+

+ Heavy Metal, Inspiration, Metal, Music, Uncategorized, Writing

From My Writing Playlist #Writing #Author #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

You knew this was coming. I love Amaranthe! It’s a cover, but it’s damn good.

When to Listen: General playlist. There’s a lot of energy to this song!

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.

jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com

I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.

Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Thanks friends!

Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ Book, fantasy, Fiction, News, Uncategorized, Writing

Drakin, where to buy, and what’s next? #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

by Unknown's avatar

Hello all!

I hope everyone has enjoyed The Drakin Series!! Please don’t forget to leave me a review on Amazon once you’re done. That really helps me out a lot.

Copies of these books, as well as my others, can be purchased on Amazon by following this link:

James Harrington’s Author Page

They’re also available at Barnes and Noble, as well as many other places where books are sold!

Please feel free to like and reblog this post. Word of mouth helps us writers out a lot!

Drakin: The Story of Raiya

Book Synopsis:
‘ “Abomination, freak, monster…”  You get used to names like these when you have yellow eyes, horns, and scales, but Raiya could have really cared less.

After being forced into exile because of her appearance, Raiya’s mind has been focused on one goal; hunting down the dragon lord that killed her parents. For over thirty years, humanity has been locked in a struggle for survival against a race of dragons that had fallen from the heavens. They took everything from her and consumed the planet in a fierce war. Humanity’s numbers are quickly dwindling, leaving her few options in the way of allies.

What she doesn’t know is that her journey will strike at the very heart of the Red War and uncover truths about her past that she may not want to know. Can she finish what she started while coming to terms with the truths of her origin? ‘

Drakin: The Orphans of Haven

Book Synopsis:

The Red War may be over, but not all wounds have healed. For Sergeant Radley Zall, the nightmares never end. After years of struggling for survival, he finds himself in a dead end job, deporting wayward dragons to the Exclusion Zone. The horrors of his past have left him a broken man, slowing killing himself in a bottle of whiskey. It’s a wearying existence that many former soldiers have been subject to since the war ended, but for Radley, that is all about to change. Throughout his life, Radley’s hatred of dragons has been unmatched until one evening when a small one shows up on his doorstep. The pathetic creature is emaciated and begging for shelter. Her appearance reminds him of his younger self, compelling him to help her. That uncharacteristic decision forces him to confront his past actions— some of which may have contributed to a sinister plot to reignite the Red War and wipe out the few remaining dragons on Earth.

DRAKIN: An Empire of Ashes

 

Synopsis:

Two hundred years have passed, and the Red War has become a distant memory for most. Dragons and humans now live together in peace… but one powerful woman who has been deranged by her own history unleashes her vengeance on a helpless population.

Now, the world’s only hope for survival rests with Kaori, a naïve and wayward princess of the Eastern Empire. Having been disillusioned with her mother’s rule, she discovers a dark secret about her family that will change the course of history forever. She soon crosses paths with Nayeli and Joaquim, a pair of rogues living within her borders.

Their fight for survival takes an unexpected turn as a shadow of from the past reveals that the situation is more dangerous than they know. The fate of billions of lives rests on these three unlikely companions putting aside their differences to stand against the world.

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.

jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com

I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.

Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Note:
If you have read my books, PLEASE log into Amazon and post a review. I really love to hear everyone’s thoughts and constructive criticisms. Reviews help get my book attention and word of mouth is everything in this business!

Thanks friends!

Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ advice, books, fantasy, ficiton, literature, non-fiction, Reading, Science Fiction, Writing

Addressing Rape in Your Story #Fantasy #Fiction #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

“Hi Jim,

I have a question that I’m kind of hesitant about. I’ve read about this in some stories, and actually wrote a scene into one of my own, but I’m considering removing it. Basically, one of the evil characters in my story is a rapist… and yes, a rape takes place as part of the plot of the story. I’ve read over it a few times and, while it does fit the plot and the personality of the character, I’m concerned it’s going too far. I’ve rewritten the scene a few times because I don’t want it to come off like a sex scene meant to draw the reader in or anything like that, yet I feel like that’s what’s happening when I describe it.

What do you think?
 
Thanks,
Anonymous by request”
Hello,
Oh boy, all right, so this is a very heavy topic. Before I get started, I want to make something clear to my readers right now. Rape is about as bad as it can get. It’s a crime with the same permanency as death, but it suffering continues long after the act has been committed. It’s something I’ve always believe should carry the same punishment if proven in court. Rapists are evil, period. They are beneath human standards in every way shape and form and understand that what I am about to say is neither a justification nor a glorification of rape. Neither will be tolerated on my site and anyone who does so in the comments will be quickly blocked without recourse. 
 
All right, with that out of the way, let’s talk about this. Rape is an EXTREMELY touchy subject. Unfortunately, in this day and age, the likelihood that you’ve met or know someone who has been raped is high. There is absolutely nothing wrong with addressing it in literature as it has been an issue with every single culture since the dawn of man, literally. 
You’re absolutely correct to be concerned about glorifying it or making it “sexy”. I too have tackled sexual assault in one or two of my books, and it’s a tough proposition each time. If you’re including it in a story to make a character seem more evil or to address it as a problem, which again, is appropriate, you need to address it properly and acknowledge it as a negative. It’s something you’ll need to do intentionally in order to make the reader aware of the very significant implications that comes with such an act. 
Now, that doesn’t mean that the antagonist has to suffer any legal consequences. The sad and bitter truth is that rape only became a crime in many cultures fairly recently (the last 200-300 years or so). So if you’re dealing with a time period or a fantasy universe where such things wouldn’t generally be considered a crime, then you need to find another way to address the problem. 
One way would be to describe what the victim is going through. If the story is from their perspective, then delve into what they have to do to survive. How is the victim steeling themselves against the pain and perceived shame or embarrassment. Deal with the mental and emotional issues that come with it. 
If you’re telling the story from the perpetrator, then deal with the physical harm and the perceived emotion of the victim, but then also delve into the why. Why is the perp doing this? What’s the intended result? Pain? Pleasure? Continued suffering? Go into that. 
Do not just get yourself stuck in talking about the physical act, because that’s how you get into making it sound more like a sex scene, which is a trap too many people fall into.  
 
Finally, what is the outcome? Does the victim survive? If so, how does that person handle it? DO NOT gloss over this part. Victims of sexual assault, be them male or female, are forever changed afterwards. They do not just shrug it off and walk away. 
 
If the victim doesn’t survive, then what happens with the people who know it happened? Does someone go out for vengeance? Knowing someone suffered in that way, especially if it’s a loved one, will have lasting effects on those people as well. 
 
In the end, the best advice I can give you is to treat this topic as the severe issue it is. If you’re going to include it, this can’t be a one and done thing where it happens, and you address it in that scene and that’s it. You need to give it more than that. Such an act has lasting consequences and those need to be recognized. In short, if you can’t dedicate some time and story to this topic more than a few lines, then it may be best to omit it. However, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, this is an absolutely appropriate topic to cover.
 
Readers, do you have any further advice for our friend here? How do you tackle such an intense topic?
 

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.
jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com
I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.
Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ advice, books, fantasy, ficiton, literature, non-fiction, Reading, Science Fiction, Writing

Contractions Too Informal? #Fantasy #Fiction #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

“Hi Jim,

I was just wondering what your thoughts were on using contractions in narration, for example having the narrator say ‘He wasn’t sure’ instead of ‘He was not sure’. I’ve been told that it’s too informal, and sounds too much like speaking, especially when the narration isn’t in the first person. (There is, of course, always the rather sneaky thing of getting rid of them to increase your word count.) I’ve always used them, but ever since getting that piece of advice, I’ve been wondering whether or not they do take something away from my writing and should only be reserved for dialogue.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Ellen”
Hi Ellen,
Welcome to the writer’s blog. Unfortunately, you’ve hit on one topic that has been a source of controversy since people started writing books. Both sides are right in their own way and both sides are also abjectly wrong. There is no rule governing what’s right and wrong in terms of writing. One person may be turned off by contractions while someone else might think they’re better because they’re less wordy and sound less formal.
I can’t give you the be all, end all answer, as much as I’d like to, but here’s my take on it:
What are you writing?
I ask because this is where it might matter.
If you’re writing a formal piece like a textbook, a thesis, or a scientific paper, I’d say yes. You’d absolutely want to forgo using contractions. That is a formal piece and you want it to sound as scholarly as possible. Contractions simply don’t fit the bill here.
If, however, you’re writing a story, say a piece of fiction, I’d argue that it’s important to connect with your readers on their level. Write in a way they’re used to talking and it’ll be easier for them to read.
Look back on some of the great ‘unedited’ works of old. Mark Twain, for example. He wrote in a way people back then spoke. Today, many people consider his writings racist, but the truth is that he was writing for his time in English that was considered ‘modern’ at the time. Honestly, it’s how I write. If your audience speaks modern English and uses the same idioms,  they’ll have an easier time reading your work.
Now keep in mind… this is not clearance to write like your average texting teenager. When I was a history teacher, I gave no quarter to anyone who wrote ‘2night in da newz’ or ‘u r ther.’ That’s just… well that’s not even English, it’s just laziness.
So in summation, I’d say it depends on what you’re writing. If it’s something formal, scholarly or scientific in nature, I’d say your advisory is correct. Contractions aren’t professional looking or proper. If you’re doing something that’ more intended as a casual read, then by all means use contractions and terminology that people use in every day life.

Hope this helps.

Readers, what do you think? Should Ellen stick to more traditional styles of writing or adopt a more contemporary form?

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.
jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com
I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.
Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ advice, fantasy, Fiction, non-fiction, Publishing, Reading, Science Fiction, Writing

Minimalist vs. Ornate? #Fantasy #Fiction #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

“Hi Jim,

My book is done. I’m super excited about getting it published. My question to you is about the cover. What do you think I should go with, a simple cover with maybe a single item as the focal point or a big cover depicting a scene and characters? My artist is really pushing the idea that less is more in the cover.

Thanks,
Reese.”

Hi Reese,

I’m afraid you’ve got me there. I’ve honestly done both and seen success with both. Both covers can attract attention, but they’ll do it in different ways.

The best piece of advice I can give is to go with what feels right, but more importantly, let your artist’s imagination fly. That being said, if you’ve got an artist wanting to go minimalist, take a look at their other work and see how they’ve made either style work. If you like how they’ve done it with work in the past and you’re okay with a minimalist cover, then by all means go with it.

If you want a detailed cover with more intricacy, tell the artist that and have them create something great. In the end, it’s really up to you and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. When you hire an artist, YOU are the boss. You tell them what you want.

Now I’ve seen a lot of covers done both ways and all I can tell you is that you’ll want an attractive cover. You want something that will catch people’s eyes and while a minimalist cover can do that, it’s harder to do in many ways.

The other thing you want to look out for, in this case with an ornate cover is too much detail. If there’s too much going on, your going to make potential readers eyes hurt and they will pass over your book.

I wish I could help you more, but really this is a matter of taste and opinion and I’ve heard arguments on both sides. So whatever you choose, make sure it’s done well.

Readers, what do you think? Which way do you think she should go?

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.
jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com
I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.
Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ advice, fantasy, Fiction, literature, Opinion, Science Fiction, Writing

Keeping your Readers in the Know #Writing #Author #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

Hi Jim,

I see you’ve got a new book coming out. I’m also working on getting a book published, and I was wondering how you decide how much information you release on your book at a time. Like, if your book isn’t published yet, do you worry about releasing too much information that someone could steal? Or that you may be giving too much away at once?

Thanks,
Mike

Hey Mike, 

Good question, and shockingly timely. The truth of the matter is that, according to copyright law in the U.S., your work is copyrighted the moment you put pen to paper. Now, good luck proving that it’s your work in a court of law without timestamps and hard evidence that you created the work first.

Now, some people don’t care. Unless you’re posting whole chapters online, stealing some elements of your idea are going to be surface-level at best. Even if you could prove that they took it from you, you’d be laughed out of court for trying, because story ideas, themes, etc. aren’t really something you can copyright. (Keeping in mind, I am not a lawyer, so don’t look at this as legal advice! Seek out an actual attorney!)

Think about it, Disney came out with a movie recently about a dragons and a girl named Raya.

Gee… doesn’t that sound familiar?

Drakin-Cover-Poster-Final

Or how about Lionsgate putting out a story about a blonde immortal girl named Adaline that gives up her immortality for love.

Hmm…

divinity9

Now, as curiously close to home as some of this gets, these things simply fall outside the realm of copyright in most areas. It makes for a fun quip, but nothing more. Now, if they’re taking your story a lot more blatantly, that’s something completely different. 

But I’ve digressed from the original question…

For me, I post very little until I have the copyright, ISBN, and legal out of the way. Basically, I submit my work to the copyright office once I have the cover completed. That way, I can add the cover and the interior text to the ISBN for publication. Now you have everything documented, you can release what you want. 
So typically, here’s how I do things to protect myself when doing status updates? This is my formula:

Book is being written: Nothing. I don’t like doing announcements when I don’t even have a first draft down. This puts a lot of pressure on me and if I scrap the project, I don’t want to have to come back later with an explanation to the people who were waiting for the book. 

Book is in draft form and approved by publisher: Initial announcement of a new book coming. 
I release very generic info:
What series. 
What Genre.
How far along we are in the process.
Maybe a little bit about where it takes place in the series… and that’s it. 

Book is in final draft form, legal is underway, cover not done: Minor status update on the book. 
Repeat the previous:
What series.
What genre.
How far along we are in the process. 
A little about where the series takes place. 

Cover is done, everything is submitted for registry and ISBN has been added:
Reveal cover.
Give readers a tentative release date.
Reveal cover blurb.
Repeat the previous:
What series.
What genre.
How far along we are in the process. 
A little about where the series takes place. 

Book is released:
Announce the book is out. Reveal the blurb again. 
Add links to where the book can be purchased, as well as basic info: Copyright, ISBN number, Book identifiers, etc. 
Add sample chapter.

I hope this helps you figure out how you want to keep you readers in the know. Remember, everyone has varying degrees of comfort, so don’t think that what I’m saying is a must or even recommended. Let’s open it up to some of my fellow writers. How do you all handle status updates on your books? Do you not even bother until it’s set to release or do you try to build suspense and anticipation? 

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.

jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com

I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.

Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Note:
If you have read my books, PLEASE log into Amazon and post a review. I really love to hear everyone’s thoughts and constructive criticisms. Reviews help get my book attention and word of mouth is everything in this business!

Thanks friends!

Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ advice, Fiction, life, literature, non-fiction, Writing

Give Life to a Book about Life #Fantasy #Fiction #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

“I am currently writing a book about my life experiences how do i give it life i currently have the bones (dates facts) but feel that it’s just a series of events how do i make it into a story? Thank you”
–lostgirl82

Hi Lostgirl82

Have you thought about writing it in the present tense in first person? If it’s something you experienced, then you should be able to write about what you were thinking at key points, how you felt, what was going on around you, etc.

Honestly, everyone has their own writing style, and you can certainly do it however you want, but in terms of writing about life experiences, this is one of the best ways: “So I’m here in the woods with my friends at the camp site. It’s beyond cold out as we sit on the snow-covered ground on the side of Mt. Jefferson. The chills running down my spine are like little needles jabbing me in the back as I begin to wonder how much more of this I can take. It’s at this moment that my friend hands me his bottle of Jim Bean, telling me it would keep me warm as they get the fire going. I take a sip. The hard liquid makes my throat clench and burns on the way down, but at least I don’t feel as cold anymore.”

Now I know that there are a lot of people who don’t want to name names and don’t feel comfortable doing something like this. So really your other option is to create a ‘you’ character and have that character deal with the same experiences. Granted, this would mean turning a work of non-fiction into fiction, but a lot of people prefer it this way.
Either way, be sure to add description and comparisons. Make people feel like they’re there with you. Describe your feelings at different times. The example of what the chills felt like is powerful because it’s something most people have felt at one time or another. Don’t be afraid to expand a little bit too.

There is no rule against adding a little fluff or interpretation to your writing. Put in how you think the people around you are feeling about the interactions you have with them. Once it’s done, be sure to reread it a few times and make sure that it makes sense to you. Remember, it’s not hard facts that people fall in love with when it comes to reading, it’s usually emotion.

I hope this helps.

Readers, what advice to you have to give? Is there anything you would recommend she do to give her story more life?

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me. jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.
I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance. Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side! -Jim

+

+ angels, Book, fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fantasy, literature, Religion, Writing

Destiny: Divinity’s Finale, Book 6, Chapter 8 #Fantasy #Historical #Fiction

by Unknown's avatar

VIII

 

Aralyn awoke as the sunlight poured through her window. She sat up and stretched as she opened her eyes. At first, her eyes were extremely blurry, but they began to clear as she rubbed them and blinked. An unfamiliar room appeared in front of her and she looked around in shock. Where was she, and more importantly, why did this room seem oddly familiar to her.

Aralyn placed her bare feet on the floor and pushed herself into a standing position. It took her a few moments to find her balance as her head cleared, but when she was ready, she left the room and proceeded down a small flight of wooden stairs. Sounds of activity aroused her senses as she made her way down to the first floor.

The sounds got louder and she could hear familiar voices as she reached the first floor and pushed the door to the kitchen open. On the other side Gilles was tending to a hot stove, while Baltazar and Lailah worked on cleaning the utensils they had used. It appeared as though Morgan had gone into town and picked up some fresh food to cook. It was be the first decent meal any of them had enjoyed since Papi died.

Morgan stood behind the door sharpening a knife as she came in the room. He looked up and dropped the knife, “Well hello there!” He said in a cheerful voice, “Hey everybody, look who’s finally awake!”

The group turned to see her. Baltazar dropped what he was doing, walked over to her and hugged her tightly, “Good morning, I’m so relieved to see you up and about.”

Gilles and Lailah stopped their work and joined the rest of the group. Aralyn looked at Lailah nervously, “Did we do it? Did we… win?”

Lailah smiled, “Oh yes, we won. The imp army was completely destroyed and Paeles has been reclaimed by the land. No one will ever be tortured by those haunted souls again.”

“What about Legion,” she asked in an insisting tone, “I saw his body dissolve and float away into the clouds. What happened?”

“Relax,” Lailah replied, “Legion will never harm another person ever again. He has been reclaimed by the Most High. Legion has become a part of him again.”

A look of concern came over Aralyn’s face, “But if the Most High reclaimed him, won’t that mean that God has a dark side again?”

“Yes,” Lailah admitted, “But you mustn’t worry. Humans have the same darkness inside of them. The Most High will adjust and learn to live with his as easily as you have. In that way, Legion will be trapped within the Most High forever.”

Aralyn closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, “All is well again?”

“Better than that,” Baltazar replied grabbing her hand, “Come on!”

He led Aralyn out of the kitchen and out the front door. Aralyn looked at him oddly, “Baltazar where are we going, what has you so…”

Upon seeing the house from the outside, she finally realized where she was, “Oh my…”

Baltazar spread his arms, presenting her home to her, “Welcome home!”

Aralyn looked around with wide eyes, “How… how did you do this?”

“I can do many things,” Baltazar replied, “But you did this.”

“How…” Aralyn asked, astonished.

Lailah came up behind her, “When your powers restored the Black Vengeance after she sank, you also restored Mont Saint Michel and your home here.”

She quickly turned around, “So then… Sister Mary?”

Lailah frowned and shook her head, “She was already dying. She was very sick and had only a limited time left. The Most High allowed her to avoid the pain of a second death and allowed her to remain.”

Aralyn lowered her eyes, “I… I didn’t even know that…”

“You couldn’t have,” Lailah replied, “She hid it well, but don’t worry, she is well cared for and happy now.”

“So this… is my home.” Aralyn whispered in a state of shock.

“One of them,” Baltazar replied as he pointed at the Black Vengeance, anchored off shore, “You still have a place with us.”

Aralyn nodded, “And I wouldn’t trade that for anything. That is always first and foremost my home.”

At that moment, Aralyn noticed the boat moored on the dock attached to her house, “Is that… it can’t be!”

She took off down the dock and climbed the ramp leading to the small ship. Without another thought, she entered and explored the cabin, and then the hold. Baltazar and their friends followed her down the dock as fast as they could, but she had long since disappeared below deck. They waited on the dock for her to reappear. When she finally did, her eyes looked mystified, “This… this is where it all started. This is the Patrisi fishing boat.”

Baltazar nodded as he looked it over, “It’s an older design to be sure, even older than the Black Vengeance, but it appears to have been updated at some point.”

Aralyn nodded as she walked back down the ramp and joined the group. She was about to say something to Baltazar when her eyes suddenly went wide with a look of both happiness and fear. Baltazar turned to see three angels standing behind him, “Xaphine, Ariel, Roselyn, good to see you!”

Xaphine smiled and bowed, “Very good to see you as well. You both did wonderfully.”

Aralyn curtseyed, “Thank you, you honor me.”

“You honor me,” Xaphine replied, “Because of you, the events that started eighty years ago have come full circle. All loose ends have been tied up and the last hints of damage that Michael had caused have been swept away.”

“What of the forces of Lucifer?” Morgan asked, “We never would have succeeded without them.”

Xaphine nodded, “No… No we wouldn’t have. The Most High and Lucifer have reached an understanding. They are no longer at war with one another. Lucifer will be made part of a new council of angels that includes the archangels. They will assist the Most High as the ruling body. This should prevent the Most High from getting so fatigued from dealing with the wars humankind brings upon itself. Officially, Lucifer still rules the underworld, but he will now answer to the Most High in all things.”

Gilles frowned, “Do you think that is for the best?”

“Only time will tell,” Ariel replied, “Many angels weren’t happy with this decision, but a lot of good may come from it.”

Xaphine nodded and turned back to face Aralyn, “Now it’s time for you to claim your place amongst the Choirs.”

She reached out her hand to Aralyn, “Don’t be afraid.”

Aralyn placed her fingers in Xaphine’s hand. Suddenly her body began to glow. Aralyn watched as her skin began to emanate a bright golden aura. Suddenly a new sense of clarity and a feeling of satisfaction came over her. Her wings began to shimmer as though they had been covered in gold dust and she lifted herself off the ground to feel the wind blow through them.

Baltazar watched and feared her knew what this meant. After a few moments, she lowered herself back to the ground, “This… this is incredible.”

Xaphine smiled, “Just wait until you see the Celestial World.”

Aralyn looked at her oddly, “What do you mean?”

“You have proven yourself worthy to pick up your ancestor’s legacy,” Roselyn replied, “You can now come with us and help us do the Most High’s bidding.”

The smile disappeared from Aralyn’s face, “No…”

Xaphine looked at her oddly, “What is it?”

“I’m not going,” Aralyn replied, “I have friends and a family here, I will not go…”

“You don’t have a choice, sister,” Xaphine insisted, “You’re one of us, you belong with your own people.”

“These are my people!” Aralyn shot back, “Just because the blood of an angel courses through my veins, it does not make me any less an angel. My mother way human, my father was human, and so am I. I’m not leaving…”

Aralyn exchanged glances with Baltazar. More than anything, she wanted to reassure him that she wasn’t going anywhere. He nodded to her as she turned to face Xaphine. Roselyn saw Baltazar’s expression and understood what was going on, “You love this man, don’t you?”

Aralyn nodded, “He stood by me, cared for me, and loved me. I gave him my heart and I will not leave him.”

Xaphine shook her head, “I have heard enough of this…”

“And I have heard this before,” Roselyn’s voice appeared from behind.

Xaphine turned to see her smiling at Aralyn. She stepped out from behind Xaphine and touched Aralyn’s chin, “You are so much like Adaline… it’s incredible. She made the same argument you are now.”

Aralyn moved closer to Roselyn to the point where their cheeks almost touched, “Please don’t take me away from him…”

Roselyn stepped back, smiled, and nodded. She then turned to Xaphine, “General, we can’t take her.”

“What madness is this?” Xaphine shouted, “The Most High has commanded that she return with us. It’s out of my hands.”

“Is it really,” Ariel chimed in, “General, since when do you put so much stock in the rules. The Most High is God above all others, but you command his armies. Come on Xaphine…”

Xaphine crossed her arms and sighed, “The Most High will have my wings for this…”

“Maybe,” Lailah chimed in, “But most likely not, as long as the work gets done, the Most High rarely cares how or who does it.”

Xaphine looked like she was deep in thought as her lips twisted. Lailah smiled, “Tell me General, how is Piero these days?”

Xaphine’s eyes opened wide and she glared at Lailah as though telling her to hold her tongue. Finally, she shook her head and turned to Aralyn, “You are correct, you are human, but only part. You are angelic as well…”

She paused for a moment to let out a deep sigh, “Okay, here is what I’m offering… Given the fact that our numbers were hit very hard by the war with Legion, we need all the help we can get. So I can’t just let you stay here full time, but as you are part human, you may spend part of your time here, and the rest of your time with us… let’s make it an even six months a piece. You may break that time up however you see fit; six months here, six months in our world or a week in our world and a week here. Frankly, I don’t care as long as your obligations are fulfilled.”

“It’s a high price,” Roselyn added, “But it is fair.”

Xaphine nodded, “There is one downside however… you have to spend the first six months with us. You need to get used to being in both worlds, which takes considerable training.”

Aralyn lowered her eyes, “Must it be this way?”

Xaphine’s lips twisted, “I know it seems unfair, but it’s the only way I’ll be able to convince the Most High to allow this.”

“I understand,” Aralyn replied, “Thank you, Xaphine. I know what you’ve done may cause you trouble. I appreciate you going out on a limb for me.”

Xaphine smiled, “You aren’t the only one who chose to mate with a human. Trust me, I understand better than think.”

“May I have a moment to say goodbye,” Aralyn asked.

“Take your time,” Xaphine replied, “There is no rush, you’ve earned this much.”

She turned to face Baltazar and stepped toward him. As she passed by Lailah, she smiled, “Thank you for everything… I don’t know where I’d be right now without your help.”

“You would have done just fine,” Lailah replied, “Of that, I am certain. For what it’s worth, I would have made the same decision you did about staying here.”

Aralyn nodded, “Thanks for that… just seeing Xaphine’s reaction made me worry that I was being selfish. I hope I made the right choice.”

“After everything you went through,” Lailah replied, “You’ve earned the right to be a little selfish.”

“But how do I know I’m doing the right thing,” Aralyn asked.

“Trust your heart,” Lailah replied, “Let destiny decide what’s right.”

Aralyn smiled and nodded, “I will.”

She turned and continued to Baltazar, his face had lost all of its color and a look of sadness had become apparent. Aralyn smiled, “Please don’t look at me like that. I love you, more than anything else in this world… I love you.”

“I love you,” Baltazar replied, “But this is so unfair, after everything you’ve been through.”

“I know,” she replied, “But it’s only six months, we’ll make it work.”

Baltazar looked away with a dismal expression. Aralyn looked at her love with worry in her eyes, “Won’t we? Baltazar, can we not make half of the time work until you join me above the clouds?”

Baltazar looked into her beautiful blue eyes, “Yes… yes we can. I’m sorry, Aralyn. It just seems like we’re once again asked to pay a heavy price for victory. I mean, we literally saved the world.”

“Yes we did,” Aralyn replied, “And we’re going to keep saving it.”

“How,” Baltazar asked.

Xaphine stepped forward, “The Spanish Empire has only begun to realize the effect piracy will have on their interests. Eventually, their numbers will dwindle, and their holds in the Caribbean will be fighting for freedom. Within the next two hundred years, Spain’s power will be gone and they will be no threat to anyone anymore. The powers of England, France, and the like will rise to end the Spanish oppression… and the Habsburgs will cease to exist.”

Baltazar smiled, “Then I will continue going after their ships.”

“And I will be by your side,” Aralyn replied, “Either in spirit, or by healing your crew when they are injured.”

“Yes,” Baltazar said softly, “We’ll save the world together.”

Xaphine cleared her throat to get Aralyn’s attention, “It’s time…”

Aralyn threw her arms around Baltazar, “I love you… I promise you we’ll see each other in six months, okay?”

Baltazar nodded, “Where should we meet?”

“Here,” She replied as her body began to face, “Six months from today, meet me here, I’ll be waiting for you!”

The other angels also began to fade. Baltazar turned to Lailah, “It was nice knowing you.”

Lailah nodded, “The pleasure was mine, we’ll see each other again someday, count on it.”

Baltazar smiled and watched as his love disappeared. Just before she completely vanished, a tear fell from her eye and landed on the dock. It splashed and formed into a small golden feather. Baltazar picked it up and put it in his pocket. Morgan placed his hand on Baltazar’s shoulder, “Ye okay Captain?”

“Yes, “Baltazar replied, “I’ll be fine…”

He took a deep breath and turned to face his men, “Come on boys, we’ve got six months of work to do before we can come back here! To the Black Vengeance, sail for Spain, and pirate glory!”

Gilles and Morgan saluted and headed for the boat, “Aye sir!”

 

Aftermath

Six months had passed for Aralyn, just as she was promised it would. When she was ready to return to Earth, there was a flicker of light and she appeared in front of the Patrisi home. Her wings were gone to help her pass as a human without incident, but her eyes were still glowing. The light blurred her eyes and made it impossible for her to see anything. She rubbed quickly trying to clear her vision.

When it finally returned, she let out a disappointed sigh. The Black Vengeance was nowhere in sight. Would he have abandoned me? She thought to herself, no, he wouldn’t do such a thing.

As though answering her question, a ship appeared from the other side of the harbor. Her sails veiled in a red sunset, Aralyn could tell that her love had finally arrived. The ship gracefully slowed to a halt as the sails were drawn and the anchored was dropped. She waited patiently as the longboat was lowered and began rowing for the shore. Anticipation built up inside of her as she waited for it to touch the shore.

The Sun slowly disappeared but the lamps all along the house took over illuminating the beach as the boat approached. Once it was within a few feet of the beach, Baltazar jumped over the side and ran through the wave to her. Aralyn ran down the beach to meet him half way, but she ran faster than he could. The two came together just a foot into the surf. They held each other tightly as the waves gently caressed their feet.

Gilles and Morgan pulled the boat up on land and watched from a few feet away. Aralyn released Baltazar from her grip, “My love… I have missed you.”

“And I missed you,” Baltazar replied.

The two brought their faces together and their lips connected in a deep kiss. Suddenly, four stars overheard began to twinkle brightly and colorful explosions went off in the night sky. All four of them turned to watch as the sky became illuminated in green, blue, red, and yellow colors. Baltazar smiled, “It’s amazing…”

“My sisters,” Aralyn replied, “I should have guessed they’d pull something like this.”

“Did you find all the answers you were looking for up there?” Baltazar asked.

Aralyn nodded, “Yes… I got to speak to Adaline, Giovanni… and my parents.”

Baltazar pressed her closer, “How are they?”

“They’re all happy…” Aralyn replied as she bit her lip. That’s what matters most. Although I should warn you, my father is very suspicious of you.”

“Is that so,” Baltazar chuckled, “Well I’ll just have to work even harder to prove my love for you.”

“That I would love to see,” Aralyn said laughing.

Suddenly, Baltazar pulled a beautiful jeweled necklace with a massive pearl on the end of it from his pocket. Aralyn gasped and placed a hand on over her mouth, “Baltazar… It’s beautiful…”

“Aztec,” he replied, “It was on its way to Spain from the new world. I… liberated it for you.”

“You are a pirate aren’t you?” Aralyn said jokingly.

“Among many other things,” Baltazar replied.

He quickly placed the necklace on her and rubbed her shoulders. She placed her right hand on his left one, “I can’t wait for us to start our life together.”

“It should be quite an adventure.” Baltazar replied.

“Really,” Aralyn asked, “I thought our big adventure was over. All the loose ends have been tied up.”

“Never,” Baltazar insisted, “All life can be an adventure if we choose to make it so.”

A look of excitement came over Aralyn’s face, “Yes, then let’s make it one.”

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.

jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com

I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.

Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Thanks friends!

Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+

+ advice, fantasy, Fiction, literature, Opinion, Science Fiction, Writing

The Ins and Outs of Publishing, A Directory of Advice. #Writing #Author #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

Okay, so it looks like I’m still getting a lot of publishing questions. These are recurrent questions I get on a regular basis, and while I want to try to respond to everyone who reaches out to me, I don’t want my blog becoming redundant. So I think I’m going to repost this on a weekly basis from now on to help people navigate the publishing world. I don’t really see another way around it.

So if you have questions regarding publishing, PLEASE check below to see if any of this helps you before reaching out. I’m always happy to help, but I may have already answered your question.

Publishing is a tough road to navigate. Please check out the links below. These are previous posts I’ve made about the ins and outs of publishing. They should be of assistance in your journey:

Am I Ready To Publish? This is a must read BEFORE even considering starting the process. I can’t tell you how many authors burned bridges by not being ready.

Editing… There is a Cost That Must be Paid… or is There? You can skip this one if you’ve already had your writing edited (by someone other than you!). However, I’d still recommend reading.

Getting Published… the basics… In this post, we explore traditional publishing vs. self-publishing. Here you’ll get the pros on cons of each and the steps you need to go through in order to be successful in either.

Finally…

Copyrighting my Writing. Am I Protected? This isn’t required reading… however, if you’re concerned about plagiarism, or in the future may need to file a copyright claim, I recommend giving it a read.

Feeling overwhelmed yet? I’d be surprised if you didn’t. The only sage advice I can offer you other than the documents above is simple…

  1. Do not give up. A million “No’s” suddenly become irrelevant if you get that one “yes”.
  2. People will tell you that everyone and their mother wants to publish a book. You’re up against insurmountable odds and a flooded market. This is false. You’re not up against everyone and their mother. Permit me the luxury and I’ll prove this mathematically: First of all, take the entire group of people who want to get published. Now take that number and reduce it by roughly 60%. You just eliminated all the people who want to get something published, but don’t have the time, ability, drive, or inspiration to write. Next, eliminate another 20%. You’ve now taken down all the people who can put pen to paper but can’t afford the time/money to put the work into advertising and getting published. Eliminate another 10% who can’t take criticism and thus aren’t going to be able to get their writing properly edited. Now eliminate another 5% either don’t have the patience for or get discouraged by receiving a series of “No’s” from publishers.
    Now take that last 5% and eliminate all of them, except you. Why? Because they’re irrelevant. You have your writing and they have there’s. Whether or not you get published and how successful you are isn’t about other people’s writing. Yes, in the end, it’s you against one person, you. Whether or not I’ll ever get to buy your book off the shelf depends on you; how much time, effort, and funds you’re willing to put into your writing. So make it good!

Let’s open it up to the floor. Readers, do you have any publishing advice for our friend here? Let her know in the comments!

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.

jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com

I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.

Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Note:
If you have read my books, PLEASE log into Amazon and post a review. I really love to hear everyone’s thoughts and constructive criticisms. Reviews help get my book attention and word of mouth is everything in this business!

Thanks friends!

Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+ advice, fantasy, Fiction, Non Fiction, Science Fiction, Writing

Character Loss vs. Reality #Fantasy #Fiction #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

This happens to everyone at some point. Either we meet the girl of our dreams… only to find out after pouring our hearts out to that person that they’re already engaged to be married! 😡
We see some treasured item that we really want, but can’t afford it, etc.

The worst is when we find out that we could have had that something or someone had we done one or two things differently and that is a pretty serious sting. So how do we make our characters deal with it?

Well if you write fantasy, like me, that’s easy. MAGIC!!!
Seriously, magic has been a way out and it’s been used way to often. Now for those of you who have read my stories, yes I’m aware that I’m being a bit of a hypocrite right now because I’m guilty of doing the same thing, but at least when I did it, it was in furtherance of the plot. The method I chose came with severe consequences, so it balanced out.
Yes, magic solves all problems, be it bringing a loved one back from the dead with necromancy, using a Love Potion on someone… despite the famously dangerous risks that come with it, or just use creation magic to make the characters wildest dreams come true.

But what if we don’t want to do that? What if we’re suddenly faced with making a character suffer through the knowledge that they’ll never have what they want, no matter how close they get. What do we do then? How do we make a character deal with it?

Well to be honest, I’ve seen many potential ways and there are several to choose from that people would actually do in real life under the right set of circumstances. I’ll provide a few examples. Just choose wisely…

1. Move on: The character accepts what they’ll never have, they move on, find other people and things to fill the void and forget about the notion all together. Easier said than done, right? Well maybe, but it’s usually the one with the best outcome.

2. Slink off into the sunset, never to be seen again: I’m not going to lie, this is one way that I actually love. It’s a great way to give a character the ‘Unsung Hero’ persona. We all know the one; he’s the person who fights the most, the guy who works the hardest and is responsible for saving everyone, but in the end, does not get the girl or any reward. Instead, he stands there off to the side and watches as the people he helped cherish the end of their adventure before turning and walking quietly out of the picture.

3. Suicide: Okay, honestly, I’ve seen this one used too many times. It’s an easy way out and often, the cost of life is kind of a little extreme, but if it’s the way you want to go, maybe if the character is sacrificing themselves for a better cause, it’s one thing, but just dying from sorrow wouldn’t cut it.

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.
jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com
I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.
Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side!

+

+ Book, fantasy, Fiction, News, Uncategorized, Writing

Drakin, where to buy, and what’s next? #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

by Unknown's avatar

Hello all!

I hope everyone has enjoyed The Drakin Series!! Please don’t forget to leave me a review on Amazon once you’re done. That really helps me out a lot.

Copies of these books, as well as my others, can be purchased on Amazon by following this link:

James Harrington’s Author Page

They’re also available at Barnes and Noble, as well as many other places where books are sold!

Please feel free to like and reblog this post. Word of mouth helps us writers out a lot!

Drakin: The Story of Raiya

Book Synopsis:
‘ “Abomination, freak, monster…”  You get used to names like these when you have yellow eyes, horns, and scales, but Raiya could have really cared less.

After being forced into exile because of her appearance, Raiya’s mind has been focused on one goal; hunting down the dragon lord that killed her parents. For over thirty years, humanity has been locked in a struggle for survival against a race of dragons that had fallen from the heavens. They took everything from her and consumed the planet in a fierce war. Humanity’s numbers are quickly dwindling, leaving her few options in the way of allies.

What she doesn’t know is that her journey will strike at the very heart of the Red War and uncover truths about her past that she may not want to know. Can she finish what she started while coming to terms with the truths of her origin? ‘

Drakin: The Orphans of Haven

Book Synopsis:

The Red War may be over, but not all wounds have healed. For Sergeant Radley Zall, the nightmares never end. After years of struggling for survival, he finds himself in a dead end job, deporting wayward dragons to the Exclusion Zone. The horrors of his past have left him a broken man, slowing killing himself in a bottle of whiskey. It’s a wearying existence that many former soldiers have been subject to since the war ended, but for Radley, that is all about to change. Throughout his life, Radley’s hatred of dragons has been unmatched until one evening when a small one shows up on his doorstep. The pathetic creature is emaciated and begging for shelter. Her appearance reminds him of his younger self, compelling him to help her. That uncharacteristic decision forces him to confront his past actions— some of which may have contributed to a sinister plot to reignite the Red War and wipe out the few remaining dragons on Earth.

DRAKIN: An Empire of Ashes

 

Synopsis:

Two hundred years have passed, and the Red War has become a distant memory for most. Dragons and humans now live together in peace… but one powerful woman who has been deranged by her own history unleashes her vengeance on a helpless population.

Now, the world’s only hope for survival rests with Kaori, a naïve and wayward princess of the Eastern Empire. Having been disillusioned with her mother’s rule, she discovers a dark secret about her family that will change the course of history forever. She soon crosses paths with Nayeli and Joaquim, a pair of rogues living within her borders.

Their fight for survival takes an unexpected turn as a shadow of from the past reveals that the situation is more dangerous than they know. The fate of billions of lives rests on these three unlikely companions putting aside their differences to stand against the world.

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.

jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com

I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.

Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Also, feel free to check out my works of Fantasy and Historical Fiction, Available on Amazon and where ever books are sold. See the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Harrington/e/B00P7FBXTU

Note:
If you have read my books, PLEASE log into Amazon and post a review. I really love to hear everyone’s thoughts and constructive criticisms. Reviews help get my book attention and word of mouth is everything in this business!

Thanks friends!

Catch you on the flip side!

-Jim

+ advice, Current events, Fiction, News, non-fiction, Politics, Reading, Writing

Opinion vs. Fact #Fantasy #Fiction #Advice

by Unknown's avatar

So recently I’ve come across many blogs and other writings that are attempting to pass off their opinion as fact. Several different subjects have come up pertaining to politics, nutrition, etc.

In my writing, I feel it’s always important to distinguish between the two. If I’m sighting fact, I’ll give a source and say it’s a fact. If I’m giving an opinion, I’ll make sure that’s known (look back at some of my other posts). However I’ve seen too many times that people attempt to (either deliberately or unknowingly) pass off their own perceptions as fact. In books and stories, I’ve seen it as well.

Now, for the most part, if you point out that these people could be wrong, or just flat-out are, they’re happy to debate your points with their own. In many cases they either didn’t know, or were getting their info from a bad source, or didn’t mean to pass their opinion off as fact. So you’ll often get a polite thank you…

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. A growing trend these days are the graduates of ‘Google University’ who are extremely partisan in their beliefs and don’t want to hear that their facts aren’t always facts. With these people, the best advice I can give is to ask for their credentials or their source of info, if all they provide you with in return is childish insults, block you, or a long misogyny-laden string of nonsense, then move along. PLEASE. Don’t give these people attention, and they’ll go away.

To those of you who write opinion pieces or factual ones, please make sure your readers know what you’re going for. Cite sources for facts whenever you can, and make sure your sources are legit (Partisan blog postings from people who get their info from other partisan sites are NOT legitimate sources. Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN are not legitimate sources… most of the time. A simple YouTube search will prove that.)

Now take what I’m saying at face value. My blog is advice on the philosophies of writing, so there are no right or wrong answers for the most part. It’s really your own style, I’m just trying to relay the secrets of what success I’ve had in the hopes that it’ll help others. If you don’t agree with me, that’s fine, but don’t take what others tell you as fact. Do the research yourself. Check government websites, actual studies from universities, etc. It will take longer, but your facts will be less likely to be attacked and you’ll actually learn something. News agencies are usually second-hand sources.

The more people realize this and start doing the footwork themselves, the better off everyone is.

Readers,

Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me.
jimthewritingwizard@gmail.com
I’ll use those comments to select my next blog post.

I have been writing for several years, have 4 published works, experience with publishing and independent work, so I can hopefully be of assistance.
Please note, I only do one of these a day and will do my best to respond to everyone, but it may take some time.

Thanks friends!
Catch you on the flip side!

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