"Battle for Cassandra" draft 1 complete, will be first part of trilogy

I finished the first draft of "Battle for Cassandra", which I will rename "Nineveh." It will be part of a trilogy with "Fionnuala" and "My Sister's Keeper." It is quite, frankly, amazing! Some revising is needed of course, but the basic plot is great.

Before "Fionnuala", Cassandra's nemesis terrorized her in Nineveh, doing everything in her power to try to kill the young girl. Of course, after reading "Heart of Flesh", you all know that Cassandra graduated. However, you don't know how, and it's a very complex story involving gang warfare, treaties and alliances, deadly spell-casting duels, and Lammy's legacy. I decided to make it the first part of a trilogy because most of the characters that star in "Fionnuala" and "My Sister's Keeper" are Nineveh graduates, becoming Cassandra's best friends and worst enemies. In particular, I get to give more time to Max's archnemesis, showing how, even in her early teens, she considered no deed too wicked to perform.

Writing Tip #16: Recycle!

We all have those stories that will never see the light of day. Either because they are too derivative, too offensive, too lame, or simply too awful, they lie on the hard drive, simply waiting to be deleted.

But wait! Is that dark lump merely coal that needs to be pressed into a diamond (rather than "you-know-what")? Don't be too hasty in deleting bad stories. There may be scenes you can use, characters you can rescue, spells that can be revamped, settings which can be remodeled or get a major landscaping job. For example, I once wrote a book called "Karah and Jesse." It was actually completed before "AIR WARS", although it was begun after I started that series. It was, quite frankly, a crude knock-off of "West Side Story." My own little brother, who loved everything that I wrote, grabbed it, ran out of the room, came back, and yelled, "Hey Michael, this story suuuuucks." Suffice it to say that a novel is bad if you have a gangster named Bambi. I never considered throwing it away, but I wanted to bury it in a box in the darkest corner of my parents' attic.

However, after I completed "Heart of Flesh", I noticed that many characters from "Karah and Jesse" were either resurrected as newer, original, and more tasteful. Cassandra assimiliated Karah's traits into her personality, and Nikki, who was Karah's best friend, reappeared as Schyla. Raf, a Hispanic gang leader with a chip on his shoulder (sound familiar, lol?) was scrapped, but his chip was given to Max. Cody, the cousin of Jesse, came back as Cassandra's female childhood nemesis and the older sister of her crush. I even found a place in Nineveh for Bambi, although her name was changed immediately. If I had buried the manuscript, the Nineveh stories would not have been very good at all.

So there you have it. Recycling is good, so do it!

"Innocent" edited and resubmitted, Max's archnemesis evolves

I finally revised my favorite short story, "Innocent." I got comments from my most trusted critics that, though the plot was good, the style was very difficult to follow due to all the flashbacks, so I condensed them into one to make it easier for people to read. Although I love experimenting with new and different ways to tell stories, my goal is to be read, not to showboat.

While working on "Battle for Cassandra", I discovered the first stage in the evolution of Max's archnemesis. After sustaining an injury that should have ended her career as a warrior permanently, she undergoes an experiment that makes her nearly impossible to kill. She is also assigned the task she must complete for her next stage in evolution: she must destroy someone's soul. Her sadistic mentor pushes her to exceed limit after limit of cruelty and violence, so I now have a better understanding of why she can torture Max so easily later in the series. It's getting to the point where I might have to reign her in a bit to keep MYSELF from getting nightmares, much less my readers. Fortunately, since she doesn't become completely unhinged until book three, I have plenty of time to make sure that she is portrayed in a terrifying but tasteful manner.

"A Valiant Effort" Progress, a tragic villain in "Battle for Cassandra"

I have typed up to the part where I toast Koba, my Georgian host father, in "A Valiant Effort." He and my host mother are the most loving and hospital people that I have met and I consider them as close to me as my real family. What I did was actually a cultural faux-pas; in Georgia, the father is supposed to do the toasts. However, Koba was very gracious, not even mentioning it until I asked him if I had made a mistake and simply shrugging it off after I fervently apologized. That's what I love about Georgians so much; they are extremely patient and understanding.

In "Battle for Cassandra", I discovered that the villain has an eating disorder. Due to always comparing herself to her slender and flawlessly beautiful best friend, this girl has serious body issues and struggles with bulimia. The saddest thing is that she is actually very attractive herself, but doesn't believe it. I didn't set out to address this topic in my work, but now that it has shown up, I want to treat it as seriously as it deserves. Like the other subjects which I cover in my work, this issue may not be very popular in Christian circles, but honestly, I don't care. Sometimes you need to go out of your comfort zone in order to bring healing to a wounded and suffering person. After all, that is what Christ did for us, so it is the responsibility of all Christians to do the same for others, whether they want to face up to it or not.

Writing Tip #15: Dare To Be Different

Nobody likes a knock-off. They might be cheaper to produce, but only because they are inferior, tacky, and ultimately useless. This is especially true in writing, and savvy readers will be able to spot a rip-off a mile away. If you simply copy and paste the elves from "The Lord of the Rings" into your fantasy story or have the knights of your universe defend the weak and innocent with "light-rapiers", don't expect people to get in line to read your story. However, if you bring a new and interesting concept to your series, they will be amazed. For example, if you want to create a fantasy series, instead of drawing from Greco-Roman mythology, try Nordic, Assyro-Babylonian, or African mythology. If you're doing sci-fi, flavor your work with deeper science instead of just rehashing "Star Wars" or "Star Trek." Or look at the advanced technology used by earth's ancient civilizations to gain ideas for what direction it would have taken if used on a different planet. Also, don't be afraid of creating fusion. For example, although I primarily write fantasy, I also love organized crime, so I use gangs a lot in my writing. I love biblical history, too, so I use events which involved ancient Israel, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome in order to brainstorm ideas for how history on my world would pan out differently. Make your work new and exciting and you will not only attract new readers; you will keep your old ones as well.

Chapter 3 of "A Valiant Effort" complete, the Battle for Cassandra begins

I just finished typing up the third chapter of "A Valiant Effort." In it, I describe how I researched the history of Georgia, one of the best countries I have ever lived in. I was sold as soon as I found out it was the home to Kolkhida, known in Greek mythology as Colchis, the Land of the Golden Fleece. However, that is only the beginning of Georgia's wonderful culture and history. Not only are they the friendliest people whom I've ever met, but they are also the second nation to convert to Christianity, had an empire that spanned from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea during the medieval era, and had an amazing writer named Shota Rustaveli, who wrote "The Knight In the Panther's Skin", one of the best epics ever written. They have also survived invasions by the Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks, and Russians, growing stronger and tougher every time they come back. I am truly blessed to have lived there, and cannot wait until I can return to visit my family and friends.

I wrote the rough draft of the second episode in a short story collection titled "Battle for Cassandra." The two most fearsome gangs in Nineveh go to war over her, one desiring to protect her, the other desiring to destroy her. The stories reveal why she was able to survive Nineveh when so many people wanted her dead, even the school officials, and will also hint at what the future holds for her. I want to have twelve episodes in total, and wish to have the first draft complete by the end of next week. After it is done, I am finished writing about Nineveh, at least for now. Cassandra's legacy extends far outside of the walls of Yangvaad's most dangerous school, and it is important that it is revealed so that the greater purpose of my writing is fulfilled: to glorify and honor God.

Started typing "A Valiant Effort", found another actress I would like to cast

I finally started typing "A Valiant Effort." Hopefully, I will be finished within a couple of weeks so that I can edit it and submit it for publishing. I have also finally picked an actress who I would like for a starring role in my series: Renee O'Connor. Sadly, she will probably be too old to play the part if my series becomes a film, but ideally, if I could cast any actress I wanted as Cassandra's first cousin, once removed, it would be her. This person might not sound very important, but she actually is pivotal in the series. No, she is not a "Gabrielle" knockoff. She is much more intelligent, street-smart and quick-witted, and has amazing superpowers. Her mentor (whom I ideally would like portrayed by a young Kim Delaney) is more like a ballerina than a warrior princess and there's no "subtext", if you know what I mean. Nonetheless, Renee O'Conner would be perfect in this role, especially after the outstanding job she did in "Xena", which was one of my favorite shows as a kid.

Writing Tip #14: Create a Soundtrack

Music and writing are like coke and pizza: they taste great apart, but are even better together. The perfect song can inspire you to achieve new heights and stretch your imagination, so create a soundtrack for your novel. Choose any style of music you want by any artist. Choose themes for each character, as well as particular settings and riveting scenes. It will not only help you understand your story better; it will allow you to have tons of fun, too. Just make sure that you don't break any copyright laws when you do it (i.e. using music on your website without the artist's permission, etc.). Here's a list of some songs which I would like on my story's soundtrack if it became a film. Obviously, this is completely UNOFFICIAL and should not be construed as the artists' endorsing my work.

"Savin' Me" by Nickelback (Cassandra's theme)
"Midlife Crisis" by Faith No More (Max's theme)
"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot (Lammy's theme)
"Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit (Cassandra's sisters' theme)
"Number 1" by Nellie (Cassandra's archnemesis' theme)
"Going Under" by Evanescence (Max's archnemesis' theme)
"Burn It To The Ground" by Nickelback (Cassandra's other brother's theme)
"Jeremy" by Pearl Jam (Max's best friend's theme)

"The Greater Good" submitted, indulging my artistic side again, thoughts on Bane, Max's archenemy strikes again

Hello everyone,

I submitted "The Greater Good" today. It was a nice break from the dark, violent halls of Nineveh Academy and is more along the lines of the kind of fantasy which I used to write. I am thankful that I spent all those years learning karate and fencing because it really helped me add realism to the story.

Earlier today, I sketched a picture of Max, inspired by the photograph of Bane featured in this post. I can't wait to see "Dark Knight Rises" and although I was surprised that Bane was chosen to be the main villain over such bad guys as The Penguin and Mr. Freeze, I was sold after seeing this pic. Honestly, look at this sicko! Doesn't he look like he can snap Batman in half (like he did in the comics)? Also, after seeing Tom Hardy in the trailer to "Bronson", it is apparent that Bane isn't going to coast on his sick appearance alone. That guy scared the daylights out of me in just that 2 minute trailer, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to not only match, but surpass the legendary Heath Ledger with his acting in "Dark Knight Rises."

Speaking of villains, I wrote a small excerpt involving a confrontation between Max and her archnemesis, which made me shudder just typing it. The sadist manages to break Max without casting any violent spells or using any weapons. Aside from pinning her against the wall, she doesn't really lay a finger on her, mostly because she knows that she doesn't have too. My readers will probably hate me for what I let her do to Max, but I have to go through with it, anyway. Suffice it to say that she is a major testament to the fact that actions have consequences.

I am going to finish that picture in ink. It's my favorite art medium because it is so precise and detailed. I also love the strong shadows that you can do with it to add a dark and gritty feel to your subjects, be they people or buildings. I'll do more of other characters, but this one will, just the woman it portrays, will be unique among my creations.

(Photo from blog.movies.yahoo.com)

Not Guilty?!

I was at work when I heard the Casey Anthony verdict yesterday and nearly had a brain anuerysm when I discovered that she was acquitted for the murder of her daughter. Seriously? Caylee's are found in the woods near her home with duct tape attached to her skull. She does not file a police report for 31 days. On top of that, she tells more lies than a politician trying to get out of a public scandal and the verdict is not guilty?! I haven't been this shocked since the O.J. Simpson trial. On top of that, one of the jurors claims she doesn't think Casey is innocent AFTER the verdict has been given. No offense, but isn't it a little late for that now? This entire trial was a farce.

(Photo from foxnews.com)

Writing Tip #13: Cast Your Characters

This is a fun exercise that I use to get a better feel for my characters. Imagine that your book is about to become a movie and that you can choose any actor to star in it. It doesn't matter what era the actor lived in: pick them and add them too your film. If you want to go even further, choose a director, where you want it filmed, etc. The key thing is to have fun.

Here are the actors I would cast if my book became a movie:

Cassandra Grettirsdottir-Greta Gerwig
Maxine Njalsdottir-Serinda Swan
Lambert "Lammy" Grettirsson-Carlo Alban (The Panamanian dude obsessed with America who helped Michael Scofield in the third season of "Prison Break")
Eiric Bjartursson-Tom Guiry (the oldest brother from "The Black Donnellys")
Tzigane "Schyla" Bjartursdottir-Kirsten Dunst
Cassandra's elder sisters-Blake Lively and Lucy Lawless

Director: Mel Gibson (due to "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto"), Peter Jackson or Steven Spielberg.

That's only the tip of the iceberg. I have other secret characters who I want played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Christopher Walken, Johnny Depp, Leelee Sobieski, and Amy Adams. However, those are under wraps until "Fionnuala" gets published.

Now go at it, people!

"The Greater Good" almost done, Sam B breaks it down on "America's Got Talent"

I am putting the finishing touches on "The Greater Good", the final title of the short story about Prince Magnus. I love it because it is a return to my roots as an action fantasy writer, complete with swordfighting, spell-casting, and battles against demonic powers. I love writing the "Nineveh Academy" short stories, but they are a recent development and are really dark, so it was nice to take a break and write something more light-hearted for a change.

At church earlier today, the pastor gave a sermon on America's Christian heritage. He stated that 95% of the Founding Fathers would be considered Evangelical Christians if they lived today. The only ones who wouldn't be in that category are Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, and they demonstrated a growing faith in Christ later on. It was an excellent sermon and a rallying cry to bring God back to America, which is the only way to get us out of the total mess that we are in now.

I watched two episodes of "America's Got Talent" with my brother and uncle and they were great. My favorite was Sam B. He was a hilarious break-dancer who had no dance training whatsoever. Nonetheless, his jokes about getting ditched by women and given wrong phone numbers at the club and his outgoing personality really won me over. His dance moves were completely ridiculous and left me laughing for half an hour afterward, which is why I'm glad he made it through. The couple that did a rock opera version of "My Heart Will Go On" was good, too, although they shouldn't have chosen the most overplayed song in modern history. I agreed with the judges' decision to overrule the audience and push them through. However, the biggest talent I saw was the eleven-year-old Hannah singing a cover of an Alicia Keys song. It was absolutely amazing and I hope she goes far in the competition.

Anyway, back to writing. "The Greater Good" will be complete by tomorrow, as will "My Nation and My God." After that, I will focus more on books. My world is much too big for a short story to do it justice and making the 5,000-7,000 word limit is annoying. So I am going to have a publishable book ready by December. It will take a lot of work, but I'll make it happen.

(Photo from zdesi.net)