Thaddeus Nowak's Blog: Thoughts and Observations, page 27
February 17, 2013
New website, new book
I’m also really excited about Daughter’s Justice. Things are wrapping up and hopefully I will be able to provide a firm release date soon. If everything stays on track, it will be available in March! (Reading blog post.)
Here’s a preview of the cover:
Liberty Memorial
I do go to a fair number of museums and historic sites. I enjoy history. However, this was my first trip to the Liberty Memorial despite the fact that it’s pretty much in my own backyard. I definitely enjoyed seeing all the history and it makes me think about how the people in my own world would react to the war that is part of Stephenie’s story.
Here are a few pictures we took while we were there. Last Saturday was a bit windy with a bit of a bite to the air. However, we did manage a period of time were the sky wasn’t completely cloud covered.
(Continue reading blog post.)
Liberty Memorial
Last weekend, I made a trip to the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. It is the only museum in the US dedicated solely to preserving the objects and history of WW1.
I do go to a fair number of museums and historic sites. I enjoy history. However, this was my first trip to the Liberty Memorial despite the fact that it’s pretty much in my own backyard. I definitely enjoyed seeing all the history and it makes me think about how the people in my own world would react to the war that is part of Stephenie’s story.
Here are a few pictures we took while we were there. Last Saturday was a bit windy with a bit of a bite to the air. However, we did manage a period of time were the sky wasn’t completely cloud covered.
The tower has an elevator, though you will have to climb a few stairs to get all the way to the top. The view was good, as the memorial itself sits on top of a bluff, so it is raised above the city.
The shot on the left is one from the top of the tower. The building center/right is Union Station. Another building they had renovated a number of years back. The interior is well done and worth the time to walk 
around in t
he old train station.
To the right is a picture of an old French-made Renault FT-17 tank. The left rear of the tank has battle damage, where a shell removed a good chunk of the tank. Looking at the tank in person, it is very small and doesn’t look like it would provide a great deal of protection. The main body of the museum is actually inside the bluff and under the tower.
Above ground, and flanking the tower, there are a couple of buildings that house more of the collection. The relief to the left is part of the doorway of one of the buildings. The architecture was quite impressive.
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February 10, 2013
New website, new book
Here is my new site! I’m still working on some configurations and tweaking the pages, but I am exited that I now have a more interactive site. Please feel free to look around and if you want to see anything specific, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.
I’m also really excited about Daughter’s Justice. Things are wrapping up and hopefully I will be able to provide a firm release date soon. If everything stays on track, it will be available in March!
Here’s a preview of the cover:
The post New website, new book appeared first on Thaddeus Nowak.
December 31, 2012
Map of Cothel, Midland, Calis, and Kynto
This is a map of Cothel, Midland, Calis, and part of Kynto. The areas north of Cothel will be featured in the upcoming novel Daughter’s Justice.
Map of Kynto, Midland, and Cothel
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Stephenie’s Grandfathers
Stephenie’s grandfather on her father’s side was King Morgan of Cothel. Morgan was an energetic man who enjoyed many distractions. He ruled during a very prosperous time and spent money not quite as quickly as he earned it. His fortunes never ran out and his willingness to spend resulted in a number of improvements and changes to Antar castle.
Morgan died two years before Stephenie was born.
On Stephenie’s mother’s side, her grandfather was King Richard of Kynto. Richard’s rule was not enjoyed by his subjects, who were often in fear being accused of treason. He also used his powerful armies aggressively against his neighbors, threatening and even invading those around him. However, despite all of his bluster, he was never successful in growing his kingdom.
He died at the hands of his son, now King Willard of Kynto, ending his attempt to invade Calis.
King Willard, who was hoped to be a more balanced ruler, arranged the for the marriage of his younger sister, Elsia, to Charles, at that time, the Crown Prince of Cothel.
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December 9, 2012
Cothel’s Royal Family
I know it has been a while since I added any details here. I have been busy working on Book 2, Daughter’s Justice, and have simply not added anything for too long. Therefore, today I will talk a little about Stephenie’s family.
Cothel’s Royal family goes back many generations and as was the custom several hundred years ago, when a significant change in government took place, the calendar was started over. This has led to many of the countries around the Sea of Tet using different years to track things than their neighbors. While it confuses the tracking of events over a longer period of time, most common people outside of government and nobility are fairly indifferent.
The Marn family can trace their roots back to the current start of the calendar in Cothel, which was in year 435 at the beginning of Mother’s Curse. For most of those four hundred years, they have had a significant role in actually ruling the country.
Stephenie’s immediate family tree is below. Her father, Charles II, is a direct descendant from the long line of Cothel’ Kings. Her Mother is descendant from Kynto’s royal family, which has only held the throne for four generations, with Elsia’s brother currently on the throne of Kynto.
Of the children, Stephenie is the youngest.
Joshua, her older brother, has always been groomed for the throne. Growing up, he treated Stephenie as an honorary younger brother, allowing her to tag along with him.
Kara, who was killed by the Senzar before Mother’s Curse starts, was married to the Crown Prince of Esland.
Julia, Kara’s twin sister died less than a month after their birth.
Regina is married to the second youngest prince of Durland, who based on order of succession rules, is twentieth from the throne.
Islet is married to the King of Ipith.
Currently, none of Stephenie’s siblings have any children of their own.
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Back story / History
Today's entry is a little more about Stephenie's family.
http://thaddeusnowak.com/history.html
October 20, 2012
Upcoming event
If you're in the area, come by and pick up a copy and check out The Artist Box while you are there.
I also wanted to give a big thank you to all those who came out to see me at the KC Ren Fest. I had a great time at Faire and it was so nice to hear all the positive feedback and just chat with so many people about so many things. I hope to keep you with you in the future.
http://thaddeusnowak.com/index.html
October 13, 2012
Autumn -- Season of decay and great beauty
Yes, it is a season that signifies the start of decay, as the tree and plants shut down for the winter. But even still, a cool rainy autumn day somehow wakes me up and motivates me to be outside and do things. Perhaps there is some instinctual need for me to gather up supplies for the winter. I'm not entirely sure.
There is also a definite nostalgia that bubbles up. For me, the local Renaissance Faire has always been in September and October and I've been going for more years than I can count. Sometimes to participate, sometimes just to be a patron. These last few years I have been helping my brother and sister-in-law out with a booth they have. So I have actually spent more time at faire than I used to, but since I have been working there, I've seen a little less than I used to. This year I have been selling copies of my book, Mother's Curse, there and doing quite well. For anyone who bought a copy, let me know what you think!
Autumn has also been a time when we would take trips and I've spent a few years chasing the fall color, which can be hard to actually time just right unless you are willing to drive across a few states, and sometimes, not even then.
These are a couple of old shots from back in 2001 on a trip to Wisconsin, when I as still using a film camera instead of a digital one. A couple months out when we planned the trip, we had expected to be in the middle of the fall color. Unfortunately, the weather was such that the trees stayed green a bit later that year. However, the trip was still a lot of fun and we've been back a couple times since (not chasing color) as my mother's family is from the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan).
The other great thing about fall is it makes me want to curl up with a good book and spend the day reading (I know, that counters the going outside drive, but I am conflicted, what can I say). Of course, I've been working on Daughter's Justice and still have a bit more writing to do on that book. So lately, I've not had the time to read as much as I would like.
As a bit of other news, today we have thunderstorms in the area and so it is a great day (I'm meant to live on the west coast I think). I probably will not make it to Faire today. However, I plan to go out tomorrow, which will be the last day of Faire for the 2012 season in KC.
On 10 Nov 2012, I am, doing a book signing at The Art Box in Atchison Ks (http://theartistboxllc.com/). I'll be posting more details on my site.
Definitely come out and see me tomorrow at Faire (http://www.kcrenfest.com/) or in Atchison on the 10th!
Thoughts and Observations
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