Multi-Mart is coming along

"Wait," you say. "I thought he was working on Myths?"

Well true, I was. And I will be again. But for a while I'd have a lot of false starts on the project. Sure, I feel the tale and want to tell it, but something was blocking me from getting fully motivated.

So last week I decided to reread the beginning work I had on Multi-Mart. I found myself editing what I had done and then plowing through with more stuff. I'm on a Multi-Mart high. I've flushed out more of the outline, created most of the cast and finished more chapters.

Blame it on the fact that I'm watching Sliders on Netflicks. Blame it on the huge desire to write this book that I've kept in check for a long time. Whatever it is, I'm back on the saddle again and it feels wonderful!

Multi-Mart is the story of Kyle Jordan, a kid who winds up at a store that sits in between all alternate universes.  The store caters to a wide variety of customers from many alternate Earths. When it gets taken over thanks to a greedy assistant manager, it's up to Kyle to find help among the many worlds.

It stars Kelli, the kid vampire from NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK THREATS, and Bril, Eli's younger brother from MYTHS. It also stars James from Tyme Travels. Together, these unlikely heroes must use their separate strengths to help liberate the Multi-Mart from the clutches of the Warlord Oskar and his chief assassin, Gerwulf.

It's a middle grade novel and fun to write. I hope it'll be just as fun to read.

I will return to Myths as well as editing Book Two of Night Children. Watch this space for further developments.

Updates!

Hey there!
I've been pretty busy with life, not so much with writing. Between work, family and so on, the days are speeding by but not much has happened with my writing goals.

It's time to re-establish my goals and plans. I need to re-dedicate myself. I suppose that's the life of any author, to constantly learn to get back in the chair and bang away at the keyboard.

What's going on?
Night Children
The first book (Dark Birth) and the short story anthology (Dark Threats) are still available on Amazon and Barns & Noble.com.  Book Two needs a rewrite after some heavy reviews. There is a great deal I will keep, but some things just don't work. After I finish another manuscript for something different, I'll return to this.

Myths
"Another manuscript for something different". Those few of you whom have read Dark Birth have heard of the fantasy home of elves, fairies, fauns and unicorns called Farnalla. Myths is about a handful of runaway youth from that world, and their dangerous quest to the mythical land called "Earth". I've got eight chapters finished and several more to go. My goal has been to finish it before I return to Night Children.

Multi-Mart
Another story that features the multiverse, including characters from both the Night Children series and Myths. I want to write this sooo bad and I might play with it when I've having mental writers cramp.

So there you go. Also, I need to do more entries here. Coming soon is my review of the Avengers movie.

Speaking engagement

A big thank you to Mrs. Christensen's Creative Writing class at Tooele High! I had a great time meeting you and am grateful for all the questions. I hope you enjoyed my presentation. Some of your questions gave me much to think about and I hope some of the things I said inspired you and your future writing endeavors.

Thanks! Hope to do it again.

Movie Review: Hunger Games, no spoiilers

Hollywood has always pulled ideas from the literary world. As a struggling author my ear is constantly to the book-to-movie world, curious how it all works. True I don't read many adult novels so I don't follow their movie conversions. I write Middle Grade (think 11-14 year olds or Jr High School) and I read Middle Grade and Young Adult. I even plan to write YA at some point as well.

So when a MG or YA book makes a lot of noise I hear about it. When it's scheduled to get a movie I hear that too. I knew Hunger Games had the movie treatment coming and was curious. Yes I love super heroes, time travel and monsters but I've enjoyed my dark future fiction before. I've only discovered it in comics, TV and movie but why not try the books and see what the fuss is about?

It helps that I've got kids in Elementary, Jr High and High School so they have their collective ears on what's hot in fiction.

As some may have seen in my Goodreads account, I recently read all three books and enjoyed them. They are a tough read and deserve the young adult category (13-18) due to strong themes and violence. Regardless they show themes we need to explore, big government, forgetting the little guy, losing oneself in reality TV and instant gratification, sacrifice and finding out whats really important in life. I borrowed my daughter's copies and read them. Couldn't put them down.

 I was concerned about the violence and graphic nature of the book. It's fine for the actual book because it's age specific but a movie would be more shocking due to actually seeing the killing and strong events and themes. I decided to not let my 14 and 11 year olds see it. I went with my 18 and 16 year olds and my daughter's close friend.

I suspected the PG-13 rating was due to the themes more than the violence, and that the violence would be handled in a safe matter. I was right. Sure you have a blood bath at the cornucopia but it's handled with brief moments and no actual weapons in flesh. In other words the attackers charge the victims, we flash away and then when we go back the victim is dead. It's an old Hollywood trick that works well here. There are occasions where we see weapons in kids but it's simply after the violence and actually not bad.

Yes book readers, a certain character does die in Katniss' arms and yes it's done very well. Bring tissues.

The movie portrayed all the themes listed above in a very real manner. The book is 1st person from Katnis' perspective.  These is a great deal of emotion in those words. Most of it deep inside feelings about her world and those who inhabit it. Jennifer Lawrence showed this through her face and acting. As did Josh Hutcherson in the role of Peeta. He showed his stuff in Bridge to Teribithia and shows it even more so now. Woody Harrelson could have played drunk Haymitch with comedy but instead he gave the role dignity. He played what mattered in this character who gave up on the world, gains inspiration from Katniss and Peeta and changes who he is. I expect a Best Supporting actor nomination.

Suzanne Collins, the author of the series, was one of the executive producers and it shows. This movie was the closest I've seen in book-to-movie translations. Yes they gave us a glimpse of the game makers and some brief moments with President Snow. All the better to build up to what's coming in the sequels. Yes the creatures at the end were altered but I didn't want to see an exact rendition of those. Yes she gets the Mockingjay pin from the Hub, causing the Mayor's family to be written out. But there just isn't time for every character in the book and quite frankly they never really amounted to much in the books anyway.

The book still had all the important events and fell from the book. Very well executed and yes, my 14 year old can see it after all. Maybe even my 11 year old, too.

I give it five out of five stars.

Update

Hello gentle beings!

Yes, I've been away for awhile. Currently it feels like everything is happening at once. My position is set to be dissolved at work in over a year. My job has always been temporary. I draft for a government contractor and their mission is finished. The lay offs have begun and I'm set for 2013.

My aged father has had poor health. He lives in Fresno California while we live in Northern Utah. With the upcoming job change, it's a good time to job search and a good time to search near my dad. So a lot of my time has been spent job hunting.

Meanwhile I've been reading the Hunger Games series. Couldn't put it down. That took some time, too. I've also been reviewing a fellow critique group member's work so that also takes time.

All in all I haven't had a lot of timer to write or blog. I hope to fix that soon.

On the writing front, I got my mark ups back for Book 2 of Annabelle's series. There are lots of continuity errors and other issues. I'm hearing that it's too bloody for the Middle Grade age group. Of course we all know Jr High students read older books like Hunger Games (an example of something far more bloody and violent) but I am marketing the Annabelle series for Middle Grade (11-14 year olds) so I need to be sure it's right for them.

Needless to say I'm lost and confused on the issue. I've decided to take a break from writing about Annabelle and focus on another story idea.

So there you have it. Crazy times indeed. I'll post more real soon.

Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Trials
Chapter Twelve

It took the Bloodfeast three weeks to finally approach its isle home. During that time, they would feed on the surviving Sea Wing crewmembers. Roland didn’t want to be tossed overboard so he ignored the helpless human’s desperate pleas. He avoided their desperate eyes, even though their cries for help ripped his soul apart.


Roland watched the crew unload the stolen goods onto the dock. They seemed to gaze at their Captain with a mix of fear and respect as he forcefully shouted commands.

The sounds of excited people drew him to the shore. The port looked normal. He could sense vampires nearby but it was probably the crew. He wondered what new adventures this place would bring. An unnaturally strong hand gripped onto his shoulder and spun him around. Blood-Eyed Bill glared, his dark red eyes skewered him like two hot pokers.

“It was a mistake to bring you,” his voice deep as a powerful drum, “You shouldn’t be a vampire. You’re too small. Too young. One day he won’t be able to protect you.”

Roland wanted to scratch the fool’s eyes. Prove his merit. Instead of causing a fight he might not win, he simply brushed off Bill’s hand with an equally strong push.

“Touch me again and I’ll make you Black-Eyed Bill,” he snarled. So did Bill.

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Fenroth

FENROTH

No picture at this time. Hopefully that will change someday.

Other names: Trapper, Vampire-Trapper, Hunter, Fen

Physical characteristics:
"The imposing stranger towered over him, standing well over six feet tall. Dressed in furs from head to toe with the exception of his pants and belt, which were leather, the man looked rugged. A large fur cloak covered his ensemble.

He had a thick beard and mustache with heavy eyebrows. A large hat covered his forehead and cast a long shadow over his hairy face. His glowing red eyes stared through the shadowy night."

Personality:
Clever, smart, gruff, silent, confident and careful.
 
Abilities:

He has the standard vampire abilities. This means he’s faster and stronger than humans, his senses are extremely acute as are his reflexes. However he can not fly or transform. He cannot mesmerize others either. He can communicate with animals.

His tracking skills are stronger than most vampires and werewolves. His senses are stronger and more acute, allowing him to sense other vampires, creatures, humans and animals for miles around.

He is an expert tracker with a collection of kills. He uses every trap known to man or vampire as well as many he has devised himself.

Known History:

Fenroth is a Northwestern tracker turned vampire by a mysterious Native American vampire in the early 1600s. He has two werewolves that the dark witch Gertrude trapped in werewolf form. They look like big wolves on four legs. Fenroth named them Set and Hades. Fenroth is loyal to Dominic and serves him well. Dominic put Fenroth in charge of his empire in North America. This means the trapper can create as many vampires as he wants, as long as they are loyal to Dominic first and foremost. He has two assistants, Isi the Choctaw squaw and the crazed Wildes Blut Teir.

Fenroth originally met Roland Foresight when Roland traveled through the woods of Massachusetts in order to rescue a friend. Fenroth befriended Roland in order to trap him, but Roland found out Fenroth’s plan and escaped. Fenroth captured Roland and Annabelle Foresight had to mount a rescue with their friend Thomas Dunston.

The Foresight children have dealt with Fenroth over the last three centuries in stories yet to be told.

Night Children: Dark Trials is ready for the crit group!

I belong to a local critique group. We review each other's books, give advice where needed to make the books stronger and support each other in our endeavours. Sometimes we're brutally honest. It's hard but necessary.

Dark Trials is the second book in the Night Children series. When I first wrote the rough draft for what would become Dark Birth, I actually had a great deal of Dark Trials in it too. I later broke the books in two.

A friend at work read Dark Trials and liked it. He was the only one so far. Now it's time for the group to review it. They'll read it this month and in February we'll discuss it. I expect some parts to entertain them but I know there are unknown problems throughout it. There always are things that I think are OK but I later find out it didn't quite work.

I know I'll be hating some of the things I hear but it's necessary. It's part of the journey that I need to do.

Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Birth

Chapter Twenty-One

They traveled together all night. Roland watched Fenroth closely, trying to learn from the experienced tracker.


“How long have you been tracking and hunting?”

“For the better part of eighty years. I was turned into a vampire shortly after I moved to this continent.”

They were running quickly through the dark woods. The moon lit up the path at certain intervals but Roland’s night vision made the moonlight unnecessary. Fenroth never turned into a bat or flew. Roland followed his lead because he didn’t want to look like a show off.

After a while of traveling at top speed and never quite catching up with Fenroth, Roland began to get tired. Suddenly the man stopped. He held up his right arm to signal for Roland to stop as well.

“Smell it?”

“Yeah. What is that? It smells stronger than the beavers and raccoons I’ve eaten.” The thin, musky odor tuned Roland’s nose. He could pick up the tasty aroma of lots of blood.

Fenroth nodded towards the moonlit stream through the brush where a bear drank greedily. “Watch closely.”

Roland instinctively held his breath.

-----


For more check out Dark Birth at your local online store. Links to Dark Birth on the web can be found on the Store Page.

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Eliza Pratchet

ELIZA PRATCHET

This is the closest I have to a pic of them.

artist:(if you know the artist, please let me know so I can credit him or her).

Other names: Laila, Dear wife

Name Origin: Form of Elisabeth, "pledged to God." Variant, Liza, exists.
“Eliza” is her English name. Her real name is Laila, like her 4th great grandmother. She was named Eliza by her Grandmother Laila and she took it, quite honored.

Physical characteristics:
She appears in her early twenties, has long dark hair and olive skin like her fellow European gypsies, except it seems more pale due to her vampirism. She has long fingernails and wears long flowing black and white dresses and robes.

Personality: Very patient, caring, loving and kind. She walks and speaks softly and appears gentle unless you threaten her adoptive children, Annabelle and Roland Foresight. She gained confidence the longer she was with the Foresight children.

Abilities:
She has the standard vampire abilities. This means she’s faster and stronger than humans, her senses are extremely acute as are her reflexes. She can fly and turn into a bat. She has ability to transform into a wolf, rat, bat and mist. She can control humans through mesmerization and communicate with lesser beasts.


Known History:

Born in 1589 a daughter of gypsies. She and her family were mortals whom traveled with the Mullo tribe, a family of vampiric gypsies. The tribe members, after a certain age where they might die, can chose the Right of the Dark and get turned so they can live on. Some stay mortal because they choose to while others desire vampirism.

Her 4th great grandfather, the vampire Nicu, died in 1591 defending the tribe and young Eliza in particular. A small group of evil vampires under Dominic’s command tried to slaughter them but Nicu drove them off, earning a steak to the heart. Eliza’s parents died as well. Her 5th great grandmother Laila raised little Eliza.

In 1609 she met Dominic. Eliza fell in love with him and he stole her away to America when he was back in Europe gaining supporters. Eliza carries a great deal of guilt over allowing Dominic to take her.

In 1692 she rebelled against him and saved Annabelle and Roland. She turned them into vampires. She teaches them because she at first felt sorry for them, because Laila taught her to help the downcast and because she loves them.

Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Threats

Chapter Six

In her werewolf form, Grace appeared thin but healthy. The attacking werewolves all dwarfed her due to her smaller size. She was roughly the same height as Roland and possessed his defiant temper. Despite being two different creatures of the night, Roland and Grace seemed perfect for each other.


Her opponent smiled a toothy grin. “You would do well to join up. We’ll find your precious clan. And when we do, I’ll take your head to your brother Coinín as a trophy. He’s the king of your tribe now, correct?”

She grinned as well. It took a lot more than false bravado from one of Dominic’s trained mutts to get under her fur. “You’re welcome to try.”

The werewolf lunged. Grace dropped to the ground and darted between his legs. She flipped, grabbed the extra fur on his back, pulled herself up and slashed at his eyes and throat. He let out a dreadful gasp as she bounded off his shoulders and somersaulted in the air. Grace outstretched her feet, landing on a table. She picked up a silver knife with a napkin and crouched, ready for his attack.


-----

For more check out Dark Threats at your local online store. Links to Dark Threats on the web can be found on the Store Page.

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Servo Guardante

SERVO GUARDANTE

No picture at this time. Hopefully that will change someday.


Other names: Ol' Stinky, Smelly, Mr. Creepy


Name Origin: Watching Servant in Italian.

Physical characteristics:

Always hunched over, filthy, wild eyes, creepy smile, balding with pock marks and scars on skin and dressed in dirty rags.

Personality:
Creepy, back stabbing spy who only serves his master and himself. Clever enough to know the value of escaping to live another day. Completely devoted to Dominic and will betray or kill anyone if it means gaining his master's favor.

Abilities:
Servo is a ghoul. If a vampire bites a human twice in rapid succession their physical and mental being becomes corrupted. They become stronger and faster than most humans. Their reflexes and senses are sharper. In short, they gain a small fraction of the power of a vampire. They cannot mesmerize others, fly or chance shape. The sun weakens then a fraction but does not burn them. Ghouls have long life spans but it is unknown if they can achieve the full immortality that vampires have. Most die in the service of their dark masters.

Known History:
At some point in the past Dominic found Servo in Italy and made him a ghoul. Servo has served Dominic for centuries, spying on Dominic's enemies across two continents and within many nations. He always puts Dominic first and travels a lot to fulfill his master's wishes. He mortally wounded Thomas Dunston, forcing Annabelle Foresight to turn Tom into a vampire. Most of Servo's dark history is so far untold.

Merry Christmas!

 


Just a quick message to wish all my blog followers and those hidden in Lurky-ville a wonderful and merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Hope your holidays go great and bring you peace and joy.

Scott

Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Trials
Chapter Five

She caught a glimpse of Eliza. The men held her tight, pulling her to the center of town. Why didn’t she try to defend herself? Annabelle punched and scratched her way to Eliza. The angry shouts and constant attacks from her attackers made it impossible to concentrate. If she could think for long enough to change her form or mesmerize the mob, Annabelle might be able to rescue Eliza and escape.


Where are Roland and Thomas? she thought in panic.

Henry continued to shout over the mob, “Reginald Worthing told me they were killing Johnny. He said they lied to me and they’ve always served the devil.”

The crowd of hostile villagers tripled in size. Men were joined by their wives, fathers by their sons. Annabelle wondered if the entire town had gone insane. Other voices joined Henry: “We have to stop them before they kill everyone in town.” “Don’t let them murder our children.” “Let’s hang them at the town square.”

Henry shouted over the mob, “Hanging won’t work. We’ve got to burn them!”

Her body tired and her mind in panic, Annabelle couldn’t stop the mob from dragging her after Eliza. Bloodthirsty cheers roared in her ears while her voice was raw with all her screaming.

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Grace Faolchú

GRACE FAOLCHÚ

No picture at this time. Hopefully that will change someday.

Other names:  Graine, Grainné, Princess, Wolf Princess, Hot-headed mutt

Name Origin:
Graine : Irish name meaning "love."  Graine was translated into English Grace.
Grace: English name derived from the vocabulary word, meaning "grace."
Faolchú: Wolf.

Grace's father, Alastar, changed his last name after exile. He was exiled from his clan after being bitten by a werewolf in the first part of the 1600s. He roamed early Britain, found other exiled werewolves and formed his own clan.

Physical characteristics:


She's thin and short. She has long red hair that flows down to her butt. For awhile she cut it to a cropped short look. Thin facial features. When she transforms, she gains a thick red coat of fur. Her bright green eyes turn yellow.

Personality:
Aggressive, strongly opinionated, strong minded, like her father. She can also love fiercely. Everything she does, she does with passion.

Abilities:
Grace has the standard werewolf abilities. She can transform into a half-wolf half-human form or all wolf form. In both forms she's stronger, faster and has better agility and enhanced senses. She can access her enhanced abilities and sharp nails and teeth even in human form. As an Alpha Wolf, she's immortal. She seems to age slowly, perhaps a year per one-hundred human years.

Known History:

Like her little brother Coinín, Grace was born a werewolf to two werewolf parents, Alastar and Maureen Faolchú. She is a werewolf princess and a member of royalty among the clans. She is a Alpha Wolf, like her father and brother. This means she'll live forever and has the makings of a future pack leader like her father.

As of this writing, much of Grace's history has not been chronicled. She met Roland and Annabelle in the mid 1700s when the Clan Faolchú paid their yearly visit to the Mullo gypsy tribe. She has helped Roland multiple times and in 1941 was referenced as his "girlfriend" by Annabelle. It remains to be seen if Annabelle was speaking out of turn or if Grace and Roland ready did/do have that kind of relationship. It should be noted that it is taboo to romantically link a vampire with a werewolf.

Night Children: Dark Birth - the Proof is here!

The printed proof has arrived for Dark Birth. I actually hold in my hands a copy of my 1st novel, the one that I've been blogging about since '06 and working on since '04. It's so surreal to open it and see text I've tweaked and revised for so long. Originally it was called Annabelle & Roland: The Night Children. I like the new concept of titles I'm using.

As an actual novel, Dark Birth is thicker than Dark Threats. I compared it to several books on the shelf and found it to be about the same size.

I learned from my formatting errors on the proof of Dark Threats. There are very few things wrong with the Birth proof. I'm revising Book Two's title (sigh, again) so I need to change that bit on the last page. Other than that I think it turned out great.

Next step, order copies to give away at speaking engagements/book signings and also to loan out for reviews. Meanwhile it's set up so Amazon will soon have it available to order.

It's so exciting to finally hold it in my hand!

Bite of Story Thursday

NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK BIRTH

Chapter Eighteen

She rushed deeper into the forest, sweat running down her brow and pooling behind her neck. Her undead body shouldn’t be having these reactions. Annabelle had no pulse yet it quickened. Terror caused her body to tremble. Her inhuman mind was demanding certain responses of her body and it was following suit.


She didn’t want to die and if this madman found her everything would be over. She wondered if all their training on how to kill vampires would be used on them. The man almost got Roland’s heart. He could have any weapon at his disposal. Deep fear rippled through her body as she continued to blur away from each arrow.

The stranger seemed to get closer by the minute. While he didn’t have her speed, he did have a certain skill with his weapon. Every time they would emerge from one set of trees, more arrows pierced the night. It took all her speed to avoid them.

He’s good, she thought, I can only stay a step ahead of him. If we keep running, he’ll get us. Where do we go? She looked through the trees and then glanced up. Annabelle leapt high into the branches while holding her brother. Once on a limb, she gently leaned him against the trunk and remained deathly quiet.

Who's Who in the Annabelle Universe? Penelope Chesterfield: Bride of Domi

THE THREE QUEENS / BRIDES OF DRACULA

This is the closest I have to a pic of them.

artist:(if you know the artist, please let me know so I can credit him or her).

Who:
Elizabeth Báthory, Roxana Dawn and Penelope Chesterfield.

What:
Their mission is to watch over Domi's interests and keep an eye on the Seven Tyrant Lords.

Penelope Chesterfield

Name origin:

Latin form of Greek Penelopeia, meaning "weaver of cunning."

Physical characteristics:

Long, straight light-brown hair. Bright brown eyes with thin eye lashes. Likes to dress in long black robes with a long flowing cape.

Abilities:

Typical vampire abilities:

She possesses the abilities of all vampires. This means she is faster and stronger than humans, her senses are extremely acute as are her reflexes. She can fly and can mesmerize humans. It took her a long time to learn how turn into a bat and mist.

Special abilities:

She’s an expert witch. Penelope has mastered dark magic and loves to use it on Dominic’s enemies. There are very few warlocks and witches who have become vampires. Of their limited number, Penelope is the greatest. She’d rather focus on her spells than master her vampiric abilities.

Known History:

Insane, Penelope Chesterfield lost her parents to illness in Colonial America of the late 1600s. She was found by Dominic Pratchet, whom brought her to one of his witch covens in North America because she showed a penchant for witchcraft. She became part of the coven and lived with his senior witch, Gertrude. Penelope was always more comfortable with her cats (familiars). She has a familiar named Moonlight that she hexed into a werecat.

She is obsessed with Dominic. She continuously tried to prove herself to him until he finally turned her into a vampire. Her goal is to one day be one of his queens. Eventually she proved herself and became one of his Brides. She recruited the Invisible Man.

Met another fan!

I found out today that one of the copies at the Purple Cow bookstore sold yesterday. You can imagine how excited I got.

Well that excitement went into overdrive when I was at Wal-Mart. A boy came up to me, admitted he was the one who bought it, and told me he loved it!

I love meeting fans! THAT is what it's all about. Writing stories that entertain. Sharing characters who inspire and help others.

I LOVE THIS!

Bite of Story Thursday

Night Children: Dark Threats
Chapter Two:


A twig snapped ahead in the darkened wood. Annabelle and Roland stopped in their tracks and stiffened. Two heartbeats pounded nearby and Annabelle silently chastised herself for not listening closer to the surrounding woods.


“Smell that?” she whispered to her brother.

“Yeah,” Roland agreed. “The breeze was blowing the other way before, hiding their scent. It’s them.”

Two familiar women hid just ahead. Menace oozed off of them.

“Who?” Tom peered into the dark wood fearfully.

“The witches, Tom,” Ann explained. “I need you two to run as fast as you can.”

“That’s not going to work,” Penelope said. Sixteen years old and completely devoted to evil, the younger of the two witches stepped onto the path with the much older Gertrude beside her. “Time to die.”