Birthday

Since Thursday (February 26th) is my birthday, I have decided to do a sort of special event. I am EXTREMELY curious to see what people think of my book, so here's what I am going to do. If someone is able to add another follower to my blog AS WELL AS posting comments on the excerpts from my Prologue and First Chapter (with corrections and questions included), then I will give out a special prize to that person. The prize will OBVIOUSLY have to do with my book, and will be well worth your time. It's a secret! Thanks, and hurry!

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!

The Perfect Song

So, uh, condemn me if you must for being sentimental, but I have added a song to my playlist. Adding this song to my playlist completes my list of my three favorite songs. "The Call", "Signal Fire", and "Run" all are very dear to me: they remind of of my best friend. She has gotten me through a lot, and this book would not be possible without her encouragement. So listen to these songs on my playlist (found at the bottom of the page). They are beautiful and perfect in every sense of the word. I also love the songs "Us", and "Real Love" which are both on my playlist. I know that these songs are lyrical, but they REALLY pertain to the books (especially books five and six). Thanks! And thank you, best friend.

Writer's Block...OVER!

Oh yes, it is most definitely true. I have gotten over my writer's block, and Forde and the gang are back in action and kicking butt (mostly because Forde starts trouble and they all have to deal with the consequences). I am halfway done with Chapter Eight (it's a long chapter), and will soon be starting my first draft of chapter nine. Wish me good...speed? Luck? Eh, whatever.

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.”]

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!