Teasers, Covers, and Leitmotifs · 7:07pm Jul 17th, 2014
Well, I've now been on my vacation for two weeks (which means it'll be ending soon, though how soon, I'm not 100% certain yet). But while that's two weeks I haven't worked on Colony, it's two weeks I've had to work on fanfic projects (in addition to a few other things), so I thought I'd let you guys know what's in the pipeline.
First of all, I've got a non-DG story coming. Surprising, yes, I know. It's a one-shot, something my brain got buzzing on after a discussion on the Space Battles forums, and it stars everyone's favorite master of chaos and mischief.
That's right, I wrote a Discord story. It's short, simple, and fairly to the point (at least, as to the point as you can be with that kind of viewpoint character, which is to say the logic might puzzle your brain here and there until you tilt sideways), but it was fun to write and I think you guys will enjoy it. I just need to get some cover art and make a final editing read-through and it should be ready.
Second, I've got the last two DG stories coming. I write the last bit of Hunter's story today, and then I'll be tackling Dawn's story. There's no action; both of these are pretty slice-of-life, but as usual I've poked a lot of chekov's guns and foreshadowing into both of them. I'll need to get covers for those too. Anyone feel like showing off their art capabilities?
Oh, and I'm going to be making an appearance at Crystal Mountain Pony con. Right now, the current plan is to help with the "Basics of Writing Fanfiction" presentation as a sort of co-host (I'm working on narrowing down the details with the original host), but I'm also planning on submitting my own panel on character and world-building. In theory, I'd like it to actually be a panel, not just me fielding questions, so if you know of any other pony writers who like to share their experience and knowledge who will be at Crystal Mountain, let me know, as I'd like to try and get four or five people serving on the panel so it is a panel.
Now, I'm sure I had one more thing to share with you all ... oh, right, here it is.
The side stories are almost done. Which means that after over a year of planning and scripting, the second book of the Dusk Guard Saga, "Beyond the Borderlands," can finally start being written. You guys have been very patiently waiting for this one, and wondering when it would come. Soon. Very soon.
But since I dropped this little teaser with a fan who messaged me asking about it last week, it's only fair I put it up here as well. So, here you have it: the first look listen at a character theme for one of the new characters to be introduced in "Beyond!"
[REDACTED]'s Theme
Let the wild, mass-guessing commence!
Oh, and since that does bring it to mind, a big thanks to all the tropers who've put in so much hard work on the Dusk Guard Saga's TV Tropes page! You've all done a great job, and I look forward to watching the page explode as the new stuff goes up!
Hmm ... ah, and last but not least, for those of you who are new to following my page and/or The Dusk Guard, welcome! If you're all caught up on DG material, don't forget that I have other works you can read as well! The reviews speak for themselves!
Well, I need to get to work! This stuff isn't going to write itself!
Good to see an update on your DG stories, although I'm still a bit sad that the direct sequel is still, presumably, quite a ways off. Whatever, I'm reading it for the characters, anyway, so the side-stories are always a lot of fun.
Besides, at least we get a Gregorian-chant/industrial metal song for our troubles.
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Eh, at this point, I think it's closer than we might think. I'm debating closing myself off for a full week and doing nothing but work on "Beyond" (limited breaks, no other web pages open, nothing at all) to see if that let's me get a huge chunk of it done. I still won't be uploading it until, like it's predecessor, the whole thing is done, but it's going to hit as soon as I can make it happen. It's been too long.
2294567 If it gets done, it gets done.
While you've crafted a pretty lively world, I don't think I'm alone when I say most of your readers are more concerned with your characters than they are with where you take the story. It's not an indictment of your narrative, per se, you just really do write characters as well as you think you do. And the rest of us are sitting here as a captive audience, wondering what they'll do next and hoping for the best.
Regardless of how you spend your time, I think at this point it's a safe bet that we'll all be richly rewarded for our patience, no matter the outcome.
So it turns out I have the top review on your book. I am excited about this.
I am also incredibly excited to hear that we'll soon get more words from you. More Dusk Guard, a Discord story. I have been searching for more reading material, and as always my favorite Scribomancer delivers
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Thanks! It'll be interesting to me to see how (if at all) that opinion shifts as the next few books drop and the pieces start to come together. Because the villain is as much a character as the heroes, and 'Rise" was all about the heroes. The villain of the saga has not yet gotten their due, and while "Rise" has a number of foundations to that villain (the title is actually a dual reference to both the DG and their ultimate antagonist), it's not until the second book that the pieces will start to fall into place. I'm glad to hear you say you like the characters so much, because it makes me very curious to see what you'll make of the antagonist when it all comes together. I set out with the intention of making a character every bit as iconic as the Joker was to Batman, and I'm very, very curious to see how I pulled it off. Once that reveal hits, hopefully it should bring the plot of things full circle, as it won't just be the heroes reacting to exterior elements, but a true battle of wills between two very dedicated, intelligent, and dangerous foes.
I'm crossing my fingers that I pull this all off, let me tell you!
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Gotta keep working hard, gotta keep the readers happy and the word spreading.
And that is a great review, by the way! Thank you for leaving that (as it has helped)! Watching Dead Silver be such a hit with its readers has been awesome!
I am quivering with excitement.
I guess it depends on the wmg's if you aimed from the c&c meta, to the side story aspects and what you plan to draw from each, or have so with the next two side stories. You have alluded in some already, and as to how much ties into the season 3 intro, or the nature of going elsewhere is possible too.
Overall, the orchestral nature and choice implies that its something big, old, and nasty. That you will be tossing the dusk guard into almost blind, with having to adjust, and likely with a good bit of pain to ensure lessons learnt too. So best of luck with this, and what is, will be.