Guy E. Estes's Blog

Hello, everyone, and welcome. Chase Witherspoon here, and we’re with Aleena Kurrin, star of the debut novel Triad. Aleena, thanks for joining us today.
Aleena: Thank you for having me.
Chase: Why don’t we start with the basics? Tell us about where you’re from.
A: I live in the town of Sharleah, Kerdonia province. We’re a member of the Artisan League, a confederation of provinces united by economics located on the western side of the Ophirees Mountains. Actually, my home is just outside of Sharleah.
C: And you are Chosen, correct?
A: Yes.
C: What exactly does that mean?
A: The Chosen are people who are born with two gifts. The major gift is one in which our talent comes as naturally as breathing. In my case, it’s the warrior arts. The minor gift is something we have a strong aptitude for, but we need instruction to reach our full potential. In my case, it’s the bardic arts.
C: What are those?”
A: Singing, poetry, story crafting.
C: You sing?
A: Yes.
C: What range?
A: Your world classifies it as soprano.
C: It’s my understanding that the Chosen are also very beautiful. Looking at you, one would certainly think so.
A: Thank you. Chosen have eternal beauty immune to corruption.
C: Why are they called Chosen?
A: It is believed they are chosen by the gods, though why they should be is a mystery. However, others believe we are demonic. We are also quite rare.
C: So, to sum up, you have the appearance of a goddess, the voice of an angel and can totally kick ass. A life taker and heart breaker.
A: I suppose that’s one way of putting it.
C: So that brings us to your career. You’re a gifted warrior, so have you joined an army?
A: No. For one thing, the Artisan League has no standing army. We have militias and hire mercenaries, but we mostly secure our safety through economic means. For another, I’m very… temperamentally unsuited for military life.
C: Meaning what?
A: I’m, ah, resistant to most forms of authority. I question things. Both qualities are just in my nature. I’ve always been that way. So, no, military service is out of the question. As of now, I make a living escorting trade caravans.
C: But you’ve just returned from a more personal quest. What can you tell us about that?
A: It was Chosen versus Chosen. Beyond that, I think you should read the book.
C: Would you consider yourself a hero?
A: No.
C: But you did several heroic things in the book.
A: It was either do those things or die. I did what my survival required. I see nothing heroic in that.
C: You saved numerous lives.
A: And I failed others. Failure and self-preservation are hardly heroic.
C: What was the worst experience in becoming a warrior?
A: The first time I ever killed was a traumatic experience – what sharp objects do to a human body is nothing short of horrific – but even worse was seeing what happened when I didn’t kill. Getting abducted by slave traders showed me the true nature of human evil and what happens when I don’t use this gift the gods granted me. My abduction and subsequent experiences after escaping played a vital role in making me understand what my purpose is and giving me the confidence and experience to do it. But as vital as those experiences were, they were decidedly unpleasant. But then, that’s usually the way of it, isn’t it? Our most unpleasant experiences are usually the most educational.
C: Are you ever completely satisfied with work you’ve done?
A: Rarely. I usually think there’s something I could’ve done better.
C: It sounds like you have very high standards for yourself.
A: I do.
C: So which of your actions are you least proud of?
A: Not defending people when I should have. I could’ve kept them from being enslaved.
C: And what achievement are you most proud of?
A: Overcoming my most powerful foe.
C: And that would be?
A: Myself.
C: Getting into background, let’s talk about your childhood. What kind of child were you, outgoing, shy, happy?
A: I was generally happy but not outgoing. My nature is more solitary and introspective.
C: Aside from your parents, who were some influential adults in your life?
A: Madigan and Headmistress Rita. Madigan has been a friend of the family for years. Headmistress Rita runs the academy I attended. She is a very intelligent woman who was a solid guide for me. She helped me understand the nature and responsibilities of being Chosen, but she never lectured or judged. She’d just point out possibilities, raise questions, nudge me in the right direction. Madigan, too, guided me. Jac is an old friend of my father’s who owns a tavern. He gave me my first job.
C: What was school like?
A: The academy I attended is one of the best in the whole Artisan League, which means it’s one of the best in the world. The first seven years are the curriculum was well-rounded to give the students as broad a base as possible. By the time the students are promoted to major scholar, which would be at age twelve or thirteen, we are fluent in three languages, not including our native tongue and the international trade language. Moreover, my father taught me some Dwarvish, so have a decent command of a fourth. I was never very good at math, though, but my friends Gwendolyn and Shannon both helped me get through it. Because my minor gift was that of bard, I helped them with literature, rhetoric and composition. Once we made major scholar, our education changed. Our curriculum is focused on our interests and aptitudes. In my case, this meant histories and, due to my minor gift, appreciation and composition of literature, poetry and song.
C: What group did you best fit in with?
A: I was mostly a loner. I had Shannon and Gwendolyn, but I wasn’t a member of any group. I never felt the need.
C: A clique unto yourself?
A: Indeed!
C: What were your goals in school?
A: To do well. I was quite passionate about history, composition, literature. I still am, actually.
C: Who was your idol when you were growing up?
A: I didn’t really have one. I never wanted to be the next so-and-so. I wanted to be the first – and only – Aleena Kurrin.
C: What was your family like?
A: Stable and supportive. Their love for me was unconditional.
C: Who was your father, and what was he like?
A: He’s a master blacksmith, one of the most renowned in all the Artisan League and the only human blacksmith apprenticed to the dwarves. He taught me and loved me. He was always there for me.
C: Who was your mother, and what was she like?
A: She’s a master weaver. Like Father, she is one of the top ranking members of her craft and always loved and supported me.
C: What was your parents’ marriage like?
A: Loving and stable.
C: Did you ever meet any other family members? Who were they? What did you think of them?
A: Aunt Riona, one of my mother’s older sisters. I hate her. Her eldest sister is Aunt Sabia, a very wise, loved and respected woman.
C: So you went to a good school, come from a good family and were raised by loving parents. Do you ever see yourself marrying and having children?
A: The midwives have assured me that children are out of the question, but I could see myself marrying, though I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
C: Do you currently have a lover?
A: No.
C: Describe the perfect romantic partner for you.
A: If you expect perfection from people, you’re guaranteed disappointment. I don’t know what to say beyond the general things everyone says – smart, funny, warm, and so on. I’ll know him when I meet him.
C: So, getting into more intimate topics, would you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, etc?
A: I like men.
C: Have you ever had a same-sex experience?
A: No.
C: Would you want one?
A: No.
C: But you have had sex.
A: Yes. With my first love. He died in a riding accident and I really don’t want to discuss it.
C: What is your deepest, most well-hidden sexual fantasies?
A: Well, if I told you, they would no longer be deep and well-hidden, would they?
C: Would you ever try them?
A: About half of them are physical impossibilities.
C: Is there any sexual activity that you enjoy or practice regularly that can be considered non-standard?
A: I think my tastes are rather conventional. I haven’t been with anyone since Cormac, though, so I can’t say for sure. Plus, of course, it depends on what you consider non-standard. I have envisioned certain activities involving various sauces and deserts…
C: Is there any sexual activity that you will not, under any circumstances, do?
A: Anything involving pain, degradation or victimization.
C: Are you sexually passive or aggressive?
A: Both. It just depends on what mood I’m in at the time. Sometimes I like to take the man, sometimes I like him to take me.
C: What do you sleep in?
A: A nightshirt.
C: How do you dress most of the time?
A: Shirt and trousers, or my favorite tunic.
C: Do you wear any jewelry?
A: No.
C: What’s your best feature?
A: My inquisitiveness.
C: No, I meant physically.
A: Oh. I don’t know. I don’t mean to sound vain, but I don’t think I can narrow it down to one.
C: Do you tend to save or spend your money? Why?
A: I spend little enough. Most of the luxuries I like I can make myself. Except for books. Those are mostly what I spend my money on, except for the necessities.
C: What are your hobbies?
A: Outside of my profession, music, song, writing, a little blacksmithing.
C: Are you active in politics?
A: I participate in electing our council, but I have little patience with politics. What support I give is to whoever will least interfere with my life.
C: What do you find more annoying than anything else?
A: Pointless blather.
C: Who do you have no respect for?
A: Hypocrites and bullies.
C: Overall, what do you think is most wrong with most people?
A: Refusal to face themselves or mind their own business.
C: What is something you feel very strongly about?
A: Human dignity.
C: Is there anything you pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?
A: No. I learned the futility of trying to impress others long ago, and I don’t have the stamina to maintain a facade.
C: What trait do you find most admirable, and how often do you find it?
A: Quiet strength. I don’t see it very often.
C: What's the worst thing that can be done to another person? Why?
A: Denying them their free will. Loss of free will equals enslavement, which also involves loss of dignity. I’ve seen people die. Indeed, I’ve killed no small number. But watching people be stripped of everything that makes a person an individual was much worse. When you lose your individuality you lose your soul. It constantly amazes me how many people are so willing to surrender it.
C: What's the worst thing you could actually do to someone you hated?
A: Generally, I leave people alone so long as they leave me alone, even people I hate. The exception to that is slavers. My hatred for them is such that I’ll kill one simply for looking at me, and I guess there’s your answer. If I hate them enough to take action against them, I’ll kill them and be done with it. Otherwise, I generally don’t bother with them, though I’ve been told I do get fairly insolent with people I dislike.
C: Do you have any feelings in general that you are disturbed by? What are they? Why do they disturb you?
A: My major gift plants within me the instinct to kill my foe, no matter how inconsequential that foe may be. I also have a terrible temper. That combination occasionally frightens me. So far, though, I’ve managed to control them. I was also greatly disturbed by the parallels between me and other warriors. Headmistress Rita and Father both pointed out that while other warriors use their skills to conquer and dominate, I use mine to guard and protect.
C: Do you think you have any responsibility to the world?
A: The gods granted me my gift and made me Chosen. It is my responsibility to use that gift to guard and protect those who can’t guard or protect themselves. My time in captivity showed me very clearly what happens when I don’t live up to this responsibility – people suffer, often the worst offenses one person can inflict upon another.
C: How outgoing are you?
A: Not very.
C: What do you like about people?
A: Very little.
C: What would be the perfect gift for you?
A: Solitude.
C: How private a person are you?
A: Very. I’m slightly amazed I’m giving this interview.
C: Why?
A: None of your business.
C: Are you religious?
A: Yes.
C: What is your religious view of things?
A: My people believe in many gods. The king and queen of them are Tamura the All-Father and Donya the All-Mother. Each has its dark aspect, Crewahk the Huntsman for Tamura and Nevawn the Death Breeder for Donya. We have priests but they act more as facilitators than anything else. We are encouraged to develop our own personal relationships with the gods. During the waxing and full moons we focus on their light aspects and during the waning and new moons we focus on their dark aspects. Balance is a big theme. Our gods guide us, but they expect us to puzzle things out for ourselves. They expect us to use the wits they gave us.
C: How do you feel about being Chosen? Is it a blessing or a curse?
A: That depends on the bearer of the gift. There are times when the responsibility of it nearly crushes me. I get tired on other people’s responses to it, their expectations, their incomprehension, their hate. But when all is said and done, I love being Chosen.
C: What's the most beautiful sight you've ever seen?
A: My reflection! Seriously, there are so many spectacular sights in the mountains, but I would say it was probably my home when I finally returned from my abduction.
C: What kind of weather is your favorite?
A: It depends on my mood. I naturally like sunny days, but sometimes I’m in the mood for a gloomy day, too. The sound of the rain on the roof is soothing.
C: What is your favorite food?
A: A good joint of beef.
C: Is there any food that you just pig out on?
A: I’ve a bit of a sweet tooth, but it doesn’t take much to satisfy it.
C: What is your least favorite food?
A: Vegetables.
C: What is your favorite drink?
A: Dwarvish ale.
C: What's your favorite animal? Why?
A: Dragons. I’ve always been fascinated by them, even as a little girl. I don’t know why. They’ve always been the embodiment of wisdom and power to me.
C: What don't you like about yourself?
A: I’m occasionally selfish. I tend towards laziness. I can be arrogant. I’m vain.
C: How would you like to look?
A: I’m far too satisfied with my looks as it is!
C: Yet you said you have a sweet tooth. How do you stay in such incredible shape?
A: Well, for one thing the gods designed me to be a warrior, so I’m naturally inclined to be in good physical condition. And, as I said, I don’t have to eat much before I feel satisfied. And I get plenty of exercise.
C: Like what?”
A: Practicing all sorts of martial arts. I like swimming, running, climbing.
C: You named Dwarvish ale as your favorite drink. How old were you when you first got drunk?
A: Though I’ve consumed a fair amount of alcohol, I’ve never been drunk. My constitution is… substantial.
C: Have you ever tried any other kind of "mood altering" substance? Which one(s)? What did you think of each?
A: When I was imprisoned in a gladiator arena they forced me to take something that didn’t just alter mood. It altered mind, body and soul, but I overcame it. Otherwise, I just do alcohol.
C: So what do you think of drugs and alcohol? Are there any people should not do? Why or why not?
A: What consenting adults do with themselves is their business. I don’t use the exotic substances simply because I refuse to hand over control to anyone or anything else.
C: What is your biggest fear?
A: Helplessness. With loss of my beauty running a very, very close second.
C: Do you have any long term goals?
A: I’d like to discover the true origin of the Chosen.
C: Short term goals?
A: To get through this interview.
C: Do you have any bad habits? If so, what are they, and do you plan to get rid of them?
A: I probably like looking in the mirror too much. I have no plans for getting rid of that.
C: If you were not Chosen, what would you do with your life? What occupation would you want, and how would you spend all your time?
A: Historian.
C: What time period do you wish you had lived in?
A: As much as I love history, I prefer learning from the past to living in it.
C: If you could go back in time and change anything in your life, what would it be and why?
A: The wisest move would be to not change anything at all, because those events made me who I am, but if I had the power to go back and change something, it would be Cormac’s death.
C: If you could be granted a wish, what would it be?
A: A very extensive library.
C: Quick – describe yourself in just one word.
A: Chosen.
C: Well, Aleena, it’s been fun. Thank you for taking time to answer my questions.
A: You’re quite welcome.
C: Our audience may have further questions.
A: They can certainly post them and I’ll answer them. I can’t guarantee it’ll be an answer they’ll like, but they will get an answer.
C: Thank you.
A: Thank you.

When it comes to creative writing, I'm not a huge believer in rules. Obviously, rules concerning grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. need to be followed, but most of the rest of the "rules" for writing fiction are, as Captain Hector Barbosa put, "more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules." Some of them just seem to me downright silly or even contradictory. One I've seen a lot of is "no adverbs." Forbidding the use of a part of speech in writing is just silly on its face, but in addition to not using adverbs, we're supposed to be succinct and get to the point or we'll lose our readers. So how do I describe something succinctly (oh crap, I just used an adverb!) but without using adverbs? Without adverbs I have to go into description that'll need at least three or four words where one - the dreaded adverb - would've done the job. In other words, I can't be succinct. Further investigation into the the adverb rule reveals that what they mean is adverbs shouldn't be overdone. But this goes without saying - nothing should be overdone. Overdoing anything gets tiresome, not just adverbs.
Another one I find odd is that the writer should tone down his/her vocabulary. A reader shouldn't have to run to a dictionary to understood what the writer said. Yes, gods forbid a reader should learn something. Reading - and being raised by and among avid readers - is how I built my vocabulary. A lot, believe it or not, was from comic books I read as a kid. Many characters were super genius villains or heroes and you had to know how smart they were, so they used lots of big words... but I learned so many new words from that, so many different ways to express things. P.D. James said, "Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary the more effective your writing. We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it." Why write something is some dry, dead manner? That's like wanting a track and field man who can only run five miles per hour. Part of the talent of writing is the ability to manipulate words the way musicians manipulate notes. Take this rule - be succinct/don't use any big words - to its logical conclusion and reading a novel would be almost indistinguishable from reading a shopping list. One of the things I love about H.P. Lovecraft's writing is some of the sentences he constructed. Granted, he sometimes got a little crazy, but most of the time I find his sentences wonderfully crafted. Just as sentences can get too complex, so can they get too succinct. What paints are to a painter, words are to the writer. Lovecraft's sentences are the equivalent of a pastoral painting while succinct writing is like a solid green canvas. Of course, much of this is genre specific. I find crime/detective stories tend to benefit from being succinct. So do thrillers. Those are stories to be fast paced. Some stories, though, are to be savored.
However, I do think there are some rules that should be religiously adhered to, all expressed by other writers far better than I could. The first is from Neil Gaiman: "The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you're allowed to do whatever you like... So write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter."
You have a story to tell, and no one else can tell it like you can, so tell it as you think it should be told. This is not to say you're infallible. You can get other people's points of view, suggestions, criticisms and guidance. In fact, I encourage it. Likewise, you'll have to polish your work by writing numerous drafts. Other people's input has its limits, though. Sometimes you'll get several people telling you completely different things. Other times, you'll get them violating the next rule.
Rule 2 comes from Meg Cabot: "Write the kind of story you would like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you are not writing something you like, no one else will like it either." I cannot stress the importance of this one enough. If you are so focused on following the rules posted on writing blogs and sites and magazines that you lose that inner voice, you've defeated your purpose. You have to tell whatever story you have inside you. It might not be what's trendy or fashionable right now, but if you try to write what's trendy as opposed to what you truly want to right, it's going to be a miserable experience. It's like doing a book report on the book your teacher made you read as opposed to a book you wanted to read, only a thousand times worse. Moreover, the product won't be nearly as good as it would be if you wrote what you really wanted to write. High/epic fantasy isn't the trendy seller right now in the genre, but it's what I love to write, and if you're not writing what you love, why bother writing at all? It can be torturous enough under normal conditions, but when you're writing something you don't really want to write, it assumes a whole new level of sucktitude. This rule is one I'm particularly fond of. Just as thrillers tend to benefit from succinctness, fantasy often suffers from it. When I'm reading fantasy, I want to be drawn into that world. I want to be immersed in it. I want to experience it. It's rather like a vacation - I want to step out of my everyday life into something wonderful, and I don't want it to end quickly. Experiencing a world isn't done succinctly. It takes time. Think of your favorite movie. Would it have been as good if it had lasted only half an hour? Probably not. The same is true of books. What's particularly maddening in the fantasy genre is that the industry says it wants well developed worlds, societies, races, etc., yet they want it to be succinct. The two are mutually exclusive. It takes time and words - even an adverb now and then - to construct a well developed world. When fantasy writers try to be succinct in creating these things, they almost invariably fall flat. The worlds are dull, often populated by cliches, and the races and characters cardboard cut-outs rather than authentic figures. Or they try to cram too much information into too little space and I'm left wondering what is going on and what the writer is talking about. I find it's often like coming into a conversation already in progress and I'm struggling to catch up and figure out who's who and what's what. I write what I like to read. I love high fantasy that draws me in, and when I reach the end I go, "Aw, man, it's over... when's the next story coming out?" I strive to give my readers that when I write a story. I'm trying to organize my first novel, Triad, into an e-book. I had an Amazon editor look it over. Based on his comments, I succeeded in my mission. I'm not a fan of Marilyn Monroe, but there is one quote of hers I'm fond of: "If I'd observed all the rules I'd never have got anywhere."