Dear writers and readers and generally lovers of words:
As you know, this month I'm doing NaNoWriMo (don't know that? Oops. Well, I'm doing it) and I saw this—Know the Novel—and I just really want to do it...hence, the fact this is on a Monday.
I've heard about this event, which started over at Christine @ Christine Smith Author, and I think the idea—to get you and your readers excited about a new novel—is really interesting.
Enjoy!
1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?
I can't really remember *thinks for a moment* *remembers she wrote this down so she wouldn't forget*
Oh, yeah. I saw a prompt (sometimes, the person you'd take the bullet for is behind the gun) on the Young Writer's Workshop a couple months ago (*cough* in September *cough*). And I wrote a tiny snippet (which is also loosely inspired by another prompt I saw)...and it just took off.
Oh, and before that, I did write a little bit (prologue & chapter 1) based off of a game I played with my sisters.
I wrote a little bit of a story which I named Take These Broken Shards, but the story has changed a bunch and I decided to start a new story called What the Stars Say.
But. Yes. The idea can from a couple writing prompts, and a highly imaginative game played in a forest.
2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!
*cue evil author laugh*
Just kidding (mostly).
Anyway. Here is one of my favorite blurbs I have written:
Born into an enslaved nation, Andrya is determined to do whatever it takes to free her people. Even if that means becoming an assassin just to survive. But with every risk she takes, every life she ends, there is one all-consuming goal: free her people from their oppressors. And make sure no one has to live the way she does.
But Andrya has a deeper fear—because her people do not see in the stars that she is their guardian. They see she was born their destroying angel.
They may not be wrong.
3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects of the setting?
It takes place in a dystopian world, where one country has conquered—and enslaved—another. Flat dust-caked plains are part of the landscape, but my favorite part is that I've included some mountains and forests—the land I live in.
4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).
Ah. Yes. My babies xD
First off, Andrya. Fierce and a fighter, her name—meaning brave—fits her completely (*cough* no I did not change a spelling and meaning of a name to fit my story *cough*). She has *counts* three siblings (originally five, however...) and is fifteen when the story starts (twenty when it ends). She is will do anything to make sure her people are free...
Then, there's Ethan. Ahh, Ethan... He's kind of rash, and he cares about his family a lot. He's the same age as Andrya. I've written another story in which he appears (although his sister and cousin are the main characters)—a short story called This Fire that Burns Us All.
5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?
Ah, there are many...
First, and most obviously, the Guild. *realizes I haven't explained the Guild* *is about to launch into a highly detailed explanation that will most likely last for hours* The Guild is the group that leads the country who enslaved the other country (Andrya and Ethan's country). They're the big bad guys, but that's not all...
The Guildmaster.
Andrya's fears and doubts.
Ethan's rashness.
There are more, but these are the main things my characters will have to fight if they want to win.
6. What excites you the most about this novel?
Can I say everything?
Okay, fine...I'm excited about the characters—and the end! Actually, the whole plot excites me...why is this question so hard??
Anyway. My answer: literally every part. But especially the character arcs.
7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?
So, really, this is a standalone (I'm not writing a sequel) but I have written a prequel. Although, really, that prequel is only a short story, so I think it qualifies as a standalone.
8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?
Plansting. Of course.
I have a basic outline, of course, and I know the gist of what's going to happen in the story, but other than that, it's going to be an adventure!
9. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).
Andrya's character collage:
And I don't have a cover yet, but I am in the process of making one (as well as a map!).
Anyway. Did you enjoy this? I sure did. I'm so excited for tomorrow! I can hardly wait...
Until next time,
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