R.E. Palmer's Blog, page 2

Why are we fasCinAted by dystopian worlds?

Here's my first 'real' post on my new blog and website, so I'll start with something related to my last project, The Never Dawn Trilogy. 

Why are books and movies set in dystopian worlds so popular? 

First, a definition of dystopia...

  an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.

Obviously, not a nice place in which to live... even the word, 'totalitarian' sends a shiver down my spine. And let's face it, an enviro...

That all important title... how the hell do you come up with one?

I'm around halfway through the last book of my Never Dawn trilogy and, in common with the previous 5 fiction books I've written, coming up with the few words for the title has been harder than the 80,000 in the story!

I've made a promise to myself - next time I'll start with the title and then write the book.

But that didn't help with the three books of my work-in-progress. I did what most people do and googled 'how to choose a title for my book' and after trawling through a few websites found this very useful article on indiebooklauncher.com 

It had some great ideas on how to use the story, or pull out a specific element or essence of your story to find a title.

For the first book, this was 'Mother's' promise of The New Dawn. This is when all the hard work that my hero and his colleagues have completed day-in, day-out for all their lives pays off. But as our hero discovers, they've been told a big lie and nothing is at it seems and so this promise New Dawn will never come.

So the title, The Never Dawn , came about. I know it doesn't actually make grammatical sense but I ran it passed a few of my readers and book reviewers, along with New Dawn, Dark Dawn and just Never Dawn, and lo and behold, everyone choose The Never Dawn saying it sounded intriguing.

Quite pleased with that one :0)

I finished the second book and was well into the third book but still hadn't got a title for the middle book of the trilogy. I even had the title for the last book before I finally settled on the second.

I went back to the article I mentioned above for the second in the series. In the story, things get very sticky for my hero, in fact, it gets very grim in parts, so much so that I had to re-write parts just in case it was too dark for a YA/NA reader.

The working title of 'Losing The Light' represented the hope drifting away from the main characters - but it didn't really grip my audience when tested. Then came the idea to bring the word 'cloud' into the title. This carries on with the dawn/ sky theme of the first, and it refers to the levels of Noah's world, that is, Cloud Levels. So I came up with 'Cloud Level Nine' - obviously playing on Cloud Nine and could relate to the location of one of the ominous elements of my story.

But while a few of my readers liked it, I wasn't 100% happy with it. For me, it sounded a little Star Trek. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of the original and some of the films, but I didn't want my books to sounds like a trekkie book. Then driving home is my car I heard some one being interviewed on the news about a hot current topic, and without going into the details, I commented out loud, 'you're living in cloud cuckoo land if you think that will happen.'

And... there you have it. Ha! I didn't want the land bit, but ' Cloud Cuckoo ' said exactly what I wanted it to say. Yes, it refers to an absurd or fantasy element, Cuckoo itself can mean mad, but it also relates to my hero and the situation he finds himself. I loved it, and the majority of my test audience did as well - well you can't please everyone.

As I said, I already have the third title that refers to the big chance in the story and taking it outside the setup of the first two - I don't want to say more just in case you want to read the when they come out.

The third and last is ' At The Gates of Dawn ' - although I might drop the 'at' from the beginning.

So for now at least I have my three titles. And what a relief. Somehow, when the title finally comes along, suddenly the book seems very real 0:)

And thankfully, the second book title came just in time for my cover designer who will begin work on it very shortly.

So to recap, the trilogy consists of

1. The Never Dawn
2. Cloud Cuckoo
3. At The Gates of Dawn

Cover reveal for Cloud Cuckoo coming soon!

Who would have thought writing a YA dystopian trilogy could be so much work?

 The success of Divergent, The Maze Runner and my favourite of the recent trilogies, Hunger Games, will have inspired hundreds of writers to have a go for themselves - including me. And why not? The temptation to build a world with its own rules, populated by a diverse bunch of characters straight out of our heads is very tempting. Add the hope that it may become a best-seller with a massive movie franchise (however remote) and it's too good an opportunity to miss.

​But... while I find ideas for settings, characters and plots spilling out of my head, coming up with enough material to justify three books would be a big challenge for me. My previous books have numbered between 80 to 85,000 words so a trilogy would mean close to a quarter of million! Phew that sounds a lot to a writer who takes on average 14 months to write just one book.

My first YA book was a cross-over sci-fi slash horror slash paranormal slash alien invasion, plus a little bit of adventure and humour thrown in for good measure. SKY told the story of a teenage boy who discovers the girl he sees in his daydreams turns out to be real and is also in a fight for her life and sanity (in that order). It was originally intended as a one-off book with an ending that left the reader to decide the fate of our young hero.

However, after a massive on-line campaign by readers asking for me (okay, I'll confess - I received three emails in six weeks!) I decided to write a sequel, and around a year later I published Stargazers.  And I was happy to hear that my readers (now totalling around a dozen) found it even better than the first. 

Encouraged by this success (well it's all relative isn't it) I decided to commit to the long-term challenge of writing a trilogy. Never mind the thought of creating a best-seller that has the movie studios climbing over each over to offer me a six figure sum to even get my attention, I was curious to see if I was up to the task. I get a huge thrill from finishing a book. To date this includes three non-fiction and two fiction. So if I can write a half-decent trilogy that doesn't fizzle out half-way through the second book, then maybe, just maybe I could start to think of myself as a writer. 

So I spent my daily run and dog walk racking my brains for a story, and thankfully I didn't have to wait too long. I dusted down an old idea a while back, took it to a different place and expanded the story - and hey, I'd got the basis for my trilogy :0)

I set myself some rules beforehand.My story would have no games or tournaments - done to death already (excuse the pun)My protagonist would face no trials or training programs in order to progress (or pad out) the storyline.I would do everything I could to avoid my characters withholding information just to maintain suspense.
Two weeks later it was May 2014 and I had something I could work with. But now came the hard part - having to get all those plot lines, characters, twists and subtexts into a coherent story. I had my basic plan, although I have to admit at being so eager to start my masterpiece, that I got going before the palm was fully scoped. But what the heck, it would work out in the end :0)

In March 2015, I came up with the title, The Never Dawn, to complete the first book of the three, proof-read by the wonderful Julia Proofreader. I then contacted The Cover Collection to design a bespoke cover. I have to say I'm very pleased with the finished product and will publish hopefully in July 2016 when the others are almost ready to go.

The first book took around twelve months - too long in my view. So I decided to dedicate more time to write (difficult when you have a full-time job and teenage kids), and I would set a target of a thousand words a day, quite a challenge for me, but it focuses the mind.

​Although I stumbled a few times on book two (due to not having the story fully scoped out) I did manage to finish the draft after several rewrites in December 2016. Wow, a book in just nine months! However, while I can write 82,000 words, I have yet to come up with the three or four that will make up the title - but I'm not panicking yet as I'm sure it will come to me soon.

So where am I now? Today, I wrote the first lines to book three. And in just one hour I was up to 700 words! I have the story sorted and hope to finish this last book in under six months. Then all I need are the last two titles :0)
​

Stargazers is finally here!

Okay, so it was due to be published in June last year, but life and many other commitments demanded so much of my time. But anyway, I've finally published my sequel to SKY! Stargazers is now on Amazon for the kindle - click here for details.

I'm really quite pleased with it. Feedback from my beta readers has been very favorable :0) I hope you enjoy it.

Cover Reveal - Stargazers

I'm pleased to reveal the cover for Stargazers - the sequel to SKY. When Sophie asked me what I was looking for in the cover, all I could think of was 'a blue one'!

Not much to go on :0)

The following day I was writing a scene that I suddenly thought would provide the theme for the cover - so here it is.

I'm really pleased with it. It always helps to see the cover as it makes the book seem suddenly real.

I'm over 75% through the first draft and hope to have it out by September 2013. 

Let me know what you think? If you've not read SKY yet, you can find more about it here . You'll have plenty of time to read it and come back for the sequel :0) Stargazers cover by Sophie Webber

So What Makes A Great Paranormal Story?

Search for 'paranormal' on Amazon and you'll be presented with just under 50,000 titles to choose from. But what makes a paranormal story great? What keeps you reading well into the night because you just can't bring yourself to put it down?

Webster's defines paranormal as 'events or phenomena outside the possibilities defined by natural or scientific laws' - that should provide any author with enough scope for a story!

Now I'm not going to name any books - but I've read quite a few that are... let's not be  unkind...  not very good :0) I'm not putting myself up as a master of the craft - I really am a beginner - but I know what I like and I certainly now what I don't like.

For me, a great paranormal story has to have (and not in any particular order)-

1) Characters you care about - if you don't give a fig what happens to them, why keep reading! You have to feel their fear, share their dilemmas and root for them in their battles against the bad guys.

2) Conflict - if there's no threat or some force preventing the hero reaching their goal ( love, power, fame, survival etc.) there isn't really much of a story. Of course it doesn't have to be physical - an internal conflict of conscience as our hero descends into the murky world of vampires but enjoys the power it brings, makes for a great clash of moralities.

3) Scary monsters/ creatures/ bad guys - they have to be something that could, with a stretch of the imagination, exist out there. If a creature is so far removed from the realms of fantasy and paranormal, it's just not scary because it would never be a threat to us.

4) Mystery - a plot that ignites our curiosity will keep us glued to its pages. A plot that slowly unravels the big questions by dropping in hints and small nuggets of information is far superior to one that blurts it all out in a lengthy monologue. Arrrhh... the dreaded backstory and how to get it all in there :0)

5) A love/ lust interest - it's the most powerful motivator and one we can all empathize with - see number 1. And it inevitably leads to conflict - especially if you have a love triangle! 

I can think of more, but for now, what do you think? What must a story have that stops you putting it down or deleting it from your ereader?

I look forward to your views.

How to write a sequel....

...when you hadn't really intended to do one :0/ I originally wrote my first book, SKY, as a one-off story. I had two more ideas in the pipeline and was keen to start writing. Mind you, I hadn't prepared myself for the comments of my beta readers and first 'real' readers! Okay, admittedly I did end SKY in a way that could be interpreted in several ways - but it seems that wasn't enough.

So after dozens of emails (well almost two dozen to be honest) saying that I couldn't leave them guessing, I decided to get started on a sequel. Initially, I was at a loss of where to take the story - seeing as I'd gone for broke with the first with all my best ideas. But after a weekend with my iPod, laptop, notepad and pencil I suddenly had plenty of plot ideas, several new characters and the basic bones of a story plan.

Now I'm going to admit to a bit of a cheat here. To successfully write a half-decent sequel, there was one small thing I needed to change in Sky - eek. Luckily, this was before I'd finished formatting the paperback edition, and only a few had downloaded the kindle version. 

So with only a tiny bit of guilt, I tweaked one of the later scenes, setting up my sequel. It's only a small change, and I doubt if the majority reading the previous edition would really notice if they go on to read the sequel - but there's always those readers far smarter than me out there, who would spot the 'glaring plot howler' - so I didn't want to take the risk.

So now onto the sequel. I guess it's easier because I've set up the story and covered the back story in the first book. All the main characters have completed their 'arcs' by facing their fears and challenges, so now they can hit the ground running and face new situations. It also allows me to bring out more of the back story to take the plot to new levels. 

After spending almost two years with the original characters, I feel quite at home and familiar with their ways. But... seeing how it ended for Carly in SKY , has given me an opportunity to take her to different places in her mind and add something more to the story.

So what about the title? Based on a rather clever revelation (if I say so myself) I've called it Stargazers . I can hear my cover designer groan already. After a three letter title for the first, she's now got to fit a longer one-word title into the design :0)

I'm currently 15,000 words into the first draft (I estimate 65, 70,000 in total). If you want to be kept informed of my progress, you can sign-up for my newsletter . 

Or if you've read SKY, you can read an extract of the first draft of Stargazers here - but you'll need the password given at the end of SKY.

So what about the hero - Tomas?

As mentioned in my other posts, I like to have a very clear picture of how my characters look when writing - all except Tomas. I could see Selene, Carly and Shelley - and even minor characters such as the police officer,Marsh and the nurse, Janice. 

So why not Tomas? 

I guess it's because I was Tomas! I tried to take myself back to when I was 17 - a little too long ago now :0/ Some of his traits are based on me at that time, and also a number of his experiences are taken from my own. So that's why I didn't need a picture of him in mind.

But seeing as I've put faces to the others, I've received emails with suggesting for Tomas.  And here are the two that get the most mentions.
Freddie Highmore He's grown up since his role as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I agree, I think he has the look of Tomas. When we first meet him, he's low on confidence and struggling to cope with college life in an area of London he dislikes. Of course, he comes good in the end after facing trials that would seriously challenge anyone! Nicholas Hoult Nick is currently starring in Warm Bodies playing a zombie. Here he is looking healthier than in that movie. I can see why some readers have suggest Nick - although he has blue eyes and Tomas has brown - but I think he looks a little too confident (I think that's what I'm trying to say) for Tomas. But I'll leave the choice to you? 

Also see Shelley , Carly , Fudge and Selene .

WIN A COPY OF STARGAZERS

Leave your vote below before the 14th Feb, and I'll post either Nick or Freddie on my Pinterest Sky Gallery along with the rest :0) I'll pick a name at random from those who picked the winner and send you a copy of Stargazers when it comes out in June 2013 - sorry a bit of a wait, but hopefully worth it. 

Please remember to leave your email address when voting (it won't show on this website). 

How I imagine Selene would look.

In the last few posts, I've listed who I had in my mind's eye when writing Sky.  It's easier to breathe life into your characters if you know what they look like., and usually it's movies that provide me with the faces :0)

So now it's Selene's turn. If you've not yet read Sky , I won't spoil it for you now. But it's no secret that Selene appears in Tomas's dreams after the girl from his ethereal relationship, Sky, disappears.

Selene takes him (in his dreams) to strange worlds and gains his trust - this is vital for what she has planned for later - but you'll have to read the book to find out! And the most obvious choice for me? 

Milla Jovovich. I first saw her in The Fifth Element and thought she was perfect for the part. But it's her appearance in  Ultraviolet  (see right) that I think is exactly how Selene would look.

I describe her eyes as portraying wisdom beyond her years - and I think Milla fits the part well.

At first, Tomas just thinks she's the creation of his over-active imagination - and if you're a frustrated  17 year-old male, she's looks pretty much like your ideal woman :0) Milla Jovovich (Selene) But things get a little strange when the boundary between his dreams and reality break down. Then he discovers there's more to Selene than he first thought!

So what do you think? Which actor most resembles Selene in your opinion? 

Please feel free to comment below.

(Also see Carly , Shelley Tomas and Fudge )

Bringing Characters to Life: Fudge

In the previous two posts, I've talked about visualising characters and scenery as I write, and how I use real people to bring them to life.   Shelley and Carly came to mind first, followed quickly by Fudge - Tomas's dog - once I decided to give him a pet. Tomas is the hero, and Fudge is his life-long (and only) friend when we first meet them in the story. Creating Fudge was easy - the inspiration for him lives in our house; Smudge - our dog. I first got the idea for the story of SKY while walking the dog with my daughter. So he was under our noses the whole time.

In the book, Fudge is 14 and a collie. Smudge is 3 and a beagle-collie cross, but it was easier and less wordy to make Fudge a pure collie.

If you own a dog, you'll know they can be incredibly intuitive, for example, they soon learn to spot the signs when you're about to take them for a walk. Smudge (Fudge) Many owners will say their dogs know when they're on their way home and will be ready for them when they arrive.  If you've already read SKY, you'll see how I was able to use this trait for a plot line - and a crucial one as it turns out in the end.

I've had many comments about Fudge from readers - one only decided to read the book after she heard it featured a dog! A number of beta readers had to know nothing bad would happen to Fudge before they would carry on with the book. And just to put your mind at rest, he's there right in the last chapter :0)

What do you think? What's your favourite dog in fiction? Feel free to comment below. Here's a suggestion for Fudge from Rose - see her comment below. 

This is Duke - sadly he's no longer with us but he's more like the age of Fudge in my book. He looks a lovely, good-natured chap and yes - he would make a great 'Fudge'. 

I was just in conversation with Rose and mentioned I completed another scene with Fudge today for the sequel Stargazers .

Any other suggestions / pictures? Duke - thanks to Rose for letting me post his pic.