my character will react in certain situations.

     For example, Soran Folkern in my novel, The Beast of the Ruin.
     Soran was a Prince of an old Kingdom, Folkerth. In his youth, he was darkly handsome, charming, but a dutiful son. The court loved him and especially the women there. Soran loved them in return, but he wasn't a playboy and the hearts he left behind were never broken, but sometimes a little too clingy. He was cursed by Zula Milberga, Odde's most dangerous Sorceress. The smell of pinroses, Zula's favorite perfume, still made Soran ill centuries after first seeing the Sorceress flaunt her beauty in his father's court.
     The curse he'd born for over a century was taking it's toll on his humanity. His forced seclusion was both for his sanity and the safety of the women around him. A feminine presence was enough to stir the hunger of the curse, and so he avoided them like the plague and yet he couldn't live without them.
     Zula had cursed him that night, under the full moon with the music of the summer dance drifting through the lit gardens, "Since you seem to love the paltry affections and infatuations these frivolous woman have for you, from this moment forward you will live off their love at the cost of their lives. A monster who consumes the very blood of their affectionate hearts. Any woman who looks on you will surely love you, and as soon as they admit that love, they will die in your arms." He remembered as she paused a moment for affect, "Since, my love was not enough, this seems a fitting punishment. But I'm not heartless, this curse will be broken when a woman can withstand your looks for a year and a day. I doubt there is a woman born in this world that wouldn't fall in love with you on sight." She laughed cruelly and left in a flash of red lightning. Soran often wondered if she knew what the magic she unleashed had done to him as the memory still haunted his dreams.

     None of these facts appeared in the story, but hints are here and there about Soran's past.
     I am always looking for ways to improve my characters and process. What attributes or other facts would you add to your character sheets?

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

Traditional or Self-publishing? That is the question. For someone like me, Self-publishing looks like the holy grail. It's fast, convenient and the profit looks good on paper, up to 80% of profits end up in my pocket. It's also a lot of work, with no back up, and if you want to use professional services it can be a real chunk of change up front. Depending on the package it can be thousands of dollars out of pocket. Not to mention having to pay for the actual books.

On the other hand, it can take years and countless rejections before an author is published through traditional means. If or when you are picked up, the publishing company keeps a very large portion of your profits, but they also have a great national and even international reach. The company takes care of everything, from editing, publicity, and distribution while self-publishing is trying to catch up to traditional publishing companies. Now they offer more complete distribution through amazon and formatting for e-readers, to help authors reach more people.

It is not unheard of for a few writers to transition from self-publishing to traditional. There seems to be the opinion that traditional is better. More than prestige, the draw of traditional publishing companies is all that authors hope for, but many professionals warn to read the contact's fine print. Authors often have grand intentions, but most of us don't know the financials of the path we've chosen. We all can't be as rich as J.K. Rowling, and especially not right off the bat. The best I hope for is enough to live on, and maybe traveling for book signings.

So my self-publishing journey is just beginning. Thanks to there partnership with NaNoWriMo last year I got a proof copy of my novel from www.lulu.com and it is with them that I plan to publish my book.

As you know I've been editing my novel (several drafts since it was first penned), and I hope to be finished by the first of the year. If you'd like to support me, I have a campaingne going at
  www.gofund.me/g4zsek    

 Thank you for your support & thanks for reading. Here's an older pic of the cover made by my very talented sister, Melanie Brown.

The Plans of Mice and Men...

Or in this case, Writers and Women. Oh, dear. I sometimes forget that life doesn't go according to my plans. In fact, it seems the more I plan the more my life goes off track. Take this blog for instance. I planned to write something every night, not anything life changing, but just a post as a way of flexing my self discipline. Life happened. So there was a bump in the road and now I'm back on track.

I feel a plethora of cliches drifting about at the corners of my consciousness. I am ignoring them. (You're welcome, by the way.)

On to the planned topic. My Novel.
The Chronicles of Odde: The Beast of the Ruin.

Here is the synopsis for the novel. Expect an excerpt to be posted soon. Until then...


     Young women are finding themselves transported to a world of magic, the many Kingdoms of Odde, where princes fall under magical spells and princess frolic about the country side and occasionally are eaten by dragons. How will these modern young women cope when fairy tales become reality? And one must remember, not all tales end with happily-ever-after.
     Abagail's first glance at the rolling hills of Odde was through the brackets of iron bars on her way to be sold as a slave to the underbelly of the upper class in the port city of Knaverly. It seemed she wasn't the only one snatched off the street, though she could tell her companions weren't from her suburbs, more like a big-budget remake of anything Rodgers and Hammerstein. But when Peter, a young innkeeper, spends all of his coin to purchase Abbey from the clutches of a nasty under-lord, she suddenly finds herself safe again. Peter is that brawny sort of handsome,  big and kind, and in love with the Miller's pretty daughter, Milly. Abbey is happy to work at the inn for room and board and help Peter any way she can. She knows she could never repay his kindness. Not to mention the fact that she has nowhere else to go. The Wolf's Tooth Inn,  is not too far from the bustling city, and is a good place to pick up information, perhaps even to find a way home.
     Months pass to little avail while Abigail learns the ins and outs of running The Wolf's Tooth. She's smart, and a bit crafty, in both senses of the word. She picks up on things quickly enough for Peter to wonder at her protests. With Milly's help and some creative upgrades the Inn is thriving, until a darkness settles over the land, threatening Abbey's safety and peace of mind.
     Whispers float through the town. Lights have been seen in the towers of a cursed and abandoned castle, the townsfolk call the Ruin.  The time of the Naming has come again.
      It has been nearly two decades since the last Naming; a lottery of the women in the village, those unmarried and of a certain age. One unlucky maiden is chosen to be served up to the Beast of the Ruin. When Milly's name is chosen Abbey offers to go in her stead. Left tied to a stack at the gates of the Ruin, Abbey wonders if she has but moments to live, until an old man and a boy come out of the shadowy depth and claim her in the name of the Beast.
     What future does the Ruin hold for her? A gruesome death by teeth and claws? A magical servitude or something more hopeful?

Melanie Brown, my very talented sister, made this cover for my novel. A few things have changed, including the title, but it is a lovely cover anyways. This proof is thanks to lulu.com, a perk for winners (those who met the 50,000 word goal) 2013 NaNoWriMo. It's the only copy in print, but it is wonderful to hold it in my hands.

NaNoWriMo is Just Around the Corner

November is National Novel Writing Month. The official website www.nanowrimo.org has everything you need to know about participating nationally or locally. It's 30 days and a goal of 50,000 words. (Join the winners circle.) They are great with motivation for all levels and ages of writers. Donations and/or merchandise help support the movement. Writers all over the world are gearing up for the writing extravaganza. Myself included. While the website provides any number of prompts and ideas to get writing, I have my own list of items to help me brainstorm. Plot outlines, character worksheets, synopsis, and lots of internet searches. Lots and lots of searches. 

What do you do to plan for your writing projects? What are your best brainstorming ideas?

My profile Pic (and no it's not a selfie). A moment of whimsey and perhaps one of my favorite pics. I'm not very photogenic. Truthfully I enjoy the dentist more than I do getting my picture taken. My bookshelf is my backdrop and just a small fraction of the books I own.

It's a very good place to start...

Ink and Paper. Stories. Books. Since I first learned to read, I've had a love of books. Some might call me a bibliophile. That love has translated into the dream of publishing a volume of my own. My dream is closer than ever. This blog is to help track my journey towards publication, and to inspire other writers who are in the verbal trenches. Expect posts about my inspirations, my writing resources and sneak peeks at what I'm working on.
More to come soon. Thanks for Reading.