During the last month, I've had the pleasure of joining in a couple of writing-centered hashtag games on Twitter. The first, called #authorconfession, is hosted by @_JM_Sullivan, and the second, called #WIPjoy, by @simmeringmind. Every day participants in either #authorconfession or #WIPjoy are provided with a new question about their work-in-progress or themselves, and they're a lot of fun, besides having really helped me think about my characters in new ways. Most of the above-mentioned answers come from Warriors of Aralan #7, and therefore offer a sneak peek into the lives of Allister and his son Ben before they hit Amazon later this year. But be warned! Spoilers are contained in the following answers. Day Sixteen #authorconfession Question: Where would your main character find an Easter Egg? Answer: Right when he [Ben] opened his eyes in the morning. Allister would leave it there, and leave several more hidden elsewhere. #WIPjoy Question: How would you best describe your setting? Answer: Fantasy, leaning towards a more historically accurate Dark Ages, in a made-up country of my own invention. ;) Day Seventeen #authorconfession Question: What's your main character's "deadly sin"? Answer: Ben's “deadly sin” would be greed. It's what drives him to lie and steal—he's greedy for the thrill, not just stuff. #WIPjoy Question: What was the first thing you knew about your story's world/setting? Answer: Oh wow. *reaches five years back in the brain archives* Probably something boring like the fact that Aralan is forested. Day Eighteen #authorconfession Question: A book isn't complete without... Answer: A book isn't complete without three-dimensional characters. I want to see their struggles—not just their reactions. #WIPjoy Question: Story location you'd most like to visit? Answer: Aralan's castle... because, I mean... it's a castle! 'Nuff said. Day Nineteen #authorconfession Question: What's your main character's favorite song? Answer: I don't think Ben has a favorite song. He hasn't heard enough music to know, living in Aralan. #WIPjoy Question: Share a line that displays your world. Answer: A description of the field that holds the famous archery range of Linfort, in summertime: Heat waves shimmered and danced across the field, and the whine of summertime insects never stopped. Day Twenty #authorconfession Question: Find a GIF to describe your work-in-progress. Answer: You'll have to click here to see the GIF. #WIPjoy Question: Three unique elements of your world. Answer: That's hard, because I'm not sure anyone can write an idea that hasn't been thought of by someone else before. But here goes... 1.) The chief weapon of one of my main characters (Allister), is throwing knives. 2.) Warriors of Aralan #7 centers around a single father (single due to his wife's untimely death), raising a son, not a daughter. 3.) Aralan is home to the famed "Tournament of Warriors," which is much like the Olympics, except with only four disciplines: one for Aralan's archers, one for Aralan's sword-wielders, one for Aralan's spear-carriers, and one for Aralan's axe-bearers. Day Twenty-One
#authorconfession Question: Your main character wouldn't be caught dead... Answer: Ben wouldn't be caught dead... crying for real. He's a 9-year-old. A big kid. ;) #WIPjoy Question: Do you have a history for your world? Answer: The short answer? Yes. By Josiah's time it's over 300 years of history. At Ben's, just a little over 200. Day Twenty-Two #authorconfession Question: Tell a secret about yourself! Answer: Well let's see... I own a corn snake named Hydrangea. :) #WIPjoy question: If you could bring one element from your story into reality, what would it be? Answer: Probably the Tournament of Warriors. Better than the Olympics (because, annual) and holds competitions for warrior disciplines. Day Twenty-Three #authorconfession Question: What would give your villain the "upper hand"? Answer: If Ben would cooperate. Hearst is after Allister, Ben's father, and almost convinced Ben to betray him. Almost. #WIPjoy Question: Share a book, blog, or piece of advice that has really helped your writing. Answer: “Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” - Anton Chekhov Day Twenty-Four #authorconfession Question: Who's your main character's favorite superhero? Answer: Well I can't really answer that since my story takes place about as far from the superhero culture as is possible. xD #WIPjoy Question: Are you a plotter, pantser, or hybrid? What do you enjoy most about that style? Answer: I'm a plotting pantser. :P I find that if I have a general idea where I'm going with it, the book turns out better. Day Twenty-Five #authorconfession Question: What reasons do you DNF [Do Not Finish] books? Answer: Either I don't like what I see (as far as content or just bad writing), or can't see the plot going anywhere. #WIPjoy Question: Link day! Tell us about your writings! Answer: I write clean YA fantasy, featuring real people with real problems. My eBooks can be found on Amazon. Day Twenty-Six #authorconfession Question: Yellow light! Does your main character brake? Answer: LOL, if Ben's driving, we've got a problem. His father? Yes. Yes, Allister would brake. (Assuming he ever lived in a world that had cars). #WIPjoy Question: Share a line that makes you smile. Answer: Context: Allister, Ben's father, was trying to teach the girl how to use throwing knives, and she and Ben don't get along. :P "Allister's sharp glance of frustration would have stopped most children from saying more, but Ben wasn't most children. When the girl stuck her tongue out at him, he promptly returned the favor." Day Twenty-Seven #authorconfession Question: What's your main character's favorite pastime? Answer: Ben's favorite pastime is... causing mischief. ;P But he also likes to go fishing. #WIPjoy Question: Share something encouraging that you believe every author needs to hear. Answer: Don't give up—you're a writer if you keep writing in spite of everything. First drafts are bound to be messy, and that's okay. Day Twenty-Eight #authorconfession Question: Word count report! Answer: Finished and partially edited, Warriors of Aralan #7 currently stands at 32,181 words. #WIPjoy Question: Share some authors whose books your readers may also like! Answer: The Redwall series by Brian Jacques, the Viking Quest series by Lois Walfrid Johnson, and the Kingdom series by Chuck Black. Day Twenty-Nine #authorconfession Question: What's your main character's greatest regret? Answer: Good question. Ben's greatest regret would be running back to the battle and getting his father almost killed. #WIPjoy Question: What do you post most, and where? Answer: Twitter is my favorite social media. I tweet links to my blog posts, writer's humor, writing tips, and things about Jesus. :) Day Thirty #authorconfession Question: Don't be shy! Give us your best pitch! Answer: A mischievous, troublemaking 9-year-old goes on a downhill slide after finding out he's the reason he has no mother. #WIPjoy Question: Explain your work-in-progress in ten words or less! Answer: *cough cough* SPOILER ALERT *cough cough cough* • Ava dies. • Allister cries. • Ben lies. Now forget everything I just said! (Meaning my very concise, spoiler-riddled answer to #WIPjoy day 30). And that wraps up April's #authorconfession and #WIPjoy! If you want more, you can head back to Part 1 and read the answers for days 1-16, or you can find me on Twitter and follow the writing and reading-related content I tweet there. :) Thanks for reading!
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Welcome!Welcome to Katelyn Buxton Books! I'm a Christian author and blogger, with a passion for writing stories that are not just enjoyable, but also lead people closer to Jesus. Feel free to look around, and enjoy your stay! Archives
October 2021
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