Allynn Riggs's Blog, page 6
November 25, 2014
Balancing Act While Editing “The Balance” & Loose Ends
I am 30 pages into the first round of editing book 2 of The Stone’s Blade series, The Balance. Because of the plethora of Point of View’s that rambled through the rough draft of the first installment (I think we counted 13) I am checking to verify that there are no more than five Points of View in The Balance and that they are the only PofV in each scene. No sneaking in Renloret’s thoughts in a scene from Ani’s PofV. Already caught one of these. The first part is obviously in worse shape than the later parts. This I believe is the remnants of having started on The Balance during 2012’s NaNoWriMo and I just wrote scenes in no particular order. This was definitely a different method of writing but it was fun. I discovered a new antagonist who will play a surprising role in book three, The Blades. BUT, the non-sequentialness of the scenes wrecked havoc when I started to really work on the second book after publication of The Blood. I believe I have rearranged most of those scenes and was able to finish the story arc for The Balance about a week ago.
So, I spent the last week working on back cover blurb, character bios and finally wrote the series arc. As I am working my way through the opening scenes I find myself asking just how many loose ends from The Blood do I tie up and when in The Balance? I made my list and I think I have those covered. Which ones would you like to know about in this second installment?
What do you want to know?
I am also using different colored sticky notes on a white board to indicate the order of scenes as currently written and from who’s PofV. This will give me a visual sense of whether I have too many scenes from character and not enough from another’s. I had thought that this might be difficult for me but I’m rather enjoying it now that I have gone beyond the first couple of scenes. I believe it will work out – plus I am finding that book 3 is showing itself in more than fuzzy ideas (these are going into a colored coded document).
Fear is also raising its head. I am plagued with fear that those readers who enjoyed The Blood will not like The Balance and that I will fail to keep the story up to my own standards. I am guessing that most authors have similar feelings especially when writing a series. Of course that brings up the question of how many books will eventually be in The Stone’s Blade series – that’s another blog post as I must concentrate on completing The Balance to the very best of my abilities and then have my team help me polish it up for you to read.
Again, are there questions you have on The Blood that you want to have answered in The Balance?
October 1, 2014
What’s in a Name?
What’s in a name? More than you might expect.
How important is it for an author to give the correct name to a character?
More important than a lot of readers realize and character naming is often a source of author angst. Depending on what you are writing you need to be aware of or invent naming conventions within whatever social structure you are writing or have developed. If you’re writing a historical fiction piece, you had better look up what names were most popular the years of your characters’ births and you will need to be aware of the part of the world your story takes place as well. Don’t assume, look it up.
If you are writing fantasy or science fiction you have a bit more leeway. While you are building your worlds you need to also build naming conventions such as do all names have six letters or are they all single syllables – think Star Trek’s Spock where all names began with S. One problem I have as a reader is that many authors seem to think that odd consonant combinations and a minimum of fifteen or more letters makes their character names sound or look exotic, more ‘alien’ or fantasy-like. Do they consider the pronounce-ability of what they’ve written? For some readers this can be a deterrent to the reading flow and often they will actually abandon a book due to frustration with the character names. I know I have done this. Why do some authors do that?
Ani and Kela
So, with that in mind, how did I choose or come up with the names for my characters? Anyala’s name just appeared on the page when I wrote the original short story when I was fourteen. I have no idea where it came from – it was just her name and she didn’t have a last/surname until much later. When the Stones appeared in the story and I was naming them I decided that one of the clues to The Blood’s identity was that she would be named after the Stone – therefore one of the Stones became Anyala. But then I didn’t want Renloret (we’ll talk about his name later) to recognize it right away so I shortened her name to Ani. The Pericha Stone is named after my sister’s Greek husband whose surname is Pericharos. I can’t remember exactly how I came up with the Kita Stone.
Most of the names come from my playing around with words – usually a misspelled word lights a fire in my imagination. Kela is a derivative of Akela from The Jungle Book. It was the wolf pack leader’s name and I liked how it sounded. In The Blood, Kela is ancient Lrakiran for leader. Now, Renloret comes from adding and subtracting sounds to the juggled around syllables of the word Chevrolet – PS the ‘t’ is not pronounced, think French. One of my favorite character names is Stubin Dalkey. The character’s original name was Cesar (emphasis on the second syllable) – off of Caesar, but every time I tried to use it I would hesitate, especially when I was reading a section aloud. I was working with another writer and discussed the problem with this name. I described him as being stubborn like a donkey which needed a two-by-four between the ears to get him off his stupid single-minded alien track. We played around with the words “stupid donkey” and came up with Stubin Dalkey. Got it?
For some complicated naming conventions you should look at the Doona series by Anne McCaffrey and Linda Nye – I’m not sure that those books can be read aloud, especially Treaty at Doona when the third alien species shows up. It was work to read silently. I understood her reasoning and appreciated the consistency – but it was not necessarily a smooth read.
How do you decide on a character’s name? What methods do you use?
So here’s a little puzzle for you. Can you guess the root words of Doctor Isul Treyder’s name?
The first two with the correct answer will get a rough draft scene from book two, The Balance, featuring the ‘kind’ doctor. Please post your guesses here. Or send them to my e-mail address: Allynn@timberdark.com along with your contact info.
September 13, 2014
The Blood e-book has a Kindle Countdown Deal
Now is your opportunity to not only have it on your Want to Read list but to actually get it and start reading now!
Don't forget to rate and review any book you read. - Post those ratings and reviews on both Goodreads and Amazon.com. We authors want to hear what you think of our stories. Help us write even better ones.
How to Entice Me Back Inside A Bookstore
An insightful blog from Hughy on how large chain bookstores can entice people to become customers once again by providing a welcoming environment for readers, writers, even publishers. I’m not going to a bookstore to just walk down aisles of books, grab one and leave. I want to experience those books, feel them in my hands, see the covers. I would love to curl up in a comfy chair and study those books I have chosen to sample. At my age the chairs are much more comfortable than trying get up off the floor in the tight aisle. Tea and coffee stations sound heavenly – maybe even a plateful of cookies at various time of the year – I’ll even bring some to share!
The longer a store can get me to stay within their walls, the more books I’m likely to purchase and the more often I’m likely to come. Plus I will let others know.
What are your thoughts about big bookstore chains catering to book readers and writers instead of the big five Publishers ad campaigns pushing books you are not interested in.
[contact-form]
August 24, 2014
“The Blood” is a Multi-Category Winner!!
Such an exciting event on Saturday at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association’s EVVY 20th Annual Awards. My book “The Blood: The Stone’s Blade, #1″ was nominated in four categories of the awards. I am delighted to share with you that I took third place in Science Fiction and third place in Fantasy. The cover design received a merit award.
3rd Place EVVY Award for Fantasy
It is an unexpected honor. Ones I have perhaps hoped for but have difficulty believing that any one outside of immediate family or close friends really honestly enjoys the stories I write. Especially since this is my first novel length work. My editor, Melanie Mulhall, my proofreader, Helena Mariposa, and my cover & interior designer, Nathan Fisher, all have told me I have something special to offer readers with the stories of Ani, Kela, Taryn, and Renloret (and perhaps others).
3rd Place EVVY Award for Science Fiction
Merit Award for Cover Design – 2014 EVVY Awards
If you want to read good stories – which just won a couple of prestigious awards – then get started by reading The Blood: The Stone’s Blade, #1. It is available at the three locations of Tattered Cover in Denver, the Bookworm in Gunnison, McDonald Books in Estes Park, and on Amazon as a paperback and an e-book.
Start your own Stone’s Blade series collection today. With your purchase of the paperback, you will have a work of art on your shelf. This award winning cover has many subtle items to hold your interest. Did you know that cover designer, Nathan Fisher, designed a special “blade” font specifically for this series? Which planet is shown on the back cover? Which is on the front? How do you know? Why are the O’s in Blood green? Send me your answers in the comment section. The first five to get all four correct will win special EVVY Award stickers to place on the cover of their book.
[contact-form]
August 11, 2014
Multiple Category Finalist for 2014 EVVY Awards
How will a troubled Stone Singer's jealousy wreck havoc on two worlds? Will prophecies come to fruition before their time? What is the mysterious connection between Lrakira and Teramar?
Download to your Kindle device now: http://alturl.com/fbn43
August 8, 2014
The EVVY Awards – “The Blood” is a finalist!
Basically, I can state: my science fiction/fantasy book, The Blood: The Stones Blade, #1, is a finalist in at least two of the five categories in which it was entered. I am still waiting on the results for the other three categories as to whether it made it through to be a finalist. The award ceremony is just over two weeks away on August 23, 2014 and I can’t seem to hold back and be patient. I have been checking the CIPA website once a day though I was told it could be as late as the 15th before the other category finalists are announced.(That’s a whole eight days from now!) I’m not sure I can wait that long!
I am delighted to announce that Nathan Fisher of Sci-Fi Book Cover Designer (www.scifibookcoverdesigner.com) entered The Blood for his cover design and his interior design. Congratulations to Nathan for designing one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen on the shelves. There is so much to see on that cover, too! So many little details waiting to be changed just a bit for when book two, The Balance, is ready. Make sure you have a paperback copy so you can enjoy this fine piece of artwork. If you are looking for a cover artist for your upcoming science fiction or fantasy piece, check out his website and contact Nathan. If you believe in what you have written make every effort to have it covered in a piece of art.
When I dropped off the books to be dispersed to the judges, the publisher, Joe, who was collecting the 270+ entries, was impressed with the unique interior design as well. He wondered aloud if Nathan would be upset if Joe used a similar technique for the chapter heading design on a book his company was designing. I hope that Nathan’s efforts garner him two awards – His sense of the story and knowledge of sci-fi and fantasy readers and their expectations have given me the opportunity to entice the reader visually as well as enhancing the text at the opening of each chapter. Nathan has figured out how to make my imagination visible. That is the gift of a true artist.
My editor, Melanie Mulhall of Dragonheart Editing and Writing, is expecting to announce that her entry of The Blood in the editing category will also be a finalist. She is meticulous and exacting – almost to the point of frustration on my part. However, she is not just an editor. Melanie is a writing coach with amazing talent and she often connects with her clients on an intuitive or spiritual level. An added benefit is that she enjoys a great cup of tea and I’ve been pleased to share cinnamon orange tea from Awful Annie’s with her. If you don’t know what that means you need to read not just the story but the acknowledgment. Her website is http://www.DragonheartWritingandEditing.com).
The last two categories I entered The Blood in were Fiction: Science Fiction and Fiction: Fantasy. Since it is a crossover between the two genres I had to cover my options by entering in both. Whether it wins or not I am delighted that the Colorado Independent Publishers Association continues to support self-publishing with these awards. One of the longest running awards for independent publishing, The EVVY Awards, bring to light hidden jewels in the publishing business. Come along for the ride. Own The Blood before it wins it’s first award. Then you can say, “I was one of the first.” You have until August 23, 2014 so get it now! Click http://alturl.com/fbn43 to get your copy and let me know what you think.
August 4, 2014
Revealing History Slowly
Just read a great article in Sept 2014 issue of “The Writer Magazine”, by Andrew Welsh-Huggins, his article titled “Got Your Back” has me rethinking the current opening chapters of “The Balance”. I think I am retelling too much from book one, “The Blood”. I must not tell everything that happened just enough to get the reader up to date on some basics while setting the stage for the action in “The Balance”.
I am curious as to how you reveal back story, especially if it is #2, #3, or even #7 of a series? How much is too much? Do you say anything at all?
July 27, 2014
Reviews That Make Me Think
One thing I am learning is that reviewers have a way of saying things that get my imagination running in the best pathways. Little, seemingly simple comments bring to light possible loose ends which can be tied up or at least discussed in future volumes; even underlying thought processes of characters can be turned into intriguing conflicts (external and internal). I am enjoying the reviews I am getting on Goodreads. Here’s a recent one from one of the Giveaway winners (Darlene) of The Blood: Stone’s Blade, #1:
———–
The child is the cure, the five-sun-cycles-old child and her blood may be their only hope for a future. Even cloning, evidence shown that all females are hard-coded to develop the disease should they become pregnant through the cloning process. They need a true cure the commander’s daughter is their only hope. Renloret rescue mission pilot to seek, The Blood. A crash in the canyon, Kela waking Ani but Kela is not there. Telepathic mode? Ani feeling ill upon the crash site, headaches, adrenline grip around her heart, seeing waves of colors, purple, yellow and blue, faint shades of green. Holo-cams? Conceal part of the crash site, but why? Taryn, the sheriff, hoped Renloret would be worthy, if he was, Taryn would stand next to him as a friend; if not, he’d just kill him. He smiled to himself, yes, he could do either. Choosing between two worlds, hmm…….something Renloret has to choose or does Ani? Fables and tales, lack of respect for the stones and singers. Renloret hears the voices, hear the stories, again why? He finds himself too curious for his own good.
Very good sci-fi story, the storyline excellent and flowed so smoothly, easy to follow page after page. The characters were believable and fitted well with what the author was trying to capture in this story, spot on. Enough action and excitement mixed in the dancing and singing, complete. How did the author fit in mind reading between Ani and Kela and to top it off a dog. Now that took some imagination there. Kela had a big role in this book, comical at times. I kind of equate this sci-fi to stories back in the 1970′s, same genre. Classic read and very enjoyable and one story to peak your curiosity and keep it peaked until you reach the end. Won this book on Goodreads, First Read Giveaway. Thank you,
———–
Which of Darlene’s comments has me excited about the storylines for books two and three? I am making changes to tentative outlines as I type. Darlene has asked at least one question which has actually been in the background of the overall story. I am not sure how I’m going to solve it or even if it will be solved. Have you figured it out? Do you have a question or comment?
July 18, 2014
Giveaway winners - have you received it yet?
Please let me know that you received it and that it was in good condition. I guess I am not very trusting about the postal service. I want you all to enjoy the book so this is NOT a push for you to read it. I just want to know if you have it in your hands or on your bookshelf.
Thank you for relieving my worries about reliability of US Postal System and how they interact with the various foreign mailing systems - and to my delight there were quite a few of those. I do realize that overseas mailing will take longer but when some things take up to two weeks to get 200 miles here in the US I worry that those winners in distant countries may not see the book until Christmas!
A simple "got it" will lessen my fears.
Thanks so much,
Allynn
