General Update

I've been switching between novels a lot... I don't think that's really normal for a writer, but whatever. We're all unique, right? :P
I was writing a little in "LB:RR" today, but I decided I'd write later since I didn't feel like getting to a point in the journey (to find the first Lost Rock) where it was nighttime, when Bain would show back up after these six years of absence. Sure, fillers are boring to both writer and reader alike, but there's gotta be something in between before a big BOOM.
I haven't done much of anything with the "Feng Song" rewrite and "The Primal Red". I need to put a real good kick into both of them to keep both myself and readers interested, like some serious plot twists, for an example.
"The Primal Red" needs more character developments, while "Feng Song" just needs a good plot that lasts awhile. There's gotta be an epic feel, you know?

Anyway, my main sights have been set back to "ELDENDOR: The Rise of Dagria". I'm going to start alternating between this and "LB:RR" for now.
If you're wondering what I've been writing all this time, well, I've been practicing my writing skills, so to speak. I needed a boost. XD

Oh, yeah, and I've been typing up a list of every character I ever made up. It's about 230 so far... And I'm not counting random guards, servants/maids, passersby, very-much side characters, or anything like that, either!

OK, on that note, I'm off.
Wolf

A Request for Support!

Don't worry, it's nothing bad at all:
A very, very good friend of mine is selling her novel on Amazon.com (and also CreateSpace.com)!
It's called "Sangre: The Phantom's Lair". The summary and information about the author should also be on this page and you can also buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Sangre-Phantoms-Phantom-Caribbean-forever/dp/146117368X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1308502422&sr=1-1

If you like to read about pirates, then this is undoubtedly a good book for you. I'd like for you to support my friend by buying it (and rating/giving it a review, too) if you can, and also telling other people about it who might like it as well.
This would mean a lot to the both of us and her family, too, so thank you!

Wolf

LB:RR (Re-Write): Leaf the Dragon

When a large, common green dragon swoops down and snatches Anastasia right off the ground in Greenwood Forest, it's up to Lirin to save her!
Sounds like the summary of a really cheesy fairytale, right? Well, let me tell you; Lirin's no prince in gleaming armour riding a white stallion, and Anastasia is currently only eight!
But, yes, a dragon does snag Anastasia, and long story short, Lirin gives chase alongside Kikki, who's mad at him for accidentally leaving her behind twice and said he "kept" doing it, and after the dragon crashes into some trees when not paying attention, Lirin boldly approaches it and makes some kind of taming connection with it due to the faint, lingering scent of Queen Lukamakari on him, which the Spirit of Greenwood forest soon explains to have the ability to tame almost all creatures within the limits of Evagren, but, of course, not just by passing by them.

Lirin hands the dragon over to Anastasia and tells her that she should train it and make it her "bodyguard", so to speak, as the protective confines of the forest could be broken, allowing evil inside, and the spirit who protects it agrees.
Anastasia is shocked, but sees that the dragon doesn't have any plans to try and eat her, so she hastily gives it a name upon it's request, and the first thing that pops into her head is "Leaf".
The dragon grumbles that it's better than nothing, and Kikki says:

"Ha, 'better than nothing', my paw! It could have been way worse had the naming been my honor, ya big green bumble-butt!"

Needless to say, Kikki is rather rude and immature for a great and honorable Ancient...
So, we're only introducing the dragon, Leaf. He plays a vital role as Anastasia's bodyguard, and also helps Lirin several times throughout the series, but overall, he is a pretty minor character, but not pointless.
Also, after Anastasia gives the dragon a name, he gives her a horn (the kind you blow) that will summon him wherever she is, then he departs later on.
Now that Leaf has been introduced, there isn't a whole lot more to do in the Greenwood Forest, so Lirin will soon set off to gather the horrible rocks to break the barrier on Lord Shadowfang's realm.
This is also where the story kicks in quite a bit, and more character development blooms as well, since Anastasia insists on accompanying Lirin.
Great. Now you have two annoying female companions, Lirin. -_-


Wolf

LB:RR (Re-Write): Kikki, the Ancient of Emotion & Anastasia Highland

I remembered that I had completely forgotten to introduce Kikki. Whoops, the poor girl kept slipping my mind....
Kikki is an Ancient, an embodiment of Emotion, like Takuna is of Time and Light. Kikki's real name is Kikkean, but she hates it and will blow up at you if you don't call her Kikki.
Kikki resembles that of fox and squirrel combined, and measures around two-and-a-half feet tall, from head to foot, as she prefers to walk on two legs, although it's rare because she's always hovering and floating about so there's no need to walk.
She is surrounded by a marroon-colored aura that seems to serve little purpose, but it occasionally changes colors in different displays of emotions.
Kikki is Lirin's first companion in his journey, and she is highly obnoxious and short-tempered! And I keep forgetting about her and leaving her behind, so I need to work on that!

Anastasia Highland!
I made up Anastasia before Lirin became main. In fact, in the original version of their story, she was the main character, and booooooooooooy she had a bad temper. Her story has changed drastically since then, so let's move on to the present, because the old version would only make sense to those who understood. XD

She's a pale-skinned, petite, yellow-haired Evaran/Tannish half-elf, and when her home land, the Parasha Woods, was transported to Evagren for mysterious reasons, that's when her mother met her father and soon she was born. Her mother was a Tannish elf, and her father was an Evaran human.
Anastasia, however, at a young age, was sent from the woods to escape to Greenwood Forest, a place protected by a spirit who banned all evil entry. She lived there until age eight, when she met Lirin, wounded by the crazy hunter, Harthun, and his horrid rifle. Yes, those three were original characters since the beginning. Strangely makes me feel nostalgic.
Carrying on, Anastasia becomes one of Lirin's new companions and accompanies him throughout most the rest of the series, though the are separated time and time again. She's one of his closest friends, but oddly enough, neither has 'feelings' for one another, which would actually be insanely creepy on Lirin's part, as there is a rather large age gap...
But that aside, these two are very crucial characters in this series! Now introduced, that just about wraps things up for now.

Wolf

Hey, been awhile!

It's been quite a while since I last posted... the reason? There's nothing really new going on... but why am I posting now? Because that was before, and I have something to say now.

I might not seem like it, but I admit I'm pretty good at helping people with their novels. Editing, tips, critique, etc.
I've been assisting this person with their novel for some time now.
We both want to make the story better, so I've been critiquing and pointing out things and making suggestions as we go along, while still encouraging them at the same time so they don't think their novel is awful or anything like that, because, personally, I did like it, although it was only the first draft!
Now, after sorting out a too-many-characters problem, we're sorting out a new one; how to make the novel more suspenseful. I've given them some basic ideas, but I'm mulling it over still to find more. I also scan the internet for good articles, too.
So, what about you? Need help? I'm not a complete expert, but here are some things you'll expect, but some of them require me seeing the manuscript:
Tips (for pretty much anything)
Point-outs and suggestions
POLITE critique
Editing help
Revision help
Character development
Dialogue
And likely more!
I'll also help you get "unstuck" from "writers block", and I can encourage you (how)to keep moving on.
Feel free to comment here if you need help, or contact me a maryw.hills@yahoo.com. I may not be official, but I can be of some assistance, I'm sure, and I'm perfectly willing!
So, ask me anytime, and let me know if you have a deadline, too.

Wolf

LB:RR (Re-Write): The Great Ancient Takuna, Embodiment of Time and Light

Quite a long title, if I do say so myself. Unless it's a flowery priest, people normally only call him '[The] Great Takuna' or just 'Takuna'.
You know him, right? C'mon, he's got his own story, and he's in nearly all of my novels!
Well, you just might not know what he looks like; I'll describe him to you, then:
Takuna resembles a very, very big white dog or wolf, with the wings and forelegs of an eagle (you know what I mean), and the horns and eyes of a dragon.
Takuna's eyes, horns, wings and talons are all a rich gold color, and his nose is gold, too! But did you know??? His bones are gold, thus meaning his teeth are gold, too!
Takuna has a long tuft of fur at his chin, too, resembling something like a beard. He has a very noble look to him altogether, but, um, he can be a little odd at times.
As you might later notice upon reading some of my novels (one day), Takuna admits in "LB:RR" (Lirin Bahonan: Rising Rage):
"I have an odd habit of throwing suitable clothes at unfashionable heroes before I leave them to their destiny; it is the least I can do, believe me, quite literally the least..."
Yeah, he's thrown clothes at Almanzo, too, and likely some heroes before him. While Almanzo's are a dark burgundy red, Lirin's turn out to be a deep, ultramarine blue.
Takuna, while he may be one of the 'awesome creators of the planet Crichianadiie", it is true he didn't do it alone, but alongside some other great beings as well.

Takuna is noble, kind, mighty, blah-blah-blah, but he has some odd characteristics, things he says, humor, etc., and he acts incredibly weird at times...



In "LB:RR", Takuna plays an even more vital part in the story than in "E:RD" (ELDENDOR: The Rise of Dagria).
Not only does he give Lirin some new clothes, which is pretty important, but his dwelling sits right inside the very land the novel is set in, Evagren! Takuna assists Lirin often as they bump into each other, informing him of foreseen events to give him hints as to what to do, like for an example:
"I foresee a stunning journey skyward on your own gray wings and it is filled with shocking events!"
They don't make sense at first, but in later time, they do. Takuna does a little more to help, too, especially in later books, but telling you would be spoilers... Heehee.

Wolf

LB:RR (Re-Write): Lady Lenora Midnight, Creator of the Mask

Yes, precious Lady Lenora Midnight is quite a handful in the novel. Throughout the entire series, she is constantly harassing Lirin, either that, or she's discreetly flirting. She's a real creep, and she knows it.
After Bain tells Lirin that in order to save the land from his own (Lirin's own, that is) destruction, he has to make a pact with Lenora.
However, it's not quite an ideal pact. Lenora, after Lirin goes and finds her, she transports both of them to her tower, where she performs a painful spell on him, slashing up his forehead so that is bears some kind of strange mark.
It is soon that Lirin receives the curse of her latest creation... THE MASK! (Echo that twice more, fading out after the first for emphasis!)
What is the Mask, you ask?
The Mask is the dreadful creation of Lenora's, it is a 'curse' to the light and a 'blessing' to the dark. This nasty thing doesn't seem all to bad; I mean, no matter which side you take, the thing allows you to transform into a different form entirely, and it also allows telepathy and tele-transportation! Among other things; that is only a taste of what the Mask can do.
The Mask's cons? None to the dark, but it's power to the beings of light are that you must use it carefully and wisely without free will, as every time you do, it drains your own life and allows Lord Shadowfang himself to grown stronger!
...That is, for Lirin. If Lord Shadowfang is defeated, Lenora will take over, and she is eternal, so toooo bad if you wanna get rid of her. Bain is, if for some odd reason Lenora is taken down, the third-in-command for the Mask's connective power, as it needs a reliable source, after all.
Why is it called the Mask? Well, if you're in an animal form using it's power, it actually shows up on your forehead and makes you kind of look kind of like you're wearing a Mask.
It looks something like this:

 

For Lirin, in his wolf form, his eyes are under the two... Things on either side of it, making them look like angry eyebrows,  and his nose is probably a little further down below the teardrop shape.

In the Mask's transforming ability, the creature you take the form of is always back and white, where the only color is your eye color.
The purpose of taking another form is for limited disguise, new abilities, etc.. It comes in handy sometimes, but like I said before, it's to be used wisely.

Back to Lenora, if you're wondering what she looks like, well, I'll tell you:

She is tall, and resembles an ageless woman, normally wearing long black dresses and gloves. He skin is literally white, and her hair is a vibrant orange, about below-bust-length.

Her eyes are the color of orange topaz, and her eyelids are outlined in black, pointed at the end. Her lips are also black, but no one knows if it's makeup or not since they haven't seen her without it.

Despite the fact her hair is orange, her eyebrows are thin, somewhat arched and black.

Lenora has a rather sinister appearance, definitely, and quite a personality to match it.

Another thing you should know about Lenora is she is neither a being of light nor darkness, but caught in between. Like gray, as oppose to black and white.

Bain is the same. While it seems as if the two support both Lord Shadowfang and Lirin Bahonan, in truth, they are only doing it for themselves, and are very vague about how it does help them. Bain makes this clear to Lirin at some point early in the first novel.

...So, that's probably pretty much all you need to know for now. See you!

Wolf