Things and thoughts

What kinds of things and thoughts?  I’m not sure.  Last weekend I attended that LDS Story Makers conference, which for those of you who don’t know, is a writers conference.  Had a great time, saw some friends, made some new ones, and learned some cools stuff about writing.  That’s why you go to conferences, to see/make friends, and to learn how to be a better writer.  Lets hope that some of the lessons sank in.  On the subject of writers conferences, I would encourage anyone who wants to write to try and attend as many such conferences as you can.  Yes, they can be expensive, so don’t think you have to go to everything that comes up if you want to be a writer.  As with all things, do as much as you can or as much as you can afford.

Let me see… no real news on book 4 at this time.  It is moving forward, but as always the publishing business is all hurry up and then wait.  (I hate waiting)  So I guess for now we are moving slowly, but at least we are moving.  Also, I don’t know what the color of book 4 will be, and I’m not sure what will be on the cover, but we are talking about it.

Just a few questions since the last post, and a few comments that need more comments added, so here we go in no particular order.

Connie is right, Dragon.  You should write down all of your ideas for stories, you never know when you might need them.  Don’t worry if you aren’t a strong writer or not, you get stronger by writing more.  Yes, it’s strange that both reading and writing make you a better writer, and studies show that they also make you a better overall student.  Write those ideas down, someday you might want them.  Also, Dragon, the reason Alex didn’t go into his bag when he was alone in the mountains on his way to face the necromancer is simple.  You would be safe and warm in your bag, but you don’t know what might be waiting for you outside your bag in the morning.  Better safe than snug in this case, as Alex didn’t want to come out of his bag and be facing some undead monster first thing in the morning.

Peter, most adventurers are friendly people so I don’t know if Alex will ever go on an adventure with someone he doesn’t like.  It is possible, or he might go on an adventure with someone who is just annoying or maybe cocky, we’ll have to see.

Now, about movies.  Yes, I would love the books to be made into movies, but that isn’t really up to me.  First of all, I don’t have the money to make them into movies myself so we need to find a producer who wants to make them into movies for us.  Second, well, the publisher holds the rights to the movies, so they will have to agree to sell them to our as yet unknown producer who wants to make the books into movies.  I hope it happens, but I don’t know if it will or not.  (Anybody know a big time producer?)

The great arch?  Yes, you do need to talk to someone when traveling through the great arch so you end up in the right land.  The people who run adventure shops, like Mr. Clutter, can arrange this for you.  (See The Horn of Moran-)  Also, wizards can work the great arch so that they can travel where they need to without waiting for anyone else to set things up.  And speaking about the great arch there was a question about Mr. Clutter being a door/gate keeper.  In a way Mr. Clutter is a door/gate keeper, but not.  He can arrange for the great arch to send you to the right land, he has the magical back door and the wardrobe, but he doesn’t have the ability to open paths into other lands by himself.  Hope that makes sense, and if it doesn’t let me know and I’ll try to explain more clearly.

Joshua, Yes, healers would normally be paid an extra share for being healers.  Alex is a healer, but so far he hasn’t claimed an extra share for being a healer.  I believe that any adventurer with “special” abilities might get an extra share, but they can also decline the extra share if they want to.  If, for example, they don’t think their ability will be needed in the adventure, they might decline.  This also happens if when they join the adventure there doesn’t appear to be a need for any special ability.  If they do need to use their talent as healer, or thief, or spy, or whatever, the leader of the adventure can adjust the adventures agreement when the adventure is over.

How long will the Sands of Nezza be?  Not sure yet.  Right now it is a little shorter than Albrek’s Tomb, but we still need to do edits and changes, so it might grow a bit still.

Finally, about my friend Dobkin and the other smithies.  I believe they will reappear in the series, but I don’t think the hex on Dobkin has a major part in the story… unless of course I change my mind and add something that might be important later… dang, now I’m not sure.  Well, for now there isn’t anything special about what happened to Dobkin.

I think that’s it for this time.  Currently I’m waiting on feed back for The Sands of Nezza so I can do re-writes, and as I wait I’m working on a completely different story which will be, when I finish it, the first book in a trilogy.  I’m calling this new book, “Seeds of Power”, but that might change as things get done.  What’s it about?  Well, I’ll work on the short, short synopsis and hopefully post it next time.  I will say that there are going to be dragons in it, but that’s because I really like dragons in all their different forms.

Until next time, I am yours in fellowship,

Mark