Back to Writing

So I guess it’s time to get back to writing. Recently, if you haven’t been able to tell, I’ve been distracted and the subjects of my blog show it. Maybe it was the holiday season where life becomes busier and thoughts of friends and family take a more permanent position at the front of my mind. Maybe it’s just because I became bored discussing books which have yet to see the light of day. Either way, I’ve come full circle and return to Jeremiah Stone, of which I have two things to discuss.

First, and for those who know my Facebook account (www.facebook.com/sscotttwigg), I’ve posted a few options on what my book cover could look like. Of course the graphics were not what I initially requested, but then I discovered the person creating the covers is limited to stock photos from a website. Granted, there are literally millions of photos available to use (and I’ve looked through thousands of them), but few of them conveyed what I truly wanted. This is not to say there weren’t bits and pieces which I liked, but even cropping and pasting those together wouldn’t work. What I expected when providing a list of photos concerning how I wanted people to look or body positioning was that new photos or graphics would be created, not a collage of things I found. After seeing the first cover suggestion (which was based on the photos list I provided), I realized what I’d done and how my preferences were interpreted. Since then, I’ve been clearer and done more research on precisely what I’m looking for, to include examples not from just the one website. Now what I really need are a few opinions on the covers I’ve posted.

Second, and I say this with both a desire to have it happen while knowing the reality that it’s very unlikely to happen, I’d love to see Jeremiah Stone become a movie. It’s a dream, but let’s face it, we all have dreams. At least this one of mine is plausible because I wrote the story (actually all 4 novels) with this idea in mind. I imagined every scene, pictured it all in my head, before I put a single word onto paper. I couple this desire, however, with what I’ve seen in the movies of late. And I’m not saying the most recent movies are bad, but rather the digital effects being created are awesome almost to the point of distraction. The latest movie I’ve seen consisted of an ‘ok’ story and fifteen minutes of pure delight coming from the fight scene near the end. Now I take that scene, which I deem good enough to actually purchase the movie for, and apply it within my mind to Jeremiah Stone. I take actors I’ve seen in other movies, assigning them to characters with Jeremiah Stone, and imagine their interactions. And in my mind my book suddenly comes to life. Overall, I think they’d all make for good movies. Realistically though, I’d be happy if they just made one.

So those are the two things on my mind of late concerning Jeremiah Stone. Now back to finishing another possible movie. LOL

Joint Projects

A few weeks ago I began writing a storyline based on an idea a friend of mine had. The idea, though rough without an inkling of characters or script, was based on a setting. It was not something necessarily new, but it was an intriguing concept and it stuck in my mind like hardening cement. For a month I ruminated on the idea, thinking up possible people or story concepts only to find they all seemed like a cliché. They’d been done before, in one way or another, so none of them were original. The only thing about it all was I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind. It sat there like rotting meat and festered until I had to do something about it. This resulted in roughly four solid pages of writing on a project I’ll call NORSE, which is a few hours’ worth of pounding the keys for me (I’m not the fastest typist around). Once written my mind was free and I could leave it alone, or rather it left me alone. A day later, however, I realized it needed a review, so I spent a day looking it over from time to time making minor adjustments throughout. Satisfied with the results, I did what any person should do, I sent the beginning of the story back to my friend to see:

1. What he thought; 2. If it was something he would want to pursue, or 3. Whether I could run with the idea on my own.

Frankly, though, none of those things mattered to me for a couple of reasons and none of them have to do with his reply to my inquiry. What mattered was the idea was gone from my mind allowing me to continue writing on my other projects. As I’ve said before, there are two I’m already working on and they will probably take a good portion of 2012 to finish (if I’m lucky). Beyond those two are another three which I am ruminating on, though none of them is as intriguing as NORSE.

Now in the past I’ve tried to start projects as a team with little success (though not with the man who inspired NORSE). Those projects didn’t pan out as I expected and it wasn’t because of lack of material or interest. It was due to a lack of time. Joint projects take teamwork and for the most part I would consider myself a lone gunman when it comes to my writing. I like things my way and tend to be rather inflexible. This is not to say I can’t be swayed, but let me be the first to say it won’t be an easy undertaking. Because of this (of me) there needs to be an eye-to-eye agreement on things from the get-go. That agreement doesn’t have to mean the writing HAS to be 50-50 or even 60-40. It’s just got to be accepted by both parties and it doesn’t even have to concern the writing, but could just entail the storyline, the free exchange of ideas on where the story goes and how it ends. That being said, for all intents and purposes I’ll do the majority of the writing as long as the idea, the overall story concept, is an original. And let it be known that if I do the typing then it will be done slowly, but it will get done. I anticipate this will probably be what occurs with NORSE.

On another note, my book ‘Dream Savior’ is nearly complete.

Mortality

I’m at 39,000 feet, flying at 582 mph, and I have thoughts of my mortality. It’s not as if I’m contemplating my death. It’s not that I wonder about the afterlife, if there even is one. It’s not as if I wonder about what will happen to my friends or family after I’m gone. What I wonder is if in ten or fifty or a hundred fifty years I’ll be remembered. I mean, what is the legacy I leave behind.

I am very grateful to have a son and with all my hopes and prayers I want him to have a family, to carry on the 'Twigg' name, but generations from now, when my grave site is no longer visited by people that once knew me or even those who might think they have, what do I leave behind. Currently I leave nothing. I leave hopes and dreams of being a writer. I leave a series of stories which may exist only as printed copies on a family shelf or stored away in an attic. I leave time and tears on paper, but in reality I leave nothing. At least right now that’s all I have.

For all intents and purposes, I am a ‘nobody’. I work, I live, and I try to fulfill my personal life goals while taking care of my family and a few dear friends as best I can. I love, I shed tears, and I yearn to be more, to do more, for the world, but I am only one person. I am a cog in the wheel of time doing my part as minutes turn to hours which eventually turn to years, but nothing great comes from me. I do not enact significant changes. I do not alter the world around me more than anyone else. I do not inspire anyone to be better, to achieve more, than what I have. I simply exist.

Do I want more? My answer to that is everyone wants more. Everyone wants their five minutes of fame. Everyone wants to be a part of history. Everyone wants to leave a legacy. The reality, however, is that very few of us do and even then I wonder for how long. Will I be remembered tomorrow if I was to disappear today.

This is not to say I can’t be more or do more or create more than the next person, but then whose memory do I snuff out in my own selfish act on importance.

If all men (or women) are created equal, then shouldn’t we all become a part of history. Shouldn’t we all be remembered for something we did no matter how large or small. Shouldn’t we all leave a legacy just for being alive. That’s all, that's it, that's all we need. Our existence should be enough for each and every one of us to be remembered. But that’s not reality.

Reality dictates we are insignificant. Reality dictates one in a million will be remembered ten years from now. One in a billion fifty years from now. One in a trillion a hundred fifty years from now. And let me say this, I don’t plan to be any one of those. I am just one of the masses, like you.

All I truly want, all I care about, is that my legacy lives far longer than I do because without my son I would be nothing.

For that, I can be forgotten.

Bucket Lists

Let me begin by saying I don’t really have a bucket list (per se'), but there are things I want to do before my time passes. I don’t have them written down here, but rather have written down what I feel are the 10 more significant things I’ve completed in my life. And if you feel up to it, add your list to mine.

1.       I’ve had mass with the Pope within Vatican City.

2.       I have bathed in the healing waters of the Dead Sea.

3.       I have walked the path of Jesus and been moved with each step.

4.       I have driven over 155 mph on the German Autobahn.

5.       I have shot-the-gap around the Arch de Triumph in Paris.

6.       I have watched a game of Bache ball played by old men in the hills above Monaco.

7.       I have skied the French Alps (which is the only time I’ve ever skied).

8.       I have seen glaciers crumble into the ocean in Alaska.

9.       I have stood above a live volcano in Hawaii.

10.   I have mourned the deaths of thousands in Pearl Harbor.

Most importantly, I have loved. It’s not on the list, but it’s possibly the most important thing I’ve ever done.

Whoever may read this list may find my order of things a bit out of place and suffice it to say the bottom seven items all have relatively the same significance to me. I have shed more tears (especially in Dachau) then I care to admit and only the joy of driving seems to refresh my outlook on life, which is why those two items garner higher ranking.

There are other things I could add; like the birth of my son or even the World Series game I attended in which my wife mocked Derek Jeter while being 8-months pregnant. Needless to say it was highly memorable. And there are many more beyond that; Oktoberfest in Munich, climbing the steps of the Eifel Tower, spending a week on a sailboat in Desolation Sound, watching Nolan Ryan pitch, gazing up at the fireworks while on The Mall on 4^th of July, having a picnic in Central Park, watching a night launch of the Space Shuttle, and so on.

There is one thing, however, I would put at the top of the list without hesitation, though for now it only remains in my heart.  Only a few know of it and most likely I will take it to my grave in solemn remembrance, but to think of it chokes me up every time. And more significantly, it is only during times like this which bring it to my thoughts. I can only hope my prayer was answered.

Traveling

I’ve traveled a lot (mostly for work) and it’s one of the things I enjoy most. And considering I will win the lottery sooner rather than later, my traveling experiences will only grow. Along with all this, seeing new places, experiencing new things, always inspires me (most of the time after I’ve returned home). From all I’ve seen, however, ideas grow. They blossom within my mind like spring flowers. They are cultivated like fields of wheat. And they are harvested like autumn crops. Traveling is what makes my thoughts go round.

In all the places I’ve traveled outside the United States (mostly Europe), 3 places have held my mind and body more than any others. Those places in order of preference are: Rome, Tel Aviv, and Paris. Rome for its food, history, religious aspect, and architecture. Tel Aviv for it food, people, and its surrounding significance in the religious world. Paris for its food.

I say Paris for only its food, but it is more than just that, though it’s the only thing that sticks out in my mind. My first impression of Paris (some 25 years ago) was that I’d never want to return. The people were snobby. Since then I’ve been back a few times and each time my impression has changed. Not only have the people gotten more tolerable, I have become more worldly, my palate has changed, and I have (at times) become as snooty and standoffish as most Parisians. Really though, if not for a friend named Simon, I doubt I would’ve gotten to know the real Paris, and still I’ve only received a glimpse of it.

As for Tel Aviv, the city and its people can only be called wonderful. With danger surrounding them on three sides, and the Mediterranean on the fourth, they’ve come to appreciate every day they are not threatened by war. They live life. They are full of energy. And they treat visitors as if everyone was a dignitary. Beyond that, though, is Jerusalem, Eilat, the Dead Sea, and so much more. Everywhere you turn there’s a significant historical place. And no matter your religion, you realize this little strip of land was the center of it all for a very long time. It’s awe inspiring.

And then there is Rome. I could dine on the architecture for decades and never go hungry. I could drink in the ambiance for centuries and never go thirsty. It is the main course which need no dessert, though a simple trip to the Vatican provides one. In a sentence, Rome is the center of the modern world. It brought about democracy, higher thought, and much of science. It is both slow moving and fast paced. Its like witnessing a festival of oddities where anything and everything is only a cab ride away. It’s my favorite place, and yet there is still so much I want to see.

Beyond these three cities, I have still yet to breathe in Greece or smell Madrid. Maybe one day I will and my short list will change. Until then, I dream of them all.

Writing Differences

From other writers I’ve spoken to I’ve discovered I’m a bit different in the way I approach things. I say this while typing frantically at 36,000 feet in the cramped quarters of coach. I have the front of my laptop touching my belly with arms splayed at odd angles and the screen tilted downward to the point I can barely read the words I’m typing. Believe me when I say the image (like my body position) is awkward to an extreme. However, I find that I do some of my best writing in the oddest of locations. Whether I’m above the clouds, in a bustling terminal, or sitting at a bar with a beer a few inches from my grasp, I seem to prefer the surrounding distractions much more than the silence of a lonely room when putting my thoughts on paper (or virtual paper as it may be).

Now why is that?

To answer the question, I have only one idea; I’m a lonely type of guy. I say that knowing I have friends and family in abundance. But also knowing this means I want people around me, just not them. They are more of a distraction because they interrupt, questions, prod for attention while strangers usually leave a person alone when they appear involved in something. I know this and therefore use it to my advantage. When formulating a thought I can hold a conversation or order food or wave down a stewardess, but when I’m actually putting my thoughts in writing all of those people will adamantly ignore me. Basically, they are at my disposal for ideas and don’t even know it.

But how do I ignore them so easily?

Ask my wife… just kidding. Actually it takes practice. It takes a level of concentration my brother mastered at an early age. For me, it’s taken decades, but for the most part I can tune almost anything out for a little while. Perfecting this puts my writing in control until I decide to give up that control. The problem I have is realizing how much time truly passes when I do this. I usually think minutes when in reality its hours (probably because I’m a 40-words-per-minute typist at best, so a few pages takes hours). It’s gotten me in trouble more than once, which is another reason I dislike writing while at home.

And how long does it take to formulate an idea?

That all depends. If it’s a storyline, then anywhere from weeks to months. If it’s just a blog entry or a ‘short’ as I call them, sometimes my fingers seem to move on their own without been driven by thought. Also, I like to roll ideas around in my head constantly. Whether I’m driving or reading a book or watching a movie, my mind is working on ideas for other novels. Most of those ideas are trash, but a few reach paper. Fewer yet get written.

Maybe I’m not so different from the rest of the writers I’ve spoken too. Maybe we’re all nuts. At least I know I’m not certifiable (yet). 

Jeremiah Stone - Fighting Chance

The excerpt you’re about to read from ‘Jeremiah Stone’ is still under draft, but you can get a sense of action the novel entails. In the story, Jeremiah has just saved and taken into protection (from angels, demons, and police alike) a crime syndicate up-and-comer named Zygi Wolf.  They’re currently holed-up in a New York City hotel (which Zygi considers a dump) with Jeremiah questioning him about his importance.

“How should I know?” Zygi replied with innocence. “I’m one of the proverbial ‘bad guys’, so I guess it could be anything.”

Jeremiah stared at the man for a few seconds not satisfied with the answer while hoping his stoic stance would intimidate the man a little. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re not the typical drug lord or mafia type, but you run in both circles. So what are you not telling me?” Even as he asked, however, Jeremiah made a connection of his own, one he didn’t want to contemplate, but he felt was the truth. Then, just as Zygi opened his mouth to answer, Jeremiah heard a whisper. An instant later he launched himself across the room at Zygi, grabbed a fist full of the man’s shirt, altered his weight, and flung Zygi through the doorway into the single bedroom with a crash just as the door to the apartment burst open. Luckily Jeremiah’s momentum was already moving towards the door, so he let it carry himself into the midst of policemen even as they brought their weapons to bear. 

Training helps a person prepare for real life situations, but when the opposite occurs during those times than everything is thrown off balance. So it is with the police, as they expect people to either freeze or run away giving them a second to analyze the situation and react accordingly. They never suspect an unarmed man to dive into their midst faster than humanly possible. To say they lost the upper hand in that first second would be an understatement as Jeremiah’s fist impacted the fourth man’s flak jacket with enough force to put knuckle imprints in its quarter-inch thick steel plate. Then Jeremiah turned his attention to targets one, two, and three. Spinning, he kicked the legs out from number three while backhanding number two shattering the man’s visor, then slammed his fist down into number three smashing him into the floor. By now, number one was spinning around bringing his weapon about. Jeremiah was just a bit slow in turning as two shots thudded into his chest and shoulder, but knowing his timing was off by just that much he altered his weight and skin density allowing the force of the bullets to twist his upper body to the right as his left fist shattered both the door frame and the man’s right bicep. As the gun dropped, Jeremiah shifted all his weight to the left stopping his momentum abruptly as number one’s momentum continued into him allowing Jeremiah to grab the man’s vest. Yanking it downward, the man caught Jeremiah’s rising knee. With a heavy grunt the man stilled before Jeremiah let him fall to the floor in a heap.

Jeremiah stopped, surveying the scene in satisfaction. Four down in four second and all of them would live, which was a good thing since none of them were either angels or demons.

With a turn, he took a step back into the room and saw Zygi lying limply against the dresser, though still breathing. Damn, he thought. He wasn’t about to carry the man away, so he’d just have to leave him for now, though he wasn’t that useful anymore, he told himself as he reflected on his last thought before the policemen’s interruption.

Jeremiah’s ability to alter his weight became a study (after his second death) into whether it was truly his weight or his density he was altering. Believing it had to be the latter; he’s since tuned his power and thoughts into increasing his skin’s density into something more like hardened leather while making his innards lighter. This means he’s able to maintain his weight while turning his skin into something akin to a bullet-proof jacket. Granted he still has to dig the bullets out of his skin and receives some really bad bruising, but he survives and is unhindered by the bulkiness of a true Kevlar jacket.

Current Projects

There are two stories I’m currently working on (though one of them I’ve barely started so it’s hard to truly say I’m working on it). Realistically, I’m still formulating that story, working it over in my mind until it solidifies like congealed milk (yuck). Already, I’ve spent more time doing research on the story and backdrop than I’ve spent on almost all my other books combined. It’s something new to me because normally I just jump in feet first and let the story take me away. This time, however, I’m actually trying to nurture this new style of writing within myself and create a truly reverent story. It definitely won’t be the next great American novel, but I hope it will be better; more laid out and thought provoking than all my other pieces of work. Unfortunately I’m not going to discuss it here other than to give the title (as it stands so far). Originally I was going to call it ‘Golem’ because, as the word suggests, golems are rudimentary living creatures formed of clay and molded for a specific purpose. That title has since changed to ‘Burden’ because of the choice this molded piece of clay must make.

The other piece of work, which I’m more inclined to discuss at the moment, is about a man who dreams reality. After a horrific car accident, one he’s lived through many times in his dreams, the main character Michael has an ability almost impossible to believe.  It’s fostered by the belief that if you die in a dream you die in real life. Because of his deja’ vu car accident in which he’s supposed to die, Michael, throughout the course of his life, has learned to manipulate his dreams so he survives. As it would stand, his first dream out of surgery is of being mugged. Strangely, and more vividly than ever, he avoids dying during this mugging dream by altering it in a of couple ways.  What he doesn’t realize is his dream is actually an out-of-body experience coming true on the other side of the country. Before he knows it, he’s cast into a world where dreams, reality, and perceptions are so intermixed it’s hard to tell one from the other. From this reality, he doesn’t know if he can survive.

Beyond these two novels, I have a few ideas, though the problem is I want the stories to be unique. I want situations compelling enough not to be repetitive, but that’s getting harder and harder to accomplish. As with most movies now, everything seems a cliché with remakes and sequels being the norm. And if you haven’t realized it already, I like avoiding the norm. Nonetheless, I have a lot to work on before I’m done with my current ideas and plenty of time to finish them since ‘Jeremiah Stone’ has yet to come out, followed by ‘Limbus’, ‘Azazel’, and ‘Beginnings’, all from the same series.

Next week, maybe I’ll post a short excerpt from ‘Jeremiah Stone’. We’ll have to see. 

Jeremiah Stone - Eris

In the story Jeremiah Stone, Eris is an angel who is first sent to kill Zygi Wolf and later ends up as Isis’ protector. If you know Greek mythology at all, you might questions why GOD would send in Eris to begin with because she is strife incarnate. Secondly, though she is a warrior, why use her as a protector of Isis instead of sending her after Hades. The answer is many fold, so I will discuss them in order.

First of all, Hades and Loki have created an empire on Earth which has remained hidden right under the noses of the angels. In fact, everything is so meticulously setup and covered up by the two demons that finding a weakness in either of them before being destroyed is unlikely. By sending in Eris to protect Isis, it keeps Eris out of the fray while allowing her ability to take hold.

So why would this be important? Eris’ ability is more than just strife and discord, its chaos. Just the fact her power is nearly identical to that of Loki’s means the pot will be stirred in random ways.  By sending her in to protect Isis, her ability to create chaos and sow randomness into the equation, may possibly change Hades’ and Loki’s carefully laid plans. And in some ways, her randomness counters Loki’s own unpredictability leveling them both out so Jeremiah can anticipate what both of them will do. In a way, their two chaotic personalities almost create a predictable pattern.

In addition, Jeremiah’s own ability and beliefs, especially with Eris around, make him less structured. This gives him a level of unpredictability in the presence of Eris, making his normal well-thought out moves more random in appearance. This is one of the reasons why Hades exits the picture and brings in Opus Wright. Hades can’t follow Jeremiah’s train of thought with Eris around. So the best he can do is hope to lure Jeremiah into a trap or have Opus finish him off first.

For these reasons, Eris is continually sent back as Isis’ protector even though the two of them don’t necessarily get along.

One more thing, Jeremiah’s belief in himself is not swayed by Eris. In fact, the tension between Eris and Jeremiah fuels both of them into doing their best because neither one trusts the other. This is the other reason Eris is sent.

Finally, the biggest difference between Eris and Loki is she was never tempted by Lucifer’s promise and therefore remained an angel. Now this may seem like a small thing, but it’s not. It means she is solely dedicated towards GOD’s plan and does not waver, so she will do anything and everything within her power in order to carry out HIS will, even if it means sacrificing herself for the greater good.

Jeremiah Stone - Hades

As discussed in Forevers, Hades is one of the most consistently manipulative demons on Earth, yet there is so much more to him than just surviving. Besides being Hades, the demon has also played the part of other less well known ancient gods on earth. The most significant on these was his portrayal of Mot, a god of death and darkness, who was split by a sword, winnowed in a sieve, burned, ground into dust, and devoured by crows only to come back to life. In reality, this was the demon’s first planned transference from one host to another thus giving him the appearance of surviving anything. That legacy has carried the demon throughout the ages until his time as Hades.

As the god Hades, the demon played his most important and memorable role on Earth and as such has retained the name Hades. His given name has been lost in time except by only a few.

In Hell, Hades was also one of the first to learn Lucifer’s power. Since then he has tuned it through centuries of dealing with humanity becoming one of the most manipulative creatures on Earth. And since Lucifer is forbidden to interact directly with humans, Hades often assumes the demon’s personification in demonic rituals. Also, like when dealing with Opus Wright, Hades takes on the guise of Death, a role he had played many times affecting history in dozens of ways.

In the story Jeremiah Stone, Hades and Loki are the villains. Together they create an entire company based on around a group of cult followers while using Loki’s power and influence with the mob to clear the way. It isn’t until Jeremiah Stone messes with Hades’ next host when things go awry. Even while Hades seeks to destroy Jeremiah by capturing Isis and leading the man into a trap, Hades finds himself looking toward his own vulnerabilities. And seeing as Jeremiah always seems to be victorious, Hades plans for the worst by cultivating his next host just in case Jeremiah Stone does get lucky. Hades, however, never loses.

Jeremiah Stone - Forevers

In the world of Jeremiah Stone, angels and demons exist on earth much like in the movie Constantine. There are a few differences however; one of them being angels and demons only take possession a human body. For angels, certain religious sects solely exist for the purpose of preparing their body for the inhabitation of an angel’s spirit. Demons, however, simply take over the minds of the weak, though there has to be a level of belief in the divine for this to occur. Therein lies a problem, though. The power these godly incarnations possess limits the time they can normally occupy a human body. There are exception to this rule and they are called Forevers.

Forevers are angels or demons who share compassion towards their host’s well-being. Most importantly they are able to limit the power and knowledge they innately possess so as not to destroy the body they occupy prematurely. Because they are able to exist in harmony within the donor, they don’t treat the host’s body with disregard. In addition to this, the longer they spend within the body the more the body can adapt to the angel’s or demon’s abilities, such as their speed, strength, and constitution. However, there are very few angels and demons who possess the level of compassion necessary to occupy a body for longer than a decade or two. Those who can often become Forevers.

Within the world of Jeremiah Stone, there are far more demons on earth than angels. Most of the demons only spend a few weeks or months on earth creating havoc before they ultimately destroy the body they possess. This is because demons are naturally less compassionate, so there are only a few demon Forevers. Contrary to this are the angels, who have very few volunteers from which to select a host, but they can usually last much longer in their bodies.

Of all the angels, Isis is a perfect Forever. Her godly aspects of love, compassion, and fertility have allowed her to occupy the same body for over three millennia. During her time, she’s was the representation of an Egyptian god, but when Christianity began spreading across most of the world she adapted to the change and survived on Earth influencing other cultures towards peace. Her only problem is that she doesn’t age, always having the appearance of a woman between her early 20s to early 30s. This forces her to constantly move around giving up her sphere of influence thus not enabling her to affect real change within society except in times of war. Despite all this, she is well regarded among the angels because she has seen and experienced so much. In other words, her wisdom concerning humanity gives her a power few can match.

Hades, on the other hand, is a different type of Forever. He guides the world towards Armageddon; playing long-term angles which few demons can comprehend for the simple reason those demons can’t exist on the world more than a few months at a time. And even though Hades can only last a few decades within a host, he regularly cycles through host bodies while always searching for a host long before it’s needed. Once a new host is found, he cultivates the new host with promises of power and longevity until the host wants to become Hades. This desire to become Hades allows the demon to exist within the host longer than almost all other demons. For this reason, Hades is almost always a permanent fixture on Earth and one of the most influential demons man has ever encountered. And given that he has power over shadows and darkness, he is one of the most feared demons on Earth.

Writing Female Characters

I can only imagine that for a male author one of the most difficult things to do is write female characters. I know it is for me, but I make the attempt based on what I have observed with every woman I’ve met. It’s not an easy task, considering most of the women I’ve met are not the emotional type. Granted, they shed tears more easily them most men, but they are more logical, less emotional than they are normally portrayed in media. So along those lines, I always seem to create a woman of this type in my stories. My only possible excuse for this is that the heroine of my life is Rosa Parks because her defiant, true-to-self nature inspires me.

Reflecting on all the female characters I’ve written, I’d like to describe three of them from three different books: Chalas from the series Shadow Gods, Christina from Romance Novel, and Isis from the Jeremiah Stone series. All three of these women have very different personalities, but all of them are strong in their own way. Most of all, these female characters provide an insight into the story and the male character each interacts with which brings them all to life.

As described in my Conversation blog entry, the three words that describe Chalas are intuitive, stubborn, and motherly. Despite her leadership skills and being the one person everyone turns to in times of need, she is never in charge because of the male dominated society in which she exists. She passes no judgment and everyone looks up to her, knowing a single word or look from her can make a person quiver in silence. Also, due to her intuitive nature she knows exactly how to deal with people to get what she wants. Arguing with her is also a futile effort. Regardless of her harsh nature when dealing with ‘stupid men’, she does have a soft side. She is protective of those she cares for and she will not give an inch when she believes in something.

Contrary to Chalas, Christina has a very feminine side. She has been hurt is many of her past relationships, but it doesn’t stop her from putting her heart forth to get stepped on once again because she believes in love. She believes she will find the one person for her and she’s not going to give up until she does. Some would consider this a weakness; but this doesn’t stop her from   aggressively searching for what her heart desires. Of course, all this is hidden behind a wall of confidence as she is one of only a few women in a male dominated field. Because of this, she strives to be better and do more than her counterparts (and it shows).

Of these three women, Isis is by far the most timid and most feminine. Her strength exists in the fact she dares to defy God even though she’s an angel. Her nature is love and fertility (as in the Egyptian god Isis) and when she meets Jeremiah Stone she becomes torn between her growing love for him and her inherent love for God. To her fellow angels, she’s considered a traitor and weak, an angel doomed to be sent to hell because she is choosing to love someone besides God. Of course, Isis’ strength is her belief in love, along with the belief that if God disagreed with what she was doing than God would deny her this love. Since she is allowed to continue her relationship with Jeremiah Stone, she is defiant towards those who disagree with what she’s doing and challenges them to speak otherwise. Within Jeremiah’s arms, however, she is only his.

All three of these women are strong in their own right and they reflect a bit of me, a bit of what I desire within a woman, and a bit of the women I know. This is not to say I know how to write female characters. It is only to say I strive to present them in a light which shows both their strengths and weaknesses. I hope I do them and myself justice.

Writing Jeremiah Stone

The idea for Jeremiah Stone was driven by several things, the first of which was the need to get published. If you’ve read my ‘Why Jeremiah Stone’ entry, then you know I was told by an agent that getting a single book published was far easier than a series of nine books, especially for an unknown writer. The agent’s remark prompted me to start thinking of a single-book storyline. This was a bit of a challenge for me because my other series (Shadow Gods) all began with a single character, and as I wrote the story grew around him. Jeremiah stone was quite the opposite.

My initial thought was to go to back to the traditional storyline found in all the books I read as a youth. I disliked the repetitive nature of those stories, but it is the standard, so I delved to conform. Once I made that decision, coming up with the story only took a few days, though not the details. Those came later, after the main character was decided.

As always, I wanted to create a controversial character, someone that blurred the lines between good and evil. My basis for this goes all the way back to a college philosophy class in which the professor asked us to define good and evil. After giving the concept some thought, I came up with this response: ‘Good and evil are defined by the morays of the society in which you exist. Something considered good one place may be the most heinous of acts someplace else.’ Taking this into account, I wanted a character who knew the difference between good and evil, but was not motivated to abide by those societal standards. In fact, he wouldn’t be compelled to do anything except what he desired to do, though knowing full well the consequences of his actions.

With this is mind, I tried to figure out two things: ‘Why would he be this way?’ and  ‘What would his job be?’

To answer the first question, I thought of ‘The Book of Job’ from the Bible in which God and the Devil tortured a man’s life to find out if it would affect his faith. My modern day twist on it was to have a similar bet between the two, but instead of directly affecting the characters life, the two would allow the character to develop un-influenced based on a ‘gift’ each of them gave the single soul. Thus God gave belief since it’s the anchor of faith, whereas the Devil removed the soul’s morals. From these ‘gifts’, Jeremiah was born with the ability to do anything he believed in, but without the moral signposts to guide his actions. And with that defined, discovering that Jeremiah Stone would be an enforcer in the mafia/mob was an easy step to make.

Now let’s consider the ability Jeremiah Stone developed. With the last name of Stone and an overbearing father who lived through his son’s sports, Jeremiah believed his father when he was told to ‘float like a butterfly and sting like a bee’. In sports that translated to run like a cheetah and hit like a rhino. The only way Jeremiah could do that was to alter his weight (or density). Yet there is so much more to Jeremiah’s ability. Because of his belief in himself, he has the ability to alter those around him in everything he does, as long as he believes it himself. If he thinks he’s going to fail or has any doubt whatsoever, then he’s just like you and I, (or worse).

Throughout the series, there are times when Jeremiah doubts himself, but every time he does he tries to blank those thoughts and remain positive, as we all should. He is the ultimate personification of the self-fulfilling destiny. He believes and therefore it happens. And he makes other people believe in him also, which is why some character’s go against their better judgment to help Jeremiah. It’s all because they are caught under Jeremiah’s spell, at least when he’s around. Once separated, once Jeremiah has completed his task, the person’s beliefs revert back to their own.

Of course initially, Jeremiah only knows of his one ability, which is altering his weight.  He has yet to discover his other talents.

Conversations

From the few people who’ve read my books, I always hear the comment that I do conversations between characters well, which I take as a serious compliment. Conversation is easy for me to construct, while others may find it difficult.  My downfall tends to be descriptions, which is why I tend to drift toward Sudden Fiction in my writing. Anyway, back to writing conversation.

My secret to writing conversation begins with solid character development. When developing a story, I create my characters with primary and secondary traits such as stubbornness, righteousness, boldness, submissiveness, intelligence, logical, emotional, intuitive, etc… These basic character traits allow me to set my mind when entering into a conversation by taking on those traits to the extreme in every spoken word or unspoken word.

For example, a person with a primary characteristic of ‘emotional’ and secondary trait of ‘stubborn’ will tend to base arguments more on body language and implied meaning than what is actually said. Also, the character will not think about what is said, but rather respond immediately based on how he/she feels. That character will also latch on to the most impactful word and stick with the feelings that person feels based on that single word. In addition, the person will not be swayed easily, especially with logic. In counterpoint, an intuitive character will realize this and try to carefully steer the conversation away from points that will stir an emotional response.

The point of all this is to think of the character’s every response from these simple qualities. Some people call it ‘keeping in character’, but that is often hard to do effectively, especially when there are many characters in a book. For every book, I create a cheat-sheet of character names, ages, background information on the character, and most importantly, their qualities. If you’re wondering why I do age and background, here’s why: A person’s age indicates the period of time in which they grew up thus providing whether their background was in the ‘free love’ movement or as opposition to a war or even a video game addict from the late 1990’s. All this helps create the picture of who the person is and I can always resume the character easily even if I haven’t written a page of the story in months.

The other trick I use is to write the conversation as it happens within my mind and then go back and add in content and thoughts afterwards, possibly clarifying why a person would respond the way he/she has. A lot of times, after adding this content, I also find that I need to alter the conversation slightly because a response might drift too far away from the character’s qualities or further points need to be added to ensure the flow is correct. The trick is to try to not overthink the conversation between characters, but to just think as the character would naturally.

I hope this helps.

Next Week: Jeremiah Stone

Fiction vs Sudden Fiction

If I was to consider what style of writing I use I’d have to say Sudden Fiction. Now those not familiar with this style may wonder what the difference is between Fiction and Sudden Fiction, and I would say the answer is in the details. Okay, that’s a pun, but it’s true. Sudden Fiction lacks detail, lets the mind of the reader create the scene, and fills in the details as the scene plays out. By doing this the action begins almost immediately while allowing the experiences and imagination of the reader build the rest. For example, here is an illustration of the difference.

“A chill gust of wind picked up a week-old section of the want ads blowing it past the peeling poster of Marilyn Monroe and a dozen other has-been movie stars.  It was only one of a hundred pieces of trash strewn throughout the front of the rundown movie theater, but it was easy to see why. Each wintery blasts of air across the semi-circled receiving area creating a whirlwind sucking in every piece of free floating debris while only letting a few from its icy grasp stacking garage in every nook and cranny available. It was disgusting, but then so was Justin.

His tall lanky form, unwashed hair, layered clothing, ripped jeans, and worn untied Converse high-tops exactly mimicked the grunge look created by Kurt Cobain, though his look was a deep contrast to who he was. Beyond the shaggy exterior, the billionaire web-designer had a mind like a steel trap and an investment strategy which took millions from Wall Street before his secret identity got traced back to him. Even then there were those with doubts he was the mastermind behind it all, but that was years ago. Still, as if he’d never left his teenage years, his boyish looks belied the calculating man inside. Because of that, Christina was stunned he’d called her after all this time, let alone want to meet her here.

Unlike Justin, Christina’s attire spoke money, though it was money she didn’t necessarily have anymore. Whereas Justin’s wealth had increased, her law firm had run onto hard times, though it didn’t stop her from looking the part of a high-priced lawyer. In fact her tailored navy-blue pin-stripe suite skirt with frilled white blouse, red leather pumps with matching Coach purse, and three carat diamond engagement ring probably cost more than any of the local tenants yearly wages. Had it not been for her mannequin-stiff body, taunt jaw-line, and dead cold stare, she would’ve been a prime target for a mugging in this neighborhood.

As Justin drifted out of the shadows closer to her, she could see the sagging dark circles around his eyes in the meager light of the single shorting-out bulb randomly strobing the theater entrance.

“What the hell happened to you,” she questioned, instantly losing her air of importance as concern filled her being. This was not the man whose financials indicated he should not have a care in the world. And she’d checked those financials moments after she’d hung up from his call last night.”

Now the Sudden Fiction version of the same meeting.

“Torn movie posters, cracked sidewalks, and scattered, wind-blown trash were his only company until he saw her approach. It was easy to tell she was in the wrong part of town, though he called this area home despite his wealth. Then, as she neared, her body stiff with irritation probably due to the location, he stepped out of the darkened movie theater entrance allowing someone he was not completely familiar with into his presence. And obviously his appearance was not what she anticipated.

“What the hell happened to you,” she questioned, her body loosening with each syllable.”

This is the same scene portraying nearly the same feeling, but with only a quarter of the words used. On top of that the reader is thrown into the action, the desperation, and the concern almost instantly. Where the story goes doesn’t matter, only that the scene is set within the readers mind, pictured perfectly because the reader’s interpretation is rarely wrong, and even then only after the movie has come out.

Now to end this introspective view into my writing, I defend my literary style by saying this. I have an overactive imagination. I see what I write in every detail, imagining everything down to the texture and grain of the wood. What I can’t adequately detail is whether the reader knows the difference between oak or pine, rough or course, and dark tan or light brown. Therefore, I leave those details up to the reader’s imagination by simply saying an ‘aged wooden pole’. Besides, in my opinion, the story should stand without those details.

The genre of Romance

So I've been asked to do a few things in my writing which always and completely throws me for a loop. The first odd thing I've been asked to do is write something out of genre for me. Seeing as my writing tends to drift towards the fantasy with godly overtones, something out of the norm would truly be a romance novel. I took this request with a laugh, a groan, and then a long exhalation as I contemplated what I actually know about romance. Granted, I'm a bit old fashioned in my thinking, and I've offered a few explicit suggestions to a friends erotica novel, but real romance... nothing. Furthermore, most of the women I portray in my books are strong characters, not lovey-dovey. Adding to all this, I have no idea how women think, so how could I possibly write a romance novel. Nevertheless, I took the challenge anyway.

I began by trying to do something different with the romance novel, which is to base it from a man's point of view (and I tried to keep it PG rated). Seeing as I really only know one guy intimately (myself), I could only take my own perspective when dealing with women. And in the end, after my journey of self-discovery was complete, I think I have something clever, engaging, and heartfelt. My only problem now is being brave enough to let someone else read it when I know it's (almost) me at every turn of the page. Maybe one day I'll publish it (if I ever run out of other things to write and need just one more book out there)... lol - not happening. At least not in the near future.

Blogging

So I have two blogs now and I really wonder how I have the patience to set both up. This is not as easy as it looks and it giving me a headache. Of course, I stare at the screen all day at work so this is so repetitious I can barely concentrate. Someone please give me strength to carry on. LOL

Wishes do come true...

So after years of writing I finally believe I’ve made the single move that will eventually get me my wish and hopefully a fan or two, though its still a long road ahead of me. Thankfully, my motivation to write in not quenched. With 14 novels completed, I still have 2 more in the works and 2 more I’m contemplating. Also, I just completed a fourth novel in my primary series bringing it to a close for now, though I can see the series continuing in a new direction. That’s a long way off, but the more I think on it the more I’m sure I can find an action pack adventure for the newest character, or even the darkest one. The good thing, I’m refreshed, positive, and the words are flowing. I hope they remain that way.