I really enjoy drawing. I can’t say I’m great at it, but it is something I’ve enjoyed since I was a little kid. More likely than not it’s just not something I do often enough to get really good. Regardless of that, I still have fun with it, and that is good enough for me! In the last few weeks I’ve gotten into pastel’s. Not long ago I shared my first pastel drawing, this is my second. It is a wolf cub (or it is supposed to be if you can’t tell *grin*).

I didn’t really add much shading I guess. I could have added shadows around the tops of his legs and behind his ears and such. Oh well, I’ll work on that more for my next drawing.

Usually I reserve Wednesday’s for my day of not posting here. As much because I want the TNS to have two days on top as to give myself a break from this. Yesterday was a bit of an odd day for me. I just didn’t feel like posting. In reality, I felt bummed out until about 9:30PM. I guess we all have those days.

I’ve been reading over my second draft for the last couple days and realizing that Chapter 1 is kind of a boring way to start a book. I think a prologue is in order. For the life of me though, I could not decide on what to write for it. Brainstorming to help that raised dozens of questions that I really didn’t have an answer to as well. It’s good though, it forces me to confront these questions now rather than later.

Part three of the story has added much interest I think. Now there is a more specific path the story seems to be heading down, but there is still plenty of room for things to change down the line. It’s rather fun getting to do this every week. Especially in the midst of editing like I am, a story that only gets a brief edit is something I am truly enjoying!

As always, I hope you enjoy the story. Click here if you missed part 1 or part 2.

“I believe the exact words were ‘if I see you again, I will kill you,’ yes?”

“Spare me your flattery, Zeegrak. I did not come to socialize. I have no doubt you could kill every one of the men waiting to come if I fail to return, but it is no more how you want to spend your day than how I want to.”

Pekosh considered the words. The queen of this realm was never one to show fear, and it… and she had always left him this land without asking for anything in return. “Very well, Lady Modros, I am listening.”

“There is a new threat to both our lands. Yes, you heard me right. I consider this part of my kingdom yours just as you do. You have a unique set of skills and I have need of those skills.”

The Zeegrak almost spit at the words, but stopped himself. After all, he could be civilized if she could. “I am no longer an assassin for your bloodline Kiarsi. Find someone else.” He turned to leave.

“Not even to settle a debt, old friend?” He froze in place. Memories of her as a young child, teaching her to fight and to play, flooded into his mind and he pushed them away just as quickly. “So, you do remember centuries past. The threat comes from an old family; the Byron household is a curse on both our lands, as I said.”

He knew she was treading carefully on this path, unwilling to say the truth of what happened so long ago. It was just as good for her. “Go on.”

The queen nodded. “This year the only heir to the Byron bloodline has become a man. Hmm, so you do keep up with the happenings of the world outside your home. Good, so much the better. It has given Lord Victor Byron a boldness he has been waiting for a good long while. He is rousing an army to challenge the throne.”

“And how do you know of this, the Lord was never one to gossip?”

“You think so little of me, Pekosh? It is my job to know these things.”

“Very well, why should I care of the destruction of your people?”

“Because Victor would never give you what I have given you. I respect you, and I am sorry for the pain my family caused you all those years ago.”

He looked at her doubtfully, but there was true sincerity in her eyes. “What is it you want?”

“Why, his death of course.”

“And if I refuse?”

She looked reluctant, and then nodded as if to herself. “Lord Byron holds the Eye of Zigaru.”

He hissed. “You lie, Kiarsi!” She did not flinch.

“Why would I? It means nothing to me. He wears it as an amulet. A victory of his descendants, he calls it th-.”

“Amulet of Blood,” he finished for her. And then he knew it was no lie. “Very well, do you wish the boy to die as well?”

She paused in consideration before shaking her head. “No, the boy has done nothing wrong. He does not need to pay for his family’s mistakes.”

“You are still a weak little girl, Kiarsi.” He grinned viciously, but she didn’t respond. The grin fell from his lips, the fun of the moment lost to her sadness.

“The innocent have died too many times,” was all she said.

Pekosh knew she was thinking of her own murdered children. It was never proven, but he at least was sure of the family who had caused her that pain. The Byron’s were a vicious household and a bane on all the realm, even to his standards. Perhaps he would end that bloodline despite her wishes. It could look like an accident after all. He concealed the grin budding inside him.

“Very well, my Queen, I shall do as you ask.”

Second Draft: 100%, Third Draft 25%

The second draft has been completed of my Young Adult novel! I’m so excited about this story. I really think it is something rather original, but still based on legends, myths, and history. In my mind, those are the best stories. Timeless tales with a twist (is what I call them).

Because a blog is a window to the world, I’ve always been afraid to talk about my story on it. Or my working title for that matter. What if someone snags my idea and runs with it? There are plenty of people who can write full-time even though I cannot. Then again, perhaps that is a little paranoid. After all, it’s not an idea that makes a book… it is the writing. I’ll be judged on that soon enough I fear. I’ve had my first three agents listed for some time now. I’m sure that list will grow quickly based on buzz from the industry. I’m ready to begin accepting my very own rejection letters!

Before that though, the wife gets to dissect the story. She is as good as many editors I think. When a page I have gone over three or more times gets to her desk, it is STILL covered in red marks. She is far more analytical than I; personally I just love to use my imagination, so I’m alright with that.

Soon enough I will share a synopsis of my story with you all, and my working title. I have one more draft to get through first. If by some chance I get a nibble and actually sell this book, I’ll be open to sharing more information about what I’m working on with future projects. Until then I’ll leave you with some of the influences that drove this book: Arthurian Legend and the Faerie Realm.  Ah, what great imagery, yes?

If you’ve read Emma Bull’s War For the Oak, I find my book has many similarties that book. Granted, mine has absolutely nothing to do with music, it does deal with creatures of the Faerie Realm mixing with our own world.

I took some screen shots yesterday that I wanted to share. I’m often a rather weird individual (which is probably why I write fantasy…) and when I designed my personal website I wanted to do something strange and somewhat original. Not to say nobody has done what I chose, but it isn’t overly common I think.

I wanted to separate aspects of my life to different colors on this website. My blog was given a red color; the main page a green; anything having to do with my writing is on a blue page; and my artistic endeavors are now orange (drawing, web design, etc). I will add the screen shots I took to show you what I mean. If you think it’s stupid, that is just fine. I like it, and it is my website. So there.

To celebrate an anniversary of her blog, Jenny Rappaport of Lit Soup is having a contest. The main idea of the contest is to create a story of microfiction that can be up to 140 characters. If you aren’t aware (I wasn’t) that is the number of characters you can post on Twitter.

140 characters and the word “banana,” those are the only requirements. You can post it on her blog as a comment on this thread. If you decided to do it, come back and tell me your entry. There will be three winners, and they will receive some books. I believe they are books by authors she represents. (I can only assume so…)

I tried a few, but finally agreed on this one. It ended up 139 characters  (according to my wife’s Twitter account, she tested about a dozen for me).

“That’s a banana.”

“No, it’s a telephone!”

As sure as it sounded, he looked at his brother doubtfully. “Well, I guess bring me a banana?”

It’s funny how editing can be both the quickest and slowest part of writing.  When I actually sit down to work on it it goes much faster than writing. Earlier today I got to 78% edited on the second draft. I wanted to talk about what the percentages mean on my site.

I got the idea from a fantasy author I like a lot, Brandon Sanderson.  I follow his blog often and I really enjoy getting to see how much more he’s done on his latest books. It’s fun getting some idea on when I will get to read another one. I wanted to give my readers the same thing.

The percentages work in two ways: one for writing, and one for editing. When I’m writing I take an estimated word count to mark as the end of the book. For my young adult novel I used 65,000 words (it actually ended up about 60,000). For book one of the Lands of Draknor series, I’m using 200,000 words.  When I’m editing I take the total number of pages (in Microsoft Word) compared to what page I’m currently on.

For those interested: 78% is at the end of Chapter 19 on page 150/193, and the book is 62,000 words.

Click here if you missed last week’s story

This week’s story was even more fun to write. In my head I can already see the paths it could go from here. I’m not sure what will happen next week. Isn’t that exciting!? Well, it is to me anyway. This is a fun way to write. No excuses, no putting it off, no worrying about plot lines. Whatever happens is something I have to deal with and move forward.

Want to have a hand in it? Leave your ideas in a comment, maybe I’ll incorporate them into the story in the coming weeks. I still haven’t decided how long I want to let it get. With 500′sh word installments it seems best to make these short stories. That way I have the opportunity to explore more worlds, and more stories.

I hope you enjoy the story.

The shrill whistles from the trees marked the arrival of yet another human entering the forest.  Two in one day hardly seemed possible, but the birds didn’t make mistakes.  Pekosh Mildron narrowed his eyes at the thought of the one thing he had always feared.  There was only one way the human’s could invade his home and he knew it.  To this point they had ventured by themselves or in small groups.  Large numbers was the only logical way they could overtake his home.  Was that happening now?

In an instant he was off, scooping up the dead human outside his door and slinging it casually over his shoulder.  The Sharlicks would eat well tonight.  There was no part of the forest Pekosh did not have memorized.  Every step landed with absolute confidence.  Most of the animals never heard his footsteps, even when running as fast as he was now.

Within a few minutes he came upon the scene.  This new threat was smaller than the last, perhaps only five feet tall.  And it was a woman this time.  Nervous eyes flicked back and forth at the spiders slowly approaching it.

“Kiarsi…” He said simply.  Its eyes focused on him standing atop a high branch, then focused on the dead body slung over his shoulder.  “The poison from the elycior flower is interesting is it not?  Almost complete paralysis in less than a minute.”

Pekosh jumped from the branch and landed hard on a rock in front of the human.  The approaching Sharlick stopped their advance wearily.  He pulled the corpse from his back and held it out to the spider leading the others.  That spider approached alone.  It wasn’t the first time he had brought a corpse for them to feed on.

When the creature was in reach he places the corpse lightly on its back.  He watched in wonder as the cord-like extensions of the spider wrapped around the corpse and held it firmly in place.  The Sharlick could carry a great amount of weight up to their large webs made high in the trees.  The creature bowed awkwardly in thanks and turned away.  As he did so the rest of them turned away as well.  The spiders never ceased to amaze him.

“So, Kiarsi…”  He said, turning back toward the human.  Her eyes tightened as he leaped toward her.  He cleared easily to the woman’s side though and traveled the short distance to the plant he was looking for.  She hadn’t moved an inch in the time it took.  The poison from the plant would not let the girl move for many hours yet.  Without the plant he brought back at least.

It was pleasurable to see the fear in its eyes as he forced open the mouth and put the herb into it.  It wasn’t important that the woman swallow it.  Pekosh leaped back atop the rock that would get him out of its reach.  He watched and he waited.

After a few minutes the girl’s fingers began to twitch as the poisons inside her were being eradicated.  Then it could blink.  Soon it would be able to speak again.

“So, Kiarsi…”  He said again, “I admit I never expected to see you again.”

My goal to finish my young adult novel has been the end of May for a long time. As that approaches more and more quickly I’ve had really buckle down and get to work. Earlier this evening I finished Chapter 13 of the second draft, bringing the total percentage up to 59%!  For anyone who’s been watching, you know that means more than 10% has been added in the last few days.

I can only guess that this will keep rising as at a fast pace. I spent some time going over the third draft, so the second has been rather stagnant. This week I decided to go back to it. It’s exciting in some ways.  Chapter 14 starts with a new character perspective, and a part of the book that I have been anticipating because of significant changes I want to make.

The character spends some time by himself, and I was afraid of that because people tend to like dialogue to carry the story along. I think giving him run-ins and experiences with the creatures of the forest will really help it move forward. Besides how could I use a setting based loosely on Wyoming and not have creatures of the forest?

EDIT: be sure to check back tomorrow for Part 2 of the Tuesday Night Story!