Tag Archives: The Secret King

Oct 12 2014

Sometimes so long!

It’s been a bad, bad couple of weeks for me. I don’t know what I did, but I hurt my back. This made me entirely not able to function as a person. I went to work, I did the bare essentials around the home. Fed and cleaned at least most things including myself daily. I got my crits in on scrib’d was a bit late with a few other things, but I tried.

Things are getting a little easier. I’m not quite taking the pain killers that I was. And it’s not constantly burning or hurting. I’m also sleeping better, so that is a good thing.

I have to say that I am upset about the lack of excersise or will power when it has come to food. It’s been my kind of coping mechanism in the opposite sense, I’ve made myself eat real food each day. Not over the top rubbish, as I’ve never done that. But I’ve still managed to put back on about 6lbs, it’s not an impossible amount to shift. And could just take a few weeks, but I’m still recovering and won’t want to push it, just yet.

We’re also coming up to Nanowrimo. And that is an exciting time of year for me, usually I take part and write soemthing totally new, but I’m actually thinking on a total hit on TSK book 2. It’s had three/four great people read almost 2/3rds (they’ll finish just before the end of the month) and I don’t think I can put it aside to work on the next one, while this is still fresh in my head.

So torn over what to do.

I’ve spent the day doing Military Research. And organising things. But, ugghhh I’m so daunted by where I need to go and how much I need to do.

I forget when starting TSK Book 1 actually how rough it was. And how much hard work and slog I did put into it to get it to the polished stage it is in now. Looking to do that over again well it kinda sucks. It’s exciting totally. We’ve got some amazing things on the go for our animated short film.

I should grin and bare it. I must grin and bare it.

Onwards!!!!

May 9 2014

Bit of a mixed week.

Hey everyone. It’s been a cracking week for me. I’ve been snowed under at work, which has been very hard but I’ve loved it. 🙂 And, I’m happy to say that, we’re down to the last 140 pages of our edits on TSK.

Speaking of which, because I had such a weird start to the week I treated myself and contacted, Jakob Burgos over on http://www.talentville.com

Here’s the new banner, designed to attract people to my story/script 🙂 Enjoy….Image

Logline for the TV series

For many years since their arrival on Earth, the Aonise have forged a tense peace treaty with humanity, living in the ghettos of their city as rival clans. Yet when a terrorist’s virus designed to eliminate them spreads to humans instead, Taliri, the son of the last Aonise king, is forced out of hiding to end the crisis. He must now unite his fractured people and try to prevent an all-out war.

Apr 28 2014

My writing process blog tour – me

This week it’s my turn to host the popular Writing Process Blog Tour that many of my scribe friends have been taking part in. I was nominated by a great writer whose blog I follow regularly. Cat Lumb over at http://catlumb.com Please go check out her blog it’s awesome.

What I am currently working on?

Well as some of you know my current writing project is The Secret King – Book 1 – Lethao.  For those that don’t know about it, here is the short blurb.

With their sun dying faster than they had expected and Kendro’s energy reserves faltering. The King has no other choice but to order their evacuation early.

As pandemonium ensues and thousands of Aonise flee their planet, Kendro is visited by the Royal Seer, Wez. He informs the king that the Zefron, their ancient enemy, will continue to hunt them down. Destroying three of their four ships and leaving them floating in space, never to reach a new home.

Determined to thwart this possible future, Kendro battles with every decision he makes. Leading his species broken but triumphant to the edge of Earth’s solar system.

How does my work differ from others of it’s genre?

I’ve been told that because of my screenwriting background that I handle multiple pov and characters very well. I’d like to think this is true, but its complicated and sometimes hard to keep track of everyone. Without the use of Scrivener, I doubt I would be as far along in the process as I am. Just getting out of a beta read was inspirational and I owe a huge thanks to those in the Ubergroup over on http://www.scribophile.com

Scribophile is a writing critique site where we all help each other to be the best writers we can. I was very lucky and while reading blogs on here last year. I came across a promotional posting where the author gifted the first two people to reply a membership to Scribophile. I never thought 12 mths on I would be almost polished to perfection and ready to start querying! It’s been the best 12 mths ever and I’ve made some life long friends there.

Why do I write what I do?

I write what I do, because I love the characters. TSK started out in my head as a dream, back in 2007. It began as a feature film, turned into a 13 episode TV series, which I co wrote some of the episodes with a fantastic guy, Stephen Kogan. It wasn’t till 2010 when I got my first ‘consider’ on it that I started to get it out there more and those characters weren’t happy just being in a TV series, they wanted to branch to stories too, so I wrote my first book (which happens to be book 4)

Yes, I know, I’ve probably spent too long on the one project, but life got in the way (eating disorders do that) so as a TV series, and now looking at a trilogy. I’m very happy with the work I’ve done on it, and other projects, paid projects count too. 🙂 I’ve had some fantastic opportunities in the last two years.

With Best Friends our web series, https://www.facebook.com/bestfriendstvseries?fref=ts And working with Dante D’Anthony on The Pandoran Chronicles Franchise. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pandoran-Age-Chronicles/331690376852755?fref=ts

How does my writing process work?

I can write quick, the first draft of Lethao started in Nov, for Nanowrimo, and completed in Dec 2012, just in time for my birthday.

The second drafts take me longer because essentially I’m a script writer, so I’ve got into the ‘bare’ minimum side to writing. Novels, need a lot more so I found EJ. Runyon over at http://www.bridgetostory.com/blog/?url=/blog and she’s been coaching me on a weekly basis to get the best out of TSK that I can. She’s a wonderful woman to work with, passionate about her job and her clients writing. I will be keeping hold of her tightly as good people to work with are hard to find.

Write quick, edit, edit, edit, workshop it. Edit and then beta it 🙂

There you go, me in a nutshell. I’d like to say I’ve had lots of time this week to approach the people I’d like to nominate, but I really haven’t. Work’s been very busy and so has life after it. It’s been our Wedding Anniversary (16 years married) and my husbands 54th birthday.

So here, are those I’d like to nominate, I hope you go check them out and that the 5th May, they’ll have some lovely answers to the questions posed above.

 

EJ Runyon over at Bridge to Story, she’s a talented writer as well as a coach – http://www.bridgetostory.com

Maegan Provan at – http://authormaeganprovan.com

Candace Johnson – Change it up editing at – http://changeitupediting.com

 

Thanks for stopping by, happy writing.

 

Jan 26 2014

Week and weekend over…

Wow,

I can’t really believe how quick it went. Not just the weekend, but my first week back in work.

There isn’t much that has changed, bar the facts that some of my customers got lost along the way side. So I spent last week getting them back. With a little luck I’ll be back on track to targets, jee wiz. I can tell you, I don’t want that again. You work so hard for it, then it’s gone and it’s like you have to start from scratch almost all over again. Not good, at all.

Pic of hubby and my lil monster 🙂 Image

I’ve had two pretty big projects going on this last few weeks. One I started before work, and one I managed to spend the full day on today. It’s been good to get work coming my way. Tough it might be, but if I really want to get out there more this year. Dedication to other projects as well as my own is a must.

My project well it kinda stalled a bit. Oh dear…

Monday – Friday- back in work, and then the gym, getting home was a bit  late, spending time with the birds and sorting out myself for the following few days. It’s been hectic to say the least and might take a fair few hours off what I can do with my time. I will soon get into the routine at work and with the home stuff. So although it’s hard at the moment, it won’t always be hard. TSK is still moving forward just a little bit slower for a while, with a few deadlines on the cards.

I’ve had some fab results though in the three weeks I’ve been aiming to get fitter and healthier. I won’t talk numbers, really as they’re hard for me to deal with, but needless to say, I’m well on my way to a fitter lifestyle. The drinking water is hard, specially now I am back in work, but I’m trying my very best to keep things moving.

My latest challenge, is to eat enough protein to help get my body working right, so that the weight can come off properly and help to build muscle so that I can work out and feel better.

It’s amazing the diff just a few weeks makes, my energy levels are higher, I want to do things. Although it’s been a tough week going back to work. I have found that it also wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

My energy levels were crap, before I even broke my elbow and I’m just putting that down to the crap diet and no real exercise.

So feeling positive and looking forward to another good week.

Hope you’re all doing great.

Dawn

Oct 4 2013

Friday, broken wing and editing :)

Hey guys/gals 

 

I’ve been having a tough few weeks that’s for sure, but some things are improving. Getting slight better movement in my arm. Still taking pain killers and they kind of numb the head, but it’s been 3 full weeks now since the incident. I do feel like I’m improving now. So hopeful 🙂

Anyway, I wanted to let you in on my novel’s first page. 

Over the last few months, I’ve been working very, very hard with EJ Runyon. She’s been so valuable as a coach and editor. I’ve found prose writing totally different than scripts. Where a script is so terse prose is enriched and alive. I’ve had a brilliant few months, it’s been one heck of a learning experience. And EJ will be my coach/editor for a long time. When you find someone who is good, you don’t let them go. Her way of explaining things is spot on, I’ve never had that, from English Teachers or professional I’ve wanted to hire before. (I know I’m not the easiest client, I’ve bad habits like the best of of us, but I’m trying…) 

Her blog is at – http://ejrunyon.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/structuring-sentences-to-use-more-showing/

and her coaching website is over at -http://bridgetostory.com

 

Please contact her if you’ve ever considered editing or coaching, as an author you’ll not regret it. : ) promise. 

 

And here is the first page of my novel. Un-edited. And edited, (but not final) still needs proofing and checking 100%. 

I wanted you to all see the difference a few months makes. The writing journey. This has had a good few crits over at the OWWSFF. website address is – http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/index.shtml

My story attracted an Editors Choice review (middle edit) which was wonderful. And gave me total hope for the series. The reviews there really helped shape the story too.

Then I had the honour of winning a years membership over at http://www.scribophile.com which again has been one of the best sites I’ve ever come across. And helped take my novel to the next level. I also met a fantastic writer who has helped me to know end. I have no doubts I’ll be promoting his book here one day soon too. 🙂 so watch this space. 

So here it is… 

The Secret King – The Beginning 

 

From this….. 

 

Kendro eased himself into his favorite chair. It creaked just as it always did and he wished he could take it with him. His office, empty, didn’t resemble home anymore. Sadness washed over him. It was over and they had to leave everything but their prized possessions behind.

   The handmade wooden desk before him had been in his family for generations and he ran his hand along its surface until he found a tiny dent. He frowned and remembered the day he’d made that hole. The day Admiral Broki confirmed the fate of their Sun and he’d dropped a hot steaming mug of tea over everything. Now apart from the desk and set of chairs nothing else cluttered the room. All his belongings had been moved to the mother- ship. The furniture here deemed unimportant. Although why he’d deemed it unimportant shook him. These objects were a part of his history.

Resting his head in his arms, he closed his eyes just for a brief moment of thought. Were they going to survive the incredible journey ahead?

To this – 

CHAPTER ONE – Evacuation

Kendro moved nearer his office window, once again watching their dying sun, setting for the night. Too tired even to think — three days too tired. Rubbing his eyes, he stroked down the sides of his temple, a blue tingle of energy from his fingers lit his royal birthmark in a glorious rainbow of colours.

Three tiers up in the royal palace, he glanced down at the view below him, just making out the soldiers as they loaded his belongings onto shuttles in the growing twilight. The sight added a depression that weighted his soul. He turned, regarding his empty office, stripped of everything but the desk and its chair. Best to do what work I can before they come for these too.

Work didn’t come for him. He stared at the portable screen, blank. “You think you’ve won.” with a headshake, wiping away tears with the back of his hand, Kendro flung his keyboard into a corner where it shattered. “Never!”

Resting his head, Kendro rested for a brief moment. His breathing slowed, he shook himself awake. For almost three days now; with barely any sleep since he ordered the evacuation; within every tightening muscle and sinew, Kendro felt the strain.

“Kendro?”

His attention turned to his wife, Mika. Her face sparkled as she stepped lightly over the wreckage of the smashed keyboard reaching his side; a look of anxiety quickened her stride.

 

———————–

 

Different, yes, better. I totally believe so 🙂 

 

So, if you’re looking for someone to help push you that bit further, check out all of the above 🙂 You will not be disappointed. 

 

Dawn xÂ