The Slayer Rune by John Snow

The Vikings more as people than as reavers

This is the first book in the Viking Series by the author and is set in around the 10^th century. It centres on the settlement of Vik, a place rule by Harald, a chieftain with domestic and political troubles. The story opens with the visit of King Godred to Vik seen largely through the eyes of Sigurd, Harald’s second son. Of course Harald wants the visit to go off well as it will reflect upon him accordingly but he’s a man with a few secrets and it seems like one of them, a particularly dangerous one, is about to get out.

It is common in popular culture to represent Vikings as blood thirsty killers who did nothing else but invade other lands and kill lots of people, but this staid image is not what we get here. The Vikings had their own laws to live by and the taking of another’s life without good reason was viewed very seriously. Murder is punished by the king and there’s more than one murder associated with Vik for Harald to worry about.

I like the idea of the story, it is original and shows this period of history in a new light. The characters are clearly written but under-developed to my mind. Sigurd experiences quite a lot of trauma by the end of the story but I was never convinced of his emotional depth. Although things happen to him they do not seem to have any deep or lasting impact. I am not sure that I came to care very much for him. This under-development is reflected in other ways, such as his relationship with his father Harald, it should have plenty of depth and back-history but none of this comes across. There seems to be no strong feeling between the two and this is the same with Sigurd’s mother Tora.

That said the narrative is richly embellished with references to Norse mythology and this adds an extra dimension to the tale. Quite clearly John Snow is well versed in his subject and this is definitely one of the books strengths. Indeed, I found the level of authenticity to be quite captivating and I learnt something new about the Viking people just by reading this book.

In conclusion, an original story with a rich cultural overlay that is well worth a read.

Back at last!

I have been very busy lately on a number of projects and also with having to earn a living as my book still has not sold in the quantities necessary for me to live in the lifestyle that I want to become accustomed to!

One thing that I decided to do was develop a website that brings many of the things that I am interested in together in one place. My first web-site was dedicated to The Sorrow Song Trilogy and was fun to do but someone pointed out that I am interested in more than just that and it might be better to show what else gets my attention.

The result is this: www.petercwhitaker.co.uk

There is a section on The Sorrow Song Trilogy, complete with background information on the Saxons – I was not going to throw all that work away! There’s also a section on photography and art and finally something on politics.

This is very much a work in progress, I mean there’s nothing there about dinosaurs yet! I will be adding and changing things frequently, at least I hope to be. Please have a look and if you feel like it share the link with others.
Many thanks.

Can writing make you Schizophrenic?

I started a project in historical fiction and it went very well, so well that I started thinking of other subjects even though I had not completed the first project (it’s a trilogy and I am working on the second novel). I am contemplative by nature so this is not a problem, my mind occupies itself with all kinds of imaginings, except that something has taken hold and refuses to let go.

In fact this little germ has proven so tenacious that I even started writing a couple of thousand words about it the other day. It was not much, just a few opening lines to see how things went…they went well! In fact it went so well that I opened up a project book and started developing characters, themes, plot lines, etc.

The next day I started to feel a bit guilty because I still have the first project to complete so, as if in a fit of penitence I drafted up two scenes to write into my historical fiction story. They worked really well too, so I felt much better.

Of course that was not the end of the matter, I soon found myself thinking about my new story and the ideas started coming thick and fast! I have read a couple of works on alternative history, William Gibson’s The Difference Engine’ for example (which he co-authored with Bruce Sterling of course) and I quite like the idea of bending reality a little to create something new; this is where the new story was heading. My imagination was quickly filling up with all kinds of possibilities for this new project, but was I losing touch with my Saxon epic?

Jumping from one time period to another can be quite tiring. I have a friend who cannot read two books at the same time if they are the same genre but different time periods, they claim that it gives them a kind of mental jet-lag! Strangely, they do not seem to be alone, I’ve read similar comments from people on the internet who state that if reading more than one book they like them to be as different as possible, so one might be a horror story and another might be historical fiction and the third might be a non-fiction book. It seems a common enough trait in reading.

I suppose that in a creative fashion this might also be a problem for a writer with two projects on the go at the same time, dashing from the 11^th century to a period some 900 years later where everything is different in so many ways?

I definitely want to complete both stories! The first one must come to completion because I have spent so long on it already, what with the research into a period that I did not know all that well when I started, and because the first novel has been reasonably well received. The second one is just so different and touches on a subject matter that has always fascinated me the way some people are fascinated by fire.

The commonsense path would seem to be that I divide my time up between the two of them, similar to what I would do when reading several books. Of course I often found that I had barely enough time to write the first book, what with work and family commitments, so how do I manage two? Well, fortunately the second instalment already has some 72,000 words written so I can say that it is well on its way to completion, hopefully to be published next year, this gives me some room to manoeuvre with regards to the new story. Time management is the key!

In some ways this might actually prove a saving grace in that there will be clear lines of distinction between the two projects, a bit like an actor appearing in two different roles on the same day. With a little preparation I should hopefully be able to switch comfortably from Saxons fighting Vikings to a subject much darker and more disturbing without losing my grasp on who I am at the same time!

In the Shadow of a Darker Project

I am writing a trilogy of historical fiction novels concerning 1066 but I find my mind turning to something much darker.

It seems that everyone expects me to continue in historical fiction after I finish my third novel but this project that currently exists only in my mind would be very difficult to squeeze into that genre. I don’t want to talk too much about it yet, what author does, but it is very different in every way from The Sorrow Song Trilogy.

True, it is set in a particular historical time, Britain in the 1930’s, but it is a very different Britain from that recorded in the history books, I suppose an ‘alternative history’ might cover it as a label but then it is so much more as well.

I am not setting out to write an alternative history, that is not the main attraction, it is just that the main subject kind of requires a slight alteration to the fabric of British history in order for the story to be told.

Curiously I have the subject of the book very strongly in my mind but other things are developing very slowly. I am not concerned as I still have two books to write before I can begin serious work on this project, but certain themes are already beginning to surface and a rather interesting notion has occurred to me that adds an extra dimension, perhaps a lighter one, to the very dark subject matter.

There are lots of other ideas scribbled down in my virtual jotter but this one has made the strongest impression upon me so far, I think that it is going to be something of a journey for me as it touches on personal experiences that are quite raw and although the subject often repels most people I find it fascinating in a way that others might not consider healthy.

Insertions do not have to be painful!

I suppose it depends what type of writer you are, whether you are a planner who gets everything sorted well before the creative writing starts or if you are more like me, someone who prefers to get the heart of the story onto the page and then go back and sort things out a bit?

There are pro’s and con’s to both systems, of course, it really comes down to a personal choice rather than one being right and one being wrong; it really is whatever works for you!

That said there are times when I wish that I took the more structured approach as I think that it might just save me a bit of time and work in the long run.

I am working on volume two of The Sorrow Song Trilogy and I have about 72,000 words written. There’s a dynamic relationship between two major characters that needs developing to bring a bit more excitement and drama to the narrative whilst the story heads towards an almighty climax.

Now when I was writing the 72,000 words I knew that I would have to go back and develop certain points, events and characters. It is not so much a problem as a need to insert a passage with a little consideration, perception and skill.

When I reviewed the draft manuscript I saw an opportunity to insert an episode that would build up the tension and make the reader (hopefully) care about one of the characters in particular. It also gives this character, her name is Mildryth by the way, a chance to prove her strength of character in dealing with a very dangerous situation instigated by a man who has already been revealed to a murderer and thief.

As this is historical fiction I have to be aware of the chronology of events in both a historical sense and with regards to the chronology of the plot, which all means that finding the opportune moment to introduce this new episode is crucial. It has to fit seamlessly, a fact all good writers understand, into what has already been written, which is where the consideration comes in.

To achieve this I picked a likely spot in the manuscript, marked it, and then read every chapter leading up to it. This gave me a fresh memory of what I had written and confirmed that I had picked the right moment in the story to insert the new work.

Again, because of my preferred style, this was not a one shot deal. I wrote the piece quickly to try and get all the excitement down on the page. Then I rewrote it almost immediately, only this time conscious of the material already written earlier in the novel, the historical background and the fact that female ninjas did not exist in 11^th century England!

Next came the proof reading, spell checking, the enriching of the cultural background and the editing to rid the piece of any pretence of being a historical essay; I sometimes find that my urge to retain a degree of historical integrity can lead me into writing in a very dry and academic style; something that must be amended at all costs!

Finally, if I am happy with the final written piece, I go back and re-read the manuscript again, making notes where necessary, and carry out a final judgement; did it work? Do the characters interact sufficiently? Is there tension? Did I achieve what I set out to do? Was the insertion invisible in consideration of the rest of the manuscript?

Happily, I can say yes in each instance. It did not hurt at all really. I enjoyed the writing and the editing, but you know what, a female ninja might make a good character for a more contemporary novel!

How do you get more people to read your new book?

I find myself in that void between publishing your work and seeing a response. It is a strange place, kind of like I imagine the doldrums to be. The initial excitement of my book entering the big bad world was maintained by the good friends and supportive family members who bought a copy of course, wonderful people each and every one of them, but that is not enough.

Every author knows that the goodwill and best intentions of family and friends is crucial to seeing a project through but not enough to give you a degree of commercial success. Even the copies bought and read by strangers, as thrilling as it is in its own right, is not enough.

The word has to get around somehow.

Don’t get me wrong, when I write ‘commercial success’ I am not dreaming of a mansion and a garage full of Italian supercars, it is something much more down to earth than that. I am thinking of earning enough to cover my current salary. This is because working full time and being a husband and father really does not leave much time left for pursuing the dream of being an author as well. Whatever free time I do get I try to squeeze as much out of it as possible – but there is so much to do!!!

Each day I keep having new ideas for new stories with new characters! Why did this not happen to me when I was a teenager with no commitments and no job? Not that I am complaining, I love thinking things through and developing new ideas in my head gets me through my boring day job, if only I had the time and energy on an evening to sit down and put everything that is that overfilled cranium onto a page or two.

If I could earn enough to uphold my side of the domestic budget then my wife would have no objection to me giving up work and staying at home to write books and do the cooking and a bit of cleaning. That is my dream...although if I could stretch to an Aston Martin DB9 I would not complain either!

Book promotion is the name of the next game. It is a flumuxing world for a novice like myself. There are of course lots and lots of websites out there that offer all kinds of seductive treats for the desperate indie-author looking to flog their latest work to the world. There are many big bad wolves just salivating over every new little red riding hoods that go wandering by.

A good rule of thumb – if it is too good to be true then it probably is!

A rule of thumb that is sometimes true but not always – if you have to pay then it is not a good idea!

This is because some of the better promotion sites ask for a reasonable one off only payment. They also usually offer a number of different packages with a sliding scale of costs that even at the higher end are still reasonable. Good Kindles (http://www.goodkindles.net/) is one such site and Independent Author Network (http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/) is another. I do not advocate one over the other, just take a look yourself and see which you prefer or even if you like both.

Another rule of thumb that is always true – if you have to pay more than a reasonable cost then walk away!

Anyone who offers you instant success but then starts talking about you forwarding money to them before they start to do anything for you, and usually large amounts too, is probably looking to milk you dry!

There is no doubt that unless you get some big shot literary agent behind you or if you already have a large stash of money to call upon then you are only going to get what you are willing to put into this marketing game. It is worth it though. There are some good people out there looking for an interesting read, they just need to know that you have written the sort of thing that they might be looking for.

To begin with I started cheap and cheerful, or ‘free’ as we call it in Yorkshire. I used Facebook and Twiter to begin with. Join groups with the former, retweet other authors works with the latter. This leads to some encouraging reciprocation. Blogging is also free, fun and rewarding.

Goodreads is another great place to be if you are a writer as it is full of readers! Yes, lots of lovely, charming, delightful readers! Get into the Goodreads Author Program, it is free and comes with more benefits than most of your friends!

Of course there is a limit with everything and when you reach it then is the time to start thinking about investing some money in promoting your book. This need not be the money-pit of nightmares. The key is to establish a budget that you can afford and stick to it. If anyone starts suggesting that you can stretch to a little bit more, adopt a John Wayne voice and tell them in no uncertain terms that you are the boss and you will do what you jolly well think is best, which should not include spending next month’s mortgage payment.

Its a long road to success but like all journeys it has to start with the first step, as sure as fish and chips is the food of the gods no one ever got anywhere by standing still, well except those who consider the earth rotating an approximate 800mph is a means of getting somewhere. And do not forget the fun! There is fun to be had in marketing your work because it involves meeting new people, even virtually over the internet, and every new person you meet, even virtually, is virtually a new reader of your work – enough with the repetition!

I’m off to flog my wares now, anyone want to read a good book?