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.
The main point about the character Heidi/Valeska who I developed for my vampire novel is not who she was, but rather who she is now. The who she is now was developed by her past as a vampire. Her past made her a vampire, but her life (uh death) as a vampire made her into the character she is during the time of the novel. Further, the time of the novel shows some change in her place and being. These changes during the time of the novel bear on the theme of the novel itself. The question on the table is what during Heidi's time as a vampire changed her from an evil and self absorbed person to one who is gentle and properly perceptive?
If we note that the Heidi before she became a vampire was completely in control. She controlled those around her and herself. She made the world change for her. When she was tired of her lover, she murdered him. When she was a student, she controlled others through fear and abuse. We get the feeling that she began to abuse and control her first abusive nanny while she was yet a child. Heidi controlled her world and the people around her--as a vampire, she was a kept pet. She was under the control of her master. She was not allowed to hunt. She was not allowed the patent pleasures of a vampire--to dine on freshly taken blood during the full moon. She lived a life of extravagance and study under the finger of her master. In this sphere, she learned self-control and patience. She learned for almost two hundred years to put away her desires and wants as the pet of her master. She had no friends and no one to control. She became who she is in the novel because of the time she spent as a vampire. We see she is not seeking--she knows her end. Vampires can't seek for anything--they are creatures condemned and without redemption.
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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