Uhhhhh... What's Today?

Yeah, definitely not doing a good job at this whole 'stay on track' thing. I am failing miserably. Even though I do know that there is all of 12 people subscribed, one of which is myself. I am trying to get my head wrapped around this and the first thing I do when I get home should be that I make a post. I need to start writing, as well. I am excited, believe. Who knew that this whole 'job' thing would make me such a bum. Oh wait, I totally knew.

 

You were supposed to be reading more about Milo and how unbelievably awesome he is, which still holds totally true. Unfortunately, I'm being horrible and posting this while I'm at work. I have some down time at the moment and can do it really quick. I'm trying to figure out what to write more about in this blog. I'm really hoping that I can get on a writing schedule soon though. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I'm in need of the motivation at the moment.

 

Hope your week is awesome even though it has been distinctly lacking a lot of me. I know, I know. That is so lame, isn't it? Maybe I will have to start posting on weekends to balance out my weeks. I don't know. I can't even think at the moment. But tomorrow is Friday! I think tomorrow should be 'Suggestion Friday' instead of 'Question Friday.' Anyway, have a great evening!!

 

LL&P

Question Friday 08

How is it Friday already? I don't understand!!

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1. What sorts of entertainment does [kingdom] offer? Does access to entertainment forms depend on social/economic status?
This is an interesting question. I would imagine there's theater, music, concerts, comedy... really anything you find in the real world with a twist. I see radio as being a huge industry. It definitely does depend on our social and economic status though. You have to have the money and means to get to these things.

2. Does entertainment vary region to region?
In the same way that Hollywood is known for movies and Broadway is known for theater, there's definitely places that would be known for some form of entertainment more than others. It also has to do with the surrounding area and geography. You aren't going to get a lot of outdoor plays or theaters up north where it's cold. Towns in a valley probably don't have huge radio towers because transmitting from below might not get as far.

3. What sorts of entertainment will Julian encounter on his quest?
That is something I have not thought of yet. I'm not sure what he will encounter. I imagine he will come across a theater of some kind. There's also the seedier forms of entertainment (and I use the term loosely) that will come into play.

4. How will Julian handle "culture shock"? What sorts of things will he hear and see to induce such shock?
Horribly. Julian will not do well. His first night out of the castle walls will be overwhelming for him. He will feel like he's stepped into another world. Nothing will be familiar because he's never seen it. The way society works, the way merchandise is sold, the way society dresses. It will be very very strange for him and it will take a long time for him to start to accept that things are different.

5. Does Julian know any other languages?
I know this question came up in the detailed profile I filled out. He does not know any other languages. He will quickly have to become familiar with them though. Generally, English is the only language used.

6. Are language interpretors easy or difficult to find? Dictionaries?
No. Either you know English or you know a different language. There isn't a lot of inbetween. The reason is, the upper class isn't taught any other languages. English is the respected language. If you are in a rural area or a poor town and you are on the border of another kingdom, there is a chance that you only know that other language. In that case, you wouldn't have learned any new ones. It creates quite the social barrier. Dictionaries are abundant in libraries, but libraries outside major cities are few and far between. Education and books are a luxury and a sign of nobility and wealth.

7. Are there any equivalents to tourism guides?
Oh, I'm sure there are. In fact, of all people, Milo would probably be able to tell you where all the hotspots are. There's definitely tourist traps. You know that icky feeling you get when you are visiting somewhere and you end up in a shopping mall or district because all the store owners are eyeing you? Yeah, it's a lot like that outside of the up-scale cities and regions.

8. How easy are maps to come by?
Maps are plentiful. There are many cartographers throughout, most of them found in towns that have a trains traveling through them or by lakes and oceans. Anywhere where there are travelers and merchants and cargo, there's maps to be found.

9. How accurate are any of these things (interpretors, dictionaries, guides, maps)?
And this is where the trouble comes in. It depends on what kind of map you are looking for and where it's going. Sometimes, the maps are almost completely made up. The shadier places will try and sell you anything. Merchant ships and towns where there's a lot of cargo coming have the more accurate maps, but a lot of those only include the necessary stops that a cargo ship would make, for instance. Interpreters, should you find someone who speaks a few languages (like Milo) are likely to lie to you. There's not a lot of trustworthy people out there. Dictionaries and books are extremely accurate, but like I said, they are hard to come by because it is such a luxury.

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Hope that was fun to read! See you next week!

Uhhh... I can explain, really...

Yeaaaaahhh... so, after 39 successful posts (gimme credit) I finally missed a day. I knew I was going to at some point and considering all I had to do was post some more of that character profile, I'm pretty disappointed in myself for missing. However, I'm not going to get hung up on it, because that would be useless. Then again, I can't just let it slide, so this is my proposition;


Comment on this blog with suggestions for what you think is a suitable punishment. It can be anything you want whether that be something embarrassing or me answering one no boundaries question about the books. I'm leaving it up to you. I will then choose a punishment from your suggestions, because I'm not about to be publicly embarrassed all over the internet without some say. Get to it, people.


It is also Question Friday tomorrow. So, if you have questions for me, let me know! If I don't get any questions... I'll just post for Friday as if it was today or yesterday to make up for the missed post.


Here's some more info on Julian!

Speech

1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse? 

His voice is just a touch deeper than average. 

2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate? 

It is clear as a bell and he doesn’t slur his words at all, so its easy to understand him. He attempts to sound intimidating and commanding, but it usually falls just short, because there’s not a whole lot of intimidating man buried inside him. He doesn’t stutter or hesitate, but speaks clearly and openly. He doesn’t talk loudly, but just at the right pitch, somewhere in the middle. A lot of this comes from speech therapy that the princes and princesses go through growing up in order to be great speakers. However, when having down time, he tends to relax his gate of speech. 

3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics? 

The accent equivalent would be a high-class British accent. He doesn’t have any strange quirks in how he speaks, but he does tend to sound a little surfer-bumish when he’s just hanging out. He is really relaxed and uses a lot of slang. However, he can turn on the royal voice and sound extremely proper.

4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency? 

English is the only language that is applicable. Except for maybe the language that the Sirens speak, which I’m still not sure about. (No one understand that but them and someone who spends all their time around them.)

5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations? 

No.

6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words? 

He is very good on the spot, but sometimes he sounds kind of stupid, but that’s mostly because he doesn’t have a lot of experience with the world.

7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change? 

He is very eloquent when he needs to be. Otherwise, like I mentioned, super relaxed and lots of slang and half-sentences.

Question Friday 07

Yay for questions! Again, a great list of questions that will give you just a little more insight to what our characters are. 


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1. Do Milo, Galen, Sophia, and Daphne have any hobbies?Milo's hobby is his job, which is being a thief. His favorite thing to do is figure out if he can pickpocket someone without their knowledge and then manage to give whatever item he stole back to them without raising suspicion. Galen is an archer and actually quite good with a traditional bow and arrow. Sophia studies history mostly. Daphne's hobby is beating the boys at their hobbies. 

2. Suppose Julian was approached by robbers and asked to come with them to undertake a special ritual. They swear that he will not lose his life or feel any lightening of his pockets. There is also the side benefit that no robbers in their widespread multinational thief society will ever rob him. What would Julian do at the start of his quest? Would his reaction change at all by the end?
Honestly, this sounds very much like what Milo does when he first meets Julian. I mean, it isn't exactly, but there's some stupid plot that goes on and Julian somehow gets sucked into. In the case that it wasn't Milo and just random robbers, Julian would seriously consider this ritual, so long as it doesn't get in the way of his plans or take him too far from where he is going. However, at the end of his quest, Julian would bargain with them and be much smarter about it.

3. Who, of the characters you've named here so far, is the most likely to:
- panic hilariously in an emergency? Milo and Julian
- be the voice of reason? The Triplets or Sophia
- come up with the action plan? Galen or Daphne, though possibly both with conflicting plans.
- patch up the wounded? Daphne and Sophia
- perform feats of derring doe? Julian
- win a dance competition? Galen for sure!
- give the best relationship advice? Sophia, though it would be lacking all emotional advice and be logical
- give the best directions to get to any place imagineable? Benny the Hunter
- drink everyone else under the table and then some? Milo
- have a fun or unusual phobia? What is it? Milo and he's afraid of losing track of time.
- quote poetry? Galen

4. Would Julian ever play drinking games? If he would/does, what's his favourite?
Yes, he would. His favorite probably involves taking a drink every time in a speech his father addresses the people as 'friends' or 'brothers.' I'm sure there's lots of other rules. You can just imagine Julian and Galen absolutely plastered by the end of the Kings addresses to the public.


5. If you suddenly were given a million dollars, what would you do?
First, I'd pay off debts. Then I would help pay off my parent's debts. I'd ration a small amount for a vacation and the rest would go into savings. 


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Thanks for reading! Some of these were fun to answer since they were pretty hilarious. I swear, Milo cracks me up all the time. I hope you have a fabulous weekend. 


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:

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

Question Friday 04

Coming to you late because it was a busy day and then I napped for like, three hours. I was tired! It was an early start! Anyway, here they are. Lots of Julian questions today.

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1. So, What's your favourite flower?
My favorite flowers are lilies and hibiscus. I like big, open looking flowers that don't have a lot of petals. They also come in vibrant colors, so that makes me super excited and happy. 


2. Do the de Arques ladies have favourite flowers? Oh, do the god/goddesses represented so far have any flora/fauna associations that might be relavent to characterization?
This cracks me up for some reason. I haven't actually thought about the use of flowers, though that would be a fun little easter egg to hide in there huh? I'm sure there will be a mention of flowers for the ladies at some point. I already have the queen in peacock colors because Hera is represented by the peacock. So, you can see that I do like to have those things in there. 


3. What is Julian's favourite kind of weather?
Sunny, dry, clear out. He likes being able to go out and play sports or go on a ride (I'm sure there's some motorized vehicle he cruises around on that I've yet to create) or go hunting. He does like being outdoors so any weather that allows him to do that. You can bet there will be plenty of rainy, stormy days on his quest because I am in fact evil.


4. What would an ideal/perfect day for Julian be?
Probably all of the above in question three. He'd wake up late, have no plans, call up his closest friend and they would go out riding or hunting or just causing trouble. I see the two of them would probably often get themselves into trouble around the castle. Julian is a bit of a big kid and he's clinging to his youth as best he can. 


5. Does Julian have a favourite childhood memory?
Yes, and it was the day he hit his first target with his crossbow. He loves that thing like it's his own leg. I mean, the guy would die if he didn't have it. It's a family heir loom, given to him by his grandfather. He got it at a young age, but his mother wouldn't really let him use it until he was a bit older. His father then taught him to use it and the first time he ever hit the center of his target, he was sold. It's a memory that reminds him of being a child, while still growing up. 


6. Do you like cheese?
Yes, yes I do. Cheese is amazing. It goes with so many things. It can even be melted on apple pie if you ask my grandmother... I suggest you don't ask her.


7. Does Julian have a special weapon or skill to help him on his quest, or must he depend on his own wits?
All heirs are taught to fight with and without weapons. He can defend himself thoroughly, otherwise they wouldn't trust the poor guys out in the world alone. It's part of growing up for them. He's also incredible with his crossbow. It's the only real skill he obtained naturally. Because he's only so experienced in the ways of the world, he doesn't really know what he's capable of and this quest will put him in situations where he has to explore that. He will heavily rely on others and that is also a lesson that is being taught to him; diplomacy and trust. 


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So that's that. See you next week! 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

Question Friday 03

Wow, I keep making late posts in the day. I think I average about 5PM though, so it's okay. Things have been going on around my house and I've just now gotten a chance to sit down and write this out. Lots of questions, too.

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1. So, what's your favourite comfort food?

Spaghetti and marinara. It has been my comfort food since I was a kid. It is the only thing I crave when I am sick.

2. What does Julian think of when he daydreams?

Not having to go through with this tradition. He wants to be given the time to go learn about the world on his own without the added pressure of running a kingdom on his heels. 

3. Does Julian have siblings?

Yes. Julian has one sister, named Sophia Helen de Arques. She is seventeen years old and as of Julian's birthday, she is looking for suitors. She remains at the castle while Julian is on his quest, but she will come into play, I believe in the second book. I'm not sure, but I will be utilizing her. More on her later.

4. Does he have a pet?

He does not have a pet that is just his. There are hunting dogs and horses among other things that belong to the royal family, but there isn't anything that he calls his own. 

5. Any thoughts on the climate of [Kingdom]?

I am in the process of drawing a map, actually. The coastal regions range from mild to cool and rainy. Inland there are forests and deserts, but most of the occupied land is around water, whether it be lakes or rivers or even manmade bodies of water. The one thing that there isn't is any tropical climates or rainforest-like climates. Also, I am so referring to it as [Kingdom] from now until I get a name for it.

6. What is your writing process like?

My process changes depending on how serious I am about what I am writing. Sometimes, I just fly by the seat of my pants and go. In this case, I do a lot more planning. I like to write up character profiles for each character that includes precise information on how they look, their personality, their history, their likes and dislikes and any other technical information I need to remember when it comes to writing them into the story. Once I have everyone as detailed as possible, I will write an outline that is a chapter by chapter synopsis. It details the main point of the chapter, what I am trying to convey. I sometimes have more detailed information than others, it just depends on the kind of chapter it is. Often, a chapter is dreamt up from one line of dialogue or a sentence that I want to include and I will build around that. 

I find that I tend to work a little bit backwards. I find one detail that I like and I create the story around that. If I have two details, I will run through every possibility that they have to be connect and go from there. My writing process is very scattered because my ideas come out of left field sometimes. Some of my best ideas I've ever had happened in a grocery store or while shopping. I keep a small notebook with me all the time, just in case. Then, I go home compare all the notes and find the plot inside it. For this story though, the process will be a lot more structured than usual.

7. Did you get character ideas from people you know, other fandom characters or what?

My character ideas come from all over. I find that a lot of times I know that my plot needs one characteristic to round it out. For example, with Julian's sister, Sophia; I knew that somewhere in the family I needed a place that Julian could feel he wasn't being pressured and I wanted a sort of logic and realistic feel to this place. So, I took those characteristics--logic, realistic, familiar, intelligence--and wound them all up into one character. That is what Sophia is. She's a very smart, level-headed, intelligent young woman who is a counter balance at home for Julian. They aren't great friends, but they care for each other. I knew that it would give him a firm foundation. It just worked out that she corresponds well with the goddess Athena. 

Other times, my characters just come to me. Or maybe I have one look or purpose they need to serve in the book. I'm finding that a lot of the characters in this trilogy are created on and around Julian based on my needs to advance the plot. Luckily, I find that my favorite characteristics are easily implemented in this fantasy world and I can use all my loved personality traits and quirks. I will say this, there's at least two characters that did receive parial inspiration from Captain Jack Sparrow. 

8. Do you have faces for any of the characters?

What's funny about this is that I have so many characters to put faces to, but only Julian's came to me and made sense. The rest of them are still up in the air. There's one character in particular, that I could tell you their personality, the way they dress, their scars, their quirks, their fears, their vices, personal details about their childhood and I cannot for the life of me settle on their physical attributes. I can't decide on hair color, hair length, eye color, body type or height. I mean, I know next to nothing about how they look, but I know everything about who they are. Looks are alluding me a little bit for characters, but I think once I get moving on it, they will make a little more sense. For now, we will just have to live with my poor descriptions of their physical appearance.

9. Does Julian have a sidekick/bestie that will accompany him on his travels of epic proportions?

The Quest of Kings does not allow the heir to embark on the journey with a companion. So, starting out on the journey? No. Julian is completely alone, but--and I think I can tell you this without giving away too much, because I want to talk about him--Julian will very quickly gain a traveling companion. I know I've mention Milo Lycus before. He is a very interesting character that nearly gets Julian into trouble... over and over again. I will get to him next week, I believe. He may not be Julian's best friend and definitely not at the beginning, but he definitely occupies the 'sidekick' role.

10. What inspiring/badass music have you been listening to to prepare/write this epic?

Oh man, I dont' even have a good answer for this. I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks when it comes to this kind of thing because I want it to play very clearly in the reader's head when they discover this fantasy land. I've taken to string quartets and also a lot of the metal sounds that are in Hellboy II have been pretty inspiring. Also, the song "Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)" by Arcade Fire has been and interesting mix. They actually use the sound of whistling kettles in the song and I like the image it gives me. If I find anything else I love, I'll be sure to share it with you!

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I hope that feeds your craving this week and that you will survive until next week when I post again. I hope to get some plotting worked on this weekend, God willing. A lot is going on around my house right now, but I am consistently excited about this trilogy and I really cannot wait to share it. Thanks for reading!

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.

Question Friday 02

Alright, I'm gonna make this as quick as I can since I need to head out, but who knows what will reallly happen because I am long winded.

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1. Will there be romance?

I should have guess that this would be a question at some point. However, for reasons I can't explain, I am completely unsure of the answer at this point. I would really like to have romance involved, but with the nature of this book being very plot driven, it would only be a sort of subplot and I can't quite pinpoint how strong it would be. There's also the fact that a lot of the female characters involved are either related to him or trying to kill him. Yes, there's the allure to the enemies falling in love, but that would be hard to do with the sirens or some of the other characters I have planned. There is a character that's only recently begun brewing in my head, but I am not sure how strong her involvement in the story would be once he left on his quest. So, my answer? The plot is more adventure driven, but if my characters start to really demand it, you can expect to see some tension in the romance department.

2. What inspired you to write the story?

I know I talked about what inspired met to start this plot, but not just what inspired me to write it. There were a lot of outside factors that mixed up in my head and created the plot, some of them more obvious than others. But what inspired me to just write? Well, actually, that is probably a book called Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. I was reading it because my father suggested it to me. I was (and still am) at a point in my life where I'm not sure what direction I am going and I have too many options. He is a Christian writer just as I am. It isn't a self-help book, but more of a book that examines the reasons we hold ourselves back, in a way. At any rate, it was actually one specific thing that he said in the book that helped me realize what writing can do. He compares a lot of moments in our lives to those in movies and fiction; he really enjoys using them as metaphors. At one point, he says that fiction is necessary. He says that we live in this mundane world and it is hard to get the heart excited again, or passionate again and fiction does bring our hearts back to life. It reminds of us that most essential need to love and live. It wasn't a main theme of the book, but it was very exciting for me. As a person who had been trying so hard to figure out what I was doing with my life, it was a relief to hear someone call fiction a necessity. I was never looking for permission to be  a writer, but I was not convinced that it was a acceptable job. I felt like it was meant to be a side job, something of a hobby and when I read that part, I realized that I wasn't just going to be writing for myself because I felt like it (even though that could have been the reason and I would have been fine), but I was going to write something other people were going to read; something that other people were going to feel. I now have the opportunity to put together a plot with compelling characters and plot that when you put it down whether you loved it or hated it, you will feel it. So, that is my inspiration for writing it.

3. Why did you choose the gods/goddesses that you chose?

I think with most of them, I created a general outline of the character. I decided on their involvment in the story and saw where they needed to be and then I went and did a heck of a lot of research to find just the right god/goddess to fit that character. With the characters a sort of silhouette, once I found the corresponding god, it all clicked and the character became very clear. All of their quirks, ticks and minor personality traits fleshed out and I had a bigger picture. Some of the gods I knew I was going to use, like Kairos for example and he just happened to fit The Oracle. Some of them, like Aphrodite, well it only made sense that she be the counterpart to this one particular character in the story. It really is just a blind search in hopes that it clicks. It usually works.

4. Julian. What's his favorite outfit? What's his favorite food? Who's his best friend? What's his most prized possession? What's one thing could he lose that he would be completely lose without?

Oh, these are hard to answer! His favorite outfit is yet to be discovered. I haven't got a set sense of what the fashion is going to look like in this world, so I don't know just yet. I would guess that it is something casual that makes him look average and nothing like royalty, though. For food, again, I'm not sure what exactly the kind of diet this kingdom is on. Though, he's the kind of guy to like almost anything. Darn men and being able to eat and not gain weight. What a jerk. His best friend is a faceless, unnamed Duke. I haven't quite figured the character out yet. I just know he's a Duke. I have no idea what he looks like. His most prized possession is this old family crossbow that his grandfather gave him as a child. He accidently killed his grandmother's cat with it. He swears it was an accident. And the final question, I don't have an answer for. I know that if I did have an answer, I would already be making plans to have him lose it, because I'm evil and torture my characters. See what you did? Now I'm going to come up with something for him to lose.

5. Will you have a Gaia equivalent?

I don't know yet. That is definitely an interesting goddess to have involved and there are going to be so many interactions with characters in this book and the following books, its hard to say where it will all end. I wouldn't be surprised if they do run into someone eventually that is the Gaia equivalent, but that character has yet to be discovered.

6. What rides are you gonna go on? I've never been to Disneyland and I want to vicariously!

I always go on as many rides as possible, but the requirements are always Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones, and the Matterhorn. If I can squeeze in more, I will definitely go on them.

7. What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Hmmm, this is the hardest question yet. i don't kow. I love cookies. Home made chocolate chip cookies from scratch are incredible, but if I'm going to buy cookies from the store, Oreos usually win out. It's appropriate that two days ago someone called me the creme in the Oreo. Apparently I'm the best part.

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Well, I hope that can hold your attention for a whole weekend while I figure out what I plan on writing next week. My goal right now is to get as many characters and events outlined as possible and get to actually writing by March 1st. If I can do so earlier, I'd love to, but we will see. I'm gonna set a writing schedule and get myself into the routine of writing every day. I foresee many trips to Starbucks. Have a great day!

I've done some more research on Kairos, and you know what's weird? This god is just as elusive as The Oracle. First of all, not all accounts call him a god. Some are convinced that he is a she. Of course, I go with the male version, but that isn't the point. Then, there is the many different definitions of what he actual is the god of. Another name for him is Caerus.

The Greeks had two words for time; chronos and kairos. Of course, these both are the names of gods, but represent different versions, as I've said. Kairos has been described as the opportune moment, the god/goddess of pure time, or the spirit of opportunity. There's a few accounts of him being described as a youthful man with hair hanging in his eyes, but none on the back of his head. He's also described as being completely naked with winged feet. It is quite a strange description for a god, but that isn't the first time that the Greeks sounded like they were on something when they came up with myths.

Aesops Fables go on to say that you must catch Kairos when he is in reach, but once he has moved on, not even Zeus could catch him. That sounds like an awful lot of power in a god who doesn't have a set description.

Alright, this is a bit of a rambling post. I wasn't sure what to talk about so I started to do more research and then realized that, geesh, there isn't anything set for this particular god. I only have the information I know from a Mythology class I took and any resources I can find on the internet.

This is a boring post. I'm sorry about that. I plan to have some art or inspirational pictures up next week as I get on with more of the world. I'm not sure whether you would like to hear more about the de Arques dynasty or if you want more on the actually world around it. This kingdom is still not named. I need to get working on a map, too. Wow, there's a lot left to do.

Alrighty, its Thursday, which means y'all need to ask me questions! I am going to Disneyland tomorrow, so I will be posting early in the morning and so you absolutely have to ask me things asap. I'm not sure what you want to ask, whether it be about this whole theme or future posts or what kind of hair products I use. I don't know. Have at it!

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