Melanie Nilles

I apologize for my absenteeism in the last week. It’s been hell. I am in the process of completely rewriting Dark Angel and with most of it to go, I’m thinking I’m nuts. To make up for this, I thought I’d treat you to something special, if not a little different.

I decided it might be fun to share some trivia facts about my writing of the series, before I move on too far into other projects and forget. I hope you enjoy it

1. The character of Jayson was inspired by the character of Marcus in Babylon 5, played by…Jason Carter. Hence, the name, with a slight spelling change. He’s not a duplicate by any means, but I liked the quirks of Marcus’s personality and wanted that for my character, but there are differences. Jayson also changes over the course of the books, especially once he meets the…Oh, not going to give spoilers. And I have to admit that when I pull out the dvds and watch the series again, I still think JC was cute at that point in time.

2. The rhyming speech for the dragons was something I decided on my own. However, the ability to rhyme consistently was aided by Dr. Seuss. At the time I wrote the first book, I wasn’t reading Seuss and the early scenes that I wrote aren’t as polished as the later ones. By the time I wrote the second through last books, we read Seuss regularly in our household to our child. That helped a lot. Theodore Seuss Geissel had a magical way with words!

3. Istaria Isolder actually developed from a character I had considered for a SF project I wanted to write. I’m glad I didn’t follow up with that but develop a fantasy story around her instead, with a whole new world. She, however, was written into a lesser role than the main character on revisions.

4. I purposely used a lot of North Dakota town names for places on the main continent of Gairdra. Ah, but there’s a catch! Many of those names are altered. After all the books are published, if anyone can find them all and tell me what town I used for that particular name, I’ll send them signed copies of all the books. Here’s a start–Ayrule, the continent name, is the town of Ayr with a few additional letters. Other names are cut or have a letter added to make it just a little different. A few are mentioned exactly as they are. I looked specifically for town names that fit with the naming scheme of the particular continent, but I believe they are all on Ayrule.

5. I purposely swore no dwarves or elves in my books. Too many fantasies use them. “Not I,” said this writer in the spirit of the Little Red Hen. I wanted something different, my own creatures and races.

(cross-posted from my LJ blog)

I think of waiting for all these things that I’ll mention and it makes me think of Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and the inevitable “Waiting Place” where everyone is just waiting. I feel like that’s where I am. Just waiting on so many things to happen.

1. Waiting for Dragon Prophecy to actually be printed, not just available for pre-order. Then the real work begins!

2. Waiting to hear from agents on the queries I sent out this last weekend for God Kin. I’ve already had one rejection, but I think I have half a dozen queries out, so I’ll wait for a few more to come before sending out more. I tend to go in spurts.

3. Waiting for FedEx to deliver my iPaq that I ordered last week. I had to put a note on the doorbell not to ring, because I now have kids napping.

4. Waiting for Saturday to take Beau to the vet. If you love horses, please pray that whatever this cough is that it’s curable, not just treatable. He’s too young to get heaves! And he’s finally getting out of the awkward, ugly stage and turning into a beautiful dressage prospect with wonderful conformation for that or hunter. (His withers and croup are level now; and the back legs don’t look so camped-out but rather more in line with where they should be.) And he’s figuring out how to use those long legs without getting tangled I want him healthy and able to do the job I bought him and am training him to do.

5. Waiting for edits from my editor for Dark Angel. I’m liking her less as she complains about the pacing. I think she expect action in the form of fighting/running from trouble rather than action in the form of high school problems and relationships, which makes up much of the story for the MC. Said editor told me the pace doesn’t pick up until a certain chapter (which is where the fighting/fleeing stuff happens). In light of that, do I go back and rip out what makes the story fun, imho, or rewrite to satisfy her tastes? This story was already accepted by the publisher (and she wasn’t part of that decision), so I don’t think it should be changed too much. I like the story fun, not always serious and tense all the way through. But I’m also used to writing with my girly tastes in mind, which involves emotions and relationships and the conflicts involved in those aspects of life. I sometimes feel like this editor has a chip on her shoulder or would prefer straight science fiction to real-world SF and have considered requesting someone else, but some things she is good at spotting. And she’s taking way too much time on this! okay /rant. I have veto power over her opinions at least.

6. Waiting for baby girl’s teeth to come in so she can finish the teething terrors. Good lord! I hate teething! Can we be done soon?

7. Waiting right now for kids to fall asleep so I can relax and enjoy some peace

I’m not a patient person. I hate waiting. I’m glad I broke my habit of biting my nails long ago. I’d have nothing left!

For your viewing, the weekly snippet, this one from Dragon Prophecy. (Once that book is available, you’ll start seeing snippets from Dark Angel and maybe some from Dragon Legends.)

The loud clomp of approaching steps sent a chill down her spine.

“My lady.” Cold confidence carried the words and drew her head around.

She frowned and held her chin up. “My lord, Tyrkam.”

He stopped next to her, a farce of worry on his face. “Why do you risk your health this way?”

“This is my home. I will come and go as I please.”

A moment of anger flashed and was gone from his face, but Damaera realized she had pressed him to the edge of his tolerance. It gave her some satisfaction.

“I would rather you rest to build your strength.”

“You’re right.” She turned away. “I have seen enough of your fools.” She would never forgive him for the murder of her husband, a ruler dedicated to his people and herself. Also, he would learn nothing of the Lumathir from her. She had nothing to tell him.

Dragon Prophecy is available for pre-order from Mundania Press here. If you would like to read more, be sure to visit the series page.

I’ve had an amazing day on the writing front.

First, I received some cool news today. It’s not super great, but I at least made Honorable Mention in the Writers of the Future 2nd quarter with a fantasy novelette I wrote. While I would love to say it was a semi-finalist or better, HM is still a nice feeling.

Second, the full cover for Dragon Prophecy has been finalized below.

I’m running on a natural high of these achievements. I’ve worked hard to perfect the craft and am seeing the results pay off. It’s taken more than a decade, but when I really want something, I can achieve it. The best things in life are worth working for.

Once you’ve read Dragon Prophecy, you may want to ask, “How do you work with so many characters?”

I have to say that I don’t sit and analyze how I do anything.  I’ve found that, when I do, I have trouble focusing on the story.  After the fact, I can sit and analyze all I want, which is often how I find plot holes and figure out where the frell the problems are.  A lot of times I make fascinating discoveries about the story that I didn’t realize were there too, which always feels good.

Since I’m in the midst of a WIP now that involves multiple characters, after having written two YAs with only two or three POVs, I’ve looked back on the Legend of the White Dragon series.  Throughout the four books of that series I counted over two dozen POVs.  I laugh maniacally because I have no idea how it happened!  Bwuhahaha!  You shall not have my secrets!
Kidding!

Okay, seriously,  I do whatever the story guides me to do.  I find that I prefer 3rd person close POV.  First person is too close for me, but I have to have some closeness.  I can’t read first so why would I write it?  I also cannot write from only one POV.  It’s dull and boring.  Other characters are like the spice that adds flavor to the mix.  Some stories are about more than one character’s experiences.

In the case of the Legend of the White Dragon and my current WIP, there’s a larger story arc affecting the characters and touching their lives.  I try to limit how many POV characters I use, and I did write out a few from the series in rewrites, but I still ended up with quite a number.  None of them has a small role, though.  Each of their lives is important to the overall arc.  In fact, it’s what the story is about–how the plot events affect each person and how each of their decisions moves the plot.  It’s so intertwined they can’t be separated.

I love seeing into the different lives of the characters.  Each has their own motivations and skills.

So, how did I do it?  It wasn’t easy.  I worked slowly.  It can take me a while to get back to a character once I leave a scene.  I have to write linearly once I have an outline.  I cannot write a scene that takes place any time ahead, but I can make notes about what I think should happen.  But by the time I reach that point in the future, something may have changed.  (I hate rewriting.)  That means that I write one scene, switch character, and have to find that character again.  By the third book of the LOTWD series, it was easy, but in the first book, I didn’t know who the characters were right away.  That took some discovery.  I often found myself returning to a character but needing to go back to read a previous scene from their POV to get the feel of that character.  It’s like an actor who has to get into character.  That’s what I do when I switch characters.

My current WIP has the same aspect to it.  But with only seven POVs, I don’t have as much trouble switching among the cast. Did I say “only”?  I’m bad for that.  I get this grand vision in my head and feel that it has to be told by several characters.  Not all stories are like that, mind you.  Dark Angel is focused on three and another YA WIP I’ve completed has two.  I just cannot do one POV.  My mind does not like the limitation.

I think in the end, it depends on the story and the writer.  Some writers, like myself (and GRRM comes to mind), see something bigger that needs more, something with a large plot that just wouldn’t shine without meeting a wide range of characters.  Others, like JKR, have a knack for keeping up the mystery, which is best seen through one POV to discover the answers with that character.  And last, I believe that the writer determines the story (obviously–duh!) and the story wraps itself around our unique personalities, which is why we each write the POVs we do.

Dragon Prophecy is now available for pre-order from Mundania Press as a paperback (ebook to come)! It’s not yet on Amazon.com or BN.com, but I’ll let you know when it is. For now, you’ll have to contact Mundania directly from this page.

I can hardly breathe now!

Dragon Prophecy (ISBN 978-1-59426-206-7)
Melanie Nilles
paperback - $14.95

A prophecy was made long ago; a future foretold of dark days returning to the world of Gairdra.
That time has come.
The prophecy also foretold of hope carried on the wings of dragons.
The bearer of that hope has been chosen, a young woman of magical lineage.

The race to save the world has begun. The Darklord and his servants will awaken, but will men and dragons be prepared? Can they overcome generations of jealousy and fear to unite against a common enemy? All will be needed if the two races of men, with the magi and the dragons, hope to survive the coming war.

The fate of Gairdra hangs in the balance.

There was a discussion–quite lively, in fact–last week on Fangs, Fur, and Fey about what differentiates a professional writer from a hobbyist.

The conclusion I’ve drawn from the ways people approach their writing (including bestselling authors) big difference, besides being published, is that true writers are dedicated to putting words down. That may not mean every day, but it does mean finishing projects and submitting them. It does not mean putting down a little here and a little there whenever one feels like it without any real end in sight.

Real writers write, and they are determined to start and end a story. I write every day. Some write in spurts and go days between without any writing (see Melissa Marr’s reply to the post), but they get to THE END. Writers MUST write. It gives us a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It’s the imagination’s outlet.

Writing is BIC–butt in chair. It is not thinking about writing or browsing the internet. Yes, we do that too, and daydreaming is a way to formulate the story. We DO have to think about it, after all. But in the end, those images are transcribed in words to be read. That is what makes a writer.

Still no news about the exact release of Dragon Prophecy, but here’s something to tide you over:

Phelan came up behind her and offered to help. Calli whirled and held the blade to his throat, her eyes cold with suspicion.

“Tell me,” he said.

“Why?”

“Whatever pushes you to death is not worth the trouble.”

Her eyes narrowed, the tip of the blade pinching his throat. “Is not friendship worth the trouble?” Without his help, she managed to slide her arm out of the mail shirt. The links rustled and clinked when it fell to the dirt.

“Nothing is great enough to risk what I’ve seen.”

Confusion played across her face for dominance and succumbed to defeat. She backed away. “What good will it do you?”

“At least help me understand why.” He frowned, wishing she would trust him with whatever secret she hid. “I’ll tell no one.”

Calli eyed him cautiously. After a few seconds, her face drooped with sadness.

His heart dropped to witness such a dramatic change.

“I could not protect her, Phelan,” she murmured without meeting his eyes. “With all my father’s training I could not keep their hands off her.”

I think I hate-love my editor for Dark Angel. I hate that on some things she’s right but love the results of my changes because of her suggestions. I tend to take her suggestions with an attitude, because she can be a bit snarky about it sometimes, which only serves to piss me off and make me resist.

What I’ve found is that if I give myself a day or two to put some distance between her words and absorb her meaning instead, it’s not so bad. I’ll get over it. I just tend to have a deep affection for this story and can’t stand to have someone really criticize harshly, or what feels harsh and suggest changes. That’s the problem sometimes–letting go.

Ah, well. If we want the story better, we have to learn to be objective and not fall in love too much with the words we’ve written.

So, new scenes, cut some old, and lots of line edits. In other words, some rewriting.

And for Dragon Prophecy, I’ll post another snippet later today and hopefully an update on the publishing progress. Stay tuned!

I was away this weekend with very erratic internet access, so please forgive me for being a day late on snippet posting. (I have a life outside writing and the internet To reward your patience, I present a snippet not from Dragon Prophecy but from Dragon Legends.

Without further ado:

The boy turned his scowl on Dorjan. “Will you also deny me?”

Dorjan smirked beneath his ruddy beard and peered up from under bushy brows. Though many times the boy’s age in his purposefully unkempt appearance, Dorjan could take him faster than Vahrik could blink.

However, Tyrkam had asked for more than just Vahrik. The guards at the door were among many in the castle loyal to Vahrik. The boy had shown a hint of what Tyrkam suspected–betrayal. Dorjan would need more to catch them all as Tyrkam had requested, though his way was not to kill them as Tyrkam would.

That much of the father he has, Dorjan thought. He took two steps to stop at the long table, fearing nothing.

If you would like to read more about the Legend of the White Dragon series, visit the series page at melanienilles.com/books/series.htm. There, you’ll find links to download interviews with many of the characters in the series, a map of the world, and appendices for Dragon Prophecy.