Lissa Dobbs's Blog: Shadow Walkers of Grevared
April 21, 2019
April 14, 2019
Pondering Changes
[image error]As those who follow me regularly know, I’ve been doing some thinking about where I want to take my writing. I’m finding that some of my interests are changing, and while I still love The Lord of the Rings and Raymond E. Feist’s work, I’m finding that some of my passion for fantasy as a whole has diminished. It isn’t gone, by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m finding the folklore far more interesting, much like I did years ago. There’s sense of reality to it and a relevance to daily life that fascinates me.
There are some things in the process of changing in my life, and I wonder if that has something to do with the shifting interests. It also leads me to wonder if I want to make some major changes to my website, to remove some of the history and details of the world of Grevared. That mostly comes from a comment a friend of mine made along the lines of “do you really think anyone wants to read pages of boring history?” I actually do, so it’s included. But I wonder if it needs to be there.
[image error]I’m also finding work on Aliyah’s Tears fascinating. The epistolary style isn’t one I had even considered before, but it’s challenging and interesting. I’m working to include newspaper articles, medical records, and the like along with diary entries, emails, letters, and texts. There’s a lot that goes into that, and it’s as much fun as creating a fantasy world. I wonder how far I can take this and how it will be received when completed.
Of course, the flip side to that is the The Spirits of Yule is almost completed and ready to release. I haven’t decided if I want to release it when it’s finished or if I want to wait until closer to the holidays. It brings me back to the world of Grevared, a world that I’ve enjoyed working in for the last five years. There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to give it up, and I doubt I ever will completely.
I suppose the short version is that I’m re-evaluating some things. If there are those who have recommendations or suggestions about what you’d like to see, please sing out. I’d love to hear what my readers like and what their interests are.
Best wishes!
April 6, 2019
Aliyah’s Tears – Playing Around
[image error]I’m still working on Aliyah’s Tears, and it’s still in the developmental phase, at least partially. To help myself with the story and some of the elements I want to bring into it, I created some newspaper articles that are relevant to the story. I’m not sure yet if they’ll all be used or if they will be images or text, but they were fun to work on.
They take place at different points in the story, though most of these are further in the past, things that occurred in the years before Aliyah met Victoria and Roxxie. The only exception is Aliyah’s obituary, which begins the story and is the reason for Victoria and Roxxie reconnecting.
They still need a bit of cleaning up, and the information in the articles may change a bit. A lot of it will depend on how the story goes and if it goes to plan.
Best wishes!
http://www.hiddenhollowediting.com
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March 31, 2019
Aliyah’s Tears-Snippet
[image error]A few weeks ago I posted the first entry to Aliyah’s Tears, so I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at the next couple this week. This is an early draft and unedited.
Best wishes!
http://www.hiddenhollowediting.com
Jan 20
Hey, Tori. Bet you can’t guess who this is?
?
It’s Roxxie. I got your letter and decided you had a point. Not sure I like the cell phone, but…
It’s about time.
I’m easing into the 21st century.
Let’s be real. You aren’t easing. You were dragged kicking and screaming.
Lol. True. I have email, too. I’ll send one so you can log the address.
Coolness.
I know what you mean about Aliyah. I never knew much, either.
Do you know where she went after school?
Nope. But I plan to find out.
I don’t know. I feel weird caring now that she’s dead.
Yeah. Still. Maybe there’s a story there.
Lol. You and your stories. Are you ever gonna finish one?
Eventually. Got to do some research.
Let me know if I can help.
Will do. Well, gotta book. Heading off in the morning.
Where are you heading?
*shrug* Wherever I wind up. 
March 24, 2019
It’s Birthday Week
[image error]This is always a hectic week at my house because my oldest and youngest sons both have birthdays. Since I will be celebrating with them, here’s a motivational thought to take with you into the week. It’s one that really kicked me in the patootie.
Best wishes!
Lissa Dobbs
March 17, 2019
Snippet Sunday
[image error]I shared the cover of a WIP, Aliyah’s Tears, last week, so I thought I’d share a snippet of the work this week.
Aliyah’s Tears is written in the epistolary style and is told through communication between Roxxie and Victoria, two college friends who’ve stayed in touch. I’m still working on distinguishing their voices from each other, but here’s a little bit from the beginning.
Best wishes!
http://www.hiddenhollowediting.com
Aliyah’s Tears
January 12
Hey Roxxie,
You know, it would make my life easier if you’d get a cell phone. Hell, even an email address would help. Why do you insist on written letters? It’s not like you’re in one place long enough to get them. Please consider coming into the modern world. I know you don’t want to, but technology is here to stay, dear heart, whether you want it to or not.
It was good to see you last month. I wish it had been a happier occasion, though. It was too bad about Aliyah. Do you remember her back in college? Back when we all roomed together? I’d thought about using her as a character in a book and had written this about her.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw her. Frightenly beautiful, yes, but cold. Hard. As if her bones were steel girders and her heart a stone that beat ice water. My opinion of her never changed, not in all the years we were acquainted. Yet I never once doubted her loyalty or fortitude.
I think that sums up the way I thought about her. I’ll never forget that first day when she walked in with the designer jeans and her hair in that braid that must’ve taken hours to do. *shakes head* I guess we were mean to laugh behind her back, especially since she wasn’t stuck up at all. She was cold, yes, and hard to get to know. I don’t think I ever found out any more about her than that she had three or four brothers. What about you? Do you know any more about her? I guess it’s weird that I’m only wondering now.
Anyhoo, I guess I’d better stick this in the mail while I still know where to send it. I just hope it gets to you before you head off on your next adventure.
I wish I could go with you, but I just can’t get away from work right now.
Have fun.
Write soon.
Love you, girl.
Victoria
March 10, 2019
Pondering Direction
[image error]I’ve been doing some thinking about my writing lately. That’s why I haven’t been nearly as active on social media. I’m trying to decide on a direction, for I think I’m spread too thin.
I’m one of those eclectic readers/authors who likes to do so many things that I can’t keep track of all of them.
I love fantasy, and I love the world of Grevared. If I could get there, I’d pack my bags and leave now. I have so many ideas that span all age groups that my head spins when I think about them. I have a spreadsheet and all of my ideas are organized, but I don’t know which one to pursue first.
I also love mythology and folklore, and I’d like nothing more than to lock myself in a library with tons of books and research until I’m a skeleton turning to dust. I want to delve into the mysteries of ancient times and see where we came from.
I’m also a horror junkie, and, let’s face it, some days horror is just the way to go. Writing it is a cathartic exercise, and I’ve often wondered how many people have escaped prison by writing it. I don’t care much for horror novels, though, so most of my horror is short stories.
Then there are mysteries. I love trying to figure out who did what and when. I love the relaxing atmosphere created by cozy mysteries, and there is plenty of room to mix in my love of mythology and folklore.
[image error]So, at this point, I have no idea what I want to do and where I want to go. I know I’ll release The Spirits of Yule later this year, and I’m hoping to complete the anthologies Rise of the Mad Gods and a horror one. With the horror, I haven’t decided if a current WIP will be part of it or not. It’s a ‘wait and see’ thing right now.
So, as spring approaches and a new cycle begins, I’ll be doing some thinking while I pursue the writing.
Best wishes!
http://www.hiddenhollowediting.com
March 3, 2019
Thought for the Day
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I talk a lot about the importance of fairy tales and other forms of folklore and why they should have a front row seat in our lives.
I came across this song yesterday. It’s one I had forgotten about. It sums up my thoughts perfectly.
Best wishes!
February 24, 2019
February 17, 2019
My Guilty Pleasure-Cozy Mysteries
First and foremost I’m a fantasy junkie. I love the worlds and the characters and the magic that comes with them. I love fairy tales and legends and myths, and there’s nothing better than reading through religious texts of all kinds. However, my love of fantasy wasn’t indulged beyond classics and Dorrie the Witch until I was a young teenager.
When I was younger, Sherlock Holmes was my hero. I read every story Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about him, and I had this awesome game called Consulting Detective that had maps and clues and all kinds of things. It wasn’t a board game; it was more role playing. There was a “case” that needed to be solved, and the players had to move through London to figure out the answers. I still have it around here somewhere.
But Sherlock Holmes wasn’t the only one.
My aunt had the entire Nancy Drew series. She also had The Hardy Boys and The Bobsey Twins. I read them all. Then there were The Three Investigators, and, yes, I even loved Encyclopedia Brown.
As an adult, I still love mysteries. Most recently, I read the four Caster and Fleet Mysteries by Liz Hedgecock and Paula Harmon. I have to say I loved them. They’re set in the late Victorian era, and Connie and Katherine are hilarious. They move at a good pace, and the twists and turns kept me interested until the end.
For me, mysteries are a different kind of vacation. As someone who loves books and crafting, their connection to those makes them even more entertaining. They’re perfect for a rainy Sunday when I just want to kick back and do nothing.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Best wishes!
Lissa Dobbs
Shadow Walkers of Grevared
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