The journey is different for all of us

Imagine a room in an old house converted into a classroom for two pupils and their teacher. Imagine a makeshift bookshelf (had to be makeshift- too many books!), maps on the walls, a huge green chalkboard. See ‘A for Apple’ ‘B for Ball’ etc above the board, and know how it was. In this environment of learning and teaching (I homeschooled my two youngest), with a view over green lawns at my back, a apple orchard beyond that and the mountains that hemmed our valley, I one afternoon pulled a book closer...flipped it open.

It was a dictionary of terms and the subject was Alchemy (personal interest, not a subject for teaching). Came across a list, the requirements for enlightenment, transcendence, the journey to the ultimate elixir...and the proverbial light bulb flashed on in my head. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Here, something whispered, is your tale. This is how you launch it. (Understand, the story was already there, a prompt received from another source, but not the launching of it...you know how it is- you know what to say but not how to start.)

In those days we had no computer, not even a typewriter. Didn’t matter. On the back of old documents, on various colours, lined and unlined, using cheap pen after cheap pen (and crayon, pencil, whatever) the concept for Tales from the Path of Shades was born. The first novel was massive (maybe it just appeared massive, given the different paper!).

Not long after someone gifted me a manual typewriter. Had to learn typing fast (wanted to get it looking more ‘professional’)...two fingers, though, because the machine didn’t allow for subtle touch- no, it was a banger! The only way to get a key to make a mark on the paper was to bang it in- thus one finger each hand. (A habit I’m still trying to unlearn. No longer bang keys, but most often use only two fingers, especially when typing according to thought, not edit) Strangely, despite a pile of neat paper forming on my desk, a massive novel got bigger! More went in, the nuances overlooked when scribbling by hand.

And then the computer entered. And Word. And that changed all. After the learning process (um, how do you witch this thing on?) the massive novel that had grown a fair bit entered digital format...and, boy, got even bigger! However, digital is great, isn’t it? Could take bits out and put them elsewhere. Could cut, trim, add, reduce, flesh out...amazing.

Still the book was too big. A doorstopper no one would publish. It had a name by then, but that didn’t make it marketable. Never mind, I told myself, go on writing, the tale is not yet finished. And thus the second novel...and another...and another....

Ha.

Anyhow, folks, that’s how it began. The original and massive first novel has morphed into four volumes. For the full experience read them as a set: Gathering of Rain, House of Valla, Darak Fallen and Ancient Fire: to discover how Rain (our complicated MC) is gathered by forces weird and wonderful to become Torrullin, a man approaching something akin to godhood...but a ‘god’ with many faults....

And then delve into Glittering Darkness to discover what happens next...don’t stop there!

And drop me a note, comment, line with your thoughts. Writers thrive on feedback after all!

Tales from the Path of Shades:

1.       Gathering of Rain http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29882 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062JRUHY https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0062JRUHY

2.       House of Valla http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/30761 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062K1RC2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0062K1RC2

3.       Darak Fallen http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/32759 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062M29MM https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0062M29MM

4.       Ancient Fire http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72510 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062Y5JEU https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0062Y5JEU

5.       Glittering Darkness http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/76863

6.       Lumin Kindred http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87174

7.       Walker of Realms https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101260

8.       Animated Spirit – coming soon to Smashwords

9.       Sacred Space

10.   Avior’s Door

11.   Time’s Timekeeper

12.   Sirens in Stone –currently working on volumes 11 & 12, bringing all threads together.

Regards

Elaina

March 2012