Ask A Character Update

Just a reminder that you are able to ask specific characters questions by posting on either of the "Ask A Character" posts!

Ask A Character

I have decided, for those of my readers who have read part of any of my books, to do a new special corner in my blog. In this post I will allow people to ask characters questions that they have, and will post a new post in which the character will respond to them. For example, if one were to have a question for Alsenoth Ongeller, they would ask it in the comments section of this post, and he would respond later in a new post. Let me know if you have any questions about this, and have fun!

Kala Roote And Alsenoth Ongeller

I found the perfect song to describe the relationship that Alsenoth Terris Ongeller and Kala Bae Roote share in the fifth and sixth books. Of course though, it is sung by Regina Spektor (one of the people I would like to play Kala). The song is entitled Dust To Dust (although the song Real Love is also EXTREMELY applicable to their scenario: listen to both of them) and can be found at the bottom of the page on my playlist (it is the second to last song on the playlist). Alsenoth and Kala go through huge mishaps that eventually lead to them hating each other at one point. They go in and out of this loop where they don't want anything to do with each other, to where they can't stand to be apart once again. In some senses it's kind of funny, but when the deeper meaning is understood it's horrible. I really love the relationship that they share in the books. The subplot of Alsenoth and Kala is probably the most interesting one (followed closely by Rajax's subplot and Chi-Chi's subplot). I get really excited when writing their scenes, because they flow more naturally than any of the other scenes that I write. That is why I write excerpts about them often to overcome my writer's block: it makes it easier to think when I write about them. I am not one for romantic writings, but Alsenoth and Kala's story is very touching when you read the whole thing, and it becomes a major subject by the end of the series. Their personalities are both stubborn and proud, which makes them very good to play off of each other. However, Alsenoth's timidness and intelligence, and Kala's boisterousness and naivety make them both quite opposite at the same time. That being said they both care for each other deeply. The only problem is how stubborn each of them is, making their situation quite difficult. At one point in the story (in a flashback) Alsenoth doesn't seem to care that Kala likes him because he is too focused on liking someone else entirely. So when Kala does the same thing to Alsenoth later, it drives him insane. The little quirks just make me laugh; they both learn from their mistakes (Alsenoth at one point almost gives up on everything because he can't live with how he "mistreated" Kala). The end of the series is shocking: it becomes the pinnacle of their relationship and something terrible happens. I tried to make these two characters more real than any of the other characters, because I wanted my audience to feel as if they were real life (even if they ARE dragons). I think that is why, other than Wreaknatter, these two characters are my most treasured creations. I just hope that everyone else loves them as much as I do. Like the second song I mentioned says: "It's real love". That's how I wanted their situation to feel like, and that's how I feel towards them. I hope that if no one gets anything else out of my stories, they get the importance of these two character's lives. That's all, I guess. Even if I feel like I have a BOATLOAD more to say about them. Thanks for reading! Thanks K1/2!

Movie

Oh, I have gone through great effort in thinking my book through. I have written music for many of the scenes, and even gone so far as to create an imaginary cast list if the books ever became movies. For my reader's benefit and understanding of some of the characters, I will post a CONDENSED list of people who I would LIKE to play certain characters. I would like to say, however, that this is not necessarily the final copy. It is subject to change.

ALL BOOKS:

Wreaknatter Fen Drudlok: IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I would like to play him.


FIRST BOOK (Tarterrior: The Rise of the Sixth Kingdom):

Forde Larle Barrick: Alan Tudyk

Trill Berrith Wenwott: Joshua Jackson

Swesh Mastalla: Kari Whalgren

Fallick Ragrock: Kevin Durand


FIFTH BOOK (Bleeding Sun):

Alsenoth Terris Ongeller: IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I would like to play him (regardless I want Alsenoth and Wreaknatter to be played by the same person, just using different voices)

Kala Bae Roote: Regina Spektor (sings many of the songs on the playlist at the bottom of the page; that's why I put her songs on the playlist)/Or I'd like the person who she was really based off of to play her; if she is at all willing

Kara Celle Roote: Summer Glau

Markus Boon Lumengar: Zachary Quinto


Let me know what you think of these choices (Kala, Alsenoth, Forde, and Trill in particular). Thanks!

Based On Real Life

So in case you haven't gotten it already, I base many of my characters off of real life people. For example, Alsenoth Ongeller and Wreaknatter Drudlok are both representations of myself (obviously Wreaknatter being an extreme). The whole plot of the series revolves around Markus, Alsenoth, Wreaknatter, and Kala. Wreaknatter represents my past self and the way I was before meeting my best friend. Markus represents my transition from being Wreaknatter to becoming Alsenoth, and Alsenoth represents my coming to realization that there is something worth living for. Alsenoth's personality is very internal because he is trying to overcome flashes of his past that haunt him, but Kala is there to encourage him to blot them out of his mind. In this sense Alsenoth is an extremely troubled character, but there are definite flashes were he is courageous, strong, and fearless. I use him as a metaphor for the moon, and Kala a metaphor for the sun. This is due to the fact that whatever greatness Alsenoth shows is only there because of Kala. In the same sense, whatever light the moon gives off at night is only a reflection of the sun's own light. That is the connection that Alsenoth shares with Kala. Just thought my readers would want a little more insight into where I get my ideas from. Hope you enjoy! Thank you, best friend!

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!