Many thanks to Mary Vensel White, author of The Qualities of Woodfor tagging me in this Blog Hop and thereby forcing me to consider my work in a more societal context. Always appreciate a nudge to view things from a fresh perspective. Mary’s been a guiding light through many aspects of the publishing process, not to mention an incredibly gifted storyteller. You can find evidence of her latest exploits here.
THE QUESTION:
Why are you working on the project you are writing now? Why is it important? (to you, or to the world, or…)
My next project, tentatively titled Practical Phrendonics continues The Dreamweaver Chronicles, begun in The Demon of Histlewick Downs. These stories loosely follow the ripple effects through history of a brilliant but controversial woman on a pseudo-Victorian society—a refined culture only belatedly realizing that magic is a force to be reckoned with. Their responses reflect some of the usual reactions that accompany the emergence of a disruptive force on an otherwise comfortable status quo. The folks who get caught in the crosshairs learn lessons that will no doubt resonate with anyone living in times of rapid technological advancement.
The work is also important on a more personal level: my characters are holding me hostage in a small windowless room at knifepoint, demanding to be published.
And now, I’m delighted to pass the torch to two captivating and accomplished novelists who will be answering the same question with respect to their own works-in-progress:
Claudia Whitsitt is the author of The Samantha Series (Identity Issues, Intimacy Issues and Internal Issues) and The Wrong Guy. Samantha, Claudia’s amateur sleuth, is a school teacher unwittingly caught up in a fascinating case of stolen identity. Identity Issues was one of my first kindle app downloads, and despite having to sit at a computer desk to do it, I devoured it in no time. Her take on the importance of her current work-in-progress should be appearing here shortly.
Matthew Pallamary, an inspirational publishing powerhouse, whose accomplishments include historical fiction-turned Cirque-du-Soleil-style performance (Land Without Evil), to memoir (Spirit Matters), to Science Fiction (Dreamland) to self-help (The Infinity Zone) and several short story collections. He still somehow finds time to mentor new authors at numerous writers’ conferences (Including the upcoming Southern California Writers’ Conference) where his late-night Rogue Read-and-Critique sessions are always a special treat. How do you do it, Matt? I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a word or two about your upcoming novel, Eye of the Predator in your reply.
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The societal disruption caused by the new version of magic in The Demon of Histlewick Downs kept me turning pages. And learning. Misunderstood, and even poorly-understand, new technologies represented a threat to those not in-the-know, then as now. As the reader's competence in the new Phrendonic magic technologies grows, the mystery of how all will resolve in this conflict among ideas, migrated to conflict among people, crackled with suspense ... and, interestingly, with hope. The ending of this first book of the Dreamweaver Chronicles was actually an ending, and not just a vague lead-in to upcoming books as so often happens in series. I wasn't left hanging about what happened with the conflict in THIS story. Thank you! But I want to know what happens next, all the same! Hoping those characters with you in that small room keep you writing and editing. 😎
And thanks for the heads-up about Mary Vensel White, Claudia Whitsitt and Matthew Pallamary. Always more to learn!