Monday, August 18, 2014

Short Question - Short Answer

A little while back, I invited all of you to ask me questions so that in the process of answering them I will find inspiration for blog posts. You are all awesome and have provided me with much fodder for future posts. Do keep asking questions in the comments as you think of them, and I will keep creating post-answers. This process is a direct way for me to know what is truly interesting to all of you!

Some of the questions asked, however, are not really things I can expand into a full length blog post. So I'm going to answer them here and there in this "Short Question - Short Answer" series.

The first question in this series is: "Could one of your secret projects be the elusive Goblin Son you mentioned quite a while back?"

To which I reply, WHAT? Did I really already give that title away??? Whoops. So much for the exciting future Title Reveal . . . lol.

But my answer is actually "No" for the present. Of all the various secret projects I have in the works at the moment, Goblin Son is not one of them. It may quite possibly be on the table in the next year or two, but that depends on a few other things in the writely schedule . . . such as what goes on with the current Super Secret projects!

But I will tell you a few interesting tidbits . . .

1. I wrote a rough draft for Goblin Son a year before I sold the manuscript for Heartless.

2. That version of it was called The King of Arpiar. But that title no longer fits with the series' brand.

3. It was the manuscript in which I first discovered Imraldera and Eanrin might have a . . . thing . . . going on. Who knew?

4. It was written as a prequel to a novella I wrote back in high school . . . which was titled Lord Aiven's Daughter.

5. Who were the three men with the same face pictured in that enigmatic painting referenced in Heartless, Veiled Rose, and Moonblood? Well, Goblin Son might just have the answer . . .

6. Diarmid appeared on the scene for the first time in that manuscript, though I'm not sure that will be the case when I sit down to write it "for real."

7. Guta the Beater (a character referenced in Starflower) made his first appearance in that manuscript as well, though he didn't have a name at the time. Again, not sure if he'll feature in the "real" version.

8. Khud the goblin, whose name gets dropped in Moonblood and Dragonwitch, also made a brief appearance in that old manuscript. But he never seems to get more than a bit part, poor guy.

9. Anahid featured prominently in that manuscript. While I'm not certain if Diarmid will or not, I'm pretty sure Anahid will keep her role, though it might be reduced.

10. Beana doesn't feature in that manuscript at all.

Iubdan's Beard! Now I wish this story was my current Super Secret project . . .

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Yay! This is terribly exciting. It is fascinating to see the chronological order in which these characters and events were conceived... and it makes me want to reread Oeric's part in Heartless...

ghost ryter said...

Did you hear my squeel of excitment all the way down there in North Carolina? You must have; it was pretty dragon-eaten loud.
As much as this is torment because now I really, really want to read this book and I know it won't be out for some time yet, I'm so glad you shared. Thank you!

Bookishqueen said...

We need Goblin Son!!

Also, could you ever do a post (or series of posts) breaking everything down into chronological order and then citing which book it is from? I think it might be fun to see a historical chart. Maybe with blank places for things we do not yet know?

Hannah said...

Heheheh, you talked about Goblin Son a couple times in your first few years of blogging. ;D

This is so exciting to learn more about it!

You know, it's funny, but I never realized Khud was in Dragonwitch. *must go look up*

And will Beana be in your revised manuscript?

Sarah Pennington said...

I never heard of Goblin Son, but now I really want to read it!

Meredith said...

Such intriguing tidbits! Still excited to discover what you're working on now and eager to learn more about Oeric. Know his past is fascinating, and I love his character. Since you're sending your super-secret project to your agent, are you looking for another publisher? If so, I hope the search goes well.
This is horrible, but I'm actually trying to remember who Anahid is. Will look her up. Know I'll look like a fool when I find out. My crazy brain on the fritz again! Also salivating for Golden Daughter and Draven's Light, not to mention Until that Distant Day and Five Glass Slippers. So much exciting reading to look forward too.

God bless you.

Meredith said...

Came to me who Anahid is. Think I just was thrown by my computer's pronunciation of her name. LOL! She's one of my favorite characters in Moonblood, too!

Becky said...

Yes,I've been looking forward to GOBLIN'S SON for quite a while. Thankfully, we have other great Goldstone Wood tales to look forward to or revisit while we wait. Oeric, Beana, Anahid, Diarmid, Captain Sunan,and Lionheart, Varvare, and always Imraldera, Eanrin...the list goes on! I'm looking forward to finding out how GOLDEN DAUGHTER fits into the whole Wood!

Anonymous said...

I remember Khud, he was the one who saw through Alistair's disguise!
Goblin son sounds exiting, would that be Oeric by any chance?
Jemma

Anna said...

Wow! Sounds intriguing!! :)

Okay, I just came up with another question. :P

You write using an omniscient narrative, and I've noticed that one way you keep the reader reading is as soon as we get really into one scene with one character, you swap to another. Then we get caught up in that one and then ZAP! we're caught up with a different character.

I'm rewriting my Five Glass Slippers novella and expanding it into a novel--and switching it from first person to omniscient narrative.

So here's my question: How do you know when to hop over to another character? How do you know when a scene is developed enough so it's not a jerky switch but manage to tease the reader?

Sorry for the long question. :P

Meagan @ Blooming with Books said...

I LOVE intrigue and this post is certainly intriguing!

Psalms w guitar said...

Yeah, we're still on Veiled Rose though I personally am on Moonblood. I'm guessing there's a lot more to Beanna. What could I tell Martha and Malachi without giving away too much?

Bravo for the way your stories go through very fearful things. Martha (10) says she actually sleeps better when I read the stories.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to read Goblin Son! I only recently learned about this blog,and your books, but I'm really interested in reading the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. I'm picking up Heartless from the library today! Also, this is kind of random and not exactly related to this post, but it's a question that I have about the Five Enchanted Roses contest. If we are writing a novella, can we break it up into chapters? If so, are there any rules for the chapters? (whether they should be numbered or named, length limits, etc.)

Gracie said...

YAY!!!!! Can't wait for Goblin Son and super secret project!!!!!!!!!! I have always wondered about the painting in Heartless so I really can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Kira Thomas said...

Gah. You just had to tease us with the little hints about it when you're not working on it at all right now... *sigh*

Anonymous said...

Goblin Son looks so awesome!

I have been rereading "Veiled Rose" and "Moonblood", and I can't help nut notice how many 'Cinderella'and 'Beauty and the Beast' themes Rose Red's story has. Was this on purpose, or something that just happened?

Anne Elisabeth Stengl said...

@Jemma--Actually, the "Goblin Son" in question isn't Oeric, believe it or not! You might be a little bit surprised to discover who he is. (Though, truthfully, the title could refer to several of the characters.) How is that for enigmatic?

@Psalms w Guitar--You can tell that the poem the sylph sings in VEILED ROSE is a reference to Beana's dramatic backstory. Beana is actually quite an old character who has been around for many centuries, and she has quite a history to be told.

@Ana--You may certainly break up your novella into chapters. In fact, we prefer it that way! You may also title them as you like. And yes, numbers would be excellent as well.

Everyone else, I have saved your excellent questions in my list of future blog posts! :)

Hannah said...

OH????????? The "Goblin Son" is not Oeric??? Well, that's a surprise.

!!!!!!!!!VAHE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am right? Or....was there another....three men on the shore with the same face. Oeric and Vahe were twins...but was there another brother....?

Anonymous said...

I think I am worrying too much about your books.......I'm starting to dream about your super secret project and Goblin son!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Meredith said...

Not Oeric, eh? My oh my! Incredible how very intricate Goldstone Wood is! It truly is so very real.

Question: Do you ever plan to write a story about Goldstone Wood's origin: (E.G.), Was it created by the Lumil Eliasul and what caused some of the denizens of Faery to turn from him? Is it just their own pride or some other factor as well?

Also, if we title the chapters of our novella for Five Enchanted Roses, can those titles exceed the word count or do they need to be factored into the 20,000 word limit?

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Oh that is very enigmatic.
Jemma