My Goals and a Facebook Joke

A friend of mine did an in depth analysis of her past, present, and future goals, including percentages and such. Anyone who knows me knows that me and numbers do not get along that well. So, I will simply do a one shot of each in reference to writing.

The Past: 2008 kicked the whole dream off with Nanowrimo. I actually won it (it was my first time participating) and decided right then and there to continue with this loooong standing dream of getting published. I then spent the rest of 2008 worrying and reading.

The Present: 2009 was a huge step forward, writing wise. I got to the point where I was willing to share the novel with my first Reading Team. I went to my first writer's conference (in Hawaii) and got amazing feedback from people in the publishing industry. I also finished my second Nanowrimo novel. Unlike 2008, after Nanowrimo, I went straight back to editing both books.

The Future: 2010 is going to be the do-or-die year for me. I spent the last two years working on these two books, my babies, and now it is time to look for a foster home for them (an agent and a publishing house). I'm not going to say that my goal is to get an agent or to get a book deal, because those are honestly out of my control. My goal is to get query letters out; that is all my control. I will start with just one in January and increase as I go. Baby steps are best for me right now.

This will be my last entry until 2010, so I wish all of my readers and safe and happy New Year's! I'll see you guys in the next decade :)

Oh, and here's the Facebook joke...If my characters had Facebook:

WilliamLutin is wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!

ThomasTheMaceLutin wants to wish everyone the same and plans to give William a lump of coal for messing up my wrist.

WilliamLutin smacks Thomas.

GeorgTheWolf wonders how the hell he is going to get through the holidays having to babysit the twins.

WilliamLutin Hey, we are not THAT bad!

TheOnlyGustav Yes, yes you are.

ThomasTheMaceLutin hits Gustav in the head.

ElderVladimir is rubbing his temples and sighing.

Back To The Editing Board

I finally wrapped up my first draft of Tainted Blood today, which means it is officially time to let it cool for awhile and set my sights back on the prequel, Forbidden Children. I think I am on draft four or five with FC now. I am still seeing improvement between each draft, though, which means it is not finished yet. Once the drafts start looking identical, I'll know my editing has tapped out and another set of (professional) eyes will need to take a look at it.

Another observation that gives me hope: Tainted Blood, even in its rough first draft, appears to be a better story than Forbidden Children. It is more complete, more solid, and more gripping than the first one was at this point. I take this to mean that I am actually learning as I go; at least, I hope I am. This also tells me that I can make FC even better, and that the final book will have a lot to live up to. I'll cross that bridge in November 2010, though.

I think I am actually going to enjoy going over FC a fifth time.

The Ever Expanding Immortal World

I've been missing in action the past few weeks mostly because Nanowrimo left me with about half of my brain. However, there was also a LOT of brainstorming going on. It wasn't dealing with my main characters, William and Thomas. Quite frankly, I love them to death, but I needed a break from them after seeing them nonstop for nearly 30 days. In the meanwhile, some extra threads were woven into the main story line, and these extra threads yielded interesting results.

They gave me new characters.

Like most of my characters, they usually spring from a situation in a story, are given a face and personality by way of people I see or meet in real life, and flesh out the story itself by their very creation. Every now and then, the characters begin to raise questions in me about their own origins, and I start to explore them.

This does not mean that I am going to jet away from my main story; on the contrary, I am excited because I now see that this series, and this world I have created, has more stories in it than I first thought. These newly discovered stories will take me, and the readers, to the four corners of the globe, far beyond the Euro-centered realm of Forbidden Children and its two follow ups. I was nervous about this world suddenly ending once I was done telling the twins' story, but instead I have several more stories to tell. Of course, this means a lot more research for me (happy sigh).

I will give a hint to the nature of two of the possible main characters. These are their current names: HalfHeart and Kwan.

Things I've Learned So Far in NaNoWriMo 09

After completing my biggest daily word count yet for Nanowrimo, I took a moment to think about the first 15 days. Here are the lessons those days taught me:

- An outline can be your best friend. It not only keeps you focused, but it gives you idea after idea.

- I am now comfortable enough with my word count (I have a word cushion, I'll say that much) to focus on quality a little more.

-I am organizing my time better. I have a set window of time that I use for writing, and I have found time to put a few more things in. So yes, Nanowrimo has given me more time.

- I was secretly caught up for a second in competing with others and their word counts. I've let that go; competing with myself is torture enough!

- Even on the bad days, it feels good to get something down. If you get a lot down, well, you just turned the bad day into a good one.

- My characters have matured in this story from the first one. I am very happy to see that transformation from self-preservation to willingness to sacrifice.

- I honestly didn't think you could cheat at Nanowrimo, until I discovered that some appear to have started writing their stories early, or were using two different stories to up their word count. Come on, people, really? You're only cheating yourself.

- My characters also learn in Tainted Blood that so-called allies can turn on you, but friends never will.

- Nanowrimo is, in Beyonce's words, either a "sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare." Or maybe it is both. In any case, I have every intention of seeing it through. As I did the first 15 days, I will sit back and let William and Thomas guide me to the next phase of their amazing adventure.

Halfway Point Reflections

I actually had a moment to pause the mad writing frenzy that is Nanowrimo and post a very brief blog. I am now at the halfway point of my word count (over 27,000 words), and I am starting to see how Tainted Blood and Forbidden Children intertwine with each other. Working on the sequel before the first novel is complete is giving me a lot of insight and ideas as to how to proceed with editing Forbidden Children.

I am also amazed at how much my characters are growing. It makes me excited for book three (whatever that will be named), which is nothing more than a glorified single plot bunny right now. But the first two books are shaping up to be my bundles of joy. There was a point over the weekend when I nearly cried while writing a poignant scene involving the twins. I am that emotionally invested in this story and the characters.

And I love it.

To my fellow Nanowrimo writers: We're almost at the halfway point! Keep writing!

Last Look

The next two days are for my last look at Forbidden Children before Nanowrimo starts and this blog basically goes on a small hiatus. The nerves are acting up a little, but I have the previously mentioned road map. That being said, I'm sure some crap will be written during the month of November.

So, at this final look, I have noticed the following stats in Forbidden Children:

Minor Character Death Count (characters in more than one chapter): 2

Major Character Death Count (pivotal characters who hold influence): 1

Human Death Count (not including those above or those outside the plot): 6

Total Noticeable Deaths: 9 (I think)

Children born (Immortal or not): about 4

Sex Scenes: either 2 or none at all, I haven't decided yet

Pets: 2

Number of best friends the twins have at the novel's end: 3 (not including each other)

Acts of Betrayal: 1

Historic Wars mentioned in the novel: right now, 5 (Crusades, 30 Years War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam)

Countries visited: technically 4 (Germany, England, Ireland, United States)

Wars the twins are involved in: World War II

Combined age of the four major characters by the novel's end: 2,072 (wow...and yet they still have stupid moments)

The twins' favorite word: "Agreed."

On that note, I say "peace" until next time. If I somehow find a moment to post another entry, I definitely will. Anyone who has done Nanowrimo (or knows someone who has) won't be expecting much from me for the next 30 days, lol.

Good luck to all my fellow Nanowrimos!

P.S. Oh, I'm going to go out on a limb and give a big clue as to what real life people inspired the four main characters of this series: They are quite the humanoids.

You've got 30 days to figure that one out ;)

Giving My Characters A Map

I'm going to be honest; I usually hate outlining. In my eyes it leaves very little to my imagination and to my characters, and I prefer to fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to writing. For Forbidden Children, I had almost no outline. There was a broad sense of where the twins would end up, but how they got there was pretty much left up to them. Naturally, they did some amazing things (and also some stupid things) to get to the end of the first book.

For Tainted Blood, I realized that a more solid roadmap would be needed, and that annoyed me. Book Two is when threads are being pulled together, and seemingly pointless details from Forbidden Children are given glaring importance. There is much more at stake, and being able to keep track of everything will be tough without a map of some kind.

So I started outlining Tainted Blood.

I was annoyed the whole time I was doing it, but not because I hate outlining. I was annoyed because it was forcing me to really think about the plot. For the first book, I wrote feverishly and went back later to hash out the actual plot. This time, I was working backwards. I utilized the workbook "Book In A Month" by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, specifically the "Outline-At-A-Glance" part. I had to give serious details, like turning points, the hook, the reversal...you know, things you don't think about when you're just scribbling down scenes to connect together later.

After I slugged through that, I went back and looked over it. I was amazed; every character in Tainted Blood now knew what they would be doing. I knew where everyone stood, why they were doing what they were doing, and how everything everyone did was a set up for book three. Subplots that seemed non-related to the major plot suddenly merged in with it perfectly, all of my characters stayed in character, and oh, the tension...I could see the tension very clearly. It was thick and all consuming, coating every single event in the novel.

That being said, this outline also makes me very nervous for two reasons. First, this is my novel for Nanowrimo, and I am scared that the outline may limit how much I can write and keep me from hitting 50,000 words. I have never had an outline this detailed before. Second, I may become emotionally spent before November is done due to the sheer tension in this novel. The outline alone wound me up, and that's saying something considering that I already know how everything will end.

I'm still happy that this story has an outline, though. It will keep my scatterbrained thoughts focused. Of course, don't expect much from me during November or the first part of December; I will almost certainly be brain dead.

Shifting Gears

A band that I like (hint: they inspired the main characters) recently said that, after playing and performing the same songs for a number of years, they got antsy for new material. They pointed out that they had not gotten sick of the music, but that they were simply ready to take things a step further. They had just done a show combining their new material with the old, and it was a great feeling for them to do that.

Likewise, I have gotten to that point with the Forbidden Children series. I have been working on the first novel for about a year, and while it is still not where I want it to be, I am more than ready to press on to Book Two. My own perfectionist attitude is what has been keeping me on the first book, and that it not fair to my characters (who are already moving on in my head) or to the story itself.

With that being said, I am shifting gears for the rest of this month and all of the Nanowrimo month of November into Tainted Blood, the second novel of the series. More than likely, I will return to the first book in December for final editing while Tainted Blood gets a chance to cool off. I will continue to post blogs about Forbidden Children and the process of writing this series, but I will keep peeks at Tainted Blood to a very bare minimum. I have to keep some things secret ;)

The Doushen

The Doushen is an Immortal term loosely translated as "those who serve." It is pronounced DOO-shin.

The Doushen was first created by Vladimir's predecessor, Easu, sometime in the 1100's. Easu brought together seven of the most deadly and skilled Dark Ones for the sole purpose of pushing the Crusades forward and leading the humans into an epic battle against the Muslim world. Easu was viciously Christian, and had ties to Pope Urban II. I won't go into the massive history lesson, but I'll just say that when Easu finally stepped down in the late 1400's, Vladimir had other plans for the Immortal zealots that the Doushen represented.

Vladimir is Christian as well, but he was strongly against overpowering other religions. In less than a decade, he swept the Doushen clean and recruited a new set of Dark Ones. The entire focus and purpose of the Doushen changed from defending the Cross to defending and enhancing the Immortal world itself. The new members of the Doushen learned several languages and traveled to other parts of the world to establish trade and connections between Great Hall and other Immortals beyond Europe.

By the time William and Thomas arrived on the scene, the Doushen had completed yet another revamp. They were being trained as investigators, spies, and bodyguards. This ended up becoming their permanent identity. The twins rarely see any Doushen members for most of the story, but once they learn of the group's involvement in the investigation of Jack The Ripper (who ended up being an Immortal), their interest in the group is raised.

The twins make it a personal goal of theirs to eventually join the Doushen; to them, membership into such an elite group would almost guarantee that they would earn the respect of the Immortal government.

Of course, joining Vladimir's inner circle is easier said than done...

After The Twins: The Immortal World

I have gotten some questions about what I plan to do once the twins' story is told (which may take about three books).

You mean besides cry? ;)

To be honest, I have grown quite fond of the world that William and Thomas live in. I don't plan on expanding the Forbidden Children arc past the three books already planned, mostly because there is nothing more to tell about them after that.

There are, however, several more stories in that world that deserve a chance in the spotlight. Some of those characters have already been introduced in this blog. Some are in other parts of the world, experiencing life as an Immortal in ways very different than this series' Euro-centric atmosphere. There are even other creatures living among humans and Immortals that have yet to be revealed. My Immortal world plays host to such an array of lives that I could probably pick another 20 stories from it and write them if I so choose to.

That was one of my biggest writing goals: to create a source from which writing ideas and plots could flow from easily. This doesn't mean that I would never write a novel outside of the world of the Immortals, because I probably will at some point. Heaven knows I have enough of those types of ideas floating around in my head (along with random fan fiction that no one will ever see). This world, however, brings me immense joy. It has its own language, laws, belief systems, customs, and history. With all of this, it still manages to hide in plain view of humans. J.K. Rowling did a wonderful job of this in the Harry Potter series, and I hope that my world fits in with the human world just as smoothly.

Have any of you created worlds that carry the potential to tell more than one story? Take a look at your mental playgrounds; there might be a little child hiding by the slide, waiting for someone to find them so that they can introduce themselves.

That's how I found William and Thomas.

One Year Later

It just dawned on me two days ago that Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) is upon us, which means that my twins and their story are almost a year old. My first draft of this novel was created during the Nanowrimo competition in 2008, and I have spent the last twelve months re-writing and editing. The draft I'm working on now, number four I think, will be my final one before I start the long process of submitting it to anyone willing to read it.

With one month before the entire process starts again, I took a few days away from physical writing to simply examine the evolution of the twins, and where they will be heading next month when I start feverishly writing the second installment of their journey. I looked at how many hours have gone into them, how many words have been written and re-written for the sake of telling their story as it should be told. One thing is certain: draft number four looks much more full and complete than the first, and that is amazing to me.

This series pretty much has me at its mercy; I couldn't drift from it if I tried. One year ago, I would have considered that a negative. Today, I am happy that I have found a story that commands my attention like this one does. That was always my downfall; I got so easily distracted by new story ideas that the old ones never got finished.

That is when you know you have discovered the story you are truly meant to write. If it invades your mind nearly every waking moment, when you find yourself thinking about it at work, before you fall asleep, when you wake up, in moments of pure silence...that is when you know. At that point, you are obligated and dare I say required to share it.

It is your story.

I wanted to take this moment to thank everyone who has followed me on this journey so far, to all my family and friends who have supported me, to my Reading Team (you guys rock), and everyone who has ever visited this blog either on purpose or pure accident. Finally, to my fellow writers: thank you for your support. Find your story and write it. You are destined to share it.

Beyond The Twins: Back Story

I'm going to be honest; most of the back story for this novel was discovered by pure "what if" questions. It was not part of this elaborate plot line I had thought up, completely fleshed out, at midnight on some idle Tuesday. It is the "what if" moments, though, that can either take your story to new heights or sidetrack it straight to paperweight status.

For a novel like this, the biggest piece of back story was world history itself. When I realized that a huge piece of this takes place around World War II, I got a little scared. How in the world was I going to take such an influencing event and accurately portray it in about six chapters or less? Better yet, what aspect should I focus on? If you have really solid characters, they will answer this question for you. William and Thomas couldn't care less about Germany invading random countries, and while they find the Holocaust extremely upsetting and horrific, they are not trying to save all the ethnic groups in a daring rescue mission (which, oddly enough, they still get caught up in). They have two reasons for getting involved, and both reasons start out as being a bit self-serving.

The characters' backgrounds are another source of back story. In the last month or so, I have started asking myself a lot of questions about Elizabeth and how she fits into everything. Little things that I wrote about her that seemed insignificant then are now becoming glaring and mysterious questions. My advice to you is that if you see this happening, don't get upset or think you screwed up. Your characters are trying to tell you something, and you would be wise to listen.

The lack of character back story can be a story in itself as well. I haven't really developed any major biographical points for the two NightWolf Handlers, and for awhile that bothered me. I thought that maybe I hadn't fleshed them out enough, or maybe they weren't even needed. Then I looked at everything from their points of view and discovered something; this adventure with the twins is the most excitement Georg and Gustav have had ever. The NightWolves themselves think little of their lives beforehand because they were simply going through the motions. Basically, the G's were in the middle of a midlife crisis when the twins stumbled into the picture. That is never directly stated in the novel, but their sheer fascination with the twins indicates that this is a welcomed detour in their lives.

I say all of that to say: don't fear the back stories, the subplots, and the writing left turns (or even U-Turns). I got over my fear and plunged straight into my fourth draft of this novel, and so far I have loved every second of it.

Interview With A Dark One

I wrote this months ago, just because I felt like it. It is basically a character exercise. It has little to do with the novel, but I decided to post it because it gives you a peek at what the twins could become. It is an imaginary interview between the twins and a college professor who knows what they really are.

William is, by his own admittance, a chameleon of sorts.

Standing in the doorway to my office, there are a lot of things I cannot immediately tell about this 6’3 newcomer. For one, I am having a hard time believing that he is male.

“Please tell me I don’t have to drop my pants to prove this,” he laughs in a rolling German accent. “I can’t tell you how often I get that.”

It was my understanding, I say, that his type is well known for beauty.

William looks skyward for a moment, pondering this rumor. “I have seen some ugly Dark Ones, though,” he finally says with a grin.

With that, he heads over to my box of cigars, picking up and examining one with slender, bony fingers. Of course, these fingers are accented with perfectly manicured nails. “I would, but…maybe not a good idea.” He places it back in the box.

I am curious to ask him about countless things, mostly history-related questions. I want to know about the plague that nearly killed him and his brother many years ago, the years training to learn self-control, and William’s personal quest to find a soul mate.

“It has gotten very depressing,” William laments. “I have been single for a few years now, and while that does not sound like much, one has to remember that before that, I did not know love at all. Now that I know it, now that I have felt it, I want it all the time."

Thomas

Thomas, perhaps going through a midlife crisis at 418 years of age, dresses like he is 18.

He is quite different in appearance from his brother, choosing a more urban-influenced appearance.

“I like this better,” he explains of his attire, examining the same cigar his twin had found just a half-hour earlier. “I am not as constricted, and I blend in a little easier.”

And what of his brother’s fashion sense?

Thomas waves a hand. “Oh, I haven’t the foggiest clue where he gets that from. I tease him about his outfits every chance I get.”

Normally, Thomas’ style of speech is as urban as his clothes. He acquires American and German hip hop slang almost systematically, doing a sweeping review of the culture every few months to see if some new trend escaped his eye. Unlike William, Thomas is determined to assimilate into some culture within normal society. Beyond this and away from human eyes, a much older and mature Thomas emerges. His speech shifts to more Old World cadences and vocabulary, a sight that is a bit unsettling if one is not prepared for it.

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say that we are playing two different people,” Thomas responds when asked if he and his brother are playing roles for society’s sake. “What you are seeing, what humans are seeing, is no different than what any other Immortal presents. I present hip-hop because I am naturally curious and fascinated by that culture. It is more than simply poetry set to music, it is in fact a movement. Mind you, I enjoy other music as well, but it's this culture that interests me.”

Thomas could easily discuss music for hours on end, telling about some of the composers he has met (Mozart is amongst them -“an insane genius if I ever saw one”), the first time he picked up an instrument (“a guitar-like instrument at age seven”), and his attempts to sing (“I sound quite horrible”).

Then there are his countless female conquests. Thomas says that he stopped counting long ago, but reveals slyly, “I would say close to 1,000. I have slowed down considerably in recent years, though. I think that can be attributed to my ability to control my more primal urges better. Sex was a need for most of my life; now it is a want, and wants can be postponed or terminated.”

I ask him if he was indicating a desire to become chaste for a time, and Thomas gives me a strangely pensive look. “I suppose so. I am a bit tried of it all, to be honest with you. I believe that I want to look for a lifemate now…not quite sure if anyone would want me, though.”

There are also the unshaken whispers of the twins being bisexual, and that a few males may be part of Thomas’ extended sexual history. Thomas smirks at this. “My lifemate will be a female. End of story. They are the most beautiful creatures on Earth.”

I then ask why he wasn’t sure if anyone would want him.

He shrugs. “I am a Forbidden Child, nothing will ever change that. It is like being branded as a leper; everyone avoids you. My brother and I do not have some kind of disease, but we might as well have one. We have very few friends, I can count them on one hand, and Immortal females tend to avoid us. Perhaps that is why we dress and act the way we do. We were branded as rebels, outcasts, so we behave as such."

Random Quotes

After much debating (okay, about three minutes), I decided to post some of my favorite quotes from the book thus far, including a few that popped up in the last few days. In no particular order:

“How did you not notice that the train was in fact a ‘death train’?”

“How didn’t you?”

“Are you actually trying to blame me for this folly? Georg, you are over a century older than me. I have youthful ignorance, what’s your excuse?”

-William and Georg

“I will make this painless for you, Laura. You are right; I have no doubt that you are going to Heaven, and that I am going to Hell.”

-Thomas

“That one man was not innocent. He tried to kill that girl.”

“Yes, and then we did the job for him, remember?”

-William and Thomas

“Dark Ones seem pretty content to live in the shadows, as if them and the other Immortals should hide from humans. I have never understood that. Immortals were created first, then humans. There was a reason for that; we are the top of the ladder. Humans are nothing more than ignorant beasts of burden and a food supply.”

-Elizabeth

"She is probably at least a century.”

“And? I like my women older.”

-William and Thomas

“We work for him [Claudis]. We’re kind of like his…attack dogs, I guess.”

“Gus, that’s a horrible way to put it."

“We are, though, aren’t we? Or maybe we are just the ones that clean up messes.”

-Georg and Gustav

Take It Away, Boys...

(William and Thomas spend about 15 minutes using the computer to research old German photographs and play the 'do we know them' game.)

William: So, um, I guess we can start now?

Thomas: Now's as good a time as any.

William: Very well. Well, hello to all of you in...the real world, I suppose.

Thomas: The Internet is not the real world.

William: What about all of those people who keep talking about Second Life, and The Sims, and all of those other online communities?

Thomas: Trust me, it is not the real world.

William: Oh, well, anyway...let us introduce ourselves. My name is William, I look 20, but I am 417 years old.

Thomas: I am called Thomas, I also look 20, and I am also 417 years old. We're twins, you see.

William: I think they can see that, Thomas.

Thomas: No, they can't. Angel doesn't have that web camera contraption.

William: Ugh. That ruined my entire entry.

Thomas: In any case, we are here to answer questions, give a few first hand accounts, and if William has his way, completely ruin this blog.

William: I will not ruin the blog. I barely know how to use it.

Thomas: I rest my case. So William, do you think this author covered our story nicely?

William: She left out that time we crashed that party while we were at Georgetown University.

Thomas: Well, um, I think that was for the best.

William: Are you kidding me? It was amazing! You drunk that one kid under the table...

Thomas: Okay, that's enough of that.

William: ...you do not remember that? I remember it quite well...

Thomas: Let's end this, now.

William: Why? We just got started. Vladimir is not going to get mad because you beat a 19 year old at drinking.

Thomas: You forgot that we are supposed to abstain from alcohol because it lowers our inhibitions.

William: ...

Thomas: So we are going to sign off now.

William: Yes, we are going to go now. We've said too much. Can we delete this?

Thomas: If you have questions for us...

William: ...something that doesn't involve any form of alcohol...

Thomas: ...then comment below or contact our scribe, Angel.

William: I'm serious, can we delete this?

Age Old Battle: Good Versus Evil

 Good versus evil is the most basic but most powerful battle in the real and imaginary world. Sometimes it is an obvious battle, like in the Harry Potter series or in Brian Jacques' Redwall series. In this novel, it is much more blurry.

 The biggest dilemma I faced with this story was creating the climax, the high point. It was actually the last piece of the plot puzzle written. I had the beginning, the rising action, the point of no return, the ending, and no climax. There was no climax because I had no obvious battle. It took quite some time to identify the one thing that could defeat William and Thomas. I knew that Elizabeth was not a direct threat (yet), and no one was trying to kill them (yet). So what could make up this epic climatic battle?

 The twins themselves.

 Anyone who knows a set of twins knows that they seem to either really love or really hate each other, often doing both at the same time. They are not living examples of good and evil as much as they are living examples of the human condition itself; a constant tug and pull of wills, desires, hopes, and wishes. That is what the main battle of this story is: the battle of the human condition. It is one of the most complex battles to write about because there is no clear winner or loser, only achievement of a certain level of existence and acceptance. 

 The series will eventually lean more toward the traditional good versus evil fight, but even that is compromised and open to debate. No one side is completely right or wrong, just as the twins' two sides (humanistic and animal) are not right or wrong. 

 I say all of that to say this: there aren't any true villains, in my opinion, to boo in this series. There are only different viewpoints that can easily be regarded as good or evil, depending on who is looking at them. Be mindful of every character in this series outside of the viewpoint characters, William and Thomas. 

Religion and "Forbidden Children"

 About four people on the planet have seen the prologue to this novel. The Prologue is the story of how the Immortal Clans came into existence, and it runs parallel and with the Christian story of Creation, Adam and Eve, and Noah. 

 Most Immortals (and all of the ones featured in the novel) believe in a Higher Power. Most refer to that Higher Power as God, but the Immortals accept any name given to that being (God, Allah, the Creator, etc). To them, all of those names refer to the same being. Immortals are not as stringent as humans when it comes to religious beliefs; they feel that every culture is entitled to their set of beliefs and celebrate the similarities between major religions rather than the differences. 

 The Higher Power belief is very strong in the Immortal world, but I chose not to go too much deeper into their spirituality with the fear that it would take away from the Forbidden Children plot (and later the Tylea's Blood plot, which is the working title for book two). And yes, the vampires and werewolves believe in a Higher Power as well. 

 This, of course, brings up the ever touchy subject of religion in fictional works. Heads of different religions appear to be wary of the questioning or altering of their beliefs, even in a work of fiction. Look no further than some of Dan Brown's novels and the reaction of the Catholic Church to see an example. I believe that many writers don't go in trying to attack a particular religion (although some do); we go in to write a compelling story, and religion is one way to make a story compelling. 

 Rest assured that even though religion does pop up often in Forbidden Children, I am not trying to attack or dismiss a religion. I am introducing you to a world different from your own, beliefs different from your own, and a general world view that is different from your own.

The Art of Friendship

I once heard that we tend to change friends (leave some, get new ones) every seven years or so.  I don't think this is a hard and fast rule, but it highlights how fleeting friendship can be, especially if you have very little in common. By that rule, the friendship between the twins and the two NightWolves should end in 1613.

 Immortals have a different concept of relationships; friendship is highly valued, and once one is deemed a friend, it takes extreme betrayal to destroy it. This is one of my favorite things about these four. They meet under distressing circumstances, and yet a supportive bond is formed when Georg and Gustav realize that the twins are not the monsters everyone thought they were. They take a chance on William and Thomas, and as a result, a centuries-long friendship is started. 

 So what does their friendship look like? It involves a bond between families, comical banter, wise words, and saving lives. It also looks like a bunch of guys hanging out with some high quality ale or beer, snapping good-natured insults at each other. It includes godparents, project buddies, and guard relief. They are sparring partners, babysitters, advisers, and coaches to each other. Out of all of these titles, though, one overpowers them all: Friends.

"Are you looking for the Holy One? I am in the next seat. My shoulder against yours." ~Kabir

Brother versus Brother

This is the first time ANY part of my novel has been put on display. This happens while the twins are confined to the Immortal HQ in Ireland for 75 years. Someone needs anger management classes...

    The argument started out stupid enough.

            Thomas and William were discussing their plans for the free day; William wanted to stay inside, while Thomas wanted to venture to Dublin. The heated debate continued as they walked to the weapon room to do some training on their 

    “Why in the world do you want to go to Dublin?”

            Thomas shrugged. “I just want to get out of here.”

            William frowned. “Why? We’re safe in here, there are no humans to attack.”

            “God, it is the same argument every time!” Thomas groaned. “I want to test our progress, and you want to stay locked away from the world.”

            “It is safer.”

            “Will, forget safe, okay? I want to live.”

            William glanced up, his eyes narrowed. “I am living.”

            “No, you are sitting around here staring at the walls.” Thomas started heading toward the door. “I’m out of here.”

            “You cannot just leave.”

            Thomas laughed. “Of course I can, just watch; I will go to Dublin with Georg or Gustav.”

            “No.”

            “And just what are you going to do, stop me? Are you coming along?”

            William started flexing his fingers. “No.”

            “Fine, then I am leaving.”

            William growled, and Thomas glanced back. William’s eyes were very light brown. “You are not leaving me here by myself,” William said in a low voice.

            “Watch me.”

            William hissed, causing Thomas to turn completely around. William’s eyes had turned yellow, and he hissed fiercely at Thomas.

            “Wonderful,” Thomas muttered. Aloud, he said, “Will, snap out it.”

            William’s growl grew louder and claws appeared in the place of his fingers.

            “William!”

            William roared once, staring at Thomas but not seeing him. Thomas gave a deep sigh, and then pulled a lance from the wall. “If you won’t snap yourself out of it, then I will have to do it, brother.”

            William, sensing an attack coming, dropped to all fours and hissed loudly at his twin. Thomas closed his eyes briefly, fighting back a threatening tear. He never thought that their lack of self-control would lead to this, to brothers fighting each other.

            Thomas’s eyes snapped back open and William launched himself at him. Thomas held up the lance, blocking William. William grabbed the lance, trying to pull it from Thomas’s hands.

            Thomas focused on staying in his calm mode; going crazy at the same time as his brother would only lead to both of them getting seriously hurt or killed. Thomas jumped back, and William lunged at him again. Thomas dodged this attack, leaping over William and smacking him across the back with the lance. As William hit the ground, Thomas felt the searing pain of the blow swim across his own back as well. He frowned; it would be hard to subdue William if he himself was affected by every blow he dealt.

            William climbed back to his feet, his hair flaring around him. Thomas grimaced; his twin was pissed. William jumped at him again, this time catching Thomas off guard when he went around him and hit Thomas across his face. Thomas hit the ground about 15 feet away. He felt something warm ooze across his face; he was bleeding. Thomas raised his head enough to see William, who was furious that a similar gash had appeared on the side of his face as well.

            Thomas seized the moment. He jumped up and attacked, pinning his brother to the opposite wall, the lance held against William’s neck.

            “Stop this, Will!” Thomas cried. “Come out of it!”

            William gave a loud hiss, struggling against Thomas.

            Thomas gave another sigh; he knew what would take William out of the rage, but he hesitated to do it. It had worked on the two of them before; a sudden stab of pain from a serious injury. Of course, if he did this, he would suffer the exact same injury. Thomas narrowed his eyes. He had to, for sake of his twin brother.

            “Forgive me for this, Will,” Thomas said in a whisper. In one quick, fluid motion, Thomas dropped the lance, pulled out his dagger from his belt, and stabbed it into William’s arm. The dagger cut straight through, digging into the stone on the other side.

Yeah, I stopped there because I'm mean, lol. Let me know what you thought of it, and I'll finish the scene in the next blog (there's not much left).

The Search for the Twins: Character Building

I started thinking about a debate I have seen between writers: Should the characters or the plot be developed first?

My opinion: Characters make your plot, so they should come first. I'll admit, though, that for Forbidden Children, neither came first. The Immortal society itself was created first, back when I was about 15. I then started a 12 year hunt to find my characters. 

I went through at least 20 potential main characters, but encountered the same problem. Back then, I didn't know exactly what the problem was. Now I know that I was dropping cardboard cutouts into a plot and hoping for the best; the story wasn't their story, it was anybody's story. I eventually scrapped the whole original plot (which was much more predictable as far as horror novels go) and sat the story on the back burner. 

I knew I had found my main characters in 2008 when I could not picture them in any other story except this one. They gave me my plot. They did not neatly slide into a peg hole like my previous attempts did, but they clawed out their own. This is why William and Thomas are my favorite characters, and this is why their story needs to be told. 

I have also seen how crucial it is to know your characters inside out. You have to be able to answer any question about them. You have to get to the point where people think you're talking about someone real. For example:

What would William think about a typewriter? Answer: He'd laugh at it and go back to writing longhand. He thinks that typewriters and computers degrade his profession; he is a scribe.

What does Thomas think about love? Answer: It's a nice idea but ultimately a pipe dream.

This is a nice exercise for writers: can you answer nearly any question asked about your main characters? Do they have a favorite food, piece of clothing, childhood memory? The trivial facts have led me to some great plot points.

Next post: I am actually going to post a scene from the novel, and I am both excited and terrified.

The Soundtrack

Yes, this story has its own soundtrack in my iPod. I think a lot of writers do this; it gets me and keeps me in the mood to write. Here are some of my favorites and why, in no particular order:

1. "Madokara Mieru" by Corner Stone Cues. Hands down, my favorite piece on the playlist. It captures the mystical feel, the element of suspense, and the journey of the twins.

2. "Nara" by E.S. Posthumus. Most people know this as the theme song to "Cold Case." To me, it sums up the entire Immortal world and all of its dynamics.

3. "Fully Alive" by Flyleaf. A former teen client of mine introduced me to this group. I just love the music and the idea of the twins living "fully alive."

4. "Local God" by Everclear. I just picture the four main characters slumming it and getting into trouble in some random town in Germany, lol.

5. "Ein Wiener Walzer" by Adiemus. This is a waltz and goes directly to a scene in the story.

6. "Before The Worst" by The Script. First, I got to meet this band and they are great guys. Second, pretty much sums up Thomas' love life.

7. "By Your Side" by Tokio Hotel. Someone sharp-eyed probably saw this coming a mile away. All about the four best friends.

8. "Un Bolero Azul" by Adiemus. Germany just before and during World War II. At least, that's what I think when I here this haunting, march-like song.

9. "Beautiful" by Eminem. I know, I was surprised too. The chorus is amazing, though. If William and Thomas wrote a rap song, it would sound like this. 

10. "Main Title Music" by Marco Beltrami. This is from the "Angel Eyes" soundtrack. It is such a sad piece. I listened to it while writing a troubling death scene.

There are a bunch more, but these are the ones I listen to the most. There are 52 songs in all in the playlist, and they span the music spectrum. I'm not the only one who does this, right?

So...why call the blog Marked?

I know, this should have been the first blog entry, right? 

William and Thomas, as part of their punishment, are Marked. This is basically a painfully applied tattoo with the Immortal symbol for whatever Deadly Sin they committed. I won't say the sin here, but you can probably narrow it down. Anyway, this Mark tells all other Immortals that the twins have been VERY bad and should been treated as the complete psychopaths that they are. It is like the Scarlet Letter; everyone knows you seriously sinned, and everyone can avoid you if they wish.

Thankfully, it doesn't stay on forever. If the twins stay on the straight and narrow, and avoid killing anyone in a blind rage, then the Mark can be removed. For them, it has to stay on for most of the story, which equals a few centuries. Only the Elders can apply and remove the Mark. 

The Mark has meaning for the twins as well; it serves as a mark of shame and a reminder of the consequences of losing control. They convince themselves that, as long as they are Marked, they cannot go to Heaven if they die (there are only two ways to kill Immortals; cut their head off or disintegrate them). This Mark becomes a motivator for them, to do all they can to get it removed. 

The Elders

All societies have leaders, people who have absolute rule or simply the last word. For the Immortals, there are four leaders representing the Immortal clans. They are purposely a range of cultures, races, and viewpoints. They pass final judgement if needed and give final approval on laws. William and Thomas get to know most of them fairly well. I'll briefly introduce them.

Vladimir: this is the Dark One Elder, and he is by far the most visible of the Elders. He is the voice of the Dark Ones, hails from present day Russia, and is the oldest Elder. Vladimir is a character that has lasted through all 15 years of brainstorming, because he is classic, smooth, witty and wise. He becomes one of the twins' father figures.

Saynan: She is from modern day Japan, and is the ShadowWalker Elder (you won't hear much about the ShadowWalkers in this novel). She is also the only female Elder in history. While she puts on a cool exterior, Saynan is very passionate about issues of ethics and equality. She becomes something of a mother figure to the twins.

Claudis: He is a Moor, and the NightWolf Elder. It is often assumed that he is gruff and unyielding, and while he has his moments, he is loyal to what he believes in. Claudis likes to play devil's advocate in meetings and debates, but he does it to get others to think about their choices.

Romain: Hails from present day Spain. Romain is the leader of a widely scattered  and hunted clan, the Felians. He is gone from Great Hall often, off to track down his brethren. As a result, he is not in this story much. He appears to be a mix Claudis' no-nonsense attitude and Saynan's compassion.

Where the twins walk...

In the brainstorming days and months, I envisioned my twins seeing the world, traveling to foreign lands, and getting into misfit-like situations all along the way. Then I realized how that would ruin their entire story; their confinement and lack of control over their lives is part of their struggle. Their roaming is confined to about three different parts of the world for this story:

1. Germany: This just makes sense. It is their home, and no matter what happens, they always return back to where they began. They live in southeastern Germany and witness the country's growing pains, its highest and darkest moments. Through it all, they never stop calling themselves Germans. 

2. Ireland: This is where they serve out their time for their crimes, at Great Hall in Northern Ireland. The twins mature the most here; they make lifelong friends, learn to control their instincts, and strengthen their already tight bond. This is also the setting for some of the funnier moments of the story.

3. Washington DC: William and Thomas are assigned to a school in the United States' capital, much to their surprise. This transfer is the most important location change in the novel because it sets the stage for the climax of the story and also answers a few important questions concerning the twins' family.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) and the Vampires

Let us first get one simple fact of the Immortal Ones universe down: Dark Ones and Vampires are not the same, and neither group will let you forget that. Both benefit from drinking blood, both can have animalistic behaviors; but while Dark Ones usually consume blood only to prolong their life or to heal quicker, Vampires drink blood because they can and they like it. They enjoy embracing their animal instincts and hunting the much weaker human beings. 

Even to this, Vampires are not completely evil (pure evil pops up much later in this series). They are a bit self-serving and brutal, yes, but their unofficial spokeswoman (or spokesvamp...or something) Elizabeth  wishes to see her kind put in the same regard as Dark Ones. There is a bit of an unspoken hierarchy in the Immortal world, and the concerns of Vampires and Werewolves (their counterparts are the Night Wolves) aren't too high on the totem pole of power. Elizabeth hopes to change that...by any means.

Elizabeth's plan developed purely by accident on my part. I knew she would grow into an important role, I just didn't know how important. This was another example of a character I created taking my pen and running with it. She is not as fleshed out as the twins (whom she meets early in the story), but her blinding ambition and sense of destiny was all that was needed to begin the process of turning her into a force to be reckoned with. Trust me, Forbidden Children is just the tip of the iceberg for her.

Father and Sons

The subject of the boys' father is one that I wasn't planning to expand on, but as usual, the characters had other plans. Their father, who goes by the name Mykal for now, left when the twins were about 9 years old. While Mykal sent money and material goods back to his family regularly through couriers, he never came back to the small house in western Germany.

This lack of a father figure becomes obvious as the twins push through their years at Great Hall. During that time, they acquire at least three father figures to substitute the one they lost. Also, William's neediness balloons to almost frightening levels that Thomas has to constantly deflate. During this time, the twins are facing their inner demons, including the one screaming that their father never loved them.

Fast forward a few centuries. The twins suddenly have research at their fingertips, and they use it to track down their father, hoping to confront him. Naturally, the fateful meeting does not go as William and Thomas planned.

As far as how their relationship (if any at all) pans out, I will only say that the meeting between the twins and Mykal is a needed and respectful one. 

Immortal Love

I knew from the get-go that this story was not going to be a love story. For one, I don't like a story that has a ton of potential wasted because it is trying too hard to be romantic. Second, my basic thoughts on love go completely against the typical grain of the romantic novel. So for Forbidden Children, I decided to switch things up a bit. 

You can't live for 400 years and never fall for anyone (at least, I don't think you can). And the twins aren't really monsters, they're boys (and young men...or older men...or really old men). Herein laid my problem: there was a lot I wanted William and Thomas to accomplish; heck,  there was a lot they wanted to accomplish. Still, like a typical momma, I also wanted them to settle down and get married and have baby blood-lovers running around. The question I had to ask was this: Was this what they really want? Was love even what they needed?

For this major reason, this book is not another Twilight. Twilight was, at its base, a forbidden love story. Forbidden Children is the total opposite of that. The twins are not tortured by their existance because they do not have mates, they are tortured because they have not yet found their place. As anyone who read Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man knows, a male is not going to seriously look for a lifetime partner unless their house is in order. William and Thomas are getting their houses in order. 

The Handlers

While they are first dispatched by the Elders of the Immortals to kill the twins, the NightWolves that eventually become The Handlers grow a friendship with their targets. For now, their working names are Georg (no, I didn't forget the "e") and Gustav. That will probably change simply because they are inspired by actual people, and those are the actual guys' names. Actually, all four of my main guys are based on actual, internationally known people. Yeah, names will change. Anyway, these two are a good 200 years older than the twins, have wives and (eventually) children of their own. They are both very good at their job and are an assassin team. Each brings something to the table: Georg is the lead tracker, able to find the most elusive target using all of his senses. Gustav is the muscle; while they are both excellent fighters, Gustav is the more fierce of the two. Both have a low tolerance for nonsense, a penchant for finding the best beer in the region, and a desire to serve their Elder.

Georg and Gustav agree to look after William and Thomas because they have faith in the twins and sense that there is potential greatness in them. Like the twins, Georg and Gustav get a kick out of going against the grain in a logical manner and do so often. Still, the Handlers are highly respected in their Clan and never lose their influence with the NightWolf Elder, Claudis. In fact, Claudis eventually turns to their way of thinking when it comes to the twins.

These two focused but outgoing NightWolves round out the leading "Boys Club" of the first two novels. 

Raising The Kids

That's what it feels like whenever I am writing about these two. It is like they are my own boys, and I feel a need to not just protect them, but to expose them to the world. The twins cannot be coddled, nor can their lives be sugar-coated. I went in knowing that they would suffer during this journey. On one hand, I love it because they make for great characters when they are put in distressful or depressing situations. But I also feel a twinge of guilt when I read over the mess I put them through. Still, there have been many times where I literally sat back and watched William and Thomas be William and Thomas, with no input from me. They are quite the spirited little rascals, lol.

I have probably created over 100 characters in my lifetime, and I have never felt as emotionally close to any as I do to these two. Eventually, like all stories, it will have to end and I will have to retire them. It pains me to even think about that. Yes, they can be vicious, deadly, egotistical, sarcastic to a fault, and simple pains in the ass. But they are also two of the most complete characters I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Their journey is one of acceptance both within themselves and with the outside world. I think all of us can identify with that journey in some way.

Angel

PS- Yes, I finally got back to writing. You can thank my new daily exercise routine; I think it gets blood flowing to my brain or something, lol.

HWC and Author's Note

First off, I am planning to attend the Hawaii Writers Conference this September. I would love to know if anyone else who happens to read this is going, particularly if you are from Florida. It would be nice to be familiar with someone else there. I'm staying at the Courtyard Marriott, because it's less than a quarter mile away from the conference hotels, it is in my budget, and I am a Marriott Rewards member, lol. If you are interested, rooms start at $109, and I saved about $200. Don't say I never helped you :-)

Second, I haven't been writing too much on the blog or my book in the past week because I have been doing some major brainstorming. One scene in particular has been bouncing around in my head, and it makes me giddy every time I think about it. I love these moments; writers live for these moments. Whenever you can combine characterization and plot pushing into a single scene, it's cause for a small happy dance. Meanwhile, events in Miami over the weekend made me revisit another story that has absolutely nothing to do with Immortals. Looking over that story helped me with the brainstorming as well.

Moral of the story: If you get stuck on a particular piece, it could help to go look at something else you are working on (or started working on and abandoned in my case). Reading over some old scenes that are halfway decent may lead to your imagination creating some new scenes.

My Forbidden Children: William and Thomas

Like most characters, these two are a fierce mix of male twins that I am familiar with (including a famous set) and my own special mix of personality traits. For now, there names are William and Thomas Luft. 

The pair are very different from other identical twins from the get go. William is born with nearly jet black hair, while Thomas has light blonde hair. Without this, they would be impossible to tell apart. A village soothsayer explains to their mother, Esmeralda, that it is a sign that they are Ying Yang twins, twins incapable of being apart from each other. One soul was split between the two brothers, so if one dies, the other will die as well. Yeah, I'm morbid.

The twins are considered to be stunning in appearance, beautiful in a sense. They are soft-spoken and delicate, yet vicious and deadly when they lose control.

Their connection is uncanny and acts as both a blessing and a curse for them. William is extremely dependent on his brother, who is older by a few minutes. Thomas loves his brother dearly but desires his own space. This inner chaos within them is compounded by the problem of the two of them having constant urges to kill people.

The Sapira

Much like the Congress of the United States or Parliament in the United Kingdom, the Sapira is the governing body of the Immortals. This group has at least one representative from every nation that has Immortals. While the Ten Commandments are the basic rules of Immortal life, the Sapira created laws "inspired by God's divine intervention" for the Immortals to follow.

The members of the Sapira usually stay in their home countries, although about 25 of them remain at the Immortal headquarters, Great Hall, permanently. The Sapira meet regularly about three times a year, but can also be summoned at a moment's notice in emergencies and in dealing with major violations of Immortal law. The Sapira not only vote on lawas, but also act as a jury of peers during major trials. A two-thirds vote is needed for a law or sentence to pass.

Members of the Sapira have to be at least 275 years of age. The senior members, some of whom are founding members of the Sapira, have the most power and are allowed to debate or invite other younger members to debate. The Sapira's verdict or vote can still be overturned by one governing body that is above them...The Immortal Elders.

What are Forbidden Children?

Forbidden Children is the title of the first book in the series. It follows twins William and Thomas, the only known Forbidden Children on Earth. 

Immortals in the series usually do not become Immortal until they reach around 18 years of age (think of it like puberty). At that point, they gain their immortality, along with some additional abilities. This is called the Cross Over. Until they Cross Over, children of Immortals are as vulnerable as human children. In the case of William and Thomas, who were born to Immortal parents, they Cross Over very early due to unfortunate circumstances (I will explain this in an upcoming blog). At 14 years of age, they have immortality, heightened senses, and animal instincts. They are also not in control of themselves due to the sudden influx of power. The twins soon start attacking humans, seeking blood.

Forbidden Children are considered an abomination of nature. There are no previous records of the existence of such children in Immortal history; such creatures are merely the stuff of legend until the twins become immortal. A big part of the book involves the governing bodies of the Immortal world deciding the fate of the twins: teach them to control their instincts, ignore them and leave it to the humans, or destroy the twins themselves.

Angel Note: Send questions, and I will try to answer them in upcoming blogs. Again, I appreciate the visit!

Greetings!

This blog is for a series that I am writing, The Immortal Ones. I will use it as an introduction to the characters and plots that are included in the stories. I will also do an occasional post about the writing process itself. The first novel, Forbidden Children, is currently in the revision stages. 

I will probably include some fun things on Marked, including character "interviews" and blog entries, background about various events and settings in the series, and scenes that likely won't make the final version. God willing, the full novels will see the light of day sometime before I leave this Earth. 

Anyway, feel free to give feedback and thank you for taking the time to check out Marked.

Angel Marie