Alan Scott's Blog - Posts Tagged "fantasy"
Hello
Hello
I have just added myself on Goodreads as a new author and I thought would introduce myself. My name is Alan Scott and I write dark gothic adult fantasy.
I started writing a few years ago, as a way to deal with my dyslexia – don’t worry I have all my work properly proof read before being published - and because of my love of proper, old fashioned, fantasy stories.
I have a facebook page dedicated to my novels “echoesofastorm” if you want to find out more about my work and I am very open to people asking questions about the books or wanting to know more about the ideas behind them.
I’ve attached a link to my first Novel Echoes of a Storm below, If you are interested in having a look at my work
Alan
I have just added myself on Goodreads as a new author and I thought would introduce myself. My name is Alan Scott and I write dark gothic adult fantasy.
I started writing a few years ago, as a way to deal with my dyslexia – don’t worry I have all my work properly proof read before being published - and because of my love of proper, old fashioned, fantasy stories.
I have a facebook page dedicated to my novels “echoesofastorm” if you want to find out more about my work and I am very open to people asking questions about the books or wanting to know more about the ideas behind them.
I’ve attached a link to my first Novel Echoes of a Storm below, If you are interested in having a look at my work
Alan
A taster of 'Echoes of a Storm'
Hello,
I thought I would post the prelude to 'Echoes of a Storm'to give you a taste of my writing style. If you like the Prelude, then you can read (for free) the first two chapters on Amazon simply by clicking on the book.
I hope you enjoy
Prelude
Rain
Her softly falling tears echoed the rain as she watched him walk away. He did not cry, but then, his life had made him forget how. So, in the gentle rain, just past midnight, she found herself crying for a man - a fool - who could not.
A fool with that deeply irritating mocking smile. “But then,” she thought sadly, “who was he mocking? Himself? The world? Both?” Even after all these years, she could never quite work out which. She continued to watch him, his slight limp giving him a very distinctive walk, as he finished crossing the courtyard and exit through the open gate. He was, in many ways, a nondescript man. He was average height, average weight, looked to be aged anywhere between thirty and forty with short brown hair. His clothes were as plain as he was.
An involuntary shudder ran through her body. He may seem plain and nondescript, but she knew what lurked within him, what hid beneath that façade he presented to the world.
As she thought about him, the events of this terrible evening arose in her mind. One moment, she was entertaining her guests; the next, men with swords had come crashing in. There had been screaming and shouting, fire and smoke, running and, of course, death. Somehow, her daughter - carried in her maid’s arms - a wounded guard, and herself had made it to the walled courtyard with the assassins close behind. She remembered her hope of escape turning to ash upon seeing the courtyard gates locked and barred. Hence, filled with grown despair, she had turned to face her attackers as they circled in for the kill.
Then, from the dark shadows that surrounded the walls of the courtyard, he had appeared as if from nowhere. All eyes had turned to him and there was a moment of perfect silence, which was violently broken as a primeval growl, which could have never come from a human throat, sounded out and echoed throughout the courtyard.
Moments later, all her attackers were dead, and then... and then the rain had gently started to fall.
Afterwards, they had talked. Apparently, the plot had only been discovered in the early evening. One of her cousins had hired the men and bribed one of the guards to let them in. Her cousin’s plan was not a simple one, though, as there had been a nasty twist - a twist that forced a bitter choice.
Fresh tears mixed with the rain as she remembered asking her saviour why he had made the choice he did. She had watched the softness in his deep blue eyes that had slowly crept in over the last two years, wither and die, to be replaced by the familiar harshness from years long past.
“Duty,” was his single word reply.
Then she had made plans, hasty plans.
Now, in the early hours of a new day, in the gentle rain, something dangerous had left the country house. He had names - Red Claw, Midnight Man, and more; however, she knew him as Nathanial West, her bodyguard.
By sending her bodyguard out into the night, those hastily drawn plans were being put into action. Her foolish cousin, Fredrick, had started it, but others would follow. Others would now enter the game. Why did people always call it a game? Well, it was more than a game to her. It was the life of her daughter. It was the future of her realm. It was friends lying dead in the house behind her, friends who had been alive only hours earlier. She would show them all. There was NOTHING she would not sacrifice to protect her daughter and the realm. Let them play their little games. Tonight, she would show them how the great game was truly meant to be played.
Nathanial had vanished from sight by now so Queen Alexandra turned to face the only other survivors - her maid, Mary, who was walking toward her with a cloak, and the wounded guard who held her daughter, Kathleen, in his arms.
As Mary wrapped the cloak around the Queen’s shoulders, she whispered, “He is gone, then?”
“Yes.”
“So it has started?”
“Yes.”
“Is he...it...back?”
Alexandra looked into Mary’s quizzical face and slowly nodded. Turning her eyes to the guard, she asked, “His name?”
“Jack Sorensen.”
Moving past Mary, wiping tears from her eyes, Queen Alexandra headed toward Jack Sorensen so that she could take her daughter in her arms.
Mary looked out into the dark beyond the country house walls. He would be walking, running, heading toward his goal and, with each step, he would be reverting back to what he was. The last two years would be wiped out before dawn. Mary stifled a sob and closed her eyes. Turning her head toward the sky, she let the rain wash across her face. The rain always hid her tears so well.
***
Nathanial walked out of Count Fredrick’s country house and turned his head up into the refreshing rain. The Queen had decided that he was to send a clear and precise message to the world by making an example of Count Fredrick. So clear was this message to be, that no one else would dare make another assassination attempt. A hasty decision - a decision she would later regret, no doubt.
But he was the Queen’s man, and so he did as he was commanded. Turning his head back toward the house, he studied his handiwork. There, nailed to the main gates, were Count Fredrick, his wife, and his two small sons. Behind them, not a living soul was left. He had killed everything. The fire that was just taking hold in the main part of the house would run unchecked and reduce the house to a ruinous state - a clear and precise message, if ever there was one.
Thinking back over the night’s events, Nathanial suddenly realised how easy it had been to slip back into old ways. It was almost as if the last two years had never happened. There had been a moment when he had felt an overwhelming sense of loss and pain - when he had told his tale to Alexandra - but he could not afford those emotions. Nathanial snorted and gave a short hard laugh. The price would be high if he ever gave in to them.
His eyes hardened and his mouth curved into a cruel mocking smile. To be what people wanted him to be, to do what he needed to do, he would have to become the old Nathanial West again. The last two years would have to be forgotten. Yet how could he forget?
“Fool,” Nathanial berated himself. Turning his head back toward the early morning sky, he let the rain wash across his face. He had always enjoyed the rain - it always brought him peace.
I thought I would post the prelude to 'Echoes of a Storm'to give you a taste of my writing style. If you like the Prelude, then you can read (for free) the first two chapters on Amazon simply by clicking on the book.
I hope you enjoy
Prelude
Rain
Her softly falling tears echoed the rain as she watched him walk away. He did not cry, but then, his life had made him forget how. So, in the gentle rain, just past midnight, she found herself crying for a man - a fool - who could not.
A fool with that deeply irritating mocking smile. “But then,” she thought sadly, “who was he mocking? Himself? The world? Both?” Even after all these years, she could never quite work out which. She continued to watch him, his slight limp giving him a very distinctive walk, as he finished crossing the courtyard and exit through the open gate. He was, in many ways, a nondescript man. He was average height, average weight, looked to be aged anywhere between thirty and forty with short brown hair. His clothes were as plain as he was.
An involuntary shudder ran through her body. He may seem plain and nondescript, but she knew what lurked within him, what hid beneath that façade he presented to the world.
As she thought about him, the events of this terrible evening arose in her mind. One moment, she was entertaining her guests; the next, men with swords had come crashing in. There had been screaming and shouting, fire and smoke, running and, of course, death. Somehow, her daughter - carried in her maid’s arms - a wounded guard, and herself had made it to the walled courtyard with the assassins close behind. She remembered her hope of escape turning to ash upon seeing the courtyard gates locked and barred. Hence, filled with grown despair, she had turned to face her attackers as they circled in for the kill.
Then, from the dark shadows that surrounded the walls of the courtyard, he had appeared as if from nowhere. All eyes had turned to him and there was a moment of perfect silence, which was violently broken as a primeval growl, which could have never come from a human throat, sounded out and echoed throughout the courtyard.
Moments later, all her attackers were dead, and then... and then the rain had gently started to fall.
Afterwards, they had talked. Apparently, the plot had only been discovered in the early evening. One of her cousins had hired the men and bribed one of the guards to let them in. Her cousin’s plan was not a simple one, though, as there had been a nasty twist - a twist that forced a bitter choice.
Fresh tears mixed with the rain as she remembered asking her saviour why he had made the choice he did. She had watched the softness in his deep blue eyes that had slowly crept in over the last two years, wither and die, to be replaced by the familiar harshness from years long past.
“Duty,” was his single word reply.
Then she had made plans, hasty plans.
Now, in the early hours of a new day, in the gentle rain, something dangerous had left the country house. He had names - Red Claw, Midnight Man, and more; however, she knew him as Nathanial West, her bodyguard.
By sending her bodyguard out into the night, those hastily drawn plans were being put into action. Her foolish cousin, Fredrick, had started it, but others would follow. Others would now enter the game. Why did people always call it a game? Well, it was more than a game to her. It was the life of her daughter. It was the future of her realm. It was friends lying dead in the house behind her, friends who had been alive only hours earlier. She would show them all. There was NOTHING she would not sacrifice to protect her daughter and the realm. Let them play their little games. Tonight, she would show them how the great game was truly meant to be played.
Nathanial had vanished from sight by now so Queen Alexandra turned to face the only other survivors - her maid, Mary, who was walking toward her with a cloak, and the wounded guard who held her daughter, Kathleen, in his arms.
As Mary wrapped the cloak around the Queen’s shoulders, she whispered, “He is gone, then?”
“Yes.”
“So it has started?”
“Yes.”
“Is he...it...back?”
Alexandra looked into Mary’s quizzical face and slowly nodded. Turning her eyes to the guard, she asked, “His name?”
“Jack Sorensen.”
Moving past Mary, wiping tears from her eyes, Queen Alexandra headed toward Jack Sorensen so that she could take her daughter in her arms.
Mary looked out into the dark beyond the country house walls. He would be walking, running, heading toward his goal and, with each step, he would be reverting back to what he was. The last two years would be wiped out before dawn. Mary stifled a sob and closed her eyes. Turning her head toward the sky, she let the rain wash across her face. The rain always hid her tears so well.
***
Nathanial walked out of Count Fredrick’s country house and turned his head up into the refreshing rain. The Queen had decided that he was to send a clear and precise message to the world by making an example of Count Fredrick. So clear was this message to be, that no one else would dare make another assassination attempt. A hasty decision - a decision she would later regret, no doubt.
But he was the Queen’s man, and so he did as he was commanded. Turning his head back toward the house, he studied his handiwork. There, nailed to the main gates, were Count Fredrick, his wife, and his two small sons. Behind them, not a living soul was left. He had killed everything. The fire that was just taking hold in the main part of the house would run unchecked and reduce the house to a ruinous state - a clear and precise message, if ever there was one.
Thinking back over the night’s events, Nathanial suddenly realised how easy it had been to slip back into old ways. It was almost as if the last two years had never happened. There had been a moment when he had felt an overwhelming sense of loss and pain - when he had told his tale to Alexandra - but he could not afford those emotions. Nathanial snorted and gave a short hard laugh. The price would be high if he ever gave in to them.
His eyes hardened and his mouth curved into a cruel mocking smile. To be what people wanted him to be, to do what he needed to do, he would have to become the old Nathanial West again. The last two years would have to be forgotten. Yet how could he forget?
“Fool,” Nathanial berated himself. Turning his head back toward the early morning sky, he let the rain wash across his face. He had always enjoyed the rain - it always brought him peace.
An Insight into the thoughts behind writing Echoes of a Storm
Echoes of a Storm – Book One of the Storm Series
Warning - contains spoilers
I have always been a huge fan of dark fantasy in all its wonderful forms since I was small boy. I suppose it all stems from the love of fairy stories - not the family-friendly fairy stories of Disney, but the dark gothic tales of the Brothers Grimm, and Celtic and Scandinavian myths.
One of my favourite childhood memories (aged about 10) was sitting in the shed at the bottom of the garden, reading my book of dark fairy tales. Occasionally glancing out the window and through the rain (it was Scotland, after all) to the tree-covered mountains, I would wonder what creatures and monsters lived up there. I may be dyslexic, but I always had an excellent imagination.
I suppose it was during this time that the seeds of ‘Echoes of a Storm’ started to take root. Anyway, fast-forward twenty-nine years later - I’ve grown up, served in the RAF for twelve years, and was in the process of getting divorced when I decided to write for the first time since secondary school.
But what to write? For years, I had this image of a man walking away in the rain and a woman crying. But why was she crying and who was he? It took me awhile to work out what had happened, but once I had, I quickly wrote the prelude.
Next, I needed to work out where the book and trilogy was set. I decided on a fantasy world, loosely based on Europe in the Middle Ages where forests and mountains are dangerous places to roam, countries go to war as kings try to carve out kingdoms whilst the common man tries to live his life as best he can, and stories of monsters and demons are told round campfires.
I knew straight away what the book was going to be about – ‘Echoes’ is simply about fathers and daughters, and the fear every father has about protecting his daughter from the wicked and evil world. I also knew that I wanted to write ‘Echoes’ from an adult male’s perspective for two very good reasons:
1. I am an adult male (44 at the time of typing)
2. The book is about fathers trying to protect their daughters, so needed a masculine feel.
Since I already knew that the Queen’s bodyguard was a werewolf (it was part of the prelude), I wanted to add a small twist, so I thought I would rename Werewolves to Dev’ver. This has actually proven to be a good decision, as it’s allowed me, over the course of the trilogy, to introduce new ideas and storylines around the Dev’ver and their opposite numbers.
So, in summary - ‘Echoes of a Storm’ is a dark, gritty, adult fairy story with strong adult themes and storylines, and I would highly recommend you read it! But then again, I would : )
Echoes Of A Storm
Warning - contains spoilers
I have always been a huge fan of dark fantasy in all its wonderful forms since I was small boy. I suppose it all stems from the love of fairy stories - not the family-friendly fairy stories of Disney, but the dark gothic tales of the Brothers Grimm, and Celtic and Scandinavian myths.
One of my favourite childhood memories (aged about 10) was sitting in the shed at the bottom of the garden, reading my book of dark fairy tales. Occasionally glancing out the window and through the rain (it was Scotland, after all) to the tree-covered mountains, I would wonder what creatures and monsters lived up there. I may be dyslexic, but I always had an excellent imagination.
I suppose it was during this time that the seeds of ‘Echoes of a Storm’ started to take root. Anyway, fast-forward twenty-nine years later - I’ve grown up, served in the RAF for twelve years, and was in the process of getting divorced when I decided to write for the first time since secondary school.
But what to write? For years, I had this image of a man walking away in the rain and a woman crying. But why was she crying and who was he? It took me awhile to work out what had happened, but once I had, I quickly wrote the prelude.
Next, I needed to work out where the book and trilogy was set. I decided on a fantasy world, loosely based on Europe in the Middle Ages where forests and mountains are dangerous places to roam, countries go to war as kings try to carve out kingdoms whilst the common man tries to live his life as best he can, and stories of monsters and demons are told round campfires.
I knew straight away what the book was going to be about – ‘Echoes’ is simply about fathers and daughters, and the fear every father has about protecting his daughter from the wicked and evil world. I also knew that I wanted to write ‘Echoes’ from an adult male’s perspective for two very good reasons:
1. I am an adult male (44 at the time of typing)
2. The book is about fathers trying to protect their daughters, so needed a masculine feel.
Since I already knew that the Queen’s bodyguard was a werewolf (it was part of the prelude), I wanted to add a small twist, so I thought I would rename Werewolves to Dev’ver. This has actually proven to be a good decision, as it’s allowed me, over the course of the trilogy, to introduce new ideas and storylines around the Dev’ver and their opposite numbers.
So, in summary - ‘Echoes of a Storm’ is a dark, gritty, adult fairy story with strong adult themes and storylines, and I would highly recommend you read it! But then again, I would : )
Echoes Of A Storm
I Have Passed The 5000th Download Mark
I Have Passed The 5000th Download Mark
It has taken me 20 months but I have passed the 5000th download mark for my books.
I have to admit to having a huge smile on my face : )
The breakdown of downloads by country is:
USA = 3'664
UK = 925
Germany = 293
Canada = 54
Japan = 27
France = 17
Italy = 15
Spain = 7
Brazil = 5
India = 2
Australia = 2
Mexico = 1
Total = 5'012
As always the definition of a download is - someone has either downloaded a free copy of the book, bought a copy or used Amazon Prime to borrow the ebook.
Alan : )
http://www.alankscott.com
It has taken me 20 months but I have passed the 5000th download mark for my books.
I have to admit to having a huge smile on my face : )
The breakdown of downloads by country is:
USA = 3'664
UK = 925
Germany = 293
Canada = 54
Japan = 27
France = 17
Italy = 15
Spain = 7
Brazil = 5
India = 2
Australia = 2
Mexico = 1
Total = 5'012
As always the definition of a download is - someone has either downloaded a free copy of the book, bought a copy or used Amazon Prime to borrow the ebook.
Alan : )
http://www.alankscott.com
Tea II has been released
Tea II concludes the story of Shadow Killer (Werewolf) and his unusual, and platonic friendship with an old man called Samuel (A Tailor). The tale is set exactly one year after ‘Tea’, on the coldest and darkest night of winter, and by the end of the night their relationship will have changed forever.
I’ve written this story to say thank you to all those people around the world who downloaded ‘Tea’. ‘Tea’ It is by far my most successful short story with over 800 downloads across the world, and when on promotion constantly makes it into the top 10 of gay fiction
Both short stories (Tea and Tea II) are set within the dark fantasy world of The Storm Series Trilogy and can be read in conjunction with the trilogy, to obtain extra background information, or alone just as two short stories.
Dedication
To all those people who downloaded ‘Tea’ around the world and Bookbee from Canada who gave ‘Tea’ very nice review on Goodreads – Thank you, Bookbee
I’ve written this story to say thank you to all those people around the world who downloaded ‘Tea’. ‘Tea’ It is by far my most successful short story with over 800 downloads across the world, and when on promotion constantly makes it into the top 10 of gay fiction
Both short stories (Tea and Tea II) are set within the dark fantasy world of The Storm Series Trilogy and can be read in conjunction with the trilogy, to obtain extra background information, or alone just as two short stories.
Dedication
To all those people who downloaded ‘Tea’ around the world and Bookbee from Canada who gave ‘Tea’ very nice review on Goodreads – Thank you, Bookbee
Female Characters in Fantasy Novels
In ninety percent of Fantasy and Sci-fi books, there only ever seem to be three types of heroine:
1. The one that screams a lot and needs to be rescued a lot (not very heroic, but helpless women draw the heroes to her).
2. The five-foot nothing, smart sassy one, who, with a suitable quip, can kill five hundred heavily-armed and armoured six-foot deadly killers in two seconds flat.
3. The muscle-bound broadsword wielding one who will happily do battle in an armoured bikini, regardless of the weather conditions or practicality.
There is nothing wrong with any of the above, and many good books include them; however, I wanted to write my female heroes as, well… real woman. So, I looked at fictional characters - such as Judy Dench’s “M” in the James Bond films, real life characters such as Margaret Thatcher, and various women that I know - to be my inspiration.
Queen Alexandra Peterson - My Female Hero
The Early Years
Not a lot is known about the early years of Alexandra. All we really know is that she was forced into an arranged marriage at a young age to King Hamish Peterson, who once famously said, “If I can’t fight it or romance it, I’m not interested in it” (or words to that effect). Although King Hamish was not deliberately cruel or aggressive to his Queen, Alexandra felt alone and unloved in her marriage as her husband waged war, hunted, and claimed his royal prerogative on the willing women of the kingdom.
Because of her husband’s behaviour, Alexandra had a brief affair with her bodyguard, Nathanial West. As a result of that affair, she fell pregnant. Luckily, King Peterson thought Alexandra was pregnant via him and the resulting daughter, Princess Kathleen, was raised as his heir.
King Peterson then died from plague, leaving an unprepared Alexandra widowed and Kathleen seemingly fatherless.
To Be a Queen
With the death of her husband, Alexandra had to learn quickly. She was a single mother ruling a small kingdom in a violent and dangerous world. By necessity, ‘duty to daughter and realm’ became the basis of her reign as Queen, which she firmly ingrained in her daughter’s education and everyday life.
Being a widowed Queen, there were many suitors trying to claim her hand in marriage. It was while she was trying to fend off these unwanted attentions that she first showed the steel within her - by unleashing her Dev’ver bodyguard, Nathanial West, in his werewolf form upon an aggressive suitor (see the short story ‘A Mere Woman’ in Tales of Solomon Pace for full details).
Echoes of a Storm
At the start of the book ‘Echoes of a Storm’, we find Alexandra having just survived an assassination attempt on her life and the life of her daughter. This attack causes her to make a hasty decision that comes back to haunt her later on in the book.
Throughout the novel, Alexandra shrugs off her youthful ideas and becomes a powerful and confident woman, a determined Queen who can protect her daughter and kingdom from the evils of the world. This determination to protect her daughter leads to the dramatic ending of the book.
Summary
I have tried to write Alexandra as a real woman who does not need to be rescued every five minutes, does not wear skimpy outfits, and uses her assassins, armies, and generals to fight her battles, but does not shy away from using a sword or knife in defence of her daughter and kingdom.
My hope is that I have written a strong female character in a fantasy setting to whom women can relate, giving the fairer sex the respect they so richly deserve.
Alan
1. The one that screams a lot and needs to be rescued a lot (not very heroic, but helpless women draw the heroes to her).
2. The five-foot nothing, smart sassy one, who, with a suitable quip, can kill five hundred heavily-armed and armoured six-foot deadly killers in two seconds flat.
3. The muscle-bound broadsword wielding one who will happily do battle in an armoured bikini, regardless of the weather conditions or practicality.
There is nothing wrong with any of the above, and many good books include them; however, I wanted to write my female heroes as, well… real woman. So, I looked at fictional characters - such as Judy Dench’s “M” in the James Bond films, real life characters such as Margaret Thatcher, and various women that I know - to be my inspiration.
Queen Alexandra Peterson - My Female Hero
The Early Years
Not a lot is known about the early years of Alexandra. All we really know is that she was forced into an arranged marriage at a young age to King Hamish Peterson, who once famously said, “If I can’t fight it or romance it, I’m not interested in it” (or words to that effect). Although King Hamish was not deliberately cruel or aggressive to his Queen, Alexandra felt alone and unloved in her marriage as her husband waged war, hunted, and claimed his royal prerogative on the willing women of the kingdom.
Because of her husband’s behaviour, Alexandra had a brief affair with her bodyguard, Nathanial West. As a result of that affair, she fell pregnant. Luckily, King Peterson thought Alexandra was pregnant via him and the resulting daughter, Princess Kathleen, was raised as his heir.
King Peterson then died from plague, leaving an unprepared Alexandra widowed and Kathleen seemingly fatherless.
To Be a Queen
With the death of her husband, Alexandra had to learn quickly. She was a single mother ruling a small kingdom in a violent and dangerous world. By necessity, ‘duty to daughter and realm’ became the basis of her reign as Queen, which she firmly ingrained in her daughter’s education and everyday life.
Being a widowed Queen, there were many suitors trying to claim her hand in marriage. It was while she was trying to fend off these unwanted attentions that she first showed the steel within her - by unleashing her Dev’ver bodyguard, Nathanial West, in his werewolf form upon an aggressive suitor (see the short story ‘A Mere Woman’ in Tales of Solomon Pace for full details).
Echoes of a Storm
At the start of the book ‘Echoes of a Storm’, we find Alexandra having just survived an assassination attempt on her life and the life of her daughter. This attack causes her to make a hasty decision that comes back to haunt her later on in the book.
Throughout the novel, Alexandra shrugs off her youthful ideas and becomes a powerful and confident woman, a determined Queen who can protect her daughter and kingdom from the evils of the world. This determination to protect her daughter leads to the dramatic ending of the book.
Summary
I have tried to write Alexandra as a real woman who does not need to be rescued every five minutes, does not wear skimpy outfits, and uses her assassins, armies, and generals to fight her battles, but does not shy away from using a sword or knife in defence of her daughter and kingdom.
My hope is that I have written a strong female character in a fantasy setting to whom women can relate, giving the fairer sex the respect they so richly deserve.
Alan
