ANK on The incredible joy of receiving positive R.E.V.I.E.W.S.

Every writer - or any artist for that matter - who puts themselves "out there" for others to scrutinize knows just how important it is to receive R.E.V.I.E.W.S.

Often, a dreaded word, spoken in a hushed voice and only behind closed doors, it is a nail-biting experience to read, what others think of your work.
And we are not just talking about any old reviews. We want good reviews.
For writers/authors/novelists we are talking 4- and 5-star reviews on #Amazon, #Goodreads, and any other reader-powered platform.

Apart from the star-spangled appearance, the review should also give future readers an insight into why they should bother reading a specific book.
Reviews can make or break a novel. They are akin to a compass for readers to find your book

And the readers are in Charge (please note, that I am using a capital C on purpose here).

I could write like Terry Pratchett*, or tell stories like the legendary Scheherazade** - who so skillfully managed to make a twisted emperor fall in love with her through the stories she told him in 1001 Arabian Nights. But if I cannot make my readers fall in love with my stories, they will not talk about it, or worse, they will write a less than favorable review. Word will not spread, and nobody will want to read my books.

* and **
Please note, that I am by no means delusional. I do not think for a second I am anywhere near to either Pratchett or Scheherazade!

Please visit my author pages on Goodreads and Amazon, or get in touch via email at anathea.krrill@gmail.com or connect on Twitter and IG @anatheakrrill 

The Ghost of a Story

Dear fellow author,

Did you ever read a story and thought, "Damn it! This is so close to what I wrote months/years/eons ago, and mine isn't not even been published yet!"
Pure coincidence if it happens once, right? What do you think if it happens twice, thrice, or four times? What if different pieces of work paint a complete picture of your main character?
Are we - as authors - stuck in a collective rut? Are we unimaginative beyond belief? Could we not come up with something - well - different?
Or is our precious Muse a promiscuous bitch kissing more than one author with the same fervor? Is the elusive Muse really nothing but a ghost? A haunting? An unfinished story; a remnant of energy wanting to materialize?

Even the names of the MCs are sometimes the same! Now... they might not be particularly uncommon names. Still...
Is a paranormal hand guiding our fingers across the keyboard? Is our mind possessed by an almost-material idea? Can we avoid it at all, or do we have to go along like puppets on a string?

I wonder if you encountered the same.
Does it dishearten you? Does it spur you on to elevate your story?

Or do you think it's part of writing and re-writing stories? Fresh takes on old favorites. Painting the evil witch in a new light.

Let me know what you think & thanks for reading this.

ANK on: The Hidden Beauty Of The Beast - or how to craft a likeable villain

The likable villain. A paradox! Right?

Not necessarily.

We all know the evil witch from Hänsel and Gretel is - well - evil. Just that. No redeeming features. Whatsoever.

There are times in our lives when we like the world to be easy and monochrome: black and white. We need good and evil to learn about moral boundaries, how to respect them, and how not to trespass.
Learning the basics of any craft requires clean-cut situations. Too many grey areas confuse matters.
Ideally, we learn to judge, decide, and act in a straightforward situation.
We don't make the first meal we ever cook a three-course stately affair.

We don't take off the learning wheels of our bicycles and (intentionally) go off-road straight away.

We don't go speeding down black runs when we stand on skis for the first time.

First times are all about dipping our toes into unknown waters. We enjoy the novelty and savor the adventure, but we stay close to the shore. Only once we grow more confident, do we venture into deeper waters.

We love to listen to classic fairy tales when we are little - because they teach us. There are no mixed messages, no moral confusion. And we go to sleep at night, safe in 'the know' that the darkness loses and the light wins. Always!
Then we grow up, and things become more complex; less clear. We learn about grey areas. We learn that some people are not evil by birth, but they have been tortured, bullied, and mistreated all of their lives, and so become a reflection of their environment.
Evil is all they know. Yet some of them surprise us. They find their inner light - of their own volition or being aided by others.
Some of literature's most loved heroes actually started out as villains!
Think Mr. Darcy, Severus Snape, or Satan in Paradise Lost. See, even the Devil himself can become likable.
As writers, we need villains to antagonize. We need them to draw the line between good and bad. But we also want them to redeem themselves. Because we are grown-up. Because we know how easy it is to stumble and fall. Because we know that people can change - and last but not least - because we all harbor the hope that the light will always banish the darkness.

Like it happens in most fairy tales.

ANK on Nick's Stories

As my latest project - Homecoming, which is book 3 of the Sphere-World Series - inches towards the finishing line (aka publishing), I am looking for something that I can fill my writing-time with in-between bouts of editing.
I am restraining myself from starting with my next novel at this stage. Just because it is too tempting to start hammering away at a new project rather than finishing off the previous one. Having said that, though: I do need a writing-based distraction from editing. Editing is hard work - it requires a lot of concentration, checking, re-checking, researching, re-phrasing etc. Not a mean feat.
Writing new content is a piece of cake in comparison!
And while I indulge in gathering ideas, making notes, and thinking about story-lines, I couldn't help but notice, that Nick Cole is rather prolific at crafting stories. I did touch on the essence of some of his stories in my books. But there was never enough time and space to tell more than their bare bones. Which is a shame - because Nick's stories are beautiful, epic, and imaginative. I love to listen to them. I guess they take me back to my childhood when fairy tales formed a vital part of my life.
And because I love stories, and Nick's stories in particular, I decided to help him to introduce his stories to a broader audience by publishing them on this blog!

He was a tad reluctant at first, but I eventually managed to wrestle his data-skin from him. Nick graciously helped me to convert the files containing his stories, notes, and ideas from space-age gobbledygook to text-files my old-fashioned laptop can read and process. He is a genius! But to those who know Nick, that's nothing new!
Over the coming months, I will compile and post Nick's stories. I will talk to him and ask him for his input. And once we are both happy with the finished product, I shall post them for everybody to enjoy.

Look out for posts labelled with "Nick's Stories", and if you want to make sure never to miss one, consider subscribing to my mailing list.
Stay tuned and Happy Reading!

ANK on what I write

I write what I read. I read a lot, and the books I finish usually inspire me.
I love a book that keeps me hooked. The best ones render me oblivious to my surroundings.
Ask my partner - he knows all about spirited-away, unresponsive me who sits glued to her book and forgets about the here and now. Bliss!
You think that's bad? I am even worse when writing! I forget the time, I forget to eat (no worries! I have enough reserves to keep me going. Not going to wither away anytime soon...), and I get annoyed if the real world starts making demands; like the postman calling or the telephone ringing.
I love to immerse myself in the worlds of my stories. Love to fight my protagonists' battles, live their conflicts, feel their heartache.
I am a sucker for the not-so-obvious. I love the stories, which break genre-moulds. Stories that veer off the beaten track. I love genre mixers, genre breakers, and books that take novel twists on old favourites. The ones, which make you gasp and say to yourself: "I didn't see that one coming..."

Immortal beasts that become mortal, the epitome of evil transformed into something beautiful, and romantic heroines who leave the love of their life to stay true to themselves.

Casual flings rather than a full-blown love affair? Bring it on!

Aliens are just another species within our universe? Brilliant! Take the para out of paranormal, and it becomes - well, normal I guess.

And that means humanity has to deal with it.
How they deal with it, and with each other, depends on their background, the world they are in, the changes they undergo on a personal level, and on a species level. The permutations are endless! And I love this playing field, which is so full of possibilities.
A story may be going down an obvious path. But who says, that the protagonists will not choose one of the many trails, that veer off the beaten tracks and explore the hidden possibilities - the sinister side of the story, the side that divides the readers?
I love to read a story, that stretches my imagination; a story that toys with taboos and "what ifs." A story that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, but manages to not completely alienate me.
I love thought-provoking, but I don't appreciate provocative thrown in-your-face, eat-or-die statements that won't allow exploring both sides of the coin.
For me, the fine art of crafting a story lies in finding a way to make the reader see right beyond the surface and make him/her appreciate the hidden beauty of the beast.

From Disney to Fallen Angels; ANK on naming characters

Apart from flagging up my already dodgy browsing history, name-chasing for my characters can be somewhat tricky.
Mostly, they introduce themselves, some bumble along with my stories until the end, change their identity halfway through, and then some more before they finally settle on a name.
Those usually have faces, features, and full-blown personalities long before they pick their names.
And that can be a bit of a struggle. They are picky, they are fussy, and they take their own sweet time.
I generally go with their suggestions, but I also had a few struggles - like the one with Bella.
She introduced herself as "Stella," when we first met. But two chapters into the story, her name didn't sit well with me: Stella on the space station, travelling through the universe (aka The Stars) sounded fatally cheesy - I mean: story-breakingly cheesy. And I couldn't let this happen. We bargained, we bartered, we fought, and we finally agreed on Bella.
Once agreed, she and I got on like a house on fire! (and I think it helped, that Dylan liked her name too.)
I find it easier to work with a character once they have a name - something I can call them by. "That woman," "the blonde," "the young man," or any such vague descriptor is just not very conducive to getting into a character's head.

Naming a character is a twisted analogy to eating meat: once an animal has a name, it becomes a pet and therefore inedible. Not because it changes its taste, but because we become emotionally attached.
The same goes for me with writing: I need a certain degree of emotional attachment to "write a character." There is no stepping back and observing from the outside. Intimacy is also the reason why I prefer a first-person POV over a third person narrative: It is closer, more insightful, and it reveals more of a character's true personality.
Getting into your character's head is also a balancing act: get too close, and you can never let them "do their thing" for fear of losing them; keep them at a distance and you will never truly understand what makes them tick - never mind their name!

Nick and I have a problem! ANK on getting from A to B

Nick Cole and I are at loggerheads. Once again!

He is one of the main characters of the Sphere-World series because he got himself involved, and now he is indispensable.

And he knows it!

It is mostly a joy to work with Nick because he is a team player, a great communicator, and he carries his heart on his sleeves.

Yet, he can also be extremely difficult. It's all about "fictional logistics" with him.

What do I mean by that? Well - he is always at the right place at the right time, and I appreciate his dedication.

He has an uncanny habit, though, of popping up all over the place - or rather all over the timeline to be precise.

One moment he is in the here and now, relaxed, ready to go along with my plot and do his thing to make the story progress - the next he jumps times and tells me exactly, where he will be twenty years down the line.

Hell! He is even as cocky as to jump books at times! It looks like he's inherited some of his father's ability to manipulate time.

Not that I have a problem with Nick pointing me in an exciting direction. I love fast-paced development. What I don't like is his laissez-fair attitude of shrugging his shoulders, looking at me, and telling me:

"Anathea, it is not my job but my yours to get me from A to B without boring myself and your readers into oblivion on the journey."

And he is right of course - but I often find it daunting to bridge years and sometimes even decades AND entertain Nick on the journey.

Nick definitely is one of the major sources of my "Writer's Dilemma."

Would I want him to be any different? I don't think so. If I rein him in too much, I stifle him and he goes into a major sulk. And then I lose him - his passion and his go-with-the-flow attitude as well as his fight.

Oh yes - he fights! Hardly a day when we agree on proceedings.

But when we do - it is bliss and harmony, and fast writing. And it all translates into words, and sentences, paragraphs, and pages closer to finishing the next book.

Today we had a good day. A 5,000-words-good day.

Thank you for your cooperation today, Nick!

ANK on A Writer's Dilemma

I thought I might be writing about writer's block here. But no! Far from! I have too many ideas, which need incorporating into my story. Too many details that I think are worth elaborating on. Too many crossroads and my characters are all pulling me in different directions!
The consequence? Is pretty much similar to writer's block. No writing... Just pondering, starting a scene, deleting it, start another scene, hit the del-key... You get the picture.
I was always under the illusion that having too many ideas was a good thing. Nope! Here I stand corrected!

I have a problem I never anticipated and consequently have no solution for. Risk assessment 101 anybody? Plan B, C, and D are not in place.

I am over 75,000 words into Homecoming - Book 3 of the Sphere-World series. Another 25 -40k should see the story wrapped up.

And here comes the problem: I know already, that a measly 25k words will not get me anywhere near the end of Homecoming! Yet, instead of writing away to my heart's content and cutting out surplus scenes, dialogues, and events later, I cannot progress. I get stuck half-way through every scene I try to write. Then I start fretting over it. Do I need it? Is it adding anything to the story? Dare I leave it out? Then I go back a few chapters and decide that - yes indeed, I do need this particular paragraph/sentence/scene to justify why my characters are acting the way they do, or why certain things had to happen or to simply thicken the plot. No easy way out! So, what am I going to do? I have been pondering this for a while now and I came to a decision: There is no other solution than to start drafting book 4 of the Sphere-World series! It has even got a working title already. It's called "Back In Time."
And while "Homecoming" is still in the making, "Back In Time" is already taking shape.
Soon as I decided to expand the Sphere-World series, I disentangled the proverbial Gordian Knot.
Scenes and events, which are not necessarily essential to understanding the motives and events in Homecoming will be incorporated into Back In Time, where I can explore them in more depth and give them the space they deserve, without having to fret over petty wordcounts. Not that I generally fret much over wordcounts anyway, but I think I would be mashing up different storylines and worlds if I didn't write the fourth book in the series.

Next to come in the Sphere-World series!
Stay tuned & check out this space or
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ANK on Do I know my characters?

Sure! ...or so I would have said when I first started writing The Sphere.
Bella and Dylan had been haunting my mind for a good while before I got my author's fingers into gear and decided to participate in NaNoWriMo 2016.
It was easy going with those two. Like a comfortable, long term relationship. I knew who they were, how they felt, and what they wanted to achieve.
Still - they managed to take me by surprise more than once! I plunged them into stressful, dangerous, and daunting situations, and I saw their loyalties and values challenged.
I witnessed their relationship and love being threatened and I discovered a darker, more sinister side to Bella, and a weakness in Dylan, which I never could have anticipated.

Their dynamics change. THEY change. Circumstances force them to, and sometimes they struggle to keep their relationship from crumbling.
They eventually find a balance of give and take, weakness and steel, resistance and surrender during the five-year journey to Earth on board The Odyssey.
And then there is Nick Cole. He was not a participant in the story to start with. But that changed radically when he first stepped out of a dark corner of my imagination.
He had to grow up fast when he started to take on great responsibilities for Bella. And he never asked much in return. He is totally at the mercy of his all-consuming love for Bella.
Bella lured Nick into her orbit under false pretences. Not because she is intrinsically mean or manipulative - but because she had to. Dylan's life was on the line - and the line is always thin, and getting thinner as the story develops! Nick never knew the full truth. He got fed whatever was necessary to keep the truth under wraps.
He was a no-holds-barred idealist. He dared to hope. He dared to dream.
He still is a dreamer - a disillusioned one, though.
He is also a doer.  And he did everything in his powers to make his visions come true. Single minded, determined, soft spoken, loyal, and kind. That was Nick Cole at the end of The Sphere (Book 1 of the Sphere-World Series).

When I started to write The Odyssey, Nick changed. He was in charge of The Odyssey - he built her, he designed her, he commanded her. There is power in Nick: the calm confidence of a person who knows their ways and their values. But there is also doubt, sorrow, and despair. Nick is a dual character, and he struggles to reconcile the polar opposites within himself, which constantly battle for the upper hand.
He is fiercely attached to life - yet he is ready to die, when the purpose of his efforts, the driving force, his motivator for escaping the space station turns out to be a red herring.
Once he realised that, he gave up.
It was hard to keep him alive!

I struggled, I fought for him, and I eventually managed to bring him back from the brink.
It came at a price, though: He wasn't the same. He couldn't be! Traumatic events demand changes - significant changes in fact.

And so I had to let him descend into his own personal abyss. Where was his anchor? Who tethered him? I didn't know at first. But it became apparent very soon.

I know my characters, yes. But not in their entirety. Like real people, they surprise me. They reveal additional layers of their personalities the better I get to know them. And I like this aspect of writing. Nothing is set in stone.
When crossroads are reached, my protagonists may strike the wrong path. They may turn around - and they may not. Perhaps they will get out at the other end: burned, warped, and perhaps rebuilt. But perhaps they will become stuck in the wrong; never to recover. After all - some people shatter when they are pushed too hard.

I also introduce new characters in each book. The story demands it.
It is exciting! I love working with new characters: the entirely unknown ones, the ones I can watch develop as the story progresses., and the ones which exist as a glimpse, and will only fully reveal themselves further down the line in the Sphere-World series.
Book 3 Homecoming will be out later this year.

Please stay tuned, and may you find many engaging books to read.

ANK on 'Deus Ex Machina' or why an omnipotent being makes a boring character.

Sure, an omnipotent superhero is cool.
Right?
Wrong!
While the fairy tale of the elusive knight in shining armor is still going strong with some, many have ditched the sod, stopped kissing frogs, and started taking matters into their own hands.
Because it is better fun, more exciting, and more satisfying to solve problems, rather than to sit tight and pretty, waiting around to be rescued.
Having said that: A bit of 'superheroism' is sexy, exciting, and allows for unusual solutions.
Fiction conflicts and problems are major drivers of a story. They create suspense, tension, and that heart-pounding urgency to turn the pages. Solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems are the spice of every good story. When the protagonist is with the back up against the wall, facing a fire-front racing towards him/her! How will they get away when there is no way out!
Divine intervention... The Deus Ex Machina... The proverbial hand that picks the protagonist up and carries them away.
What an epic letdown!
Angry disappointment prompts the reader to close the book.
Did you ever feel like this?
For authors: Letting your readers down is never a good thing. We know that. We struggle to avoid this at all costs.
It's undoubtedly one of the hardest tasks in writing to create a seemingly unsolvable conundrum and provide a solution without waving the proverbial magic wand too frantically.
I embrace superheroes, aliens, and magic. But I avoid the Deus Ex Machina like the devil the holy water.
Superheroes make good characters, but they need to keep their vulnerability, weakness, and believability.
Kryptonite anyone?