October Wrap-Up

Gonna make this short because I know lots of people are busy starting NaNo and everything.

Basically, all is good on the Daventry frontier.

Though, if I was being honest, I don't like that it's getting colder outside. I can barely tolerate fall, and I detest winter.

Trail trimming with Sister 2.

Navigating a tricky section of trail.

Manning the aid station for the local 30K/50mile race.

Loading the Falcon up with all the drop bags for the runners!

Helping out at the middle aid station.

Ran a local 5K race along this river with some friends.

The brother...came in second overall for the 8 mile distance.

Running the horses.

Sister 3 holding the quiver while we shoot arrows.

Ran a 12 mile race in the mtns.

The race ended up being closer to 13 miles because I got lost...

Seriously, the mountains are so cool!

Allllll the stairs RIGHT at the END of the race when I'm SO TIRED.

So yeah. October was cool. BUT NANO IS UPON US.

Know the Novel - Ships, Secrets, and Survivors

Hello...just jumping in for Christine's Know the Novel linkup! Hope you enjoy this little sneak peak into my NaNo Novel (and the subject of the Shared WIP Tag coming up in November).

What first sparked the idea for this novel?

Well, it kinda started back in...maybe 2010, I think? Maybe '11. But back when I was writing most of my WIPs in notebooks. And basically, I watched the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie for the first time. And tried to write a pirate story. And failed.

Then fast-forward to the end of '18 (or maybe the beginning of '19), where Sarah and I are thinking of doing a story together. She pulls out her fave thing to write (about people having to work as a team) and I pull out my pirate story.

And we shoved it all together.

Share a blurb!

I'm gonna make y'all wait a little longer...it's coming for the Shared WIP Tag!

Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

It takes place in a made-up fantasy world. It has kind of a French Revolution feel, with some scary ocean creatures and pirates and stuff thrown in.

I love how it's not a typical "medieval setting" fantasy story. :)

Tell us about your protagonist(s).

The main characters are Ralivaen del Mankayl and Adima Radi Kashinda.

Ravin is a sailor who would prefer just to be ignored and live his life on the ship and never set foot on land again. But his name is called as one of the selectees for the Scaera Dumeda, and he's planning to put about as little effort into this as possible...

Adi is a princess, who would rather be out fighting and helping people, instead of living a pampered life. So she is thrilled when she's selected and this long-awaited chance arrives. She's not going to mess this up.

Who (or what) is the antagonist?

The main villain is Captain Rev Martin, one of the most feared pirates, who happens to have a grudge against some of our main characters...

What excites you the most about this novel?

-Writing something with Sarah

-Evan is doing cool illustrations for it

-Pirates

-The characters

-Sea creatures

-The Scaera Dumeda

Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

For the moment, it's just a standalone novel. I suppose it could continue, but I think in a sense, stories could "always" continue. It just depends on if the author is willing to dig into the story world and see what happens next or if it should be left for the readers to uncover in fanfiction.

Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

Sarah and I did some vague plotting back when we started it. Basically covered the first third of the book, and we figured we'd find out what happened next once we got past bringing everyone together.

And that's where I'm going to pick up the book for NaNo. *cracks knuckles* Good thing I'm a pantster.

Name a few things that makes this story unique.

Um...something cool that I don't wanna give away. Plus, the aspect of the Scaera Dumeda is kinda cool. And really, I think it's just a neat little story with lots of neat little aspects.

Share a fun “extra” of the story.

For your enjoyment...the first page of the hand-written original, from long, long ago. Plus two character sheets from characters that have made the cut from the old version to this new NaNo ones!

I'll be back Friday to kick off the Shared WIP Tag!!

Preptober Prompts // Week Three // Day Seven

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed the Plot Section of the Preptober Prompts.  I know I've had a lot of fun hosting this!  (And the prompts are great!!)

Last one for me.  Thanks again, everyone.

I actually have the ending scene of the first Heritage of Kings book all planned out to a song, down to everyone's facial expressions, words, and movements.  It's a beautifully sad and moving scene, if I do say so myself!

One last reminder: There are three extra days at the end of October, and for those three days we’re going to be using reader-submitted prompts. You can submit through the form linked in the giveaway below, and that’s really all you need to do, but you can also improve the chances of your prompt being chosen by sharing and participating in the event through the month. Share posts on social media, post your prompt results in the comments, etc. and you’ll get more entries to be chosen for one of those three spots.

The readers whose prompts are chosen will get a special shout-out and a graphic for their prompt, and if they’re bloggers then they’ll get to host their prompt and Ariel will share their blog on her own and on social media.

But all of your prompts will be shared! Ariel will be putting together a list of bonus prompts at the end of the month, including any prompts that weren’t selected for the last three days, and sharing it on social media and her blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preptober Prompts // Week Three // Days Five + Six

Hey, one last prompt before y'all get a break and can take a day off and just focus on the Lord.  Seriously.  Don't think about your WIPs.  Just spend your Sunday with God.  Come back ready for more on Monday.  :)

In Words of Peace, my MC disguises herself as a minstrel...but she has no idea how to play the lute she lugs around and it sometimes gets her into sticky situations...

There are three extra days at the end of October, and for those three days we’re going to be using reader-submitted prompts. You can submit through the form linked in the giveaway below, and that’s really all you need to do, but you can also improve the chances of your prompt being chosen by sharing and participating in the event through the month. Share posts on social media, post your prompt results in the comments, etc. and you’ll get more entries to be chosen for one of those three spots.

The readers whose prompts are chosen will get a special shout-out and a graphic for their prompt, and if they’re bloggers then they’ll get to host their prompt and Ariel will share their blog on her own and on social media.

But all of your prompts will be shared! Ariel will be putting together a list of bonus prompts at the end of the month, including any prompts that weren’t selected for the last three days, and sharing it on social media and her blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preptober Prompts // Week Three /// Day Four

Aaaaand I'm back!

This has been a fave song of mine for AGES.  When Ariel gave me the option to pick the song, I was like yesyesyesIknowtheone!!!!!

Here's a quick link, if you need it: HERE

I don't think I've ever set a scene or anything to this particular song, but it's always been one that made me think of my trilogy.

Don't forget that there are three extra days at the end of October, and for those three days we’re going to be using reader-submitted prompts. You can submit through the form linked in the giveaway below, and that’s really all you need to do, but you can also improve the chances of your prompt being chosen by sharing and participating in the event through the month. Share posts on social media, post your prompt results in the comments, etc. and you’ll get more entries to be chosen for one of those three spots.

The readers whose prompts are chosen will get a special shout-out and a graphic for their prompt, and if they’re bloggers then they’ll get to host their prompt and Ariel will share their blog on her own and on social media.

But all of your prompts will be shared! Ariel will be putting together a list of bonus prompts at the end of the month, including any prompts that weren’t selected for the last three days, and sharing it on social media and her blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preptober Prompts // Week Three // Day Three

Anyways, I'm in love with the music theme.  As I have lots of music and poetry and singing in almost all my books...

As to Ships, Secrets, and Survivors, I know there's a scene in which a character plays his violin, tells maybe a touch of his past, and it's a cute, sad, moving scene and all that. But I'm more of a panster, guys. Give me some slack here for not having much planned out...

Also, there are three extra days at the end of October, and for those three days we’re going to be using reader-submitted prompts. You can submit through the form linked in the giveaway below, and that’s really all you need to do, but you can also improve the chances of your prompt being chosen by sharing and participating in the event through the month. Share posts on social media, post your prompt results in the comments, etc. and you’ll get more entries to be chosen for one of those three spots.

The readers whose prompts are chosen will get a special shout-out and a graphic for their prompt, and if they’re bloggers then they’ll get to host their prompt and Ariel will share their blog on her own and on social media.

But all of your prompts will be shared! Ariel will be putting together a list of bonus prompts at the end of the month, including any prompts that weren’t selected for the last three days, and sharing it on social media and her blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preptober Prompts // Week Three // Day Two

Here I am again, with the next prompt.  This one will be fun!

Enjoy!  I have the opening track for Words of Bravery, but not for this NaNo WIP yet...because I'm co-writing this with Sarah, and her character opened off the book, I didn't have *much* say about how it began.

Don't forget: there are three extra days at the end of October, and for those three days we’re going to be using reader-submitted prompts. You can submit through the form linked in the giveaway below, and that’s really all you need to do, but you can also improve the chances of your prompt being chosen by sharing and participating in the event through the month. Share posts on social media, post your prompt results in the comments, etc. and you’ll get more entries to be chosen for one of those three spots.

The readers whose prompts are chosen will get a special shout-out and a graphic for their prompt, and if they’re bloggers then they’ll get to host their prompt and Ariel will share their blog on her own and on social media.

But all of your prompts will be shared! Ariel will be putting together a list of bonus prompts at the end of the month, including any prompts that weren’t selected for the last three days, and sharing it on social media and her blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway