Archives
Giving Readers "The Cold Shoulder"
My reading of George R. R. Martin's novel A Game of Thrones continues. How far along am I after all this time? I fear only half way through it, which is little more than where I was in it last time I updated you. So what's the deal? Why haven't ditched the book yet? Honestly, the book is proving an enjoyable read, so I do want to finish it. The delay is the writing tear I've been on of late.
While my wife hammers away at her NaNoWriMo book (which I'm happy to say she's doing really well on), I've been focused on my own writing project. As of this morning, I've written almost 27,500 words for my medieval, fantasy novel about a bounty hunter named Aden. I was just past 13,000 words at the end of October, so I've been rather inspired this month. What has me even more excited than the word count is that I finally have a working title for this bloody thing. Yes, I can finally refer to it as something other than "Aden's Adventure" which I considered too pitiful to even dignify as a working title. I'm calling the book The Cold Shoulder. That I didn't think of this title sooner surprises me. Even before I wrote the first sentence, I had picked "the Cold Shoulder" as Aden's nickname, one given to him by the people who trained him in his craft.
Since I've got a working title, I'll share some details about this story. Aden's a bounty hunter with a bounty on his head. Three years earlier, he broke all ties with the very order which trained him. For that alone, the Order of the Hunt wants him dead. He's a man on the run from the very start, but after he's framed for the assassination of an emperor, everyone wants to find him. Now, he's got to figure out who framed him and killed the emperor while keeping the Order and every other bounty hunter in the East from killing him.
The book started off somewhat serious, but by the third scene, some humor had already forced its way in there. I'd dare say the book resembles a hybrid of Janet Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" series, Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series and traditional fantasy. A bizarre blend to be sure, but I think it's working well. I started this book the beginning of September, so I've made good progress on this book, especially with much of my attention divided by The Last Vandaryn (which my wife and I are working on together), the James River Writers Conference in October and buying a house. Oh, and let's not forget my two kids! (How could I?) As with The Last Vandaryn, I'll keep you updated on my progress with The Cold Shoulder.
Speaking of books in progress, I want to give a shout out to our fellow AOL blogger, Louise Marley. She recently posted an entry that she's one scene away from finishing her current book-in-progress, Airs Beneath the Moon. Congrats, Louise!
Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving to all of the Lair's readers! Hopefully, I'll be thankfully finished reading A Game of Thrones by the end of the holiday weekend.
knightbek at 10:33:00 AM EST Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
-
Just stopping by to wish you a Happy Bird-day!.. I hope you and Sheri have a great day!!..
http://herethereandeverywhere2ndedition.blogspot.com/
http://journals.aol.co.uk/deslily/HereThereEverywhere2/ -
Cool name for a book and I love anything medieval. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Dianna ~ -
It sounds very good! I was pleased to get to IM with you this morning! Great conversation.
Y'all have a great Thanksgiving!
Jess
http://journals.aol.com/aurielalata/CIWTheOtherInvisible -
You'll have to let us know when your published, I'd sure buy a copy!
~~Kath~~
http://journals.aol.com/dklars/SecretGarden
11/24/05 6:45 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family!
The Cold Shoulder sounds very exciting and I don't know if this is a little premature of me but I suspect it would make one hell of a movie ;-)
I really admire you writers your tenacity; you must live and breathe words! Just writing in my journal once a week or so has become quite addictive to me and if I had more confidence, not to mention time, I could think of worse things to do than start a little book project of my own!!
Keep writing and enjoy that red wine - It doesn't have a ton of sugar in it I hope!
Tilly x