The Riders (1)

 

 

 The clouds in the summer sky burned in the red-orange rage of a dispossessed sun crashing below the horizon. The dark hills--recumbent silhouette--shielded the landscape from the final fury of the sinking disk. Seven riders passed along a narrow trail away from the shadow and into the flat expanse separating them from the village. Sharp noses and the harsh lines of many campaigns marked their faces. Neither kindness, mercy, nor remorse found place in the experience etched in their features.

(The Riders - To be continued)

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I wrote a short story this week and therefore didn't get any writing done on Book 6. 

I'm still getting kind words on the talk I gave last week. Comments included: "It was amazing" and "It made me cry." -- I'm hoping that last one was meant in a good way. I've learned it was referred to on the youth activity, but I don't know whether the context was "don't do that" or "see, anyone can give a meaningful talk with a little effort." All that means that whenever I give another talk, there's little chance that it will measure up to that one. I have nowhere to go but down.

In other news, I have confirmed that WD-40 does have cleansing properties in addition to its lubrication and penetration abilities. I used some on the sides of the motorbike where the black panels had become dulled with I-don't-know-what. They look much better.

The first two books in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series remain at 99 cents a piece for the time being.

Dragons and Badgers

 

 

 

 Ideas vie with one another like battling dragons in the ether. Or, another bad metaphor: Life is like the box for Schrodinger's cat, except it's full of angry badgers--which may be redundant because all badgers are angry, aren't they?-- and the box has a tear in it. It's only a matter of time before one or more of the live one comes scrambling out to demand attention.

First: At last chapter 21 is complete. What had been chapter 19 has been pushed to chapter 22, because once the writing begins, it must take a certain course to completion. Characters have to do what they have to do, and in their particular way and method. There are several balls in the air in book 6 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series, and sometimes the timing of the telling of each thread is relevant to the telling of the others. Meanwhile, we can't leave any thread cold too long or the reader will have forgotten the elements of the tension in that story line. I know where it's all going, but there are blank spots along the way to be filled in when I get there.

Second: The talk today went even better than I could've expected. The gentleman who spoke before me delivered a poignant talk that led into my subject, even though we had not consulted before hand. The wonderful poem he recited to begin his talk fit perfectly with my planned discourse. I was up late last night writing the talk from ideas I had been gathering for a at least a couple weeks. There were no casualties, and more than the usual number of folks commented on how much they appreciated the two talks. Although those words of praise and appreciation shouldn't matter, we all know that they do, and the way we feel about the discourse is affected by the feedback we receive. I'm grateful for all those who took the time and effort to convey those expressions.

Third: Can I write a short story? and get feedback from my team? and polish it for submission all within a week? I only found out in the last couple days about a call for short stories. The time is pretty tight, and I don't think any of the short stories I have in my portfolio quite fit the details of the call. I'll have to write fast. That reminds me of the meme I saw that said, "Being a writer is cool because it's like always having homework and then you die." I only managed a single paragraph yesterday as I used most of the time researching for the setting. I had two or three in mind, but discarded them in favor of something I had just learned about that morning.

There's a fourth, fifth, and sixth, but I haven't got the time to go into any more, and you would soon lose interest in reading about it all.

Both Threading the Rude Eye and Power to Hurt (links at the top of the page) are only 99 cents each. This is a great time to get them.

Jay S. Willis

 

Interview with Jay S. Willis 

Author of

The Sphere Saga and The Arcana Chronicles

 

 Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

I am currently working on Order of the Sphere which is the first book of the second trilogy of my Epic Fantasy Sphere Saga series. This book introduces a new Point of View character who will shed light upon part of the world which has not been explored in depth. Order picks up after the conclusion of the first trilogy and follows the rebuilding of the city of Kaharna after the establishment of a new government after the theocratic apparatus which had been in power for three millennia was toppled.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

The Sphere Saga began with a piece of digital artwork called Sunset Mood that featured a beautiful massive golden sphere in the middle of a city. It captivated me and I couldn’t stop pondering why the Sphere was there and what purpose it served. The story sprouted from there. Once I decided what purpose the Sphere served the story of a world attempting to suppress magic in order to prevent a second magical apocalypse fell into place.

Do you write in more than one genre?

I generally write Fantasy but dabble in Science Fiction.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

In my Sphere Saga books the perils of Magic, Faith, and religious zealotry faced by the people of Legacia mirror many of the international problems we face today in the middle of a global pandemic; fractured families, strained political rivalries, and an ultimate threat to humanity’s very existence. Magic has always enthralled me and all my stories revolve around magic in some form. I endeavored to create a magic system which not only evokes wonder but also presents some provocative concepts to make my readers think and question. The conflicts and issues addressed in the Sphere Saga are all cloaked in shades of grey. Balance is the ideal. Moral absolutes are dangerous.

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

The Sphere Saga is heavily influenced by The Wheel of Time, The Mistborn books, and far too many other stories that have impacted me through my life. Magic plays a role in all my writing but The Sphere Saga revolves around the Magic System which drives all facets of life on this world. Planning Legacia stemmed from an amalgamation of my love of reading Fantasy throughout my life and from my college education. My undergraduate degree in History and Political Science with a heavy emphasis on Medieval Europe and my Juris Doctor degree from Law School provided me with an extensive array of knowledge. In college I completed Independent Studies on The History of Magic and The History of The Spanish Inquisition and I had an abiding interest in mythology and religion. Legacia developed as the culmination of my real world education, years of enjoying Fantasy and speculative fiction, and many years of playing Dungeons & Dragons.

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I’m an attorney for over 25 years and have worked in almost every facet of the legal system from Defense Attorney, to Magistrate, Judge, and now as an Assistant Prosecutor. On a more personal level, I love boardgames.

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

Ghost Rider by Neil Peart. The lyricist and drummer for Rush wrote a travelogue which chronicled his long motorcycle journey which allowed him to heal and come to terms with the death of his wife and daughter. It’s a poignant story written by a brilliant honorable man able to to survive great tragedy in his life.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

Dawn of the Sphere which is the second book in the first Sphere Saga trilogy. That book is chronologically set three-thousand years prior to the events of Dream of the Sphere and War of the Sphere. Dawn of the Sphere chronicles the lives of the three most powerful mages in the world and how they cause The Conflagration, the magical apocalypse which almost destroys the world. Axamar, Lornai, and Vrom and their relationships with one another are at the very heart of the entire series.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

In 2015 I was working through one of David Farland’s online classes struggling with revisions on early drafts of Dream of the Sphere. I decided to go to Gen Con in Indianapolis that year to attend the Writer’s Symposium and spent a few days with David Farland in person at his lecture series. That trip spawned my Middle Grade/Teen book Blood is Thicker than Magic. Walking away from Dream of the Sphere to write another book from start to finish allowed me to develop my writing skills and better hone my craft. In hindsight, I recognized that I wasn’t yet ready to complete the first trilogy in my Sphere Saga and do it justice. Had I not allowed myself time and distance and worked on my writing craft I never would have been able to complete the Sphere Saga books.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

What’s music has influenced you the most?

 

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

Perhaps the most important quote from my Sphere Saga series is “Magic is Life.” Without offering too much detail and avoiding spoilers, that phrase is part of the fundamental core of the entire series on several levels. I love reading and writing about magic and my worldbuilding for the Sphere Saga revolves around the magic.

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Thanks to Jay for participating.

I received a text from a friend today who said he was reading Smoke and that it was keeping him interested so far. The only other one of my books he has read is The Shrinking Zone, which he professed to enjoy. If he liked that, he'll love Smoke. Of course, if he wants serious adventure, he needs to get into the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. 

Speaking of that series, the pace in Book 6 is picking up as the elements for the last act come together for the great clash, or series of clashes, as the case may be. The second major battle is lost and won. Although I purposefully avoided a detailed description of it, I did provide enough to justify a character's emergency action. It's interesting to question the decisions a general makes and deconstruct them to furnish a critical role for my fictional characters to play in the outcome of the historic drama.

Another AI Smoke image that doesn't quite make it -- unless its about dating androids and weird hands.

Writers Cantina

 

I rolled into the UCCC--which does not stand for Uniform Commercial Code Conference--for the Writers Cantina around 8:30. There were two other cars in the lot, a white van and something blue that was not a van. A man occupied the driver's seat of the white van. I approached the vehicle on the passenger side, and he didn't roll up the window, drive away, or brandish a weapon, so I introduced myself. He called himself Lee and hailed from an unnamed swath of sod and sage near Vernal. He was a writer. I had arrived at the correct location, but he told me the place was locked.

Another individual arrived and, without making inquiry with us, went toward the building. I lost sight of him as I continued my conversation with Lee. A fourth party arrived--and I use "party" to mean a particular individual for the express purpose of making the event sound more festive--and we three decided to storm the castle. We didn't see the third individual and therefore assumed he had gone inside. We would follow in force. Our plan stalled when we discovered that the door was locked. As we reconsidered our options, i.e., constructing a wooden horse, waiting outside the door, or going back to our cars, a gentlemen (I suspect he was the owner of the blue vehicle) opened the door for us, and the missing third individual reappeared to enter with us. 

After our assault rode the wings of the lone defender's courtesy to success, we proceeded to the dungeon of the place. Lee claimed one of the four central thrones while I reconnoitered, checking the layout and noting the exits. I returned to Lee and the third individual who tagged himself as Robert; he had traveled from Albuquerque. I refrained from making a Bugs Bunny reference because the last name drew my inquiry.

Later, Jana arrived with enough supplies to provision the Pacific Fleet for two weeks--in other words, barely enough for a pride tome of writers (or is it a font of writers? a ream of writers? a draft of writers? a proof of writers? an archive? a smudge? a script? a tome of writers -- that's it I'm going with tome because I like the sound of it and I can't see that anyone has used it before). Actually, our tome was more of a pamphlet. We were a pamphlet of writers because it was a small venue. After we carried in the provisions, I encountered Eric who brought two boxes of books for the paperback trading tables--singular prior to Eric's arrival--and I helped carry in one of the boxes. 

I encountered old friends David and David (both of Utah) who arrived as I was returning to lug more of Jana's comestibles back to the dungeon. John from Utah and I made the final trip (of many) to bear fardels of ice--leaky ones. We did not effect a change of the dungeon into Xanadu, but our efforts were critical in keeping the soft drinks cool--avoiding the Chernobyl-like disaster so often associated with sweaty writers and warm pop.

It was shortly after the ice-capade that I made a joking insult about Jay, and made my introduction accompanied by a small print disclaimer that I don't usually insult people until I know their names. He informed me that it was a common occurrence about which I should not be troubled.

The pamphlet was getting thicker by this time, and I decided I should sign in and get credit for my attendance and the free labor I had donated. At the bottom of the stair in front of the sign-in table, I met Sam and Shari from Pittsburgh. Sam and I traded at length in books, employment, and other such introduction currency before he decided that my dry wit and bland delivery called for a cleansing and refreshing beverage.

I decided to attend a panel discussion on the "Dos and Don'ts of Writing in Other's Worlds" which was led by Brad, Holli, and John. One attendee, Nick, had hit upon a clever plan to meet me by blocking my way into the room. We had a short discussion, and he let me pass after quizzing me about my favorite color and the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow. 

Lincoln of Star told me he had an illustrated children's book coming out soon. In one of the sessions--maybe "How to Write an Award Winning Sci-Fi Story" by Brad or maybe John's "Story Prep and Submission"--I met Janiel of Utah. Shortly after that, I met Jake and Jarod, who write the Helios trilogy, and their editor Christine. We had an informative discussion.

I did skip one session because neither of the two choices interested me, and frostbite threatened to permanently disable me after two hours in one room with the AC set on "arctic blast" blowing directly on me. I was also hungry. I hit the supply depot, and paramedics carried me outdoors into the heat until I regained the complete use of my limbs--I understand that I can obtain attractive and fully functional prosthetics to replace the two fingers I lost somewhere along the way.

There were many more writers I didn't get to meet--but I understand that was at their request. There was something useful in all the sessions I attended. The most memorable may have been Brad's solo presentation during which he repeatedly moved from the visual on the screen behind him and back to his stack of books to raise whichever one he was referencing at the time. It was very enjoyable. I even picked up his Dragon Award-winning novel after the presentation.

I learned from David that I may be one of a hundred flipped quarters, but I haven't come up heads enough times to get noticed. My take away from writing in other's worlds was that one should do his research and should not be a jerk--I hope that doesn't categorically exclude me. In other groundbreaking news: genre's have tropes, and it's good to read both inside and outside your writing genre--way outside. I didn't think anyone else was familiar with Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre --which I became acquainted with in playing Avalon Hill's Struggle of Nations--a game that is virtually unplayable, or perhaps marginally playable--and David even knew all the lyrics. I had forgotten them long ago. Now I'm going to have to go read about John Churchill, the subject of the song.

The main disappointment was the complete lack of debauchery during and after the proceedings--although one novel proposal did promise to find "the key to immorality," but everyone agreed that it was an entertaining typo with the proper phrase being "the key to immortality." I should explain that I'm using "debauchery" as a substitute for RPG, Skirmish, Strategy, Tactics, or other tabletop games--as opposed to what you were probably thinking. Perhaps next year when the Writers Cantina may go two days instead of one.

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Friday night in the hotel room gave me the time I needed to finish chapter 19 in book 6 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. I should've completed it last week, but the chapter grew in the telling--and I also had to go back a couple chapters to add important stuff--but chapter 20 is nearly half written; part of it was the old chapter 19. Anyway, the fantastic story continues and oozes cool on nearly every page.

On a side note, I outlined my writing philosophy of The Trauma, The Drama, and The Dream, so that I can present it if ever called upon to do so. I don't think it's earth-shattering, but it is a good explanation of how to create stories the reader will love without getting confined in an iron maiden of story structure.--or at least the discussion thereof.

The Atlas of Independence

 

 

 

John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence

 Below is my version of a portion of John Adam's speech in support of declaring independence -- from Truth in Flames, p. 292.

“Let King George send his armies and navies against us. Let him turn to foul and hellish beasts who descend upon us with death and destruction. We will not be dismayed! We are consumed by the Spirit of Liberty, endowed by Providence with a Fire for Freedom. Though the Supreme Commander, unhallowed creatures, and calumnies by the crate combine against us, we shall prevail. No weapon raised against us shall prevail if we but have the courage to stand, to declare our independence, our purpose, and our power. You have heard me repeat the reasons for independence so often that you can recite them in perfect imitation. Let those arguments, those sound reasons, echo in your hearts and minds. Your souls themselves yearn for this declaration. We declare not only the independence of these colonies, we articulate the desire of every soul that ever did yearn and that will ever yet yearn to be free of tyranny.”

Other delegates called Adams an angel sent to illuminate the Congress, a pillar in support of independence, and the Atlas of American Independence. If Washington was the sword, and Jefferson the pen, Adams was the voice of independence. 

Adams went on to serve as a diplomat to France and was also appointed to negotiate the Treaty of Paris ending the war. He was the first ambassador to England. While in England he wrote the three volume treatise: A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of American, which defended the principle of separation of powers in the state constitutions. In volume II he wrote:

We have all along contended, that the predominant passion of all men in power, whether kings, nobles, or plebeians, is the same; that tyranny will be the effect, whoever are the governors, whether the one, the few, or the many, if uncontrolled by equal laws, made by common consent, and supported, protected, and enforced by three different orders of men in equilibrio.

He was Washington's vice-president and became our nation's second president when he defeated Thomas Jefferson in the election. He lost to Jefferson in the next election, and Jefferson became the 3rd President of The United States of America. Both Adams and Jefferson died within hours of each other July 4, 1826.

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In celebration of Independence Day--something Adams wholeheartedly endorsed-- Clamorous Harbingers, book 3 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series is available for only 99 cents for a few days beginning July 3.  And Promise of Carnage and Flame, book 4 in the series is also reduced for the same time period. Get them now.

Although a good portion of the writing this week on book 6 has been on new chapters, I did have to go back a couple chapters to include a battle that is critical to the way things evolve in the story. Naturally, I can only blame myself for the oversight, but I would be happy to blame someone else if I thought it would stick.

I love weaving the fantasy elements into the historical story. The alternate history angle allows me to vary actual events in ways that fit the needs of my story and characters while preserving important elements in the historical narrative. The excerpt from my version of Adams' speech above is a good example. You might remember that the Supreme Commander and hellish beasts of death and destruction were not part of King George's historical arsenal--but they are in my story. It's the best of both worlds, as Sammy Hagar and Van Halen might say. Or it's the best of all possible worlds, as Candide would declare.