Announcement: There is action on my new novels. The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name. I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions. They are also working on a single theme for the covers. I'll keep you updated.
Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:
1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.
All novels have five discrete parts:
1. The initial scene (the beginning)
2. The rising action
3. The climax
4. The falling action
5. The dénouement
The theme statement of this new novel is: An agent of the organization becomes involved with a vampire girl during a mission, she becomes dependent on the agent, and she is redeemed.
George Mardling and his partner David Shear are MI-6 shares from "the organization." Their apparent purpose is to provide muscle (protection as bodyguards) for the ambassador and the ambassadorial secretary (Sir Rolland). They are actually both language experts. George's expertise is in German, Polish, Russian, and some other east European languages. David's expertise is in Mandarin Chinese. Since the Chinese, Russian, German, and a host of other foreign embassies to Poland are in Gdansk Poland, it is in the best interests of the British to have covert agents who can listen. That is just what George and David do--they listen. The point of their listening is to accidentally, intentionally overhear conversations that might have import to British operations and international relations. They can be successful because...who would suspect a couple of MI-6 muscle to be able to understand Polish or Russian or Chinese? This is how this type of agent works. They hide in plain view.
There...I gave you the setting of the beginning of the novel--Gdansk, Poland. It was also known as Dansig. More about the characters and the setting, tomorrow.
With this theme statement I am ready to tackle the novel. The next step was to flesh out the characters and the setting.
More tomorrow.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
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