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Resurrectionists Commentary Part 3

July 10, 2017 By Lou

We’ve made it to the last author commentary for the Tales from Portents collection at last! My hope with these author commentaries 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.

So, the final SPOILER WARNING is in effect!

The Founder

In the original version of Resurrectionists there was a clear villain in the form of the Founder.  He had dubiousFounder intentions and the mystery behind his identity was very much in play.

Then I thought better.

Is there a villain in Resurrectionists? Not really. Using this crucial component of the Greystone series as more a morality tale for Loren and Soriya than a battle between good and evil strengthened the emotional core of the story.

The face of the Founder

The first and second draft held the same premise: at the climax of the story, the Founder was arrested and unmasked for the city to see.

The aftermath chapters centered on his story before diving into Loren’s suspension and subsequent leave of absence. In essence, all character growth, the heart of the story being told was blocked by the need to explain who and what the Founder truly was.

It didn’t work.

It was awkward and it raised more questions than it answered. And it sure as hell took some of the juice away from the pain Loren was going through after the debacle.

Pulling away from Loren in this moment as well as from Soriya as she watches him leave at the end of the story, would have undercut the strength of these scenes, and the reason the story existed in the first place.

The unmasking also put more emphasis on explaining how the resurrections occurred as well. That was something I wanted ambiguous. The less said the better. Spelling out the mystical, defining every aspect of a supernatural or faith-based element in the narrative is never for the benefit of the story or the reader.

Leaving those questions, allowing the reader to make their own judgement engages the audience more. Or it frustrates the hell out of them. (Definitely not my intention…)

The other benefit of leaving the Founder in the wind with his mask and motivations intact?

Founder’s Day

FounderIt leaves things open for a kick-ass sequel.

That’s right. Coming December 5, 2017, Founder’s Day will be coming your way.

FOR FREE.

On the eve of the Founder’s Day Celebration in the heart of Portents, someone is murdering city officials and dressing them up in a signature black robe and cloak.

What does it have to do with the Church of the Second Coming? And will Loren be able to find the killer or will the entire city of Portents be at risk?

The seeds are planted for the end of the first cycle of the Greystone series in this tale!

The End.

That brings us to the end of the commentary for Tales from Portents. I hoped you enjoyed this insight into the insanity I bring to all my work. The constant battles. The thoughts behind even the most miniscule of details. Everything is important and it is all to make the reading experience the best possible.

I hope you agree.

Thanks for reading!

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Filed Under: Commentaries, Resurrectionists Tagged With: author commentary, Founder, Founder's Day, Resurrectionists, Tales from Portents, villains

Resurrectionists Commentary Part 2

June 29, 2017 By Lou

We’ve almost made it to the last author commentary for the Tales from Portents collection! One more after this, promise! My hope with these author commentaries 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.)

Spoiler Warning is in effect!

Pulling threads together…

This is one of the most difficult tasks of a writer. I am constantly tweaking, pulling, and praying that at the end of the day the threads connect and make sense.

As well as satisfy both the casual fan and the avid reader.

For Resurrectionists, the task before me was to take the small nuggets left throughout Signs of Portents and build a compelling narrative to explain some of them.

Not all of them.

A good friend continues to complain about the lack of answers. Don’t worry. They are coming. Soon.

So I had goals set before sitting down to plot.

Roadmaps help.

They do. Sometimes I wonder where the hell I would be without my OneNote app. I have so many little tidbits and thoughts stretched across dozens of pages.

Having goals is only a start though. There has to be a narrative behind the events or there is no reason, no drive for the characters. Who wants to read that?

Coming up with a story that allowed the threads of Robert Standish, Loren’s suspension and his fallout from Soriya was where the challenge came in for Resurrectionists.

Knowing Loren was as helpful as the map.

Beth remains central to the character’s motivations and offered me a starting point. What would make Loren stop using his brain and follow his heart, act out emotionally instead of rationally?

The chance to bring Beth back.

Bringing faith into it.

I’m a huge fan of Supernatural. I won’t deny it. Those damn Winchesters have stolen twelve years from me and I still tune in as often as possible to watch their misadventures.

Especially the seasons centered on the conflict between angels and demons.

I’ve always been fascinated by religious lore. In fact, you’ll be seeing much more of it in a few years (yes, years…) and it is going to ROCK.

But for the purposes of this tale, I wanted to play with Loren’s faith. His beliefs. And how it relates to the characters in Portents.

Using resurrection as a tool, an instrument behind the narrative, spoke to where the character was at this point in the series. I needed Loren to fall. I needed his mistake to be grave, at least in his own eyes.

Would Soriya have easily forgiven his actions? Would Ruiz?

Of course.

But Loren wouldn’t. And that was the important part. Loren needed this break. He needed to walk away.

Until Signs of Portents brings him back.

Tying it together.

Goals are great. Plot devices or threads offer a writer an entrance into the story. But it isn’t enough.

Using Resurrectionists to answer questions would have fallen flat without tying it to Loren’s arc as a character. Taking those threads, that constant guilt at his mistakes, and then showing what he’s been trying to deal with after the events of this story offers that much more impact.

Every story since this one has given me that opportunity and it is something I’ve been grateful to learn while constructing this series.

Character trumps all. Defining moments only work when they sprout from the character. All the threads, all the maps, all the goals in the world don’t mean anything without a tie to principal players in the narrative.

Coming July 10th:

The last commentary on this collection!!

The face of the Founder… AND A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Thanks for reading.

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Filed Under: Commentaries, Resurrectionists Tagged With: author commentary, pulling threads, Resurrectionists, Tales from Portents

Resurrectionists Commentary Part 1

June 26, 2017 By Lou

We’ve made it to the last story in the collection at last! My hope with these author commentaries 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.

Resurrectionists

resurrectionistsIt took awhile to get here but we have finally arrived at the largest story in Tales from Portents.

The idea behind the collection of short stories was always to put one out ahead of the release and offer it to readers for free. Generating interest and gauging the audience with no strings attached is, in my opinion, the best way to see what clicks with readers.

There are challenges with such a release. Some readers want more. The full story. The answer to every question asked. Or, because of the narrative structure, they are put off by the short story.

I am always conscious of this last fact. Every worry I carry for my work is that there isn’t enough meat to the story. Telling a rollicking tale with blockbuster-esque explosions and battles is nice, but the emotional core has to be there as well.

Resurrectionists was my attempt to do both. Offer a shorter work, a more straightforward plot, but really dig into the characters. Without scenes like Soriya in the Bypass Chamber with Mentor or Loren talking things out with Ruiz I think all the heart in the telling would have been lost.

But it would have been a helluva zombie story, wouldn’t it?

Why did it come first?

This is something I continually come back to, especially with the recent release of The Greystone Saga Volume One box set.

Every other story in the collection is in chronological order. Why the hell would I screw that up and put resurrectionistsResurrectionists first?

In typical fashion, I argued the point with the only other person involved in the process. Myself. (Very awkward…)

I wanted to keep things simple. Do things that made sense from a story perspective and have Resurrectionists take its rightful place after View from Above.

That would leave The Great Divide as the frontrunner for the collection and as the preview readers could download for free on Amazon and other retailer sites.

A Ruiz/Mentor story.

Now there is a time and place to showcase supporting cast members. Having them take the lead on the book and possibly be the first experience for new readers to discover the series is not one of them though.

Greystone centers around Loren and Soriya. Always has and always will. (maybe…) For a true experience, to really showcase the series for new potential readers I wanted to put my leads in the forefront.

Spoilers…

This might seem like a cheat to some but I also didn’t want an entire story spoiled by the Look Inside feature on Amazon and other sites. If The Great Divide led the pack then the entire story could be read (and hopefully enjoyed) for free in the preview of the collection.

Not the worst thing ever, but coupled with the idea that neither lead character was present in the tale, I felt the shift of Resurrectionists made the most sense in the long run.

Another benefit.

My other thought (SO MANY THOUGHTS) was that if a reader took advantage of the freebie version of Resurrectionists and then bought Tales, they could then skip right over the first story and dive right into the other five.

Convenient, right?

I could be wrong though. What do you think? Did I botch the experience by putting Resurrectionists first? Was it upsetting to see Resurrectionists in the collection when it is available separately for free?

Talking to myself about it over and over again only goes so far, so you tell me.

Next time:

More on Resurrectionists including pulling threads from Signs and the face of the Founder.

Thanks for reading.

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Filed Under: Commentaries, Resurrectionists Tagged With: author commentary, placement, Resurrectionists, Tales from Portents, View from Above

Writing Update – January 19, 2017

January 19, 2017 By Lou

I was hoping to really dig into this one and deliver some grade A sarcasm and topnotch witty remarks that are patented Lou material. Instead, my toddler decided to enter her quarterly scream-fest and I am too bleary eyed to think straight. So let’s get to the writing update!

(Then sleep. With my headphones blaring. In the car. Down the block.)

Writing Update!

writing update

The PROOFS are in. I’ve been hip deep in reading through Tales from Portents “one last time” this week. Why the quotes? Because I know there will be another readthrough. There is always one more readthrough.

I’d like to thank my lovely wife for joining me in this endeavor. She found two glaring issues with Resurrectionists that I have spent the last two hours repairing. If you noticed them, apologies all around! If not, then what the hell are you talking about?

The Medusa Coin self-edit is chugging along. SLOWLY. I think I’ve figured out my main issue with the narrative and the changes I’ve noted, on copious amounts of stickie notes running throughout my basement, are going to really ramp up the overall storyline.

I’m very excited to pull the book apart and really tear into some of the weaker sections. You’ll thank me for it, I promise.

One final thought on editing this go-around and yet another apology if it has bothered you as much as it does me now. Littering. The damn word is everywhere in my books. I can’t stand it now. I am editing that word out of my vocabulary for the foreseeable future. (UGH. Buy a Thesaurus jackass. Oh wait, it’s right there, littering the floor. Idiot.)

The Signs of Portents sale is going on now. 99 pennies will get you a brilliant copy of the first book in the Greystone series.

I started outlining a new project. (I KNOW. Just wait.) I was talking with my editor to line up our schedules for The Medusa Coin and we started chatting about future series. And I told her about what I’m thinking comes next.

Big mistake.

I’ve been outlining since. Character moments. Overarching themes. Specific threats. Connecting factors.

No details yet for you. But damn, is it going to be a helluva time.

Thanks for reading.

(WHAT? No reading recommendations? Sorry. Can’t hear you over the screaming toddler down the block. Next time.)

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Filed Under: Editing, Resurrectionists, Tales from Portents, Writing Tagged With: 99-cent sale, littering, Signs of Portents, Tales from Portents, The Medusa Coin, toddler screaming

Writing Update – January 5, 2017

January 5, 2017 By Lou

Welcome Back! A new year begins. Hopefully everyone is well rested and ready to jump right in. Me? Not so much, but then again, that’s my own fault for working instead of resting.

Has a lesson been learned? Probably not.

Enough with the banter! Your writing update awaits!

Writing

Slowly but surely the final pieces for next year’s short story collection, Pathways in the Dark, are coming together. I’ve had one story, in particular, that I’ve had rolling around the old noggin’ for years but it never went beyond the one line elevator pitch. Finally, over eggnog and gift exchanges something clicked into place and I am very excited to see it come together.

Back in 2017, (yeah, this isn’t going to get confusing quick) I’ve started self-editing September’s release, The Medusa Coin. Feels like I wrote the draft a lifetime ago but it’s only been five weeks. I have this mapped for the next two months so bear with me. I want to make sure this one comes out just right. It is a piece I’ve wanted to put together for years and I want to make sure it comes out right.

First, though, comes Tales from Portents, completing our journey to the present. The order is in for the first proofs! I can’t wait to hold it in my hands while I read through it for the final time. I wrote down the first notes for the project back in April 2016 so I am very excited that it is almost time to put it out in the world.

Hopefully everyone has been enjoying Resurrectionists, the free teaser for Tales from Portents. If you haven’t snagged your copy yet, click on the image below. And if you have, a word of thanks and a small request to not only spread the word through the wonderland of social media but also to leave a review anywhere and everywhere so others can find it to enjoy in the future. Reviews also help me position the books better for promotions. (Something I will be talking about more in a couple weeks.)

Resurrectionists

Reading

I could mention Tales from Portents and The Medusa Coin again but that would seem awfully self-involved, wouldn’t it?  (That Lou Paduano guy is great though, isn’t he?)

Suffice it say, editing and proofing have taken over the schedule so reading for pleasure has been a little lost in the shuffle. Hoping to get back to providing some top notch recommendations soon. If you have any to share with me, please do so. I’m always on the lookout to try something new.

Thanks for reading.

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Filed Under: Resurrectionists, Tales from Portents, Writing Tagged With: Greystone, Resurrectionists, Tales from Portents, writing

Resurrectionists is Available Now!

December 19, 2016 By Lou

Is there anything else I can say? Resurrectionists is available now!

Resurrectionists

From the digital back cover.

Detective Greg Loren faces his darkest hour in this thrilling prequel to Signs of Portents.

With his career joining his personal life on a downward slide toward oblivion, Loren is running out of time and patience. Pulled into yet another in an endless series of supernatural cases, he uncovers a series of grave robberies that are more than they seem.

What is the Church of the Second Coming? And what does it have to do with Loren’s deceased wife, Beth?

With everything on the line, will Loren sacrifice his future to reclaim his past? Will his partner and confidante, Soriya Greystone, stand with him or against him in his decision?

No one walks away unscathed in this scintillating chapter of the Greystone series.

Enjoy an Exclusive Preview of Resurrectionists.

Chapter One

Kelli Andrews couldn’t sleep. It was the same routine every night: an hour or two of deep sleep…and then the nightmares started. Work, the kids, bills, the never-ending holidays. Plenty to choose from but the best were the mix and match set that spanned childhood fears with the mundane nature of her life.

Emptiness greeted her rousing, the other half of the bed vacant. Marc was missing again. Kelli sat up, rubbing the dreariness out of her eyes. The clock beamed in bright red. Barely 5:00 in the morning, the sky still black. She wondered how long he had been away, if he even came to bed.

She thought this was over, that Marc worked through this. The late nights. The disconnect from everyone and everything. Sleepless nights of channel surfing and roaming the neighborhood. Almost daily since the death of his mother three months earlier.

Kelli persevered, although she had no choice in the matter. Two kids not even in double digits and a job to keep them in their modest yet suffocating mortgage. A breakdown was not in the offering for her, though she could have used a nice stretch in a padded cell, if only for a decent night’s rest.

Death affected everyone differently. She hadn’t shed a tear over the last few months, the loss a blessing after years of suffering from debilitating illnesses and physical pain. But her husband of twelve years took the passing hard.

Things changed a month ago. A reprieve, a return to normalcy—or so Kelli thought. Seeing the empty bed, she wondered if she was trying to convince herself more than anyone. Out of need. For the kids. For herself.

Her ankles popped as her feet connected with the soft carpet. Despite the nightmares, she was surprised how long she had slept without interruption. It showed, her back struggling to straighten, her balance precarious on her trek to the hallway. She preferred the idea of another two or three hours of rest but her bladder won out.

The door squealed upon opening and she held her breath. Waking the kids was not an option, especially with the chance of a little more sleep still in the cards even after a trip to the bathroom. And the hunt for Marc. She would check the couch first. He was most likely passed out, drool running down his chin. There was the chance he was still awake, teary-eyed and lost in memory, the television a distraction from the photo albums that had become a permanent staple of the coffee table lately.

Halfway across the hall, inching slowly like a covert operative, Kelli stopped. A figure stood at the end of the hall—a small shadow centered among the darkness. Matted brown hair and wearing Spider-Man pajamas, her son startled her with his presence.

“Grandma’s here,” he said, his seven-year-old voice booming in the early morning graveyard that was their home.

Kelli shook her head. “What? Quinn, baby, it’s too early.”

Quinn walked up to her. His hand slipped into hers and he pulled her down the hall. The bathroom faded from view, like the nightmares of the last few hours.

Kelli struggled to keep up with the boy’s enthusiasm, her mind even slower to question their destination. They owned a small home, compact and single story. The hallway that led to their bedrooms and the single full bath (which would never be enough for all four of them) fed into the living room, which connected to the kitchen. The sound of movement from the latter caused her to hold back at the threshold of the former.

Quinn looked to her, puzzled, pulling harder. “Come on, Mommy.”

Her confusion didn’t subdue her senses. She recognized it: the sound of eggs frying on the stove and the smell of bacon sizzling on the griddle. It woke her up, the cloud of her deep sleep fading. Her smile returned.

Marc was back. Really back. For good this time. So ambitious, making up for lost time, he set to work making breakfast. A little early—by about two hours—but the effort behind it all bolstered her. Helping to keep her going after the burden of the last few months.

Her delusion ended quickly.

Lily, her four-year-old daughter, sat at the kitchen table. Quinn joined her, smiling and giggling, their plates full of food that would never be eaten. Next to her sat Marc, munching on a slice of bacon.

“What’s all this?” Kelli asked, confused by the sound of cooking while everyone sat around the table.

The confusion ended with her arrival. A figure rounded the corner, stepping into the light, carrying two plates of eggs—over-easy and dabbled with enough pepper to clear your sinuses. A staple of only one person Kelli Andrews knew.

Her mother-in-law stopped, pointing at the empty table chair. “Take a seat, dear. You look pale. Have you been eating enough?”

Kelli froze, unable to think. Unable to speak. Her husband grinned, digging into his freshly prepared breakfast.

“Isn’t it great, honey?”

His wife failed to agree. As she stared at the dead woman in her kitchen, she only had one response.

Kelli Andrews screamed.

Excited for more?

Click on the ad below for your FREE copy of Resurrectionists now!

Resurrectionists
Thanks for reading.

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