Started Chapter 12

Started working on Chapter 12.  I've not gotten to far into it.  But watching something inspired me for a scene with my newest character I created for this series of books, Ashes of the Fallen.  However that scene will probably not play out until close to the end of the Ashes of the Fallen series of books.  But I think I'll be looking forward to writing out that scene.   Not much more to inform of you, so I'll type more later when I have more.

One Chapter Down and Many More To Go

Writing continues slow but steady.  Tomorrow I'm gonna really try to focus on writing up Chapter 12.  Things are rushing to a head; but I think I need to slow things down a pace and let them play out properly.   Chapter Eleven saw the introduction of a very important character though it may not appear so at first to my readers, and I'm going to give her a cameo in each of the Ashes of the Fallen Series of Books so that people can see that she was there from the beginning of the series.   Not much more to say.  Gonna go to bed so I can get up early and start work on Chapter 12.  Well type more when I have more to say on my writing projects.

Chapter 11 Almost Done

On the last scene of Chapter Eleven, and then it's onto Chapter Twelve.  Nothing more to say then that.

Concerning Chapter Ten and Eleven

Finished Chapter Ten once more.   There is a lot repetition in writing, as you rewrite and rewrite.   Whisper of the Heart once compared it to polishing a gem to bring out it's beauty and I liked that analogy as it is quite accurate as what must be done in the craft of writing.   I do not know how many times I've been reworking this first book, but each time it gets me a little closer to the end of it.  I also worked on Chapter Eleven which only needs a couple more scenes before I am finished with it.  Everything is going more or less well.  I just need to concentrate more on getting the writing done for this story.  I was thinking it'd be cool if I could get the money to get each of my races drawn up so that people can see what they look like as kind of a teaser for what I am working on.  Although I'll probably be sorry come tomorrow for staying up this late working on my novel.  But as the saying goes, "Strike well the iron is hot." Nothing else to say so I'll just leave it at that for now, and will type more later.

Maping the World of Ashes of the Fallen

I watched this video and it inspired me to try my hand at making a map to feature in the first book of my Ashes of the Fallen Series of books.   I only wish it had gone up to trees, as I know how to make a coastline, mountains, and rivers, but I suck at drawing the trees and am hoping to learn how to draw trees for my map in the next video.  These videos seem pretty good and I am definitely looking forward to the next one in the series as it should help me with making maps I'd not be embarrassed to put into my books.

I haven't really worked any further on Chapters 10 or 11 but I have come up with an interesting new character to put into the books.   I have also come up with some interesting politics for the Kingdom of Nargoth for the second set of Books, dealing with Emissary Z'ren.    Nothing more to say.  Enjoy the video and I'll type more later.

The Second Video Came Out So I Thought I'd Just Add It To This Rather Then Create Another Blog Entry.

 

A little Peak at Chapter 11 of In the Shadows

 I'm still writing Chapter 10; but this scene just came to me on my walk home and felt like sharing some of it after writing it up this morning.
__________________________________

Part of Chapter 11

   Kaari stood as tall as the five foot nine Renadel, whom she forced backwards across the castle courtyard.  She smiled a little smug with herself.  She knew that this would be the day that she proved she could handle herself on the battlefield.  She had been training with Captain Renadel since she was fourteen, and she was almost twenty now.   Her arms were muscled as only those of a swordsman, lithe and full of long muscles in her arms, shoulders, and legs.  Despite this slight build up of muscles she had a comely face that favored her mother's Unndalg heritage, but in every other aspect she resembled her father, the King of Norens. 

   Then out of the corner of her light blue eyes she caught sight of her mother on the balcony.  Her attacks began to falter some under that glowering green eyed gaze, and got even worse as the scowl of disapproval deepened in the slight wrinkle across her mother's brow.  She soon found herself falling backwards onto her butt.  She let out a yelp after she had fallen. 

   Renadel scolded her, "You let your guard down.  If you really want to fight on the battlefield you can let nothing distract you.  Your mind must always be on the battle, and your surroundings.   You will find that if you can hone this skill it will benefit in more ways then you can understand right now."

    She turned her gaze back to the balcony to see her mother grinning, as if to say that her failure in that round against Captain Renadel was proof that the art of war was not a woman's duty to learn.  The Crown Princess then turned her attentions back to Renadel.

   Kaari pouted her luscious red lips, "It's only practice.  We are using wooden swords after all."
    "Even a wooden sword can be a dangerous tool in trained hands."  he struck her shoulder hard but she did not cry out.  She pushed back the tears she felt raising to her blue eyes.  She didn't want to appear weak before her combat master.  Crown Princess Kaari was learning more then swordsmanship from Captain Renadel, but all the arts of the warrior; archery, daggers, hand to hand combat, swordsmanship, and how to properly wield a pole-arm. 

     "Why didn't you block?"  Renadel inquired.

    "I didn't think to block."   Kaari replied honestly.

    Renadel sadly shook his head, "You need to think fast in a real fight.  Remember that."

    Kaari raised up her hand as she so often did after she had lost a round.  Renadel only stood there staring at that outstretched hand.  Kaari asked meekly, "Aren't you, a gentlemen, Renadel?  Will you not help a Lady to her feet."

    Renadel took her hand and then as she began to raise she felt the wooden sword stab hard into your stomach, "Dead again, Princess.   You can't trust your enemy to always hold to your code of honor.  The important thing to remember is that it's easy to die, the real aim of any fight is to ensure that the poor bastard that's your opponent is the one that dies and you live.

More on Chapter 10

Slow going on rewriting Chapter 10.  I'm halfway through Chapter Ten of In the Shadows.  I only need to finish writing the Margan scene and then after that I have the scene between Nadja the Mordrek and Rudal and I think that should round off Chapter 10 fairly well.  Hopefully I get In the Shadows done with soon.  Then I can go through the whole pain of really trying to save up money for an artist to commission for the cover of this thing.   I'd also like to be able to afford to put in black and white pictures at some of the chapter starts; but I doubt myself having the kind of money for that kind of thing.  Secondly because I'm thinking of changing where the first book ends and the second one begins that I might have to rethink my original idea of the cover illustration for the first book.

Chapter Ten and a little peek at what I wrote

I'm still working on Chapter Ten of In Shadows. I thought for those interested in this current project I'd share a little of my new favorite character I'm writing. Here is a little scene from Chapter 9 involving, Z'ren the Emissary from the jungle kingdom of Nargoth. But please keep in mind this is not going to be the finished product as I may go over this scene again to make grammar and any other corrections to it I see fit.

Out of the shadows of a passage a figure emerged with both his arms gripping the other in the the opposite sleeves of a fine pale blue silken robe. The fifty year old man with a full head of long gray hair and black emerald eyes smiled, "What a most unexpected surprise to find the return so swiftly of the Nathrak Emissary. I thought you would not be here for my final session of the Taine Court. I am honored, though I am sure you did not rush your return as I have only recently received the news that my Queen requires my presence elsewhere."

Lady Betlinde thinking quick on her feet was the first to reply, "Your advice and counsel shall be dearly missed, old friend."

Z'ren smiled at her as he gave a nod of his head towards her, "Ah Lady Betlinde, I shall miss your charm. Indeed Taine is so fortunate that there is only one of you."

She inquired unsure if he had heard their conversation or not, "And to what remote corner is the Queen of Nargoth sending her little jewel?" and she would not bring the matter up in the event that he had heard little of her conversation with the Nathrak Emissary. She did not trust Emissary Z'ren. His motivations and way of speaking all seemed far to foreign to her mind. Worst was the rumor that he took certain herbal practices that altered the brain as others took to alcohol, yet she had never seen him suffering the side effects of such herbal recreations. She did not know if these allegations were unfounded or not.

He withdrew an arm and held it somewhat melodramatically and on purpose against his head, " 'Tis a sad fate, oh beauteous princess of a house of nobility so ancient it begins to crumble. I am to be sent into even colder climes then fair Taine. The Kalyuune Mountains shall be my new home for many months until the cruel Queen sees the wisdom of sending me to a far warmer locale. I hope you shall pray for such a more pleasant fate for me to your Golden Gods. I am a mere heathen after all, and my worshiping and prayers belonging to the capricious nature of the cruel and rare benevolence of the God King and God Queen of Nargoth, and thusly you a devout follower of your Golden Gods shall have more favor with said Gods then I."

"Don't you mean Goddess Queen?" Lady Betlinde remarked offhand and without thought.

"Such distinctions are not so important in Nargothese, my lady." He said dismissively as he returned his arms back into the opposite sleeves to overlap onto the arms already in them.

Chapter 10 and onto sort of new material

I finished transcribing Chapter Nine last night. I started work once again on Chapter 10 and introducing new material from the previous version as drawing out the first book more to give the characters more time to develop/play in the world I've created. I am particularly pleased with a new character I created from the Kingdom of Nargoth. He is most amusing to write. At least he is to me. Sadly he will most likely only have that one scene in the first book to appear later once a few of the pivotal characters arrive in the Kalyuune Mountain Range of my story. So I got lots of stuff I need to put in chapter ten and even to add another new character in the form of the Mage for the Eastern Commander of Norens. Not much more to say on my writing so I'll talk more later. Oh yes, almost forgot I may or may not be helping a friend translate a manga into English for our own amusements. It might be fun or aggravating or both. Type more later.

Chapter Eight Transcribed

I have finished transferring over Chapter Eight from my typewritten pages to Nook Press, and I am quite pleased with it. I feel like the cat that has caught the canary as I have only more chapter to transfer over onto my PC. Then I shall be able to work on new material for the book. Which I believe is shaping up better then I thought it would. Especially since it feels like a work of my own and not the sources I was drawing from to create this little series I call Ashes of the Fallen. Not much else to say so I'll type more later.

Slow Going

Not got much to say except that I've been slowly working on transcribing what I had written up on my electric typewriter back up onto the Nook Press/my PC since I had lost the old one. Sadly my new version of Windows can't access my old External, so I've lost a lot of the background information on Ashes of the Fallen, and notes to other stories that I was going to work on in the future. I am hoping of finding some way to recover the information; but not sure how to go about doing it. Not much more to say except I'm working on transcribing Chapter Eight of In the Shadows.

In The Shadows Synopsis

This is roughly the synopsis for the first book of my Ashes of the Fallen series. THE STORMCLOUDS BEGIN TO GATHER. After The First War of the Dark, several millenia ago, the Gods of the Dark and the Light departed the physical world least the full might of their unleashed will to destroy one another shatter the world asunder. In their place the Gods began to use mortals as their tools to decide victories between the Darkness and the Light. Patiently the Darkness and the Light awaited IN THE SHADOWS the ever slow approach the fulfillments of the Ancient Prophecies. Once more They set the board for the confrontation between the Powers of Light and the Dark. Soon all the world may become engulfed in another War of the Dark. Villages along the border of Norens are being utterly decimated by some unknown power. A young boy named Margan nay hold the identity of these attackers. The Ancient Prophecy of the Kalunesh name this youth The First Ripple of The Stone. That is more or less what I came up with for this first book. I hope it's good.

Problems but still productive

My PC crashed on me, but I should have a new one this Thursday. I've been using an electric typewriterto keep up on my writing and its been very annoying as it isn't the same feel as a PC and I end up with a lot of typos. But I have three chapters written up for Ashes of the Fallen I 'll need to transcribe over, and convert my old hardrive into an external. I'm currently using my nook to acess internet, and to make this entry and getting tired of pecking to write. Not much else, will type more later.

Chapter Seven Started again

Not got a lot to say except that I started work on Chapter 7 today.  And I've got myself into a cast that might rival a Russian Novel.   I not only started chapter seven today, but also decided to make a dramatis personae for my book, to make it easier for people reading my work to know who is who in the book.  I obviously divided it up from the Kingdoms in which they inhabit.
I'm really liking were this is going with more detail being put into this work.  I hope it's making my characters feel more realistic and give the world more depth.  These being the very facts why I decided to go back over the story again; after getting stuck on chapter 13.  I'll type more later.

Onward to Chapter Seven, again!

Finished Chapter Six.  Yay!  Now to think on how I want to start Chapter Seven.  I'm thinking maybe I'll write up some new material and introduce another of the pivotal characters early on.  I was also thinking if anyone is interested in posting up the prologue of what I've got so far for In the Shadows if anyone is interested. If so please comment.

Chapter Six Almost Done Again

I only have two more scenes to write up and I'll be done with Chapter Six of In the Shadows, again.  Like I've said before hopefully each time I go back and work on this thing it is only getting better.  Not much else to tell other then that.  So I'll type more later.

In The Shadows of Chapter 6

Once more I am at Chapter 6.  I don't even remember how many times I've started over re-writing and re-writing this story.  But hopeful each time as I add more depth to story, it'll only make this tale better.   I realized how much a pain Chapter 6 is going to be to write as it'll start the introduction to new and pivotal characters as I thought it best to showcase one of the main characters who had been introduced differently each time I wrote the draft, and even changed their genders.  But I think maybe this time it'll be better done, since it will be the start of something I'm not very comfortable with; but needs to be done in this story and that is the intrigue and politics of an Imperial Court.  I hope I convey these things right.  Not much else to say so type more later.

Not much to say

Writing going slowly. Not much more to say then that for now.

A Query

I know I have not updated this blog in a while.   But I was thinking of maybe doing Vblogs and posting the videos of what I am discussing up on here.   If this is something you are interested in me doing let me know otherwise I'll just keep up with the written format.  I was thinking if I did do a Vblog I would probably try to have one up at least every other Thursday, discussing whatever you'd like to hear me talk about as far my projects or writing goes.  Keeping in mind, that I'm only an amateur writer that's trying to break out through e-publishing.

So if any of my readers are interested in seeing me do a Vblog for Forsaken Tomes, let me know by commenting on this entry.

More on Ashes of the Fallen

Looking at the First Book, In the Shadows I realized that the names for characters are just wrong for the cultures I was setting up so I started fixing that some.  Hopefully it makes the story better and more well rounded.  I also realized I was rushing things to much to get to scenes I really wanted to write.  So I'm going to slow it down some and write more scenes so you get to spend more time with the characters, even minor seeming ones to make the story fill more well rounded as I said earlier.   I worked some on re-writing the first chapter of In the Shadows; but not got more then a few new paragraphs.  I want to get back into the flow of things.   I haven't worked much at all on Princess of Darkness, but I just ordered the newest to be released VHD book, so there's hoping that inspires me to work some more on my Friar Fisher and Wiccan stuff too.   Not much else to tell on my writing or writing at the moment so type to more later.

Wiccan and Friar Series and the Hellaquin

My characters in Ashes of the Fallen aren't feeling real enough to me.  They feel like they don't exist outside of the frame work of the story so I decided to take a short break from the Ashes of the Fallen to work on Princess of Darkness.   Which brings me to what or rather who I am going to talk about in this entry.  There is a character a friend made up for the world of Wallachia RPG/stories of Friar Fisher which I shall call the Hellaquin as don't want to give out the real name of the character my friend created.  He was supposed to write a parallel story or rather a story in the same world as Friar Fisher exists in; but he is having trouble with writing it.   This is a character who's story I would very much like to read.   And in fact I am going to give him a cameo in Princess of Darkness.  Though given what the character is, unless someone is really looking they may not even recognize the character as the Hellaquin.

The idea of the character is based off of French legend I think, about a demonic court jester, hence the term I'm using of Hellaquin.  I think that's what he was called in the legend roughly.  

Moving on I'm going to try to work on both Princess of Darkness as I try to rework/re-think how to make my Ashes of the Fallen Characters more realistic.

I guess that's all I have to say for now.  Type more later.

Videos By Writer

Inspirational, and good advice I think.

Update

I've been working on my writing, however I haven't finished Chapter 13 but am going back over the earlier chapters since I'm stuck on 13 at the moment.   I realized after reading Guardian of the Spirit that not all my characters were human or real enough, so I'm going back and fixing that some.  So though I've not been progressing forward at least I'm writing something on this Ashes of the Fallen project.

Bad Writer

I am such a bad writer.  I haven't really written anything.  I've just been feeling so tired lately and uninspired to work on anything.   I just think maybe I'm losing my touch at writing, which I don't want to happen; but I find it hard to go to the keyboard and actually type a story. A fact which is sad since I still love to write and tell tales.  I hope I get back into it as these ideas within my head are too good to just let them slide from me into the ash piles.   I apologize for not updating this in a long time.  But I won't go into details of why I feel so tired and uninspired as this is a log for about writing and more in point, my writings.

I have some days off coming up, hopefully I use them productively and spend at least one day working on my writing, even if it is not the Ashes of the Fallen stuff.   I'm not sure what's more popular in the market; Dark Fantasy such as my Hultan/Friar Series or the Standard Fantasy Genre with Elves and Knights and stuff like that.   But then I shouldn't be looking at it from that as a real writer.  A real writer has a story inside him/her and they have a burning desire to tell this story.   It's not about what will sale well or not.  It's what you got inside of you.  That's all that matters, and I have to keep telling myself that and to get back to my writing.   Maybe writing this entry may spark something in me to return to my writings.  Who knows.   Thanks to those that read this and hopes you enjoy my ramblings.  Later.

Pffft Writers...such lazy people :P

Lame I know but it's been a while and I've not really been doing much writing.  So I apologize.

Struggling with Chapter 13

I think it's the summer heat and my lazy nature; but been staring still at the evil chapter 13 and keep deleting it as I don't like what I keep typing; but I've finally satisifed with something I was able to write today for Chapter 13..and it's not much as don't know where to take it from here.  But thought I'd share a little of what I have written as part of Chapter 13.  Again, it is not much.  Only a little teaser of things in the Ashes of the Fallen universe's first book.

"The walls shrank in about Nadja, as she sat huddled up on the cot with her legs drawn up to her breasts.  She hated being trapped within the confines of this cell; with it’s near darkness and stale, damp air.  And worst of all the acute scent of mold growing on the far wall.   "

Sorry to say that's all i have been able to come up with so far for this chapter. Maybe I should take a break over the summer on my writing and return to it when it's more cool outside and I can focus better.

May Day and Block

Evil Chapter 13.   I really need to focus more on my writing.  But I keep getting distracted by things; which sucks. I know what has to happen in Chapter 13.  I'm just having problems putting it into words again.  Once I get the scene started I know I can write it.  It's just writing it is the problem.  Everytime I open chapter 13 I just stare at the page for like 30 minutes thinking on how to start the chapter.  But since at my PC I get distracted after that 30 minutes; especially since I joined a Forum/Board RPG.  So at least I'm writing something; even if its not completely productive to my Ashes of the Fallen Series.   It's just been a while since I wrote anything on here and figured people that read this may have an interest in where my writing is going.

And to all those few that have bought my works and enjoyed them I'd like to say thanks.

Chapter 12

Finished Chapter 12, so I'm glad about that...now I have the evil blank page of Chapter 13 mocking me as I just sit there staring at it and hoping something will come into my brain.  I know what has to be put down on it. I'm just having trouble of what viewpoint to use and how to start up the scene.  Hopefully I get it started soon as I really want to get this first book of Ashes of the Fallen done as I've not really worked on anything else.   I've been working on this book for a few years now.  It's had a lot of changes from the initial story which I just started writing without ever finishing it before I realized halfway through I was approaching everything wrong and decided to take it slower and not as fast paced as originally intended and I hadn't really built out the world.  I just had these characters in my head, who are no longer even like originally designed.  Unlike my Friar Fisher and Mordecai Lee who have pretty much stayed the same from original concept.  Even as I built up the world more so around my dark fantasy characters they didn't alter too much in personality; unlike in the Ashes of the Fallen series; where in some cases genders and such as well as fantasy races were changed.   I really am curious what will sell better, My Ashes of the Fallen Series or my dark fantasy series concerning Friar Fisher and Mordecai Lee.  Not much else to really bs on so I'll end it here for now.  And get back to you later on Chapter 13's progress.

And for those that are interested here again is a sample of me reading Wolves of North Wood.
On Nook:  Wolves of North Wood Short
On Kindle:  Wolves of North Wood Short

Secondly not sure if people like hearing me read...so if you guys want to hear me reading out a sample of Horror of Hellgarde please let me know by commenting on this blog.  

Chapter 12 Almost Done

I'm so proud of myself. I got that scene finally written out and I am mostly satisfied with it.   I just have one last scene to write and Chapter 12 will be done and I can move onto Chapter 13.  My story is now at 27913 words approximately  I now only need 12,087 for it be considered Fantasy genre novel length, and 2,087 words approximately short for it to be considered general novel length. I'm tempted to end it on a certain cliffhanger but thinking maybe I shouldn't do that. I'll probably finish it with the original outlined ending and not do that; but tempted to do otherwise.   It'd be cool if I wrote passed the required 40,000 words for this; but I won't know until I come to the end of this first draft how long it'll be roughly.  

Lazy

I've been being too lazy lately; but I did work some on Chapter 12 of Ashes of the Fallen.  Other then that I've not been doing as much as I probably should writing wise.  I really need to buckle down more and at least get chapter 12 finished as I've been working or rather ignoring it for at least a month now.

On Kindle and Nook

Here are the links to my works.  First the Kindle Ones

Horror of Hellgarde   (New Story)
Wolves of the North Wood (Old Story)

Now the Nook Links:

Horror of Hellgarde  (New Story)
Wolves of the North Woods  (Old Story, first one).

Please hope you check them out and enjoy them.

Coming Soon

Just uploaded Horror of Hellgarde onto the Kindle.  For those that are interested I'll have the link for both the Nook and the Kindle in my next blog post.   Look forward to it.

What's been going on with me lately.

I know it's been a long time between my posts on here.  So I thought I'd update people on what's been going on with my writing lately.  And the answer to that is nothing.  I've been getting too easily distracted by other things.  But I got some ideas and am going to go back over what I've written so far for Ashes of the Fallen's first book.  I'm also going to have Horror of Hellgarde released now; but know that the cover may or may not be the final cover in the end as I'm still waiting on the artist and this is the cover so far as it's been provided to me.   I don't like to rush artists I hire as I want to treat them as professionally as possible.  Because I understand they have normal lives.  I'll update this post as soon as the book goes live.

A question I wonder is once I have the next book, Princess of Darkness done I think I'll have enough content that it might be worth looking into print copies and wondered if anyone would be more interested in seeing a printed version of all three works in one book rather then seeing it in digital form.  If so please let me know by commenting that you'd be more likely to buy my works if they were in print rather than digitally done.

Here is the link to my new work,  Horror of Hellgarde
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/horror-of-hellgarde-jason-stanley/1114166394?ean=2940016009179

Just Finished Chapter 11 of In the Shadows

I just finished Chapter 11 and things are getting good in the story I hope.   Not much else going on story wise, aside from having worked on the Lay of Keiken and Erienne.  Originally I thought I'd try to do it in standard Lay fashion; but found that too hard.  So instead I've written it out in more the form of a ballad instead.  It was just easier and less time consuming.  

I am now at 24,998 words aproximately.  So I only need to about 15,112 more words for this story to be considered proper Fantasy/SF novel length and only 5,012 words in length for standard novel length of general fiction or nonfiction.  

Not much else to say so I'll talk to you more later when I have more to say on my works.

Glimpse Into the Feeble Magician

A small look into Feeble Magician's setting from my background notes on the Warlock King's wars.

This is the journal entries of me getting a feel for the main character not of the first book, Feeble Magician/Orb of Souls/Forgotten Throne (not sure which title going with for first book); but the character for the second book, The Warlock King's War.

First Journal Entry of Elphin:


Entry for Winter Solistice

The hour is late and the candlelight hurts and weakens my eyes as I transcribe these pages.  This is my first entry into a journal.  I have not kept a regular account of my life until this moment.  I have not seen a reason to; but others, my colleagues mostly have impressed upon me the importance of keeping track of life for as my friend Devon Ormond once told me, the mind begins to wonder with age and memories fade into the recesses of the mind until they can no longer be recalled.

I suppose I should start with my beginning.  Most stories start that way so why not my journal.  My memory is not clear where I was born, fore it was no different then any other fishing village on the coast of Bradain, which is now called Erioch.  My earliest memory is of being cradled in the warm arms of a fourteen year old woman with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail and the fond scent of sea spray abounded about her.  At the time I believe I thought she was my mother.  Most of those years are as foggy to me as the coast I grew up on.  I was four years old when I learned that this woman that had nurtured and showed me love was not my mother.  Her name was Gwendolyn daughter of Cormac.  But to me she would always be my beautiful Gwen.  How I made her fret once I had learned to walk.  You see I was a sickly child with a sense of curiosity about everything in the world around me.  I learned to walk late in life, I was only three years old before I had strength to go exploring around our little home.  At least I believe I was three.  Most of my time was spent in and around that large one room fishing house.  It had been made, no doubt, from driftwood by my father's father.  Or perhaps even before that. I do not know how long fishing has been in the line of my family.

If Gwen was my mother then Conen was like a father to me.  My real father was far to busy to be bothered with a sickly child.  In truth I believe my father stayed out so long fishing because I to closely resembled my departed mother.  I do not know much of her from personal experience; only the amusing stories that came to me from Gwen and Conen.  She was a woman with a keen sense of humor and keen eye for business.  She had been sickly herself but that did not prevent her from being a good fishmonger's wife.  I have been told that she was among the most beautiful woman in the village.  Other then that I know very little about her.

My childhood was frustrating and I had been given very little education.  My father and siblings feared that I would not live long enough to even bear warrant to teach me the family trade.  My oldest brother, that would be Conen, dearly loved me and saw me as the last gift that our mother would grant them.  He was headstrong and had at times an overbearing sense of pride; which was odd to me in a fisherman's son.  He felt that he deserved better in life.  I am fortunate and unfortunate for this.  It would be his death; but for me it would mean a new life.  He heard the tales from travelers about great wonders wielded by scholarly figures known as mages.  He thought that if I could go amongst them that I would learn of a cure to my weak constitution.  So it was late in the night that Conen came to me.  I was a half asleep as we walked with very little on our backs headed for the King's city, the capital of Bradain, Pelior.

I am certain my father was glad to be rid of me; but Conen I am sure he missed.  Conen would have inherited the family trade; where as I....   I have not seen my little home since that day nor would I know where to find my sister and other brother, Bres.  No doubt they are still on that same forgetable coast living a simple life.

My hand and eyes grow tired and I have not even began to discuss the quiet day I had today.  They have all been far to quiet lately.  The Warlock King's War is over but there is an edge, a tension on the air I dislike.  I shall try to write again tomorrow.

(I'll post up the second entry of his journal sometime next week perhaps.)

A Return To An Old Tale

I started work on another novel project.  One that has been long on my back burners.  I am working on two novel projects.  The First you all know as the Ashes of the Fallen Series; which I have plotted out to 8 books roughly with the possibility that it'll be more close to 9-10 books in the end depending on how story flows. The Ashes of the Fallen Series is an experiment for me, and that experiment is that I'm writing somewhat formula fantasy fiction, a first for me.

The second project I'm working on is my Feeble Magician Series.  It was originally intended to be a children's book, and then it started turning away from that.  The original idea behind Feeble Magician is that I wanted an Inu Yasha styled story set in a European Fantasy setting; but it turned out to be a creature all it's own.  And for a while I thought perhaps it'd not be good as a book; but better served in the medium of a manga/graphic novel.   I have since revised that opinion a little, on merits of money.   I'll probably never see a manga or anime of Feeble Magician due to lack of capital and finances.   So I decided to further expand my experiment and see what will sell better for me.   I am going to release both the first novel of Feeble Magician at the same time I release the first novel for Ashes of the Fallen and see which sells better.  If either sell at all.

Feeble Magician is not as well planned out as Ashes of the Fallen, but I have rough ideas of what it should be like as I've written it half way through many times and each time I think it gets a little better when I return to the project as I think and hope I am improving in my Craft as I get older and more experience.   I'll update this when I have more to say on my writing.  Until then look forward to Horror of Hellgarde which should be coming out soon as I have the money to make the final payments on the cover.  The cover is looking great so far and hope more people will check out my Friar Fisher series.

And I leave you with a very tiny snippet from the rough draft for my first Feeble Magician book:

"
Detestable, everything about the situation; his lodgings, the unexpected foul weather, the condition of the inn and it’s women.  He had taken note of the name, the Broken Blade, and to Garien’s surprise much of the furniture was in sore need of repair. Garien had taken note of the name to ensure to never stop into this inn again the next time he passed through Morr’s Landing.  Over the counter that served as the main counter for the barkeep were the pieces of a shattered long sword mounted on a black plaque.   Obviously this was meant to be the blade from which the Inn took it’s name.    No doubt there was some great tale around it being the blade of some great hero that felled a mighty demon or even a dragon, shattering as both foes died in the final conflict.    Or some other tall tale, inns were usually full of them, it was one way they tried to draw in business with these outlandish tales.  Tales that Garien the Magnificent Mage of Arapol found laughable against the cruel fates he had to endure since departing The University of the Mystical Arts of the Arcane Mysteries, that was more commonly known as the Wizard Academy by the simple and common folk.
"

Coming Soon

Got the cover drawn and done and so hopefully Horror of Hellgarde will be posted up for sale on the Nook.

Update On In the Shadows

Update On Ashes of the Fallen's First Book, In the Shadows.

Finished Chapter Ten and started Chapter Eleven for In the Shadows, first book of the Ashes of the Fallen Series of books I'm working on.   The word count is now at 21,898.  Which means I am now at novella territory, a first for me to have a story with that many words.   I just need roughly another 10,000 (in general) to 20,000 (fantasy/sf novel) words to reach a word count that's considered novel length.  If it goes over the 20,000 that'll still be cool with me as it's more important to have a novel length that finishes the first book properly rather then meeting an exact word count to me.   

I hope I have this book is finished soon, and hope to work more on some other projects; but want to get the first draft of this written up in this new story line. Originally this was written up; but I've altered things very drastically from that initial draft.  The series had never finished itself where I was posting it up on the art site I used to frequent.  That first version moved faster then this one.  I slowed it down, as I had wanted to have more of the right feel instead of trying to rush to scenes I longed to write and enjoyed writing.   

News on Horror of Hellgarde

I know it is late in saying this, but to my blog readers, I wish you all a Happy New Year.   I have hired an artist for Horror of Hellgarde.  So hopefully it shall be up soon.  

Here is a sample of Horror of Hellgarde:

I

   “Do not speak lightly such names, Wiccan.”  the old man wagged his finger, “If it were me I should forget going all together.   Arizau was never a wholesome place, and since His death the curse has only made Hellwood worse.”

   The crimson banged, brunette Hultan seemed to mutter half to himself in a matter of factly tone, “That is my road, for good or ill.”

   The old man shook his head, “If you insist on going, Wiccan, at least see sense and hire a carriage or horse and give wide berth to those cursed woods.”

   “You know little of my kind, old man.   No beast of burden will bear my sorcerous weight.”

   The old man grunted and folded his arms across his chest, “Suit yourself.   Remember that I warned you, so don’t come haunting me after some fiend has gnawed out your guts.”

   “And for that you have my sincere thanks old man.  It is more then most would have given one of my kind.”   With that the Hultan known as Mordecai, once of House Lee, again began to traverse the road towards Arizau.  The scowling figure of the old man sitting on the step of the ramshackle inn faded into the distance.  For an ordinary traveler on foot the next village, Rakrow, lay four days ahead, however for the Hultan it had taken little more than a day and a half.   

   The Hultan struck an impressive image as he strode into the silent village of Rakrow.  The setting sunlight had cast an unearthly aura over his dark locks and blood red bangs, his dark blue, weather beaten traveler’s cloak and black body glove armor made him appear like some feared demon out of the ancient legends.  His golden eyes shimmered in the fading sunlight as he surveyed the village.   The dirt streets were completely empty of all human traffic, and nervous eyes peered from shuttered windows.  As he drew closer to the center of the village he could make out four shadowy figures waiting for him.  

   Mordecai stopped before this small force.   Their leader appeared to be a middle aged man in  worn leather pants, a faded blue shirt, with a dusty brown vest covering it.   On that dusty vest rested a faded star, the badge of his constable position within this village.  This constable kept an old saber strapped to his hip. Mordecai smelt fear rolling off of him; but despite that the constable seemed to be putting up a brave front as the wealthy seeming man, no doubt the village’s mayor, flanked him with the town’s doctor at the other flank and some youthful deputy taking the rear guard position, only the mayor and constable bearing swords as the other two held clubs in their hands, but all four seemed filled with superstitious fear.
   
   The constable‘s hand rested uneasily on the pommel of his saber, “We don’t take kindly to strangers, especially ones like you.”  It was at that point that the one the Hultan took to be the village mayor spoke up, “We have never welcomed servants of the Old Boyars.  Best you slink back into whatever hell pit you crawled out from.”

   The doctor and youth muttered, “Yeah.”

   Mordecai had expected such a reaction reaction.   It was how many villagers reacted to the presence of Hultans and other ‘unnatural’ creatures.  He did not hold their distrust against them, after all it was distrust and staying vigilant that kept a village around longer than those that openly let in strangers.  And it was not like some of the constable’s words were untrue.  In the past many Hultans had been the servants of the vampyre, known as the Nobility or in the case of peasants as the Old Boyars.

   Mordecai informed those gathered before him, “I am no servant to the Old Boyars.  I am merely passing through to Arizau.”

   The constable’s warning came swiftly to his lips, “Then keep moving, demon eyes.”

   The mayor at that point spoke up again in a quivering voice, “And never pass through here again.”

   Mordecai felt those hateful, nervous eyes boring into his back as he continued to make his way through the village, and back out onto the road.  The Hultan had decided that he would put some distance between himself and Rakrow before taking his rest for the night.


*********

   He had not slept since he had first entered Hellwood four days ago, and already the Hultan felt the weariness of sleep deprivation beginning to take it’s toll.  There was no other explanation for finding himself in this situation.   Only seconds ago daylight faintly filtered into the foggy gloom of Hellwood, and now an unnatural darkness had settled over his trail.  Cautiously Mordecai stalked these woods with his keen senses alert.  He nearly choked on the noisome presence of the thickly encompassing demonic miasma.   The Hultan’s left hand unsheathed his cheap sword and with a single swift slash, he cut at the dark miasma and returned the blade to it‘s sheath all in one fluid motion.  Green pus and vapor spilled out into the air making the Hultan gag on the foul aroma while along the blade danced a shimmering red light; soon he saw more such tiny dots of light dancing in the near distance.  

   Mordecai observed to himself in mild annoyance, “Faery Lights.”  He knew that no matter what path he took he would have to confront those lights before he could progress further into the woods.