Hi Kat, and welcome to AI. For readers of the blog, I should mention that we first bumped into each other out there in social media land, where I can honestly say you're something of a powerhouse for promoting other people's work! We'll come back to that in a bit, but first let's start with your series, which I understand got its first spark from a roleplaying campaign. Tell us a little about that genesis. Also, the series focuses on the life of Nameless, a child born to become a gladiator, a gladiator born to ascend to greatness through a series of arenas in the novels. That's a brutality and intensity that's far away from many a roleplaying campaign – what drove your narrative along that path?
I
was part of an online chat platform called “IMVU”, and gravitated
toward the role-play rooms. Most of those are not human-character
friendly. The one where I had at least one person I knew REALLY was
anti-human unless you were someone’s lunch or pet (submissive
slave). The real me fits neither of those descriptions, and so I had
to come up with something else.
I’m
not really into vampires – I like to have characters that aren’t
limited to any time of day, or type of weather – so that also ruled
out the other dominant species: the werewolves. I lurked for a
while, trying to get a better feel for the room’s atmosphere before
I made up my mind what type of creature I wanted to come up with. If
you’ve already guessed the room had a rather dark/evil twist to it,
you’re spot on. I dug through my extensive library of characters
played through various Dungeons and Dragons game campaigns to see if
I had any that would fit, and came up with nothing. Even when I was
running the games, I tended to have good guys (or at least stupid
idiots) as my characters. That meant I had to start digging deeper.
I
did a little research online for something that wasn’t necessarily
“good”, and definitely wasn’t human. I also wanted a race I
could wrap my head around. I’ve got a good imagination, but when
you’re learning new game rules, you really need to be able to see
life through your character’s eyes. I eventually wound up on the
White Wolf Changeling: The Dreaming pages, and found what I thought I
was looking for – their Pooka. Mischievous scamps – I can do
that. They bring laughter and joy – yup, that works for me too.
And they love to help – that was the clencher.
I
introduced my first pooka into the room, but it soon became apparent
he wasn’t going to fit in – too much of a goody two shoes. A
little more thought, and Nameless was born. Even then, he did not
start out as dark as he wound up becoming. Over the next year or so,
Nameless turned cynical on me, and proved to be just a touch more
malicious than I’d ever thought I could dream up. He also was an
extreme masochist. However, a small group had formed up around him,
and loved the changes that occurred. (Don’t ask me why, I’m
still puzzled about that.) And a story line had begun to emerge
between the six characters. Because we weren’t able to explore it
properly in the original room, we split off and formed our own, just
to see where the story would take us. The game carried us all to the
point where we needed to start incorporating some backstory for our
characters, and that is ultimately what led to the books. I was
content to let Nameless continue to be just a character without any
real history. Until one of the others asked me “But, where does he
come from?”
The answer to that is what would form the first six chapters in Out of the Darkness.
The answer to that is what would form the first six chapters in Out of the Darkness.
When
the group drifted apart, as most roleplay groups do, I figured my
time with Nameless was over, and shelved the story and character so I
could move on in real life. I should have realized that he wasn’t
done with me.
::chuckles::
Almost none. The detail I’ve posted on Pukah Works all comes from
the story itself. I filled in a little that isn’t immediately
noticeable from the books, but not much. I tend to write in a very
tightly focused third person (third limited? Is that even a point of
view?), but I also tried to include pieces of the world outside of
that focus to help give context when it was needed. I know there is
much, much more of the surface world to be explored yet, and I’m
hoping as other stories come into being I get to see other areas of
Alterraden, the people who live there, and the cultures that keep
them from waging staggering wars on each other.
I’ve really found it intriguing to build up the pantheon that exists in the world. In part, because I know where the Followers of Torments should end up but also in part because those various religions help to shape the races that exist in the world. I get to explore a little more of the real world’s religions, and how they have affected the various historical cultures or shaped them into what we consider our predecessors.
I’ve really found it intriguing to build up the pantheon that exists in the world. In part, because I know where the Followers of Torments should end up but also in part because those various religions help to shape the races that exist in the world. I get to explore a little more of the real world’s religions, and how they have affected the various historical cultures or shaped them into what we consider our predecessors.
I
also have found that building the featured characters – whether
they are the primary or secondary cast – is a whole lot of fun.
Then again, I like to know how someone thinks, and that goes back in
large part to their culture and beliefs. It’s all kind of
circular, which really makes things interesting.
Those
are both my pride and joy, and something I’m entirely unhappy with.
After digging around on the wonderful thing called the “internet”
(yes, tongue-and-cheek there) I came across a YouTube video that
explained how to draw at least basic surface maps. The background I
found when I was looking for the Photoshop brushes to make the
mountains – I’m nowhere near that good freehand, much as I’d
love to claim credit! Between the video, Photoshop Elements, and the
brushes I was able to get something that I could live with for the
surface maps, though it took a little while to figure out how to get
the shapes. Finally wound up scrounging up a flat map of Earth and
moving pieces around until I could see how this village or that
castle fit into the travel detail that was included in the books. (I
still think it’s not to scale, but I’m not going to say it is –
there’s a Realm skip in there, so I can get away with a little
imprecision, right?)
Planning?
There’s such a thing? I’m lucky if I have an idea of where I
want things to end up, or at least where the break point is so I can
(hopefully) wrap up the arc in each book. I did mention that
Nameless wasn’t done with me when the roleplay ended. He’s the
one who really determines how the stories come together.
Pretty
much, when I’m “writing” *I* (as in the person recording
things) am not present. Nameless is the one telling the tale, or in
the case of Into the Sunlits or And Keep This In Mind one
of the secondary characters. I’m just a vessel they use to get the
words down in a form others can enjoy. I’ll skip to the last
question, and come back to the second in a second. The overall
structure is defined by the final outcome. It took quite a bit of
coaxing to get Nameless to give me an answer for which way he would
decide when I finally pinned him down long enough to talk outside of
a writing session. I’m still not convinced what he told me is the
final one, but I’m watching the story develop that way, so am
praying it is. (Otherwise, there’s going to be a lot of upset
readers and a *very* upset writer when I have to pull one or two
books to rewrite for an alternate ending!) There are a few points
along the way that I know need to be worked in – mostly from the
role play that sparked off the series. If those aren’t included,
then the series title will make absolutely no sense, and I’m not
sure the ending will have the desired impact that I think the cast
wants.
Going
back to my process… I’m not exactly sure I have one. I do find
that music can help tease the characters out of the woods if I have
had to shut them down for some reason, but I’ve also had sessions
when the characters babble at me when I am no where near the type of
music I write to.
I
have also found that knowing the characters – not just their names,
but the way they think helps. That was what sparked off the
companion novellas. There is a huge problem dropped in everyone’s
lap at the end of Into the Sunlits and Nameless isn’t
present to help get things rolling in And Keep This In Mind. I
realized when I started the last one I couldn’t clearly hear the
cast, and so I didn’t trust what was happening. When I get
involved in the writing, it turns stiff and stilted, and the edits go
through the roof. So, I took a step back to write the novellas, so
that I could get to know each member of the secondary cast. So far,
I’ve finished two of the novellas, and am working on the third
(and, to be honest, hardest).
That’s
not quite true. It wasn’t really a rough time, so much as a BAD
time. When Torments decided to hit me in the head with the
ultimatum, “Write me, or don’t sleep” I was working almost full
time, just starting grad school, and taking on more to help my
parents through some medical issues. With those three time demands,
I was sure fitting anything else into my 29-hour day would be
impossible. I was wrong. I managed to find and/or make time.
I
did have a couple of clients who made work rather low on my list of
favorite activities – but nothing outstandingly bad. (If you work
in any group, there’s always going to be one or two you just don’t
click with very well, and that’s what happened here.) However, I’d
known Nameless for a very long time, and we were at least comfortable
in each other’s presence, though I would never have called us
friends. (Still don’t, actually.) I actually enjoyed the sessions
where I would boil down my frustrations, or foul attitude and let the
story pick up the emotions to inject into any given scene. Didn’t
ever feel bad about it, and found that it was almost critical at
times to have that spur planted in the story’s side to keep things
moving. There were a couple of times when I tried to take it a
little easier on Nameless (or the other characters as they joined the
cast), and every time I would run into a stagnant scene, or idea jam.
The most common way to work through the issue was simply to add
another goad, and watch everyone jump around trying to get out of the
skillet.
As for the hardest thing to be written so far, is the start of And Keep This In Mind, which will be book four in the saga. I’m in a heated debate with the story – it keeps trying to shift over to first person, yet the rest of the full length novels are in third. I’m worried that if I let the point of view shift that the continuity will be lost, and no one would understand why that shift is made. Because of this, along with having to pause so I can get to know the support cast a little better, progress has stalled. Once it’s flowing again, the next trouble spot was coming up with a set of rules that let Nameless mangle his syntax while still able to carry on an understandable conversation; especially when Akantheldama (his vampire trainer) is awake during the daylight hours. Between the two of them, some of the verbal interactions have been extremely difficult to keep moving, much less moving with the pop and sizzle necessary to indicate the emotional tone for the scene.
As for the hardest thing to be written so far, is the start of And Keep This In Mind, which will be book four in the saga. I’m in a heated debate with the story – it keeps trying to shift over to first person, yet the rest of the full length novels are in third. I’m worried that if I let the point of view shift that the continuity will be lost, and no one would understand why that shift is made. Because of this, along with having to pause so I can get to know the support cast a little better, progress has stalled. Once it’s flowing again, the next trouble spot was coming up with a set of rules that let Nameless mangle his syntax while still able to carry on an understandable conversation; especially when Akantheldama (his vampire trainer) is awake during the daylight hours. Between the two of them, some of the verbal interactions have been extremely difficult to keep moving, much less moving with the pop and sizzle necessary to indicate the emotional tone for the scene.
The
action scenes. There is something inherently satisfying for me to
take a situation I’ve had during the day that I couldn’t do
anything about and see it pop up in the story, and watch Nameless
physically demolish whatever caused the situation in the first place.
(Have a client who’s being a mule-headed fool? They just became
Nameless’ next “toy” that he breaks. Have that boss who keeps
giving you the run around? They’re there too – being run to
death as Nameless chases them into submission or death – whichever
comes first.)
Honestly,
having someone who’s a “very not-nice” person as my primary
focus has provided a point of catharsis on days that I would have
preferred to just skip and pretend I’d experienced.
Yes,
Nameless is a Pukah, though not one many would recognize. Where most
Pukah bring joy, laughter, and mischievous help into the lives of all
they encounter, Nameless brings terror, destruction, and death.
However, he also brings a level of honesty and personal integrity
that the other Pukah could envy. Not necessarily in what he says,
but in his actions; if he promises he will do something, he follows
through. He never threatens, he promises. If he says it will happen
it does without fail. That has gotten him into trouble on multiple
occasions.
As
for what drew me into the world of the Pukah; it is because of my own
nature. I love helping others. Sometimes that means bringing a
laugh, or a hug, a pun, or just getting behind them and pushing them
to excel when they thing there is nowhere else to go but down. It
comes naturally for me to be a cheerleader, or to offer options that
are often outside the box for others to try (and to try right along
side, if I can, to keep pushing someone even higher toward their
success.) And, I also love to make people laugh, or to reach for
their dreams.
Believing
in the impossible, striving for the improbable, and having a good
time along the way – that’s really what the Pukah I’ve met
enjoy. And, I’ve met a few in person, not just in my books. There
are times I wish I wasn’t quite as much of a Pukah as I am, or that
the Pukah who visited me weren’t quite as demanding as they are,
yet the results that come from it almost always make it well worth
the trouble I get into along the way.
I
gotta ask – do you have a fantasy casting for Nameless? When the
series gets turned into a seven season epic on HBO, who have you got
lined up in your perfect casting?
I
haven’t ever thought of actors or a dream cast for my books, to be
honest. Each character develops themselves as the story develops –
from their mannerisms to their looks. Even the avatars I use in my
promotions, or the people’s faces that I find don’t match the
vitality or rugged determination that I see when I go back and read
what I’ve written. Beyond a few minor cosmetic things – like the
red hair for many of my characters, or their gender, if this ever did
go into video production I would have to evaluate the individual
actors on a character-by-character, case-by-case basis for that
“something” that defines Nameless and his support cast. (I’m
also lousy at remembering names, though I seem to be OK at
remembering characters.) The closest one I could say that I’ve
seen is the actress who portrayed Belletrix Lestrange in Harry Potter
– she would make an EXCELLENT Akantheldama!
Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange
The
companion novellas actually have several purposes. Primarily, as
I’ve mentioned before, they are a chance for me to get to know the
support cast: Akantheldama, Raonal, Beslynx, and Celecanepo. But,
they are also tie in points for a couple of other series that are
already starting to kick at the gates to their stalls. (Like the
Twin’s tale, which ties in mostly through Akantheldama and a little
through Raonal.)
They
are also slowly opening up new areas of the world, or new Realms.
Again, Raonal is the prime driver for this, though Celecanepo will
add quite a bit once I can get her novella written.
The
last piece it allows me to explore is a little of the world’s
history. Except for Beslynx, the cast are all very, very long lived.
::chuckles:: It’s funny, but when I started working on the
novellas, I unconsciously organized them in reverse order of their
life span expectancies. (Even with the special circumstances in
Akantheldama’s life, she’s actually younger than Raonal.) Some
of that will tie in with the Torments saga, some has already
planted the seeds for other books and/or series that I haven’t even
allowed to whisper at me yet. One major project at a time, please!
Oh,
you would have to ask this one. There are several authors that have
helped shape the characters, the story, the world, and my writing
style, I think.
For
character development, I love the way that Elizabeth Moon and Raymond
E. Feist develop their characters. In many of their stories, the
protagonist starts as a nobody and develops into someone helping to
set and develop policy with the rulers. They have a knack of making
each step a logical, incremental step along the way. Moon is a
little smoother about it, probably because Feist comes from a
Dungeons and Dragons background (according to rumor).
For
world building, I turn to Sharon Lee and Steve Miller as well as Holly
Lisle and Jean Auel. All of these authors build their worlds up a
little at a time and with enough complexity, you feel as if you can
step into them and know where to find just about anything you need to
survive. (Please note, this does not mean you can survive
comfortably!)
And
for my writing style, I take full credit for that. I have been a
storyteller since I was very young. When I am writing, I do my best
to just tell the tale and not worry about “is this shown not told”
or any of the “rules” which can constrain an author. Even in the
editing process, my editor(s) and I focus on the grammar and
continuity rather than the rules. About the only rule I do try to
follow is to keep the point of view reference the same (first or
third person). Other than that, the rest are fair game to be ignored
to some extent or tossed out the window entirely.
My
favorite was Rifts, believe it or not. The one I have most
experience in is Dungeons and Dragons (3rd edition), which
is a lot of fun too. However, since I don’t have a game group, or
much time for a good gaming session, I’ve been drawn to what I like
to call my “ant farm” games – something I set running in the
background and come back to poke from time to time just to see things
scurry around. Most of those have been social media games that don’t
have a neighbor requirement, or an energy requirement to keep going.
Since I don’t play continuously, I refuse to purchase a game. I’ll
deal with the ad filled (or at least ad interrupted) ones when I do
decide to wander down that particular rabbit hole.
Definitely
role playing games top that list. If I am not introducing myself to
a new character, then I enjoy playing with one I’m more familiar
with to learn even more about them, and discover new facets of their
personality or depths to their thinking processes.
::chuckles::
The same thing is what I enjoy best, and what I find hardest to
achieve: meeting new people. Because of my time demands I do a LOT
of schedule juggling. I try to make sure that I have at least a
little time to interact on social media, though I don’t always
succeed. Except for a few groups, I actually wind up being a lurker.
However, draw me out of my shadows, and I turn into one of my
playful Pukah, as you’ve discovered.
I’m still working on figuring out how to carry that playfulness out among strangers, as that is not natural to me. I’ve had someone compare me to a tiger’s eye pendent – transparently opaque. It’s something that I take pride in, but also realize can cause me to see a bit distant and/or strange and off-putting.
I’m still working on figuring out how to carry that playfulness out among strangers, as that is not natural to me. I’ve had someone compare me to a tiger’s eye pendent – transparently opaque. It’s something that I take pride in, but also realize can cause me to see a bit distant and/or strange and off-putting.
I
also tend to fall into the “lecture mode” a little too well. I’m
good at explaining things, but not so good in drawing people out to ask
questions or want to talk back. (Probably because I answer
thoroughly the first time, and they have to go chew on the answers
for a while. ::Points up to the previous answers:: Case in point?)
They
are both about the same for me, as far as engagement. I have one
street team member who’s on Twitter that does her best to keep up
with sharing the content posts every day, and I’ve got one or two
on Facebook who try to keep up and share out posts that hit my
Author’s page. I really haven’t been pushing the engagement on
either platform. I’ve been trying to use them to get folks to
explore my site and blog(s), since that’s where most of my original
content hits first.
With
that said, I think Twitter is an excellent place to experiment with
different promotional material. It moves so fast that if you have an
absolute flop it’s buried quick enough no one will really remember
it. But if it strikes a nerve? It stays active and visible for
quite a while – usually long enough you can sort it out of the
stack of other pieces you’ve put out recently.
Facebook
is more of a place to actually meet-and-greet fellow writers,
exchange tips and tricks for writing, marketing, or even snippet
critiques and have discussions. I know there are ways to use
Facebook as a marketing tool, but until you have something that
semi-works, it’s not the best place to experiment. Posts tend to
hang around too long, or you get buried in the algorithms, so no one
sees your NEXT post. Neither are desirable.
Marketing!
(See above!) Getting the engagement without turning into annoying
spam is a nightmare for me. If you approach and obviously are
interested in buying something, I can probably sell you the entire
bookstore section in the genre you like. Getting people to wander up
and say “hi”? Uh, uh! I still have big problems managing that.
Though, as I said earlier, I am working on chipping away at that
issue.
Hearing
back from the two or three who are self-admitted addicts to my work.
And hearing from a classmate (who doesn’t even read in my work’s
genre) that they’ve been hearing good things about my books.
The
first group gives me the incentive to keep pushing on, even when I
feel slightly overwhelmed because of the tidal wave of destruction
hovering overhead, and I know it’s going to crash soon. Their
encouragement is the bucket, shovel, or drain hose I find to start
trying to break down the wave before it crashes down and sends
everything into disarray.
The
classmate? Even thinking about it still sends me out to pink cloud
nine. I have no idea who they’ve talked to, but from what they
said whoever it was read my work and liked it enough to rave about
it. It wasn’t just something picked up from my infrequent posts to
my Facebook timeline – there were too many details I have not
included in the promotional material, it had to come from the books.
Right
now I’m bouncing between two reading projects. A first read
through of my own hard copy proof for Out of the Darkness, to
see if there’s anything I need/want to change before I start
::shudders and winces:: writing on the pages. (there are, and I’m
torn – don’t want to mark up any book, but if I don’t I’ll
miss some of the issues on the actual file-edit pass.) and promised
read/reviews (you can see the list on the Home Office section of
Pukah Works.)
As
for my favorite… Do I have to pick just one?
I
quite literally am reading my favorite for which ever book I’m
reading now, unless it’s a really steamy romance or erotica. When
I started accepting read/reviews, I was so mind-hungry for anything
published after about 1996 that I cannot pick and choose. A few
authors stand out, mostly because I’ve read them recently enough
they haven’t been buried under school work or the next reading
binge.
Thanks very much for calling by, Kat!
You can find out more about the works of K Caffee on her website, http://pukahworks.com. She is also on Twitter as @pukahworks, and on Facebook. Her books are available through Amazon and Smashwords.
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