Map Reading

“All that I wanted were things I had before.
All that I needed I never needed more.
All of my questions are answers to my sins.
All of my endings are waiting to begin.”

From Circle by Slipknot

When it comes to writing a novel, there are those who let the pen do the walking—wherever it takes them, so be it—and those who need to look at a map first. I am of the latter. Mind you, I draw my own map, but I still try and figure out where I’m going before I set out on the path.

Well, the map has been drawn. I laid out the plot points for Lost Gods – Book Two and I’m really excited. I even have a working title—Mark of the Raven. You didn’t think I was going to call it Lost Gods 2, did you? Or Lost Gods – The Revenge. Ha! Espionage, intrigue, romance and murder. Well, magic, yeah, there’s magic in there, too. This is fantasy we’re talking about. But, as in the first book, magic is just a plot device—a catalyst to keep the story moving. The drama is where it really happens. The emotions of the characters.

So… I imagine you’re wondering what Mark of the Raven… or MotR… is about. Hmm… how much do I reveal… I will tell you this—there’s a war coming. And it will still be on the horizon at the end of MotR. On one side, the members of the Circle of Light prepare themselves for battle. I’ll give you three guesses who’s on the opposite side and the first two don’t count.

I’ve never understood that saying. The answer’s always obvious—something you’d guess on the first try. But if the first and second guesses don’t count… I don’t know. Maybe it’s saying, ‘I’ll give you three but you’re only going to need one.’ In fact, that’s what I’m going to say from now on instead of telling you that two-thirds of your guesses don’t count. It would make more sense if it were, ‘I’ll give you three guesses but the last two don’t count,’ because you’d guess it on the first try and don’t need the last two. Either way, I’ll give you three guesses who is on the opposite front from the Circle of Light, but you’ll only need one.

That wild and crazy tangent out of the way…

There’s one minor character from Book One that gets a lot more page time in MotR. Actually, by the end, she will be a major character. Oops. I gave you a hint there, didn’t I… Oh well. You have plenty of minor female characters to ponder over. I think that’s all the information I’m going to give you right now. No need for a


*********SPOILER ALERT**********

yet. When I get an offer for representation, I’ll post the first chapter. How’s that?