Well I'm back.
I am a very tired gremlin. I don't think I'm a bean any longer; I am officially just a gremlin.
anyways.
I returned for the first of probably just three times this fall/winter. If you read the title of the post, you know why, and you probably know why it's only three times. 'tis time for the Return of Know the Novel.
Unless you don't know what Know the Novel is... if you don't, here's a nice little description by the creator herself, the incredible, amazing, lovely Christine Smith.
Know the Novel is a 3-part tag for writers, one for each of these last three months of the year. Each part features ten questions you can answer on your own blog (or anywhere else on social media!). The questions focus on different parts of your novel and how the writing is progressing.
Here is the link to the post if you want to do your own version after reading my answers. Also, you can check on other awesome author's posts too!
So what am I going to be working on this fall? I am... neutral that you asked. Because I know what I want to be working on... it just isn't ready yet, and I am angry at it. HOWEVER. I am excited about what I am writing instead.
I have mentioned More than Conquerors before, I think. I believe that's the one last spring I announced I would be trying to write in like three months and try to publish. Well, you know that didn't happen. BUT IT'S BACK BABY with a bit less pressure. We have not actually started it yet except for the Chapter 1 header... BUUUUUUT we actually have ideas. So here's what we've got for it so far:
1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?
A short story contest from about two years ago. The theme was trust, with the guiding phrase being unlikely ally. I looked at my recently completed To Die is Gain and Take Up Your Cross, remembered how much I loved those characters/world, and decided I needed to write a side story about a non-smuggler, already a Christian becoming a hero and teaming up with a soldier who's ordered to kill her.
If you don't know what the other two stories mentioned above are, one of them is scrapped because it's a bit too chaotic to actually be good, and the other is still my soul child. You can find the Know the Novel post for TUYC from exactly two years ago here if you want to hear more about 'em.
2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!
Ugh NOOOOO I hate writing blurbs before I write the book T_T
Felix Owens is loyal. Sometimes he doesn't always know who or what he's loyal to, but he does his duty. Protect the people and rise the ranks. That's all he needs to do. Until he realizes the girl he's been spying on is neither the enemy nor another faceless civilian.
Hesed Blair hides a secret with the power to end her life and save it. If anyone finds out she's a Christian, she and her family are finished. With two soldiers constantly visiting her home, her life is an endless loop of subterfuge and stress, especially since one of those soldiers seems to have taken a liking to her in particular.
When the truth comes out about the agency Felix serves, he must choose whether or not to uphold his duty or save the girl he loves. Hesed must find her courage and allow her faith to give her strength before she loses it altogether.
3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects of the setting?
Well, it takes place in fictional-but-based-on-real-places Ebony, Maine in the 2060's. I initially had planned to relocate the setting to a different city/town somewhere else in the USA, maybe one of the Carolinas since that's where I am now, but I decided to keep it in the same location as TDiG. I love this setting, mostly because I can now pull in some character cameos, but also because I love the rustic-rural vibe. It's in an area (i imagine) close to where I grew up, so it feels very close to my heart and familiar.
4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).
Hesed Blair is (hopefully) a bit different than my usual female protagonists. She's a little less snarky than most of them, she's not a marksman or swordsman or anything like that, she's not a smuggler. The coolest way she can describe herself is that she's homeschooled. She's a Christian, as is her family, but she's scared to do much in ways of reaching unbelievers.
Felix Owens is also a bit more laid back of a protagonist compared to my norm. He's a soldier-intern-thing in the newly created agency tasked with taking care of the smugglers (I swear, I *have* actual names for these things). He isn't fully aware of everything the agency is doing, but he knows enough to be considering getting out.
5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?
The primary physical/person antagonist of MtC is probably Captain Sanders (previously only appearing in To Die is Gain, but recently becoming a bit more active in the Martyrs Saga) and there might be some others from the agency, but I think the main conflict throughout the book arises from Felix's and Hesed's internal struggles. And each other.
6. What excites you the most about this novel?
It's the Martyrs Saga again! It's been so long since I worked on a M.S. project, and quite frankly, I have missed it. I love my world, I love my concept, I just love it all, and I am pumped to work on it again!
7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?
Well...
Yes. It's in a series. It's a bit more of a standapart in the Martyrs Saga, story-wise, since I'm not fully sure if I'm going to tie the characters into the finale book. I'm currently planning on it, but that may change. Order-wise, the events of MtC would be during/just after TDiG.
8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?
Plansting. Hardcore plansting.
9. Name a few unique elements in this story.
Welllllllllllllll I feel like every time I've mentioned the Martyrs Saga I name the same unique elements... I guess almost drowning is new, and that's unique to my stories? Wait, I wasn't supposed to say anything about that---
10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).
Um I have a collage.
