How it all began (partial repost)
Life in General, Writing|I’ve decided to clear out some of my old posts (from my website and myspace) but some posts like memories are worth keeping, so every Monday I’ll take a look back and if I find anything interesting I’ll repost with any additional comments I can think of.
So, this morning I had to ask myself if it was worth reposting the blurb to my very first published novel. I decided it was with a little clarification.
I signed up to myspace late October 2006. It’s difficult to believe it’s been that long because that also means that my first book with Loose-Id has been knocking around for four years and I’m still not finished with the series. With a bit of luck the third Swithin Spin will raise its head this year although currently I’m not sure with which publisher that will be.
I can still remember in 2004, I think it was, I sat there wondering ‘when’ was I going to have larger credit out there. I was reading quite a good self-help book at the time. I don’t usually read such things but this one was interesting. Mostly it told me things I already knew but it’s nice having your beliefs and feelings confirmed in some way. One particular chapter talked about not sitting around waiting for things to happen but ‘making’ them happen. I knew with writing there were two ways to go. You write what you like and hope to find a publisher or you look for a market, and write ‘for’ it. Most writers have more success that way and I’d done pretty well writing both ways but studying the short story market to match my stories to suit. I chose Loose-Id as a market and wrote a story for them…which flopped, big time. They totally rejected it for three reasons, two of which I agreed with and one which I did not…still don’t but that’s neither here nor there. The strange thing is I was wholly grateful for that rejection for two reasons.
Most importantly I learned a lot from their comments. I decided to see what was selling and return to the ‘drawing board’. Secondly, I was trying to write for genre I’d never attempted before and the likelihood of my story being ’snapped up’ first try would have been extraordinary. With so many vanity and unscrupulous press out there if LI had snapped up my first book I think I would have come to doubt my own ability. I wouldn’t have trusted them nearly so much and therefore trusted their good comments on my second submission attempt.
So there I was. I had decided to write for Loose-Id. Why Loose-Id? I liked the concept. I liked that although they published erotic romance many of their books were real stories, not just a poorly disguised series of events to loosely link a load of sex scenes. I had to get over the embarrassment of writing sex but told myself I would worry about that, about what my friends and family would think, when I came to it. Before that, I had to come up with a plot so decided to think up something they couldn’t reject.
I started to form my idea in June 2005. In fact I still have all my hand-scribbled notes, not only for that first book but for books two and three of the trilogy. I found them a couple of weeks ago and spent quite a few moments smiling. These notes on their own make no sense and some of the final scenes differ from those first images that flashed into my head but in that large envelope of messy, nonsensical notes I have my story. But all stories begin in your mind.
As long as there are writers there will always be readers who will ask ‘Where do you get your ideas?’ The answer is everywhere. Life. Playing the ‘What if’ game. Putting two seemingly disconnected events together:
The Swithin Chronicles 1: Uly’s Comet
Unleash the Comet… Feel the power…
Markis Shaver, the Swithin Prince, controls the power of the Comet, which may be the only thing that will act as a deterrent in a war between two vast monarchies – a war that could devastate the natural world and must therefore be avoided at any cost, even if that means killing the many to save the few. As if things weren’t bad enough, he may also have to rescue a princess and face a marriage of convenience and it doesn’t help that Markis is still in training and struggles to control the power when he calls it forth. At times, he also struggles to control his temper, which is quick to react where his feelings are concerned. The lessons, alas, do not seem to be working and he is running out of time.
His personal guard and best friend, Ryanac, disagrees with the old teachings and has always insisted that Markis should embrace love, both emotionally and physically, to control the Comet … but then again, he could be wrong.
When Markis leaves the palace one night to indulge in the luxury of a little solitude, he captures a young man and would-be thief. Out of boredom he decides to play a little game with the thief but little does he know that in time Uly will teach him a whole new lesson in desire … and love. But if he gives into love physically before he has full control, what will it mean for the world?
If Uly, a street thief, can teach a prince to let go of control, maybe love really can conquer all. Markis is afraid of the ride but maybe he should just unleash the comet and feel the power…
So where does a story like this come from:
I pictured a man sitting on a bench in open parkland and a thief about to steal his purse. At the time, I had no idea who the man was or why he sat there. I had no idea as to the identity of the thief. Later, I came across a name: Shavar, ‘Comet’ and suddenly I had the answers. This story nagged for me write it. I loved the world, characters, and story I created and lucky for me, so did the publishers over at Loose-Id…
