How it all Began - The Red War Trilogy

Ah, The Red War Trilogy.  Some of y'all might be more familiar with the original title Betrayal and Bravery.  It's the exact same story, same characters, just under a new name.  And I never had some big "title change" announcement, so don't feel bad if you didn't catch the switch.

I'm sure I've talked about this one enough to the point where I don't need to share much of the background.  I tried a new prep system, it totally worked, now I've got the entire trilogy written and edited and it's in the pitching process now.

This story has been a real journey.  But today, I'm going to share the original three-paragraph synopsis that I used to write the first book (complete with comments).  Enjoy.  :)

One morning the doctor next to Kalmarra's house is all in a panic.  (Yes, this is Marywyn.  And yes, I took the original name from Kalmar of The Wingfeather Saga).  He was drafted to help with the army, but being a coward, he urges her to tell anyone who informs that he is dead.  Then he mounts on a horse and rides off.  Later that day, a blonde haired soldier named Nahale asks for the doctor, and Kal says that he left this morning.  The soldier explains that the man has been drafted as army surgeon.  He gives her a warning that war is coming.  (This is no longer how the story begins: no doctor, no Nahale, and no casual beginning.)  A few days later, the army comes in and kicks all in the little town out and to go to the royal city to be safe.  (That's more like the actual story now!)  Kal and her family need to get jobs now, and she goes to find one.  She gets a job working for the princess, though she really wants to be in the army and get a sword.  She meets with Nahale in the stables, and having seen each other before, they talk.  (Nahale is completely removed in the official draft now, and his place is filled by Jaren, who becomes Rinn, who becomes Jaran, who then becomes female Jaran, and then becomes male Jaran again.  The original Nahale then gets introduced in a later book.)  He introduces her to Wisdom.  While out with Conn, Kal runs into Duran in the courtyard, and wonders at the insanity.  Later, Wisdom takes her to a Music-Making, and they meet Duran and Jaren (different from Nahale, because they were separate characters at this point...sorry if this is confusing, but you gotta learn it, as there's a pop quiz at the bottom of this post)(jk).  

Life continues on, Wisdom teaches Kal to read, Nahale begins to teach her sword-fighting with the help of Duran, and Jaren teaches her to ride a horse.  Ameren begins to follow her, hoping to reach the others through her.  (Like, whoa, this is so....simple.  No castle intrigue, no masked assassins, no challenges and festivals.  Makes me wonder how I didn't die of boredom while writing this part.)  Conn gets excited that her waiting woman is in a mix of excitement.  (All Ameren does is ask her to carry a message...but if the plot is otherwise boring, I can see why that would be viewed as exciting.)  Conn then goes to a music making, is rather mocked a little, and learns Kal wants to be a warrior.  She mocks Kal, and Kal gets worried that she won't make it.  Her plan is to learn to read and write, and then go and ask for the position with her friends at her back.  (Sorry sweetie, that's not how it works.)  Meanwhile the queen is suspicious about Kal, and brings her before the king and queen.  (Suspicious about WHAT exactly??)  Because she is scared, and also respectful, Kal says little, and so is dismissed.  But she learns that the queen is a bit odd, and the king is very kind.  (Wow, Jules, so profound.)

Some lines are omitted for spoilers.  Then the battle comes, and the town is in grave danger.  (Cue dramatic gasp.)  A group of people try to capture Conn, but Kal thinks quickly and runs off (wise choice), Princess in tow (oh, wait).  They run through the streets, until they find someone who can protect them.  But Duran is Duran, and Kal decides that she needs a weapon.  (Not to fight Duren, necessarily.)  She fights off a couple people, and never leaves Conn’s side.  During the battle, Duran needs to get commands to his army, and does so by imitating the notes, as everyone said he could imitate just about anything.  (Basically they hide in the bell tower, and Duren plays his fiddle right under the bell so the sound somehow echoes and carries across the city.  This scene was inspired by Archangel by Two Steps from Hell, and sadly had to be completely removed.)  More of the synopsis removed, for spoilers.  Victory!  More spoilers; I kept the ending about the same, basically.

Hope you enjoyed that little insight.  With those three paragraphs I was able to create a 80,178 draft.  On the first attempt.  A good bit of the original scenes are still there, just fleshed out.  A lot of the characters were renamed and a few were removed and their scenes given to other characters.  And there's a lot more added in to give the story more depth.  But still...it's not bad.

But I've been working on this trilogy since 2015.  The first book has been through about 8 revisions.  The second book was written back in 2016, and was rewritten last year for NaNo (so the plot/characters are pretty much UTD).  And the third book is still in the original draft, which is also fairly current.

Anyways, enjoy!  :)