tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88618025276777578012024-03-13T21:21:45.473-04:00On The Job WritingHome of author Matt HofferthMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072250052178202167noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-58048503129674327792016-09-21T14:53:00.000-04:002016-09-21T14:53:50.239-04:00Status UpdateIt's been a while since I posted an update, so I thought I would drop back in. Unfortunately, I haven't kept up the pace from earlier in the year, and am sitting at 56k words in HoH. The good news is that is still further along. The bad news is that I likely won't finish the draft this year unless something significantly changes about my situation. I love writing and really want to put out some more books, but it is very difficult, especially when it is not your primary occupation. I have a lot of respect for the people who are able to make/find time to bring their stories to life. For me, writing has always been more "hobby" than "job," as I have a solid day job that provides for myself and my family. That has to come first. The good thing about writing is that, long after I've retired from my day job, I should still be able to write. I have no intention of giving it up, and will finish these stories, even if I have to have a George RR Martin-esque amount of time between each one.<br />
<br />
Anyway, thanks to anyone still lurking around here. It means a lot. And there are a lot of you who have encouraged me either in person or online and I appreciate it. As I said, not stopping. Just moving more slowly than I'd like.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072250052178202167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-75048734347244931642016-04-11T14:40:00.003-04:002016-04-11T14:41:10.669-04:00HoH Update<span style="float: left; font-family: "century" , "times" , serif , "georgia"; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">S</span>o, wanted to drop a quick update. I've been dutifully writing whenever I get the chance, and am right around 30k words written for the first draft of Hymn of Home. I'm shooting to have things wrapped up somewhere around 100k words, so I'm on pace to have the draft written this year. I'd like to improve my pace so I can get it actually released, but we shall see. Time is always at a premium. At least I'm chipping away at it, right?<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-78396827380840159462016-02-23T12:06:00.000-05:002016-02-23T12:06:09.670-05:00Back on the Job<span style="float: left; font-family: "century" , "times" , serif , "georgia"; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">S</span>o it took me almost a year, but I finally got around to updating the print cover for Melody of the Fates. It is now live via Createspace. I had a lot going on last year, so not a lot got done writing-wise, but my goal this year is to get another book out! I'm hard at work writing the next installment of the Symphony of Two Keys. It will be called Hymn of Home. Here's a look at the new MotF print cover as well as a sneak peek at the HoH cover. You can see how I've come up with a theme to continue with this series. Anyway, if you're still hanging around, thanks and hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKEhsmqktYHanMLGRsLhveaL_6vMLTxv7BtFoxf4G8D6fHt1cqiLPtGYfi_OkCdijaCRUrNJxEIbnTn_bHC7Nk0XbyBWcvSG0IXSymACyfecz_hc8Yz_yYlgtN95wsZS9GuJRtq9z744/s1600/PrintCover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKEhsmqktYHanMLGRsLhveaL_6vMLTxv7BtFoxf4G8D6fHt1cqiLPtGYfi_OkCdijaCRUrNJxEIbnTn_bHC7Nk0XbyBWcvSG0IXSymACyfecz_hc8Yz_yYlgtN95wsZS9GuJRtq9z744/s400/PrintCover2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Print Version</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeD3TT995xteLP_H28eipvKAGU9zsteSCylfrvJbXDLoUKMwnmUpLiDVz1DNbEeevwfBLcSgXJgkCaBdlr0ETx_vKl6ppIc2xjhMdTr2TOEMSYpciZffbkyK5M9tjOlczNjg5pK8oM-A/s1600/HoH_Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeD3TT995xteLP_H28eipvKAGU9zsteSCylfrvJbXDLoUKMwnmUpLiDVz1DNbEeevwfBLcSgXJgkCaBdlr0ETx_vKl6ppIc2xjhMdTr2TOEMSYpciZffbkyK5M9tjOlczNjg5pK8oM-A/s320/HoH_Preview.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hymn of Home Preview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-48753429102868334372015-04-10T12:39:00.002-04:002015-04-10T12:39:28.266-04:00Electronic Version Update<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">Just a quick announcement: I</span> updated my electronic versions... so on Amazon you will now find Melody of the Fates with the new cover. Also, everywhere Smashwords distributes.<br />
<br />
I only made a few slight edits to the manuscript. Fixed a couple typos. The only major change is that I removed the italicized flashback in Chapter 1. I felt it was really unnecessary and clunky. Plus, it doesn't really alter the narrative in anyway, as it was just back story.<br />
<br />
If you already bought the ebook and want an updated copy for free, shoot me an email. I can get you a Smashwords code. I eventually want to update the print version, but that is a lot more tricky and will take me some time.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-45700399492984539862015-03-25T14:57:00.000-04:002015-03-25T15:16:19.716-04:00Cover Update<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">I</span>'ve been re-reading Fates' Motif, which I'm re-titling as Melody of the Fates, and have actually started writing Hymn of Home, the second book in the series. It's been a long vacation, and I feel like some updating is in order.<br />
<br />
One of the things I wanted to do was rework the cover design for Melody. I wanted to go with something that I could thematically use across the series to keep things simple and give the books all a similar look. I'm excited about what I came up with.<br />
<br />
On Wattpad and WriteOn (the two places I'm "live writing"), I've already updated the cover. I'm going to eventually change all my "for sale" place, but am not in a hurry. If you have one of the previous covers, you can consider it a "limited edition." The story will be the same, I'm just improving the cover (I think).<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's what I'm going with for Melody:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZwAT92HMPgQqqEDD2JEZQ0rNNQsN0ArDZwgM9GPjWkPeWY37LWCNlERw_z0ap_3SO07ndUTfZP6G-AjvC1FpIdJQp321WwyKxbeY22SAaPZstyRa-ELI6sWoAaqCOvlCbKB_DdXZVuE/s1600/Cover11-page-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZwAT92HMPgQqqEDD2JEZQ0rNNQsN0ArDZwgM9GPjWkPeWY37LWCNlERw_z0ap_3SO07ndUTfZP6G-AjvC1FpIdJQp321WwyKxbeY22SAaPZstyRa-ELI6sWoAaqCOvlCbKB_DdXZVuE/s1600/Cover11-page-0.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
The shards are central to the major plotline, so I wanted to feature them prominently. I thought they were a good non-human focus. (I don't like to have humans on the cover, because I want readers to be able to picture characters how they want. Plus it's really hard to find stock photos to match what is in your hear. If I had a really good custom artist, maybe I'd feel differently.)<br />
<br />
To give you an idea how this will work for the series, here's what I mocked up for Hymn of Home:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK5pAS47VcPaaM66Cj9nRwl0yb3GMk4m297ryhezcjr9Aihadp5wtobBq3sHNtrDyHtEC-xbKm8jSXvAyI4BAuIY0NjEu17rurYwgcaLnRGvHBImP7_JD2Xc1BS1VG17LWlDpPuTCiic/s1600/HHCover1-page-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK5pAS47VcPaaM66Cj9nRwl0yb3GMk4m297ryhezcjr9Aihadp5wtobBq3sHNtrDyHtEC-xbKm8jSXvAyI4BAuIY0NjEu17rurYwgcaLnRGvHBImP7_JD2Xc1BS1VG17LWlDpPuTCiic/s1600/HHCover1-page-0.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I have a total of five possible images that are all variations on the same shape but different colors, so I could do five covers with this basic design (I'm planning to only need four). I thought they were cool, simple, and will make consistent covers across the series.<br />
<br />
Writing will probably go a lot slower for me than the covers did, but here's hoping I'm back on the horse.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-50578926004832953732015-03-19T13:29:00.003-04:002015-03-25T15:16:19.719-04:00Working Update<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">I</span>t has been a while since I've written here. A lot of personal stuff happened and it's been challenging to balance. I wanted to note that I've been doing some background work that is probably not so evident here. I wanted to change some things up.<br />
<br />
Fates' Motif is going to be re-titled Melody of Fates. I didn't like the plural apostrophe. It may sound silly, but it's too complicated for a title that doesn't roll of the tongue. Whereas MoF fits better with what I'm wanting to do for the other books in the series (I've been doing some serious background plotting).<br />
<br />
Other than that, I want to change the cover look as well. I've working with some graphic designers to get something I really like. We'll see how it goes.<br />
<br />
I may not write regularly on here, but wanted to leave this note. My journal is still going monthly, and I've been re-reading MoF to help me start writing the second book in the series. I'm posting chapters for free as I go through them at Wattpad <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/MattHofferth">here</a>, so feel free to read along and comment. Otherwise, I'll answer through here but I may not post as much until I have some real news.<br />
<br />
As always, thanks for reading and hopefully I'll get my writing output back up to where I wanted to be in the not-so-distant future.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-63777193074127314302013-07-12T15:46:00.003-04:002013-07-12T15:46:41.002-04:00Hope You Had A Nice Holiday<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">I</span> know I did. Lots of lake and sun. Minimal work. Who doesn't like holidays?<br />
<br />
I did get back to the routine this week, though work has been super busy. I don't have a whole lot to say about the latest piece. It actually was pretty rough and I spent a good amount of time editing it and adding a bit to it. It's a bit longer than my last few excerpts, too.<br />
<br />
Did I make Damian awkward enough? Generally dialog is supposed to be a fictional representation of "real speak." That is, when writing dialog, I try to avoid a lot of the verbal foibles we're all prone to. The um's, the ah's, the awkward pauses.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of those here. I'm hoping it's not too annoying. I was shooting for awkwardly cute.<br />
<br />
I also break up the dialog with a lot of tags, again playing up the awkward. Except for the rambling part. That's all mashed together. Does it stick out?<br />
<br />
That's all for this week. Hope you have a great weekend!<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-79155004319974955922013-07-12T15:40:00.001-04:002013-07-12T15:40:23.857-04:00A Healthy GlowThe glow around Genny seemed to diminish
when her dark eyes lit upon Damian.
<br />
<br />
<i>Glow?</i> his mind questioned,
but Damian shrugged it off. He was still jittery from his recent encounter, and
needed to calm the hell down. The transition from dark hotel room to bright
hallway was causing him to squint. He rubbed at his eyes, begging them to
adjust, and considered what else to say.
<br />
<br />
<i>Don't let her in</i>, Inigo reminded.
<br />
<br />
<i>Duh</i>, Damian answered. <i>But why is she here?</i>
<br />
<br />
As if in compensation for the fading
brilliance, Genny’s smile put in an appearance.
“Am I interrupting?” she asked.
<br />
<br />
“Ah...” Damian fumbled. “I was
just…” –he pulled his head back in and looked at the bloody mess– “… working.”
<br />
<br />
Genny raised an eyebrow. Then, she
glanced to the side.
<br />
<br />
<i>Do
not let her leave,</i> Inigo pounced. <i>She
must have come to see you!</i>
“But I could use a break,” Damian
added. Then, he slithered out of the room and held the door cracked behind his back.<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<br />
Genny backed up to allow him space in
the narrow hallway. “You sure?” She seemed uncertain and uncomfortable.
<br />
<br />
Damian nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking
about, um, getting some dinner.” As soon as it was out, he remembered the
cancelled date. It was supposed to be this evening. Dinner.
<br />
<br />
He had cancelled, hadn’t he?
Hopefully she wasn’t upset. It’s not like he had much of a choice.
<br />
<br />
<i>Perhaps
she thinks you are a popular man and have chosen another</i>, Inigo said. <i>Do not underestimate the wrath of a spurned
woman! </i>
<br />
<br />
<i>You’re
not helping, Inigo</i>.
<br />
<br />
“Alone,” Damian said. “By myself.” –<i>Duh–</i> “I mean… they sent me to this work thing. Last second notice. You know how it is. Or do
you? I don't know. Probably wouldn't happen where you work. I mean the bar is a
nice place and all, I like it, but I doubt they send you out to customers. Mostly
they'd come in, I think. It’s probably illegal the other way. Did you get my message?”
<br />
<br />
Damian came up short of breath, and
paused. In the silence, he realized he was dressed poorly. He had on the same T-shirt
from the drive in. The shirt had a picture of the Kool-Aid man on it and read: <i>Oh
Yeah!</i> He hadn’t been thinking. He’d grabbed the first thing he could find. <i>Please
God let there be no blood on this, too</i>.
<br />
<br />
Damian looked down and found only Kool-Aid.
He returned a <i>thanks</i> for that. And for pants. His jeans were still clean,
and –more importantly– <i>on</i>.
<br />
<br />
Genny giggled. “You look fine.” She
took a step forward and laid warm hand on Damian’s shoulder. A jolt of paralyzing
electricity skittered through him. “And, yes, I got your message,” she added.
<br />
<br />
He let his tingling brain process that.
“Then, why are you here?” he blurted. He slapped a hand to his mouth.
<br />
<br />
<i>She giggled again, bless her</i><i>!</i>
<br />
<br />
<i>Looks like she is as crazy as you
are</i>, Inigo chimed in. <i>If she had any sense, she would be running. Not laughing.</i>
<br />
<br />
<i>Shut up, Inigo</i>.
<br />
<br />
Genny shifted her feet and Damian’s
heart fell with her eyes. “I'm sorry, Damian,” she said. “I just thought… maybe
we could still have dinner? If not, I completely understand. It was sort of a crazy
impulse, you know? And I wouldn't normally do something like this, but just thought
that, well, it'd be nice.”
<br />
<br />
Damian stared. She was the one rambling
now. To him. Could <i>he </i>be making <i>her </i>feel uncomfortable?
<br />
<br />
Big, brown eyes rose to meet Damian’s.
In them, he saw what his mind refused to process. Vulnerability.
<br />
<br />
<i>How
could I say no? </i>
<br />
<br />
He forced himself to start breathing
again. Normally. In and out.
<br />
<br />
“Dinner. Sure. Of course. I didn't even
think– I certainly didn't mean to– I mean…”
<br />
<br />
<i>You’d
love to</i>, Inigo helped.
<br />
<br />
“I'd love to.”
<br />
<br />
The door clicked behind him as he closed
it the rest of the way.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-66476633113783365322013-06-28T11:00:00.001-04:002013-06-28T11:00:06.238-04:00A Light In The AtticDamian glanced down. His clothing
looked like a bad piece of modern art. He didn’t recall getting spattered with
blood, but there it was.
<br />
<br />
<i>It
would not do to receive a lady so attired</i>, Inigo chimed in.
<br />
<br />
Damian sent the voice a metaphysical
eye-roll and began scrambling around the room. Dancing around the bodies and
blood, he stripped off his speckled clothing and tossed it in the vague
direction of the trash can. He’d take care of it later. A quick glance in the
mirror confirmed that his face had escaped the art show, miraculously. There
was only a small crimson line on his neck from the knife.
<br />
<br />
Damian scrubbed anyway. He felt
dirty. Really, really dirty. Like he’d run a marathon on a sweltering day.
Through mud. While wearing a sweater and chewing gum retrieved from the bottom
of a park bench.
<br />
<br />
<i>I’ll
brush my teeth while I’m at it</i>, he reasoned.
<br />
<br />
<i>Hoping
for a kiss?</i> Inigo asked.
<br />
<br />
The surprising thought drove Damian’s
knee into the bathroom counter. He cursed. Then, he threw a hand over his mouth
and stared at his own reflection, wide-eyed. What must this all sound like outside
in the hallway?
<br />
<br />
He leaned warily out of the
bathroom and eyed door. A ray of light filtered through the peep-hole. Damian
followed it to where it terminated on the back of a dead henchman’s skull. Like
a sniper’s dot. Or the Staff of Ra showing Indy where the Ark is hidden.
<br />
<br />
“Damian?” Genny’s voice called.
<br />
<br />
Damian flinched. After a brief
paused for a deep breath, he stepped up to the door. Turning the knob slowly, he
cracked it and poked his head out.
<br />
<br />
Radiant and resplendent, Genny hovered
just beyond the door, a concerned look furrowing her dark eyebrows. Damian wanted
to reach out and smooth them. She shouldn’t worry about him. He was Master of
Lamps!
<br />
<br />
<i>Oh,
ho! Perhaps you’d like to use some of your newfound confidence to speak to the
lady?</i> Inigo prompted
<br />
<br />
“Uh, hi?” Damian tried.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-68745766684279129942013-06-28T11:00:00.000-04:002013-06-28T11:00:02.721-04:00The Dog Was Supposed To Be Named Indiana<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">T</span>his section is mostly new. I needed a bridge between the original two scenes so it was a bit more fluid when put together in book format. So I whipped this up yesterday. Had a little fun with it. It's not every day you get to allude to the Staff of Ra. (Yes. I love Indiana Jones. Perhaps too much.)<br />
<br />
I had a little fun with the dirty part too. Park bench gum is totally gross. And I imagine that fighting two henchmen with burning eyes in your room would make you a little sweaty. Plus it's Damian's first time killing anyone. I doubt he looks as dirty as he feels, but you'll have that.<br />
<br />
(Side note: I was proud of myself. I scheduled this ahead of time since I anticipated being busy Friday. Go me.)<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-14648182783635867022013-06-21T15:37:00.001-04:002013-06-21T15:37:40.085-04:00I'm Back<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">M</span>issed a couple Fridays, I know. I went to Disney World with my family. It was pretty fun. But I'm back now, so I need to keep this up.<br />
<br />
We left Damian for dead last time... but wait a minute! He's not. Duh. Wouldn't be much of a story if I killed off the protagonist so early. Unless I'm channeling George RR Martin, I guess.<br />
<br />
Note the completely different outcome from a thrown knife this time. It is actually pretty difficult to throw a knife and kill someone, despite what the movies say. Not that I've tried a whole lot on real (possibly inhuman) targets. I imagine Damian hasn't, either.<br />
<br />
Nothing quite so indecent as two dead bodies on the floor, eh? Genny has impeccable timing.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-7348991473652483712013-06-21T15:23:00.000-04:002013-06-21T15:23:10.538-04:00Knock, Knock.Damian burst out of his body and hovered
above it. Well, not quite. His eyes were still closed. He could still feel the big
man on top of him. He just… wasn't himself. He felt detached. Like when the doctors
had instructed him to take “happy pills” as a child.
<br />
<br />
<i>I'm dead</i>, he reasoned. His voice
seemed to echo as if from a distance. <i>Where's the light? I know there’s
supposed to be a light. I want to go toward it!</i>
<br />
<br />
Except Damian wasn't dead. His body
was still resisting. The knife had stopped alongside his throat, pressing hard
but drawing no blood. He could still feel it. It was just... blurry. Could a
feeling be blurry?
<br />
<br />
“Help me,” his mouth growled. It was
Inigo's voice that came out, not Damian’s.
<br />
<br />
<i>What? How?</i> Damian asked, but
the response he got was incongruous to the question asked.
<br />
<br />
“Push.”
<br />
<br />
Tossing aside his metaphysical concerns
for a moment, Damian zeroed in on the command. He couldn't feel any arms and legs.
How could he push? Dutifully, he focused on the concept of pushing. Muscle against
muscle. Mind over matter.
<br />
<br />
Righty's knife slipped back an inch,
as if the henchman’s strength was suddenly lessened.
<br />
<br />
<i>Or
if my strength has increased?</i> Damian's eyes opened. The rage on Righty’s face
had been replaced by something else. <i>Fear? </i>
<br />
<br />
“Push,” Inigo reminded him.
<br />
<br />
He renewed his focus. The knife retreated another small bit. Righty ground his teeth. The bigger man was losing. Suddenly, he rolled off of Damian. That quickly, the threat of death was gone. Righty thumped onto the floor. He scrambled to his feet, and made for the door.
<br />
<br />
<i>He's fleeing?</i> Damian leaped off the bed and retrieved his knife. He casually flipped it around so that his fingers rested gingerly along the blade. Without hesitation, he flung it. It found the space between Righty's shoulder blades a scant two steps before the big man reached the door. Righty toppled forward with a thump.
<br />
<br />
Silence crashed in. Damian stood, dumbfounded,
and settled back into his own body. His limbs tingled as if blood was resuming its
circulation. He shook out the pins and needles.
<br />
<br />
There were two dead bodies on the floor.
<br />
<br />
<i>Knock, knock.</i>
<br />
<br />
It took Damian a moment to realize that
the knocks weren't in his head. By that time, they'd sounded again. He crept toward
the door. A strong voice called from the other side.
<br />
<br />
“Damian?”
<br />
<br />
Damian froze. It was a <i>female</i>
voice.
<br />
<br />
“Genny?” he called out.
<br />
<br />
A quick glance through the peephole
confirmed his guess. He jumped back. <i>How did she find me?</i>
<br />
<br />
“Are you all right in there?” came the
concerned voice from the hallway. “I heard a thump.”
<br />
<br />
“Yeah... uh... just a moment. Let me
get... ah... decent,” he answered.
<br />
<br />
He turned around.
<br />
<br />
There were two dead bodies on the floor.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-70192669204390338502013-05-31T16:24:00.002-04:002013-05-31T16:24:54.939-04:00Laughing in the Face of Death<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">O</span>ne of the things I've tried to do with Damian as a POV character is to let loose his oddities on our narration. The way his brain works isn't too far from my own (what with the voices and all), and I enjoy word-nerdy things like alliteration, puns, and pithy sarcasm. Generally speaking, if you have a straight-laced POV character and then throw in the crap that I'm throwing in, it would stick out and be thematically incorrect. I'm hoping that by letting Damian be Damian, I'm also allowing myself to have a little fun with the prose without jarring the reader out of the story.<br />
<br />
This scene is a perfect example of that. Fights are serious business. Right? And yet, I have some random metaphors and groan-worthy alliteration thrown in. I think it's fun. A literary stickler would probably lambaste me. I subscribe to the "write what you would want to read" theory, and these are tiny little jokes that make me cackle. Even in the middle of a serious fight.<br />
<br />
Jim Butcher is, in my opinion, a master of this. I love his <a href="http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden">Harry Dresden novels</a>, wherein the main POV character's peculiarities are completely embraced and provide for some hilarious jokes within jokes. Emulation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I'm definitely trying to channel my inner Butcher here. (And it has nothing to do with fine meats.)<br />
<br />
Damian is no Dresden, but I like to think they'd get along if they ever met in person. Harry would be dry. Damian shy. But how often do you get to meet a wizard?!<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-37983536671051391462013-05-31T16:15:00.000-04:002013-05-31T16:15:38.292-04:00What Death Sounds LikeRighty stepped back and coiled his arm
to strike again. Damian's feet danced away. Damian leveled out his weapon and balanced
on the balls of his feet, ready for any dish to be served in this deadly feast.
Righty delivered a ripe, overhand thrust, aiming the blade down at Damian's face.
The oaf had apparently eaten his fill of finesse and was hungry for a main laden
with brute strength.
<br />
<br />
Panic took control. Damian saw the knife
in his hand and pictured dozens of movies he'd seen. As Righty came charging, he
emulated them and threw the knife, end over end. It spun through the air, time
slowing and light glinting off the sharp blade. The camera pivoted one-eighty
on the blade as it hit the big man in the chest.
<br />
<br />
With the hilt. Which, of course, did not stick in like an assassin’s airborne offering, but instead bounced off harmlessly
and clanged to the floor. Righty kept right on coming.
<br />
<br />
Damian caught a meaty wrist with both
hands and they toppled onto the bed. The big man was on top, leveraging his weapon
down. It would be over soon. This was <i>not</i>
the movies. That knife swung down <i>far</i>
faster than it should.
<br />
<br />
<i>Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God</i>,
Damian prayed.
<br />
<br />
<i>Do I have to do everything?</i> Inigo
whined. <i>Clear your mind!</i>
<br />
<br />
<i>What?</i>
<br />
<br />
<i>Just do it.</i>
<br />
<br />
Damian closed his eyes and tried not
to focus on the blade bearing down on him. Mere seconds and it would be over. <i>Over!</i> He would be murdered in a hotel room.
He could feel the cold steel on his chin, the blade sliding along as it went after
the soft flesh of his throat. <i>What's the use? </i>Damian gave up.
<br />
<br />
He heard a <i>pop</i>.
<br />
<br />
<i>So that's what death sounds like...</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-69719226706191651202013-05-24T16:12:00.002-04:002013-05-24T16:12:15.048-04:00Friday Focus<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">A</span>s the day winds down, I struggled to get this part out. I actually wrote some new stuff this week, but wanted to stick to this scene. Originally, there was a bit more which I'll post next week. Just didn't get to it today.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fight scenes generally fly out of my fingers and then need a good deal of editing. There tends to be a lot of little, stylistic annoyances. Like redundant words. I also tried to tighten things up a bit. One of the tricks to good fight scene tension (any tension really) is to keep your sentences short and almost choppy. Not so much that it's annoy, just enough that the reader is pushed from one idea to the next. It can add a "frantic" feel when done right, which is entirely appropriate for a fight.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I remember when this scene first came to mind, I had reached a point in the story where I was like "now what?" When in doubt... fight scene! It's not totally gratuitous. There is a reason these baddies are tracking Damian. And there's always reason to kill when you're an evil henchman, am I right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More next week! I'm trying to get back into things!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-59809022003740924232013-05-24T16:06:00.005-04:002013-05-24T16:06:39.592-04:00Focus!Dark eyes drank Damian in from across the room, feeding what they saw
to the tiny flames and stoking their unnatural fire. Righty stalked to the foot
of the bed, shoulders rippling as he prepared to pounce. Damian felt his hand tighten
around the hilt of the large knife he'd taken from Righty's twin. Lefty's carcass
lay between them, pool of blood percolating outward.
<br />
<br />
<i>What now?</i> Damian's panicked brain
asked. He had no idea of how he'd managed to slay his first assailant, yet here
he was with the man's knife, facing the second–<i>are these even men</i>?
Damian backed away.
<br />
<br />
“I didn't particularly like him,” Righty
said, giving the body a quick glance as he stepped over, “but I like you even less.”
<br />
<br />
<i>Well, that's comforting</i>, Damian
thought.
<br />
<br />
<i>Be quiet and let me focus</i>, Inigo
responded.
<br />
<br />
<i>Focus? I'm the one in danger here!</i>
<br />
<br />
<i>Be quiet!</i>
<br />
<br />
Damian resisted the urge to prod. If
the voice in his head wanted quiet, Damian would comply. It wasn't like he didn't
have more pressing uses for his brain.
<br />
<br />
“Yeah, well,” Damian responded, “you
should leave now if you don't... if you don't want to... to... die or whatever.”
<br />
<br />
The threat sounded hollow to his own
ears. Righty grunted. And kept coming.
<br />
<br />
From somewhere inside of his black sport
coat, Righty produced a switchblade. He flicked it open and whirled it around, perhaps
hoping to intimidate his foe. It worked. Damian tried to swallow, but even the smallest
drop of spit couldn't find its way down his constricted throat. He coughed loudly,
sputtering.
<br />
<br />
Righty saw the weakness and leapt. The
switchblade flashed out toward Damian’s neck, slicing the air. Damian once more
trusted instinct.
<br />
<br />
Reflex pulled him down while his knife
hand shot up. It deflected the swipe away from Damian’s body. Righty regrouped,
and aimed another sweeping slash at Damian's midsection. The hilt of Damian's blade
caught that one. The move pulled Damian face to face with his assailant. Inhuman
black eyes stared back, the tiny flames flickering wildly.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-2960626970053192092013-05-17T17:10:00.004-04:002013-05-17T17:10:59.103-04:00Lefty For DeadLefty, despite the obvious threat
of the lamp, hazarded another step. It put the man within striking distance, so
Damian swung. Unfortunately, in his haste, Damian had forgotten to unplug the weapon
from the wall. As the weighted base arced toward his assailant's head, the lamp’s
cord went taut. Then, just as suddenly, it snapped free from the wall, flinging
Damian forward.
<br />
<br />
The lamp clanged harmlessly against
the bed’s frame, and a jolt shot up Damian's arm as he toppled. Some part of him
must have been expecting the fall, for he felt himself tuck into a roll. One with
the momentum, he let it carry him back to his feet. With a start, he realized his
attackers were behind him.
<br />
<br />
Damian spun, lamp-weapon in hand. Or,
rather, what was left of it. The base had snapped off and rolled away. It clunked
into the baseboard, causing Damian to flinch. His eyes went to Lefty, who was still
standing a step away. The man appeared even more menacing than before. Damian wasn't
sure how that was even possible, but it likely had something to do with the two
fresh cuts across the man's cheek.
<br />
<br />
<i>The plug</i>, Damian reasoned. <i>It must have grazed him</i>.
<br />
<br />
Lefty didn't acknowledge the injury,
but Damian was sure it had to hurt. It <i>was</i>
bleeding, after all.
<br />
<br />
“Sorry, I- ah... yeah,” Damian stammered.
<br />
<br />
To his surprise, Left grinned, though
it fit about as well as a dragon in a dollhouse.
<br />
<br />
Damian didn't have time to marvel at
the expression, however strange, because with the smile came a step and a grasping
hand. Damian ducked with speed that surprised him. Even more surprising, he thrust
the top of the lamp out in front of him like a spear. It jabbed into Lefty's gut,
pushing him back slightly.
<br />
<br />
The man grabbed the weapon, trapping
it and crushing the shade. For one awful moment, Damian was staring directly into
the man's burning eyes, eerie darkness with a dash of flame. The perfect recipe
for an arduous death.
<br />
<br />
Damian allowed instinct to control him
again. This time it yanked his arms away from the suited stranger. Damian didn't
expect the weapon to budge, but the crumpled shade ripped free. Lefty glanced at
the remains.
<br />
<br />
What happened next, Damian would someday
find even harder to explain. He had a great view of the events, perched–as it
seemed–high in his own head, viewing everything from a distance. He was the audience
for his own action film.
<br />
<br />
With the removal of the various parts
of the lamp, all that remained was the long, skinny midsection with a naked bulb
in the socket on top. Damian’s hand gripped the implement at the bottom and hefted
it, judging the balance. Then, his arm brought it up in a circle even as Lefty was
raising his eyes back to his prey.
<br />
<br />
The bulb caught the man flush to the
side of the head and popped. A bit of white powder puffed. Glass speckled the suit.
Lefty raised his knife, but whatever controlled Damian was quicker. Even as the
shards of glass were bouncing of the man's wide, muscular shoulders, the lamp whizzed
back around.
<br />
<br />
It raked across the man's face from
brow to chin, tearing the skin. Blood oozed out of the cut and down into Lefty's
right eye, partially blinding him. He swung with his knife where he thought Damian
should be, but Damian's body had already vacated the spot, swirling to the left.
<br />
<br />
The dance ended when Lefty stumbled
forward and Damian brought the broken bulb up under the man’s jaw. Damian rammed
it home and the tiny fires were snuffed out. A red flood burst from Lefty's mouth.
As the man fell back to the floor at the foot of the bed, Damian's hand darted out
to grab the knife. It parted easily from lifeless fingers.
<br />
<br />
New weapon in hand, Damian turned to
face Righty. The man wasn't laughing anymore.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-16654553175055141072013-05-17T17:10:00.003-04:002013-05-17T17:10:52.248-04:00Rock, Paper, Lamp?<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">T</span>his scene jumps back to where we were prior to last week. There are two goons in the room and Damian has no idea what is about to happen. As they say, animals are most dangerous when they're backed into a corner.<br />
<br />
This is the first scene where we see a strong hint that maybe there is more to Damian than his mundane exterior might suggest. Certainly the skill with which he moves in this fight is not native to your average cubicle dweller. I, for one, am pretty sure I would have a dreadful time surviving if I brought a lamp to a knife fight...<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-49174086886566053582013-05-15T10:18:00.002-04:002013-05-15T10:18:47.084-04:00Make it Personal<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">I</span> made a post over on my gaming blog that I thought was also applicable to post here. It's not going to be an exact copy, but I'm going to use large chunks and frame them slightly better for this blog. The basic musing came from my thoughts about "tortured" protagonists in fiction.<br />
<br />
The class I used to play when I was heavily into World of Warcraft was a Warlock. These fellows consort with demons and are generally shady characters. I wrote some in-character RP back in the day, and it was always fun trying to make an evil, selfish character sympathetic. I like to think it made for some very interesting reading.<br />
<br />
Last weekend, I went to see Iron Man 3 and really enjoyed the movie. I had the crazy notion just this morning that, you know, Tony Stark might be similar to my Warlock character. He's not evil, nor does he consort with demons, but he definitely has that selfish thing down. Let's just say: He's no Captain America.<br />
<br />
The cool part about that movie, to me, was the cleverness with which the story was pulled off. In the Avengers movie, the very fabric of the world was in jeopardy what with the alien invasion and Norse gods and all. It was the epitome of a "save the world" plot. How, then, do you create a movie in the same universe, with the same character, and have it retain a high stakes feel? It's like... well, we just saved the world, now what? Sequels in general struggle often with this problem. The stakes were so high in a previous movie and any subsequent plot will fall a bit flat.<br />
<br />
There is a neat little trick that I think IM3 nailed. Instead of putting the whole wide world in jeopardy, you need only put the <i>main character's</i> world in jeopardy. If you do your job and make a sympathetic character, then threatening things that are important to them can really raise the stakes without needing to resort to threats of a more global variety.<br />
<br />
As a former Warlock, I appreciate this. Saving the world doesn't always appeal to me. Sometimes, well... let 'em burn, right? Yet, threaten what <i>I</i> love and... it's on! A game like World of Warcraft has a hard time using this trick, since everyone is a protagonist. Global threats are the only ones that seem to work , which perhaps is why I feel it gets a bit overdone there. They have some good story threads, but my favorite by far was the Lich King. Fitting, then, that it may be perhaps the most personal of the story-lines in that universe.<br />
<br />
With Damian's story, I'm trying to use what I learned from my time as a Warlock. Tortured, somewhat ambiguous characters are loads of fun to write (and hopefully read). Just... don't forget to make it personal!<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-58314170787963818082013-05-03T16:16:00.002-04:002013-05-03T16:16:36.516-04:00I Bet He'd Kick A Puppy, Too“…and that’s why I hate orphans.
It’s not their fault, I know. Product of their environment and all that
bullcrap, but that is <i>exactly</i> the
problem. We abdicate responsibility so easily these days, you know?”
<br />
<br />
<i>Not
really. </i>Damian wiped at burning eyes. “I–”
<br />
<br />
Sonny rolled right on over him. “Of
course you do. Listen, I’ve really enjoyed our conversation. Made the flight
almost pleasant for once.”
<br />
<br />
It was the first
not-explicitly-hateful thing Damian had heard the man say. Even so, when Sonny
reached into his pocket, Damian felt himself flinch. It didn’t help
that the clunk of the cabin door opening timed up perfectly.
<br />
<br />
“Whoa, whoa buddy! Do you see a
beard?” Sonny threw his head back in laughter, pulling out a piece of
paper. “I just wanted to give you my card. Call me once you get settled into
your hotel. Where did you say you were staying again? Let’s do drinks.”
<br />
<br />
Sonny pressed the card into
Damian’s hand and, without waiting for a reply, strode down the aisle. Damian
watched the man shoulder through several people in his quest to be the first
off the plane.
<br />
<br />
<i>What
a strange and unpleasant fellow</i>, Inigo said.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-68260419903224102972013-05-03T16:16:00.001-04:002013-05-03T16:16:06.641-04:00Jumping Ahead<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">I</span> know, I just went back to the thread last week. Now, I'm jumping ahead. I wrote a very small but brand-spanking-new chunk this week. It tacks right on to the end of where I left off prior to my little life event. I'll be honest, it's probably the first cohesive bit I've written in like 6 months, so I'm sharing it. My mind seems to be getting back into gear.<br />
<br />
The story left off with our hero trapped on a trans-Atlantic flight next to a very rude fellow named Sonny. This takes us to touch-down in Vienna, and straight into our next setting. I think my transitions are a bit jarring when reading sequentially (perhaps less so in the episodic nature of blog posts), but I'm rolling with it for this story. I think the benefit is that it cuts out a lot of unnecessary meandering. I'm trying to give you just the essentials. That's not always a bad thing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here 'tis...<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-45211672428240379712013-04-19T15:51:00.001-04:002013-04-19T15:51:05.656-04:00Back to the Story Thread<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">O</span>k. I left y'all hanging on the door knock. Apologies. Been a busy couple of weeks, as mentioned. I got some time today to go back over the beginning of the first fight scene. Yes, I like writing fight scenes. This is sort of setting the stage for (hopefully) next week. And yes, that is a Lord of the Rings reference. I'm also particularly proud of the Van de Graaf reference.<br />
<br />
If you're chuckling and saying "nerd" under your breath right now... yep, nailed it. :-)<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-81211752495369620552013-04-19T15:47:00.003-04:002013-04-19T15:47:57.525-04:00Room ServiceDamian crept over on wary feet. He froze
when the knock sounded again, and then closed the last few steps to peer through
the peep hole.
<br />
<br />
Two suited strangers stood on the other
side, looking very much like generic government agents, Righty and Lefty. Righty
leaned back, bulky arm settling at his side. Lefty rocked back and forth on his
feet.
<br />
<br />
“Who's there?” Damian called out.
<br />
<br />
“Room service,” Lefty growled.
<br />
<br />
Righty chuckled.
<br />
<br />
<i>They do not appear to be employees
of the inn</i>, Inigo observed.
<br />
<br />
<i>No shit, Sherlock</i>, Damian replied.
<br />
<br />
“I'm sorry, I believe you have the wrong
room,” Damian answered.
<br />
<br />
Righty leaned in toward the door and
smiled. His teeth were stained yellow and cracked, gums dark around the edges. Damian
involuntarily took a step back. Was that sulfur he smelled?
<br />
<br />
“Damian Gardner,” Righty said. “No,
I believe we have it right. Open the door.”
<br />
<br />
Though there was a door between them,
Damian suddenly felt naked. Wood, metal, or whatever the barrier was made of did
not seem to stop the stares. The big men somehow <i>sensed</i> Damian.
<br />
<br />
Damian closed his eyes and took a
deep breath. He could feel them out there. Waiting. Watching.
<br />
<br />
“G-go away,” Damian stammered. “Whatever
you're here for, I don't want any part of it.”
<br />
<br />
“Well that's just too damn bad.”
<br />
<br />
The door exploded inwards, splinters
of the jamb spinning through the air. Damian stumbled back until his knee slammed
against something painful, and flipped onto the bed. Had they used a gun?
Damian couldn’t recall hearing a blast.
<br />
<br />
The men strode into the room, eyes burning.
<i>Literally. </i>Damian gawked. The irises were orange flames licking against a
black background. There was nothing human about them. Panic shot through Damian
like electricity arching off a Van de Graaff generator.
<br />
<br />
He fought with the comforter on the
bed, wiggling like a fish in a net. He thrashed about, managing somehow to chuck
the two pillows at his pursuers. Lefty swatted one away casually, while Righty slashed
the other aside with a knife. A shower of white fluff spurted from the wounded sleeping
implement.
<br />
<br />
A knife! <i>A knife</i>!
<br />
<br />
There seemed an echo in his brain. <i>No
time to worry about that now. We need a weapon</i>. Damian flipped heels over head,
rolling across the bed and landing on the other side. His hand darted out and grabbed
the first thing it could find. The lamp. He pulled it off the nightstand and held
it, burning before him as it if were a wizard's staff, though it was hardly large
enough.
<br />
<br />
The men paused on the far side of the
bed, pinning him with those awful eyes. They spread ever-so-slightly in the cramped
room – Righty to the right, Lefty to the left – blocking both an escape around the
foot of the bed and back across its disheveled surface. A crazed psychosis overcame
Damian just then, and he embraced it, saying the first thing that came to his mind.
<br />
<br />
“You shall not pass!” he bellowed.
<br />
<br />
Lefty cocked his head and took a step forward. Righty just laughed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-63144716856976764362013-04-11T16:01:00.001-04:002013-04-11T16:01:38.556-04:00Content Sponge Mode<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">I</span>f you've been paying attention, it is probably obvious that I'm struggling to write. This isn't to say I'm not writing, just not really coherent and planned writing. It tends to be more spur of the moment. I won't lie, I feel somewhat guilty about this. On the other hand, I'm sort of experiencing life upheaval, so it's not all that surprising. Most of my energy is diverted to "holding it together." Sort of like shifting around the deflector shields on the Millennium Falcon. I thought you fixed the hyperdrive!<br />
<br />
Apart from that, extra energy is being spent on going out and living a bit. We all go through different seasons of life. My previous had been one of, well, hermitage. There was so much going on at home that I never really got out. It was <i>really </i>conducive to writing, as one might imagine.<br />
<br />
I've transitioned back (or forward, depending on how you look at it) to a season where I need to be out making new friends and connections. It's not a bad season, and I've been having a lot of fun. It is absolutely <i>not </i>conducive to writing.<br />
<br />
I was driving and thinking (I do a lot of that these days), man these last few weeks would make a good story. One of the hallmarks of many of the writers I've studied over the years is their ability to find the story in anything. I recognized right away that I was doing the same thing. Curiously, it made me feel less guilty. I decided that while I was more productive word-wise in Hermitage Mode, there's something to be gained by getting out and living life every now and then. I think I want to call it Content Sponge Mode. Sure it's fun, but it is also giving me a whole bunch of experiences to draw from when crafting my next work. And that's not a bad thing.<br />
<br />
So, for now, I'm going to embrace Content Sponge Mode. I'll write as I get a chance, but I probably won't get a book out this year. I'm sure I'm missing the proverbial boat as e-books continue to take off, but I was never doing this as a get rich scheme anyway. Just wanted to tell stories.<br />
<br />
I'm going to still try to keep Damian's story going, but it may be hard some weeks. Just wanted to let y'all know and appreciate those that are sticking around here even in the face of the really sporadic content. I'll never give up on writing, but you may have to weather me being a bit of a flake this year. Artistic license... am I right?<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861802527677757801.post-11983830551595403222013-03-22T13:55:00.000-04:002013-03-22T13:55:50.873-04:00Cell Phone Hokey Pokey<span style="color: grey; float: left; font-family: Century,Times,serif,Georgia; font-size: 43px; line-height: 38px; padding-top: 0px;">R</span>andom scene today. I wanted to write something short and this bit came to mind. Ever have phantom spasms where you store your cell phone? Happens to me all the time, especially when I'm anxious about a call. Then I pull my phone out and check it twelve times before telling myself to stop being obsessive. Wonderful inventions, these cellular telephones. :-)<br />
<br />
Not sure where/if this will end up fitting in the story, but it was fun to write. Hope you enjoy.<div class="blogger-post-footer"># # #
<br />
If you'd like to support me, check out one of my stories:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/spirit-binder-series.html"> The Binder's Daughter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/shorter-works.html"> The Only Sparkle </a><br />
<a href="http://www.hofferthbooks.com/p/fates-motif.html"> Melody of the Fates </a><br />
<br />
On sale now!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496367364680009076noreply@blogger.com0