Playing on Pinterest

It seems like I always come late to the social networking parties... but, I have finally signed up for a Pinterest account. (It's like it's 2011, or something!)  I have had a fun evening over there putting together a Thorn of the Kingdom inspiration board.

Of course, I started writing TOTK in 2003.  A lot of my inspirations are dated now, and some I have shared on the Bibliotéque before, but I thought you might like to see them anyway.  I hope to keep adding to the board if I see something that looks TOTK-ish in the future.

Check it out at www.pinterest.com/poohba_writer/

I'm still trying to figure out what people do on Pinterest (other than post Crock Pot recipes).  So, if you have any tips and tricks, please let me know!

What I've been up to lately

Faithful readers, you must have all thought I'd fallen completely off the Blogosphere.  And, I guess I kind-of did.  It's been, what, more than two years since I've posted anything here?

Writing has been on the backburner lately, but I'm making an early New Year's resolution to change that. It's looking more and more like Thorn of the Kingdom is not going to see the light of day by the traditional publishing route, so I am looking at my options for self publishing in 2015.

In the meantime, I decided I'd show you what I've been working on for so long. I've just come from posting the first three chapters of the latest (and hopefully last) revision of TOTK on FictionPress.com, where it all began. Please read, enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Misadventures in Social Media

That is to say, I haven't done much blogging lately. It's amazing how, once you get out of the habit, real life gets in the way.

However, I've spent the evening tonight going over several month's worth of "Poohba Mail" and felt like I should post an update to answer three of the most common questions people have been asking me:

Q: When is "Thorn of the Kingdom" coming out?
A: I wish I knew! We still haven't found a publisher yet. I've had editors say really nice things about it, but the perfect match hasn't happened just yet. My agent and I are still looking and we'll keep you posted when we have news.

Q: Why did you take "Phillip's Rose" (A.K.A. "TOTK II") down?  
A: I took "Phillip's Rose" down from FictionPress for a lot of reasons. For one, it featured characters who are in the original "Thorn of the Kingdom" and, with all the reports of plagiarism on the site, I just didn't want to leave them exposed like that. But, more importantly, I wrote "Phillip's Rose" more than 8 years ago. I feel like I've progressed a lot as a writer since then, and, frankly, there were parts of the story that I just felt embarrassed about. I know I can do better, and you readers deserve better from me.  

Q: Wasn't your story once called "Queen of Glass"?  
A: Well, no. You're thinking of Sarah Maas's story, which was wildly popular and I wish I had read while it was up on FictionPress. Fortunately, I'm getting a second chance soon, though, because Bloomsbury is publishing Sarah's (renamed) epic "Throne of Glass" this August! I've gotten to know Sarah a little bit from working on the "Let the Words Flow" blog (which has since morphed into Publishing Crawl, and I know she's really excited about it. It's great to see yet another FictionPress alum do good.

I hope that answers some of your burning questions. Please let me know if there's something else you've been meaning to ask. And, I apologize for disappearing from here for years at a time. I'll try to update a little more often in the future.

— Poohba

NaNoWriMo 2010 is Here!

It's November 1st, which means, of course, that it's the beginning of National Novel Writing Month. My project for the month is a complete change of pace from Thorn of the Kingdom. It's a light romantic comedy set in the present day at a high school band camp. So far, I'm 3,215 words in, which means I'm ahead of the game. We'll see if I can get to 50,000 before November 30.



As far as TOTK goes. I don't have much new to report. It's making the rounds at publishers, but so far we haven't found just the right editor to take it on. So, keep your fingers crossed that that happens.

Amusing story about my latest TOTK draft

Here's why my latest draft of TOTK isn't quite ready for prime time...

As I told you before, I had the draft professionally printed and bound for convenience, as well as so my family could get their first look at this project I've been talking to them about for years and haven't let them read.

So far, both my grandmother and mother have told me it's a great story, but that I could use an editor. In fact, I was embarrassed to discover my mother laughing over a certain scene where Pierre leans down to pet Tiny - a chapter after Tiny's emotional deathbed scene. (This is what happens when you cut and paste too much while writing on computer, I guess.)

Really, I'm glad she pointed it out while I still have time to fix the gaffe. This is why I wanted a new printout. I would have never caught that error onscreen.

Some TOTK news... finally

I'm very nervous, but excited.

I just came from the FedExKinko's website where I clicked "send" to have them print and bind Draft #4 of Thorn of the Kingdom. (Remembering how many hours and paper jams it took to print out Draft #3, I decided the 400-some pages were best left to the pros. Plus, this way I get a cardstock cover with my title page printed on it! I'm enough of a nerd to be excited about that.)

Now, this may not seem like great news on the grand scale of things, but it feels like major progress for me. My original goal was to have this draft done last September, before I started my first semester of grad school. Then, I was to have it done by New Year's and that didn't happen either.

DRAFT #4 IS FINALLY DONE!!! I want to shout it out from the rooftops.

I feel as close as I've ever been to having THE definitive draft that's going out to agents/publishers. However, part of the reason I always want a new printout when I get to the end of major revisions is that I want to set it aside for a while and then come back to it as if I'm reading a fresh book. That's when all the grammar mistakes and sentence structure problems come flying out at me.

But I'm finally satisfied on all the plot points. This is the version I'm going to let my family read. (It's been 4+ years and they still have only seen bits and pieces. My 90-something grandmother was getting anxious...)

Happy Second of July, everybody!

I meant to post this earlier, but hopefully I can sneak it in before the date changes.



I have to post one of my favorite historical quotes today. It has nothing to do with literature or writing, but it's very timely.

And funny...

"...The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
— John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail, dated July 2, 1776

It's one of those little quirks of history that amuses me. Poor John Adams was so very close to being right. He just got the date a little wrong, is all. If it had been me, I probably would have thought the day Congress voted on Independence would be more memorable to future generations than two days later when a draft of the paperwork got signed too...

Anyway, if you've never read the Collected Letters of John and Abigail Adams, you really should. I never used to think much of the second president of the United States, but the more I read about his marriage and the relationship he had with his wife, the more I have developed a grudging affection for him.

And, for the record, no I did not name the main character in book after Abigail Adams. Not consciously, anyway. I have to admit I did read a biography of Abigail Adams (Lynne Withey's excellent Dearest Friend) the summer before I first began to write Thorn. So, who knows. I may have had a spunky historical figure in the back of my mind when I started to write and I just didn't know it.

Musical inspiration

I watched The Sound of Music the other night. What a great movie. A little cheesy, yes, but good.

I'd never really thought about it before, but it also inspired a few scenes in Thorn of the Kingdom. Remember where Abby sneaks into the open ballroom and begins dancing with an imaginary partner? I doubt she would have if Julie Andrews hadn't first.

Actually, the ballroom at Tholly's palace isn't so far off from the one at the von Trapp Family villa. It's just bigger, of course, and with a bit more of the colors you'd find at Beast's castle.



It's strange to realize how all these little bits can get stirred up in one's mind and come out in different ways. It's not plagiarism. It's just how art works and has always worked. Ask Shakespeare.

The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye

I decided to turn my attention to children's lit tonight and share with you some of my favorite books for kids and young adults. These are the ones that came from the "Books I'm not supposed to like anymore (but still do)" section of my old Poohba's Bibliotèque website.



The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye can truly be called an upside-down fairy tale. There are certain rules and expectations about princesses: they must be blonde, slender, beautiful, and gentle - and poor Amy doesn't fit the bill. At her christening, Princess Amy's fairy godmother decided to proclaim her "ordinary," so instead of growing up like her six perfect older sisters, she turns into a freckled tomboy that no respectable prince wants to marry.

That suits Amy just fine. Being ordinary, she can run off and have adventures her sisters couldn't even dream of - and she winds up with the best husband in the end, just being herself.

I have to admit this book was one of my inspirations for Thorn of the Kingdom - though it's much funnier and more clever than anything I've ever written.

If you've ever read Kaye's The Far Pavilions you might be surprised to know she also wrote this children's book in such a completely different style. I hate this cover art, by the way, because it makes it look like Amy's about 5. She's actually a teenager through most of the story.

Inspiring Abby

Since I provided some thoughts about where the characters of Tholly and Pierre came from ages ago, I thought it was only fair to give you some insight into how the character of Abby developed.

My original concept of Thorn of the Kingdom was that it was a love story between Abby and Tholly. Even after that relationship ends, it's still the driving force of everything else that occurs. But, over time, I've come to see TOTK much more as "Abby's story." Tholly is an important part of it, but he isn't her whole life.

It may surprise you to know that I didn't originally intend to write TOTK from Abby's perspective. I thought the narrative would be mostly about her, but with a few chapters focusing on settings where she couldn't possibly be present. I didn't like writing first-person stories and hadn't attempted one in years.

However, just a page or two in, I knew something wasn't working. The third-person narration was lifeless. To save a story I knew I had to write, I took a deep breath and started writing it a different way. It's strange, once I made that critical decision, Abby's voice was just there. The more I wrote about her, the more I felt I knew her.

... And the rest is history.

In my writing notebook, I keep several pictures of Abby. I think this photo of Liv Tyler in Lord of the Rings captures Abby in a wistful mood. Perhaps this is how she looked when she met Tholly in the empty corridor the night of the grand ball, or perhaps she's in the midst of some philosophical debate with Pierre. The only thing wrong with it, is Liv doesn't have enough red in her hair.

Do I even have an Inner Troll?

I entered Miss Snark's latest Crapometer with a hook for TOTK last night. She posted her response this morning.

Not exactly what I was hoping for - but at least she didn't tell me I can't write. I can see a few place where the hook needs some "punching-up". (There's a sentence I never thought I'd write!)

And Tholly?

I don't have as good examples for Tholly as I do for Pierre. The closest I can come is this image, from Sir Frank Dicksee's painting of Romeo and Juliet:



That's him... except his face isn't showing.

Inspiration

If you're interested in how I came up with my characters. Well, mostly they evolved as I was writing them... None more than the character of Pierre, who was a total enigma to me when I began the section where he arrives into Abby's life in Thorn of the Kingdom. He revealed himself to me in layers, just as he did to Abby (whose character was a completely different story. As soon as I realized her story needed to be told from her perspective, her voice was just there.)

However, in recent trollings of YouTube, I rediscovered this Alanis Morissette video, which I remember really making an impression on me when it first came out. (I think I completely missed the point of the song, but that's okay.):



Keep a close eye on the guy on left side of the split-screen. (Yeah, I know it's the same guy on both. But he's not dressed up like the "knight in shining armor" on the right side.)

Pierre?

Well, yeah, a little bit.

Of course, my other big influence on his character was Michael Vartan's version of Lancelot in The Mists of Avalon TV movie.

(Thanks to Two Evil Monks for the photo.)

TOTK Chapter 1

I feel a bit like George Lucas here, re-releasing old material. But, like Star Wars, I guess you can't beat the original. I am finding myself having a lot more sympathy for him tonight than I usually do, though.

As a viewer, I want the movies I saw as a kid. I don't care if the special effects date it. But as the creator of a piece of (is it pretentious to call it "art"?), I look at this version, and all I can see is the flaws. I itch to correct them, or present you with my latest draft.

But here it is... From February 2003... Not seen since last summer on FictionPress... is the original beginning of Part I: Orphaned, Chapter 1.

“Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet?"
King Henry VI, Part I
Act 2, Scene 4

PART I:
ORPHANED

I have often given thanks that we cannot see into our futures. That we do not wake in the morning and realize that this day will change our lives in ways we cannot even imagine.

Some changes, of course, we could look forward to. Others, we are glad to put off as long as we can. And it is those that I am most thankful we do not portend.

When I think this way, I remember one day in particular. It altered the course of my life forever. For if events had happened differently, I would have never met Tholly at all.

It seems strange to think that Tholly is rightfully King Bartholomew II, now. He will always be Tholly to me.

But, that cold mid-winter’s morning when I was six years old, I was unaware of Tholly, the palace or even events occurring in my own household that were destined to change my life.

I remember hearing strange murmurings in my dreams. It wasn't Mama and Papas’ voices that I heard rising and falling, but they seemed somehow familiar.

I tried to force my eyes open, but they were as if someone had sewn them shut. At times, I seemed conscious, as though I could actually see myself lying there, auburn hair bathed in the sunlight from the room’s lone window, small body twisted up in sweaty bedclothes. But it must have just been the hammering of my head, tricking me into thinking so.

There were faces at times, in front of me. I thought. I was sure of nothing. Nothing seemed real.

I was dreaming again.

And then a horse's neigh came from outside and my eyes flew open. That had been real. A horse was tied up at the hitching post outside the shop, I could have sworn by it. I could even hear it stomping its hooves in the snow.

That could only mean that someone had stopped by the shop to trade. I listened as hard as I could, but only muffled tones came from downstairs. I did not hear Papa's deep voice bartering with a customer.

I reached one of my still-chubby hands up to my eyelids, rubbed, and realized my eyes were no longer throbbing. I tested my head by rolling it from side to side on the pillow and felt none of the stabbing pain that had been with me for...… for I didn'’t know how long.

The sun fell on me, but it was cold winter sun and my sweat-soaked nightshift gave me no warmth. I shivered as I lifted the covers off and slid my feet to the side of the rope-bed, but I had to know who was downstairs. Perhaps there was a thief pilfering through Papa’s hard-earned trade goods.

My feet made contact with the rough-hewn boards. I held on to the side of the bed to steady myself as I rose, and made my way out of the small bedroom onto the landing, balancing against the wall as I went.

My head no longer pounded, but I felt strangely lightheaded. The landing opened up to the shop below and I had to grasp the wooden railing when I saw how far I had to fall.

The shop was as dark as always, with only the sunshine filtering down from upstairs, the fire, and what glow came from the chinks around the door to light the room. It took my tired eyes a while to adjust to the coziness and see the three figures gathered around the fire, talking softly.

Two I recognized as Cunningham and his wife.

Cunningham was a neighbor, and I knew Papa considered him a friend. His wife, however, was the bossy matron of a brood of twelve. The youngest Cunningham was my playmate, but her mother had always intimidated me. I shrank next to the stair post; at the sight of her, thankful Cunningham'’s wife seemed intently focused on the conversation.

The third figure was an elegant stranger. The woman’s heavy royal blue cloak only slightly concealed an elaborately brocaded gown. Her headpiece was similarly intricate. Her neck and most of her head were wrapped with cloth as I had seen nuns wear, but instead of a habit, she wore a large circlet of wrapped blue and white cloth on the crown of her head.

I had never seen such a person in my life. Certainly this strange person must have come to our home from one of the ships in the harbor. No one in this land could own such finery. Even the richest women in my small coastal village, and I counted my own Mama among them, could only dream of brocaded silk gowns.

And yet, despite her splendor, the stranger seemed perfectly content to sit and talk with Cunningham and his wife. It was if she sat around in small merchant's dark shops everyday.

It was puzzling. I found my legs were weakening, so I lowered myself to sit on the top step and peeked through the railing, trying to listen in on the conversation.

"fevered... child... we sent for you..."

It was impossible. I could not understand half of what they were trying to say. I wondered why Mama and Papa didn't come out of their own room underneath the stairs and meet this stranger. Why were the Cunninghams sitting there in front of the fire, entertaining their guest?

Frustrated, I scooted down a few more steps, trying to get closer.

The three adults' heads spun towards me when one of the stairs creaked. How could I have forgotten the third step from the top was so noisy?

“Why it'’s the young missy, out of bed,” Cunningham exclaimed as if no one else could see that fact with their own eyes.

His wife lifted her considerable frame off of her stool and started clucking, "Abigail, what yea be doing out of bed? Yea, getting over fever." She took heavy steps up the stairs and when her breath allowed, continued, "Get back in bed... bed... I say... Yea sitting there in the draft with naked feet... Oh, if yea mama could see ye..."

I clambered to my feet, desperate to reach the safety of my bed before Mistress Cunningham reached me. But, I rose so fast, it took a moment for the room to stop spinning again. When my eyes cleared, I looked down. The stranger was looking up at me and smiling. Her well-featured face seemed so familiar somehow... especially her brilliant blue eyes. Even in the dim light, I could see eyes that matched the color of the ocean.

But that glimpse was all I got, for Mistress Cunningham had reached the top of the stairs and was forcing me back into the bedroom by the scruff of my neck.

Where do you find TOTK, anyway?

Anonymous said...
I tried to find a published copy of Thorns of a Kingdom in bookstores, online, etc but I couldn't find it :-(. I reallllyyyy wanna read it. Where can I find it?

Part of the reason I started this blog was to keep my FP readers up-to-date on what's happening with TOTK, so I'm glad you asked this.

I want you to read Thorn of the Kingdom. I'm excited that you're excited about it.

Unfortunately, it isn't available anywhere online at the moment.

As I was writing the first draft, several years ago, I posted each chapter to FictionPress.com. As I got closer to what I thought was the end of the revising process, I took it down because I thought I was close to sending my manuscript off to agents and publishers. Then I decided it needed one more draft before it was "ready for prime time."

And so, my faithful readers are in limbo right now. My new goal is to begin searching for an agent before the end of the year, but the publishing business is notoriously slow, so it could be a while yet before you can order it from a bookstore.

I still have a few "Outtakes" from TOTK on my FictionPress homepage. Think of them as "deleted scenes" from a DVD. (I'm having some trouble viewing content on FictionPress right now. I don't know if it's due to their recent upgrade, or if I'm just to stupid to figure out the new features, but just to let you know you might have some troubles with it too.)

But, in the meantime, I think I'll post the original opening here, as a sign of good faith.

Thank you for your patience!
Poohba