Know The Novel | Part Three

EEP! HOW DID I MISS THIS???

*Ahem*

Going back through my blog posts, I realized I never filled out Part Three of Christine’s NaNoWriMo series. Oops!

So, even though NaNo is long past, and the link-up is closed, I’m going to do it anyhow, if for no other reason than so my blog archives will be complete, LOL.

QUESTIONS

1. Firstly, how did writing this novel go all around? Overall, pretty well. I was able to write a little every day, which was the idea of this contest, and while that was a bit exhausting, it was worth the hard work.

2. Did it turn out like you expected or completely different? And how do you feel about the outcome? As I said before, the “filler” between main plot-points had a mind of its own, but on the whole, the book was great fun to write.

3. What aspect of the story did you love writing about the most? (Characters, plot, setting, prose, etc.) The characters, as always. The more I write, the more I realize my greatest strength is character interaction and development, especially via dialogue. The scenes between Liam and Starflower were so sweet, and I loved working with them.

4. How about your least favorite part? Not sure there was a “least favorite” part, exactly—although I do regret not including some of the lore/worldbuilding I intended for Ardonia in general, and the Star Queen in particular. Perhaps I can fit it into the next draft....
The part where the Rat King died was a bit hard to write, I will admit. I do try to keep the violence to a minimum in my writing, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.

5. What do you feel like needs the most work? As I said before: The worldbuilding. I want to explain why it is that Humans can learn magic in this world (considering it’s forbidden in some of my other worlds), why the Forest of the Night has such an evil name among the people, and add a bit of lore to the Star Queen’s character. I also want to give Herr Weisskopf (the “Droselmeier” character) a larger role. He kinda got shoved in a corner by all the StarLiam cuteness. :-P

6. How do you feel about your characters now that the novel is done? I love them dearly. Not, perhaps, as much as some of the cast from Prince Nácil or the Peanut Gallery, but I enjoyed working with them, and look forward to polishing up their story a bit more in the near future (Lord willing). Who’s your favorite? Liam and Starflower, for sure. These two are just so sweet—but in a “root for them to have their Happily Ever After” kind of way. Starflower has just enough temper to balance out her sweetness—

Anton Argentos:Which is another way of saying, She’s not another Elsie Dinsmore. XP

(Well, I wasn’t going to say it....)
*Ahem*
—and Liam is...well, he’s the type of Hero I find myself writing a lot: Tender-hearted, sensitive and caring, observant and thoughtful, kind and gentle but also valiant and protective. A gentleman through-and-through.Least favorite? Don’t think there was a “least favorite” character, per se. Frau Ratzenburger felt a bit two-dimensional...but then, villains are my weak point, especially female villains, for some stupid reason.Anyone surprise you? Give us all the details! It’s been so long since I wrote the book, I don’t remember if anyone in particular surprised me...although the Magic Mirror’s prophecy was totally a spur-of-the-moment thing, but I really like it, and it ended up an important part of the finale.
Actually, on further thought, Kürt Ratzenburger being the jolly joker character, and a musician/actor, was a surprise...but then, I find I always have to have at least one character who tries to lighten the mood with snark and/or wise-cracks. :-P

7. What’s your next plan of action with this novel? My goal is to go back and polish up PS a bit more—move one scene so the plot flows more smoothly, perhaps add a bit more worldbuilding/background, etc. I also want to develop Starflower’s six other cousins (Fritz’s younger brothers) better, as they end up being rather important at the end, and I want the readers to be connected with them by that point. I don’t want to change or expand it too much, as I want to keep it in the children’s/YA category, but I feel there’s more to the story than what I’ve written, so God helping me, I intend to add it in as best I can.

8. If you could have your greatest dream realized for this novel, what would it be? Isn’t the greatest dream of any author to have one’s work published? That’s my goal (Lord willing), anyhow. I would love for my little “expanded Faerie-tale”/mashup to be read and enjoyed, and for it to be a blessing to those who read it...and perhaps have it inspire other writers to try combining stories they previously thought too dissimilar.

9. Share a snippet of one of your most favorite scenes! I feel like I’ve already shared my top faves already (one or two of them twice, oops), but I’m rather fond of this bit, too:

Thoughts came into the Nutcracker’s head—knowledge of how to save Starflower and the Dwarves. His heart constricted, for with that knowledge came the realization that the old witch was right; this quest might just cost him his life. But if I can bring back Starflower and the Dwarves to the Land of the Living, he thought, then...then I shall die happy, knowing they’re safe.

He rose to his feet, squaring his wooden shoulders. “I must also touch the Crown,” he explained, “and enter the Dream World, and bring her and the Dwarves back by sunset.”

The Star Queen laid a dainty hand on his shoulder. “God protect you, dear Liam, and grant you success.”

“I have much more I would say to you, young man,” the Moon King stated, “but it shall keep until you return.” He shook the Nutcracker’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder. “Godspeed, my son!” Then he and the Star Queen took a step back, holding hands and looking at him expectantly.

The Nutcracker took a deep breath to steady himself, bowed to them, and faced the sleeping Starflower. He patted her hand gently and whispered, “Hold on, Princess; I’m coming.”
Then he reached out and touched the Poison Crown.

10. Did you glean any new writing and/or life lessons from writing this novel? Not particularly, but it was good for me to have that deadline and motivation to write a little every day. However, I don’t think I could keep up that pace on a regular basis—I’d probably burn out after a while....
But I did have fun, and it still kind of amazes me that I finished an entire book in three weeks. Sole Deo Gloria!

Based on advice from both my mother (who might be a wee bit biased, LOL), and Kendra (who is an actual Published Author and therefore ought to know), I’m thinking of publishing Princess Starflower and possibly one other “expanded Faerie-tale” before launching the Ýdära Multiverse...Lord willing I can figure out the mess that is getting published these days...but that’s another kettle o’ fish entirely....

...the rationale being that PS and the other story*, being on the shorter side, will give people a sample of my writing without overwhelming them right at first. Plus it’ll (theoretically) give me a bit more time to get Prince Nácil and its sequels ready for publication (Lord willing...).

* Tentatively entitled The Woodcutter’s Children at present, although I’ve also considered The Dragon’s Candlestick or The Magic [or Enchanted] Candlestick. Any suggestions are most welcome!

Please pray for me as I slog through this new endeavor—that God will show me what route to take in publishing the stories He’s put in my head, and all that entails.

Please pray for Inspiration as I work on the sequels, and the other series I have planned—my timelines are a bit of a mess, and I’m still figuring out certain plot points and other elements in this series (Children of Light/House of Othniel) that set things in motion for the other series (especially the Heirs of Dunsmüir Saga).

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless, and take care of yourselves!

~ℛ~