Earth (The Elementals Book 1) By Dominic Bergfield

7/16/2018

Multi-volume author, Dominic Bergfield introduces us to the first volume in his series, Earth (The Elementals Book 1):
Markus McIntyre has faced every horror life can throw at him. He's endured loss, bullying, and poverty. When a mysterious man appears and offers Markus a way to escape his situation, he readily accepts, but just what does this deal lead to down the road? Will he obtain the happiness he's always sought, or will he only find more suffering?

As a debut novel by a young writer, I enjoyed reading this quite a bit. Dominic went out on a limb and wrote the story in first person POV. I love this type of writing.
This Urban Fantasy action story is very entertaining. Dominic does a good job of portraying the daily task of simple survival and the hopelessness, that young and homeless, Markus experiences and feels. The discovery of nascent powers is very disturbing and perplexing for the young hero.
The action scenes are pretty well plotted, the dialog flows nicely most of the time. Even though Markus keeps slipping into depression, he pulls himself out over and over. He uses those deep feelings to leverage his power multiple times. Markus is not a quitter! That makes him a hero in my book.
I award 4.0 stars to Earth (The Elementals Book 1).

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Elementals-Book-Dominic-Bergfield-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40642997-earth
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earth-Elementals-Book-1-Dominic-Bergfield-ebook
You can follow Dominic Bergfield:
https://twitter.com/Domicon_
https://www.dominicbergfield.com
https://www.facebook.com/bergfieldbooks
https://www.facebook.com/dominic.bergfield

Tags: YA, coming of age, family saga, supernatural power, martial arts, betrayal, adoption, fire, earth, native Americans, indians

Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

42 Comments

Dominic Bergfield

7/17/2018 04:02:15 pm

A very fair review. I didn't realize I had so many typos! Back in high school when I first wrote Earth, I had my English teacher proofread it after me. Mark definitely has sharp eyes. I wonder how much the following volumes, Water and Air, have mistakes.

Mark

7/17/2018 04:55:37 pm

I am glad you liked the review. I enjoyed the story a great deal.
I do have sharp eyes, so many authors have said what you just said, they didn't realize there were so many typos. So many typos are invisible to a spellchecker, because they are an actual word. I blog about this effect a lot.
On your website, you mentioned you are paralyzed from the neck down. Your life is a lot different from mine. You have done something I have not done, three somethings, you have written three books. What is your writing process like? Are you using a speech recognition program? Are you using a special computer adapted for your condition? Do you have someone who edits or proofreads for you?

7/17/2018 05:20:59 pm

My writing process is sort of chaotic. I write all the way through my book. I don't write a chapter then examine it or carefully analyze how a chapter will even go. I have a very rough outline that goes "Chapter 1: Generic sentence." I write from the heart and in the moment. It's the reason why some scenes seem forced and others flow. It's a sign of how focused I was. The forced scenes happened because in my writer trance. It's literally all one big daydream. As for how I write, I use a combination of Dragon NaturallySpeaking and a Tracker Pro. The first is just speech-to-text (which can be horribly unreliable). The second is more complex. It's a ball that sits on top of my computer like a webcam. I wear a reflective sticker on the tip of my nose that reflects an infrared beam back at the ball. Then it simply tracks the movement of my head. I use it to control my mouse and I use the on-screen keyboard. It's a ton of work, which explains why my books are short, but I still love it.

7/17/2018 05:30:06 pm

That is an interesting process. It seems like every writer has something unique to their method of writing. Yours takes a little longer, it sounds like. Thank you for sharing about that.
After the first draft is done, do you or someone else go through it and look for weak areas and typos?
How many hours a day are you able to write?
Does the Dragon program allow you to edit?

7/17/2018 06:12:42 pm

I sort of edit as I go. If I'm writing and see a typo, I fix it then. After I finish, I have my old English teacher help. I'd like to get stable editing because she works too. It makes editing take months. I don't write everyday. I used to because I was surrounded by supportive people that pushed me on. In college and afterwards, that support kind of faded. Couple that with bad sales and my writing has suffered quite a bit. I love it, but I struggle with motivation at times. Dragon can be good for editing, but it gets tedious. It's faster and easier to edit with a mouse. Dragon just gets the words down fast. Editing is more manual.

7/17/2018 06:45:48 pm

It sounds like your writing process is very similar to other writers, in general. The mechanics are a little different. Motivation is something that almost all writers struggle with at one time or another. Adulting takes more work and has less support, no doubt about that.
New question.
Can someone become a good writer without reading books?
Do you brainstorm with non-writers? Is it helpful?

7/17/2018 07:17:55 pm

I think reading has no effect on writing capability. Writing is based on creativity. I read this book once, The Knife of Never Letting Go, and it was written with atrocious grammar! It was done on purpose to show the ignorance of the narrator and some pages were covered with hundreds illegible words overlapping to symbolize thought. An editor would die of shock from this, but it was one of the most creative books I've ever seen. If you have a good idea and passion, you need nothing else. Personally, I don't brainstorm with anyone. Anything I write, I want to be 100% from me. If anything, even a single sentence, is from someone else, then I don't feel honest to myself. I don't want to imitate any author because I want to be known for me. My style, themes, genres, need to come from my heart. If I write with my mind, I'm working for money. If I write from my heart, I'm writing for me and to readers anywhere that passion is the only requirement to be successful.

7/17/2018 08:01:14 pm

Very interesting. I haven't heard that angle before. I think it's important to write for yourself first, it has to mean something for you; eventually, others will find your work also.
New questions:
How young were you when you knew you wanted to write?
Was there a particular book that stimulated the creative idea?

7/18/2018 10:46:31 am

I didn't have a specific book that inspired me and I didn't know I wanted to write either! I loved, and still do, video games. I wanted something in that field. I wrote a little bit of Pokémon fanfiction on my computer (nerdy, I know) that my siblings loved. That positive reaction made me try writing a book. I quit soon after when I realized I squeezed three chapters into two pages. Disgusted at my inability to pace myself, I quit writing even though others liked it. I'm not going to force myself to do something I don't like. A while later, I met this girl. She meant, and still does, the world to me. She liked what I wrote and encouraged me to try again. Swayed by young love, I tried. I put 1,000% effort into it, determined to do it for her and myself. That effort turned into Earth, that I finished writing around 17. I honestly owe it all to her because I wouldn't have tried without her. I gave up on myself and I'm extremely stubborn. Seeing others love my work and enjoying writing made me continue, but she made me start.

Travis Borne link

7/17/2018 10:14:13 pm

Great inspiration for other writers, Dominic. It sounds as if you are resourceful on so many levels, with a passion that could jump-start a completely new universe, more if you let it seethe and grow, and explode!
Your handicap, does it empower you, does it make you fight harder? What do you do to, as one of my characters in LENDERS says, to keep it on the 'good side of the line,'—in the face of, to the face of difficulty, writers block, your challenges, etc? What drives you? What keeps you impassioned?

7/18/2018 11:03:50 am

My disability has never slowed me down. Technology allows me to write, socialize online, play games, etc. I was paralyzed at four years. That's devastating for a child! Can't ride a bike or play outside. My life seemed to end. My mom refused to let my childhood be a depressing, medical wreck. She found the technology and means to let me lead a normal life, encouraging me to never let an obstacle be an obstacle. That introduced me to books and video games. While my mom found the means for me to live, stories gave me the reason. Naturally, depression follows paralysis. Being able to escape into the life of a hero using magic and fighting demons let me hide from reality. My reliance on story taught me things like the loveless can find love, the weak can be strong, and the nobody can become a hero. It gave me hope that life CAN change, even in the worst of times. It saved my life in a dark time. When I learned I could write, I resolved to use that talent to "pay it forward." I had the ability to do the very thing that kept me living: write stories. I want to do that for others. I want to give people hope to live another day, to not give up, to chase the impossible. I write so that either my stories or my life can help others. That's why obstacles don't stop. I have the chance to touch lives, and I'm not going to waste it. That's why I fight.

7/19/2018 01:29:19 pm

Thanks, Travis, for stepping in unasked and asking Dominic some great questions, while I was off the grid for the day.

7/19/2018 01:27:36 pm

You have the best of reasons, Dominic, to help lift others up! I think that's the noblest of causes, to go beyond self and care for others. Sharing your gifts is a wonderful thing, besides that's what a gift is for, to give to others.
New questions:
Is there a particular type of scene that is harder to write than another?
Is it hard to write a female character?
You wrote "Earth" in single character first person POV. Why did you choose that?

7/19/2018 04:56:20 pm

I think the hardest scenes to write are the "inbetween-ers." Action scenes are fine and so is dialogue, but the connecting scenes are so dreadfully...boring. The plot isn't advancing, but I still have to fill the pages with something. I think that's largely the reason I chose first person. I get to fill page space with thoughts to avoid the meaningless lull between scenes. I say meaningless, but not every page can be explosions and confessions of love. The dull stuff is needed, but just so hard to write! Who wants to be boring? Just punch someone already. As for female characters, I like to think I struggle. I may be good and I may not, but I'm constantly worried about making my characters sound the same. I want them to be unique, so I try to think of gimmicks that each character has to separate them. Markus gets angry, North is calm with inner trauma, and so on. My second book, Water, actually has alternating narratives with one being a female. I think there's a major change in my ability to write for women, but I still think I am nowhere near proficient. I have 1,000 other book ideas, so I need to get used to it!

7/19/2018 06:36:23 pm

I never thought of the 'in-between' as dull or boring, but I am not a writer. So, it makes sense to me that it might be hard for you. It's very important to keep the story moving forward. Perhaps that is one reason for having sub-plots.
One of my favorite authors, Tessa Clare, writes in first person also. She alternates chapters with different characters POV, sometimes concurrent chapters, more often consecutive chapters, action-wise. She tells a good story. I have reviewed one of her books and proofed another.
New questions:
Does writing have a spiritual or healing aspect for you?
Does writing make you feel energized at the end of a session or worn out?
How do you balance the demands of writing and a personal life?

7/19/2018 07:18:13 pm

Writing is therapeutic. Not to make this sappy or anything, but I didn't have friends growing up. I still don't unless you count online. Being paralyzed, lonely, and depressed made me retreat into my own fantasy worlds. My fantasies were in Star Wars and stuff, but still. I retreated into fictionalized realities where I was more than I am. Writing lets me put those fantasies into words. I don't do Star Wars of course, but my plots remain the same. An outcast being a hero, a monster being loved, turning enemies into friends, and so forth. All the worlds I wanted to live in become real when I write. As a result, quitting is like waking up from a dream. I'm typing up daydreams, so I have to sort of come back to reality after. I feel great, cathartic, to write it out. I guess I would say energized because I only stop when pulled away. Being motivated has made my work/life balance be just a life balance. My sales have died to the point of near extinction. Putting the months of effort in and dumping hundreds of dollars feels like such a waste without an audience. I write to inspire, but with no one to inspire, the purpose disappears. On the financial side, I can't spend, say, $1,000 and only make about $40. I don't break even or get lose. I haven't written lately because the passion is dwindling. I'm working with a publisher to get re-published and work on marketing. I'm hoping it can turn my luck around.

7/19/2018 09:19:41 pm

Considering what you had to deal with, your method of coping makes a lot of sense. You did well, better than a lot of others who had it easier.
It takes a lot of work to find your audience, according to a lot of bloggers. I think I understand that. There is so much competition, and a person has a limited number of hours to read. Martin McConnell wrote a great guest blog on my website, How to Find Your First 1,000 readers. You might find that very helpful.
I hope that new publisher produces some good results for you.
New questions:
Were there any large pieces of Earth you removed before publishing and why?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Since you have written 3 books. What is the average amount of time to write and edit one of your books, until it is ready to publish?

Dominic

7/19/2018 10:05:39 pm

I didn't actually take anything out of Earth. I'm really stubborn and I suffer from the common problem of being attached to my work. I changed sentences and such, but nothing major. In retrospect, I wish I had. Some dialogue feels weak and some scenes don't make sense. I try to justify the "missions" Markus goes on, but it was forced at times. I've learned now that not everything needs explanation. Shows like The Flash or Supernatural just say X bad guy is doing this bad thing. Fight. I tried too hard to keep reality intact. It's fiction! It isn't true. I loved different books at different ages and for different reasons. The one with the most profound effect on me I can't remember. A Darkling Plain, I believe, but it was a series. It was a dystopian reverse Beauty and the Beast kind of story. A perfect guy with a horribly disfigured and scarred emotionally unstable psychopathic girl. I love the concept of loving the unlovable. It's something I try to emulate in my books. My books take too long. If I had a stable editor and publisher, plus if I wrote everyday like a good author should, I would be done in a couple months. On a bad day, I can write a 5 page chapter. With 23 chapters, I could finish in no time! Realistically, I have none of that. Publishing a book takes me upwards of a year, I'm ashamed to say. If my current books start selling again, my urge to write will come back with a vengeance. I'd have two books a year then. More if they're short. A lot of it's my fault. I just need to blame myself for lack of productivity instead of blaming poor sales. I remain hopeful though. I'm doubling my efforts this year.

7/20/2018 12:24:30 am

I noticed some of those weaknesses also. You don't have to justify every action, as long as the actions fit within the character's primary motivations.
I would say, don't be too hard on yourself, if you write something everyday, even just a paragraph, then you are making progress. When it comes to editing, some authors pretend it's someone else's book they are working on. Perhaps you can use that tool, every author needs a bunch of different tools in their toolbox.
I am sure you realize that writing is a marathon, rather than a sprint. You will make progress if you write something everyday.
New questions.
Do you base your characters on real people?
Would anyone recognize themselves if they read your book?
Knowing what you know now, would you consider rewriting any of your books?
If you could choose one of the elemental powers for yourself, which would you choose and why?

7/20/2018 02:25:45 pm

I don't think anyone would notice themselves unless I made it deliberate. My characters have more of myself than others in them, but I don't plan for that to be a trend. I have a plethora of future characters, this series and otherwise, so I can't stay in my comfort zone forever. I think I would rewrite a lot of Earth if I could go back. Water and Air, I wouldn't. I began to hit my stride with those and they're of a higher quality than Earth. Earth was my first attempt, so I know it isn't perfect. I'm content with having errors, but if I rewrote it now, I know I could do better. As for the elements, I'd have to say air. Fire is my favorite, but I think air would be the most versatile in real life. By manipulating air, I could essentially have telekenisis. Moving things around with an invisible is something I could use in almost any situation.

7/20/2018 04:46:51 pm

Thank you Erinn and Stanley for dropping in. I am sure Dominic will be encouraged by your words.
I like the potential air has also. You could fly, and if you could manipulate the refractive or reflective quality of air you could become invisible also.
Question time:
Have you read a book that changed your view of that genre?
When you are writing, do you ever read a section aloud to solve a difficult issue, why or why not?

Erinn Price link

7/20/2018 11:15:06 am

Firstly just want to say you are amazing. That you have managed to write not one but three books with the obstacles you face is inspirational. You are an author, not writing everyday does not mean you aren't one.
You mentioned some scenes you are not happy with, do you plan to rewrite them, or feel that it is the way the story went and will keep it as is?

7/20/2018 04:55:29 pm

I'm happy you think I'm inspirational. That's why I'm in the game to begin with. As for my disliked scenes, I think I will rewrite them, but that day is way in the future. I'd only revise it for a 2nd Edition version. While I may not be happy with certain scenes, they contribute overall and the plot wouldn't be the same without them. Any revisions will need to be small to keep the integrity of my book. It may be flawed, but a first book isn't perfection! It's a reminder to do better in the future.

Stanley C Straub

7/20/2018 04:23:05 pm

First of all, I think that what you've accomplished is fantastic. You are an author and there is no question about it. I'm an author as well and I can assure you that I've went through the same issues and problems that you have. Don't give up on your writing. Keep doing it and eventually you'll be more successful. Like Mark says, it takes a lot of work and continual work to be a great author. From what I've seen in the interview, you are well on your way to greatness. I have a question, do you write continuously or do you write for a short time and then take a break? Also, when you are writing, do you envision a scene and then write it or do you just start writing and let it go where it will? Thanks, Stan Straub

7/20/2018 05:03:31 pm

Thank you for your compliments! I try to have scenes as I envision, but those are only major ones I've wanted since the beginning. The vast majority is written in the moment, following my characters' natural personalities. A bit more discipline would help the writers block a lot, but I'm still new. If I'm really passionate about a scene or scenes, I will write like a man possessed. In general, I stop and go. It helps gives me ideas for those boring in-between scenes.

7/20/2018 10:06:23 pm

Maybe, I'm lucky but I've never experienced writer's block. Do you experience it while you're writing? If you do, what do you do to get over it and start the writing juices flowing again?

7/21/2018 04:46:34 pm

Writer's block should be infrequent! If you continuously struggle trying to write a chapter or scene, then maybe it's time to go back to the drawing board. The biggest advice I can give is listen to your characters. You made their personality, their strengths, their dreams. They are your creation. Think about how Kenneth Friedman would handle this scene. Writers may be control freaks, myself especially, but handing the reins over to your characters can move the scene along or even into a new direction. Always know your character. They'll guide you if you let them. If that doesn't work, I like discussing my plot with a friend. I ramble a lot and sometimes my ramblings actually have some wisdom. Sometimes ideas flow clearer if you talk it out.

7/21/2018 04:38:38 pm

Mark, that's a good question. I've never liked romance stories, and I still don't care for many, but the Darkling Plain book I mentioned changed my perspective on the genre. It wasn't a romance novel, yet it had a romance better than any I've seen. I think that it showed me that a book doesn't need to be written exclusively for a genre to still fit in it. A book has lots of themes, or it should, so one doesn't need to plan a romance to make one. Harry Potter wasn't solely about fantasy. It was coming of age, urban fantasy, romance, slice of life, and more! The overall genre is fantasy, but it has sub plots fitting many more. Darkling Plain showed me that I don't need to limit my story get my desired outcome. As for reading aloud, I can only say that I sort of do. I'll mumble a paragraph or two to see if I can't better phrase something or I'll read a scene I'm particularly proud of to someone else. It's not a practice I commonly employ, which explains my many typos, but I do it to a small degree.

7/21/2018 06:26:49 pm

I have read only a few romances myself, in fact the previous book review of "Love Around the Table" is a collection of short stories with romance being a broad theme. It was written as a benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Atlanta, and all six of the writers write a lot of romance. I really enjoyed the stories, each one really touched my heart and made my eyes sweat pretty hard at times. ;-)
I bet incorporating a romance sub-plot could be interesting in almost any genre, because it's a major driving force for many of us.
New questions:
You killed a character in your book. Was that hard? Was that in your plan or did it develop kind of by itself?
Do you have a favorite motivational phrase that helps you keep going, if so, what is it?

7/21/2018 06:53:03 pm

Killing was my intention to begin with. Cain kills Abel in the bible, Romulus killed Remus after establishing Rome, etc. It was hinted at through references, but I still wanted a surprise. I did it to make Markus grow. He has such an extreme sense of self-loathing and he needed someone to give him something worth living for. It's a test of his character to see if he can do the right thing without a guide. It's to see if he can push on even when his life falls apart. The first time, he essentially exiles himself to the street out of shame and self-pity. This is his chance to redeem himself and not repeat the past. As for quotes, not really. I have tons of quotes that inspire me, but I work for a purpose. I don't tell myself "You got this," in the mirror. I go on because I have a goal in mind. Others want it, so I must write. That applies pressure and can stress me, but I write. Others need it, so I must write. That's when I'm at my peak.

7/21/2018 07:42:15 pm

I was definitely surprised. I think you handled that plot point well!
I think that is called intrinsic motivation, you have an internalized purpose that keeps you going. You don't need someone with a whip, even a nice whip to keep doing what you know you want to do.
Question time, you are doing great:
Is there a famous person, dead or alive, you would like to meet? How about a famous author?
Do you write poetry? If so, what kind?

7/23/2018 12:45:33 pm

I do have people I'd like to meet, but for different reasons. I'd like to meet Sara Reine (I may be missing an h) because she is my biggest writing inspiration. She writes Urban Fantasy and it is the best I've ever read. I binge read her Descent series and Ascent series in a couple months, as well as others of hers. Her books are roughly the same length as mine and I'd love to meet her. She's my idol. I aspire to be like her. For personal reasons, I'd like to meet Stephen Hawking. I know of few disabled celebrities, but none as famous as him. I just want to know how he did it. The traveling, the admiration, all of it while suffering an extreme life-altering disability. I'm just me, in my own remote corner of the world. This sounds sappy and I don't mean for it to, but I can't imagine someone like me ever having fame or recognition. To me, that's for the model-esque singers and actors who can hold one interview and influence thousands. Stephen defied everything I believed possible about fame, and I'd love to meet him to show my profound respect and to ask how he did it. Regarding poetry, yes I write some. I've not written any in years, but I have. I actually won a state-wide poetry contest in 7th grade. I've never published any or made any publicly known, but I dabble a bit. I can't define a genre because I only write for a strong emotion I feel like love or sadness.

7/23/2018 01:34:26 pm

I would probably enjoy her writing also. Stephen Hawking is pretty amazing on several levels.
Winning that poetry contest must have been very exciting! In many ways, I think poetry is a lot like prose, it takes consistent effort and entering lots of competitions is only one way to build a fan base. You might get some good ideas if you read Martin's guest blog, on my website, about getting your first 1000 readers. I think it's chock full of great advice.
New questions:
Are there any blogs that deal with writing and the business of writing that you read or subscribe to, what are they?
Is it hard to think of names for your characters?
You have published three books, "Earth" is the first. Do you have a WIP, do you have any partial books you have set aside for a reason and why?

7/21/2018 08:35:06 pm

Dominic, I have a somewhat non-writing question. When you do an interview like this one with Mark, does it take a lot of effort and do you think it's worth it? I felt that when I did my interview that it took a lot more effort than I expected, but I felt it was worth it for the exposure. Stan

7/23/2018 12:30:03 pm

I don't think doing the interview is too bad. It was longer than I expected, but I'm not displeased. I have such an extremely limited fan base that any form of exposure will help. I'm very happy to do the interview and let people know who I am and why I do what I do.

7/23/2018 12:42:07 pm

That's great and I'm sure that this interview will provide you with lots more exposure. You have the attitude of a writer and I can tell that you are eager to get your writing out to the public. Keep up the writing effort and keep up the effort for exposure. I'm sure that your fan base has expanded greatly from this interview with Mark. He cares about writers and he can see that you are a good writer with lots of potential. I can see it too and I'll be waiting for your future books. Stan

Ibidun link

7/22/2018 11:23:00 am

Very cool. I would like to read the book someday.

7/22/2018 11:36:40 am

Thank you for visiting, I am sure you will enjoy the book.

7/26/2018 12:09:31 am

Mark, I wouldn't say I have works in progress, but I do have ideas. I have memos and notes everywhere with various stages of completion. Some are fully mapped stories and others are rough ideas. I'm dying for the chance to do them. As for blogs or names, it's a no for both. I did study a lot of writing in college, but everything I know comes from my own experiences reading books. Names are pretty easy, but I can't really give a reason why. No secret wisdom or techniques there.

7/26/2018 12:26:41 am

I am glad to hear that you have more stories to share. I think your writing skills will continue to grow and you will do well. Have you thought about entering contests? Are you going to do NaNoWriMo this fall?

7/26/2018 11:01:59 am

I've never been in a writing contest before. I've not looked into it, to be honest, but I would like to.

7/26/2018 12:13:15 pm

There are good contests and bad contests, be wary of those who ask for a lot of money up front. Check reviews before you commit. Some provide constructive feedback, which can be useful.
Good luck

Earth (The Elementals Book 1) By Dominic Bergfield

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