Ask the Author: Stephen C. Merlino
Answered Questions (8)
Stephen C. Merlino
Everywhere. Games I have played, books I have read, history, travel, more travel.
And one day the main character took shape in my mind. I saw his situation, his world, and I gave him a problem to struggle against. That is what a story is: Character + Setting + Problem.
His world is a mashup of two periods in history that I love: shakespeare's and Elizabeth's England, and the American West.
And one day the main character took shape in my mind. I saw his situation, his world, and I gave him a problem to struggle against. That is what a story is: Character + Setting + Problem.
His world is a mashup of two periods in history that I love: shakespeare's and Elizabeth's England, and the American West.
Stephen C. Merlino
Falstaff and prince Hal, because so much excellent wit and merriment comes from it, yet it is not without some complexity and gray.
Buffy and Spike, because they are both so badass and perfect for wach other, yet their love is doomed (in his case) or lacking (in hers) and so fraught with guilt and unrequited longing.
Buffy and Spike, because they are both so badass and perfect for wach other, yet their love is doomed (in his case) or lacking (in hers) and so fraught with guilt and unrequited longing.
Stephen C. Merlino
Hi Brena,
Thanks for writing!
Yes. YES it has been bumped back more than twice. I am officially giving up the prediction of releases. I suck at them. My wife says I'm a "time optimist," meaning I always think things take much less time than they really do. Sigh. so, no more predictions.
That said, this week I submit the final chapter of Book Two to my writing group, and I should have it revised and the second draft of the book "done" by the end of the month. My plan is to send it to beta readers and comb through it from beginning to end then. I can say that if it isn't out on Amazon by summer, I will be very disappointed.
An obstacle to that is cover art. My original artist is too busy to do covers any longer. :( And the artist I chose to replace him as not returned the latest round of sketch work for four weeks. So. Not sure how that will work out, but I am working on that, as well.
Most of the first draft is available for free now on Wattpad for feedback. I'll upload the rest in a month.
Thanks for writing. Often it feels like I'm throwing time into a deep hole for something only I care about. :)
Thanks for writing!
Yes. YES it has been bumped back more than twice. I am officially giving up the prediction of releases. I suck at them. My wife says I'm a "time optimist," meaning I always think things take much less time than they really do. Sigh. so, no more predictions.
That said, this week I submit the final chapter of Book Two to my writing group, and I should have it revised and the second draft of the book "done" by the end of the month. My plan is to send it to beta readers and comb through it from beginning to end then. I can say that if it isn't out on Amazon by summer, I will be very disappointed.
An obstacle to that is cover art. My original artist is too busy to do covers any longer. :( And the artist I chose to replace him as not returned the latest round of sketch work for four weeks. So. Not sure how that will work out, but I am working on that, as well.
Most of the first draft is available for free now on Wattpad for feedback. I'll upload the rest in a month.
Thanks for writing. Often it feels like I'm throwing time into a deep hole for something only I care about. :)
Stephen C. Merlino
Thanks, Joy! Yes, that's a good idea. I will! I don't have covers, yet, but Even a blank one would be a good idea. :)
Stephen C. Merlino
A cup of coffee in solitude. Silence. Mornings, my mind is still dreaming. At night, my mind is fully left-brained, and though less creative, more productive in other ways. To return to the creative place, I need solitude, which means a walk in the dark, or a sit on a park bench, possibly with a cigar.
Stephen C. Merlino
I go back to whatever I wrote last, and start reading through/revising it. That gets me up to speed, back into the flow of the stream.
Stephen C. Merlino
Write. Lots. And read. Lots. And don't stop unless someone is bleeding or something is on fire.
Stephen C. Merlino
I am revising The Knave of Souls, which is the sequel to The Jack of Souls. The Knave is finished at around 90K words, but needs some more flesh on the bones, and needs polish. I plan to release it in the middle of summer, 2015.
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