When I was offered the opportunity to give a peek behind the scenes of my series, I was like. “Yes, I can do that!” Then, I sat down to write, and my new response (internally) was, “I thought I could do that.” For an author who has just released a book that is well over 140,000 words, I was at a loss. My mind grew fuzzy, and my self-doubt kicked in.
Let me back up a minute.
I’m often asked what I do for a living. My head swells with pride when I say, “I’m an author. A published author that is.” (Insert cheesy grin) But soon, that unbridled joy turns to fear when they ask, “Oh. Well, what is your story about?” It is at this point words completely fail me. Yes, I know what my story is about. But to voice it? Yeah, no. I even suck at synopses.
I gave you that brief introduction to help lead into my main character and as most ask, where my story comes from.
We recently went on a wine tasting tour. Very adult activity and extremely fun. Especially if you are surrounded with engaging people. One of the ladies asked me that question I so love to answer, “What do you do for a living?” Now mind you, I’ve had quite a few sips of wine at this point and self-doubt has as well. She stood up just as proud as you please and announced loudly, “I’m an author!”
Queue follow up question.
And surprisingly, I was able to talk about my story. But, as I said above, I was among those who wished to go past the niceties and ask additional questions. “Well, where did you come up with your idea?”
I’ve never had a problem disclosing this one. I find it rather amusing to be honest. My kernel of an idea, while starting with a character much like myself, was based on the idea that my employers were sacrificing people. Dark and morbid, I know. But I worked in customer service. So, I’m allowed this bit of darkness.
Well all the couples, who at this point were actually listening to me, laughed at the mere thought. But also found the logic in it. I mean who really knows what the big bosses do all day??
A few more sips of wine, and my tale grew, and I was finally. FINALLY. Able to voice my idea. My story. The one that started off as a short story to answer a question a frustrated service representative needed answer between calls.
This brings me to Nicole Fontane. Like I said above, she is me. Well, the parts of me I’m not afraid to show. She has my sarcasm. My sense of longing. My restlessness. And most of all, my curiosity. It’s that curiosity that gets her into the most trouble. But it’s also what I love most about her.
I didn’t plan on infusing so much magick into my story. Yes, I do spell it with a ‘k’. I shall tell you why in a minute. My first mission was to create a scenario in which my main character got a job and stumble upon a sinister plot and, of course, save the day.
During the course of my writing the first draft, I believe I achieved this. But when I was finished, I didn’t feel whole. I used no outline for my first draft. I wrote by the seat of my pants. It was freeing and exciting. Yet, I knew, deep down, something was missing. So, a few months later, I read through that first draft and made a vow.
No one shall see this!
Yes, it was a mess, but it was still something. That is where my first inspiration of infusing more magick into the story came from. But, my curiosity also had to play a part in the crafting of the next draft. I had to know where the magick came from.
**Side note: The spelling of magic(k), as I’ve been told, used a ‘k’ in ancient times. At least that’s what a man at a rest stop told me when my husband was holding my sign up at the Tennessee state line. He said, after looking at my sign and actually taking a picture of it. “Oh, and you spell it the right way, too.” (I hope he ended up buying the book 😊)
I didn’t know that tidbit of history. My reasoning for spelling it that way was because I always associated magic with magicians. By adding the ‘k’, it gave it a more real feel to me. Kept me from picturing a man in suit pulling a rabbit from his hat. But I like his explanation too.
Queue my love of Egypt.
Like Nicole, I’ve always wanted to know why. You read so much about ancient civilizations. So much about how they borrowed from past practices and made them their own. So, my main question while writing was, where would magick come from? And how was it created? More importantly, what part did the ancient gods and goddesses play as well.
For these answers, I went back. Back to a time that is rarely talked about. And using what us writers use best, my own creative skills, created a magick system based on the idea that all human beings have magick. Yet all human beings are not able to use it. And since gods and goddesses play a major part, they too had to have magick. A deeper well of it for sure.
This leads to modern day. Power is a seductive mistress. Even without the aid of extraordinary abilities, people fight to gain more. To be more. And are so willing to crush anyone who gets in their way. This is the overarching theme of The Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles. The desire for power. The series itself answers the question of why. Why seek this power?
And the place this all takes place?
Well, like I said, as a writer my first instinct is to create. So, I made up Tulare Island. A place created by the Old Ones (The gods and goddess who inspired the myths of the Egyptian gods) to hide an Ark with the soul of one of their kind inside. He too, plays a major role in the series.
And Nicole?
She is the guide I chose to take the reader on this journey filled with blood, pain, and death. But also love and friendship and healing. A complicated, powerful woman who has experienced so much pain in her life. Whose growth I hope to convey over the course of the next eight books.
I hope you will join me.
And if you have a set of pearls, I suggest you wear them. You will be clutching them by the end.
