I've taken about a year off from my fantasy writing. After publishing Brother Betrayed, I found that I needed some time to sort out the next book in my head before I continued revising it.
Something has changed in the past couple years with my writing. Though I can't define it exactly, I do have an idea what it is. It's happened to me before that after a hiatus from my book, I will return with new ideas, and almost a new style of writing. Part of me has grown older, more experienced, and when I re-read what I had previously written I see it is lacking some "spark" that I can now apply to it.
Some authors are able to write an entire novel in a couple months. For me this is impossible. I mull over scenes for years, figuring out the best way to put on paper what I see and hear in my head.
For those of you waiting my next novel, Fire Born, you'll be happy to know that most of that "mulling" has been completed. Now comes the task of getting it on paper.
I appreciate your patience. My books are pieces of my soul, and they don't come out easily.
Here's the new cover to Fire Born. The main character of this book is a dragon, set in the same world as Brother Betrayed, just at a later time.
I happened by this song by Jordan Parvex on SoundCloud this week.
Jordan explains his inspiration for the song was being hurt and betrayed by someone he trusted dearly.
Lyrics to Brother Betrayed by Jordan Parvex
you’ve got a look that can break stone
and an attitude like you're on a throne
you think you can rule the world.
you have these eyes that can pierce my soul
and instead of a heart, you have a hole
you think you can rule the world.
(chorus)
come on stop kidding yourself
your just a kid left on a shelf
and the worlds broken you down
you’re just their puppet now.
(chorus)
all that’s left of you is a hollow shell
you put a price up for your soul to sell
and now the world rules you.
you made a promise to never change
too bad your dead and we’re estranged
and now the world rules you.
(chorus)
(bridge)
you’re heartless
you’re soulless
you’re loveless
now.
you loved this
you’ve lost this
your broken
down.
so goodbye
to you
you’re one of them now.
Someone recently asked me how my cover artist and I, Walt Barna, developed the characters that are on my cover for Brother, Betrayed.
I explained that I sent Walt descriptions of each of the characters with pictures I found on-line that were close to each brother. This is what this correspondence looked like:
First Correspondence:
"Here's
the details:
Three riders riding/galloping forward through a forest
they are unfamiliar with - conifer or leafy forest - not detailed in
this part of the book. Nothing outlandish.
The setting is an ancient
kingdom, predating known history, but they show a cultural mix of
medieval and arabian clothing. Be creative! I was not to specific on
their dress. They carry swords and are wearing riding cloaks. Actually
considered having them having their cloaks on their heads and shadows
covering their faces to add to the dark and foreboding mood (my book is a
tragedy, the title is Brother, Betrayed).
The eldest riding in the
middle, is kingly, blonde and a little stern (19) and he rides a war
horse (never described the color in the book - maybe white?).
The middle
brother (18-17) is charming, strong and dashing. He has long curly
black hair (I don't care if it is drawn back) and rides a wild black
stallion.
The youngest (16) has shorter black hair, is curious and likes
books, but I really don't want him to be a dweeb- he is my protagonist -
maybe also describe him as pensive and deep.
The weather is early
spring and chilly so they are clothed semi-thickly. Their cloth is plain
but their arrogance betrays their true nature. Like I said, their culture is unique. Be creative. :-)"
Concepts for the horses:
"I want the three horses galloping towards the foreground. Syah's horse is a brown mare, Oman's horse is a large war horse. Fasime's horse is a wild black stallion."
Concepts for the brothers:
"Syah has dark, short hair and dark eyes. He is shortest, but still around 5’6”. He has a thin-to-medium build, but compared to his brothers he is small. He carries a one-handed sword. He also keeps his journal and maps. He is 15-16 at the time of their journey. He rides a calm, strong mare, red/brown in color.
Fasime has dark, longer curly hair. He has amber eyes. He is medium build, he hunts with a bow and tames horses. He also carries a two handed sword. He is charming and high-spirited. He is 17-18. He rides a black, wild stallion “black like crow’s feathers” named Lightning.
Oman is the eldest and is kingly. He is slightly more muscular than Fasime but they are close in height. He has lighter brown hair and brown eyes. He is 19. He rides a warhorse, I didn’t specify the color."
Concepts for the setting, mood, and clothing:
"Really like how there is an eerie glow of light from back in the forest."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The cover depicts a scene early in the book when they are exploring their kingdom. Here is the scene where they change out of their royal clothing in order to sneak out of the capital city as commoners:
The youngest nodded. “It’s time,” he said, reaching for the fastening of his riding coat. His brothers did the same. Luxurious dyed cloth was replaced by plain, worn clothing. The brothers gazed at themselves, and at each other, observing the transformation that had overcome them with such a simple change as their clothing. Privileged, deserving, and protected became common, unnoticeable, and valueless. But this transformation pleased them. They packed the fine cloth tightly into one of their sacks, then stood staring at it.
“We leave all titles behind us from his point onward,” the eldest declared. He took the dark cloak Fasime handed him and tied it around his shoulders. They mounted, pulling hoods over their heads, completing the disguise. Oman started his horse down the alley and the others followed. As they turned into another street, they all held their breath, anticipating their journey might come to an abrupt halt when someone recognized them. But as they passed the workers and merchants, they smiled, realizing no one bowed or curtsied to them, no one noticed them except to move out of the way of their horses.
Early Sketches:
"I love it! Just one major change: Fasime's horse on the
left needs to be more wild. Here is some more information on him: The
stallion's name is Lightning. The king's horse mated with a wild mare.
She was captured, but after the colt was born she was killed during a
storm. The colt escaped and wandered the forests for three years. The
opening scene to my book is after Fasime tracks and captures the
stallion, he tames him. He is not as large as Oman's horse (whose was
PERFECT by the way) but not too crazy/scary looking."
Early Drawings:
Here is a scene when they are traveling the woods, Syah has the charge of keeping watch. They often tease Syah, but protect him as well.
Oman nodded. “Fasime, we had better start our slumber. It will be a long day tomorrow. Syah, wake me soon; I will be the one coming to my senses in the middle of the night. And… wake me if you…”
“If I hear anything, if I see anything suspicious, or smell something odd that could be likened to ogre’s toenails, yes, yes, I know.” Syah mimicked Oman’s tone. “Now get some sleep,” the youngest said.
“Hear anything?” Oman started the teasing again.
“Just go!” Syah commanded. They laid on blankets near the fire. “Good night,” Syah whispered. The forest forgotten around him, Syah watched over the low, hot fire as his brothers’ eyes slowly closed. Dusk darkened to deep night beyond the fire. Then he was sure they slept, seeing their chests slowly rise and fall, and their bodies eased and still on their blankets.
The burden of keeping the watch was heavy upon the young prince. His sleeping brothers put their trust in him for their very lives. But did they know?
He would give anything, everything to protect them.
Early Covers:
Changed the colors to more cooler tones. Added font for ebook cover.
Completed Cover with Fonts:
A special thanks to Walt Barna for bringing my characters to life. Here's a picture of him holding his copy of Brother Betrayed:
There are two elements of battle in this novel. First, the main characters are often engaged in hand to hand combat, their chosen weapons usually being swords. To write these scenes with some historical accuracy, I studied different types of swords and their uses in combat. It helps that my husband collects swords and built his own forge in the back yard.
The other element of warfare in Brother, Betrayed comes from the main kingdom being at constant war with the surrounding tribes. These battles I modeled after battles fought in the Crusades. Though set in a fantasy world, there is a strong emphasis on knights, archers, cavalry, and siege weapons and tactics.
Several sequences in Brother, Betrayed were based on the Siege of Antioch, where a small number of soldiers defended against a large army in the First Crusade.
An excerpt from a hand to hand combat scene from Brother, Betrayed:
The large man stepped back, drawing his sword. Syah watched him grasp the hilt with both hands and then stand still. “You strike first,” Malgar said, as usual, “gradually to start.”
Syah nodded again as he drew his sword. His mind moved ahead of his actions, calculating the trainer’s moves, his vulnerabilities with a larger, slower sword. The prince moved towards him, swinging his blade downward and stepping to the side.
Malgar parried. “Good, and again,” he ordered.
Syah turned and swung at him from the other side. The trainer parried again and the prince tried at him from a different angle.
“Now faster,” Malgar ordered, stepping back to avoid the prince’s novice blade. The prince could feel his breathing grow shallow and his pulse quicken. He felt a rush of energy, his mind clear, thinking ahead of his strikes, evaluating and executing.
“Good,” Malgar said, “now defend.” Syah changed his stance to block the trainer’s sword. He saw the man’s direction; he watched the position of his sword, predicting his actions. Syah felt satisfaction as he was able to block each of Malgar’s attacks.
“Very nice, you defend well,” the trainer praised. “You know the moves well. Now we’ll increase the speed.”
Syah shifted his sword as Malgar came towards him. The prince held his ground a moment, but stepped back after blocking several quick attacks. Malgar moved forward again. Syah glanced at the trainer’s face, seeing his eyes were narrow, resolute, angry. Syah tightened his hands on the hilt and continued to defensively position his sword to prevent Malgar’s attacks from following through. The weapons master pushed forward, but Syah was close to the wall and had no room to maneuver. The man’s flashing sword came at him faster; although the prince was able to block it, it was becoming more difficult. Syah tried to move to a more open position away from the wall, but his adversary’s sword prevented him.
Malgar emitted a low, furious battle cry and Syah shuddered.
The wars drive the tension between the brothers as they each try to prove their usefulness to the kingdom. Oman, the eldest, is schooled on war by the king:
“A battle is fluid, my son. We do not plan for a single moment, but a series of possible events.”
“Yes Father,” Oman answered.
“Commander Lenpece, you will lead the majority of our mounted troops behind the Marrian army and wait until we engage them. Then you will herd them towards the hills, where Oman will be waiting with a company of fighters and archers. We will keep some cavalry with the main force in case they decide to send archers to the hills to the west. And I will await them, blocking their way to Bafonville. They will perceive us as a possible victory, a fair fight, and perhaps they will grow spine enough to engage us in open battle.”
Oman watched his men gather around him as the king left, awaiting orders. The king looked back to him after mounting. “Shall the skies shine on our victory today,” he said and tugged on the reins.
“We shall let the king and his army gain ground. When the Marrians see him they will slow their advance. We desire our presence to be secret, so we will approach with care, and gain the opposite side of the hill, out of sight. It will be imperative that they see the king’s army first and decide to match them. We will attack at the opportune moment, giving their army a chance to pass us. When the king’s army tears them down and they retreat, they will be exposed to our attack from the hill. Mount, we will ride until we can see the eastern hills in the distance. Tell the archers to follow behind us. Be wary of enemy scouts crossing the area.” The prince mounted and was followed by his host of soldiers and knights.
Tags: war, fiction war novels, warfare, warriors, Brother Betrayed by Danielle Raver, the Crusades, the Seige of Antioch, The First Crusade, knights, archers, siege, battles
Was perusing the books that customers bought who also bought Brother, Betrayed and wanted to give a SHOUT OUT to these other authors. I'm privileged to be on a list with these fine books!
Chronicles of Kale by A Dragon's Awakening by Aya Knight
Kale Firehart is a young dragon, and the sole survivor of his race. As a tyrannical general and his massive bloodthirsty army close in on Kale—the most unexpected circumstance transpires. With time against him, Kale’s trusted friend, a veteran arcane sorcerer, transforms him into the one thing he despises most—a human. Kale must unwillingly live among human-kind as he embarks upon an extraordinary journey. With a band of unlikely friends by his side, can Kale overcome the obstacles before him and return to the life he once knew? The age of dragons is all but over...
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Like the first two books, A Storm of Swords could coast on the fundamentals: deftly detailed characters, convincing voices and dialogue, a robust back-story, and a satisfyingly unpredictable plot. But it's Martin's consistently bold choices that set the series apart. Every character is fair game for the headman's axe (sometimes literally), and not only do the good guys regularly lose out to the bad guys, you're never exactly sure who you should be cheering for in the first place.
Mageborn: The Blacksmith's Son (Book 1) by Michael G. Manning
Mordecai’s simple life as the son of a blacksmith is transformed by the discovery of his magical birthright. As he journeys to understand the power within him he is drawn into a dangerous plot to destroy the Duke of Lancaster and undermine the Kingdom of Lothion. Love and treachery combine to embroil him in events he was never prepared to face. What he uncovers will change his understanding of the past, and alter the future of those around him.
Infinity Blade: Awakening by Brandon Sanderson
Trained from birth in swordplay and combat, a young knight named Siris has journeyed to the Dark Citadel with a single purpose: fight through the army of Titans to face the tyrannical God King in one-on-one combat. This was his father’s sacred mission, and his father’s before him, going back countless generations in an effort to free their people from enslavement. But when Siris somehow succeeds where all those from his bloodline previously have failed, he finds himself cast into a much larger world, filled with warriors and thieves, ancient feuds and shifting alliances, Deathless immortals and would-be kings. His quest for freedom will take him on an epic journey in search of the mythical figure known as the Worker of Secrets – the one being in the world who can unravel the secrets of the Infinity Blade.
The Last Good Knight by Connie J.Jasperson
Swashbucklers, pirates, sword fighting courageous Knights and Fair maidens abound in The Last Good Knight. In the tradition of a Wilbur Smith and Michael Crichton's Medieval block buster Timeline. Action abounds, it this historical fiction account.
From slaying dragons, to rescuing the King's Whore, to secret missions for good King Henri, no job is too big or too small for the Great Knight, Sir Julian Lackland. But what happens when the only one still willing to take on the bad jobs is too old to be doing them? How does a hero retire from the business of saving people?
The Bindings of Fate (Book One of The Child of the Stars Trilogy) by Michael DeAngelo
Heroes Will Rise. Cities Will Fall.
The realm of Tellest is filled with bloodlust, greed and violence. Long has the world been thrust into turmoil, driven by the insatiable urge of man's conquest, and whatever rewards can be earned from the end of a blade.
But so, too, are the lands a place of courage, valor and sacrifice. Brave men and women across the world will stand up to the tyranny of the power-hungry kings, or be swept away by it.
Kaos Kreegan is a man haunted by memories of the past. To survive in the harsh world that evolves around him, he needs to rely on his wits and his friends to bring evil to justice, and avenge the wrongs that have been done to him. Along the way, he will discover that Tellest carries many surprises - and so does he
The Kinshield Legacy K.C. May
A mysterious stone tablet with five magical gems has sat abandoned in a cave for two hundred years. The kingdom is in ruins, with only warrant knights to keep the peace. But then, the gems in the tablet, one by one, disappear.
Warrant knight Gavin Kinshield is a man of many secrets. He's the one deciphering the runes in the tablet. Unless he can find a suitable replacement, he'll be Thendylath's next king. All he really wants is the letter written by his ancestor Ronor Kinshield, the last man to see King Arek alive... a letter he must earn by tracking down a common thief.
But when Gavin saves a woman's life, what should have been a simple task draws him face-to-face with his nightmarish past... and the truth of King Arek's demise.
The Young Magician (The Legacy Trilogy) by Michael Foster
Every known age has not ended well, to say the least. Entire continents have been decimated time and time again at the hands of the demon hordes, forcing civilisation to start over in every instance, all culture and art and history destroyed. Now, in the last days before the gates of hell fall open again, it seems as if all efforts to avert disaster have failed, but for one small sliver of hope. A boy is found whose potential is unequalled, a boy who could hold the secret to the demons' realm, a boy who could be the very salvation of man. But not even the Order's greatest champions could guess the true secrets hidden away deep inside of this boy, secrets that could ultimately destroy them all. Commended in the Austalian Literary Awards, The Young Magician begins a remarkable tale.
Brother, Betrayed by Danielle Raver (my book)
"One brother will betray the others with such treachery that it will change the destiny of Miscia forever."
The three princes hear this prophecy, and they will discover how far it will drive them to explore love, loyalty, and their own souls.
The princes are bound by loyalty to each other and their kingdom. When conflict comes to their land, their ascension into power is darkened by betrayal.
Oman, eldest and Anteria's promised king, leads his brothers on their journey through Arnith.
Fasime, driven by passion, seeks a life of romance and adventure.
Syah, born the ailing youngest brother of these two outgoing princes, endeavours to overcome his bleak destiny through pursuit of knowledge and magic... a quest that may reveal unknown power within his own soul.
A tale woven with deception, war, sacrifice, and magic, BROTHER, BETRAYED takes readers to a troubled kingdom surrounded by barbarians, magical races, and forbidden boundaries.
The Dream War: Book One The Royal Seal by Nick Alex
In the early ages, the world of Oniro was plagued by a frightening evil. Grotesque creatures roamed the land, wyverns filled the skies, and demonic, misshapen men plotted destruction and control. The strongest armies in existence stood no chance. In its current state, Oniro was lost.
Shadows: Book of Aleth, Part One by Michael Duncan
A stolen text... When the Book of Aleth is stolen, Aaron, captain of the Royal Guard, is ordered by Emperor Therion to reclaim the ancient tome. The mission thrusts Aaron into a world he's never known--a world of elves and dwarves, races long thought extinct; a world where everything he has known and believed is a lie.
A secret past... Forced to challenge his long-held beliefs, Aaron and his companions, two soldiers of the Royal Guard and two men of the Dwarvish kingdom of Brekken-Dahl, set out on a quest to recover the Book. Aaron resolves to discover the truth, and rescue the empire he is sworn to protect.
Bound by Lee Taylor
Ursine Edwards was a normal, well-adjusted teenager prior to summer vacation. Now, he has unintentionally married a demon, fallen into line with a wolf-pack, and is being hunted by witches as well as the government, who are all in turn trying to use Ursine for their own devices.
Soul Seeker: A Novel of Lasniniar by Jacquelyn Smith
What if, in a world where every elf's destiny is an open book, you were the only one whose fate was unknown? Iarion's quest for meaning has spanned millennia. Now ancient, dark powers are rising, and he may be the only one who can stop them. Joined by the unlikeliest of companions, treachery looms from within and without. How far would you go in your search for answers? Purchase of this 130,000 word novel includes an excerpt of the prequel, Light Chasers. (Forthcoming.)
Spy Glass (Glass Trilogy) by Maria V Snyder
An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world. Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or know it could be they are lost forever.
Return of the Dragon Riders: Book Two of the Dragon Stone Saga by Kristian Alva
The evil emperor Vosper gathers his troops in the east, poised to conquer the entire continent. His target is the rebel city of Parthos, a constant thorn in his side, and the last sanctuary of the Dragon Riders. Besieged from all sides, the remaining Dragon Riders come out of hiding. Forced to fight for their lives, they leave the safety of the desert, traveling across the land to gather intelligence and shore up forgotten alliances. At the center of it all is Elias Dorgumir, the key to an ancient prophesy, and Vosper will do anything to get his hands on him. Is it too late for the Dragon Riders to save Elias and stop Vosper from destroying the only refuge they have left?
