Another good writing day turned great...

After finishing Chapter 3 of Vengeance yesterday, I set my sights on trying to get chapter 2 of knaben (which may be titled 'knaben nine' shortly), finished. During one of my breaks, I checked out Amy's new blog post: *Coda*. It was an extension on her 'fanfic' treatise, which in itself was nicely done. Anyway, I sent her the start of knaben saying that this was the character that would most likely show up in her world (Bitter Moon I) if I were to be so inclined to write that. My other purpose was to get some feedback on the story. To make a short story shorter, she sent me some feedback, I sent her a question, she sent me an example.

The problem with getting examples from people who write well is that the story gets in the way of what they are trying to demonstrate. This is exactly what happened with Amy's example. I had to read the thing four times before I could focus on what she was showing me. The result is I have another series of books to read so I can read the one the example came from when it comes out. Anyway, I did a little rewriting, a little more world building, added a tweek here, a gesture there, and a word or two over there.

The result really got me into the story. (the one I'm writing) I was liking it earlier, now I'm really excited about it and loving it. I'm not sure if I'll publish the final version yet or not. It's really an experiment as I intend to explore different genres with the different tasks knaben nine must complete. If I don't publish it, I will share it with friends.

You can check out Amy's blog at writerslane.blogspot.com or do it the easy way and click on Yarning to Write under the blogs I'm following on the left hand side of this page.

It rained again here today and, no, I did not play the CD to cause it. It also rained in Spain today. Whether it rained on the plain in Spain I cannot say. Tomorrow, rain or not, I move on to the fourth chapter of Vengeance. Simon has an appointment with a yellow spider there and I can't keep the spider waiting. She gets very nasty when her appointments are delayed.

Vengeful Progress

Overall it's been a good day. Vengeance of the Ghost is now three chapters and growing. Knaben is still moving along, though I'm still on the second chapter. It was supposed to be a quick set up chapter, but it won't let me do it that way. Too much stuff keeps happening.

So far this month, Shadow of the Ghost has sold 40 kindle copies. Raising the price at the end of the month will probably kill a lot of sales, but I did it as a one month introductory thing and I intend to stick with that plan.

It has been raining here again these last couple days, but it is not my fault. That rain song on the Silk Road CD has not been played in quite some time. I've been listening to Jeff Beck, David Bowie and some early 60s stuff that I like recently. Today, I did play Silk Road (can't do any more damage since it's already raining). My two favorite tracks are the last two on the CD: Eva's Polka (from Finland) and Mozart's Dies Irea. The arrangement for the Mozart composition is awesome. It is best played at maximum volume.

So much for plans...

After taking a couple days rest following the completion of Legacy, I forgot how the writing muse usually works, or doesn't work for that matter. Today's writing started with three very frustrating hours which yeilded two sentences of Vengeance. So much for spewing forth a chapter or two.

I minimized that project and decided to work on Knaben. This had much better results. The first chapter of this story is now complete and the basis for the rest of the story is laid out within it. I'm really looking forward to delving into what looks to be a fantasy that includes elements of historical fiction, PNR, SciFi, and a couple other things.

With the completion of the first chapter of Knaben, I returned to Vengeance which was a bit more cooperative this time. I've managed to complete the beginning of the first chapter. Now, unfortuneatley, my eyes feel like they are going to explode if I force them to stay open much longer, so I will continue the two stories tomorrow.

Shadow of the Ghost is performing quite well in kindle format. The 99 cent sale, which ends at the end of this month, seems to be picking me up a few more readers. So far, 27 kindle copies have sold this month. Paper versions are not faring as well. Since the iUniverse edition has come out, I've only sold 7 paperbacks. Hopefully, with the success of the kindle version, that will begin to change as word-of-mouth affects my sales record.

No music today. Tomorrow I think I'll take in some Jeff Beck tunes to make up for today's total lack of tunes.

Chordless Chaos...rambling thoughts

For the first time in about a year I picked up one of my guitars today. I don't know which was rustier, my fingers or the strings on the guitar. Regardless I messed around a little. I'm trying to come up with some music to make a trailer of Shadow and Legacy. What I would truly like to produce is a cross between Jeff Beck and Robert Fripp. Granted it would be ten or fifteen years before I could as well as either of them, but for my purposes I'd like to create something that could be as creative as some of their music.

Then I have to decide whether to add anything with the guitar. For rhythm, I have Band in the Box though I haven't figured out how to change time signatures with that program yet. Basically what I'd have to do is create three or four seperate pieces then edit them together. After that I would get out my keyboard and 4 track recorder (which has a nifty little punch-in button that would get LOTS of use).

If all of this mess produces something usable, then I'd have to decide what to say (or text) in the trailers. My marketing skills are nil. I'm really rather at a loss on how to approach these books. I could focus on Ky, Lord of Chaos as he is the main character in the trilogy, but that would leave out an awful lot of the story. I'm afraid it would also mislead possible readers who see it and expect Ky to be the central focus for the whole thing.

I guess I should just concentrate on finishing Vengeance and leave the trailer thing alone. Even if I did manage the music and text, then I would have to worry about the visual portion. That's a nightmare I don't really want to get into.

At least I did have fun with the guitar.

The 'other' story is just about ready to be started. The parts that have been tormenting me had no reason or society behind them. Over the past few days, I've not been writing anything. I've been letting my subconscious work through things for me. I'm really happy with what is developing.

Tomorrow, I will write the first chapter or two of Vengeace and start on the 'other' story. It has a working title of Knaben at the moment. That may change depending on where the story takes me.

Legacy of Rain

Yesterday, I was into Alice Cooper and writing so the Silk Road CD did not get played. Interesting that it did not rain here yesterday. Today I had some running around to do and since there was not a sign of a cloud in the sky and the Silk Road CD was in the car already, I thought playing it would most likely not produce rain. Well, it's raining here now. Totally freaky.

Legacy of the Ghost is now finished, the writing portion anyway. Onto the editing and the next book of the series, Vengenace. I'm also gonna work on that 'other' story as well. Will write again soon.

New story conquered, sort of, Legacy continues...

After a battle that lasted close to a week or two, the new story has been deligated to keeping up while I try to sleep nights. Sleep is somewhat overrated anyway. At this time, only one chapter remains to be written and Legacy will be finished and ready for the editting sessions.

Samaya suggested I attempt writing both stories at once. I am seriously considering that option when I start Vengeance. The two stories should be easy to keep apart. The new one has only two main characters, one of which is support and guidance. The conflict characters will appear for one or two chapters and then change. At this point, there will be thirteen tasks the main character must complete. Other than that, the only other thing I can say now is that it will not be epic fantasy. As a matter of fact, I have no clue what genre it would fall into.

Vengeance is the completion of the Lord of Chaos trilogy. All the characters (and there are a few) are familiar and only one needs to be fully fleshed out. Simon will grow a lot in the last book. I'm looking forward to delving into the mess I created with Legacy.

While these stories are occupying my mind, I'm reading Ravenshade by C.S. Marks. It's the third installment of her Alterra trilogy and is quite good. I highly recommend the entire series.

Last week, I received the new DVD and CD by the Wiener Sängerknaben: Songs Along the Silk Road and Time. Both are excellent. The DVD tells about the choir and shares the culture, through song, that is found along the Silk Road. It runs just over 2 hours and every minute is worth watching. The CD contains 25 tracks featured in the film. They range from church classics, to ley classics, to folk songs one could hear along the Silk Road. It's interesting that I've listened to it almost constantly for the last five days (excluding today) and every day I've played the CD it rained. I blame the song Sus Xâtin which is an Uzbek rain song. According to the film, it worked in Austria, the Caraco Desert, and the studio where they filmed the song. Apparently, it works in Virginia as well. You can only get the DVD and CD from the shop on the WSK official page:

http://www.wsk.at

It's well worth the acquiring!

More later.

The dimming light at the end of the Legacy tunnel...

Less than two chapters of Legacy to write and I thought I was about home with it. I decided to take my time with these last two chapters because they are so important to the third book. Anyway, to make a long story short, another story has invaded my subconscious mind and haunts me night and day making it very difficult to finish Legacy. I might have to put Legacy on hold and get this other one started. I've never tried writing two stories at the same time, but it looks like that is going to be the way of things.

At least I can work on the editting of Legacy for a while before I have to finish these last two chapters. It should give me the time I need to get this other story (which is WAY different from the Lord of Chaos trilogy) started.

Part 2: WANTED!!!

1998 Austria Viennese Boy Choir 500 Schilling Commemorative Coin.

Also, if anyone knows of any blogs that have WSK concerts available, please let me know.

Later,
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