Kim Vermaak's Blog, page 5

Who do you fear?

This week something happened that sent fear coursing through my veins.  I felt the physical effects and for a while; I felt unable to function. 
It is the kind of fear that my character King Radolf in the series The Chronicles of Nadine uses to rule his kingdom. While researching the world’s greatest villains, I learned that many of them had something traumatic happen to them in the past.  One that they processed in a way that made them want to extinguish their own fear and weakness by dominating others.  They feel entitled to the pain they inflict on others.  
But true strength lies in learning from our pain.   
The question is… will you shrink back or will you learn and grow?  

Please share what you have learned from past fears and how you have overcome them?#Christianauthor #medievalfantasy #overcomingfear #medievallife #Christianfantasyauthor #Warriorwomen #girlswithswords #booksonamazon #bookworm #Christiannovels #Youngadultnovels

Is this book like Game of Thrones?

As an author I often get asked "Is this book is like Game of Thrones?
Well, yes, and no. It has a complex and vibrant set of characters. But there are some core differences. The dragons in The Chronicles of Nadine are an intricate part of the series. They are creatures of legend and fear, who villagers are compelled to slay. But their true purpose unfolds along with the characters in this series. 
However, unlike the Game of Thrones, The Chronicles of Nadine is a series that embraces a core moral compass that, is so often lacking in society and in some modern epic fantasy.  
Not that there is no decay in society. The series has its fair share of murder, failure, and betrayal.  But at its core, there is a striving to overcome the struggles that often cause men and women to turn away from the light.
It is possible to write an epic fantasy for Young Adults that does not need erotica, nudity or foul language to weave a plot.  I have always loved medieval fantasy and in this story; I transport readers into the intricacies of the politics of the time at a time where some Kings would strive for power at all costs.
Yes, there are some gruesome scenes. Like when Nadine discovers the charred remains of the villages who died when their village was attacked. But the core of the purpose of the graphic scenes created in the Chronicles of Nadine is to draw the reader into the harsh realities of medieval life and not to desensitise readers to cruelty.
I am looking forward to introducing you to the rich tapestry of characters in The Chronicles of Nadine.
You can find it on Amazon for now.  But it will soon release through other channels.

Pain with Purpose

Have you ever made a devastating choice?  
The one that leaves you crying out, “Oh God, what have I done?“ 

It is painful watching those we love struggle with life-changing decisions. I have made them. And sometimes my friends have made them. There were when I had to cradle a friend in my arms as I would my children. My heart cried out for them trapped in choices they could never undo. There are some choices that we can patch up and fix.

Sometimes we emerge stronger than before.  And sometimes we can only ask for the lesson in our pain.  But what I have come to realise is that in every painful situation, there can be a purpose. A time to help others who have stumbled along the path. When you have decided out of fear and regretted it, have to courage to help others make better choices.  The temptation is to cocoon ourselves and pretend it never happened, but reach out and love others when they need it.

www.kimvermaak.com

Do you know the name of your dragon?

We all face giants at some point. 

For David, it was Goliath. For Nadine, it was Muquin. For someone else, it may be debt or a toxic relationship. But they all have the power to trap up.  To keep us captive to fear.  In the series's first book, 
Muquin represents what many of us would cower from. 
Seriously, if I woke up one day and saw my village being burned down, I would look for the first Uber out of here. Yet. Muquin holds a key to a destiny that Nadine never imagined. 
When Nadine was desperate for a way to rescue her family, she took the first steps.   I knew that I wanted to change my life, to catch hold of that dream that I always wanted… to write books that help people find their courage. But fun fiction ones that speak to the hero buried inside you. I love motivational books. But novels allow you to be the hero inside them. To identify with the characters.  I wanted to share my passion for learning and fantasy with others in a way that empowers them. I had to start with the first worlds. 
What is it in your life holds you captive?   What steps can you take today to conquer your world?

Ask An Author - Who is Your Inspiration?

Questions that Readers Ask

What is your inspiration?
My middle child inspired the book.  She is a bit of an adrenaline junkie, tormenting us with her tree and roof climbing tactics.  She is also a fiercely independent and stubborn person but has moments of such tenderness when she is with her cat.  
She represents the multidimensional facets of strong women. Sometimes as strong women, we are seen in a one-dimensional way.  That we can overcome anything. That we are difficult and high maintenance. Yet strong women can have moments of utter despair and fear when faced with monumental tasks. Strong women often feel lonely and isolated. 
As if the expectations of others of what they believe us to be somehow separated us from offers of help, compassion and sympathy. I portrayed the reality of frustrations and tears intermingles with passion and fearlessness.  Not that we are afraid.  It is that we push through the fear and do those scary things anyway.
In the Chronicles of Nadine, the main character faces many challenges that seem overwhelming. But like in life she does not decide in a vacuum.  The book has a vast range of in-depth characters with whom she interacts.

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I want my readers to get the second book as quickly as po...

I want my readers to get the second book as quickly as possible. In today’s scene, one of the sworn protectors of Lady Christine finds there is an intruder that has infiltrated her tunnels. I chose this photo by Jeremy Bishop on Pexels, because it shows what these underground tunnels in my book are like. Tunnels are a key theme in many parts of the series. In each of our lives, there are hidden parts. Some are unknown to us. Some represent our inner strength, still to be discovered. Then there are some hidden parts others use to lay traps for us.The intruder in this scene poses a big risk. Nadine is not yet trained. Danger looms and their heroine still has to go through her rights of passage. Evidence of an intruder shows a vulnerability in their defences. What are your vulnerabilities? What are your plans to reinforce your life and relationships?For those of you are tracking my progress, this scene is another 786 words. So at this morning’s count, I am on 12 512 works into my second book target of 80 000 words.

So far it is roughly 63 pages for those who are overwhelmed by word count. That would have been me a few months ago. Word counts never interested me. I just wanted to know how long the book is.
But don’t imagine you can run out tomorrow and grab both books. After I finish the initial drafts, they have to go for editing. Then comes the inevitable questions about pace, plot, unanswered questions, etc. I then have to deal with these story issues.
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