When Your Notes Don't Mesh With Your Story

 As I endeavor to go through my old stories, I'm finding quite a few things which do not mesh with my current books.  I read whatever it is in my old books and go, "oops, can't fix that now".  So here are my ideas on what should happen.

1) If you are doing prequels after your main story arc, go with whatever the change is in the published books.  This can take the form of just switching to your new idea and having to work it in to the older stories.  There were a few things with Amber and her having Richard as a Charge that do not happen in my published works with Miyaca and Shadizar. 

2) Which this leads into making a reason that it's different in the prequels.  In my case, my book timelines are thousands of years between stories, so there is definitely time for change.  In the case of Amber/Richard she isn't supposed to let Richard know she is his protector on pain of death, (which, of course, does not happen) I just make it that after Amber's ordeal, the Clan Leader(s) decide it's easier if the Charge knows who their protector is. Thus, this explains why the difference between Amber/Richard and Miyaca/Shadizar situations.

3) The third item might be you need to get rid of the idea all together.  I have a few, and it will definitely take some reworking to make it mesh with the published books.  Their plot points so I don't want to give anything away...

Don't give up, just think of it as a writing exercise!

Happy Writing!

Qalataqa, City of the Elves

 My second book of the Chosen series was Qalataqa, City of the Elves.  I believe that the name is Lakotah, but I can't remember what it means.  Apologies, my notes are a mess in this regard.

The premise is the Chosen find out there are still Shaniko supporters and there might be a chance he is alive.  (Imagine that, apologies for cliches). The group splits to head out on different tasks with plans to return to Battlefield to finish all that needs to be done.

They all find some new people to lead them on their ways, either good or bad. to help them on their way.  Eric and Mouse are sent on one task, Amber and Richard on another.

It's this book I introduce Akicitia (I know this is police in Lakotah!) and the legendary Mahatalo, Krom's great, great, etc.... grandfather and bring in the mythical city of Qalataqa.

I'm working on editing it right now, so more specifics are on the way, since, sadly I remember few of the details of my first baby.  Sadly.

So not only should you keep writing, go back and look at your old writings, just to remember all the good  you've written in the past.  My suggestion for the week.

Happy Writing!

A Brief Synopsis on My Never to Be Seen Original Books

 Okay, so definitely not doing well with keeping up on my blog, but here I go in trying to keep up with the world I created and love!

So originally, I had 3 or 4 books/stories with my main characters the Chosen.  These four characters are often referenced in my published books, sometimes by name, sometimes by actions, sometimes in passing.  They shaped the world of Martapa, or at least got me on the path to writing.  So, I figured, since they are so important to the history of my High King's Sword series I would touch on these short novels I probably will never publish.  (Never say never, because you never know about anything in life!)

The first book I named The Chosen. It is essentially the bringing together of all the main characters, the main villain and the back story of the world.

We start with Eric Calabay and Richard of Varanath.  These two are human squires and House Leaders.  They are young, twenty at the oldest. Their families were taken from them by Shaniko and so they are technically Leaders of their Houses, though at the beginning of the story they have regents appointed by the High King that deal with the day-to-day activities until they are Knights themselves.  Eric is the happy-go-lucky one and Richard is the thoughtful and brooding one. 

Then we meet Mouse, or Jared Swiftarrow.  He is a human gypsy thief who only wants to be loved by his father and do what is right, which is hard in his life situation.

And lastly, we meet Amber Blackwolf.  She is a half elf and the last Wolf Warrior of the elven kind.  She takes her duties very seriously and doesn't know how to handle other people well, since she was raised pretty much in isolation.

Amongst the chapters you also meet Shaniko, a Wizard who follows the God of Undeath, Kahalla.  You discover some of his plans, but only a tidbit, since I was hoping to throw in a few twists here and there later on.  You also meet Ukiah, Amber's human father who has had an extraordinary long life, due to some godly intervention.  He has been working centuries to keep Shaniko in check until the time was right and the Balance could be maintained.

The book eventually ends with the four thinking they have defeated Shaniko and they go back to Battlefield/Devonshire.

I have been slowly going through each story, just so I can remember everything I wrote, (with a few, "oops" moments that don't mesh with the current books), and see if I can make them a decent book or just keep popping in lore in other, newer books.

Happy writing!

New Year, New Promises

 I keep telling myself I will get this stuff done.  That I will sit and write and finish all these wonderful ideas floating around in my head.  This coming year I'm hoping to do this. 

I'm done editing book 3 and am waiting on my very busy cover artist.  She's a senior in college, working on a biology major and hoping to become a vet, so her time is limited.  But she is also cheap. (Round of laughs here).  So, my hopes for the coming year are this:

1) Finish editing book 4, the final book in this series.

2) Publish book 3 and 4 this coming year.

3)Edit and print (not publish) at least 2 other stories I have hanging out so my kids aren't like me and cursing me for not finishing my stories.  (Yeah, looking at you dad somewhere in the afterlife.)

I hope to accomplish all this in the coming year, but life happens, so we shall see.  My suggestions for you are to make a list of goals, try to stick to them and if you don't completely finish, don't berate yourself.  Just try to get more butt in seat time and keep working at your goals.

A late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Writing!

Book Two Has Hit The Shelves!

 Finally, after some family issues and health issues I have book 2 of my High King's Sword series, Memories of Stone, up on Amazon.

If you search for Memories of Stone by Heather Woodhurst on Amazon it should come up, but if not, the link is below:

Memories of Stone: Book 2 Of the High King's Sword: Woodhurst, Heather: 9798325112829: Amazon.com: Books

I'm excited to finally have the second book done and published and I am moving on to the third.  It's my bucket list to get all four books published before I go.  I may not be a big hit or anything, but the idea of having my name on a book and people actually looking at it is awesome!

Remember, keep writing and follow your dreams!

Happy Writing!

Those Old Stories...

 As I clean up and go through everything from my mother's house, I realized there are a few things I want to finish before I go.   A lot of them are personal projects or simply trying to organize things so my kiddos won't have to do it when it's my time.  But one thing is for sure, I wish to hell my father had finished some of his stories he started as he sat up in his lonely fire lookout stations.  Which got me thinking, how many stories have I started and not finished?

I decided I can't finish all of them right off the bat, but I'd like my kids, (or grandkids) to know how things should have gone, so here are a few things I'm doing:

1) Picking one story I started and actually finishing it.  Even if I never mean to publish it, I want to feel like I completed it, and it's a nice distraction from editing! At the moment I'm finishing the story I wrote in college about Lady Noshi.  She's just a supporting character in my main story line, but at one point she was my main character. (Yippee for Warhammer roleplaying, right?)  I had a trilogy planned in my head, but I never got it down on paper.  So, now is my chance.

2) Outline the stories you aren't working on at the moment and put it with your scribbles.  I've got way too many started but never finished stories, but I figured at the very least I could outline it so my kids can one day say, hey, mom had a great idea, at least we know what she wanted to do with it.  Plus, once I get the one story I'm trying to fully flesh out done, I can go back and start a new one!

3) And outlining and looking over old stories may give you a good idea to rewrite or even start a new story to turn into a novel.  And that is, of course, the reason we want to write!

Happy Writing.

Get Your Book Out There!

 I talk about writing goals and then forget to do what I preach.

I have been writing and almost have book 2 set up for Amazon.  Stay tuned on that!

As I work on getting my second book out to the public, I think on how I can sell my story to the wide world.  Here are a few things you could do once you have your book ready to go.

1) Take advantage of what your self-publisher offers.  I'm bad about this one.  I know there is an author page I should work on and other features Amazon has that I should use.  But I suggest, unlike me, look into what you can do on these sites to get the word out.

2) Craft fairs and swap meets.  It sounds weird, but it works for some authors.  Piggyback at a table with someone you know.  Our grange has lots of members who work the craft fairs and I'm going to ask a few if I could help pay for the table fee and put a stack a book at their table.

3) Use your friend groups, or groups you are associated with, to spread the word.  Most of my sales have been because they have found out about my hobby and then told other people.  Free advertisements are great!  

4) A Youtube channel!  My son streams and has convinced me people do talk about just about everything on Youtube.  You just have to find the right mix that catches those search engines.

Happy Writing!