Story post

Once there was...

... a villain so vile, everything he touched turned bad. Even the grass withered where his unholy feet trod. In the same land there lived a princess so pure and precious, everyone's heart melted whenever they merely saw her on telly. Most of the land was in love with her. It wasn't her fault. And in the same land, there lived a hero so Herculean, the sunlight would glint off his well-oiled muscles and golden hair as he rode by, head held high, on his white steed. There also lived a heroine so heroic, she would... well, do all the policing and justice work the princess was too pure to perform. And deep, deep in the woods, in a magic cave lined with Persian mats and hidden behind a spell, there dwelled a magic being ... a being so magic, whenever she flexed her prettily manicured hand, something magic would happen. Her name was Nadisda. (That is pronounced "Na-DEESH-da". Ok?) The author couldn't decide whether she was a tree spirit, a wood nymph or simply a witch, but truly it matters not, because all that matters was that she was so imbued with magic, it was actually quite a problem. Because this being had an additional problem. She had a bit of ADD. That was on good days. On worse days, it was ADHD, and seeing that despite television in this land they did not have Ritalin, it was quite a thing.

One day Nadisda was peacefully trying to remember whether she was trying to remove the weeds she had inadvertently planted around her cave to replace them with ferns, or do laundry day (for even in magic lands, nothing washes cleaner than OMO), when she heard a soft step on the moss. She listened up instantly, because you're not supposed to hear anything that steps on moss, except this particular step went "crunch". By this she knew that her moss had died and she'd have to replant, and in an amazingly lucid moment she jumped to the conclusion that it was the Villain who had come to see her.

Nadisda was a peaceful soul, she didn't mind if good or evil paid her a visit (good was in fact harder to endure, in this particular land). She smiled sweetly.

"Hello, Valentine! How nice to see you... would you like some tea? - oh wait, you're the one who doesn't like tea, or is that Hugo..."

"Close that gap in your face and listen," replied Valentine the vile Villain. "You have magic. Too much for your own good, to my mind. But today you could do me a favour."

Nadisda had had conversations with the Villain before, and she knew that it was best to simply nod. Sometimes it was even better that all you did was blink. But today, she sensed Valentine was in a good mood, as good as it got, and she felt that nodding was safe. So she did. Overhead, a branch sprouted a wealth of white blossoms.

"Excellent," replied Valentine. "I'm so pleased you're the type who does favours. I need you to work out a curse for the Hero."

Nadisda's eyes went wide with surprise, but she nodded again. The Villain's red coat accidentally changed to green.

"You... you want me to kill him?" she asked, knowing that there would be implications - if she could only remember what they were.

The Villain laughed. "Oh no, not kill... that would be by far too kind for that pompous nit. I want a curse that will make him wish he were dead."

"A curse is black magic," Nadisda pointed out needlessly.

"Can't you do it?" asked Valentine, taken aback.

"Of course I can, but black magic always has repercussions."

"Ah, that," laughed Valentine. "It will probably only mean that Haley the perfect heroine will come after you and lock you in the clink. Surely that's no problem for you? You can magick yourself out of there faster than the blink of an eye, can't you?"

Nadisda pulled a doubtful face. (A little spring welled up out of the ground under the Villain's feet and he had to jump aside quite suddenly to keep his designer shoes from getting too soaked.) Yes, she could; but even prison breaks had consequences, she was sure of that. Besides she could never quite remember the whole sequence for her vanishing spell.

"Oh, don't worry," said the Villain impatiently, "I'll protect you. Good enough? You'll cast that curse?"

Nadisda nodded. A tangle of vines began to grow from overhead, encroaching on Valentine. Nadisda's mind was on gardening this morning.

"Excellent," said the Villain and made a hasty getaway.

"A curse," Nadisda repeated to herself. "A curse on Hugo. So he wishes he were dead." She sat down on a moss-covered log that had conveniently sprung out of the ground to accommodate her shapely hindquarters, and absently waved a hand in the direction of the withered moss which returned to life and burst into bloom. Or more specifically, into sporophytes.

She watched those strange little flowers that were not flowers, flower on the resurrected zombie moss, and carefully let her mind wander (keeping it on a rope however in case it got lost again). Sporophytes. Moss. Hero Hugo. Valentine. And suddenly she had it.

"Uranium!" she shouted, jumping up and causing several masked weaver nests to grow clusters of noses on a tree opposite, which duly started sneezing, scaring the baby birds. "No, wait, what was that word - Eu... Euphorbium... whatever, I have it!"

*

Fantasy vs Scifi & my writing style

I wrote a blog post on "The Red Ant" blog that was basically a story stub.  One reader really enthused about it but the others are suspiciously quiet, and LOL I know why.

It's not my usual writing style.  Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet and thrash out a piece in that style: slapstick humour. "The Racing Finn" and "Fanta Claus" were both written in that style. It is incredibly easy to write that way, much easier than most authors realize.  You simply exaggerate everything and point out obvious flaws that would have any editor worth his salt groaning.  It doesn't even have to conform to the high standards of editing that usually rule - not repeating words, or avoiding cliche.  On the contrary, this style absolutely lives on cliche.  Old jokes that people have heard a million times come in such rapid succession that they get their giggle buttons tickled even though it's old hat.  Once you got someone giggling it's easy to keep them giggling.  And the key to getting them giggling in the first place is that initial "what?!" moment.

That's not to say that I'd enjoy churning that kind of style out continually.  I normally write differently.  My readers who do love my books will back this:  My focus is on storyline, world-building, and most importantly on lovable characters.  I fall in love with my characters.  I allow them freedom to do what they want, and in doing so, I watch them develop.  They grow, they learn, they make mistakes and fail and try again, and break, and get picked up by others.  If you don't enjoy falling in love with story characters, my books are not for you. 

Also, it being Science Fiction, I love exploring possibilities.  I know a bit about science (having some background specifically in medical genetics and biology), so I love bringing that in and seeing where it can take us.  We're living in a world full of relevant science.  It should be part of a good, unique storyline.  Besides that I love doing the research for stories:  Reading up how a hurricane is structured, what fuels a storm, how freak waves arise, how a volcano is born, evolves and dies.  I love reading up about the places where I write (no "enchanted forest" for me).  The Everglades - in a dystopian futuristic setting.  The Marquises Islands.  The Romanian Alps.  Places like Auckland where I've never been but that are so accessible by Google these days.  And of course, places where I have been and that I loved.  Like behind the Moon.  (Just kidding.)

In all that, where is there space for slapstick?  The humour in my serious novels is sparsely strewn, but it is there - more for the connoisseur, it catches you when you don't expect it, and some of it is so subtle that you only pick it up on second reading (this is deliberate).  Yes I wrote a few things into the books specifically for those sweethearts who actually read it more than once!  They deserve the special consideration.

My novels are not about making you laugh (though hopefully they do at times).  I am not, and wouldn't want to be, Terry Pratchett.  But here and there I'll write a story purely for the sillyness.  I'd be sad if that were the reason for me to be famous one day!  When you pick up one of my books, I would like it to be because you're hoping (and I'm hoping to be able to deliver this) that when you open that cover, you'll step through a portal into a world, of freedom, emotions and adventure.  A world where you are aboard a ship for instance and part of the crew, each of whom you can fall in love with.  I want to give you that.  I want you to forget whatever your own circumstances may be at the time, and become a teenager again as you, along with Paean, bandage up that savage Wolf and try to tame him, and feel her frustration with her as he cold-shoulders her, and that sneaking, subconscious process by which she falls in love with Federi instead.  I want you to be up in the rigging with Shawn and Federi when the storms rage over the sailing ship.  (This is authentic by the way.  In "Sea Devil" by Felix Luckner, the author - himself a versed seafarer - describes how during a storm on a steamer, everyone goes belowdecks where on a sailing vessel, during a storm everyone goes up into the rigging to help control the sails.)  I want you to experience the terror and exhileration with the crew, with every freak wave they brave - some from storms, some from explosions, some because they are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The sea has many more freak waves than currently given credit for.  I researched this in depth.  (Pun intended.)

I guess many feel that way about their work.  It is said of Antonin Dvorak, the composer, that he didn't want to write too many of his famous Slavonic Dances because he felt they detracted from his status as a serious composer.  They are incredible compositions anyway.

So, no, you won't see a lot of slapstic giggle fiction from me.  Here and there as the silly-bug bites me, sure.  But not as a staple diet.  I'd feel empty if this were all I could put out.

:-)  Hope I have not disheartened anyone now.

Shevi Arnold Writes: How I learned to stop worrying and love the e-book...

Shevi Arnold Writes: How I learned to stop worrying and love the e-book...: I know my friends mean well when they tell me that an agent and a book deal are right around the corner. Every writer wants to be tradition...



A "kiss your feet" post.  A control freak like me who wanted to decide on her own editor, cover graphic, names of characters etc?  There were a list of reasons I chose to self-publish, and this lovely writer has just validated those.



Possibly one of the most engraving was the mere cost of paper submissions - from South Africa to international publishing co's.  

The Writing Bomb: Common Lies Self-Published Authors Believe.

The Writing Bomb: Common Lies Self-Published Authors Believe.: As an indie author I have to confess that I am guilty of believing a lie -- not just one, but many.  They are the same lies I see self-publi...



A beautifully written post!



Thank you.

Nix Romipen

The sequel following The Morrigan is called "Nix Romipen".  Federi has a clear mission.  He wants to get to the bottom of the mystery that is the Unicate, once and for all, and root that evil organization out. To give himself a bit of space and have an excuse to get off the ship, he calls it a honeymoon and takes his essential backup along. 

Soon they find themselves in Romania, where Paean discovers the magic of Federi's birthplace, high in the Transylvanian mountains, and is drawn into the irresistible charm of the wild forests.  They reconnect with some free Tzigany, and so far everything seems perfect... but then...

That is exactly the point at which I need to start editing.  An essential emotional red thread running through the story is missing.  Federi's focus shifts.  Earth faces more aliens - this time nothing remotely human.  Things happen head-over-heels, the story splits as we try to follow Paean and Federi on their separate missions at the same time.  There is, to put it bluntly, chaos. 

For a while I thought it was ready.  It's not.  Please, be patient.  It's one of the strangest sequels in the whole series, as it seems to exist separately from the others.  It's very different in character from the others; also from the new series, "Shooting Star", following onto the Solar Wind series. It really is a stand-alone that belongs in neither.  It's a bridge but yet an individual.  I'll have to wrap my brain around it.

Why do I write?  Because if I didn't, I'd be crazy by now.

So amazing...

While I'm doggedly plodding through another revision of "Nix Romipen", Book 6 in the Solar Wind series, and that is after we thought "The Morrigan" was the last volume in that series, things are moving very fast in P'kaboo.

Times like this, I'm deeply thankful for all the help I'm getting, and that I don't have to run the ship alone.  Les, my excellent editor, is taking over going through submissions with a fine-toothed comb and approaching any edits with his usual, unusual sensitivity to the author.  Paul, our associate in UK, is taking over many details of the basic cogs and wheels concerning the overseas authors, approaching overseas book places and so on.  My young designer advises me on what works and doesn't work - mind, two other designers of ours have indicated that I do have an eye for visuals, but more advice is always great.  Interesting how the trends differ though.  The illustrator of a recent title has been giving more than her all to rectify quality issues with the original files of the release - working day, night, regardless to get everything smoothed down.  Two wonderful book bloggers are giving my authors spotlights, one by one, and two of my newest authors are pushing, L for Leather, the marketing and development of their works, one of them with such amazing success that a billboard ad will appear over a busy highway announcing her book available in a major UK book chain. 

If I didn't have my team around me, I'd be panicking, it all is moving so fast.  I'm deeply thankful to my wonderful associates as well as the strangers that are pitching in and helping.

Here's the poster that was created for Carmen Capuano, announcing her book in WHSmith:

To think that Bernhard, who created the cover for The Assassin and Almost Dead in Suburbia, originally created the 3D book image, and I've been using it all along, and now it has been deemed worthy of a billboard ad...

"The Morrigan" is done!

 

Last night I finally polished the last bits of "The Morrigan" up.

It's been sent to my editor, Les, for a final check-through (he already edited it previously, and all those edits were accepted), and after that it's ready for P'kaboo and Amazon.  This is very exciting.

I left this book for over 2 years, because there was something bothering me about it that I couldn't pinpoint.  Was it pacing?  Not really.  I have identified what it was, a number of subtle issues, and a few scenes that needed to be reworked, and now it works!  

I don't know whether there will be enough funds for a paper launch of both Raider and The Morrigan.  We'll have to see.