R.S. Hunter's Blog, page 8

Defending the Spiral Excerpt by Erin Danzer

Today, I have YA author Erin Danzer here where she will share an excerpt of her short story “Defending the Spiral.” This short story functions as a prequel to her four novel series that begins with Into the Spiral. 

Here’s a quick blurb for “Defending the Spiral” before we jump into the excerpt.

Gavin Clearwater longs for adventure. As a Lieutenant of the Spiral Defenders, he travels to numerous planets, seeing many different creatures and climates. But his heart tells him something has always been missing from his life.

After a successful mission to protect the planet Mystica, Gavin returns home with suspicions about his commanding officer. But those suspicions are turned aside when Gavin is given another mission, one that will change his life forever.

And now the excerpt:

Gavin Clearwater looked at the fifteen individuals in his Advanced Weapons training class. He glanced up at the sun shining brightly in the sky, pushing black hair out of his eyes. It was hard to believe it had rained for three days straight, but now there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Sighing, he returned his attention to the trainees, thinking that’s the way it always was on Cira, the central planet of the Spiral. He preferred planets in the third or fourth circles, where weather was more predictable—even though life was more dangerous.

The steel blades of swords and knives flashed in the late afternoon light, the wooden sounds of staves clashing echoed across the training field. Training the class was still relatively new to Gavin, as was his position as Lieutenant of the Spiral Defenders, a band of warriors who traveled through time and space protecting the planets of the Spiral. His godmother, Queen Alina of his homeland Kalearnia, had promoted him a month ago on his nineteenth birthday, saying he deserved it after several daring rescues around the Spiral. Gavin didn’t mind the risk involved in protecting the inhabitants of the collected planets of the Spiral or his elevated status—though his new position had garnered much teasing from his trainees, most of whom had been his peers before the promotion.

The sound of his communicator going off brought Gavin out of his reverie. He called the trainees to order as he reached for the device, pulling it from the cargo pocket on his black pants and answering the call. Mild dread warred with curiosity as his godmother’s face appeared on the screen.

“Gavin, have you ended class?” she asked. A few snickers sounded from the crowd in front of him. Gavin grimaced but otherwise ignored them. While most of his peers had wholeheartedly agreed that he deserved the promotion, there were some who thought more intimate reasons had been employed. Unfortunately, some of those small-minded people where in his class.

“We’re just finishing up,” he told the queen.

“Good. Meet me in the throne room immediately. A dire situation has come up,” Alina told him. He nodded, noticing the worry in her brown eyes before the screen went black.

“Hear that guys, a dire situation has come up,” Mikhail Silversting jeered to a few of his buddies. Gavin glared at the Scorpios hybrid as he dismissed the rest of the class and collected their weapons, putting them in two large black trunks he would have to retrieve later.

“Knock it off, Silversting,” Gavin told the man, his steely tone unmistakable. Those closest to him heard the warning and looked back at Mikhail with disapproval. Mikhail just laughed, the sunlight reflecting off his hairless body as he shook his head, polearm still in his hands.

“What are you going to do about it, Clearwater? Run and tell your girlfriend? Just remember she said throne room not bedroom,” he sneered, his hands loosely holding his weapon in the ready position. Gavin whirled around, plucking a knife from the hands of a nearby trainee as he closed the distance between him and Silversting. The other’s silver scorpion-like tail rose behind him, poised to attack, as Gavin held the knife to his thick neck.

“Put that thing down,” Gavin spat at the man, disgusted as he glanced at the deadly tail. “I could have you transferred out to Izotz for raising a weapon at me in an offensive manner.” He pressed the tip of the blade into Silversting’s meaty flesh. Thick, black blood oozed from the wound. “Continue to harass me about a nonexistent relationship and I’ll make sure the queen knows it’s more than just idle gossip going around about her. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Silversting grumbled grudgingly. Still on his guard, Gavin lowered the knife. He ducked instinctively as Silversting suddenly swung the polearm at his head, reaching out to catch the wooden handle just below the curved metal blade at the end. He said a few short words, opening a portal behind the other man, and pushing him through into the inky grey In Between. Silversting’s curses came through the portal as it closed a moment later. Gavin dusted himself off and retrieved the knife from where it had landed near his feet before turning to the fourteen remaining trainees.

“Anyone else?”

—–

Thanks for sharing this, Erin!

Author Bio:

Erin Danzer wrote her first book at 10-years-old for a Young Authors competition, where she was awarded an Honorable Mention and discovered a passion for the written word. She’s written several novels and short stories since that spark ignited. She writes a monthly short story serial, The Cassandra Serafin Chronicles, posting alternately on her blog and in Literary Lunes bi-monthly online magazine. Erin resides in Racine, Wisconsin, with her husband, two children, and their cat.

You can find her at her website, her Facebook fan page, and on Twitter.

Behind the Scenes: Eternal Patrol

I have Michael Wallace here today to give us a behind the scenes look at his novel, Eternal Patrol. Let’s dive right in! (Submarine puns. Ha.)

One problem with writing a story which involves WWII is the number of war historians out there that will hang on every detail no matter how slight. So when I took on the project of writing a time travel story that included two American Gato Class submarines, I knew the details would make or break the book. No one would have a problem with the time travel, but if I said the said the depth gauge was above the ballast gauge, they would throw the book down and say the entire story was unbelievable.

Even though some readers posted, in their reviews, I should have watched more WWII movies so my submarine facts would have been more accurate, several submariners have told me I had the details so accurate it was like being back on the boat.

Before I wrote my first word for this book, I spent a year and a half researching all I could about submarines. I read Commander’s logs, sailor’s journals and every manual, schematic, and website I could find about Gato Class submarines and their operations. This led to a lot of information about modern day subs which also came in handy as this is a time travel story.

“I did find some very unusual events surrounding the disappearance of two subs”

My research started with the Navy’s record archives catalog. I found, since the Navy launched it’s first commissioned submarine, (the USS Holland, October 12, 1900), it has kept a record of the location of each boat. The are listed as, “In Port”, “On Patrol”, “Sunk inBattle”, or “De-commissioned”. If a sub goes out on patrol, never returns and its fate is unknown, the Navy will officially list the submarine as, “On Eternal Patrol.” It was these subs I wanted to find.

I spent days going through each page of the Navy log writing down the names of all the subs from WWII still listed as On Eternal Patrol. Once I had my list, I delved into the logs, sightings and war reports from the U.S, Japanese, and German navies to try and find out what happened to the subs. As I expected, if the Navy couldn’t find out what happened, I wasn’t going to have much luck going through only the de-classified reports. But I did find some very unusual events surrounding the disappearance of two subs, the USS Corvina and the USS Dorado.

While on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, the Commander of the Dorado radioed he had spotted a German U-boat. This was the last communication from the Dorado as she was never seen again. According to German records, they did not have a submarine in that area at that time. I’m going to give Commander Schneider the benefit of a doubt he knew what a U-boat looked like and one must have been in the area. If the Germans didn’t have any record of this sub in the area, it sounds like German black-ops.

“The Germans claimed they did not have a boat there at that time”

There are several conflicting stories of what happened to the Dorado. She sank under friendly fire, sank under attack off ofPanamabut none of these stories actually confirm what happened to her.

In my novel, I used the circumstances we know about the submarine. The last contact was that Schneider saw a U-boat in the area and the Germans claimed they did not have a boat there at that time. I knew these details would work well with my time travel story.

The second boat in my novel is the USS Corvina also listed as On Eternal Patrol. Like the Dorado, theCovinahad some mysterious facts surrounding her disappearance. After months of searching through bothU.S.and Japanese records, (ones that had been translated to English), I again found many conflicting stories. But, they all boil down to no one knows what happened to the sub.

The Corvina reported they were under attack by a Japanese destroyer which had an attack sub escort. The Japanese destroyer reported they had dropped depth charges on the American sub and followed her oil slick for miles. One problem here, after they dropped their depth charges, they never saw or heard from their Japanese attack escort sub. The Japanese Captain insisted he only sank one sub and it was the American boat. There was no way he would go back toJapanand tell the Emperor he sank one of his own subs.

So which sub did they sink? Debris from the Japanese sub was found by passing Allied ships hours after the attack and modern day deep water surveys have found the hull of the Japanese sub in that area but to this day no evidence has been found as to the fate of the Corvina.

“This crew spent the next several days wondering if they had all died in an earlier attack”

So I had my two submarines for my story. But with all that research, I found so many incredible stories of what happened to our subs when they were out there on patrol. Commanders wrote about their boats being flipped upside down and dragged across the ocean floor by undersea storms. While on the surface conducting open sea repairs and unable to submerge, one submarine had a Japanese destroyer pass by only fifty yards away and never saw them. And, what I found was common on many boats, this crew spent the next several days wondering if they had all died in an earlier attack and this is why the Japanese ship didn’t see them. Many subs went deeper than they were built to go causing the crew to wonder if they were still alive. Crewmen continuously made makeshift repairs with whatever they could find on the boat.

Every sub had to deal with “rogue fish.” These were torpedoes that would loose their steering and come back at the sub which launched them. To make it worse, they didn’t come back in a straight line. They darted all over like a tuna chasing a mackerel giving the sub no place to hide.

In the novel, Eternal Patrol, I brought all of these events into one story that linked both the Corvina and Dorado into a battle where the fate of the war, their future and our past is held on the outcome of their journey.

Thanks, Michael for this exclusive look at what went into writing your book! For more information about Eternal Patrol and Michael Wallace, visit his website. Also be sure to watch the Eternal Patrol book trailer.

Interview with Author Tony Acree

This Tuesday, I have Hydra author, Tony Acree, here for an interview about his upcoming novel, The Hand of God, and his writing career.

Let’s learn more about The Hand of God!

What is your most recent published work?

My first novel, The Hand of God, will be released by Hydrea Publications in the spring of 2013.

What is it about?

It can best be described as a supernatural thriller. The novel tells the story of Victor McCain, bounty hunter, who finds out his brother has sold his soul to the Devil. Vic is offered a chance to save his brother’s soul by finding a missing woman who has stolen something Satan wants back.

What was it like when you found out that Hydra was going to publish your book?

I was thrilled. I met Frank Hall on several occasions and each time came away knowing he was someone I could not only work with, but would give my book the best chance of success.

What can you tell readers about the main character?

Victor McCain is a beer drinking, fun loving Kentucky boy who works as a bounty hunter for the adrenaline rush. A veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Vic enjoys his job. When it comes to God and religion, he’s never given it much thought. But when Satan walks into his office, everything changes.

What was your favorite part of the book for you to write? What are you most proud of?

The action scenes were my favorite parts to write. You learn a lot about Vic in how he responds to some very intense situations. I’m most proud of how my beta readers responded to the dark humor in the book. When people laugh in the right places during tough action spots, then I feel I’ve done my job as a writer.

What genres do you write in?

I write supernatural thrillers and mysteries.

Some writers claim that writing dark stories is easier than writing light ones. True or false for you, and why?

No doubt true in my case. I love to both read and write books with conflict and drama. I enjoy authors who take their characters to great depths and show us how they respond and overcome the obstacles thrown in their paths. The more tension the better. And let’s face it. There is a lot more drama in the darkness under the stairs than in the sunshine on the hill.

When you have time to read, what do you enjoy? Who’s your favorite author?

I’m currently on a thriller kick. My favorite author is Nelson DeMille. His character John Corey is my favorite in modern fiction. You can also find me reading Lee Child, Robert B. Parker (may he rest in peace), Harlan Coben and John Sandford.

What is the coolest thing a reviewer ever said about your work?

The coolest thing is being told they couldn’t stop turning the page. I had a beta reader who planned on only reading the first two chapters the first night, but stayed up to read all fourteen because he wanted to see what happened next. Knowing you have them hooked is a great feeling.

Tell us a little bit about what you are working on now.

First I am finishing up the final edit on The Hand of God. Next I am writing a game module for Hydra Publication’s new game division. And then the next book in the Hand of God series, tentatively titled Brother Mine.

When will it be available? 

The Hand of God will be available around February of 2013, the game mods will arrive next summer.

When do you write? How many hours a day/week?

I write mainly at night and try and write 4 hours a night at least 6 days a week. I tried writing in the morning only to find I kept writing the same line over and over. Night work is what I love best.

How do you prepare for a project? Do you work off an outline of your book or write by gut-feel?

I use only the briefest of outlines. Generally I have the plot of the book worked out in my head, but follow my whims while filling out the details.

Do you have any events or book signings coming up? Where? When?

I plan on attending CharCon in Charleston West Virginia, October 19-21. http://www.charcon.org/

How can readers connect with you?

You can find my blog at http://Tonyacree.wordpress.com or email me at Tonyacree@gmail.com

Bonus Oddball Question: If you had to describe your main character in terms of a food, what food would it be and why?

Spicy Cajun Pasta. Filling, but with quite a bite!

Thanks, Tony for the interview! Be sure to check out his website and look for The Hand of God when it comes out next year from Hydra Publications.

Excerpt from Dearly Departed by Rachael Rawlings

Today, I have the author of Dearly Departed, Rachael Rawlings, on my site. She’s going to share an excerpt of her book with us. So let’s jump in with both feet and hand things over to Rachael!

This evening, I feel like one of the luckiest ladies in the world.  I have finally gotten a chance to see my dream come true, a book in print.  I have been writing since I was in grade school, going from ghost stories, mysteries, romance novels and everything in between.  With my present job in a high school, I have had a rare glimpse into the life of today’s teenagers, which, to be perfectly honest, hasn’t changed that much since I was that age.

My favorite books are ones in which the real world rubs elbows with the unreal, where reality is bent just enough to make us think that it could be true.  I don’t need to travel to another world to see the miracle of the supernatural when I feel sure it exists just under my nose!

For my first published novel, I put my main character in a place that fascinates me, the line between life and death.  Dorothy is an ordinary teenager forced to deal with extraordinary circumstances.  Not only are her parents on the odd side, but she lives right next to a cemetery in a tidy small town setting.  Her world opens up when a visitor comes calling in the cemetery, following his own purpose and his own rules.

Dearly Departed

Grave Reminders Series

“You’re out late.”

His voice came, filtered through the heavy air, deep and hushed.

“So are you, I suppose.”  I tried to keep my voice as even as his.

“As always,” he replied, finally reaching the soft light of the moon.  He paused and leaned against the low stone wall, comfortably.

The moonshine was generous to his sharp features, softening them with the forgiveness of the night.  He was all angles and long lines, from the sharp blade of his nose to the golden arch of his brows.  His eyes were impossible to see, but his hands were beautiful where they rested on a moss lined stone. A heavy gold band circled his thumb, looking tarnished in the dim light.

“It’s a quiet night.”  The words that came were not the ones that I would have reasonably spoken.  This was not a conversation that had any of the norms of social interaction.

“Not so much.  The birds are complaining.  They don’t like the fog.”

I looked at him, immersed in the unreality of the scene.  ”You know much about birds?”

“More about the night.  I don’t sleep much.  I tend to travel most often at night.”

That explained a little, but not nearly enough to satisfy me.

“Why here?”

“I have my own reasons.” He returned softly, no sting to his words.  ”You watch.  I walk.  We all have our little ways of coping with the time.”

The conversation had little substance, but I was reluctant to leave him, even more to turn my back on him.

“Are you staying nearby?”  The questions seemed general enough.

“You assume that I’m passing through?  Yes, I am staying nearby.”  He looked away, the sound of a car’s motor seeming unusually loud.

“And you’ll keep coming back?”  My hushed voice was reverent for the people that lay there, silent in their soullessness.

“Until I find what I need.”

“And that is?”  I honestly felt that I could help him.  After years of living here, the graveyard had become my walking park, my backyard, and my pondering place.  I knew most of the names intimately, as well as the familiar faces of the mourners that came to visit them.

“I’ll know it when I see it,” he responded with a frustrating calm.

The insistent barking of a dog caused me to turn back toward the gate where I could see the sleek shape of my mixed breed hound pressed against the slats.

“Baxter, quiet,” I said, my firm voice bouncing like a crazy ball off the stone and wood.

“He’s missing you,” the stranger said softly, “and he doesn’t trust me.”

“He doesn’t trust anyone until he can smell them,” I said, frowning at the pacing figure of the dog behind the gate.

“Let him free.”

Obediently, I went back toward the gate and let it swing open.  Baxter ran through with amazing speed, his muscular legs eating up the ground as his long beagle ears flapped with each stride.  He stopped abruptly in front of the man, his paws digging in the moist earth, his nose to the ground.  It took only seconds for his sensitive nose to complete the assessment; he ran his face close to scuffed black jeans, tattered leather jacket cuffs, and over the beautiful hands before he allowed them to rest on his head.

“He’s a fine dog.  A good friend.  He wants to know if he can trust me.”

“He’s usually pretty quick to warm up.  Not the best guard dog, especially if someone was carrying a treat.”

“He would know if someone meant you any harm.  He’s more sensitive then you might think.”

I looked at him, pondering his cryptic statement.  There was very little about this man that seemed easy to discern.  He was watching the dog as Baxter investigated the yard, his nose working furiously.  I allowed the hound into the cemetery only on occasion, but he had always been a perfect gentleman.  He never misbehaved, barked, dug, or wet in the area.  It was as though there was something in his canine manners that realized the place for what is was and respected it.

“It will rain soon.”

My eyes went back to his face, my hands burrowing into my jacket pockets as the light wind tugged my hair out of my collar.

“Why do you say that?”

“I know.  He can tell too,” he responded, looking toward Baxter.  ”You need to get back home.  I don’t want you out in the rain.”

“And you?  Where will you go?  You won’t stay?”

“I’ll see you safely inside.  Then I’ll go.”

“You’ll be back?”

He nodded wordlessly and I watched, frozen, as he drew close to me.  Closer, I could see that his eyes were a very light color, but could not see the shade.  The scent of him, something like pine and soap, enveloped me momentarily as the wind caressed his figure.  He was tall, and I had to tip my head back to follow his expression.  One long fingered hand caught my elbow and followed my arm down to my wrist where he pulled my hand from my pocket.  He enveloped my freed hand in his gentle grasp, his skin surprisingly warm and dry.

“Come on,” his voice was soft, floating on the breeze, mixed with the waning fog.

I followed.

Many thanks to R.S. Hunter for letting me post my first blog piece.  I have naturally loved writing, but have been astonished and heartened by the many wonderful writers at Hydra Publications.  I hope everyone joins me in reading the other great books that Hydra is representing.

The second in this series from Grave Reminders, will continue the story of my characters from Dearly Departed.  I hope to explore a little further the line between here and there, the life and the afterlife.

—–

Thank you for sharing that with us, Rachael! You can buy Dearly Departed in ebook and paperback forms from Amazon.com.

Upcoming (Online) Appearances in September

Hey everybody! Just a quick announcement that interviews and guest posts by yours truly will be hitting the web in the next couple of weeks. Here’s the schedule for where I’ll be starting on Monday, September 10.

On Monday I will be featured on Jay Noel’s website.

On Tuesday I have an interview going up at Lyndi Alexander’s website.

Wednesday finds me visiting James Peercy.

On Thursday I shall stop by Beth Ann Masarik’s page.

On Friday there will be a guest post by me about standalone fantasy novels vs those in a series on Tricia Ballad’s site.

And finally, on Saturday there will be an interview with me on the website of one Blaine Pardoe.

So those are all the places I’m going to be (well my words at least) starting in two weeks. Be sure to check them out. And be sure to visit my site during that time because I’ll be hosting a selection of authors from Hydra Publications.

 

Official Cover Art for Steampunk Novel “The Exile’s Violin”

I teased it and hinted at it over the past couple of days, but now it’s finally here. Here is the official final cover art for my debut steampunk fantasy novel, The Exile’s Violin. I’m incredibly happy with the cover. What do you guys think? Does it capture that steampunk feel?

I love how the cover art features a very steampunk airship/battleship. It’s actually based on one of my very, very rough sketches. I also love how Enggar was able to capture the “look” of main character, Jacquie Renairre. And now for a quick blurb about the novel itself:

Why hire mercenaries to kill an innocent family just to obtain one little key? That question haunts Jacquie Renairre for six years as she hunts down the people responsible for murdering her parents.

Not even accepting an assignment to investigate a conspiracy that aims to start a war can keep her from searching for the key. Armed with her father’s guns and socialite Clay Baneport, she continues her quest for answers abroad.

With the world edging closer to disaster, Jacquie is running out of time to figure out how the war, the key, and ancient legend are intertwined. The fate of the world hinges on her ability to unravel both mysteries before it’s too late.

Look for The Exile’s Violin on Amazon in ebook and trade paperback later next month. For now, check back here for more details and be sure to stop by Hydra Publications and check out all their great titles.

The Exile’s Violin Cover Art

As part of Steampunk Sundays (a thing I just invented), I’m sharing the cover art for my debut novel, The Exile’s Violin. The font for the title and stuff hasn’t been decided, but the artwork is done. I think it looks great! It really captures the steampunk nature of the book, and I think Enggar did a great job with the two main characters.

What do you guys think? Is it steamy and punky enough? Expect more info about The Exile’s Violin soon. The book will be released in September from Hydra Publications.

The Exile’s Violin Cover Art Teaser

If you like steampunk, then here’s a little bit of a treat: a rough draft version of the cover art for my upcoming novel The Exile’s Violin. The talented Enggar Adirasa is handling the art for this one. You might recognize his work from Gwen Perkins’ The Universal Mirror. That’s where I first saw Enggar’s art, and I knew the style would be perfect for my book.

So far I’m really happy with how this is turning out. The only big change that’s going to happen between this draft and the final copy is that Jacquie (my main character) is going to turn around and “face the camera.” She’s a standout character, and I think the reader will benefit from getting to see her face. So what do you guys think? Is this steampunk enough? Would it catch your eye on a Barnes & Noble shelf? The Exile’s Violin will be published by Hydra Publications this September.

Interview with “The Returners” author Mikey Neumann

Today, I have the privilege of interviewing Mikey Neumann, author of the serial novel The Returners, and Gearbox Software Chief Creative Champion. He’s a super cool dude, so I was excited when he agreed to answer my questions. I just finished Part One of Season One of The Returners two nights ago, and I can’t wait to dive into Part Two. Onto the interview!

You’ve had numerous health problems—ones that shouldn’t have affected a 29 year old, which if people are interested they can read about on your blog (http://diagnosismia.blogspot.com/). I actually recommend that people check it out. It was a funny, open, touching take on everything that’s happened since last year.

Would you say that these issues with your health have changed the way you approach writing? Has there been any change to your worldview that might manifest itself in some way in your writing?

I think it’s safe to say that my worldview has changed and this has affected my writing to some degree – though, it’s probably in unexpected ways. I think the most obvious way is how freeing it was to just dive into things, I mean, that’s where the blog came from in a sense. I wanted to inform people purely on my own feelings, thoughts, and emotions going through some difficult times. I know that some relatives and friends were a little taken aback by the honesty on display, but in the end, I think it made it more valuable.

In concrete detail, that journey is what created The Returners in the first place. I wanted to lose the safety net.

Let’s get away from that topic and focus on cool stuff: video games and writing. You’re the Creative Director at Gearbox, and you’ve worked on some great titles like Borderlands, Brothers in Arms, and Aliens: Colonial Marines. How did you get your start at Gearbox, and when did you start writing for video games?

I have been the Creative Director on products here, but my official title is Chief Creative Champion. I started at Gearbox in 2001 at 19 while working on Counterstrike: Condition Zero as a texture artist. I also did a bit of work on Half Life for PS2.

The first game I wrote from start to finish was Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 – I think this job solidified on the

follow up to that game, Earned in Blood, when I was nominated for an Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences award for writing. I was around 24-25 at the time and it cemented in me a desire to write stories for the rest of my life.

How hard is it to switch gears (heh, get it?) between writing for a visual, interactive medium than it is writing say a short story or novel? What techniques do you find work well across both media? And has your time in the gaming industry influenced how you create scenes for your novel experiment?

I’ve never seen anyone ask so many questions in a single paragraph before. (Editor’s note: There were more questions in that paragraph originally)

In short, the example I usually give is describing how I’ve hired other writers (like Anthony Burch) to work at Gearbox. It’s easier to train a person that’s a good writer to be a game writer. If they understand story, pacing, character arcs, etc., then you can teach them the tools and structure of a type of game. If someone comes along and says they only write games, that raises an eyebrow. Storytellers are storytellers and the medium is of middling importance.

As for the rest of that mammoth inquiry, I’m not sure the novel experiment is too influenced by the games I’ve written in the same way that Anthony Saves the World wasn’t influenced too much by Brothers in Arms. They’re just different types of stories.

You’ve been working on your serialized, internet novel experiment, The Returners for a while now. For those that don’t know about it, can you give a quick description/synopsis?

It was the thing that got me out of writing the illness blog. I was done feeling sympathy for myself and wanted to channel all of that creative energy I was spending explaining and telling stories about my illness to become something greater. So I was thinking to myself, what if I blogged a book, chapter-by-chapter?

The Returners is what came out of that. I wanted to serialize a book like Charles Dickens did with Oliver Twist. He wrote that under the pseudonym “BOZ.” as it was being published in the magazines at the time. That’s where “BOZ.” Publishing comes from. The idea was to serialize a novel of grand scope on the internet – that’s why the website is fixed height and width – it’s just worked on a Kindle of an iPad.

The book is about a group of known historical figures that all find themselves born into another life on this Earth in the modern day. Why are they here? Why is someone trying to kill them? When you write Joan of Arc having a conversation with a thirteen-year-old Albert Einstein, you know you’re onto something. It comes from a place of wanting to spiral a personal story of friendship and survival into something of much larger and grander scale.

It’s my LOST, I guess.

Since The Returners is serialized, would you say that it might be similar to writing for a TV show than a more traditional novel? How much of the story do you have outlined in advance? Do you have a secret list of all the historical figures you want to make an appearance? Or because these are daily chapters, do you just kind of make it up as you go along and see where the story takes you?

I think writing The Returners is a lot like writing a TV show. I’m clearly borrowing their nomenclature with doing the book in “seasons” and such. I want people to know it’s an ongoing story and there are many kinds of stories to tell in that universe.

As far as what I have outlined in advance, I have all of the chapters in Season One (all three parts) outlined and ready to be written. From there, I have where it ends and the major ideas of five seasons of stories, increasing in scope and grandeur with each one. In my head, the story would make an excellent TV show (which I’ve also heard a lot from the fans of the books,) but I’m not sure if it would make a good movie. That’s probably just me, I always like TV shows more than movies – I like spending time with the characters.

Of course there’s a list of who else comes back in the book! There’s some new faces that arrive in part three of Season One *winky face*

Sticking with the TV analogy for just a bit longer, have you ever envisioned taking a “summer break” where you don’t put up new chapters but instead plan out where you want the next season to go?

Yeah, when Season One has concluded I’m going to outline in detail that entire second season as well as put up another novel I wrote last year called The Ending. The website will continue to grow with not just my own content, but the content of other authors as well.

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I gotta thank Mikey for answering all my questions! Great stuff! If you’re interested in The Returners, you can read it for free at “BOZ.” Publishing or buy the collected chapters of Season One Part One from Amazon. You can also follow him on Twitter and see more of his work at Gearbox Software.

Creating the Right Voice in Fantasy Novels

I think we’re all a little sick of feudal, semi-medieval fantasy settings based loosely on Western Europe, right? I am. But I’m also on a big sword and sorcery kick right now, so I’ll read almost anything in the genre, even if it has a semi-medieval standard fantasy setting.

Alex Bledsoe’s Eddie LaCrosse novels came highly recommended, so I gave the first one, The Sword-Edged Blonde, a try. I’m about a third of the way through the book, and already the book is both entertaining me and rubbing me the wrong way.

I can’t get around the very modern, very anachronistic voice in this book. The book is billed as a mash up of a hard-boiled detective story and a fantasy universe. Sounds cool so far. But then I see characters called Mike and King Phil and little warning signs start to go up in my mind. Then I read a sentence where the main character mentions that he “didn’t have time to comparison shop.” I almost stopped reading there. (But I didn’t!)

In a blog post about keeping a series fresh, Bledsoe specifically mentions the LaCrosse novels’ anachronistic tone as being a staple of the series. So obviously the things that are bothering me about the tone and voice in The Sword-Edged Blonde are intentional.

So that means this comes down to a matter of taste–something that is completely subjective. I find the modern slang and terms incongruous with a sword and sorcery fantasy setting, but others might really enjoy them. I can’t fault Bledsoe for his language choices though. This is a made up fantasy world. There’s no reason for the characters to speak like they’re in Medieval Britain or something because they’re not there. I recognize that, but at the same time, if this is a feudal society then based on the socio-economic model of the land, would terms like “comparison shop” even exist? I have to think that might be stretch, no matter how fictional the setting might be.

Something similar happened when I was subbing my steampunk novel, The Exile’s Violin. It’s set in the made up world of Tethys that doesn’t correspond to Victorian England. In my mind, if I had characters that didn’t necessarily speak like they belonged in the late 19th Century then it didn’t matter. They weren’t part of that century. It’s all a matter of taste. One publisher told me that they liked my submission but it wasn’t “steampunk” enough because the language and tone were too modern for them. They had similar quibbles with my book that I’m having with The Sword-Edged Blonde. It’s all very subjective stuff.

I guess the lesson is: if you have a made up setting, write it how you want. There’s no reason to cling to “historical accuracy” if the setting isn’t based real history. Some people might like your word choice and the slang your characters use, others might not. Don’t let that stop you from creating though.

PS: Aside from the modern tone, I’m enjoying Bledsoe’s book! It definitely feels like a noir fantasy mash up.