WORDSMITHING 101 - Part Five: Problem Solved

I'd been trying to figure out a segment of my book for a few weeks, and the moment for when I would have to confront it was last night. I'd gotten so far and, since it was time to go to bed, anyway, I simply stopped there.

My character is a clairvoyant, but she's also becoming more magical as the days go by (or as the series progress), because she is also a sibyl. As a sibyl she is able to see things that others cannot. She also now possesses a very, very old dagger which had belonged to the last sibyl, and has been handed down to her. She really doesn't know how she will use it, but she has a terrible feeling she's supposed to be killing undesirables with it.

In my third book Sabrina is in another world where vampires actually run it, and humans are nothing more than walking blood banks, and for sexual gratification. Oh, and vampires are viable here, thus we have half-vampire, half-humans walking about.

But other things, darker things, roam this place, and although the humans can't see them, Sabrina can—and so can vampires and the half-breeds. These beings are cloaked from head to foot, and normally simply stand in a corner doing nothing.

My actual first idea was to have them interact with humans, or the vampires, and then I decided not to.

Jett is one of the half-breeds that Sabrina gets to know, his mother is very sick, and they go to her bedside, and low and behold, here stands one of these black-cloaked individuals. Sabrina sees it; she's seen them before and so simply presumes they are hanging around for some reason. She senses nothing from them at all.

Then the dagger, which she has strapped to her leg, flies out of the sheath and kills the being, and it collapses, the body disintegrates.

This scene was going through my head last night as I went to bed. I knew now why this woman--Jett's mother--was sick. As the creature dies, the woman suddenly opens her eyes and begins to gradually feel better.

Prior to this I knew I wanted Jett's mother to be sick, and I was trying to figure out what she was sick from. Something they couldn't cure on their world, of course. But I could come up with nothing. For weeks I'd been pondering this question. And then, last night it simply came to me.

These cloaked creatures create sorrow, depression, sickness, wherever they go. And they will remain wherever they find someone weak enough to infect.

Sabrina's knife, obviously, is able to kill such beings, because it's magical. She and Jett are both startled by this outcome. The fact that she can see them is also startling. Jett tells her no one has ever killed one before, and that they can't ever get rid of them. Usually once one has infested a family, it's not uncommon for the family to die, one by one.

Solving this problem I can now move on. I knew, eventually, the answer would come to me. Pondering it, but not worrying about it was the key. When I went to bed, my mind was going into a restful state. I used to be amazed by this ability to find an answer to some plot problem, or story situation that needed to be written and I had no idea what I would do. Seems that whenever I come to that point of writing it, it usually works itself out. As though the answer was just laying within reach. Just underneath the surface.

I think of my finding such solutions like an archaeologist may uncover some treasure. Even as the solution might be elusive at first, dogged determination, and following leads, soon you unearth this treasure and maybe more to follow. And soon you'll have a string of discoveries, and they all fit together like a large puzzle.

The life of a writer is that of solitude as we work. But in that solitude comes wonderful discovery of who we are. We become amazed at how our talent grows over time, and the workings of how we solve these little writing problems seems to become part of the process. If we don't push a panic button, learn to relax our mind, the answer eventually comes along.

Discovery of the very depths of our imagination is part of who and what we are: Writers.

Blood and Sunlight by Jamie Wasserman

I have to say this was a good book. At one point it made me teary-eyed. I didn't want to put it down, especially at the end. I wasn't disappointed in how it ended either. I thought it was a good fairytale-come-true sort of story.

I found the protagonist, Melanie, terribly flawed, in a relationship with a guy who wants to believe he's a vampire, but isn't. And she wants to believe there's something better out there, but she can't really find it, or doesn't have the guts to look. The whole vampires exist idea seems to also be too unbelievable to her—and yet she wants to believe—until she meets the real deal, and has to learn a whole new way of life.

The tale revolves around a small Maryland town, and place called Hell House, a place with some bad history. It's like one of those places you might remember as a kid, whispering about it when no one is around, or around a campfire at night, daring one another to walk up and ring the doorbell. Only this place is hard to find.

Wasserman mixes the elements of a love story, danger, death, and hope exquisitely, challenging the vampire folklore as fact, even adding a few new ideas to it.

I also liked how Wasserman worked in two different stories along side one another, that was different. I can see a lot of thought and work went into this novel. I liked the local background, the dreary small town, the girl who wants to escape, but can't, and seems to be all she'll ever know. A great ending.

Deathly Hallows Part I

My husband and I went to see the latest Harry Potter movie this afternoon. A number of people showed up for this (two theaters had showings today), and there were a number of middle-aged (like us), and older who came in pairs, and just a few were families, and then a couple of small groups of teens.

My husband had not seen the last movie, so he knew he would be lost, and so I had to whisper things to him so he understood what was happening. This was fine. He never made it through the first book, so the movies are all he ever knew of the Harry Potter series, and he said the movie was "excellent".

I also enjoyed the movie. Usually I would read the book first to renew my memory of what was to happen, and this time I didn't. I didn't want to try and compare the movie to the book--not that I do. I felt that every H.P. movie I've seen so far has taken the essence of the books, put in what needed to carry the whole story--because, let's face it, this is an on-going story--and from start to this point, I feel that the director, and the actors, and all that goes into the "magic" of making a movie, has done a great job in suspending our belief systems where we "believe" in magic and that witches can fly on bloom sticks and so forth.

What I'd like to say is this: When an author's work is sold to a production of a movie of the book, you, as the writer, are lucky that they actually take the book and use what was in it, and not do much dabbling of their own garbage. A number of authors either back out of a book/movie deal mainly for the reason that the producer wants to change a lot of the basic character of a book. For Rowling to have had the people behind her that she did, and they worked with her, and followed the books to keep the essence in tact is simply awesome.

Just to see your own book come to life must be thrilling for Joan Rowling. I don't know if I could get past the thrill of it. I would have passed out from the moment someone said they wanted to make a movie of something I'd written. It's an opportunity of a life time. I wouldn't know how to properly act. I'd have to be hidden away for the giddiness I'd be in. "Ms. Bell can't be interviewed--uh--because she's just gone to cloud 9 for a few--um, er--weeks?"

I wanted to say my favorite part of the movie was when Doby appeared at the home of Malfoy, and the whole bit there was a pivotal moment. Even as Doby was killed--that's what magnifies what the main character's ordeal is about, why they have to fight, why they have to go on, and the ending, where it shows evil Voldermort stealing the wand from Dumbledore's tomb. It shows that this villain will go to every nasty depth of depravity to get what he wants, and that's to kill the one person who stands in his way of taking over the world: Harry Potter.
So, the hero is placed at an even higher level than before, where danger is around every corner, and he can trust no one--almost--but his dearest, closest friends.

When we write, we need to take a page from this. We need to see just what J.K. Rowling did. She made boxes of notes before she even put pen to page. Why? Because, this is a complicated series. What was to pull every reader through all 7 books? Her masterful, wonderful story-telling, and the way she could pull it all together at the end was, in my opinion, nothing short of genius.

Thinking a plot through is one thing, deliberating how a 7-book series must go, had to have kept the woman up nights. I remember in her interview that she'd said she was on a definite schedule of books, and that the fourth one--Goblet of Fire--"nearly killed" her. That was a long book!

So, I'm inspired, of course, as always with the instalment of yet another Harry Potter movie.

And I hope all you Muggles out there sleep well tonight, for Harry Potter is still your champion.

Black Friday--No Way!

I have to admit something to you. Not until maybe ten or so years ago, I didn't know what "Black Friday" meant. I didn't pay too much attention to it, really. I was too busy either writing, or probably cooking up some turkey gravy to go over left over biscuits. Either way, I don't like getting up that early to jump out into a cold car, drive around a parking lot--anywhere--and then being pushed, shoved, trampled by crazy nuts trying to get a bargain.

No thank you. I don't even like to go into a WalMart on a regular shopping day! That is not what I live for. And you know that this day was created by the retailers just to get you in there, they will have limited supplies just to turn everyone into sharks trying to get one little fish. That's nuts. Our server yesterday seems to think this is part of the fun. I get that sort of fun driving a bus. Thank you.

I protest this day by staying home. *raspberry*

Besides, on Saturday, when I go into the store (WalMart), it's dead. I can get everything I need get out safely and go home.

So, I'm going to get some writin' done today, folks. Hope you'll do the same.

December Release Around the Corner!

December 3rd Copperhill Media will have the first copy of my book in hand!

List Price $16.95

As soon as it is available on Amazon.com they will send out press releases, and initiate a book review by a professional service. (Wilfreid said not to worry about it. He said my book is really good.)

I think that the first proof copy being in hand by December 3rd was quite wonderful, since that is our wedding anniversary, and we'll be celebrating at the cabin that weekend on our little get away. There will be champagne for sure!

Meanwhile work on the second book is nearly done. I do need to go through that during my 3 weeks off, and the third book in a first draft, is wanting to be written so badly, I think it will be nipping at my ankles if I don't get something done today!

There is the news. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Words & Dialogue

Tillie eyed Dorian. They stared at one another for a long moment. Zofia wasn't sure if they were putting hexes on one another, or just trying to win a staring match.

Just when Zofia thought she should intervene, Tillie spoke up. "I, on the other hand, have in my possession two Grimoires." He snowy eyebrows dancing high. To have even one Grimoire in one's possession on Euphoria was against The Code of Ethics, thus both Zofia and Dorian were both staring at her dumbfoundedly.

"You do?" Dorian broke the stunned silence. There was a dark, conspiratorial glint in his eyes to go with his crooked grin. "I would never have guessed you, of all people, to possess such a thing." His sarcasm wasn't lost on Zofia.

"Where on Ugwump World would you come across two Grimoires, Aunt Tillie?" Zofia asked, astonished.

"Ive my sources," she said airily.

"Oh Ebay?"

The look of superiority deflated on Tillie's face. "Yes," she hissed lightly.


The above is from my book Spell of the Black Unicornn.

I had fun with my characters in this book. Dorian is Zofia's husband--who was once a wizard, now he's a vampire and wants to be turned back to his former self.

Tillie is a wizened sorceress--obviously she has resources at her disposal.

What do you notice about the conversation above? How do the three interact with one another? Who seems to have control of the situation? Dorian has a droll sense of humor, but he certainly knows how to insult his wife's aunt. It's almost a relationship one might see between a mother-in-law and son-in-law. But that's really what this is, since Zofia's parents both perished when she was young, and Tillie raised her.

Now, let's see how things turn around in this scene:

"I don't suppose you could look through them to find some sort of counter curse, or spell, could you?" Dorian asked.

Knobby finger tapping her chin, she hummed in thought. "I might."

"Please, Ottillie? I'd be forever in your gratitude."

Tillie smiled with a sinister gleam in her eyes. "A Grandier showing me gratitude--and pleading! I'll be a troll's fanny! I think I like that. I like it a lot. But you'll owe me, Grandier . . . and much more than mere words of gratitude, I'm thinking. After all, besides Zofia with the Stone, I'm the only one on First World who can perform any complex spell which might return your soul, and change you back into a wizard again."

"I-I can't use the Stone to--" Zofia started, but Dorian interrupted.

"Anything, Ottillie. Name it. If it's within my powers, I promise I'll grant it," he said.

"Seal of Katowice?" Tillie held up her left hand, palm out to him, index and middle fingers crossed as were the third and pinkie in the sacred pledge.
Dorian held up his hand in the same way. "Seal of Katowice."

Clapping her hands, Tillie jumped up and down excitedly, her braids became white ropes with life of their own."So mot it be!" She stopped jumping. "Tonight I'll look through my Grimoires." She pointed at Dorian with her crooked finger. "Mark my words, Dorian, you'll not regret this . . . neither will I." And then she left them.


excerpts from Spell of the Black Unicorn copyright by Lorelei Bell

Finding the Historical Dracula

Last night I opened up the book In Search of Dracula, and read about the historical accounts that the authors, Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu--serious scholars of Eastern European history, who spent ten years investigating and researched Dracula, aka, Vlad the Impaler. Dracula--this historical, real Dracula--drove back the Turks in numerous battles, sat on the throne 3 times , and eventually, in one last battle stand, was beheaded--no one knows exactly by who--and his head was taken to Constantinople to be viewed there, and then his body buried in a mysterious grave at a monastery in Snagov.

I remember reading this book back when I bought it in 1973. On the fly page it claims that "Americans--at least for the present--are in love with Dracula." I was a serious fan, to say the least. I still am. But up until then, no one had bothered to find out who Dracula really was. Bram Stoker had researched about Dracula in his day and from a 15th-century Slavic manuscript, he found what he needed for his book Dracula enough to intrigue him.

For me, researching vampires, vampirism, Dracula, etc. has been a past time, but one that I enjoy. This book has always been with me. I can't part with it. No where else could I find so much on vampires, the historical Dracula, and anything relating to him.

Needing to find a villain for my present novel, and leaning toward using Dracula--but wanting to use the historical man, not the manufactured one, I decided I would read the book again. Although the prince's notoriety for impaling those who would defy him, he was considered a hero in his land for the Danube Campaign, gaining the reputation as a Christian crusader and warrior. Bells tolled from Genoa to Rhodes for his offensive against the Turks who called him Kaziklu Bey. He struck terror wherever he went. Let's face it, would you want to have the Impaler come to your village and rip it apart and then impale thousands of people along the way?

Well, things were done differently back in his day--1440's through 1460's.

I learned that Dracula was 45 when he was beheaded. That I would need for what I'm writing. I had to get a feel of this terror, and what made him tick. Being held captive along with his brother by the Turks when a child would probably do quite a bit to your psyche. His animosity toward them was clearly understandable. To give this character his voice, I have to know him inside and out. Any character you write about, you'd better know how he talks, looks, acts, reacts, and so forth. Especially your villains. Villains are important to the story. They can no longer be a typical bad guy; the cardboard cut-out no longer works.

As feared as he was, when his people stood side-by-side with him in battle, he repaid them with anything they wanted.

Once, it is said, that in escaping over a perilous mountain range, his bastard son was lost to them. They figured he had died. Actually a herder had found him, raised him--the boy was in his teens, so he knew who he was. Because of the terrain of this area, it wasn't until the youth had become twenty, when he returned with this herder, and Dracula bestowed him generously in gratitude.

When I began this novel I'm now writing, my aim was to keep the plot simple, not muddle it up, like I usually do with some second minor plot. Hopefully I can cling to that plan. So far I think I can. Taking my main character, Sabrina, to a new world is something I enjoy, because I can invent a whole world. That's always fun. The other parts that get sticky are explanations. With fantasy, you need only to explain so far, and then allow the readers to accept it. If your explanations are good, they will. This isn't going to be rocket science. It's not science fiction. Explaining how Dracula's head was reunited with his body so far removed wasn't that difficult, really. And even explaining how Dracula came to be in this different world--or anyone, for that matter--won't tax me either, after having already put in place that there are portals and ley lines.

So, when I woke up this morning, I had a scene in my head--like usual--and I wrote a little of it down early, then came back to it and entered it into my notes on the computer. It seemed to flow, so I spent about two hours just writing what came to me. I don't worry about working from where I left off so much, when I'm writing a first draft. The in between spots can be filled in. I remember being so worried about filling those spots in, I wouldn't be able to write. I later learned that allowing myself to just write is the freeing part of being a writer. You are the only one who sees it--so what if it's crap, or has holes in it?

There's a good reason I would never be able to sit and just write so many words on a daily bases. And the NaNoWri-thing . . . it's too much like homework--which I always hated. I don't like to be pressured into doing something. I'm a free-minded spirit and have to be able to write whatever it is that's there. Even if it's merely notes, or my musings. There has to be some fun involved, plus, if needed, some research done--which also consumes your time. I think I may have read for 2 hours last night and 2 today from the book.

Learning something over again is fun too. I've forgotten a lot of this about Dracula. I really owe Raymond McNally and Radu Florecsu a big Dracula thank you.