#PennedPossibilities 1055 — Does your MC consider themself to be a professional? Of what?

When it comes to tracking down magical artefacts and acquiring them Nathan certainly considers himself to be a professional.

He takes a different view of the activities which bring him and Vicky, often reluctantly, into contact with supernatural beings as he’s adverse to the idea of exposing himself to danger.

He’s not personally equipped with the magic needed to survive and has to rely on Vicky for protection.

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#WritersCoffeeClub 28 Jun: Can a reader ever truly feel what a writer felt while writing?

No, it's two entirely different things.

As a writer I want my reader to enjoy the story I’m telling.

I’m committed to telling my tale but don’t necessarily enjoy the process.

My reader should be free to sit back and watch the story unfold before their eyes enjoying it as a diversion from day to day life and not worry about its origins.

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#writersCoffeeClub June 27: C&R: Describe your opening scene. Everyone: What mood does it set?

My current work begins with a prologue setting the scene for a certain couple’s Big Day.
It hints at a sense of nervousness and offers a reminder of how the previous book ended.
All leading up to an event so unexpected not even the seers and precogs could have predicted what was about to happen.
Encompassing joy, anxiety, and the unknown.

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#WordWeavers 27/6: Do you use humour in your writing? If so, any tricks to share?

Nathan’s fond of making a joke, usually one of a dubious quality, and often stolen from someone else.

When encouraging an associate to pick a lock he’s heard to say, ‘Bruce, care to do the honours?’ You know, do your, “Open sesame,” thing or whatever the current seed of choice is.’

If I have the time I might come back to this and add a few more.

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#Caturday

We’ve not had a cat living with us for a few years now however we do get visited from time to time by this fellow whom I’ve dubbed the Indecisive Cat.

This is down to its habit of sitting on our garden fence, staring out into the field beyond in search of prey.

Not only that, but it can also never make its mind up about which fence post to sit on and ends up moving back and forth between the two.

So, not only is it sitting on the fence it’s also indecisive, hence the name.

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#AmReading

At long last I’ve managed to get hold of the last 2 books in the series of six fantasy novels written by Irish author Michael Scott, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

I’m currently rereading the first in the series, The Alchemyst, and am really enjoying it.

I remembered wanting to read the complete series but had forgotten how good a read the first book was.

Although it’s classed as Young Adult it doesn’t talk down to the reader making it an enjoyable read for those of us who are considerably older than the target audience.

At times it does go over the top, in much the same way as the Dresden Files books do, but on the whole it’s well-considered urban fantasy, one which I’d heartedly recommend.

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#WordWeavers 26. If you had to rewrite your WIP into another genre, what would you choose and why?

It’s likely I’d rewrite my ongoing urban fantasy series in the form of a fairy tale.

I’ve already partially done this as In one of my novels there’s a chapter where, due to chaos magic, my characters are transformed into fairy tale versions of themselves.

Vicky is, naturally, the hot witch.

Nathan, the loveable rogue.

Lucy, a stereotypical tavern wench.

Two other characters become, respectively, a bard who is compelled to sing his dialogue, whilst the other, completely out of character, transforms into a lecherous individual.

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#WritersCoffeeClub Have you ever included subtle or unsubtle homage?

On the 24th I wrote an #onthisday post about Ambrose Bierce.

The first novel in my ongoing urban fantasy series included a character called Ambrose Pierce who, when being chased by Nathan, mysteriously disappeared whilst crossing a road in much the same way as the subject of Bierce’s story, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, did.

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#PennedPossibilities 1053: "How far would your characters go to get what they want?"

Whilst I wouldn’t say Nathan was unscrupulous in his pursuit of magic artefacts, he can certainly be pretty determined to get hold of them.

Lying, cheating, it’s all in a day’s work when he’s got his mind set on a particular goal.

Vicky is just as determined, too. Determined nobody’s going hurt her man when she’s there to protect him.

Now that I think about, they’re both possessive in their own way.

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