Percy Jackson's Got Nothing On Me

I told you I was going to rant about Percy Jackson and the Olympians and I totally am. The reason is, there seems to be a very prominent theme at the moment in movies and books that use Greek Mythology. Now, I don't know when this all started before it actually got popular, but that's just how it all tends to work. I mean, we've been on this stupid vampire kick for a while now. It is how it goes. We always have these trends in movies and books. We are all hoping this vampire thing ends soon.

Anyway, I was talking to my mom about my book and she was asking questions about it. She was wondering about my use of Greek Mythology and wondering if I was cutting it kind of close with all the myths that are going around right now. That's actually a very big concern. If I get in on the trend too late, I look like a knock off. If I come in on it too early, no one wants to read it because they don't have an interest. Then again, I'm taking on a genre that doesn't really get much attention. I'm hoping to change that.

Here's the benefit to using Greek Mythology as inspiration and not directly. I am taking the characters that i develop and linking them up with a myth or god or goddess. For me, this gives me something to compare it to. Greek Mythology created so many major themes in literature. You can't really escape them. There was love and revenge, there was adventure and tragedy. It took the conventional idea of god or gods being all-powerful, all-knowing and perfect beings and turned them into nearly human creations. They did the worst things. They fought with each other and betrayed each other. They fell in love and fell out of love. It was an amazing concept for an ancient culture to have developed. That is why I fell in love with it and that is why I chose it to use it as a base. I'm not taking stories directly from mythology, not completely. There are definitely parallels between my plot and characters and those found in mythology. However, there is nothing new under the sun, as they say. Everything will have come from that in the first place. So, I decided that seeking inspiration from mythology was a good way to make sure that I was hitting very human driven plots.

As for Percy Jackson, I must be the biggest nerd ever. I basically watched the movie and corrected the mythology the whole time. I understand that the author, Rick Riordan, gets creative license and I respect that. I felt like maybe there were things that could have been portrayed better. Unfortunately for me, I haven't read the books yet, but that is on my list of things to do because I'm dying to know how he approached most of mythology. Some of his ideas on the use of gods seemed a little off, but that still could have been the movie and not the actual books. We'll see. I was basically able to predict the entire thing because of the myths that were present and I could figure where it was going because of that. I felt super cool, even if it was super nerdy. It wasn't great, but that's what you get for making movies out of books. I would suggest you go see it if you like mythology. It seems to make more sense that way.

Cross my fingers that I get some work done tomorrow. I need to develop two more characters and I should be able to get writing. The first few captures should be easy enough, its going to be the rest of them when I need to know where Julian is going that I have to wait for my map to be finished. I'm so excited to get that finalized and looked at. Have a great night!

LL&P

Question Friday 06

This week's questions all come from the ever diligent Meiri. I'm warning you before hand, these will probably inspire giggles, because they are awesome like that. 

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1. What are the top three commodities and resources in [Kingdom]?

Being that this is a steampunk fiction, there's a lot of steam run engines and technology around. In fact, the ship that he eventually ends up on, all of the technology is run on one massive furnace. Now, when we think steam engine, we think coal. However, there's an unnamed material that I've yet to create that burns hotter than coal and is also fictional. It is a mineral (I think, I'm still working on it) and it is found in large deposits in the ground. [Kingdom] has quite a few deposits in it's territory and mining it is a huge industry. Also, the refining of this material is huge as well. It would be the equivalent to petroleum. That's not three, but I haven't thought up the other two yet.

2. Who are [Kingdom]'s most important trade partners?

The (also unnamed) kingdom directly to the south of is there most trusted trade partners. There is a more hostile kingdom to the south east that is a strong partner, but it is a little more tense when trading with them. Again, this mostly bases around the mineral I was talking about. 

3. Does [Kingdom] do a lot of importing or exporting? What sorts of goods?

They export a huge amount of fish over the span of a year. With a huge coastline to the north and west, there is a huge market for fishing. The kingdom is very much centered around the use of water. Copper is another one. There's a lot of techology that involves steam engines and electric generators and copper is the most used metal for conducting electricity, much like here. They also do a lot of manufacturing for heavy machinery. 

4. For the most part, are the subjects of [Kingdom] pleased with their economic situation? Comfortable? Struggling? Discontent?

The closer you are to the central kingdom, where the royal family is, the happier you are. The coasts have a strong economic situation than inland. Most people are struggling outside of the wealthiest bracket. There's a few pockets of people that you can imagine that are very upset with their lives and so on, but overall, I would say they are just above a middle class. Julian will get to witness these locations and people first hand, as well.

5. Are there lightbulbs in [Kingdom]? If not, is there a replacement for the "How many [whatever]s does it take to change a lightbulb?" joke?

Seeing as there is actually electricity in [Kingdom] (oh my god, I need to name this place), then it only makes sense that there are light bulbs of some kind. However, some rural areas that can't get their own electrical grid working, then there's a lot more candles and oil lamps and such. As for the joke, I'll have to see if I can come up with some. I'm sure Milo will know a few.

6. Are there famous historical figures whose legends will provide inspiration for Julian when he comes across obstacles on his quest?

He mostly knows all the bad legends. There's a lot more out in the world for him to fear than for him to find inspiration from. Mostly, when it comes to the education he receives and subsequently the legends and historical figures he knows, they are previous kings. He is most pressured by the legacy his father left for him to uphold, which is going to be tough, since his father completed hi quest just over three months early; that's faster than any king ever.

7. Who was Julian's first crush?

Daphne. She is the sister of his closest friend. I will have to write up character info on those two soon, since I have no idea who they are other than they are the people he grew up with.

8. What's Julian's preferred strategy when he gets lost?

Panic.

9. What is Julian's vocal range? Can he carry a tune? Does he have a favourite drinking song?

He is I imagine a tenor or baritone... probably a tenor, though. He can carry a tune and he will carry a tune if he happens to be drinking. Now that you've planted this in my head, I think I need to write a drinking song for him. 

10. Can Julian pull off an authentic commanding voice? Does he sound haughty or reedy or nasal?

I actually have 'heard' Julian's voice in my head. I know what he sounds like. He attempts authority and commanding, but it isn't very convincing. He sounds more haughty than anything, but he ranges into whining sometimes when he's frustrated. Especially if it is induced by Milo.

11. Does [Kingdom] have an equivalent question for: Boxers or briefs?

I am not even sure I want to answer this question. Though, Julian strikes me as a briefs kind of guy.

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Thanks for the questions. You get brownie points for being awesome. Next week this all starts over again. Hopefully I will be able to set a schedule for posting since I might be getting a full time job, that will bogart most of my time. Prayers are more than welcome. 

Have a great weekend!

LL&P

Steampunk Abe

Today's post comes to you... super late. I had an early start today and was out and doing things and haven't had a chance to work on anything today for me to post. But I can rant at you about something unrelated. I'm sure that isn't as interesting as you'd like, however.

I had a job interview today and if I get it, it will be full time, which means I'll need to make sure I schedule in time to not only work on my book(s) but also get blogs posted. I'm not exactly sure how this is all going to span out, but I'm hoping for the best. Wish me luck and I'll have something more interesting for you tomorrow if you ask me questions. That would be super awesome.

Here is a picture of steampunk Abe Lincoln for your time:

Clothing Research

I've been searching the interwebs for a couple hours now. Basically, it started with Victorian era fashion and spread from there. If you don't know anything about steampunk fashion, don't worry, it is pretty easy. Basically, the entire genre came from the industrial revolutions of the Victorian age. So, when our modern dreamers decided to take their imaginative inventions and push them just that much further you ended up with steampunk. It only makes sense to then meld the scifi world with that and create a fashion built on Victorian style dress.

The Victorian age spanned across the 1800's. I am deciding to go with the late 1880's to the 1890's for my clothing inspiration. For women, this mean long skirts with bustles and coats that have strange names. If you saw Sherlock Holmes recently, just think of what Rachel McAdams wore the whole time. She is a perfect example of a foundation for my version of clothing. Now, if you take that sort of look, add chains, metal, pins, buttons, corsets, gears and pocket watches, you pretty much get what I'm looking for. The skirts may be shorter and the blouses a little lower, but overall, that is a great start.

Men's fashion is trousers, waistcoats and outer coats. Oh and spats over their shoes. I love spats. That is if you are a nobleman. The areas that are stricken with poverty will have less use for those things. When it comes to accessories, you get fasteners in women's hair, men with monocles and top hats, or bowler hats for more casual days. Of course, since  a lot of the men will take to the skies, I've decided to merge the era's clothing with pirates. There's also going to be a bit of World War II style fashion and traveling going on. I'm really going to do a lot of fusing with all the time periods because it's fiction, I can do that.

I'm going to be doing some artwork with my sister-in-law today. Hopefully we can get started on Julian and Milo's design. I'd like to also start on the map as soon as possible. Luckily my sister-in-law is an artist and loves drawing maps. This should be interesting. Because I don't have anything for you to look at just yet, go look through this website for some amazing steampunkish fashion. Some of it is just incredible and I can't wait to get working on stuff just like that. I wish I could sew.

LL&P

Question Friday 05

Question friday time! Had a lot of last minute questions, but as long as they are in, I'm good. Here we go.


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1. What is Julian's favorite book/book genre?
This is hard. I actually think that he probably hates books because they go through such an extensive education as kids. He particularly hates history because as the heir to the thrown, he has a lot he has to learn.

2. What's Julian's favorite food?
Errrr... I have no idea. Food in general? You've stumped me.

3. From the following choices, pick the word that describes Julian best:
A) reserved or outgoing: Outgoing.
B) Passive or aggressive: Passive.
C) Logical or spontaneous: Logical.
D) idealistic or realistic: Realistic.
E) confident or a nervous wreck: Apathetic


I would like to add, that I answered those questions based on Julian prior to the quest. He changes after that.



4. What's your favourite movie to watch when you need a pick me up?
I have a list of movies that I put on when I need something fun. They are Stardust, Star Trek, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Pride & Prejudice.


5. What's your favourite appetizer?
I love appetizers. It depends on the mood I'm in. Anything with bread is a good thing.


6. Have you ever seen Lethal Weapon 4? Do you realize I've had the dentist office scene from that movie stuck in my head ever since I saw the title of your blog post last night after I got off work?
Oh my gosh, this is craziness. I haven't seen it before, but I will now have to figure it out to feel caught up with you.


7. Why steampunk?
This is actually a great question and I have a good answer, which makes me feel cool. I wanted to write a fantasy book, but I didn't want to have magic involved, but I did want something with that same whimsical feel. I wanted creatures involved, but I wasn't sure how to do that. My other love is scifi, but I do not have the brains to make that work. Once you get into that dimension, I start to get lost. I knew that there had to be an in between. Something that let me create a world that wasn't our own, but had elements of technology. I needed something very specific and when I realized that steampunk filled both those qualifications, I knew I had something. Steampunk allows me to be a total nerd with gadgets and technology, but still have that fantasy world in mind. I know that adding in the Greek myths is definitely a stretch, but it seems to be a theme right now, so I am embracing it as something that I have always loved. It's a great backbone to it.

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Thanks for the questions! LL&P

Character Development Process

I was thinking about how I choose how a character looks and I realized that I don't really have a set way of doing it. I felt like exploring that today, though.

I don't really plan out how my characters are going to look. When I start with a character idea, I usually come up with their personality first and as I go with that, their physical appearance just comes to me. Sometimes it has to do with one aspect of their personality that reminds me of a specific look or it just sneaks up on me and means completely nothing. With Julian, he came to me pretty quickly. I knew I wanted darker features and strong bone structure while still appearing young. I needed him to look like the hero, but still look pretty green when it came to the world around him. I didn't want him to stick out in society, but he needed to look like he definitely wasn't from around there (or where ever he ended up).

His family came fairly easy once I had him figured out. I knew that he was going to look similar to his father, having gotten most of his looks from him, minus the fact that he has some softer feature and expressions from his mother. His sister I wanted to look fairer than the rest of them and that probably just comes from the want for a bit of the fair maiden stereotype. She's by no means that character, but I don't mind using cliches. Those characters came easy. The rest of them? Well, not so easy.

Milo is giving me trouble, but not as much a another character that I can't introduce you to, because they are a secret. Milo originally was this shady character, who was this short, ratty looking character with a nose too big for his face, beady eyes and thin, stringy hair. However, I started having second thoughts when I realized that, he's a con-artist and being ugly and a con-artist would make him an amazing con-artist, but being attractive (relatively) and a con-artist would make it more likely for him to be one. I figured then, that he needed to stop looking like he was so gross and start looking like it was plausible that he did his trade, dare I call it that.

Now, this is a whole different kind of character development. Instead of just having their face come to me, I have to work with what characters he will be around, the needs that his physical appearance with serve, and the way other characters will see him. So, that's where I'm at. Taking  a look at what his purpose is, I should be able to figure out what he's supposed to look like--in theory. What I figure is that I'd like to have a contrast between Milo and Julian, so Milo is going to be pretty fair. I'm thinking light to medium blonde hair that is cut neatly, medium to light green eyes, still short with not as rigid facial features as Julian. He'll have to be an inviting face, one that people want to trust. He isn't a strong looking fellow, but he isn't soft. Most of his attributes look fairly average, which allows him to blend in.

Make sense? I know I just did a total brainstorm at you for no discernible reason, but you all love me so you'll ready anything I write. Right? Riiiight? Good.

LL&P

Growing Up Royal

Way to procrastinate today, Alex. Sheesh. Sorry for the late post, especially on a day for questions when I should be giving you more time. Lesson learned... until next week of course.

I have a feeling today is going to be a rant post about family dynamics. Uh, yes, yes it is.

Growing up royalty is either perceived in books as absolutely wonderful and fabulous, or a complete hell in which you are a prisoner of your own blood. I'm pretty sure that this royal family falls somewhere between the two. There are definitely a world full of perks that come from being a royal. You are never in want of anything, you are surrounded by family all the time. Sure, that could lead to feuds, but they are never bored. They get the best of everything, including an education. They have the opportunity to be an amazing help to the kingdom.

Julian is grateful for what he's grown up under. He knows that even though he's never truly seen poverty before, he knows that he has it pretty good where he is. Unlike some other royal characters I've come across, he isn't lacking in true friendship either. Sure, there's a court of people that show up and put on airs for the family, but he is blessed with a great friend who isn't just there to say he knows the prince. Julian has a lot to be thankful for and he knows that.

However, there's the other side. It's, in a way, tradition to shelter the king's children. It sounds cruel and I'm sure there's been plenty of princes that have felt that way about it, but it does serve a very interesting purpose. The Quest of Kings is a crash course in growing up. By sheltering their sons away from the world outside the castle walls, they are required to know their kingdom intellectually first, then, when the time is right, they are shoved out on their own to see the world first hand. Their lives are changed instantly. They have to fend for themselves, taking only the knowledge they have and using it as best they can. The Quest also forces them to view the world as someone who has nothing. They will be ruling a kingdom and making decision for all walks of life, rich and poor. If they only know the royal side of life, they won't understand poverty, which is why the prince is given next to nothing when he's sent on his way.

Maybe it's as cruel a tradition as it sounds, but it has made stronger kings than any other kingdom in this world. They have to spend a year living like a poor vagabond with a quest in a world they don't know. It's like how they say a person learns a language faster when they are just thrown into that culture. They have to learn quickly. Sure, the king could spend twenty years preparing his son to take the thrown, teaching him all about what it is like to rule and be poor so that they can rule properly. But think of how often we look at our politicians and think, 'That guy/girl knows nothing about me or what it's like to be me.' This sheltered life forces him to see the world for the lowest common denominator. It's a big world and a big responsibility to be in charge of it, the king should know it as closely as he can.

Alright, onto normal ranting things. QUESTIONS PLEASE! I need them. Tomorrow is question friday (already?) and I will need something to answer. Also, I promised I would tell you when I found some music that would be inspiring for when I write. You need to check out Abney Park. It is a steampunk band! I had no idea they existed until this afternoon. I haven't listened to them much, yet, but I plan on checking them out to see if there's anything helpful in their music. I'm hoping for the best. Have a great evening!

LL&P

Princess of [Kingdom]

Continuing with my family theme, you get to briefly meet Julian's sister. I know these haven't been the most interesting posts, but they give you a little bit of info on the other characters in the story, or at least characters I am allowed to introduce you to without giving anything away. Like I promised last week, here's Sophia.

Name: Sophia Helen de Arques

Age: 17

Height: 5’5”

Weight: 110

Build: Slender, elegant, small boned

Eyes: Deep blue and almond shaped, but larger than her mother’s

Skin: Olive

Hair: Waist length, golden dark blonde with a slight wave.

Other Facial Features: Striking features with soft eyes and high cheekbones. Resembles her mother, but more striking.

Occupation: Princess

Personality: Intelligent, perceptive, observant and generally quiet, but has a gentle way of expressing herself verbally. She has a way with words and charming everyone around her. She less gentle with her older brother.

Background: Born to be the crown jewel of the family. She if very beautiful for as young as she is. She does not regret her place in the family, though she would like to choose her own husband as opposed to having to be arranged in a marriage and her mother has tried to make it as easy as possible. She is currently seeking suitors.

Greek God Equivalent: Athena

Uh, yup. That's about it. I can't really think of anything else I was going to say about this today. I will point out, that my dog's name is Sophia and I kinda like it that way. I know she will have a place in the book, but I'm not completely sure how in depth it is just yet. 

Good news, I'm planning on disappearing out of my house for a bit tonight to go sit at Starbucks, get a drink and do some work on this whole thing. I'm not sure what my plan is for tonight. We'll see how it goes over. I'm looking forward to getting out of my house for a while though. Thanks for reading.

King of [Kingdom]

I've decided to introduce you to the de Arques family this week. So far, none of my characters have faces other than Julian, so you will just have to imagine that they all look somewhat similar to each other. First, I'd like you to meet the King of [Kingdom], our heroes father.

Name: Julian Therius de Arques II

Nickname: None

Age: 48

Height: 6’1

Weight: 200-225

Build: Tall, strong, and broad.

Eyes: Narrow, intense hazel.

Skin: Olive, darker than his son

Hair: Shoulder length and mostly grey covered through previous dark brown hair.

Other Facial Features: Strong features, regal look, weathered skin and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth.

Occupation: King

Personality: Level headed, tradition minded, looks to the future of the kingdom and takes his place in society very seriously, often pushing too far. His intimidating characteristics can only be subdued by his wife.

Background: The fouteenth king of the de Arques dynasty. He completed his journey to the Oracle and his quest in seven months, a shorter period of time than any king before him. He has been the strongest ruler yet, keeping his kingdom well in tact, though there are still oposers of his rule.

Greek God Equivalent: Zeus

Pretty typical, I think for a King/father character. I know that, and I knew going into it that he would seem that way, but he serves his purpose in Julian's life this way. It should be interesting to explore the relationship between Julian and the King since they are different kings of personalities, while still being on the same side. They both want what's best for the kingdom, but Julian is just too young to have the experience and I think that is the only thing that really separates them when it comes to a relationship.

The Antihero

Probably my favorite character in any book, movie or television show is the antihero; not to be confused with the antagonist. Where an antagonist is a villain, the one causing the problem that is progressing the plot for the hero or protagonist, the antihero is the protagonist with a less than conventional characteristics of the typical hero. Yesterday, I noted that the hero was courageous, self-sacrificing and morally right. The antihero tends to be selfish, morally ambiguous and show more signs of being cowardly in the face of danger.

Its true that everyone loves a great villain. The villain, with all their endless evil and conniving, create the plot that stories are surrounded by. The antihero is all that corruption without making the reader feel like they are siding with evil while they love them. The best part about them, is that you get all of the faults, mistakes, malicious behavior and sharp wit of the villain, but they are, in a way, fighting for good. Occasionally, they aren't fighting for good or bad, they are fighting for themselves. Let's go through a few examples. Here are some of my favorites.


Pirates of the Caribbean - Captain Jack Sparrow
This character single handedly created a franchise. It brought life to the pirates of old and he was the antihero that everyone wanted to be like.

Lost - Benjamin Linus and James "Sawyer" Ford
Both of these characters have very distinct 'bad guy' feelings. Ben being the more questionable of the two (since we still aren't sure what side he is one). Sawyer is fighting more for good, but doing it in a way that serves him best. (Not to mention Kate, who is technically a fugitive. Just saying.)

Dexter - Dexter Morgan
This show just put the lead actor in a place for a Golden Globe. The character is a serial killer hunting murderers. It's the ultimate antihero in that he will kill to find, what he believes is true justice.

Fight Club - Tyler Durden
Brad Pitt's portrayal of this fictional character created quite a stir. Honestly, I can ask any guy what their favorite movies are and there is no doubt that Fight Club with it's chaos creating character will make the list.


I could go on and on. The antihero is one of the most loved characters in all of literature and media. We want to love the bad guy. Woman want to change him, men want to him him. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly the female antihero. What about Pam from the Southern Vampire series? Or even someone a little more mild, like Meredith Grey of Grey's Anatomy? She's repeated described as being 'dark and twisty inside,' labeling her as the antihero and still the protagonist.

I promise, the women in my book, most of them are the antihero. With the exception of Julian's mother and sister, the rest of them have a distinct flair for self-serving, self-preservation, and morally ambiguous behavior.

DISCUSSION! Talk about your favorite antihero in any book, series, show or movie. Also, it's Question Friday tomorrow!! Ask me anything, everything and all you want to know will be revealed... well, within reason. Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow.

Journey of a Hero

Today I'm going to talk just briefly about the hero of not just my novel, but also the role that heroes have played in the past. It seems only appropriate that word hero comes from the Ancient Greek ἥρως or hḗrōs. Originally, hero was actually a demigod and not just a given term for the protagonist of a story, legend or parable. It later turned into the term we use for our self-sacrificing, moral upholding and courageous characters we see today. 


Classic heroes usually were measured by their martial courage. The heros of Greek mythology, like Heracles and Achilles are seen in this same kind of heroism. Modern heroism is modified and more morally based. There doesn't have to be a massive battle that takes place, but rather just a grand gesture of heroics. 


I would definitely have to say that Julian is a classical hero. He may not be our fighting a war or protecting the innocent, but there's a lot to him that is the hero. Julian was not the first character I came up with in this universe. In fact, he was probably the third character or so. I started with a lot of bad guys. I had ideas of all the trouble that would be going on and then once I had figured out what kind of world they were in, I discovered what kind of hero they would need. Of course, there's always the temptation to create the strong, manly, fearless in the face of danger type of hero, but I decided that I wanted someone who was going to have to do a lot of learning before he even realized what he was. 


Julian is very much the reluctant hero. He is unsure of himself, unsure of his place in the world, unsure of his next step in life. All he knows is that he has his entire path laid out before him and he has to follow it, whether he wants to or not. This path, the one that takes him to the throne, is by no means clear cut, so somewhere along the line he is going to be challenged to do more than just follow the path. He doesn't know it yet, but it will require a lot of growth on his part. 


I think what I am most excited about with him is the amount of learning we get to do with Julian. We are going to discover the world outside his castle walls while he does. He knows very little about the world and as he finds out all of these different creatures, people and villages, we will get to do the same. Hopefully you find it as exciting as I do.


Tomorrow will either be talk about the decisions that heroes have to make or the definition of the anti-hero, which does come into play in this plot. Comment below! Let me know what you think of... well, anything!

Julian de Arques III

I have absolutely no idea what to post today. I'm completely lost and confused and have things to do and need to be cleaning and I'm writing a horrible run on sentence, but you will forgive me because I'm going to make it up to you by posting my (edited) notes on my main character.

Name: Julian Therius de Arques III

Age: 20

Height: 5’11

Weight: 165-185

Build: Lean, muscular

Eyes: Narrow, intense, but not intimidating, dark brown.

Skin: Tan, olive skin

Hair: Wavy, falls below his chin, often pulled back into a ponytail, chocolate brown.

Other Facial Features: Strong, able, defined jaw, narrowed eyes, intense brow, warm smile, and inviting eyes.

Occupation: Prince and heir to the throne

Personality: Free spirited, often argumentative with his family, naïve about the world, young, impulsive, driven.

Background: Born the Third Julian Therius de Arques. Will be the fifteenth son of the de Arques dynasty to rule over the land. He grew up knowing his place in the kingdom and what was expected of him.

Greek God Equivalent: Apollo

Other:

Info: Main character and protagonist. Will be written in his POV.

And of course, some of you who haven't heard already, you will be curious if there is a face that I imagine. Before I post this guys picture, I want you to know that I did not base Julian's looks on this actor. It happened exactly the opposite way. I created the character, then was watching a movie and saw him and maybe it was subconscious, but it doesn't matter. So, this is the man that is JUST FOR REFERENCE! It is just supposed to help you see him, too.

That is all for today. I don't have much to talk about because I'm totally out of it today and getting over being sick and all that fun. Then again, I am making brownies, so that's reason to be excited.

The Legend of the Oracle

As promised, I am going to tell you the Legend of the Oracle. You will have to bear with me, since I am not fully certain on all of the legend that goes with this mystical being. I am still working out parts of his characterization as well as history.

The Oracle is a legendary man, often associated with mystery and magic. This man is difficult to locate and never stays in one location for too long. Not too much is known about who he is. There are rumors of his origins as well as lineage. Some legends say that he is an eternal being, transporting magically from place to place, reveal destinies and the like to unsuspecting people, while other legends say that he is a crook, making money off of the lies he tells. Somewhere in the middle of all that, lies the truth of who he really is.

The most accurate legend says that he is not one man, but rather a bloodline of men who have passed the title of Oracle from father to son since the beginning of time (as far as they know). The purpose of this title is said to be one of hope and opportunity. Known for being an infinitely wise man, the Oracle provides insight to seeking humans (and the occasional creature).

In relation to the Quest of Kings, the Oracle provides the final pilgrimage. His place is to wait for the heir to find him and then give the prince a riddle, of sorts. This riddle is the location, or at least the first step, to finding an item. The items that have been sought in the past range from legendary weapons, headstones, jewels and even people. The quest that is given is chosen by the Oracle and often relates to the weakness of the heir. The theory is that the Oracle's place in the tradition is to strengthen the prince in his final year before he takes the throne so that he is fully prepared for the hardships that lie ahead.

The Oracle is undescribable. Most people could not put a face to the name. They associate him with a hooded robe and sash tied around his waist. Other than that, there are various versions. Some say he carries weapons, others say he carries nothing but water. Some insist that he is an ancient looking man and others claim he is youthful, appearing to be outside of time itself.

Hopefully that gives you a view into this curious character. Tomorrow I plan on describing the Greek god that he is associated with, since it is my favorite god. Anyone care to make any guesses of who it might be? If not, if you had to choose one, what's your favorite Greek god?

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Greek Mythology and Related Gods

Oh, I am so unprepared for today's post. I was going to do the Legend of the Oracle or the de Arques family history, but realized a little too late that I'm not entirely sure how those legends/histories play out just yet. I still need to do some more brainstorming on those before I finalize them and feel confident posting it all here.

Instead, I am going to introduce you to something that I had mentioned on Friday about my inspirations. There's a running theme with all of my characters that is very specifically chosen. Each character that I create has a Greek god equivalent. This doesn't mean that their story directly follows that of the god they are modeled after, but they do have similarities. Most characters, you will notice, have been named for their greek god. Not all, of course. Sometimes it is even a far reach of the name. At any rate, they all have their parallel characters.

There's a few reasons I did this. Mostly, it is to satisfy my love of Greek mythology and to include it in my stories. I tend to use it as a model in some ways. Also, since this trilogy is meant to, in some ways, mirror the Greek epics, I knew it needed to be included. There is also the matter of using it as a familiar model. Not everyone is familiar with Greek mythology, but it allows me to include the classic themes in literature that I really fell in love with.

Here's a list of Greek gods and their qualities that you can expect to see in my own characters. There is only one character to each god/goddess.


Aphrodite - The goddess of lust, love and beauty. Known as the most beautiful goddess. Her symbols are the septor, myrtle and dove. The Roman equivalent is Venus.

Apollo - Associated with being the god of music, prophecy, medicine, health, poetry and archery. He is also linked to Light and Truth, as well as the sun. Apollo is known for being the most attractive god. His twin sister is Artemis and is the son of Zeus. His symbols are the bow, lyre and laurel. The Roman equivalent is the same.

Artemis - Goddess of the hunt, wild things and the moon. She is the twin sister of Apollo. Known to be a virgin goddess. Her symbols are the bow, dogs and deer. The Roman equivalent is Diana.

Athena - Goddess of wisdom, warfare, strategy, handcrafts and reason. She is another daughter of Zeus. She came into being in full armor and is known to be the wisest of the gods. Her symbols are the aegis, owl and olive tree. The Roman equivalent is Minerva.

Chronos - The Keeper of Time. Often shown as the god turning the zodiac wheel. The Roman equivalent is Saturn.

Hephaestus - God of fire and the forge, or the god of smiths. He is the only god to be cast out of Olympus. He is crippled and said to be ugly. He makes the armor for the gods and some Greek heroes. His symbols are the axe, hammer and flame. The Roman equivalent is Vulcan. (This always makes me happy.)

Hera - Goddess of woman, childbirth and marriage. She is married to Zeus. Her symbols are the scepter, diadem and peacock. The Roman Equivalent is Juno.

Hermes - God of flight, thieves,  mischief, commerce and travelers. He is the messenger of the gods and leads the dead souls to Hades. He is found in more myths than any other god. He is tricky and inventive, and his symbols are caduceus and winged boots. The Roman equivalent is Mercury.

Moirae - Also known as The Fates. This is the collection of three gods that control the thread of life. The first, Clotho, spins the thread of life. The second, Lachesis, measures the thread that will become the lifespan of every mortal. The final, Atropos, cuts the thread of life. Their Roman equivalent is the Parcae and were named Nona, Decima and Morta.

Zeus - He is the king of the gods, ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky and thunder. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull and oak. The Roman equivalent is Jupiter.


You can expect to see more themes, creatures and various gods throughout the characters. Its a fun game to play, trying to find the parallels between my characters and the gods in Greek mythology. I can't wait to share more with you about the characters, but for now, this will have to do.

Passing the Crown

Sorry this post is coming a bit late to you all. I have been out of the house and then Heroes caught my attention and, well, you know. At any rate. Here's more info on traditions!

The crown is passed to the first born son of the standing king. Of course, as I explained in yesterday's blog, the Quest of Kings must first be completed by the prince by his twenty-first birthday. In the case that the first son does not complete his quest, the second son will attempt the Quest of Kings. You can imagine the kind of hostility that would create between sons. If the current king does not have any sons, a daughter may take the thrown, but only after she is wed to a prince from another kingdom. This is definitely not what any of the families want, since it would mean creating an alliance with another kingdom that may or may not be stable. It could be a good thing and it could be horrible.

There is of course, the theoretical notion that if the king has any illegitimate sons, they may be up for the crown if they step forward with proof that they are royalty. They too would have to complete the quest. A hostile take over has never occurred, but it isn't completely insane to think that it might. That is only the most extreme cases.

This is a quick post today! Hopefully it was worth reading and tomorrow you will get some information on the legend of the Oracle and it's origins. No comment discussion today, but hopefully you comment anyway!

The Quest of Kings

I've decided to start of with a few legends and traditions that come along with this story. It will provide you with a little backstory into this world (which I still haven't named yet, my bad). Since I won't be giving away a lot of information on the official plot, I figured it would be nice for you all to have something fun to think about.

So, the first history lesson about this unnamed world? The Quest of Kings. This is the quest that our hero, Julian, is embarking on. The Quest of Kings is an ancient tradition passed down from dynasty to dynasty. The only way that the crown can be passed to the prince is when he completes his quest.

For as long as the kingdom has existed, this tradition has been in practice. The oldest son celebrates his twentieth birthday by a grand ball that is thrown for him by the king and queen. He is then given the family sword, as well as a family crest that is passed on from king to prince. It is the only proof that the prince is allowed to carry on him that he is in fact part of the royal family. From the day of his twentieth birthday, he has one year exactly to complete his quest.

This quest begins with his search of the Oracle, a legendary wise man who holds the secrets of the kingdom... or so he says. I'll give you more on the Oracle later. Once he's found the him, the Oracle gives the prince his mission. It usually involves him finding an ancient artifact. They are never easy to find and the Oracle does not give hints, clues or maps to the location where it is hidden.

You can see that I'm clearly trying to torture poor Julian. First he has to go on a quest with limited information and limited resources and he can't just go find some artifact, he has to find a specific one, but only after he finds this Oracle person! Oh, how evil am I? Its good.

More on the laws regarding passing the crown tomorrow!

And the question for discussion today, if you could name a mythical, fantasy kingdom with a steampunk flair, what would you choose?

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The Story Begins

I like the fact that my first post happened on a Friday and I didn't have to post again until Monday. I swear it wasn't intentional, but that is just how it worked out. At any rate, it gave me some time to try and plan out the week's posts, though I can't say I really know how it will all play out, we'll see.

Business first. Here's what you can expect each week. I will be posting character descriptions, summaries, plot ideas and creature legends. I will be giving you little glimpses into the world that I am creating as I come up with it. I encourage comments and responses to what I post and if you are an artist or just a fan, please feel free to create your own art! Use my stuff as your inspiration for things. If you have an account on Deviant Art, let me know and I can watch you too.

Now onto the fun stuff. I'm sure you are all wondering what the heck this whole thing is even about and why you should be interested in this whole 'steampunk' thing. Well, how about I give you a teaser. If I was going to write something to go on the back of the book, this is what it would say;

"On a quest for honor and the crown, Prince Julian Therius de Arques III will be the reluctant hero of his kingdom. His father, King de Arques II, will pass his crown to his son only after he has completed his quest. The sheltered Prince can only use his limited knowledge of the world around him to seek out the Oracle, a wise man who borders on legend. The world is cruel outside his castle walls and just when Julian believes he can complete the first stage of his pilgrimage, he is being tracked by a notorious sky pirate, bounty hunter and assassin. With no allies, but his unlikely con-artist sidekick Milo, he will face theives, sirens and hellhounds around every corner. His journey into the corrupt world outside is only proving to be a grander adventure than he would have ever asked for."

So, that is something like how it would go and that will give you a good idea of what to expect in the first book in particular. Our hero, Julian, must embark on a journey he wants no part of, but must complete due to his royal responsibilities. Tomorrow you will hear more about our protagonist.

And now for a poll! What is your favorite mythological creature? Respond in the comments!

Welcome!

Every New Year I make up some stupid resolution that I promptly break. I figure that way I can get the disappointment out of the way and not worry about it later on. I've even made the resolution to not make a resolution, which essentially breaks the resolution immediately and therefore taking care of the whole thing in one go. I like my little game I play. It's fun for me and probably no one else, but that's the point. This year, however, demanded I do something better than scoff at people who have things like 'goals' and 'a future.' Ha! Who needs that? Well, apparently I do.

I've been planning to write a book... a few books. Most of the ideas get developed enough to start, but not enough to finish and half way through I decide that it wasn't as good an idea as I thought. But in the past few months there has been an idea that has been nagging me, pulling at me, and demanding my attention. I've been pushing it around all the corners of my brain, waiting for it to take hold of a more solid plot. Not too long ago it finally became a full fledged plot, from beginning to end. There's details to work out, of course; all those little things about the characters, plots, subplots, and the world this story will exist in. That is what this blog is for.

My New Year's Resolution came to me from watching Julie & Julia. When that movie came out, I figured that I could write a blog, too. Yes, there's a lot of people that assume they can write a blog just because they have a thought in their head, but this is more than just writing a blog to show off my skills of knowing how to use a computer. Instead, I am using this blog to keep myself in check. I am going to post here all kinds of information about my book, my ideas and the characters. You will get little snippets of plot and events that took place even before the plot.

Here are the rules:

• I will post a minimum of five times a week. Usually this will mean Monday through Friday, but there may be a few times that I post something on the weekend. 
• I will use this blog to post information about my book. This means that I will be sharing information about the characters, plot and world I am creating. 
• I will post even when I haven't done any work on my book. This gives you permission to yell at me when I post something that has nothing to do with my book. 
• I will post design ideas, plot ideas, and art. This means I have to work on it daily, even though I accept the fact that sometimes I have other responsibilities and I can't dedicate a lot of time every day. 

Here's the summary. I am writing a blog to develop my book and create a fanbase for characters that you all haven't even read yet. This will help me dedicate time to writing as well as keeping myself in check. These first few posts will be me throwing around ideas of how to keep my readers interested and what you can expect out of this blog. I have to come up with my set format for posting and such. We will see how it goes.

But before I thank you for reading, you probably want to know what the heck this story is about! Well, it is an epic steampunk fantasy about the quest of a kingdom's prince. Steampunk is a fantasy genre where the society is more old fashioned, but with technology that is advanced past even what we are at. It is an extremely industrial age with old social standards. A good example of this is the Disney movie Treasure Planet. Some of the things you can expect is flying ships, harnessing lightning as energy and kings, princes, bounty hunters and pirates. It is a trilogy, so all three books will follow the main character (who you will learn more about soon) and his epic journey into finding his place in the kingdom.

Some great resources for figuring out what this 'steampunk' thing is is by searching it through Deviant Art. There are so many amazing pieces of art that very much embody the feel and ideas that I am going for.

Thanks for reading and I really hope you decide to stick with me through this journey. If you love to read and love to discuss ideas, I can't wait to get your feedback. Recommend this blog to your friends! I can't wait to get started.

Always,

Alexandra