R.M. Ridley's Blog

There’s More to Me than Writing Words about my Muse

The Series Continues with – FATED

Training Log

Vanguard: Elora Walker

Day: 278

Posting: Keystone, Earth��s End

Quad Commander: Marcus Vaughn

Vanguard Superior: Elias Adamsson

��19:30

Reported for duty. Marcus informed us that we were on standard patrol in Breakers. Resisted the urge to complain about the boring routine of hitting the same town for the eleventh night in a row. I know my luck��that��s just asking for trouble.

20:15

Departed on foot for Breakers. Was still pretty warm so the long run in black uniform was unpleasant, but not unusual. Nothing else to report. It was still too light out for much of the local Dark Seeker population to grace us with their presence. Received a ��gentle reminder�� from Marcus that they could all here my not-so-polite complaints through the mental link. Made a point to stop complaining about the heat and apologised. (Honestly, only mentioning it because he won��t and I was in the wrong.)

22:38

Encountered a single vampire. He was young, turned within the last fifty years at a guess. It was clear to us that he was hunting. We stalked and surrounded using the box formation, made much easier by our ability to communicate without speaking aloud. Vampire was captured by 23:02 with no injuries. He was logged in to command, who sent a detention vehicle for him (or it, whichever you prefer).

23:25

Returned to open patrol after transfer of the detained vampire. Water break at 00:00, but no other observations to report throughout the patrol.

06:30

Marcus ordered return to Keystone. A quiet night on patrol, but a long time to run for. The half hour run back to base was icing on the cake. Made a note to request (again) that vehicles be used to collect quads at the end of long patrols out here. Dehydration took out three more Vanguards last week. That makes almost twenty-five in the last month. It��s hot, we run for nine to ten hours, without a break, and the run back is an unnecessary and cruel punishment. Why can��t we just catch a bus?

07:45

Training session with Vanguard Leith. Focus was on new approaches towards tracking. Received another informal reprimand that making jokes during training wasn��t appropriate, even if the only people who could hear them were my quad and I. Apologised to Vanguard Leith, who shrugged because she hadn��t noticed. (Again, Marcus won��t say anything so I will.) Training was interesting and the teabag approach may be useful. For my own reference at a later date, the teabag approach is a method of distraction used to draw focus onto one player in the field to allow the others to flank and then tighten up around the Dark Seeker, while reducing the risk of confrontation.

09:00

Dinner followed by endurance training. Twelve mile run (because we don��t run enough out here) followed by weights and some yoga to stretch out the muscles. Then Marcus and I worked on my hand to hand techniques, with a focus on ensuring that I use my diminutive height to my advantage. Worked long enough and hard to enough to sustain minor injury to my left shoulder. Marcus ordered me to get checked out.

10:27

Reported to the infirmary. Suggested to the nurse they name a wing after me��not sure she saw the funny side. Doctor confirmed injury was just muscular and would heal with rest over a few days. After reading through my notes again, the Doctor then asked if I understood the concept of rest. I recall rolling my eyes but this wasn��t seen as reprimand-worthy, this time. I assured the doctor I would take it easier than usual. I tried to be convincing and was sent away with pain killers to take.

11:36

Bed. Signed off duty until later today. Call-back time is 17:15 due to dual quad mission.

15:45

Went for a run. Unable to sleep due to pain in shoulder, bad dreams and stress. Took the outer path which tracks around the wall. Presence was confirmed by Vanguards at all nine checkpoints. Did three laps before stopping in at the Sanctuary for some quiet reflection.

16:30

Breakfast with my quad. Marcus seemed worried about the mission, but I think he��s just over protective. Simon and Maria spent a lot of time making jokes at his expense, but there were no further reprimands (formal or otherwise).

I certify that this is a true and honest account:�� Elora Walker��

(PS: Mom, if you wanted to read my reports, you could have just asked. I would have sent them to you. No need to ask Marcus to do it for you. And seriously, he can��t keep a secret from me, so why did you try? Love you. E)

��

Now we put Joanne to the task of answering some tough questions

If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?

First, that all the dreams my children have come true. I just want them to be happy and healthy (and that the teenage years aren��t too awful!). Second, that more and more people fall in love with this series! I love to interact with fans and am so eager to hear what they have to say about Fated! And third��this is tough��I guess that I just want to write new things, different things, and still be able to teach, because I love my ��proper job��!

Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

I guess, I would love a small hut at the end of my garden. All I really need is a wireless connection and my music, so I don��t need much beyond that! Windows��so I can see the children while I work!

Where do you actually write?

Either on the sofa, wrapped in a quilt my mum made for my when I was sixteen, or at my desk in the playroom (which is actually our conservatory, so is either roasting or freezing with no real in between!). Our cat is usually curled up next to me and it��s always late �� so dark.

How long does it normally take you to write a novel?

Five to seven weeks is the usual timescale. It��s the only time I have in between school terms. This is the first draft, of course. Depending on the availability of my editing team, it can take another eight to ten weeks to edit, but that is far less intensive. (Well, now I don��t make all of the awful mistakes I made before my awesome editor, McKenna Gardner, got her hands on me!)

What are your inspirations?

I read a lot of YA literature, which made me realise more and more that I wanted to write my own��that I could write my own! I write for my children as well. I wanted to show them that anything is achievable if you work hard enough. If I can inspire them to go after their dreams, then I have done something right in terms of parenting!

How did you come to write this particular book or series?

The series started many years ago, when an unexpectedly free summer holiday gave me time to just put fingers to keyboard and hammer something out. The series came about because my publisher, Xchyler, took a chance on me. They saw the diamond of my story in the rough of my first novel and were the best support I could have asked for. Honestly, Fated exists because of the incredible editing team at The X.

What was the hardest part of writing your book, and how did you overcome it?

I knew what had to happen in this novel. The hardest part was knowing that the right ending, the ending that had to happen, was going to upset people. As part of the process, I wrote an alternative ending, but it was such a disappointment to read. I hope that my readers can see why it has to end the way it does, and the come and interact with me to discuss it. (Bet you��re all intrigued now, aren��t you?)

What is your writing drive? The power that keeps you going when your writing gets difficult?

I think that because my time is so limited, that is my drive. I don��t have the time to get stuck or lose focus��I just have to get on with it! It does help that there��s been a long gap between books, so there has been time to write the story in my head before I sit down to type it. It makes the whole process much quicker.

How did you come up with the title?

When I signed on with Xchyler Publishing, part of that was an agreement for the full series. When we were getting ready to release Foretold, we brainstormed titles in series. With all three of books already penciled out, the titles had to link them together. Honestly, I think my editor in chief came up with the titles!

Name one entity that you feel supported your writing, outside of family members?

My friend, Karen Banks. She might as well be family, but isn��t! She supported the books from the very beginning, encouraged me to submit to publishers and agents, and has generally been my cheerleader! I don��t think that the series would exist without her. I wrote the second novel (in its original form) for her as a Christmas present. She spent the whole of her Christmas Day that year sat on her sofa with the book and an editing pen! Her husband didn��t complain once.

What is your favorite late night snack while writing?

Sweets, biscuits, chocolate, crisps. Pretty much anything! I��m not a very healthy snacker.

What was the most surprising part of writing this book?

I don��t think anything was surprising. The novel had been planned out for over three years, and I��d been writing it in my head for two of those years, so writing the novel was actually the easy part!

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