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Saturday, January 31, 2009

Book Five Preview (Bleeding Sun)




So, in order to help pass my writer's block, I have written many previews from the other books in the series. I will be posting these previews so that I can get people interested in the books that are to follow. Here is an excerpt from Bleeding Sun, the fifth book in the series. My second favorite book in the series, I hope that many people will anticipate its arrival. Enjoy this excerpt and let me know how you feel about it!

[“Are you sure you want to do this?” Alsenoth was trying to convince Kala otherwise.
Yes, Alsey.”
“And are you sure that your room filled with light after you woke up from your nightmare?”
Kala gave him a look. The look, rather. It was funny how she was able to unexpectedly demand control with her eyes. She was two years younger than Alsenoth—thirty-three—and yet she was still able to make him feel smaller than her in every way. He knew he was fighting in an argument that he could not win.
“I just want to make sure, Kala. Stimdärt abilities are difficult to control. It’s tiring and you’re going to have to be under extreme agitation while you train. So….” He paused.
Kala gave him a curious look. “So, what?”
Alsenoth looked distractedly to his side. “So I’m going to have to hit you.”
Kala’s eyes widened. “What!?”
“Yes, err…. See? I told you this wasn’t a great idea!”
“Right. To agitate me you have to hit me? You can’t yell at me or something?”
“That’s not how it works, Kala. And I’m not going to yell at you.”
“But you’ll hit me.”
Alsenoth growled in irritation. “Kala, we can do this another time. I mean you can even just wait until we do your regular sword training, if you want.”
Kala smile. “Ugh! Fine! Hit me, then!” She bent her knees, folded her wings across her back, and stuck her neck forward. A big grin on her face, she tapped her cheek with her left hand. “Come on, Alsey! Right here!”
Alsenoth shook his head, his eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to hit you now, Kala. I’m not dumb enough to just—”
“No, come on! Seriously, hit me!”
“Kala if this is some sort of joke—”
Hit me!”
Alsenoth threw his fist against Kala’s cheek. She flipped around and snarled, placing her claw against her face. When she turned back around to face Alsenoth, her eyes and pupils were a deep shade of ruby; a clear sign of Stimdärt power. Her cheek was cut from the impact of the punch and blood was trickling down her face.
“What did you do that for?”
Alsenoth was flustered, taken completely off-guard. He widened his eyes in fear—horrified that he had actually hurt his best friend. “But you asked me to hit you! Insisted, if I rightly recollect! Are you okay? I mean, I didn’t mean to hit you that hard!”
He bent down and knelt at her side. She had an angry look on her face. “I know I told you to, but I didn’t think that you’d actually do it; I was trying to prove a point!”
“I’m sorry Kala. I was just trying to help you tap into your Stimdärt abilities.”
Kala sighed. “I know. I’m not mad. I’m just…shocked at how much it hurt.”
Alsenoth raised his brow. “Oh, is that all? I thought you were mad at me?”
“I can be if you’d like,” she pouted with her face and gave Alsenoth the look.
Alsenoth just chuckled. “I’m sorry Kala, but it was either that or cutting you.”
Kala lifted her claw off of her face to reveal her bleeding cheek. She flashed him a sarcastic smile. “Oh we wouldn’t want that now, would we?”
Alsenoth grinned. “No, of course not. But either way it still worked.”
“What do you mean?”
Alsenoth stood up and looked at her. “Well for one thing, your eyes are all ruby—which, might I add, makes you look very pretty,” Kala shifted at this remark, “And secondly, if you look at your claws you’ll see that they’re shining.”
Kala looked down. Alsenoth was right: bright yellow light was swimming lazily around her claws, twinkling in the sun’s rays. She looked up happily to Alsenoth, a giant grin on her face—the same smile that had always reminded him of the sun. “See, Alsey? I told you I wasn’t joking! Now do you believe me?”
Alsenoth smiled; more to himself than to Kala. “I never said that I didn’t believe you, Kala. There’s no way that I could never believe you.”]

Thursday, January 29, 2009

A Whole Mess Of Music

So I have added a TON of new songs to my blog (mostly piano music, which I tend to favor). My list has jumped to an amazing seventy-five songs! Have fun listening, and enjoy the music that I love!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Help!

Alright. I have been having HORRIBLE writer's block and can barely scrounge a couple of words together for my story, if I am lucky. So, being a person that likes to frequently update, I am in desperate need of an idea to post for my blog. Ideas, ideas, ideas. The problem is...I got nothing. What I have decided to do to satisfy my readers, is take concepts and ideas from viewers on what they think that I should do. Something interactive (maybe doing drawings, contests, etc.). But it's up to you guys to help me. So just comment on this post and let me know what you think. Ask me questions about things in the book. Post ideas. Whatever. Just have fun, and help me post a great post!

Character Names

Many people have been asking on how I get the names that I do for my characters. I have posted many responses and have decided to dedicate a post to the topic. To quote what I have said before:

"The characters are first imaged in my mind, and then I have to figure out whether or not their name needs to sound "soft", "hard", "sly", "sharp", "quiet", or "loud (or a mix of all of the above. For example, Forde needed to have a hard name, but it needed to sharply grab the reader's attention. The "f", "r", and "d" in "Forde" are hard letters, and come off as a blockish sound. His last name, however, has a more sharp sound to it. The "ick" in "Barrick" is cut off abruptly and leaves a nice ring to his name. Often times the names just jump into my head. Wreaknatter, Wapper, Flare, Alsenoth, Kala, Chi-Chi, and Kara all came without any difficulty. Mordin, Sketh, Greilner, and Regalon were all extremely difficult (Sketh especially). Often times I have such a perfect image of who these characters are in my mind that their names never seem adequate enough. It's just really random, but it is ALWAYS fun to make up them names. Also many of the names end up having a deeper meaning (see my Roots post). Alsenoth's name is especially deliberate in its meaning. So, I guess there are just a number of ways on how I get my names."

Obviously there are other ways that I actually form and mold my characters into shape (often I will have a name before an actual fleshed-out character). Just ask me about specific character's names, and I will gladly describe to you the origin of their name!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Bleeding Sun (Book Five)

I have completed the plot outline, in full, for the fifth book. Although this one didn't take me nearly as long as the fourth book's outline, it was by far more difficult. The book is the same BASIC storyline as the fourth book, but told through a different character's perspective. This means that I had to make sure that they seamed together perfectly, and that everything made sense. It was extremely difficult, and I think that this book and the sixth book are my favorites, so I am very proud.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

First Book Cover Art #2


And so here is what I have SO far. I need to color, detail, and more art, etc. (believe me, I know). But how is it so far, eh? Pretty good? Well I love it; drawing Wreaknatter is always difficult because I have this perfect image in my head of who he is, so this took a lot of time and effort. The end of the title got cut off, and the picture appears a bit light for whatever reason, but I did the best that I could. Let me know what you think! ALSO: As a side note, the final product WILL be done professionally; this is JUST A SKETCH!

The First Book's Cover Art

I am currently in the process of drawing the cover art for the first book. I am trying to keep it as simple as possible, but feel that the background needs to be something catching and relevant. So, I am battling between the two ideas of having that background either the Carthraith Deed, or Carthraith Castle itself. Doing the Carthraith Deed would prove difficult given that it is written in a foreign language, but would open up numerous artistic windows for border art and the like.
I feel that Carthraith Castle as a background would just be too overwhelming for the eye, but I still like the idea. Maybe the background will be just shadowy pictures of Forde, Mordin, Trill, Keller, and Lech. I dunno yet. What I do know, however, is that the main focus will be the large picture of Wreaknatter Drudlok in the center. I have already drawn that part. He has his back to the audience, but his head curves so that you can see it at profile. Also a stream of green fire is pillowing out of his hand (you'll learn why when you get deeper into the book) and the top of the page in decorative lettering is obviously the title. I will be posting the image soon, so keep checking back!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

A Shadow Foreseen (Book Four)

FINALLY! This plot outline has taken me MONTHS to complete! This is the "start", I guess you could say, of the main part of the series. This book introduces Markus Lumengar, and Alsenoth Ongeller (however the book only follows the story of Markus). The reason that this plot outline in particular was so difficult is because of the structure of the fifth book. The fourth and fifth book happen at the EXACT same time, and tell the same GENERAL story but book four follows Markus whereas book five follows Alsenoth. This book also introduces the critically vital important character Rajax Lacklottle, although he is only in it breifly (he has a bigger role in books five through eight). The outline is finally done, and I can't WAIT to get started on it!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Limetar Rising [A.K.A. "A Problem With Barkus"] (Book Three)

I have ALSO finished completing the plot outline for the third book, Limetar Rising (A Problem with Barkus). The book takes place exactly one year after the second book (whereas the second book takes place fifty years after the first), and introduces Barkus Lumegar as well as Fizzle and Frizzle Hespastus. This book does not include major interference from Wreaknatter. In fact, Wreaknatter is only in the book for the last couple of chapters. The main villain, Xervin Morkstoff, is introduced in the epilogue of the second book. I'll keep you posted!

Wapper And The Spotted Egg (Book Two)

I am proud to announce that I have finally finished typing the FULL plot outline to the second book: Wapper and the Spotted Egg. You will be sure to meet previous characters as well as many new ones. However, let it be known that this still doesn't mark the introduction to Alsenoth Ongeller and Markus Lumengar (Wreaknatter's threats). They are introduced in books five and four, respectively. However this book DOES mark the introduction to the critically important character Chi-Chi MkHitton! I am obviously going to put most of my effort towards the first book, but that won't necessarily stop me from writing a couple of chapters here and there for the second book (writing about a new scene or topic ALWAYS helps overcome writer's block for me). I'll keep you updated!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Update #10

So in the past couple of days, I have been posting like a mad man deprived of any fun. Clips and pieces of chapters being posted. Notes about music. Character personality quizzes. Even dedications. And not once have I really updated on how far along I am in the first book. Somewhat sad to say, I am only about 80 handwritten pages into the book, 70 typed. However, I have detailed scene-by-scene notes on the plot, and know EXACTLY how everything unfolds in the book. I hope to be able to finish (if I crack down) by either the summer or the end of this year, time permitting. Keep your fingers crossed people! Thanks!

Update #9

I have re-updated the music playlist with four new songs to even out the playlist at forty songs. I hope you enjoy them!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Another AWESOME Quiz (Which Character Are YOU)?

I have posted another quiz. This quiz lets you know which character you are most like from the book. Be warned, there are mentions of characters that haven't appeared yet. Enjoy, and let me know the result that you got! http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/8634820/what-character-from-qtarterrior-the-rise-of-the-sixth-kingdomq-are-you

Update #8

Be sure to check out the blog archive on the right hand side of the screen and look under January to take my quiz on the first three chapters. I want as many people to take it as possible! Comment back and let me know how you did! The website again is: http://www.quizilla.com/tests/8621073/how-well-do-you-know-the-first-three-chapters-of-qtarterrior-the-rise-of-the-sixth-kingdomq! So go and take it and reply back to let me know how well you did! Have fun!

Update #7

So! Rather than let my viewers sit completely in the dark and get nothing to read at all, I have decided to post bits and pieces from various chapters as they are completed. Chapter Seven is almost finished, so I will soon be posting a excerpt from that as well as chapters two through six. Keep checking back, they should be up within the next day or two!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Update #6

Sorry to say, but I am getting more paranoid by the second. So I have decided to delete Chapter Two, and soon Chapter One as well. This is to ensure the safety of my story, as well as its publication. Please understand. Keep reading, though! I will be keeping things posted (as well as, sadly, deleting things). This is my life's work, so I hope you are all forgiving!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Update #5

So! There's a new Poll up now. Vote on your favorite chapter posted so far, and vote fast! Thanks!

Questions? #2

It would really help me to know what questions people have about the book so far so that I may further edit my story to fit people's understanding. It all make sense in MY head, but.... Just ask ANY questions. General ones, specific to the book itself, about characters, anything! Just remember some of them I may not be able to answer for secrecy purposes. Thank you!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Best Character...So Far

The Poll for the favorite character introduced so far in the first book is finally in! Forde Barrick swept the boards with a perfect score, followed by a tie for second between Sketh Meldwater and Trill Wenwott. Mordin Grimsparr got away with a distant third. Thank you for participating in my poll, and I will be posting more soon!