Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

The Great Divide Commentary Part 2

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The next several months will bring author commentaries on all six stories contained within the Tales from Portents collection. My hope is to offer insight into the decisions made in putting the project together and the challenges therein. It’s also fun to point out the little Easter eggs throughout. (I love that crap.) So, SPOILER WARNING is in effect for the duration.

Mentor’s Role

The initial thought when constructing The Great Divide was a buddy cop story between Ruiz and Mentor. Ruiz’s introduction to the world of Portents came during his first encounter with the enigmatic Mentor. The two would then, reluctantly, join forces to battle the big bad of the tale with resounding success.

Why did it fail to take off from the initial notes phase? Simple. Loren and Soriya already have that relationship. The similarities between the two dynamics cropped up early and often, which immediately turned me away from the concept. If I can’t show something new, some new wrinkle in the way Portents works, or how characters interact then there is no point in moving forward.

I did like the animosity between the two players. Think Lethal Weapon to the extreme. I didn’t want to lose that concept so I tucked it away for a rainy day, one that came sooner than I thought in the form of Gremlins. Using the angry buddy cop motif there fit much better with the story I wanted to tell and left The Great Divide open for something new.

Mentor
Tales from Portents is only 99-cents!

How Mentor’s presence evolved

Once I knew I didn’t want Mentor to be the driving force of the narrative things progressed rapidly. Ruiz became the central figure of the story so it became about finding a way to add Mentor into the mix more than anything else.

That was the basis for how the story fleshed out. Mentor was the ghost in the machine, acting from the shadows.

Why it worked?

It ratcheted up the tension. Instead of getting bogged in exposition with Mentor explaining everything to Ruiz with each step, Ruiz is thrown in the deep end without help. His life is in jeopardy. There is a chance he won’t make it out, until Mentor steps in from the shadows.

There is also their actual meeting at the end. I wanted Ruiz scared, on edge, and unsure which way to turn. Putting the two at odds was always the goal but this added to the tension that would serve as the basis of not only their relationship but Ruiz’s time with Soriya as well.

Having the truth of the city thrust upon him in a dramatic display instead of calmly explained at the beginning added more to Ruiz’s anger at the truth than anything else. His decision to not only hate the truth but refuse to accept it or publicly acknowledge it lined up more smoothly with what we knew about the character.

The final reason, and I am so happy it came together this way, was that by not having Mentor as a central player in the story it opened the door for someone new to enter the stage. Julian Harvey filled that role, a default mentor to Ruiz. Harvey’s role allowed for a new dynamic to be introduced and showcased Ruiz’s immaturity with the city.

Harvey’s role has become critical to the overall story being told in Greystone and it almost never came about. That little shift with Mentor, turning him to almost a wraith in the background, ended up being one of the most important in the series.

Very glad it happened that way.

Next time

Introducing minor characters to the world of Portents and their importance to the series. Why Edgar Rusch, Julian Harvey, Michelle Ruiz and Hady Ronne are crucial to the success of Greystone.

Thanks for reading.

The Great Divide Commentary Part 1

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The next several months will bring author commentaries on all six stories contained within the Tales from Portents collection. My hope is to offer insight into the decisions made in putting the project together and the challenges therein. It’s also fun to point out the little Easter eggs throughout. (I love that crap.) So, SPOILER WARNING is in effect for the duration.

The rise of Alejo Ruiz

Alejo RuizThere were a number of initial notes made when putting this project together. If you’ve read my previous posts on Tales from Portents you know the idea was to create a prequel for Signs to offer readers as an added incentive to bring them into the Greystone fold. One story and only one.

It kinda blew up from there. It happens.

From those initial notes I realized the chance to add depth to the major and minor players that exist within the city of Portents. The Great Divide served as a vehicle to showcase one of my favorite characters in the series; Alejo Ruiz.

The focus for Signs of Portents was strictly on the journey of Greg Loren and Soriya Greystone. Ruiz was involved, for sure, but kept to the side for a large chunk of the narrative. I wanted to give him some space to shine.

Why?

Two reasons (and very important ones at that).

  1. Building up the cast – Supporting characters should be strong and layered. They bolster the main leads and the world around them, so by offering some time to Ruiz I hoped to make him more integral to the story as a whole.
  2. The Medusa Coin – Plotting ahead is SO helpful sometimes. Ruiz plays a huge role in The Medusa Coin. Knowing the events coming up, his inclusion as the lead for The Great Divide was a no-brainer as well as some of the story beats that ended up in the final draft of the tale. EVERYTHING has a payoff down the line. That is the fun of writing a series.

A thematic bridge

There were a number of places this story could have gone. As a prequel the door was open for a tale from any time Alejo Ruizbefore Signs of Portents. No other restriction. I settled on two notions that get right to the heart of the character, both creating a thematic bridge between novels.

The first, and the initial thread, I wanted to pull was Ruiz’s hatred of the world Soriya represents. He is one of the few people that knows about the true city and what is out there in the darkness of Portents. That is a heavy load to carry and I wanted to play with that responsibility.

More than that, I wanted to play with his anger toward it. His reaction is so different than that of Soriya and Loren when it comes to the monsters lurking around every corner. He hates it and wants nothing to do with it.

Why? That was my jumping off point and how I landed at the beginning of his journey with The Great Divide.

The second thematic element ran in line with the title of the piece. The great divide is about Ruiz and his wife. Ruiz’s childhood is hinted at several times, including the trouble between his parents. He has done everything possible to avoid those missteps, but in learning the truth ends up falling into the same trap.

The great divide started in this tale plays out fully in The Medusa Coin. Knowing that blowup was coming and seeding it here, allows the end of his arc to be that much more powerful.

Tidbits

The monkey decoration adorning the nursery at the Ruiz home is taken from the nursery for my children – who might actually be monkeys the way they bounce through the house.

The story of the yellow eyed bird monster is not over. There is something coming I am very excited to share about this menacing figure and his relationship with Alejo Ruiz.

Next time

Mentor’s presence in The Great Divide. How it evolved as the story came together.

Thanks for reading.

Writing Update – March 30, 2017

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The end of March already?! Unbelievable. A crazy month here in the basement. Lots of fun stuff planned including a big birthday bash for the love of my life today – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELINDA! – so let’s get you a writing update STAT.

Writing Update

Pathways in the Dark is where most of my attention has been the last few weeks. I have three of the seven short stories drafted and hope to knock out the rest over the course of April, possibly dipping into May depending on the other sixteen priorities that seem to crop up every time I turn around.

I had some trouble maneuvering through the last tale I drafted. Part of it is a focus issue for sure. Part is the birthday mania known as March. I am happy to say I have stepped out of the wilderness stronger than ever and looking forward to tackling some really cool shorts about your favorite Greystone characters.

This is a much different book than Tales from Portents turned out to be. Where Tales offered background information and some nice asides for the cast of the series, Pathways is about pushing the characters toward their final destination. It really is about finding the light in all the shadows surrounding the city of Portents and working from that point has made it a stronger collection, in my opinion. We’ll see how it all shakes out!

The Medusa Coin is still with my favorite readers but the feedback so far has been very positive. I’ll be diving back into it in a few weeks to give it a once over. I’ve already noted a couple tweaks to tighten up some plot points that I don’t know why I didn’t see months ago.

Closing the circle

The final book in the first half of the Greystone series is starting to take shape. (Another distraction from drafting but a welcome one.) I woke up in the middle of the night last week with the answer to a question plaguing the series from the start.

I know what happened the day Beth died.

There were inklings before, little hints not only for myself but for you. Now I have the story behind the tragic events that opened the series.

It has really caused me to rethink much of my planning with the series but the resolution of the long running plot next year will make the work stronger in the long run.

Made me sad to realize the truth though… Loren is in for some tough days.

Promotion City

As if writing wasn’t enough I have set up quite the April festivity for the Greystone series.

Signs of Portents is currently free through Instafreebie and will be part of the SFF Mega Promo from April 10th – April 16th. The March promo books are still listed until April 1st. If you’re interested in some cool reads, snag them up before they are replaced this weekend. Signs will also be part of a Superhero/Fantasy themed promotion put together by Future House Publishing running the same dates. As soon as I have a link I will make it available through social media.

Very excited to be part of both of these promos. I really hope this builds steam for the series and the upcoming release of The Medusa Coin.

And remember, books listed are FREE!

Tales from Portents, not one to be left out of the fun, will be part of the sister promo to the SFF Mega Promo, this one spotlighting 99-cent releases. The SFF 99c Promo will be running from April 10th through the 16th but you can also snag a discounted copy today at the following:

            

And don’t forget the Goodreads giveaway is still going on. Enter today for a chance at a FREE SIGNED PAPERBACK of Tales from Portents!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Tales from Portents by Lou Paduano

Tales from Portents

by Lou Paduano

Giveaway ends April 20, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Dominion Rising:

Dominion Rising: 22 Brand New Novels from Top Fantasy and Science Fiction Authors by [White, Gwynn, Erin St Pierre, P.K. Tyler, S.M. Blooding, Samuel Peralta, K.J. Colt, Anthea Sharp, Daniel Arthur Smith, Lisa Blackwood, S.M. Schmitz, Melanie Karsak, Dean F. Wilson, Margo Bond Collins, D.K. Holmberg, Felix R. Savage, Tom Shutt, Pippa DaCosta, Timothy C. Ward, Tony Bertauski, Rebecca Rode, Cheri Lasota, Ann Christy, Becca Andre, Logan Thomas Snyder, Erin Hayes]For those looking to try out a whole slew of the best and brightest authors around in Science Fiction and Fantasy, check out the Dominion Rising box-set.

22 brand new novels are being offered in this set for only 99-Cents!!

From the back cover:

Find the Science Fiction and Fantasy reads you’ve been craving! Whether it’s alien invasion or dark fairytales, heart-pounding galactic adventures or cyberpunk romance, Dominion Rising will satisfy with a thrilling mix of 22 all-new full-length novels set in fantastical realms.

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All the novels are available exclusively in the Dominion Rising collection.

The collection will be released on August 8th but you can pre-order your copy today!

I already purchased my copy. Can’t wait to dive into it this summer.

More on the promos in two weeks!

Thanks for reading.

Author Commentaries

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I don’t know about you but after I read something and thoroughly enjoy it I like to know as much about the project as possible. What choices were made in the background? How was the initial concept conceived? Thoughts about specific moments and the level of difficulty in pulling it together. I find author commentaries fascinating in this regard.

Tales from Portents Author Commentaries

The second installment of the Greystone series has been out for a little over a month now. You’ve read it and loved every freaking second of it, I am sure.

If not – for shame – some handy dandy links will take you to your favorite retailer to procure a copy.

               

Why should you snag it now and devour it eagerly? Besides the fact that it is currently only 99-cents digitally right this very minute????

Author commentaries are on the way next week!

I did this with Signs of Portents and really enjoyed digging into the process and where things changed from draft to final manuscript. Being the forward thinker I am – HA – I took some time during the editing process and the many readings therein to mark down what I thought were interesting nuggets about each and every entry in the Tales from Portents collection.

author commentaries

Every story had its trials, its changes and I wanted to share them with you. Like I said, I find author commentaries fascinating because they inform the writing process. Understanding how to think around obstacles in order to create a more satisfying reading experience.

Spoiler Warning

I will be talking about what happens in each story and I don’t want the experience ruined for you. You have been warned!

If there is a specific topic (plot point, scene, character, etc.) you would like mentioned please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to share. Unless it spoils future novels. If you want me to tell you how everyone dies in a fiery crash, I’m not going to do it. Oh, wait… Forget I wrote that.

Reviews

If you’ve read Tales from Portents and haven’t been able to write a review yet, they would be greatly appreciated. Reviews really are the only social proof authors have that they’ve written something halfway decent that people will enjoy. Thank you for taking the time to help spread the word about Tales and all the Greystone novels.

           

   

And thanks for reading!

Researching Threats

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This is a question that comes up regularly, mostly from my old man in the form of “What the hell is wrong with you?” Researching threats faced within the world of Greystone can be painstaking in some cases, but on the whole it is a blast.

Finding out the perfect villain for the piece, the single voice that opposes Loren and Soriya, is almost always a tough nut to crack. I go about it in a few different ways:

Researching threats

The Process

For me the antagonist of the story, be it short tale or full-length novel, comes after figuring out the main dilemma of the leads. Who is telling this story and where are they coming from? What emotional hook is there in the background before the first sentence?

Knowing the personal stakes gives the reader something to invest in. Friends find this funny about me, but as a comic book reader I could care less about the villain of the story. I read for the drama, the personal conflict behind the fisticuffs. I care if Peter Parker can get home in time to give poor Aunt May her meds and less about if Doc Ock ends up behind bars yet again.

researching threats
This should always be more important…

That’s my methodology with developing my outlines for Greystone. Internal strife and personal conflict for a satisfying character arc come first and the punchy kicky stuff gets added in for effect.

The importance of a great threat

That isn’t to say the threat should be throwaway or shallow in depth. The reader needs to feel the main character’s are in constant danger. Who knows when one might meet their end or by what monster roaming the streets of Portents?

When it comes to researching threats I try to look at two ways:

  1. Do they directly impact the internal conflict? For example, if Soriya is in turmoil over the loss of a dear friend does the threat come from someone connected to that loss? Mentor’s long lost brother comes for a visit and turns out to a Chupacabra. (Meh. It could happen…)
  2. Is the threat more symbolic? Going back to the loss angle. Reeling from the death of someone close to Soriya, our hero struggles to save the life of a young woman (surrogate for dear friend) caught in a situation that is similar yet completely unique to the one that caused her internal conflict in the first place.

The obvious threats

The easy gets, as I say. When, during the outline phase, there is only one threat that could possibly be used to tell this story.

  1. The antithesis of the protagonist in every way. (Standish in Tales from Portents. He is everything Loren is not.)
  2. Plays off the setting/situation the main character finds themselves in. (View from Above – Soriya is mired by responsibility and tries to find a lighter side with Vlad. Enter the Kitsune, a trickster getting kicks from stealing from little old ladies. No responsibility and all lighter side.)

The less than obvious threats

Like pulling teeth, it takes three or four days of heavy thought to find the perfect face for villainy in the story.

This happened recently with the upcoming Pathways in the Dark. I knew the character’s arcs. Knew where they were coming from and the building blocks of an external threat. Just not the threat itself. Having that background with the characters, using them as the basis for telling the story instead of winging it, allowed me to find possibilities until I was left with the perfect threat that spoke to both the internal and external conflict of the story.

Resources for researching threats

I was going to go into depth on the wonderful world of Wikipedia but I thought better of it. Suffice it to say I use the internet and different directories that list classic myths and legends as a starting point before building a short list of finalists for the story in question.

Then it is all about research, research, research and tying it to the protagonist’s journey in the narrative. Nothing is more important than that to me.

Thanks for reading.

Tales From Portents Goodreads Giveaway

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The Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win one of five signed copies of Tales from Portents is on RIGHT NOW!!!

Goodreads giveaway time!

goodreads giveawayTales from Portents, from top to bottom, is a work I am extremely proud of. Coming from me and my dismal view of my writing that is saying something, trust me. Every writer feels the same way, I’m sure. Some are better at expressing it (if not most). We stress over the work, tearing it down (and ourselves in the process) and then build it back up to a point where we can shunt it out into the world and hope for the best.

Not with Tales. I loved putting it together and I want as many people to enjoy it as I have.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Tales from Portents by Lou Paduano

Tales from Portents

by Lou Paduano

Giveaway ends April 20, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

How can you help?

First and foremost, please share this post and the link to the Goodreads giveaway.

Spreading the word is a great first step in bringing in as many people as possible for what I hope is a fun reading experience. (Maybe not fun but terrifying sends the wrong message, doesn’t it?)

If you haven’t already, please leave a review for Tales from Portents. Rate it on Goodreads. Review it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo or anywhere you can. Every review helps potential readers find their next favorite book. I’ve included links below:

               

To find out more about free content, including the a free copy of Resurrectionists, the lead story in Tales from Portents be sure to sign up for my newsletter.

Resurrectionists

Enter the Goodreads giveaway today!

Enter the Goodreads giveaway for your chance at a signed copy of Tales from Portents today. Giveaway ends April 20th, 2017.

Thanks for reading.

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