Richard Raley's Blog, page 32
June 10, 2016
Foul Mouth Facts: Welfs and the Old Mancy
1. The Heinrich Welf rivalry and even the character's looks are obvious references to Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter fame. Some of the reasoning for writing the series came from the fact that even in 2009, an American boy wizard had yet to appear on shelves. It also came from the author's desire to imagine what a "real" boy wizard, abused and mistreated, with a rough and underdeveloped family life would act like. Surely not the classic hero that was Potter.
2. Despite acting in opposition to King Henry, the author takes great pains to never make Welf evil or villainous. He has his world view and does truly believe it is his patrician duty to tell the savages about a better way of life. The author also works hard to make sure that no matter how aligned King Henry and Welf might become, Welf can never fight his nature and belief in his superiority where King Henry is concerned.
3. Heinrich Welf originally had two younger sisters to reverse King Henry and his two older sisters. But Vicky Welf is enough sister for anyone.
4. The Welf name references the House of Welf, a massive family in European nobility for over 800 years.
5. As has been mentioned in the series, Heinrich is the German version of Henry, giving our rivals the same name.
6. Victoria Welf has seen her stock rise since her creation in the early planning stages of FM3. Vicky began merely as a Georgiana Darcy like character to highlight the better natures of her brother, but has since become key to the entire Welf family drama.
7. The author could lie to you and tell you Catherine Hayes was always meant to be a Welf bastard and that he didn't just figure that brilliant idea out while first outlining FM5...nope, he's a genius, he knows EVERYTHING, of course he had that in mind when making up a random group of scary teenagers for Class '09 to play in the Winter War final.
8. While developing that group of teenagers in the Three Queens, the author DID however decide that they would eventually end up with Obadiah Paine, finding influence in the Brides of Dracula.
9. It is an open debate over whether Moira von Welf or Mordecai Root is the more powerful Bonegrinder. Those who consider it an art form back Welf, while those who think the power of a Bonegrinder comes from the amount of Contracts one can control back Root. Of course, if she is a Maximus, Moira has abilities that Root does not.
10. One must be a Third Generation Ultra to be considered borderline Old Mancy in the Americas, while in Europe only those with ten generations are finally welcome in the peerage.
11. The Daniels Clan are considered barely and only grudgingly Old Mancy. Despite their massive affinity with aero-anima, the fact that the family patriarch basically bought his mancer bride is still considered a massive scandal.
12. The Waldens and Welfs have been allies ever since the Welfs were forced to relocated to America. Some of the Walden and Welf lands border each other in Connecticut.
13. The Welf and Hunting alliance only came about due to Boris and Frederick belonging to the same year at the Asylum. Root was also in this year, graduating first in the year over both of the cryomancers.
14. As the Class of 81, Frederick Welf was nine years older than his barely legal bride. Don't blame him for robbing the cradle, he was mostly definitely the prey for the ever ambitious Moira Jenkins.
15. Heinrich and Vicky's grandfather was a Pyromancer and died young when Heinrich was a young boy. One of Heinrich's first experiences with the Mancy was speaking to his grandfather's necro-shade.
16. After his death, many of Frederick's brothers and sisters and even cousins were asked to leave Welf Manor for only the "direct line".
17. In the last hundred years a Welf has been both Guild Master of the Guild of Artificers and the Dean of the Asylum, but some wonder about the recent string of Second and Third Tier mancers that the latest generations have thrown out, in addition to Frederick's creation of Welf Financial, a very mundane business.
18. Though still untouchable, the results of the secret Project Cassandra could bring either untold praises or complete ruin to the Welf family.
2. Despite acting in opposition to King Henry, the author takes great pains to never make Welf evil or villainous. He has his world view and does truly believe it is his patrician duty to tell the savages about a better way of life. The author also works hard to make sure that no matter how aligned King Henry and Welf might become, Welf can never fight his nature and belief in his superiority where King Henry is concerned.
3. Heinrich Welf originally had two younger sisters to reverse King Henry and his two older sisters. But Vicky Welf is enough sister for anyone.
4. The Welf name references the House of Welf, a massive family in European nobility for over 800 years.
5. As has been mentioned in the series, Heinrich is the German version of Henry, giving our rivals the same name.
6. Victoria Welf has seen her stock rise since her creation in the early planning stages of FM3. Vicky began merely as a Georgiana Darcy like character to highlight the better natures of her brother, but has since become key to the entire Welf family drama.
7. The author could lie to you and tell you Catherine Hayes was always meant to be a Welf bastard and that he didn't just figure that brilliant idea out while first outlining FM5...nope, he's a genius, he knows EVERYTHING, of course he had that in mind when making up a random group of scary teenagers for Class '09 to play in the Winter War final.
8. While developing that group of teenagers in the Three Queens, the author DID however decide that they would eventually end up with Obadiah Paine, finding influence in the Brides of Dracula.
9. It is an open debate over whether Moira von Welf or Mordecai Root is the more powerful Bonegrinder. Those who consider it an art form back Welf, while those who think the power of a Bonegrinder comes from the amount of Contracts one can control back Root. Of course, if she is a Maximus, Moira has abilities that Root does not.
10. One must be a Third Generation Ultra to be considered borderline Old Mancy in the Americas, while in Europe only those with ten generations are finally welcome in the peerage.
11. The Daniels Clan are considered barely and only grudgingly Old Mancy. Despite their massive affinity with aero-anima, the fact that the family patriarch basically bought his mancer bride is still considered a massive scandal.
12. The Waldens and Welfs have been allies ever since the Welfs were forced to relocated to America. Some of the Walden and Welf lands border each other in Connecticut.
13. The Welf and Hunting alliance only came about due to Boris and Frederick belonging to the same year at the Asylum. Root was also in this year, graduating first in the year over both of the cryomancers.
14. As the Class of 81, Frederick Welf was nine years older than his barely legal bride. Don't blame him for robbing the cradle, he was mostly definitely the prey for the ever ambitious Moira Jenkins.
15. Heinrich and Vicky's grandfather was a Pyromancer and died young when Heinrich was a young boy. One of Heinrich's first experiences with the Mancy was speaking to his grandfather's necro-shade.
16. After his death, many of Frederick's brothers and sisters and even cousins were asked to leave Welf Manor for only the "direct line".
17. In the last hundred years a Welf has been both Guild Master of the Guild of Artificers and the Dean of the Asylum, but some wonder about the recent string of Second and Third Tier mancers that the latest generations have thrown out, in addition to Frederick's creation of Welf Financial, a very mundane business.
18. Though still untouchable, the results of the secret Project Cassandra could bring either untold praises or complete ruin to the Welf family.
June 4, 2016
Quick Notes #18
1. As warned have done almost no new writing in the last week. Blame the new Witcher expansion, blame Overwatch, also blame the heat.
2. Am however feeling exhausted by all the gaming and am looking forward to getting back at FM6 next week. Too much fun can be tiring in its own way.
3. Read an interesting report that only 9900 authors on Amazon make over 10k a year. About half are Indie, of which I am one. Still have some work to do to break into the even higher brackets however.
4. Made more through Amazon Unlimited than I did through actual sales last month, how about that? Remember that 100k pages break even mark? Already passed it, 6 months in the year still to go.
5. Amazon's direct advertisement prices are out of control at the moment. People are biding so high on clicks that you can't even get impressions unless you mark your bid rate at 75 cents. At least as far as Spec fiction categories are concerned.
6. Did finish a chapter at the end of last week. Have 4 more School and 5 more Mainline chapters to go.
7. Nothing goes wrong and I should coast to finishing the first draft in the next four months pretty easily.
8. As for my family matter, should know a bit more how thr future will go in the coming weeks. Might be able to get more open about it then, but for now, please continental to be as understanding and awesome as you've been.
9. Going to try to go Mad Scientist Mode now. Even if I had my hair cut and the Einstein afro is no longer a thing...
2. Am however feeling exhausted by all the gaming and am looking forward to getting back at FM6 next week. Too much fun can be tiring in its own way.
3. Read an interesting report that only 9900 authors on Amazon make over 10k a year. About half are Indie, of which I am one. Still have some work to do to break into the even higher brackets however.
4. Made more through Amazon Unlimited than I did through actual sales last month, how about that? Remember that 100k pages break even mark? Already passed it, 6 months in the year still to go.
5. Amazon's direct advertisement prices are out of control at the moment. People are biding so high on clicks that you can't even get impressions unless you mark your bid rate at 75 cents. At least as far as Spec fiction categories are concerned.
6. Did finish a chapter at the end of last week. Have 4 more School and 5 more Mainline chapters to go.
7. Nothing goes wrong and I should coast to finishing the first draft in the next four months pretty easily.
8. As for my family matter, should know a bit more how thr future will go in the coming weeks. Might be able to get more open about it then, but for now, please continental to be as understanding and awesome as you've been.
9. Going to try to go Mad Scientist Mode now. Even if I had my hair cut and the Einstein afro is no longer a thing...
May 26, 2016
Quick Notes #17
1. Working on the school story as advertised. Slowly. School story is a real drag any more. It's just so trapped by what I've said before that I spend a lot of time double checking timelines. Also, the disconnect between the Crazy of the mainline and pretty mundane high school setting continues to grow.
2. This being said, the scene I'm working on now is pretty fun and one I wrote the other day made me laugh so hard I almost had an asthma attack, so...prepare for quality highjinks!
3. Also thought up a way to cut about 3 to 4k words which I'm happy about. The best scenes are always the ones you figure out how you don't need them, especially before you work on them.
4. I've written over 130k words so far this year. That's a lot. I mean, it's a decent clip for Brandon Sanderson, for me it's some insane output levels. I only usually write about 175 to 200k a year. I could take the next four months off, have a subpar final quarter and still come in on my average.
5. Not planning on that at all, but please understand that my productivity does usually drop in the summer. Even with AC, a one hundred degree Fresno day isnt one you can easily survive while you have a laptop on you belching heat exhaust. One day I'll escape this evil vortex...for like...Hawaii...where I REALLY would never write...
6. Biggest current problem: I could write...or I could just play some more Overwatch...
7. Or Witcher next week...
8. Hodor :(
9. How can Flash be so good and Arrow be so bad?
10. Gave away about 2000 copies of FM2 this week. If everything holds course, about 1 to 2% will pick up the entire series. Got to wonder about these people out there that don't read but just collect free books. Think A&E should do a hoarding episode on them?
11. Unfair FM6 teasing: "I had him tied to the bed!" Hope shrieked.
2. This being said, the scene I'm working on now is pretty fun and one I wrote the other day made me laugh so hard I almost had an asthma attack, so...prepare for quality highjinks!
3. Also thought up a way to cut about 3 to 4k words which I'm happy about. The best scenes are always the ones you figure out how you don't need them, especially before you work on them.
4. I've written over 130k words so far this year. That's a lot. I mean, it's a decent clip for Brandon Sanderson, for me it's some insane output levels. I only usually write about 175 to 200k a year. I could take the next four months off, have a subpar final quarter and still come in on my average.
5. Not planning on that at all, but please understand that my productivity does usually drop in the summer. Even with AC, a one hundred degree Fresno day isnt one you can easily survive while you have a laptop on you belching heat exhaust. One day I'll escape this evil vortex...for like...Hawaii...where I REALLY would never write...
6. Biggest current problem: I could write...or I could just play some more Overwatch...
7. Or Witcher next week...
8. Hodor :(
9. How can Flash be so good and Arrow be so bad?
10. Gave away about 2000 copies of FM2 this week. If everything holds course, about 1 to 2% will pick up the entire series. Got to wonder about these people out there that don't read but just collect free books. Think A&E should do a hoarding episode on them?
11. Unfair FM6 teasing: "I had him tied to the bed!" Hope shrieked.
May 19, 2016
Quick Notes #16
1. Been a long 10 days. No writing. Lots of family stuff.
2. Family stuff will continue to be a thing in the coming months, no idea if it will affect my writing time or not yet. It's serious, it's private, I'm fine, that's all I can tell you at the moment.
3. Going to dive back into FM6 today, with the school story. Trying for a nice sized push before Witcher Blood and Wine comes out on the 31st and sucks me into that ravaged countryside yet again.
4. FM2 is going to be free for the first time ever next week, so here's hoping for some more new fans.
5. I'm considering dropping the "The Foul Mouth and" part of the titles just to clean things up. More for length than any idea of content, since the cursing will continue in glorious fashion, always! Hard to fit the whole thing on a cover or in an ad basically.
6. Vikings season 4 had a ten year time jump in it. Always love seeing a series take a risk like that. Also gives me hope it will continue beyond Ragnar.
7. Hot but not as hot as it can get might be the worst kind of hot. Fresno summers, just so much fun.
8. Don't imagine I'll be very active in the comments over the next months, but will try to remember to post another occasional quick notes for you lot.
2. Family stuff will continue to be a thing in the coming months, no idea if it will affect my writing time or not yet. It's serious, it's private, I'm fine, that's all I can tell you at the moment.
3. Going to dive back into FM6 today, with the school story. Trying for a nice sized push before Witcher Blood and Wine comes out on the 31st and sucks me into that ravaged countryside yet again.
4. FM2 is going to be free for the first time ever next week, so here's hoping for some more new fans.
5. I'm considering dropping the "The Foul Mouth and" part of the titles just to clean things up. More for length than any idea of content, since the cursing will continue in glorious fashion, always! Hard to fit the whole thing on a cover or in an ad basically.
6. Vikings season 4 had a ten year time jump in it. Always love seeing a series take a risk like that. Also gives me hope it will continue beyond Ragnar.
7. Hot but not as hot as it can get might be the worst kind of hot. Fresno summers, just so much fun.
8. Don't imagine I'll be very active in the comments over the next months, but will try to remember to post another occasional quick notes for you lot.
May 9, 2016
Quick Notes #15
1. I write in bursts of productivity and yesterday took the last of what I had in the tank. So don't expect much movement in the next 10 or so days. Planning on doing some relaxing while I figure out how to tackle the next chapters.
2. This said, we are now 10 chapters away from FM6 being done. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
3. Still aiming for a pre-holidays release before Thanksgiving, but it could be anywhere from October to December. 99% sure the book will be coming out this year at this point, assuming I don't break a finger or something dibilitating.
4. Lots in the novel to be excited about with more to come. Somethings haven't gone quite how I thought they would and others turned out better than I ever could have imagined.
5. Planning on focusing in on the school story in the next weeks. Haven't touch it for a couple months now. Funny to think it's the second to last one and that I'll probably start working on FM7's next year and that whole timeline will be at an end. Did I say funny? I meant: thank the Mancy, no more worrying for hours and hours over trying not to mess up the timelines!
6. Was wondering if any of you would be interested in a formatted compilation book with all the school stories, plus appropriate shorts in one place? Wouldn't come out until after FM7 and no new content but might be something interesting to do, no?
7. Speaking of compilations, I'll probably be releasing a King Henry Book Pack One later this year that will contain the first three novels in it for a reduced price.
8. Still haven't seen Civil War :(
9. Tower of Joy finally gets the spotlight on Game of Thrones! :)
10. Witcher 3's final expansion comes out on the 30th, don't expect anything to be done that week. Gotta get my next batch of Gwent cards!
2. This said, we are now 10 chapters away from FM6 being done. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
3. Still aiming for a pre-holidays release before Thanksgiving, but it could be anywhere from October to December. 99% sure the book will be coming out this year at this point, assuming I don't break a finger or something dibilitating.
4. Lots in the novel to be excited about with more to come. Somethings haven't gone quite how I thought they would and others turned out better than I ever could have imagined.
5. Planning on focusing in on the school story in the next weeks. Haven't touch it for a couple months now. Funny to think it's the second to last one and that I'll probably start working on FM7's next year and that whole timeline will be at an end. Did I say funny? I meant: thank the Mancy, no more worrying for hours and hours over trying not to mess up the timelines!
6. Was wondering if any of you would be interested in a formatted compilation book with all the school stories, plus appropriate shorts in one place? Wouldn't come out until after FM7 and no new content but might be something interesting to do, no?
7. Speaking of compilations, I'll probably be releasing a King Henry Book Pack One later this year that will contain the first three novels in it for a reduced price.
8. Still haven't seen Civil War :(
9. Tower of Joy finally gets the spotlight on Game of Thrones! :)
10. Witcher 3's final expansion comes out on the 30th, don't expect anything to be done that week. Gotta get my next batch of Gwent cards!
May 6, 2016
Foul Mouth Facts: Pocket, Jesus, and Raj
1. The name Raj means King/Prince. Along with Jesus being the King of Kings these are hardly the only characters in the series with princely or royal names.
2. The Pocket nickname actually comes from the most convoluted in-joke imaginable, involving the author's high school DND group and a character called Patch Thimblefinger finding out he had an illegitimate son called Pocket during one of their adventures. It was an instant classic.
3. Many of their DND characters would go on to find a place in the author's failed college attempt at epic fantasy called the The First Lie, including the thief turned dragonslayer Wistler Larakin and the son of an empress and knight without peer, Darkan Godsglare.
4. While it is never likely to see the light of day, The First Lie took place in a world where dragons ruled, a complete reverse of The King Henry Tapes. Overlords ruling mankind is a theme that will be seen in many of the author's future novels.
5. Raj is one of the few characters to be named and to find a place in the series based on a person from the author's life. Real life Raj moved away in high school but will forever be remembered for saying "be nice" at every possible opportunity.
6. The Pocket and Jesus relationship was decided on while the author was working on FM2, hence the many mentions of Fauna/Floro being a common pairing, Pocket's hesitancy at finding a date for the Winter Ball and many other hints in earlier books.
7. To fight tropes and stereotypes, both Jesus and Pocket where given masculine personalities and masculine, physical jobs as search and rescue FIND agents. The author also purposely left their relationship for FM5 so the reader could know them as characters, attemping to prevent any tokenism.
8. The original FM2 beginning that was scraped started with Pocket and King Henry packing for the Camp Test and having a conversation about socks and whether 3 singular socks over two pairs wasn't preferred to save space. Probably why it got cut and replaced...
9. Jesus was Jose very early in the series work.
10. Pocket coming from Pismo and his small business family comes from the author's many coastal trips during his youth and familiarity with these type of families.
11. Raj has six siblings and is smart enough to have never let King Henry meet his sisters.
12. King Henry has met Pocket's 5 older sisters. Pocket regrets it very much.
13. Raj was to be a main part of two school tapes, now cut to finish the school tapes by FM7 and save the author some sanity.
14. Those tapes revolved around Raj's romance and indeed finally winning a date and a romantic night from Miranda. It didn't go so well...some dreams are better than reality.
15. Raj supplied the anima for King Henry's first artifact, the Cold Cuffs prototype, made during Hex and behind Plutarch's back.
16. Session 7 in FM1 was terrifying for the author, setting up character personalities that wouldn't be fully introduced for two more books. Broken timelines, don't try it, kiddies.
17. Pocket's physical description vaguely mirrors adventure hero Dirk Pitt, a favorite of the author's aunt and mother.
18. Raj, his job at Hunting Cryotech and Project Cassandra will be a major plot point in a future novel.
2. The Pocket nickname actually comes from the most convoluted in-joke imaginable, involving the author's high school DND group and a character called Patch Thimblefinger finding out he had an illegitimate son called Pocket during one of their adventures. It was an instant classic.
3. Many of their DND characters would go on to find a place in the author's failed college attempt at epic fantasy called the The First Lie, including the thief turned dragonslayer Wistler Larakin and the son of an empress and knight without peer, Darkan Godsglare.
4. While it is never likely to see the light of day, The First Lie took place in a world where dragons ruled, a complete reverse of The King Henry Tapes. Overlords ruling mankind is a theme that will be seen in many of the author's future novels.
5. Raj is one of the few characters to be named and to find a place in the series based on a person from the author's life. Real life Raj moved away in high school but will forever be remembered for saying "be nice" at every possible opportunity.
6. The Pocket and Jesus relationship was decided on while the author was working on FM2, hence the many mentions of Fauna/Floro being a common pairing, Pocket's hesitancy at finding a date for the Winter Ball and many other hints in earlier books.
7. To fight tropes and stereotypes, both Jesus and Pocket where given masculine personalities and masculine, physical jobs as search and rescue FIND agents. The author also purposely left their relationship for FM5 so the reader could know them as characters, attemping to prevent any tokenism.
8. The original FM2 beginning that was scraped started with Pocket and King Henry packing for the Camp Test and having a conversation about socks and whether 3 singular socks over two pairs wasn't preferred to save space. Probably why it got cut and replaced...
9. Jesus was Jose very early in the series work.
10. Pocket coming from Pismo and his small business family comes from the author's many coastal trips during his youth and familiarity with these type of families.
11. Raj has six siblings and is smart enough to have never let King Henry meet his sisters.
12. King Henry has met Pocket's 5 older sisters. Pocket regrets it very much.
13. Raj was to be a main part of two school tapes, now cut to finish the school tapes by FM7 and save the author some sanity.
14. Those tapes revolved around Raj's romance and indeed finally winning a date and a romantic night from Miranda. It didn't go so well...some dreams are better than reality.
15. Raj supplied the anima for King Henry's first artifact, the Cold Cuffs prototype, made during Hex and behind Plutarch's back.
16. Session 7 in FM1 was terrifying for the author, setting up character personalities that wouldn't be fully introduced for two more books. Broken timelines, don't try it, kiddies.
17. Pocket's physical description vaguely mirrors adventure hero Dirk Pitt, a favorite of the author's aunt and mother.
18. Raj, his job at Hunting Cryotech and Project Cassandra will be a major plot point in a future novel.
May 2, 2016
Quick Notes, FM6 Teasing, AND a FMF Vote
1. Wrote a whole chapter today. Yup, I did that. 6k words, one day, all me. Do the words go together? Not sure yet...guess we'll see when I read through it in a few months...
2. Actually finished two chapters in the last two days, we're down to 6 left for the Mainline and 5 for the School Story. Getting close! Starting to look like a real book! Barreling towards the finish line!
3. I also cut a chapter. It was an in-between chapter bracketed by massive moments and I just really hated the way it cut off the momentum. Lots of good scenes and good jokes gone, but sometimes you have to make the hard call. Might try to add one of the cut scenes at another place in the book....or might mean I get to find space for my cut Boomworm chapter. This situation is why most authors aren't this honest with fans. LOTS can happen while a novel is written.
4. Current chapter count for the whole book is 26. 15 done. 140k words written. Makes it already longer than four of the books in the series, with only the ungodly monster that was FM5 defeating it.
5. Pre-holiday release still looking possible.
6. So I made the choice to leave Smashwords/Apple/B&N based on the fact I only made 500 dollars last year, which was actually a decline over the previous year and...no one is buying Nooks any more it looks like. With the Kindle Unlimited program you get paid about a cent every 2 pages read by the readers. That means I'd need 100,000 pages read the rest of the year to make the move "worth it". In the first 9 days I've already had 19,000 pages read. WORTH IT.
7. Reading Abercrombie's newest collection of shorts called "Sharp Ends". Having tons of fun savoring it. I know some of you are crazy, crazy people that read 600 page books in a day, but the older I get the more I enjoy taking my time. Plus the whole Chapter In a Day thing got in the way a little bit...
8. Civil War, Uncharted 4, Overwatch, X Men all releasing this month and I'm in Mad Scientist Mode writing 6k words in a day....Whoa is me!
9. FM6 Mini Tease: "Well," Ceinwyn eventually said, "now we have to kill the motherfucker."
10. I have a new Game of Thrones episode on my DVR!!! Why am I talking to you people?
11. Foul Mouth Facts Vote: will it be returning challenger (Pocket, Jesus and Raj) or will it be (The Welfs and the Old Mancy)?
2. Actually finished two chapters in the last two days, we're down to 6 left for the Mainline and 5 for the School Story. Getting close! Starting to look like a real book! Barreling towards the finish line!
3. I also cut a chapter. It was an in-between chapter bracketed by massive moments and I just really hated the way it cut off the momentum. Lots of good scenes and good jokes gone, but sometimes you have to make the hard call. Might try to add one of the cut scenes at another place in the book....or might mean I get to find space for my cut Boomworm chapter. This situation is why most authors aren't this honest with fans. LOTS can happen while a novel is written.
4. Current chapter count for the whole book is 26. 15 done. 140k words written. Makes it already longer than four of the books in the series, with only the ungodly monster that was FM5 defeating it.
5. Pre-holiday release still looking possible.
6. So I made the choice to leave Smashwords/Apple/B&N based on the fact I only made 500 dollars last year, which was actually a decline over the previous year and...no one is buying Nooks any more it looks like. With the Kindle Unlimited program you get paid about a cent every 2 pages read by the readers. That means I'd need 100,000 pages read the rest of the year to make the move "worth it". In the first 9 days I've already had 19,000 pages read. WORTH IT.
7. Reading Abercrombie's newest collection of shorts called "Sharp Ends". Having tons of fun savoring it. I know some of you are crazy, crazy people that read 600 page books in a day, but the older I get the more I enjoy taking my time. Plus the whole Chapter In a Day thing got in the way a little bit...
8. Civil War, Uncharted 4, Overwatch, X Men all releasing this month and I'm in Mad Scientist Mode writing 6k words in a day....Whoa is me!
9. FM6 Mini Tease: "Well," Ceinwyn eventually said, "now we have to kill the motherfucker."
10. I have a new Game of Thrones episode on my DVR!!! Why am I talking to you people?
11. Foul Mouth Facts Vote: will it be returning challenger (Pocket, Jesus and Raj) or will it be (The Welfs and the Old Mancy)?
April 28, 2016
Foul Mouth Facts: Ceinwyn and T-Bone
1. As a Dale, Ceinwyn can trace back different lines of her lineage to Augustus Caesar and Merlin, both legendary mancer figures.
2. The Dales being Welsh and Celtic, Ceinwyn's name began as the more common spelled Ceinwen, but hey, got to love how those y's look.
3. Pronounced Kine Wen by the majority of Wales, the "odd" name is why Old Man Price calls her Kind Wind early in FM1 to give readers a hint at how to say it.
4. Tyrone was an alternate name for T-Bone very early in the series. The last name Bonnie was picked out in the process of figuring out who our historical vampire woman would be, pirate Anne Bonny being one of the possibilities.
5. Like many characters in the series, Tyson was purposely crafted as a trope destroyer with many conflicting origins in his background. Despite their difference in appearance, personality wise the author considers Tyson to be the closest to his own.
6. One of the many inspirations for Ceinwyn Dale is Aes Sedai Moraine from the Wheel of Time series. It is far from the only Wheel of Time inspiration in the series, the vampire Divines being modeled after the thirteen Forsaken. There is however no Dark One, or simple good and evil in the King Henry Tapes.
7. Tyson's introduction and disappearance in FM1 was the author once again playing the long game with a character, a scene that probably would have been cut if the novels were traditionally published.
8. In that scene it is revealed that Tyson had the idea for a magical punching ring that instead became the taser SDR, Tyson did indeed get the idea from Harry Dresden, a playful nod at Urban Fantasy's top dog, Jim Butcher.
9. Ceinwyn being from a long lined family, having prophecies about her life is a play on normal heroes, here all of the common tropes falling on the wise elder while the young kid is as common as dirt.
10. FM4's road trip wasn't originally supposed to be told until FM7, where a similar cross country journey will take place with different companions. Because it was pushed forward, the entire story of FM4 became more Ceinwyn focused, including the author pushing up knowledge about Ceinwyn's backstory.
11. Story lines being pushed up sooner than expected is a trend in writing the King Henry Tapes, including the journey to the Geo Realm, which wasn't supposed to happen until FM6 and the Eternal Order, originally saved for much later in the series.
12. Like her pupil, the Eternal Order has tried to kill Ceinwyn on several occasions.
13. Being raised by the Divine Nii-Vah, Ceinwyn speaks many languages thought dead, including Ancient Greek and Latin, even able to mimic a decent Byzantium accent.
14. Ceinwyn's finding of King Henry was always intended as a short story. The Corpusmancer who found him, Truman, goes on to be mentioned a number of times in the series as an ESLED agent and was Estefan Ramirez's partner for a time. King Henry never connects him with the ShopsMart employee back in Visalia.
15. Tyson wasn't planned to be part of FM5 when the series was originally outlined, it was solely a Pocket/Jesus adventure. While Tyson hasn't gained nearly as much page time as some characters, he has grown the most through short stories, over which there are now 3 in his POV.
16. Ceinwyn was born in 1976, her grandfather and father died in 1982. At the age of six she left mancer society, only returning to occasionally visit her ill mother. At fourteen she began her schooling, under the direct care of the Lady.
17. Ceinwyn, Obadiah Paine, Amis Valet, and Moira von Welf were all in the same year, Class of 1990. Obadiah Paine graduated first in the year.
Small Update: just wanted to let you all know that I feel some major mad scientist coming on and probably won't be replying as quickly. Have more FMF done or almost done, so will keep voting them off against each other in the future.
Also, the reason the estimate on FM6 dropped is that I decided to cut a chapter. Not the Val one I mentioned early. Wrote about 6k on it, so would have liked to have figured out that I don't want it sooner, but is what it is. With that out of the way I have 8 chapters of pure fucking madness left to write. Going to try to focus in and ignore all those distractions out in the world for the next month. Except for Civil War...cuz I'm still human! It's got Spider-Man in it!
2. The Dales being Welsh and Celtic, Ceinwyn's name began as the more common spelled Ceinwen, but hey, got to love how those y's look.
3. Pronounced Kine Wen by the majority of Wales, the "odd" name is why Old Man Price calls her Kind Wind early in FM1 to give readers a hint at how to say it.
4. Tyrone was an alternate name for T-Bone very early in the series. The last name Bonnie was picked out in the process of figuring out who our historical vampire woman would be, pirate Anne Bonny being one of the possibilities.
5. Like many characters in the series, Tyson was purposely crafted as a trope destroyer with many conflicting origins in his background. Despite their difference in appearance, personality wise the author considers Tyson to be the closest to his own.
6. One of the many inspirations for Ceinwyn Dale is Aes Sedai Moraine from the Wheel of Time series. It is far from the only Wheel of Time inspiration in the series, the vampire Divines being modeled after the thirteen Forsaken. There is however no Dark One, or simple good and evil in the King Henry Tapes.
7. Tyson's introduction and disappearance in FM1 was the author once again playing the long game with a character, a scene that probably would have been cut if the novels were traditionally published.
8. In that scene it is revealed that Tyson had the idea for a magical punching ring that instead became the taser SDR, Tyson did indeed get the idea from Harry Dresden, a playful nod at Urban Fantasy's top dog, Jim Butcher.
9. Ceinwyn being from a long lined family, having prophecies about her life is a play on normal heroes, here all of the common tropes falling on the wise elder while the young kid is as common as dirt.
10. FM4's road trip wasn't originally supposed to be told until FM7, where a similar cross country journey will take place with different companions. Because it was pushed forward, the entire story of FM4 became more Ceinwyn focused, including the author pushing up knowledge about Ceinwyn's backstory.
11. Story lines being pushed up sooner than expected is a trend in writing the King Henry Tapes, including the journey to the Geo Realm, which wasn't supposed to happen until FM6 and the Eternal Order, originally saved for much later in the series.
12. Like her pupil, the Eternal Order has tried to kill Ceinwyn on several occasions.
13. Being raised by the Divine Nii-Vah, Ceinwyn speaks many languages thought dead, including Ancient Greek and Latin, even able to mimic a decent Byzantium accent.
14. Ceinwyn's finding of King Henry was always intended as a short story. The Corpusmancer who found him, Truman, goes on to be mentioned a number of times in the series as an ESLED agent and was Estefan Ramirez's partner for a time. King Henry never connects him with the ShopsMart employee back in Visalia.
15. Tyson wasn't planned to be part of FM5 when the series was originally outlined, it was solely a Pocket/Jesus adventure. While Tyson hasn't gained nearly as much page time as some characters, he has grown the most through short stories, over which there are now 3 in his POV.
16. Ceinwyn was born in 1976, her grandfather and father died in 1982. At the age of six she left mancer society, only returning to occasionally visit her ill mother. At fourteen she began her schooling, under the direct care of the Lady.
17. Ceinwyn, Obadiah Paine, Amis Valet, and Moira von Welf were all in the same year, Class of 1990. Obadiah Paine graduated first in the year.
Small Update: just wanted to let you all know that I feel some major mad scientist coming on and probably won't be replying as quickly. Have more FMF done or almost done, so will keep voting them off against each other in the future.
Also, the reason the estimate on FM6 dropped is that I decided to cut a chapter. Not the Val one I mentioned early. Wrote about 6k on it, so would have liked to have figured out that I don't want it sooner, but is what it is. With that out of the way I have 8 chapters of pure fucking madness left to write. Going to try to focus in and ignore all those distractions out in the world for the next month. Except for Civil War...cuz I'm still human! It's got Spider-Man in it!
April 25, 2016
Quick Notes and a FMF Vote
1. Not much new to report to you fans, on a downswing at the moment. 13.5 chapters done, 13.5 chapters to go. About to write a Plutarch scene whenever I get back to it, so that will be fun.
2. Going to the dentist still sucks. Always. Even after I gave up sodas too!
3. Tomorrow will be Hearthstone Day for me, really looking forward to the new standard format and all the new cards.
4. King Henry Tapes are now in Kindle Select. So if you have Kindle Unlimited or have friends with Kindle Unlimited, be sure to tell them it's available.
5. Running an ad for FM1 at the moment, we'll see how it goes. This stuff is new for me directly through Amazon. Is supposed to show up on your Kindle's screensaver, so that could be neat.
6. Planning to have FM2 for free for the first time ever from May 22nd to May 26th. Trying to get Bookbub to advertise it, but haven't had much luck with them since they got all that sweet investment money.
7. Doesn't look like new covers are going to happen for now sadly. Taxes hit me hard and would rather not worry about going broke before FM6 comes out because I spend a thousand dollars on covers. After FM6, here's hoping I can reassess.
8. Watched Billions and Black Sails recently (that shark hunting scene, loved that stuff) looking at Vikings 4.5 and Better Call Saul S2 next.
Also...
VOTE ON NEXT FOUL MOUTH FACTS: will it be (Pocket, Jesus, and Raj) or (Ceinwyn and T-Bone)?
2. Going to the dentist still sucks. Always. Even after I gave up sodas too!
3. Tomorrow will be Hearthstone Day for me, really looking forward to the new standard format and all the new cards.
4. King Henry Tapes are now in Kindle Select. So if you have Kindle Unlimited or have friends with Kindle Unlimited, be sure to tell them it's available.
5. Running an ad for FM1 at the moment, we'll see how it goes. This stuff is new for me directly through Amazon. Is supposed to show up on your Kindle's screensaver, so that could be neat.
6. Planning to have FM2 for free for the first time ever from May 22nd to May 26th. Trying to get Bookbub to advertise it, but haven't had much luck with them since they got all that sweet investment money.
7. Doesn't look like new covers are going to happen for now sadly. Taxes hit me hard and would rather not worry about going broke before FM6 comes out because I spend a thousand dollars on covers. After FM6, here's hoping I can reassess.
8. Watched Billions and Black Sails recently (that shark hunting scene, loved that stuff) looking at Vikings 4.5 and Better Call Saul S2 next.
Also...
VOTE ON NEXT FOUL MOUTH FACTS: will it be (Pocket, Jesus, and Raj) or (Ceinwyn and T-Bone)?
April 22, 2016
Foul Mouth Facts, Miranda and Valentine Edition
1. Valentine Ward was originally named October Ward with her sister to be December Ward, but Seanan McQuire's Toby Daye series put an end to that.
2. The Boomworm nickname came about from a lucky typo.
3. Early in the process, Val was the Aeromancer and Miranda was the Pyromancer.
4. My first attempt at writing FM2's school story began with Valentine showing significant dislike for King Henry, before Val was replaced with Miranda for the whole of the novel, leaving Val's wider introduction for FM3.
5. In early outlines, Miranda had little time in the story, mostly as a mentioned character like Quinn Walden or Asa Kayode.
6. Miranda has the best anima senses in Class '09.
7. Val is regarded as the fastest Pooler by a large margin.
8. The author has a list of Boomworm Rules to keep him from going trope with the character, one of these is that Val can never be captured.
9. Another is that if that rule is broken, Val must rescue herself.
10. Val is a huge Terry Pratchett fan.
11. Val is left handed.
12. Miranda bakes when upset.
13. Why is Miranda named Miranda? The author liked the way Summer Glau said the name in Serenity.
14. The Miranda part in Griefing, especially her feud with Hope, was originally scheduled for Eva Reti.
15. Eva Reti has by far seen her role in the School stories reduced the most, while Miranda's has been enlarged the most.
16. As Ceinwyn's assistant, Val met Annie B before King Henry did. A short story of this was planned but never written or even outlined.
17. Both T-Bone and Miranda originally had glasses, thinking two "nerdy" characters with glasses was too much, T-Bone lost his. Eventually even Miranda got contacts.
18. Valentine has killed more people than King Henry...for the moment.
Want more Foul Mouth Facts? Let me know in the comments.
2. The Boomworm nickname came about from a lucky typo.
3. Early in the process, Val was the Aeromancer and Miranda was the Pyromancer.
4. My first attempt at writing FM2's school story began with Valentine showing significant dislike for King Henry, before Val was replaced with Miranda for the whole of the novel, leaving Val's wider introduction for FM3.
5. In early outlines, Miranda had little time in the story, mostly as a mentioned character like Quinn Walden or Asa Kayode.
6. Miranda has the best anima senses in Class '09.
7. Val is regarded as the fastest Pooler by a large margin.
8. The author has a list of Boomworm Rules to keep him from going trope with the character, one of these is that Val can never be captured.
9. Another is that if that rule is broken, Val must rescue herself.
10. Val is a huge Terry Pratchett fan.
11. Val is left handed.
12. Miranda bakes when upset.
13. Why is Miranda named Miranda? The author liked the way Summer Glau said the name in Serenity.
14. The Miranda part in Griefing, especially her feud with Hope, was originally scheduled for Eva Reti.
15. Eva Reti has by far seen her role in the School stories reduced the most, while Miranda's has been enlarged the most.
16. As Ceinwyn's assistant, Val met Annie B before King Henry did. A short story of this was planned but never written or even outlined.
17. Both T-Bone and Miranda originally had glasses, thinking two "nerdy" characters with glasses was too much, T-Bone lost his. Eventually even Miranda got contacts.
18. Valentine has killed more people than King Henry...for the moment.
Want more Foul Mouth Facts? Let me know in the comments.
