Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Post any questions you wished answered by Janny for the complete series here.

Oooh! I get the first question!!

I was trying to order the books today and found the numbering really confusing! For example:
The Ships of Merior (Wars of Light & Shadow, #2; Arc 2 - The Ships of Merrior, #1)
and then there is:
Traitor's Knot (War of Light and Shadow: Volume Seven): Alliance of Light Book Four

Could you help me understand what this is all about and how some books are both #4 and #7?

@Jeanne: I know I'm not Janny but I thought I'd pop in and make a hopefully helpful hint.

I think of the numbering like an outline (a hierarchical tree rendering). The story arcs encompass the first level of the outline (normally rendered with a Roman numeral - I, II, III). Within and under each story arc, are the volumes (novels), which in an outline for the second level would be rendered with a capital letter - A, B, C.

So, if I haven't confused you completely, depending on the publisher, they may have decided NOT to number by story arc, then by novel, and instead number in a flat linear representation, ignoring the arcs all together.

Hence, the fourth book of the third arc ends up being the seventh book if you line them all up on the shelf from left to right.

Jeanne wrote: "Oooh! I get the first question!!

I was trying to order the books today and found the numbering really confusing! For example:
The Ships of Merior (Wars of Light & Shadow, #2; Arc 2 - The Ships o..."

Hi Jeanne - happy to answer you.

The series is designed for 11 books in this order:

Curse of the Mistwraith
Ships of Merior
Warhost of Vastmark
Fugitive Prince
Grand Conspiracy
Peril's Gate
Traitor's Knot
Stormed Fortress
(Initiate's Trial)
(Destiny's Conflict)
(Song of the Mysteries)

It is 'set up' in five story arcs.
Why complicate things?

Because it prepares the reader for the fact that each arc is in fact one phase of the story, sent up with a premise, and that premise taken to closure - sort of like a chapter within the long format.

Arc I - Curse of the Mistwraith - sets the stage and opens the Conflict.
(and leaves a lot of 'elements' to appear as classic earth analogies - that are not, but to complicate the story that deeply at that stage would have been counter productive - read, totally confusing.

Arc II, Ships of Merior/Warhost of Vastmark - takes the conflict to the next a stage - each of the main characters handles the problems in the first vol. a certain way...evolves the effort to a certain point of change. These two books are meant as ONE STORY. (And if you buy the US hardback, they are in one cover, labeled Part I and Part II, for those who what to reference the split point).

Arc III - Alliance of Light
Fugitive Prince, Grand Conspiracy, Peril's Gate, Traitor's Knot, Stormed Fortress
Takes the next phase of the characters' handling AND starts unveiling the world stage and examining the confict's effects in a much deeper context. This arc will start to bust presumptions about how the factions work, what they really ARE - and certain elements you've taken for granted as being 'like this or that' you've seen before - the veils will lift. If you got back to the earlier books at this stage, you will quickly see that the hints/writing disclosed these things all along - but you presumed you knew what you saw, and that colored your opinion. This is OK. the books were not meant to 'trick you.' - For the story to 'run' certain things had to be taken for granted.
All of Arc III, ALSO should be considered 'one story.' Though the books will have the one-two plot climax you will come to expect (Except Ships/Warhost, which was split at the first stage blow out) - you need to realize the Fugitive Prince will 'gear back' in climactic intensity - as it is the start of a new phase. It will still have major events and tension, but many of the characters and elements won't converge YET - people sometimes mistake this - but you will realize when you get into that arc - and finish it - that Everything on that page counted. The build at Stormed Fortress will be one mightier payoff as a result.

Arc IV - Sword of the Canon
Initiate's Trial (written, nearly turned in), Destiny's Conflict - unveils more internal connection, and stages for the mysteries.
The entire series at this point is into convergency - so while the opening of this arc re-sets the markers a bit, you can expect it is VERY FAST PACED.

Arc V - Song of the Mysteries.
Pure denouement. Nail yourself into the chair, and definitely hang on to your hair.

As each layer peels off, it will change your perspective on all the other events in all the other books. And the Characters do the same thing, as experience evolves their mind set.

Jon wrote: "@Jeanne: I know I'm not Janny but I thought I'd pop in and make a hopefully helpful hint.

I think of the numbering like an outline (a hierarchical tree rendering). The story arcs encompass the ..."

Jon, thank you for bringing this up it is a valid point for people who may be getting the older editions, or using the library.

This series had a bit of a checkered career, particularly in the USA - editors moving publishers, editors leaving, corporate mergers - all these things combined to disrupt what should have been a smooth program. Therefore - under crazy circumstances outside of my control due to personnel changes/corporate shifts, and production people messing with stuff, the prior editions MAY NOT list the volumes correctly, or have a numerical clue, or even, on the list of prior titles page - even show those titles in order.

Please use the series resource page, here, to straighten out any questions OR ask me. The new editions out with the beautifully matching covers DO list the stories in correct order.

Jon, again, thanks, I'd forgotten all this - water over the dam, now that everything has been set under one publisher's roof.

So, I take it the three in parentheses:
(Initiate's Trial)
(Destiny's Conflict)
(Song of the Mysteries)
Are yet to come? As in not published yet?

Jeanne wrote: "So, I take it the three in parentheses:
(Initiate's Trial)
(Destiny's Conflict)
(Song of the Mysteries)
Are yet to come? As in not published yet?"

Jeanne - yes - Initiate's Trial is completed/in final polish and will be turned in quite soon. Pub date should come pretty quick.

The final two are under contract. It takes me about 2 years to complete one of these.

I guess my question is kind of mundane. I'm not yet finished with Curse of the Mistwraith so I probably should keep my mouth shut and ask when I'm done reading the series but I can't help myself!

This seems like an incredibly, amazingly complex series. I think most people (well, I'll speak for myself here) would get totally lost trying to lay out a story that epic and that complex. Did you have any specific steps or a process to lay the plot(s) out so they flowed smoothly, didn't get all mixed up? How did you create such a complex, broad world while insuring that it all seemed to sync together nicely and flow smoothly?

I guess I'm in awe and just want to know how you did it. :)

I'm not sure if this is the kind of question I'm supposed to ask here. If it's not, I apologize.

Thanks!

- Sarah

Sarah - the question is completely appropriate!

First of all, when I had the idea, I didn't rush.

I fiddled with the opening - wrote multiple versions of volume one, and experimented with how to present the story.

While I did that, I worked out the backdrop, backwards and forwards. Three Ages of history. The whole pool of ideas that framed the concepts behind the Paravian language - gajillions of notes.

This was not done logically - but organically. The inspiration just kept on coming to fill in the gaps, connect this to that, so things that just 'popped in' that seemed random interlaced with the rest - not random one bit. Nothing was 'worked out' - the world and story evolved themselves.

As stuff got more complex, I started a file box with cards and dates, with major historical events tabbed...so I could add and look up and refine the entire sweep, and know where things connected.

As the books began, I started reference material:
A full dictionary on the language.

A notebook referencing each character, birth dates, life events, death dates, description, traits, offspring.

Another list with chapter names so I knew which fell in what volume.

Best - a huge spread sheet, done for each book; Across the top - the political factions, split by character.
Downward, the chapters, and under the faction, the event IN that chapter, complete with dates.

This enables me to look back at Any volume, and instantly pinpoint a scene - where it occurs, when it happened (day, season, year) and reference that scene forward by faction - it also enables me to overview a book IN PROGRESS and see where action has not been fore-run clearly, and fix that discrepancy immediately.

You will have noticed the odd formatting of the chapters - many series stumble in that, action or event needs to be shown that is not of great dramatic interest to the reader - the chapter format was begun very early on, to help contain sprawl, move the story, and maintain the impetus of dramatic focus.

You will note: ALL the action in this series moves present, simultaneous, or forward. There is no 'backstep' as in, this character did this THIS month, now we go back and see what That character did This month, too...no. It goes, this happened NOW, and then this happened NOW, or, a few days from now.

That took careful planning!

Moving armies/covering supply, doing the 'distance and travel time' to maintain that forward in time/present action - DID require intense research and planning, because sometimes logistics dictated when an event COULD fall in the timeline of the story.

Planning in the form of research - a whole other ball game. No way to get there except by plodding discipline and logic and reading lots of reference books.

Mistwraith was not written UNTIL 20 years of planning was ON the boards, and, most of the series up to Peril's Gate was written in crude draft...for the future - the ending two volumes ALSO have a very thick file of scenes written in advance, and set into chronological progression.

So nothing was shoved into print, half baked.

Honestly, for the interconnected story and the beauty of the world and its resident magics - I bow to the muse. I just take the notes.

Now... that last line is clearly a case of modesty in full bloom. ;)

To my mind the sheer scope of the project and the maintenance of the massive amount of information that was 'dictated by the muse' is a sign of a higher order of talent. Add to that the vision to see and the facility to create something that no one has seen/created before and, dare I say it, the talent verges on genius. Finally add in the ability to produce prose of a quality rivaled by few and I think the case has been made. ::smile::

Janny,

Thank you so much for responding. That made my day! I just want to say that I am in complete awe of all the planning it took to write that series. The mind you must have to be able to put all that together astounds me.

I know you said you took a lot of notes and wrote a dictionary of language terms and more. Are you planning on keeping all your notes for "old time's sake?" or when you are done with the series are you planning on throwing them out in some final celebration of completion?

Thanks again for answering!

Sarah wrote: "Janny,

Thank you so much for responding. That made my day! I just want to say that I am in complete awe of all the planning it took to write that series. The mind you must have to be able to put ..."

Sarah - some of the material is available in the FAQ section of the series resources threads, though be careful about looking in there too deeply too early, because there may be spoilers.

The material in that area was written up for actual reader questions - the answers were sent to them, drawing on the existing material, and then the text was put in the FAQ.

The fun part was the surprise - when the answer fit the story, but not the reader's concept, going in. Caused a few laughs - that the 'feud' between the kingdoms at the opening of Mistwraith (this does not spoil) did not have a 'simple' origin, but ran into considerable history; and the notable one, when someone 'assumed' the Paravian language was designed at random, when in fact, it is an energetic language that translates far more than 'just' the word - intent, degree, and a progression of meanings that unveil a lot of information can be derived from the form the word takes.

I consider this sort of stuff 'play.'

There is also a huge collection of artwork by now - paintings, and notebooks worth of black and white pencil drawings. Some of these are in the interactive map. More are not scanned that need to be added.

One day I hope to do a volume that would hold the more interesting bits - art, some of the back history, and more fun, some of the short stories and novellas that illuminate some of the more intense periods of history. Three are done and published.

There will likely always be more material than could be fit into a book - that is the nature of doing an intense long form work - you need much more behind the scenes than the reader EVER would want to wade through.

On the flip side, some of the 'research' has been practical, and can never be incorporated into book form - except as the 'experiential' clarity of the events on the page.

For this series: 'live' research has included HOURS of shooting with both a straight and a recurve bow - enough to get good at it. Sailing on period rigs, and sailing offshore. Handling horses I did anyway - but learning how to train and work them in harness, another matter. I also took fencing.

There have been some INTERESTING side excursions: to a working flour mill from the fourteenth c. (Aberfeldy). Field guide after field guide on wild plants, so that all the books on herbals could be matched to the CLIMATE of the place where said herbals were to be collected - the list would run the gamut, if I kept going.

Vivid writing does not all happen at a desk!

Janny, your research has paid off. Every time I read your posts about your preparation for your writing, your art, your life, etc, you amaze me. I'm glad I discovered you and your books.

Janny, one of the most interesting things about these books is the system of magic. It is so profoundly woven into the story that the world of Athera just sings with it. It is more than a world like ours, with magic 'added to' - it is more like a world with magic woven into its very fabric. I marvel at this part of your creation in particular. It seems to come from a place of 'truth' in that so much of what happens is concretely born out in our world today ie. the BP oil tragedy, the wars of greed, global warming, power, love and its healing properties. Do you have anything to say about that?

Sandra AKA Sleo wrote: "Janny, one of the most interesting things about these books is the system of magic. It is so profoundly woven into the story that the world of Athera just sings with it. It is more than a world l..."

I AM CUTTING THIS FROM THE UPDATE FEED TO PREVENT SPOILERS!

Sandra, this is a very deep question, for several reasons...as you've read the series, you know, there are more than one magic using faction, and of course, wild hair offshoots that are not grouped.

So possibly I have to ask - which angle/or group were you asking about?

In fact, ALL the magic does connect - it runs off the same system, underlying, at the very deepest level.

Each faction, or school, has a different way of accessing the underlying energy template - that is the world, all that lives upon it, and more than the world, the energetic intelligence of conscious life.

In rough catagory, in Atheran history at the time of Wars of Light and Shadows, we have:

The dragons.
The Paravians.
Ath's Adepts.
The Biedar.


Fellowship Sorcerers (dragon-derived magic influenced by the Paravian Law of the Major Balance.)

The Koriathain - whose efforts work mainly thorough the piezo-electric qualities of quartz crystal and the light-polarization qualities of certain other rod crystals.

We have the Masterbard's music, which is sound-based.

And we have the electromagnetic qualities of the planet.

I will add that the fourth arc will definitively open these areas - you will see how they interconnect. The ones undefined above - will be.

Rather than have me TELL you all - let's open some discussion. We'd have to start with physics, believe it or not: Sound and light are frequency based wave forms. Light is also particulate. (it acts both as a wave and a particle). The electromagnetic spectrum is also frequency based. Everything is MADE UP OF energy; and we live in a holographic universe - start looking at the quantum.

When two frequencies of energy are mixed, then you get a third frequency. When wave forms of certain frequency are mixed, you arrive at a 'standing wave' pattern that perpetuates itself for some time. Octaves and certain combined sound creates resonant harmonics.

Mind plays a part: your brain is electro-magnetic in nature, and it works by electrical impulses. Where there is an electrical current, there is Always a magnetic field.

The reason why all of Athera is interlinked is because the 'magic' is physics based. One frequency will affect all others, at a certain level of measure.

How the 'magic' user magnifies those resonances differs for the factions involved. We can get into more of that later. And the books will cover it in much more depth as the series goes to finish.

But to answer your idea - it is a seamless fabric because it IS that way - I did not 'design' at random, one bit.

What I have to say about our problems, today - is that nature would take care of ALL of them for us - if she had enough space to herself to do so. Biodiversity is the best buffer system ever devised. Until we learn to value that - and grant it the space it requires - the problems will continue to magnify the lack. Unlimited development and uncontained exploitation of resources comes at terrible cost.

Quality of life falls for all species.
Crowding causes emotional pressures, lack, fear, and sociopathic behaviors - this is proven, quite abundantly clear in animal studies - how long before people realize how much of today's rage and frustration stems from lack of quality of life?

The best part - love heals. The natural world heals. ONCE we realize (fully) the need to take the pressure off - I see great hope. The question becomes: how long before we turn around - and I mean, Really turn around - from being a consumptive society, exploitive of our world, to growing into a holistic society - where our very infrastructure GIVES BACK to the environment. Not just takes - but provides habitat, green space - yes, a building that IS SEAMLESSLY part of the ecosystem itself, not a chunk taken from it. Green roofs are a start...a small start. We need to understand core wilderness and the value of bioreserves - when we get it that such places serve us, economically, it will no longer make sense to destroy them.

Fascinating! My copies of the books have shipped from Powells and they will be arriving next week. I can't wait to get started on this series. It will have to wait till I finish Elantris, but as fast as I read, the two should coincide beautifully as long as the post office holds up their end of the deal!

With 3 more books to come in the series I'll now have 5 series that I'm reading and waiting for the next installment!
Wheel of Time
A Song of Ice and Fire
Riyria Revelations
Outlander
Wars of Light and Shadow

Janny wrote: "Sandra AKA Sleo wrote: "Janny, one of the most interesting things about these books is the system of magic. It is so profoundly woven into the story that the world of Athera just sings with it. I..."

Thanks for your thoughtful answer. I started reading and began to wonder if this thread had a spoiler warning on it. But it does say questions about the entire series, so I guess that's a tip off. Your answer is great in not revealing too much. As I read I had a sense that what you say about the interconnectedness is true, but not the scientific background to figure it out. I have to say that even without that background, I was able to intuit that sense of it and was trying to figure out how you accomplished it. Magnificent!

I have added that this thread does contain spoilers, since it is about the entire series.

Oh good. Thanx.

Janny, I'm currently reading Fugitive Prince and as I was reading Chapter V: Riverton, I was wondering about the lament for the widows of Dier Kenton Vale, whether you've actually written music to it or at least have a melody in mind? Which made me wonder more generally the extent to which the music in your novels actually exists. Or are you following Keats in the belief that "heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter"?

John wrote: "Janny, I'm currently reading Fugitive Prince and as I was reading Chapter V: Riverton, I was wondering about the lament for the widows of Dier Kenton Vale, whether you've actually writ..."

Well, John, that is an interesting question indeed.

The full ballad for the Widows of Dier Kenton Vale is not complete in Fugitive Prince, though the full set of lyrics is written in my notes. I once posted the entire ballad in the chat at Paravia - if I (or anyone) can troll for the link, I will post that for you.

Folks have asked about the melody - and yes, I do have ideas; but I have not put them out in public because, yes, I think Keats had the right of it.

Given that everyone who reads this story is likely to have extremely divergent tastes, 'my' concept might just wreck the poignancy of the scene for others who would cherish a different idea.

I wanted the full lyric to be published in an appendix in Fugitive Prince, but that has not been realized, yet (it is a shortish ballad, but still more than a page, and to have it in full would have added a full signature (more pages, has to do with printer technicalities) to the book - sigh).

If I ever get to do a compendium volume to this series - with artwork, related short works, and lots of art and appendix material - perhaps there I'd put that music, because presumably, only the dyed in the wool aficionado of the series would be interested.

I have been asked - Why do the art, when a reader may have a different concept? My response has always been: you only get ONE SHOT at seeing the concept as the author pictured it - while I am alive - and then the opportunity is gone. The work will pass through many hands, and other interpretations can be made at any time. Same goes for the music, I suppose.

Janny wrote: "John wrote: "Janny, I'm currently reading Fugitive Prince and as I was reading Chapter V: Riverton, I was wondering about the lament for the widows of Dier Kenton Vale, whether you've ..."

Is this it, Janny?

http://www.paravia.com/wiki/index.php...

http://www.paravia.com/discus/message...

Thanks for that answer Janny. That Keats lad was a smart one, but I think he also recognized that this "breathing human passion" is ultimately where it's at: so while it makes your story better to leave it to our imagination, the world is also one song poorer until the music is written and shared in performance. :)

For my part, I was curious both as a reader to be able to imagine the scene that much more clearly and also as a composer, wondering how you hear the text, how you set it in melody and harmony and counterpoint (and, naturally enough, it sets me to thinking how I would set it).

I could tell there was more to the song, and am glad to hear that it's written and look forward to seeing it.

Just as a side note to this, I'm reminded of a cassette tape they had in one of the local libraries when I was growing up, it was Tolkien and his wife performing some of the songs from Middle Earth. He sang and she played the piano. In one sense, perhaps, there was something inauthentic about it--can anyone imagine there being pianos in Middle Earth? But of course it was also pretty neat to hear how he imagined his songs--and of course, melodies are put into different contexts all the time, as medieval chants became Renaissance motets or lute songs, became symphony themes.

But anyway, I think you're exactly right--we can only find out how the author imagined some of the things that weren't spelled out as long as the author lives, but even that certainly can't stop us readers from believing that, in one sense or another, you got it wrong, allowing us to imagine it our own way. :)

Jon wrote: "Janny wrote: "John wrote: "Janny, I'm currently reading Fugitive Prince and as I was reading Chapter V: Riverton, I was wondering about the lament for the widows of Dier Kenton Vale, w..."

Jon, yes, both links show the lyrics in full. I prefer the second transcript from the Paravia chat, because the punctuation is clearer.

Thanks for digging this up - saved me a search :).

John wrote: "Thanks for that answer Janny. That Keats lad was a smart one, but I think he also recognized that this "breathing human passion" is ultimately where it's at: so while it makes your story better to ..."

John - the link to the lyrics in full are in Jon's post, above yours - use the second one listed, it reads more smoothly.

I was just wondering how your progress was coming on the next book, Initiate's Trial? Even though I'm not ready for it quite yet, I'm excited that a new one will be coming out soon. Do you have an expected publication date? I haven't decided yet if it's a good thing that this book starts a new arc, or a bad one. Maybe I'll know once I finish Stormed Fortress. (The only bad thing from what I've read of your writing so far, is that it's the 1 in the 1-2 punch.)

Janny, I've been wondering since I started reading what the term 'fell sorcery' or 'fell' anything.

Amelia wrote: "I was just wondering how your progress was coming on the next book, Initiate's Trial? Even though I'm not ready for it quite yet, I'm excited that a new one will be coming out soon. Do you have a..."

Hi Amelia - Initiate's Trial is completely drafted, I have done the meltdown pass, and am now completing the 'final dust up' pass - with the finished chapters going into proof reading. (Three chapter sets are through proofing, now, and ready to turn in). The dust up phase goes fairly fast - I expect to turn the whole book in shortly.

What to expect? Yes, it is an 'arc start', so yes, it is the 1 in the one/two arc plot punch. However: don't expect it to slow down! Arc III (being longest) was also the 'tipping point' for the series entire (and, the 'one punch' for the series, entire).

So - in concert with the convergency beginning for the two punch (think Warhost, or for arc II, Traitor's Knot and Stormed Fortress together) - this arc is the roll off for the 'two punch'.

And it stages for the mysteries!

It will not feel slow, one bit - but you are dead to rights - the two punch for Arc IV is its sequel, Destiny's Conflict.

And the single volume Arc V is ALL DENOUEMENT AND FINALE. Hang on to your hat.

I will announce a firm pub date after the book is turned in and int production...soon!

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny, I've been wondering since I started reading what the term 'fell sorcery' or 'fell' anything."

The adjective form of 'fell' means 'cruel, 'terrible' 'demonic' - so - think eeeeevile!

Janny wrote: "Amelia wrote: "I was just wondering how your progress was coming on the next book, Initiate's Trial? Even though I'm not ready for it quite yet, I'm excited that a new one will be coming out soon...."

I'm excited about the new book. I'm glad I've discovered your series. I did find out that I'd actually read some of your stories before in some of my horse anthologies. I'll have to go back and look at which story it was. Before joining Goodreads, I thought you were a new discovery for me.

As to this series, you're absolutely right about it being very hard to put down now. It's getting very intense.

Amelia wrote: "Janny wrote: "Amelia wrote: "I was just wondering how your progress was coming on the next book, Initiate's Trial? Even though I'm not ready for it quite yet, I'm excited that a new one will be co..."

The anthology you are probably thinking of was Horse Fantastic - I had a story (NOT RELATED TO ATHERA) called Silverdown's Gold.

Oddly, that was not the story written for that book - it had a horse theme and I sort of bent the envelope - wrote another more mystical work called The Wayfinder. The editors wanted MORE emphasis on the horses - just to fit the anthology, but agreed the story as it stood did not need this edit. So I wrote Silverdown's Gold in a more traditional 'horse story' vein and sold The Wayfinder to another anthology, Sisters in Fantasy.

Neither of these two stories relates to the series at all.

But Reins of Destiny is the horse story set in Paravia.

So maybe you encountered one, or several of these shorter bits.

How gratifying to see you recognizing that this series does not sprawl - grin. You will now be seeing all the bits that seemed divergent, way back in Mistwraith and Fugitive Prince come forward and tie in and get huge.

;)

Janny wrote: "Amelia wrote: "Janny wrote: "Amelia wrote: "I was just wondering how your progress was coming on the next book, Initiate's Trial? Even though I'm not ready for it quite yet, I'm excited that a new..."

Silverdown's Gold sounds right. I'll have to go back and reread it. I was pleasantly surprised to see your name in something I already owned. Now I'll have to see what I think of it now that I've read a lot more of your works.

I think I have the Sisters in Fantasy anthology, but I haven't read it yet. Reins of Destiny in on my to be read very soon list. I'm looking forward to that one too.

There's a list of Janny's short stories on her website.

Janny wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny, I've been wondering since I started reading what the term 'fell sorcery' or 'fell' anything."

The adjective form of 'fell' means 'cruel, 'terrible' 'demonic' - so - ..."

Thanks for that explanation, Janny. I've been wondering and wondering. Even did a Google search, which was worthless.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny, I've been wondering since I started reading what the term 'fell sorcery' or 'fell' anything."

The adjective form of 'fell' means 'cruel, 'terrible' 'de..."

You have to search for the word in adjective form. ;)

Jeff wrote: "There's a list of Janny's short stories on her website."

Thanks for posting the link.

Amelia wrote: "Janny wrote: "Amelia wrote: "Janny wrote: "Amelia wrote: "I was just wondering how your progress was coming on the next book, Initiate's Trial? Even though I'm not ready for it quite yet, I'm exci..."

Both of those stories wrote very smoothly, and both, dangit, could also have seeded an entire novel! I have to whip myself to do anything shorter than novel length.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny, I've been wondering since I started reading what the term 'fell sorcery' or 'fell' anything."

I remember Tolkien using the word 'fell' to describe the Nazgul.

Jeff wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Janny, I've been wondering since I started reading what the term 'fell sorcery' or 'fell' anything."

I remember Tolkien using the word..."

I knew I'd read it before, but couldn't think where. I tried to read Tolkien years ago because my kids loved The Hobbit, but I just couldn't do it. So I have a Tolkien deficiency. :)

Oddly enough, I just watch the 2010 version of The Wolfman and the word was used to describe the creature.

Hum. Was it good?

::topic drift and possible spoilers::
I liked it. It is not a precise retelling of the events in the 1941 Lon Chaney movie. There are some significant twists (new characters and plot changes) and insignificant twists (occurs near Blackmoor, England instead of in Wales). One key element of the original movie has a presence goes pretty much unused. That said, Benicio Del Toro was quite good as Laurence Talbot and Anthony Hopkins did, in my opinion, an excellent job of portraying his father. But for me the props go to Emily Blunt for her portrayal of Gwen Coffle and Geraldine Chaplin for her portrayal of Maleva, the Gypsey woman who was played by Maria Ouspenskaya (in my opinion she made the film) in the 1941 version.

It is a dark movie with a lot of cloudy/rainy days which fits the subject matter. If you like horror movies watch it. If you aren't squeamish watch the unrated version.

Jeff wrote: "::topic drift and possible spoilers::
I liked it. It is not a precise retelling of the events in the 1941 Lon Chaney movie. There are some significant twists (new characters and plot changes) and i..."

Thanks. Sounds interesting and I do like good horror movies. Not 'Saw' or 'Friday the Thirteenth' kind though. I put it in my queue at Netflix.

Janny,

You mentioned the last in this series will be (Song of the Mysteries). Have you any plans to write any prequel stories? Like the full story of the creation of the Fellowship from before they came to Athera, the war with drake spawn and to the end of the Second Age and beginning of the Compact?
Or maybe about the time of the uprising? Or possibly about the feud on the other side of the World Gate? Or the creation of Mistwraith on Marak?

I know you have filled in a lot of these details on your website but a full book series would be much more fun. :)

Madacgrav wrote: "Janny,

You mentioned the last in this series will be (Song of the Mysteries). Have you any plans to write any prequel stories? Like the full story of the creation of the Fellowship from before t..."

Good question.

I have plans to play with a few things - though mostly in short story form or novella. Verrain's story, in fact, is almost fully written out; needs the completion scenes and a polish. I want to do a short story that illuminates the survival (or demise) of each of the High King's lineages; two are already done and published. I have notes (THIS would be hot fun!) for a First Contact: when mankind first encountered Athera. And there's another bit of story sketched out, that illuminates another significant lineage that runs through Atheran history. Little links that show the connections that will emerge to prominence, in Song of the Mysteries.

To do any point, past or future, the story has to grab me first.

Picture a tug of war between ideas; the most passionate wins.

Definitely the little bits that are published (there is one from VERY early pre-Atheran history) right now have startled the wits out of readers; each one was selected because it clarified things readers persistently imagined to be simplified, cut and dried, when the actual events were anything but.

Of course you can let me know, and clamor to have this or that point done first...who knows? Might make a difference...

Well if you are taking votes I would love to read more about the creation of the fellowship and the first landing of man on Athera.

I still would like the rest done too though. I know I know I am greedy. :)
As long as you keep writing though I will continue to be a reader of your works.

I "hear tell" that authors often dream about their characters. I wonder which character Janny dreams about the most? IOW, who's your favorite character. (Hope that's not too cheeky)

Kernos wrote: "I "hear tell" that authors often dream about their characters. I wonder which character Janny dreams about the most? IOW, who's your favorite character. (Hope that's not too cheeky)"

Nope, don't dream about characters. Hasn't happened. The work gets done while wide awake. But I did flunk 'attentiveness' in the first grade - the teacher's complaint next to the Fail notation was 'daydreams constantly'- how little did they know!

:-)

Janny wrote: "Nope, don't dream about characters. Hasn't happened. The work gets done while wide awake. But I did flunk 'attentiveness' in the first grade - the teacher's complaint next to the Fail notation was 'daydreams constantly'- how little did they know!"

LOL! I was editing the art (graph after graph) for a book on control systems once and I had equations chasing me in my dreams for a few months... sometimes my work does follow me into sleep...

You didn't flunk attentiveness, you just weren't provided with material you felt was worth your attention - now you have it, and we all benefit =)