Saturday, December 29, 2018

Movie Review: Mortal Engines

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Related image A mysterious young woman, Hester Shaw, emerges as the only one who can stop a giant, predator city on wheels devouring everything in its path. Feral, and fiercely driven by the memory of her mother, Hester joins forces with Tom Natsworthy, an outcast from London, along with Anna Fang, a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head.

It was Peter Jackson's name that first caught my eye; the man who directed the masterpiece that was the Lord of the Rings trilogy is now releasing a steam/dieselpunk action adventure movie?  Count me in!
(And okay, Robert Sheehan's character looked really handsome...)

Anyway, based on the trailers, I thought this would be a fairly fluffy, generic save-the-world story.  And, in a way, it was.  But it was much more exciting, and a lot more touching than I expected!  Also, no one prepared me for how scary this movie would be.  There's a character who **SPOILER** is a lot like the Terminator from the first Terminator movie, and it's freaky as all get-out.**END SPOILER**

The whole concept of the film requires the watcher to suspend their disbelief quite a bit, but if you accept the rules of the world that are presented to you, Mortal Engines is a super fun (and nerve-wracking) ride all the way. 


PROS

This movie is one of those movies that just looks really cool.  It doesn't really matter that moving cities wouldn't work like that, or that none of the flying machines would ever make it off the ground, what matters is--it's exciting!  And I've decided I want a red airship like Anna's.  

I was also pleasantly surprised by the characters--my personal favorite part of any story.  I went into the film sort of expecting a tense, I'm-better-than-you/I-don't-need-your-help drama between Hester and Tom, but that's not what we got.  There was some tension at first, but in general these characters were kind, caring individuals with pretty great senses of loyalty.  The villain was pretty good too:  an opportunist masquerading as an idealist, or perhaps a bit of both.  


The movie was also surprisingly clean; apart from a few swear words, it wasn't inappropriate, or even particularly violent.  Except for that one character, which I'll talk about in the next part...

CONS

The few swear-words I mentioned before, and the One Character, who is a mix of Terminator-style robot and zombie.  He looks pretty freaky, but anybody who can handle Lord of the Rings or Pirates of the Caribbean can take this guy.  

Intense action sequences may cause young viewers distress, and there are several character deaths.  In a flashback, a character is revealed to have spent most of their childhood in a rather creepy place, where the person who raised them enjoyed collecting broken toys and such.  Images of battered doll-heads and broken clown dolls may be disturbing to some viewers.  

OVERALL

I would recommend this movie to anybody who likes action/adventure, steampunk, dieselpunk, cyberpunk, romance, or suspense.  It's highly enjoyable, and I can't wait to see it again.

Guard young viewers as you see fit--there are some frightening things here. But in general, I'd say this is a fun film, and I'd like to see some sequels.  

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-Emmarayn Redding

Friday, December 28, 2018

The Fairy King, Audio Version

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It's here!  The Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children Holiday Special, featuring The Fairy King, is now available to listen to and download!  

The Fairy King is first in the podcast, followed by the other four winning stories.  I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.

To hear the holiday special and other episodes of the podcast, head over to Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children and enjoy!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you.  :)

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-Emmarayn Redding

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Exciting News!

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My short story, The Fairy King (originally published in The Madman of Elkriahl and Other Fairy Tales), has been selected to be a part of the holiday episode of the Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children podcast!

This podcast, created and written by Scott Thrower, features original fairy tales told weekly.  They are whimsical, and at times a little dark, and overall great fun to listen to.  I've only just started listening for about two weeks now, but so far I've found it quite charming.  

Once a year, a contest is held in which listeners can submit a fairy tale of their own, under 2,500 words.  Five such stories then become a part of the special Christmas episode.  

I am honored to have my story featured this year--so I want to send a big Thank You to Scott Thrower for giving it a chance!  ^_^ 

The episode is set to be released this coming week.  Drop by Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children to hear it!

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-Emmarayn Redding

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Book Review: Ironskin


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Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain―the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"―a child born during the Great War―Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her scars and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio... and come out as beautiful as the fey.


Although I was in a hurry at the library, the cover caught my eye immediately; and on closer inspection, I realized that this eye-catching book was in fact a fantasy twist on Jane Eyre--and who could resist that?

I've never actually read Jane Eyre all the way through.  I've read bits and pieces, and I've researched the heck out of the story, but I've never read it in its entirety.  Still, I know enough about it to appreciate the many nods and allusions to the original story spread throughout Ironskin.

The story begins as Jane Eliot enters her new post as a governess, five years after the Great War between humans and Fey.  We get glimpses of her past as she approaches the bleak, yet oddly beautiful manor that is to be her new home.

Not everything is what it seems in this manor though... and what at first seems to be the perfect opportunity for a new life slowly becomes an eerie and harrowing journey with no certain end.

PROS:

There's some interesting world-building here; from what I gathered, this book takes place in a time roughly like our 1920s, post WWI.  Humanity is reeling after losing access to the fey technology they had come to depend on, and frantically searching for a new source of power.  To add to their troubles, they face the frightening and mysterious problem of the now-cursed survivors of the fey bombs, who emit powerful emotions that no one can control.

I wished that the book had spent more time on this aspect of the story.  Don't get me wrong--I found the mystery and the romance very interesting as well, but there is a lot of potential in this world that Tina Connolly has created.  Maybe there are more books that I just don't know about, but I definitely was interesting in hearing more.

I really enjoyed all the references to Jane Eyre.  Connolly cleverly nods to her source material while keeping Ironskin a story in its own right.  It all starts out very similar to Jane Eyre, then deviates sharply towards the middle of the book.  One of the funniest references, I thought, was when Edward Rochart, like Edward Rochester, expresses concern that Jane will not like the manor and leave--only for her to reassure him that has no 'dying aunt' to care for.  (She has a sister's wedding to attend instead.)

I also appreciated the accuracy of the child-care sections of the book.  Jane is faced with a difficult task in tutoring Rochart's willful daughter.  She does so patiently and creatively, and her battles felt rather realistic, compared to my experience dealing with children.  Kudos to the author for that!

CONS:

The writing was a bit odd sometimes.  For the most part, the tone reflected the antiquated writings on which the story is based.  However, sometimes, it would randomly revert to modern language that seemed out of place.

The end was a bit confusing to me--but maybe that's because I read it too quickly.  As I expected, there are several twists and revelations that change the game, but they all happened so fast that I might have missed some things.

These revelations also resulted in a sharp change in tone towards the end of the book.  It went from gothic romance to borderline horror.  I don't mind a bit of horror if it's the right kind.  Like, gothic horrors such as Frankenstein and Dracula are alright.  But this one had some gruesome parts in the climax that I just didn't appreciate.

Fortunately, the descriptions of these things are not particularly graphic.  In fact, the whole book is refreshingly clean!  But I have a very vivid imagination.... so even the mention of certain things is more than enough for me.

I did not find the ending satisfying either.  I like a little more wind-down after the climax of the book, but this one left the reader almost immediately in the stillness that followed all the action.  I wasn't disappointed, I was just unsatisfied.

OVERALL:

If you don't a little grim or gruesome elements in a story, and if you really enjoy fantasy in a early 20th century, then this is the book for you.

If you're a fan of Jane Eyre and are looking for a fun new version, this is the book for you.

If you are easily unsettled... maybe skip this one.


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-Emmarayn Redding

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Book Update: Rise of Ralienah

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Hello, my readers!

I figure it's time to update you on the status of my latest and most major writing project, Rise of Ralienah!  

Although in the last few months the training for my new job as a test administrator has kept me from spending a great deal of time writing, I have made some good progress in this project.  

I think I've mentioned before that Rise of Ralienah went from being a single novel and turned into a four-volume series.  It's been an interesting adjustment, since I now have a lot more room to try new ideas and subplots (a huge plus!), but I also have to rethink some older ideas and make sure they still match the story as it is now.

I am now writing part three of the four volumes, so I'm rather excited.  This in no way means I'm close to publishing, of course, but getting close to finishing what is essentially the first draft of a huge novel is always exciting.  

At this point in the narrative, I've introduced most of the key characters... there's only one really important one to go, and his entrance is coming up soon.  

In this version of RoR, I've been trying to employ what I've learned about foreshadowing and character arcs, and I'm really hoping it pays off by the end of the story.  How it actually plays out remains to be seen, but I feel good about what I've written so far.  

I've been so blessed to have a few beta readers this time around!  Dmitri Pendragon, an old friend from the Underground, has been so helpful in providing insights and critique throughout the chapters.  

Splitting the novel into four parts has also forced me to reconsider my original ideas for the cover art.  I've been looking around at some of the more popular covers for fantasy novels, and it seems that for books in the YA genre, beautiful, colorful, and magical paintings are in.  But books in the adult category tend to use plain colored backgrounds, with the title and author's name in huge text over the whole colors.  

I'm not really sure what category to put this book in yet, but I have a feeling it'll lean more towards YA than adult.  Especially if it means having a more fun cover than just... text on a plain background.  0_0  Talk about boring! 



Just for fun, here's an excerpt from Part II, in which our heroine, Ralienah, risks detection by the soldiers who would have her head in order to find Eotel--her friend and ally--while they are being hunted.  Instead of him, she finds someone quite different...

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GRIPPING HER SWORD, Ralienah stepped carefully over the mat of leaves and pine needles beneath her feet, every sense alert.  In the time since she had come to Talminia, she had come to feel as at home in this forest as she did on her own estate... but now even the peaceful cooing of the doves seemed ominous.  
She flinched as a distant crash and shout sounded somewhere to the south.  They were getting closer, and there was still no sign of Eotel.  Pushing back the feeling of desperation and burying it deep, she searched the ground for any sign of his passing- a snapped fern, a footprint, or-heaven forbid- a blood trail.  
More voices drifted her way.  Silently, she ran a little way off to the north, keeping to the soft patches of mossy ground.  Ahead there was a long, fallen tree resting at an angle.  Ralienah debated for a moment whether she should chance climbing it for a better view of the surroundings.  She might spot Eotel faster, but she might also be just as easily be spotted by someone on the ground. 
Then again, though she could hear the sounds of soldiers moving not far off, they were not yet close enough to be an immediate danger to her.  Quietly, she sheathed her sword and crept up the trunk until she reached its highest point, where it was wedged between the forked trunk of another tree nearly fifteen feet off the ground.  Peering carefully through the green, Ralienah scanned the area  A small butte a little distance away caught her attention.  They had a lookout point there, and it was possible Eotel had gone to cover the tracks around it.  
Transferring over to the forked tree, she shimmied down the trunk and stepped lightly to the ground, intending to make for the butte.  
But she had taken no more than paces when a peculiar feeling tingled down her spine.  She froze, and turned slowly toward a patch of thick brush not far off.  The tangled mess of thorny branches obscured completely what lay beyond, but Ralienah could not shake the feeling that there was something, someone, there.
Eotel?  She swallowed, casting another glance toward the butte.  If he had found himself in need of a hiding place, the brambles would have been a natural place to run to as the soldiers drew near.  
Carefully, she pushed aside the branches and wove her way into the brambles.  All was still, but for the forest sounds that echoed overhead.  There were hollows and thickets all around, and deer paths that made it easier to move through what might otherwise have been a nightmare to navigate.  
A twig snapped, and Ralienah straightened.  Heart pounding, she ducked under a branch and came through into the next thicket, expecting to find Eotel--
--and came face to face with a soldier, facing her with his sword drawn and a cold, inquisitive expression on his angular face.
Ralienah tensed, kicking herself inside for her eagerness.  In an instant she was in battle-ready position, certain he would attack in a moment.  
But the soldier made no move, only regarded her in silent consideration.  Recognition flickered in his eyes, even as Ralienah noticed the small iron circlet over his black-and-silver hair.  
With mounting horror, Ralienah realized she was staring at Lord Istarr.  
For a moment they simply stood, staring at one another.  His pale blue eyes regarded her with what seemed like surprise.  
She felt frozen, trapped, yet oddly unwilling to flee.  Instead, she studied him as well.   He was tall and austere, with square shoulders and a graceful stance.  He looked to be about forty-five or fifty years of age, though he had a peculiar sort of agelessness about him that made it difficult to tell.  
“It's you,” he said at last, his eerily soft voice cutting though the silence.  

Straightening her shoulders, she nodded.  “We meet at last, Lord Istarr.”

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In the original draft, Ralienah would not have met her antagonist, Istarr, until much much later in the story.  But as I wrote this newer draft, it felt wrong to have her fighting against a faceless evil for so long.  In this version of the story, I've tried to have Ralienah's struggles be just as much internal as they are external.  So though she is fighting for the freedom of the oppressed people of Talminia, she is also trying to prove her worth to herself and others.  Istarr needed to serve as an obstacle to this as well as to the freedom of the people.  

This is an example of the kind of character development I've been trying to employ throughout the story.  How successful I will be remains to be seen, but I intend to give it my best. :)

Anyway, that's where I am with my writing right now.  Other projects, such as my short stories, have taken something of a back seat in favor of RoR, but my other novels remain on the table... they just move much slower.  

Pray for me, if you will!  I've got busy days and a lot of pressure with this new job, and I'm still hoping to keep up with my writing somehow--not to mention my personal life with my family and stuff.  I'm looking forward to what the next few months will bring, but I'll admit I'm a little nervous.  

Anyway, it's nice to be blogging again.  Hopefully I'll be able to get a few posts out in the coming weeks.  

Until next time!

-Emmarayn Redding

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Thursday, August 9, 2018

Fairest Son Blog Tour: Spotlight and Review!

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Hey there, Readers!

I come to you today to spotlight my lovely friend Hannah Williams' new book, Fairest Son!



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In this gender-flipped retelling of Snow White, the Fair and Foul courts of the fey folk have long yearned for one to bring them together in peace... but hopes are dashed when the fairest prince and the prophecy concerning him are laid to ruin. Burdened with shame and sorrow, the prince flees to the cold mountains far above the forests and lochs with nothing but animals and goblins for company.

When a human huntress stumbles upon him in her search for a legendary predator, their fates are intertwined. But she hides deadly secrets, and if he dares to trust her, he may risk the doom of both courts to an ancient evil...





Although my hardcopy has not yet been delivered from Amazon (two days to go- almost here!), I very fortunately got to read it thanks to the digital copy Hannah generously sent me.  And let me tell you, readers, this book is a must-read for those who like fairy tale retellings and the Fey.  
The book is filled with informed references to Celtic Fairy mythology.  The Seelie and Unseelie courts, the differences that separate them, and the similarities that haunt them, are explored in vivid and sometimes heart-rending detail.

Beyond Fairest Son's fairy tale setting, however, there is a deeper theme of grace, healing, and redemption.  The author's Christian faith shows through as even in the midst of these magical settings, the lines are clearly drawn between this world and hers.  It's not specifically allegorical, but there are many places that feel distinctly familiar for any who are familiar Jesus and His principles. Though God's name is not spoken, one character in particular demonstrates His loving and forgiving nature.  

Filled with moments of both charming light and chilling darkness, this addicting story kept me reading with every chance I had, until I reached the satisfying conclusion.  I definitely recommend this for lovers of fantasy, fairy tales, and of course.... the Fair Ones.  


If you're interested in reading this book, hop on over to Amazon and purchase your copy today! 
Or, if you head to Hannah's official website, you can purchase the ebook version for only $1.99. 




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-Emmarayn Redding


Thursday, May 17, 2018

A Few of My Favorite Things

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My family likes to play a game called "Thankful", in which each of us takes a turn naming something we're thankful God has given us.  
Often, the tendency is to say something quite serious, such as "I'm thankful for shelter and warmth," or "I'm thankful for the nice clothes that we have".
Now, these things are WONDERFUL things to be thankful for, of course, along with God's Love, Religious Freedom, Food, and other vital things.  
But when playing the game, I also find myself thinking of the little things.  Inconsequential stuff that might seem trivial, but in my opinion, it's really amazing that God has seen fit to bless us with these small details that enrich our lives.  Things like birdsong, or cool mornings, or a happy ending in that book series I just read.  

Here in this post, I want to list some of the things I'm thankful for, both big and little.  In addition to giving us His great gifts, like Salvation, Providence, Peace, and Protection, God has seen fit to give us gifts that make life all the sweeter.   :)

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Our World

Image result for beautiful mountains public domain images

Did God need to give us a pretty world to live in?   No.  And yet He not only created the earth to be functional, but wondrously and breathtakingly beautiful!

Music

There are few things that can touch the human heart as universally as music.  Not everyone likes the same style, but somehow, this phenomenon reaches every corner of the world as a sort of natural language.  God gave us the ability to create incredible sounds, and the intelligence to put them together into a comprehensive work.  That's pretty amazing.

Imagination


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Life would be so dull at times without imagination.  It brightens up my day and adds a sense of wonder into the most ordinary or difficult circumstances.

The Ability to Produce Calluses

This one occurred to me as I was raking the lawn this spring.  Without the ability to produce calluses, my hands would have been so blistered afterward, it would have been difficult to do much of anything for a few days.  How fortunate we are that God decided to give us the ability to get that extra layer of protection!

Heaters

Speaking of protection, I am so thankful that we have heaters nowadays, to protect us from the cold winters!  Same goes for air conditioning in the summer, or for anyone who lives in a hot climate.  Not everyone has these luxuries, I know, so I'm very thankful to have these things available. 

Movies

What a cool way to tell a story!  The concept of a film is really an odd one, when you think abut it.  We're able to record people doing something, then play it back with color and audio on a screen that somehow represents both depth and dimension despite representing the picture at only a fraction of its original size?  It's like... it's like magic, or something.  I mean, I know it's all very scientific and everything, but honestly, the fact that this even works is amazing. 
Also, so fun, right?  I love to curl up in the evening and watch a good movie or a tv show, just to relax at the end of the day.  ^_^

Coffee

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Hot cocoa is for the afternoons or the evening, but coffee and its somewhat harsh flavor and feel is definitely for the morning.  I don't depend on it to start my day, as some people do, but for me, coffee is the perfect pick-me-up in the morning to last me through the workday until lunchtime.

Conditioner

I don't know about you, but my hair without conditioner is so full of static!  I don't think I would ever wear my hair loose if I didn't have conditioner.

Soap

And for that matter, soap!  Scrubbing off dirt from the garden or barn is such a chore without it, but when you've got it, it just slicks everything away.  A luxury I don't often pause to consider, to be sure.


Electricity

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Electricity makes so much of our modern lives possible.  And while some technology has some pretty big downsides, I am so glad I live now with the conveniences humanity has invented.  Heating, cooling, access to internet (read, 'information'), power tools.... life is so much easier than it could be.

My Car

It's been about three years now since I got my first car, and still when I drive it I find myself getting a little giddy now and then over the fact that I have a car that both works and looks nice.  Thank you, God!

My Parents

My parents are awesome, guys.  They understand me like no one else does- and I enjoy being with them not just because I love them, but because I like them.  They are my mentors, my friends, my role-models, and my heroes.  But most of all... my parents.

My Siblings

My siblings are my bestest friends in the whole world.  Need I say more?  XD

Home

Image result for north dakota fields public domain image


I wish where I lived had more hills, and more trees.  But at the same time... I don't.  I love this place!  Though it's flat and probably quite boring to most people, my little corner of North Dakota is beautiful to me, and I love being here.  I go for long walks, ranging over the fields and country roads, and I'm so thankful that I can call this place home.  There are no bugs or snakes or other animals that are an active threat, there's plenty of space and privacy, the land is green and fruitful... and I'm thankful for it every time I go out. 

Time

I'm really thankful for the time that I have to just... be.  I can spend time with my family and friends, I can write my books, and work and save money without having to be a slave to my job.   This is something that not everyone gets to experience, so I'm very thankful for it while it lasts.  And if life changes and I suddenly find myself with less time, then I'll still be thankful for it.  Because whatever the case, the time we have on earth is still a gift, and we ought to use it and thank the Lord for it every day.   I pray God will help me take advantage of my life to the best of my ability, for His glory. 


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What are you thankful for?  Let me know in the comments, or do your own "Thankful" post!  I'd love to hear what gifts God has given you.  :)


-Emmarayn Redding





(DISCLAIMER:  I own none of the images in this post.  All were found under 'public domain images' through a Google search.)

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Beautiful Music: Ghosts

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Welcome!  For this month's Beautiful Music I have selected Thomas Newman's Ghosts, from the Road to Perdition soundtrack.

This piece is slow, haunting, and ethereal, inspiring images of mist and water, and perhaps even a little danger. 

The mystery implied by the low-end frequencies, coupled with the deep beauty of the mid-range strings, seems to offer both questions and answers to the listener's ear.  



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-Emmarayn Redding


(DISCLAIMER:  No copyright infringement intended.  Music is used here for review purposes only.)



Thursday, April 19, 2018

Novelist's Tag

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Hey, all you writers out there!  Here's a fun little tag I wrote.  If you're a novelist, or aspiring to be one, feel free to join in on the fun!

I'm gonna start it off here, then tag four people.  Those four people, if they answer the tag, can then pass it on to however many fellow bloggers they want.

So!  Let's get started.  :D  




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Why do you like to write?

I love telling stories, both to others and to myself.  Often enough I do this verbally, but I think the best way to convey a story is through text, and the beauty of word-craft.

When did you first start writing?

I don't quite remember... for a long time, anyway.  I used to write short "novels" in spiral-bound notebooks.  The first one I ever completed was called Patty Anderson and the Case of the Stolen Pocket Watch.  It was about six pages long, with an illustration for each chapter.  I believe I was in third grade when I wrote it.

Have you ever written in a coffee shop?

Yes!  Only started doing it just recently, when I found a coffee shop I love  called the Ember.  I find I rather like it, and plan to start doing it regularly if I can.

What is your current project, or do you have more than one?

I'm currently focusing most of my energies on Rise of Ralienah, an epic, four-part medieval fantasy novel that exists in the same continuity as my first novel, Quest for the Ivory Sword.  But I also have two other novels going on the back burner:  Spellbreaker, a fairy-tale inspired story of an 'ugly' stepsister who takes fate into her own hands, and Day&Night, the first in what is to become a saga of superhero novels.  I've also started plotting out a science fiction novel with the intention of someday releasing it as a newspaper serial, if I'm lucky.

In which genre do you usually write?

So far, usually fantasy.  But I also enjoy doing contemporary and light sci-fi.  

If you have more than one project right now, which one do you favor?

Rise of Ralienah, definitely.  I'm fond of them all, but RoR is the one I've been working on the longest, and it has particular sentimental value.  I'm extremely motivated to finish it.  

Who is the protagonist of your main project?

Well, Ralienah, for one.  She's the central character, though she shares the spotlight with one or two deuteragonists.  Ralienah is the daughter of a nobleman of Kalavar, who loses both her father and mother at a young age.  With little to look forward to in her own country, she travels to Talminia, her father's homeland, looking for answers about his death.  Once there, she is moved by the plight of the Talminian slaves, and takes up with a band of outlaws to begin a revolution.

Other main characters include Eotel, the leader of the outlaws (and Ralienah's love interest), Sapphire, her twin sister, and Rune, a mercenary tasked with hunting down the revolutionary leaders.

Who is the antagonist?

Lord Istarr, a cruel but admired noble who currently dominates Talminia.  As the head of a broken society, he represents the worst of their tyrannical system.  The revolution threatens his entire way of life... but unbeknownst to his followers, his conflict with Ralienah is also quite personal...

Have a short (300 words or less) excerpt you'd like to share with us?  Or are you saving it until it's released?

The book is still in its early stages, but I'll share a tiny piece here.  :D

'  Heaving a long, steady breath, Eotel dragged a finger across his lips in thought.  "All I know is that I would give anything to see freedom restored to this land, once and for all," he said slowly.  "And I believe that time will come... someday."
At the sound of someone calling his name, his head turned and he got up, patting Galeo's shoulder as he left.  Licking his lips, Galeo looked at Ralienah, who smiled in response.
"Do you really think that time could be now?" he practically whispered. 
Something flickered in her expression as she considered.  Tilting one shoulder, she rolled her head toward the bonfire, blinking in its flickering light.  "Time is just the passing of days, Galeo.  The question is, how much time are we willing to let slip by while your- our people- are made to suffer?" '

What inspired this particular story?

To tell the truth, it's been so long I don't even remember.  Robin Hood legends played a part, I know that much.  In fact, in the very first draft, Eotel was named Robin.  Obviously that had to change...
There were a few concert band songs I listened to as a kid that played an influential part in shaping the tone of the story.  One of them, On the Wings of Swallows, inspired an entire battle sequence that has for the most part made it through the subsequent drafts.  

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Sometimes, but not for this book.  The sci-fi novel (Something is Coming) I'm in the middle of plotting has a few characters based on people I've known.  This is mostly with the intent of making them seem natural, as if you might know them in your own hometown.  

Do you have a musical playlist for any of your novels?

Often enough, yes.  Though I've never actually gone through the trouble of putting an official one together, most of my books have several songs or tunes associated with them.  Synth, another upcoming sci-fi novel, already has several attached to it, and I haven't even started writing yet.
Rise of Ralienah has some concert band songs, The Burning Bush from the Prince of Egypt soundtrack, and Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis.

Write what you know, or write what you imagine?

Write what I imagine, definitely.  With a little bit of what I know mixed in so that it feels real.

What makes your story (or stories) unique?

I'm not really sure yet.  There are some themes and character types I find myself weaving in fairly often, but as far as what makes my writing unique, I don't know.  If it had to be one thing, I would hope it would be character development.  One thing I love in stories is the way that characters evolve over time, or conversely, how they stay the same through whatever troubles the plot throws at them.

Would you say you write for yourself, or other people?

A mixture of both, really.  I get story ideas based on what I want to read, but I write them for others to someday read and enjoy.  I want to evoke feelings in readers, to draw them in and keep them there, as so many great stories have done for me.

What do you intend to do with your writing?

Publish them, for as long as I can.  I have so many ideas, that as long as I'm able to do it financially, I can see myself publishing books for the rest of my life.  If I could become a reasonably successful author, with books read across the country, that would be my dream.  But for the most part, just writing and having a few people read the books is fulfillment in itself.  

*  *  *

I now tag...

Leilani Sunblade
Hannah Williams
J.M. Christian
Braden Russell




And here are the questions again,  to copy and paste  Have fun, you guys!  I look forward to seeing your answers!

Why do you like to write?

When did you first start writing?

Have you ever written in a coffee shop?

What is your current project, or do you have more than one?

In which genre do you usually write?

If you have more than one project right now, which one do you favor?

Who is the protagonist of your main project?

Who is the antagonist?

Have a short (300 words or less) excerpt you'd like to share with us?  Or are you saving it until it's released?

What inspired this particular story?

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Do you have a musical playlist for any of your novels?

Write what you know, or write what you imagine?

What makes your story (or stories) unique?

Would you say you write for yourself, or other people?



What do you intend to do with your writing?