Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire (Forerunner Series Book 4) by Jay Veloso Batista

9/3/2022

Multi-volume, historical-fantasy author, Jay Veloso Batista introduces us to the fourth volume in his wonderful series, “Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire”:
Battles and adventure crisscross the Viking Age! From monumental sea clashes to beleaguered mountain strongholds to war with the tribes of Eire, circumstance drives the scattered Agneson clan across the known world. And beyond the lands of Midgard, mythic hidden folk challenge our forerunner hero. The award-winning Forerunner Series epic continues….

Fleeing an arranged marriage, Kara escapes across the narrow sea to follow her warrior dreams. Escaping slavery, Cub joins Rollo’s horde in Britany, while his outlawed brother Sorven fights for survival in the Welsh mountains. Uncle Karl and his warriors rally to Harald Tanglehair in his ambition to unify the wild kingdoms of the North Way, and young Thorfinn is left behind, safe and secure in a tiny fishing village... or is he?

Kara gains her place in king of Dublinn’s ranks to prove her mettle, but being a warrior is not what she expected, and what of these new feelings she finds for her closest companion? Will Karl and his crew perish in the great battle of Hafrsfjord? And how will an unprepared Thorfinn survive kidnapping by an 8-armed giant, leaving behind worried friends and a very angry dragon?

Don’t miss this 5-star epic fantasy critics are calling “whimsical and gritty,” with “fabulous, engaging characters.” If you enjoy the history of The Last Kingdom and Nordic myths and legends, the Forerunner Series is a grand tale not to be missed!

I love how the author keeps the family members that are scattered far and wide connected. While it seems like four stories at times, it is only one story about the different family members. They go through trials and tribulations that are quite staggering at times.
The plotting is so well done it flows seamlessly from one character to the next. I love how Finn is able to bring comfort to fearful hearts in the family.
The blending of history and the Viking worldview is quite enjoyable; I have learned a lot about Viking customs and religion from reading the series.
I love this book and the series!
Five stars from me!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Kara-Shieldmaiden-Eire-Forerunner-Book-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-kara-shieldmaiden-of-eire
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/kara-shieldmaiden-of-eire-jay-veloso-batista
My review of the first book, “Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/thorfinn-and-the-witchs-curse
My review of the second book, “The Vardoger Boy”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-vardoger-boy
My review of the third book, “On Viking Seas”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/on-viking-seas

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/JayVBatista
https://www.jayvelosobatista.com
http://www.amazon.com/author/jayvelosobatista
http://www.facebook.com/jayvelosobatista
http://www.instagram.com/jayvelosobatista
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jay-veloso-batista
https://www.goodreads.com/JayVelosoBatista

Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

62 Comments

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/5/2022 01:39:40 pm

Thanks for the great review. I am sincerely glad you are enjoying the series and, to add a shameless plug, I am thrilled with the work the word refiner did to help my novel launch error free! Kara was a very ambitious work for me, with a plethora of historical references and some obscure Norse legends worked into a wide ranging plot. I am glad you enjoyed it and found it an entertaining read.

Mark

9/5/2022 01:52:36 pm

You are welcome on both counts. I loved the story, and it was a pleasure to work with you on this book. The story and plotlines were intricate, and I learned a great deal about Norse myths.

We have had a pretty good interview in the first two books promoted. The interview to accompany the "On Viking Seas" promotion was a victim of circumstances. We are going to start this interview with some questions about your fourth book, "Kara". Some of these questions may easily apply to the other books in the series.

First question.

What is the theme of Kara and how does it differ from the rest of the series?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/5/2022 02:18:46 pm

The Forerunner Series began with a “Coming of Age” theme for young ‘Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse.’ Book 2 was based on the theme of “Courage”—courage in war, courage to face fears, courage in adversity. Book 3 explores the theme of “Heroism” with Cub forced into servitude in the Devon tin mines, Kara facing her unwanted suitors, Sorven seeking revenge for his family and Thorfinn facing the mythical Wild Hunt.

Despite a battle in every chapter, the theme of Book 4 was “Love.” The book features historical love stories, like Harald of Norway’s commitment to his princess that he would unify the entire country for her hand, or the tragic love triangle which ended in the murder Mac Auisle, the King of Dublinn, but I wanted to explore love of all types: Allinor’s annoying infatuation with Thorfinn; Martine’s anger as a woman spurned; Karl’s comparison of lust versus love and his need for political alliances over the needs of his heart; Karl and Martine’s unrequited love; the “love at first sight” that Cub experiences when he meets the beautiful Poppa destined to be Rollo’s bride; Sorven’s detached evaluation of Dundle’s amorous mistakes; and the “love” that the forest siren employs to capture Sorven; and of course the first love of Kara and Kaelan who run away together and are thrust into a hostile land with only themselves to rely upon. While this was not a romance novel, I believe I was able to carry the theme through every chapter and it provided an underlying thread to unite the various storylines of the novel.

For book 5 the theme will be “The Hero’s Quest,” a formula defined by Joseph Campbell and refined by many authors over the past decades—and each of the siblings is facing their unique trials which sets up multiple points of view to compare and contrast their heroic journeys.

Mark

9/5/2022 03:55:44 pm

Those themes are evident in the books. I think you did a particularly good job of exploring the many facets of love. You had me on the edge of my Kindle waiting for the fulfillment of Karl and Martine's love. The awakening of love between Kara and Kaelan was beautiful. He served her in a manly fashion.

Book 5 promises to be a blockbuster. Any idea when it might be published?

New questions.

You showed that Vikings were farmers and business people of many ranks. They were not always cavorting around in their long boats.

Did they settle in Ireland before Britain or after?

What caused them to settle in these foreign lands in first place?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/5/2022 06:48:44 pm

Book 5 will be published in 2023—I wish I could write fulltime and complete my writing projects, but I am still working for a Canadian corporation in maritime domain awareness, safety and security. Keeps my busy more than 5 days a week! But I have been working on the synopsis and plotting all the chapters. I think ‘Marauders in Jotunheim’ will be a great continuation to the series.

As for Viking Age history, after the incursions into the petty kingdoms of Britain, the northern Scandinavians settled in the Scottish islands and established several trade cities with “longports.” These were really pirate fortresses at first, carving out a holding in the contested Irish countryside. Dublinn was one of six Viking “kingdoms,” including Lind, Loch Sanman, Concaith and Luimnech. I marked these places on the map of 9th Century Eire included in the novel. After the northern invaders established strongholds, the Danish invaded Britain to conquer Northumbria, Anglia and Mercia and establish their “Danelaw.” Once that land was secured, the Danish forces sailed across the narrow sea to Ireland as well.

What caused them to settle in these foreign lands in first place? The Scandinavian people were traders, and one of their chief commodities was slaves. Ireland was divided between many petty kingdoms, the Ui Neill, Ulaid, Osraige and Lagin to name a few, and the rivalries of these kingdoms, their barons, landed gentry and warrior monks made for a chaotic time of twisted loyalties and double-crosses, leaving the countryside open to an organized invading force. First the blond invaders came from the “Northern way,” followed by the dark-haired Danes, and both groups exploited the lack of a unified Irish response to the invaders. Once the forces settled in their defensive cities, their leadership convinced farmers and tradesmen to join them, importing skilled labor and building a thriving society in the foreign lands.

Mark

9/5/2022 07:49:21 pm

That history is fascinating! No wonder that historical fiction is my third favorite genre to read, right after sci-fi and fantasy. Even better, your books include elements of fantasy with inclusion of the paranormal-style elements of Viking religion and mythology.

Slavery is not something new, by any means. It has existed as long as there has been warfare between different people groups. The losers are lucky to be sold into slavery, the unlucky ones are simply killed.

New question.

You mentioned Danish invaders and Danelaw. But where is Norway? Didn't the Vikings come from Norway?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/5/2022 09:25:01 pm

Viking as a word is a misnomer—in today’s vernacular, we use this word to refer to the collected tribes and petty kingdoms of a vast northern region, all of whom spoke variations of “old Norse.” Our usage is a confusion of the Norse verb “vikingr,” which meant to go adventuring or to go raiding. The Norse peoples were related to the Germanic tribes in language, beliefs, mythology, and culture, and these included the people in the countries we now know as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and the Baltics as well as Germany. By the 8th and 9th Centuries when the Viking Age began, these Norse peoples had survived harsh winters and unforgiving Northern lands for generations. They valued physical strength, had a unique political and value system, treated women in a more equal fashion than contemporaries and held a rather fatalistic view of life, which made them fearless in voyages as well as in battle. Their good diet and emphasis on physical prowess made them fit and able warriors, as well as taller than the average European in the Middle Ages. They were seen as “giants” when they arrived to raid a village or town.

Like most of Europe, city states, loose confederations and small kingdoms were all that remained of the Roman Empire, and the spread of Christianity ill-prepared the Europeans for invaders who were larger, physically stronger, and armed with the belief that their time of death was foretold to the gods and that the only way to get to heaven was to die in glorious combat and be selected from the battlefield by avenging angels. Nordic traders developed incredible shipwright skills and sailed the seas as traders, who occasionally turned to looting their southernly neighbors.

However, these Norse were not a homogeneous group—warriors from the Northern Way were typically blond and blue eyed, while Danes tends to be brown-haired, brown-eyed peoples, and many of the people were transplants from the Rus and other eastern tribes. There were two waves of invaders in Ireland, which some crafty Irish lords used to sow dissention in their ranks. The Scandinavian warriors had their own set of loyalties and bitter rivalries which often undermined their accomplishments. The Germanic Angles and Saxons had invaded Britain after the Roman departure and their rule was interrupted by the Danes who swept across the land from @ 840 to 885 and established their own rule, putting puppet kings on the throne in Northumbria, Anglia, and Mercia. This was the “Danelaw.” Historians believe that the Danes came to Britain to escape poor farmland and an overcrowded population. It was the final Saxon king, Alfred of Wessex, a devout Christian, and his children that defeated the “Great Heathen Horde” and unified the small kingdoms into a new land called “England.”

Mark

9/6/2022 07:55:23 am

What a messy time! Loose confederations is a good name for 'as long I can make a profit, we will be friends, more or less'. No real surprise there, simply human nature. There really is nothing new under the sun.

New question.

Rolf or Rollo made a kingdom for himself in Northern Brittany. How did that affect what was going on in the British Isles?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/6/2022 08:49:08 am

“Rolf the Ganger” (Old Norse “Hrolfr”) or Rollo as it was latinized by the Franks, emerged as the most outstanding warrior among the Norsemen who had secured a permanent foothold on Frankish soil in the valley of the lower Seine. He marries the politically connected Poppa of Bayeux and with funding and support of his Nordic cousins in East Anglia Britain, lays siege to Paris. After the Siege of Chartres in the year 911, Charles the Simple, the king of West Francia, granted Rollo and his men lands between the mouth of the Seine and the modern city of Rouen in exchange for Rollo agreeing to end his brigandage, swearing allegiance to Charles, convert to Christianity and pledge to defend the Seine's estuary from new Viking raiders—a bit ironic, eh?

The name Rollo is first recorded as the leader of these Viking settlers in a charter of 918, and he continued to reign over the region until at least 928. He was succeeded by his son William Longsword and offspring of Rollo and his followers became known as the "Normans." His descendants invaded and conquered England in 1066 as well as invaded southern Italy and Sicily. For two centuries, their Normans came to rule England, much of Ireland, Sicily, and Antioch from the 11th to 13th centuries, leaving behind an enduring legacy in the histories of Europe and the Near East.

Rollo and his beautiful "bride to be" play secondary roles in Book four of the Forerunner Series as part of Cub's continuing story.

Mark

9/6/2022 11:09:40 am

I am fascinated by the switchover from Franks to Norse to Normans. I wonder if Normandy was named for the Normans or vice versa.

Rollo and Poppa made a nice plot thread in this story.

New question.

Starkadd, the 8-armed giant, was a scary character, he must be part of Norse mythology and my brain is really stretched trying to picture that octopus-like giant. What fevered imagination thought him up and his sisters, Irpa and Torgjerd?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/6/2022 12:18:05 pm

These are both stories from Norse mythology.

There are two Starkads in Norse myths, one a giant with eight arms and a second, his grandson, a human legendary hero—in the fourth forerunner series I drew upon the legends of the former. Starkad Ala-warrior was the son of the Jotun (giant) Storkvid and lived in Northern Norway at the waterfalls of Alufoss. His background includes a tragic betrothal to a girl named Ogn Elf-burst who was coveted by another giant named Hergrim who challenged Starkad to a deul. With a sword in each of his eight hands, Starkad brutally defeated Hergrim, but the horrified Ogn refused to be his bride and committed suicide by falling on a sword.

His lonely life drove Starkad to seek a new companion and he chanced to see Alfhildr, the daughter of King Alfr of Alfheim, in the realm of the light elves. She was enchantingly beautiful. In the autumn as the King performed the Disablot ceremony making a sacrifice to the goddesses, while Alfhildr reddened the altar with blood of their sacrifices, Starkad kidnapped the fair maid and carried her off to the Alufoss Falls. Outraged at the sacrilegious attack, King Alfr called on Thor the god of thunder to rescue his daughter. Thor hunted down Starkad and killed him with a blow of his mighty hammer Mjolnir, leaving the 8-armed giant in the mountains of Norway at the base of his Alufoss Falls.

Two lesser known Norse goddesses were the sisters, Thorgerdr Holgabrudr and Irpa, and they appear in various Nordic sagas. They were harsh, demanding goddesses and it was difficult to win their favor. Scholars who study the giants in Norse myth argue that Thorgerdr was a giantess. Snorri the famous poet who collected the Sagas included her in a list of troll-wives, which seems odd since every other source calls her a goddess, so there is some confusion about their heritage. But it was clear these sisters were members of the Asgardian pantheon. Thorgerdr jealously protected her cult houses and in one story aids a man by turning a piece of drift wood into a homunculus which was sent on a mission of vengeance. The most vivid tale of Thorgerdr and Irpa taking an active role in human life was when she sided with an earl against his enemies. When the Jomsvikings attacked the Norwegian coast, Earl Haakon had to take extreme measures before Thorgerdr agreed to help him—he was forced to sacrifice his seven-year-old son to her. But after the sacrifice, their enemies were accosted by a hailstorm as well as thunder and lightning and the goddess herself appeared, shooting arrows from her fingertips. When Irpa appeared at her side, the Jomsvikings retreated in terror, afraid to face such potent witches.

One of my purposes in writing the Forerunner Series was to breathe new life into some of the old, forgotten myths and legends, and this is why I drew on these stories for characters in the book about Kara.

Mark

9/6/2022 12:45:59 pm

Wow. That is some bloody stuff. I don't think anyone human, or most Norse gods could defeat an 8-armed giant swinging a sword in each hand. But Thor accomplished the feat with his hammer. An amazing story.

A new question.

The Vikings, Norse or Dane, and everyone after them, they all struggled with fighting the Welsh in Wales and especially in the mountains. Was it strictly the rugged terrain or was there more involved?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/6/2022 02:08:48 pm

The mountains of Wales were a source of rich mineral wealth and were coveted by invaders. The Romans were the last to conquer Wales in AD 48 and the campaign took 30 years to complete, with an occupation that lasted over 300 years. The Romans used their superior mining technology to establish a new industry in the country. The people were of Celtic origin, hardened by their land and difficult lives, and fiercely independent.

Celtic Britons splintered after the departure of the Romans and the Welsh were the largest of this group and they formed several Welsh kingdoms but were never able to unite Wales for an extended period. During the early Middle Ages, the scrappy and warlike Welsh took control of great swaths of Britain but were often pushed back into their mountain strongholds. For example, the land holdings of the petty Welsh Kingdom of Powys were ultimately lost to the kingdom of Mercia. The construction of the earthwork known as Offa's Dyke attributed to Offa, King of Mercia in the 8th century, is thought to have marked the agreed border. For a single man to rule all of Wales during this period was rare. Welsh inheritance laws required all sons receive an equal share of their father's property, including illegitimate sons, resulting in haphazard division of territories. While these Welsh laws prescribed the division for land in general, kingdoms had a different provision for an “edling” (or heir) to the kingdom to be chosen, usually by the king. Any son, legitimate or illegitimate, could be chosen as edling and there were frequently disappointed candidates prepared to challenge the chosen heir, leading to internal squabbles and civil unrest.

It took hundreds of years for the Normans and English to take control of the Welsh highlands and its people. After the passing of the Statute of Rhuddlan (1284), which restricted Welsh laws, King Edward I's ring of impressive stone castles dominated Wales, and he crowned his conquest by giving the title “Prince of Wales” to his son and heir in 1301. Wales became, effectively, part of England, even though its people spoke a different language and had a different culture. English kings appointed a Council of Wales, sometimes presided over by the heir to the throne. In the year 1542 the final laws were enacted to abolish the Welsh legal system and members of Wales joined the English Parliament.

Mark

9/6/2022 04:01:36 pm

Okay. I didn't realize it was so messy and for hundreds of years. That is a very long time.

New questions.

What kind of minerals were mined in the Welsh mountains?

How quickly did the Welsh integrate into the English language and culture?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/6/2022 06:58:41 pm

Wales is known for copper, lead and Iron, although they also mined gold there. And as for the integration of the Welsh, did you know the still speak and write in Welsh today?!? Yes, it's true... the road signs are in both English and Welsh, and they teach the language in school. Welsh poetry has been a staple of entertainment in Wales for more than 1000 years. It is a fine culture based on old Celtic and it rivals the myths and legends I used for my Forerunner Series... perhaps that is where I should set my next series of tales! 😊😆

Mark

9/6/2022 07:59:57 pm

I didn't realize that mining was so important in Wales. I did know that bi-lingual signs were used and the language was being taught in schools. I am assuming it is a relatively recent revival of culture and language.

New questions.

Did Britain ever try to stamp the language and culture out of Wales?

In the third volume of your series, "On Viking Seas" were the tin mines in Wales or what is now Britain?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/7/2022 08:53:18 am

Did Britain ever try to stamp the language and culture out of Wales? Oh yes, for centuries, but it never worked. 😆😂 They finally gave up and adopted the dual language approach that we find in Wales today.

In my third novel in the series, the eldest Agneson child, Agne Junior is captured by the forces of Wessex and sent as a war slave to the tin mines in Devon, which had been annexed by Wessex. This part of southern Britain, Cornwall and Devon, had mined tin since before the Romans and by the 9th Century the miners had learned to mass produce the metal for trade. The mining was a serious business, managed and closely monitored to enrich the local royalty and while thralls were used for some of the labor, a lot of the workers were paid a tiny wage, fed and housed at the mine pits, and some even taught skills such as blacksmithing. The tin bearing rock was dug up and crushed using different contraptions including large press rollers, and the subsequent gravel sized ore was layered between peat blankets in stone towers and fired to melt the tin out of the ore, leaving slag behind to be shoveled away and heaped in piles. It was hot, dirty, and demanding work but the lords of Devon were made powerful by the revenues. Some of Britain’s first Christian saints worked to better the lives of the miners and their families, preaching to the crowds and lobbying with the powerful for better work conditions. In all my reading I had never read a story featuring this setting in a novel, and it made for an interesting location for the continuation of Cub’s adventures.

Mark

9/7/2022 12:56:21 pm

So many times, efforts to change a culture fail, unless there is overwhelming force applied for 50 to 60 years. Without thoroughly indoctrinating the young it is pretty much a lost cause.

The mining section was quite interesting. I have a small background in blacksmithing and was a journeyman sheet metal worker in construction. I enjoyed the descriptions quite a bit.

New questions.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/7/2022 07:22:11 pm

In 1980 I won a monetary prize for poetry and since that time I had not considered submitting work to contests until I began my Viking Age fantasy novels. Actually, it was a big deal to win $100 for poems, and as a starving college student, the award was quickly converted into food!

‘Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse,’ Book 1 of the Forerunner Series won two international book awards, a 2020 bronze medal in the Young Adult category from The UK Based Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and the 2021 bronze medal in the general fantasy category of Reader’s Favorite Book Awards.

‘The Vardoger Boy,’ Book 2 of the Forerunner Series was a finalist in the 2020 Wishing Shelf Book awards and was nominated as a “red ribbon” winner.

Since 2020, I have not entered any of my books in award contests, focusing instead on writing the remainder of the series. In fact, that is my main goal for the rest of 2022, to get the first draft of Marauders completed. I have lots of adventures planned for the Agneson clan!

Mark

9/7/2022 08:05:40 pm

Food is always welcome!

Those are nice awards! Congratulations! They are well deserved. But your fans will be overjoyed when the next book comes out.

New questions.

If you could ask every person, who has read one of your books, only one question what would you ask them?

How do you handle bad reviews?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/8/2022 08:25:14 am

The question I really want to understand is how can I make my stories more interesting, compelling, and entertaining for them? Most people do not leave a review and it is difficult to gauge what they thought. If I am going to continue to grow as a writer, I need to work on the craft—this year I devoted my time to learning to edit better, and I hired a professional line editor to assist with my first pass of edits and assist with cleaning up the manuscript. I think that I need to continue to work on this skill, but an area to better would now be the plotting pre-writing step, in order to better conform the story to tried and true formats that connect to modern readers and meet their expectations.
How do you handle bad reviews?

Bad reviews come in two types: the 1 or 2 star ratings with no actual written explanation—those readers simply didn’t like it and the reason is unknowable—and those that actually leave a review where I can try to understand what made them dislike the book. I have two of these reviews and I have analyzed their criticism and attempted to address it in the following novels in the series. Not that those individuals would ever read a second work by me, but I assume there is a kernel of truth in their criticism and I should adapt my efforts to address it for future readers.

Mark

9/8/2022 09:41:29 am

Every author struggles with self-editing. It is so much easier to find the errors in a fellow author's manuscript than your own. The culprit here is the brain. It wearies of seeing the same material repeatedly and ignores the existing errors changing them into what we want to see. If you don't have a fellow author to trade favors with, then the next best economical solution is to trick your brain into thinking this is new material. That can be done by changing what the brain sees. Change the font size, style and color on the screen, change the background color also. You can also print the manuscript using landscape mode along with the other changes already mentioned. Another tried and true tactic is to put the manuscript away for a few days or several weeks, if possible. The more time the manuscript is out of sight the fresher it will seem to the brain. Another idea is to review the manuscript aloud, read it out loud yourself or have the computer read it aloud, many word processors have this feature now. One more hint is to read it one paragraph at a time from the last page, read it backwards.

The dearth of reviews and the lack of comments on low-star reviews bedevil almost every writer. They present a puzzle that is missing so many pieces, assembly is impossible. Every comment becomes very important, except for those left by trolls. They can be easily dismissed out of hand. Prospective readers will usually recognize how much weight to give those highly unflattering comments. The honest, negative reviews at least prove that the other reviews are more than those left by family and close friends.

New questions.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/8/2022 11:31:02 am

I tend to be an under-writer, and I go back to my first draft and add things that are important or items I meant to mention but I forgot in the rush to get words on the page. It is the “flesh it out” material that fills in gaps and helps tie the story together.

For example, because I wanted ‘Kara Shieldmaiden of Eire’ to stand well on its own, I went back into the first draft and added a short paragraph about her practicing every day since she was eight years old, like her brothers and sisters, and a memory of her father’s comment about the kind of warriors she would face—this was a bit of foreshadowing because she ends up facing all the types in the book. If a reader had read the previous books in the series, they would know of these background facts, but a new reader picking up the fourth novel needs to have that little bit of extra detail to understand this teenager’s motivation as well as her own belief in her capabilities.

I also like to add “color” after the first pass, whether that is historical references or descriptions—sometimes I end up cutting the description to make the book more concise in the editing process, yet the additions are sometimes perfect additions to the work to build a flavor for the setting and time period.

On the other hand, my books are typically over 100,000 words with many points of view and lots of side stories, which I guess some would argue means I am over-writing! 😜

Mark

9/8/2022 12:04:23 pm

The way you write makes a lot of sense to me. Filling in bits and pieces to provide color, continuity and cohesiveness is very important and that is precisely one of the reasons following drafts are necessary. Nobody has ever written a perfect first draft.

You could have written each book completely focused on one of the major characters, but the cohesiveness would have been lost. That is too much time and distance for a reader to keep the other stories in mind and track the parallel events.

New questions.

Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?

Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/8/2022 02:37:43 pm

My first book was a true “pantser” project! I had thought about writing the novel about a boy who turns into a “vardoger” for years and had particular scenes in my head. I wrote the novel to fill in the gaps and reach the conclusion. It was truly an act of throwing all the ideas on paper and shaking it all together into a story. The story ended with an epilogue opening for a continuation and I had planted a few morsels of foreshadowing in the tale, like the small Jotunheim worm that Thorfinn caught and kept as a pet, which I could use later at the appropriate time in the story.

But when I began on book 2 of the series, I started with a plotting exercise in a spreadsheet to where I could move chapter events around by “point of view” characters to make the pace faster than the first book and thread the stories within each other so that mini-cliff hangers occur at the end of every chapter with the different characters. The second book also began to explore more of the brothers’ and sisters’ characterizations so that the scope of the series became wider and allowed me as an author to explore the experiences of teenaged girls and mothers. And of course, book 1 is steeped in mythology and medieval life, but not as many historical references as becomes common in the later novels. I believe the work I did to better my writing skills in book 2 and 3 was really evident in Kara’s book.

Looking back with clear eyes, I am considering publishing a second edition of the first book and apply my enhanced editing skills to the work—it would make it better as a series starter and maybe increase the “read-through” rate which is of fundamental importance to series authors. I also need to complete the last two books of the series and start advertising the entire series as a unit—this is a major effort for me as it must occur outside my day-job hours….

Mark

9/8/2022 05:24:36 pm

Many writers claim pantser status and that seems to work well as long as each book is freestanding. I heard of one pantser author who would outline the book, chapter by chapter, after it was written. I am guessing it was much easier to continue a series with that easy reference guide. Your experience to continue the series certainly proves the value of outlining. I suppose each author that declares they can or can't outline is correct.

Kara benefits from many historical references and effectively ties the series to real events without having to worry about changing history.

I think rewriting Thorfinn is a good idea, the series would benefit as a whole.

New questions.

How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/8/2022 05:50:04 pm

The characters in ‘Kara’ were designed to be relatable to a modern audience—teenaged rebellion in the Ninth Century is essentially the same as today, and that ‘first love” of a Romeo and Juliet type couple still lures youth into doomed trysts in our modern society—the old adage that there are only 7 stories still holds true. I tried to make Uncle Karl as clueless as modern men who don’t recognize the perfect partner stands right before them. The adventures of Sorven in the Welsh mountain village were funny but were designed to reflect a modern sexual comedic sensibility. And we can always learn from the lessons of history—Harald Tanglehair unexpectedly overcame great odds to become Harald “Fairhair,” the first king of a unified Northern Way (Norway). Think of how the smaller can stand up to overwhelming power, like in the Ukraine today.

Also, there is a neo-pagan movement underway today—it has been growing in our western culture since the era of “punk rockers” in the late 1970’s and, fed by the internet capability to sift disparate peoples into tight-knit and obscure communities, has grown into a movement of tattoos, and piercings, and beliefs in crystals, witchcraft, and modern interpretations of old gods. People give more credibility today to vampire and ghost stories than ever, and television production has made it seem “real.” It is underscored by a populace who are convinced that “freedom” means they can do whatever they want, and have the right to be scofflaws and shirk responsibilities, no matter their politics. This is a reflection of our modern perception of the wild, “everyman-for-themselves” attitudes of the Viking Age—but I wrote the books to show that in reality the Norse peoples had a code of ethics, a strong community, deference to laws and a commitment to family that made them noble and respectable, despite their strength of arms and annual treks to raid and pillage.

The one thing I hope my readers take away from my books is the originality of the adventures—I work hard to ensure these are not some new re-telling of a show one once saw on TV. Imagination is a core part of what I am trying to bring to life in these novels, new and exciting ways to tell history, illuminate the old folk lore and portray the human condition. I want my readers to enjoy the characters and have them come to life in their own imagination, lingering in their minds after they have finished the book.

Mark

9/8/2022 07:36:53 pm

I was wondering where the name Norway came from. I didn't know that Harald accomplished his goal.

Writing those different genres shows that you are an accomplished writer very far from a one-trick pony.

Displaying the human side of Vikings deliberately is genius, they were not that different from us "modern folk". The only real difference is the toys and that bullies still exist.

New questions.

What are some challenges to writing Historical Fiction?

What happens when your historical sources don’t agree?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/8/2022 08:54:02 pm

Excellent question and very apropos. One of the major drawbacks of attempting to use history in fiction is sources and their contradictions. The period I selected to write about, the early Viking Age, has little reliable records—there were Wessex documents that chronicled the incursions and battles on British soil, but they were mostly told from the point of view of the Anglo-Saxon monarchs and the Danes were cast as the “evil enemies who deserved defeat.” The Scandinavians did not have written records until the Sagas were committed to documents around 1100, two hundred years after the time of Danelaw and the setting for my stories. History was entirely oral and passed down through the filter of generations.

The Scandinavian runes were primarily used to communicate with their gods, and we can find them on standing stones and on swords, but like in my books, they were used to cast spells, ward off evil or commemorate an important event or the death of a significant person. Because of this lack of historical record, there are many conflicting myths and legends, especially in the background of their mythology and the legends of their Medieval heroes and kings. One source I used for my books was recent archeology, as many important discoveries have been made that extend our knowledge of how the people lived, their shipwright skills and their towns. Burial mounds as well as trash heaps all unlock our deeper knowledge of what foods they had, how they dressed, their weapons, and their treasures. Scholars have supplied many of the details that let me compare Scandinavian betrothals and weddings (Chapter 9 of The Witch’s Curse) to the Anglo-Saxon customs of the day, as well as disperse some confusion that Vikings used shield walls like Romans in battle—many sources dispute that combat array and instead promote the idea that the Norse would have used the more Germanic “swine array” attributed to “Woden” or as the Norse call him, “Odin” (Chapter 6 of The Vardoger Boy).

More important, as you read the novels you will see I try to use the myths of the ‘Hidden Folk,’ still found in folk tales in Scandinavia and Denmark, and once common in the British Isles, but displaced in modern fantasy books by the Dwarves, Elves and Hobbits of the Tolkien-esque tropes. While I love the work of JRR Tolkien and find some fan fiction and RPG fantasies fun entertainment, many of the derivations based on these archetypal characters seem flat and repetitive to me. That is why I searched for the older folk creatures—what is old is new and novel again, eh? 🧚 I believe creatures like the mast troll or the Tangie kelp-man are fascinating and give the story a unique depth and interest that the standard fantasy tropes no longer offer.

Mark

9/9/2022 07:28:41 am

There certainly is a great deal of mystery about older times when little to nothing was written down. The bards, in their fashion, were the historians of the day. I have no doubt that many of them added their personal color to the sagas, to a certain extent. Archaeology continues and we will learn more in the future. Like so much else in life, everything is permanent until further notice.

Learning about the hidden folk was something I really enjoyed. I was unaware of them until reading your books.

New questions.

Other than measuring the value of your sources did you encounter any other controversies in the course of researching and writing your book?

What kind of Historical Fiction do you prefer to read? Real persons or fictional persons in a historical setting?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/9/2022 09:25:44 am

The great naval battle of Hafrsfjord which unified Norway is set by historians between 870 and 900, and there are arguments over the exact date. The traditional date is 872 but that is a 19th Century estimate by a historian who counted the number of years backward from the battle of Svolder as recorded in Snorri Sturlson’s chronicle, Heimskringla, which was written in the 13th Century. This date was popularized by another historian and was unchallenged for many years because it coincided with the millennial celebration of the Norwegian state in 1972—how convenient, eh? In the 1920’s using similar methods but highly critical of the reliability of the sagas, a new historian dated the battle at approximately 900. More disputations followed, but generally today most historians place the battle in the 880s. For the novel continuity purposes and to avoid additional controversy, I split the difference between the original two historian arguments and set the battle in the 880’s.

There are several conflicting accounts of Rollo of Normandy as well. I tried to incorporate some of them in the narrative, but other stories attributed to him contradicted my selections and I chose to ignore them. It is a work of fiction after all! One important note: According to the chronicles of Dudo, Rollo struck up a friendship in England with a king called ‘Alstem.’ This has puzzled many historians, but recently the puzzle has been resolved by recognition that this refers to Guthrum, the Danish leader whom Alfred the Great baptized with the baptismal name ‘Athelstan,’ and recognized as king of the East Angles in 880—I intend to use this fact in the continuing adventures of the eldest Agneson, Agne junior.

As for me, I read a lot of fiction and have no preference when I turn to a historical novel—whether it is about a historical figure or a minor player, as long as the writing is solid, I will enjoy it. I know that you prefer science fiction and fantasy, and one thing about my work is that it attempts to bridge historical fiction with fantasy.

Mark

9/9/2022 11:27:30 am

I am not the least bit surprised about the controversies over the date and names. That is one way scholars make a name for themselves by refuting the work of another scholar. The name thing is always subject to interpretation also. Because different languages cause different pronunciations when compared to our own.

Science fiction and fantasy are my top two favorite genres with historical fiction as my next choice. With your blend of Viking paranormal/fantasy this series is near the top of my list.

New questions.

Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?

Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/9/2022 12:43:33 pm

Yes, I do struggle with a form of writer’s block—I do procrastinate occasionally, but my biggest writing issue is the demands of my full-time job and my commitments to my wife, family, friends and community that often drag me away from my keyboard or make it difficult to frame my thoughts due to fatigue. For me, the best way to overcome a block is to put on a headset with ambient background music and dive into a chapter outline—sometimes I write garbage for a few paragraphs which I can trim mercilessly but the act of typing gets the creative juices flowing and I find the block crumbles as I put words on a page, and once the momentum is underway I can get back to serious writing.

I will be using a pseudonym, probably “JV Batista” for books that are not fantasy. That way I can still employ my website and social media presence, but I can build a separate fan base for non-fantasy titles. I have a few author friends encouraging me to break into other genres, like straight forward historical fiction, humor, action-adventure/thriller novels or even romances. I would probably adopt a completely different pen-name if I wrote steamy romance books or erotica, but I doubt I will do that—those genres are not so interesting to me and there are many fine authors already focusing their talents in those areas.

Mark

9/9/2022 02:39:45 pm

Writer's block is real for many writers and all of those things and more can cause it. You have also discovered what many other authors have found, writing starts the creative engine. The muse shows up when even crummy words are flowing from your fingertips.

Other potential cures for a word blockage involve writing about the blockage, writing on a different project, engaging in a very familiar activity indoors or outdoors. There are many ways to allow the creative juices to flow.

Many authors would use a separate pen name for steamy material also.

I read about one author who had cultivated a fan base in 3 or 4 genres using a different pseudonym for each. She created a landing page for each genre and all lead into the main website, she hoped to get some fans to bleed over into the other genres.

New questions.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/9/2022 02:57:14 pm

Hands down, Vellum has been my best purchase as a writer. It has made formatting a joy and corrections easy to manage. I highly recommend it if one uses Apple computers.

I follow Richie Billing’s fantasy writing blog and I read KM Weiland’s blog on writing tips. I have joined the Historical Novel Society and the Eastern Shore Writers Guild for local Delmarva writers, but regretfully I have little free time because of my full-time work commitments to attend their events. I also subscribe to quite a few newsletters by fellow authors and provide ARC reading and reviews for those who ask. I have a few author friends who trust me to provide beta reading services as well. This year I have been trying to interest video bloggers and bookstagrammers in my series because word of mouth is the best way to gain readers. As for listening to podcasts, I have a long list I hope to one day get to listen to, as well as YouTube channels but as I am short on time, these are only lists for now.

Mark

9/9/2022 04:38:31 pm

I don't think you are the first to recommend Vellum. Apple computer fans, please take not.

Those sound like good groups to belong to. I think associating with other writers is a good idea.

I get a lot of newsletters also. Some I actually read to decide if I want to share it on my website. I have links to several of Weiland's blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. Joanna Penn, Anne R. Allen and Kristine Rusch are some of my favorite bloggers, I should also mention The Story Reading Ape, his WordPress site is excellent. He reblogs a lot of good bloggers.

Podcasts are plentiful. YouTube! I want to watch them all, but I watch none of them. It's so hard to get off of YouTube when I start.

New questions.

Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first or second POV?

Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/9/2022 04:53:09 pm

Third person omniscient in past tense is the most common narration style—It boils down to “Let me tell you the story and I know everything you will want to know.” First person present tense is difficult because the author must stay inside a particular character’s head and for the most part the story action takes place in the “now” of the storyteller—this can provide truly great stories and lets the narration be one-sided or even blind to the actual situation. In my books I try to write third person but not omniscient—I try to stay in the head of one Point of View character at a time and not hear the thoughts or know motivations of other characters. In this way a character can get facts or information wrong and be an “unreliable narrator.”

I always wanted to write, so in a way I was “born to it,” but I do admit that I studied to learn my craft and I am still working to get better at the facets of writing. I majored in English Composition as a university undergraduate and actively write every day for work and pleasure. I read books dedicated to the craft and I am always seeking new ideas to make my work better. Good communications skills depend on clear and concise written documents, and I have been writing every day for the past 40 years, just not always fiction!

Recently I have purchased a plotting software tool and I am going to try it for my next novel. I think my plotting skills are fairly good, but there is always room to improve.

Mark

9/9/2022 07:03:28 pm

First person POV can be difficult for authors the first time they use that. As you say, the character whose head the reader inhabits cannot know the thoughts, wishes or desires of any other character unless those are actually voiced or written down. It makes for very intimate reading and can easily be spoiled by head hopping. The first time I remember encountering this was in a book I reviewed almost 5 years ago, "The Divinity Bureau" by Tessa Clare. It was written quite well, and the author avoided head hopping by changing point of view in each chapter while continuing the story seamlessly.

I think every author has to learn the craft whether they are born to it or not.

New questions.

Did you buy Scrivener, Plottr or something else? I would use Scrivener if I was a writer. While many have said it has a steep learning curve those that conquer the mountain say it is very worth the effort.

What did you buy with your first royalty check?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/10/2022 07:25:17 am

I did get Plottr and I am learning it. It was recommended by an author friend for the templates. It seems fairly straightforward, kind of an enhanced version of what I had already been doing with excel spreadsheets. But the pre-loaded templates are nice to frame my understanding of readers’ expectations. I am looking forward to using it.

My first royalty check was $100 for a poetry submission, and I spent it on food—I was a starving student at the time. My second royalty check was from TSR, the AD&D company in the late 1980s, and it purchased us a new back deck on our home! Currently my self-publishing business only trickles in royalties so I am not running to the bank any time soon! LOL! I have not found the formula to advertise my work yet, but I continue to try different platforms. I think the writing is solid and I only need to find and connect with the proper audience. And I have been coached that word of mouth is the best way to build a fan base....

Mark

9/10/2022 08:19:42 am

The blogs comparing the different programs give Plottr a positive recommendation. I hope it meets your expectations and needs.

Very few authors deposit large amounts in the bank and live off their writing career. Advertising is necessary and frequently sales don't pay the freight. It is a long-term game, much like the stock market. Word of mouth does take time. A lot of blogs have been written about building a fan base.

New questions.

How did you celebrate when you published your first book?

How many times did you rewrite the first page, the first chapter of this book?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/10/2022 09:41:43 am

When my first book was published, we invited our neighbors over for a small party, including the published author who pressed me to get my work out into the world. It was a private, subdues affair—not really a celebration—but we enjoyed it.

Skipping the summary section, I wrote the first chapter once, gave it an “add sections” pass, and edited it myself three times before I sent it out to be “word refined.” I reworked the opening sequence the most, and I still think it is a bit “wordy,” but it is much better than the first draft. The first draft of Kara was written in about 4 months, and the editing took an additional 2 months before I sent it out to an external editor. Once I got the grammatical edits back, I sent it to a few careful ARC readers, especially to one who is a paralegal and quite persnickety, and we cleaned up the final minor typos that had slipped through my net before I published it on Amazon and send it out for editorial reviews. I am working on a “second edition” of Thorfinn to correct the slow first chapter and then I am considering sending the series to Kirkus reviews and promoting it to libraries. That will be a big expense, so I want to ensure the book is the strongest it can be before I spend the money.

Mark

9/10/2022 11:44:25 am

Many authors work and rework the first chapter many times. You have lots of company, even though this is the fourth book in the series. The first chapter of the fourth book was partially developed by the events of the previous book. Nonetheless, the first page and chapter are very important in each book.

New questions.

Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

Have you ever created a throw-away character that developed into a major player?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/10/2022 12:18:08 pm

In my opinion, it is not suffering that makes a good writer but a sense of separateness and a willingness to put the effort into it. Let me explain.

I believe the best writers are able to look at the world and situations with fresh eyes, or if you with “outsider eyes.” Sometimes the easiest way to achieve that separation is to suffer, and there are many authors that use their personal suffering as a gateway into their art. I have had the normal amount of frustration and angst in my life, but as a child we moved to a new city every 3 or 4 years and I found that, despite a pretend façade of a gregarious, extroverted personality, that change of location and the distance it put between myself and any new friends that I made allowed me to see as an external observer and not quite feel a part of their world, and I think this ability has really aided my writing skills. Especially observation.

I also really believe it all comes down to work—lots of people have great imaginations, many have amazing story ideas but few force themselves to carve out the personal time to put the effort into writing and editing and marketing a book. It takes time and dedication and real "sweat equity" to be a good author.

As for “throw away characters,” yes, I have an example to share. The character did not become a “major character,” but like a bad penny, he keeps turning up in the series: Dundle, the farm hand who arrives in Book 1 of the Forerunner Series to tell the brothers he knows the location of the witch’s “tower.” Originally, he was only to appear in the first book, but he became a good contrast with the dedicated eldest brother Cub as they prepared for war, so I kept him in the storyline to inform Mother Gurid of her husband’s fall in battle. In book 3 he continued to play a bit part, and became a cowardly influence on Sorven, pressing him to take revenge against the Magnuson clan, ultimately pushing him to murder and running off with the middle son to hide in the Welsh mountains. The end of his contribution to the series occurs in the fourth book, a bit of comic relief from the relentless Viking Age battles, and I believe his final situation is what he deserved! One can imagine what his future life will be like with a new bride and an angry mother-in-law!😂

Mark

9/10/2022 03:44:02 pm

You have given what is probably the best answer I have ever seen for that question. The question hearkens back to a previous age, perhaps contemporary to Charles Dickens. Many a writer was assumed to live in a drafty, old garret of a house, little better than an attic with a window. People thought writers were starving and penniless, but the crucible of suffering would enable the writer to produce stellar work.

I very much understand the concept of otherness. I didn't fit in well with my classmates in my secondary education years. It was a very small town, and I didn't really hunt, fish or play sports well. I read a lot and developed a passion for photography that served me well in high school as I was a photographer for the yearbook of our class. Taking pictures throughout the school year kept me apart from my classmates and I utilized that to protect myself at times.

You nailed that with hard work. There are so many people who dream of being a famous writer. Some of those even start writing a book. Most won't get past a few chapters. They don't understand that a good book is not the result of writing a first draft, but it is the result of rewriting and editing through many drafts. some of those will actually finish the first draft and are so depressed because it is so bad compared to the published work of their favorite author. Some will put the manuscript in drawer and dream of perfect writing. Some will labor over the manuscript and always need one more edit because they are afraid to publish the book and face any criticism. The remaining few will actually publish their book. They are the winners because they followed through on their dream.

Dundle is a great character and contributes quite a bit to the continuity of your stories. The name fits him well because he is a bit of a dunderhead and doesn't think well with his brain.

New questions.

Do you have a favorite filler word or two that you have to keep taking out of a story, like just, like really, or like like?

Was there a particular chapter or section that was harder to write than the others, besides the first chapter?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/10/2022 04:09:59 pm

We were talking about “filler words” in our writers’ group recently—I freely admit the word I tend to overuse is “florid.” And I know it! Everybody has a florid face, from trolls to exercising warriors to old women to old monks and local sheriffs! So, knowing that that particular word is my “plug” for a better description, I have learned to search for it and replace it with different descriptions or a word that means the same thing, like “ruddy.” I judiciously use one “florid” per novel now. Another issue I have to watch for is that every character “nods their head.” It is another form of “filler words” and I delete all head nods as soon as I find them…

Thanks to an author friend, I have a list of “crutch words,” and I search and try to remove as many as possible in my first pass edit. The list includes “like, it, really, very, -ly adverbs, etc,” and I have found that cutting them out of the manuscript does make the work stronger. Although there are often times when they are the correct word, so I read carefully when I am in the editing stage. Another issue I try to address is the passive voice—I work through the document and try to get rid of all the “was thinking” and “were trying” passive voice usage, replacing them with an action verb. It makes the overall document a better read.

In Kara the most difficult chapter to craft was Chapter Nine, the great sea battle of Hafrsfjord. I had to tell the story from the point of view of Karl in Midgard and at the same time balance his account with the mystical realm viewpoint of Raga and Hax in the Realm between Realms. I had to cover the historical characters while bringing Karl and Martine together to consummate their feelings in a realistic way, and the chapter ends on a bittersweet note with a death of one of my favorite characters. Meanwhile the readers know that Karl’s longship has been saved by the thunder god and he is now committed to a quest he knows nothing about…

On the other hand, Chapter Eight, “Daughters,” was fun to write and I hammered it out almost exactly as it appears in the book quarantined in a hotel room in Delhi India! The Sorven section was especially fun to write and seemed to flow from my fingers into the keyboard. One of my reviewers said this chapter made him “snort” out loud with laughter. I wish it was always that easy.

Mark

9/10/2022 06:32:33 pm

Filler words serve a purpose as long as they are temporary. However, as you noted, occasionally a filler word is the best fit, especially when it comes to the adverbs ending in "ly". I am glad you are willing to leave them when it fits the story.

I knew the sea battle had to be hard to write. Finding the balance between describing a large-scale event against a detail of a small part of that event was difficult. You pulled it off quite well.

"Daughters" was hilarious, I laughed out loud more than once and it showed me you have a good touch for comedy.

New questions.

What was the earliest experience that made you realize that you could influence and change lives with the power of writing?

Do you believe that a good book will sell itself?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/10/2022 08:04:33 pm

When I was 18, my college required all Freshman to take English 101 and 102. Having taken advanced placement work in High School, I attempted to test out of these classes and nearly did it, but instead I placed into the honors level, 121 and 122! Imagine my distress, to find my easy “A” grade was now a huge challenge. To make matters worse, the teacher of my class was the assistant dean and extremely demanding. After months of difficult work, he assigned the class an assignment to write a work of fiction, and we students were filled with “lamentations and gnashing of teeth!”

I wrote a story based on an experience the previous summer: two friends and I had camped on one of the barrier islands off the coast and we shopped in a small general store where I chanced to meet a teenaged girl and defended her to her employer. It was a Sherwood Anderson kind of moment—I never saw the girl again but it left an impression on me, and I conveyed pathos through the story and left the ending open to interpretation. That professor gave me the top grade and wrote me a short note, encouraging me to write more. This was the first time I realized I had an ability to influence through my words.

Regrettably, a good book or even a fabulous book will not sell itself. There are millions of good books, and many mediocre books too, published every year. Great novels are hidden in the slush piles, and it takes marketing and advertising to build a brand and establish a fan base. Even recognizing that word of mouth is the best way to build an audience, it still takes a lot of work to spread the word. I am working to build the library of respectable work and promoting it widely to entice more people to read my work. It is the only way to get that word spreading!

Mark

9/11/2022 08:10:33 am

Nice story. But I don't know who Sherwood Anderson is. The store manager was accusing her of not doing her job or doing something not in her job description?

Before Amazon upset the traditional publishing applecart and smashed it to bits, a good book might sell itself though it would take a lot of time and word of mouth. It does take marketing and a good deal of it plus lots of word of mouth, in this digital age a lot of time is still required.

New questions.

In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?

What else are planning to do to promote and market your books over the next few months?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/11/2022 09:02:01 am

The store manager was accusing her of not doing her job—I stood up for her, but it made no difference--she marched out, and left me alone and pensive in the parking lot. The story was much better than this summary....

Sherwood Anderson was a darling of university English professors in the 1960-80s—we studied and dissected 'Winesburg, Ohio.' According to Wikipedia: Sherwood Anderson (September 13, 1876 – March 8, 1941) was an American novelist and short story writer, known for subjective and self-revealing works. Self-educated, he rose to become a successful copywriter and business owner in Cleveland and Elyria, Ohio. In 1912, Anderson had a nervous breakdown that led him to abandon his business and family to become a writer. At the time, he moved to Chicago and was eventually married three additional times. His most enduring work is the short-story sequence Winesburg, Ohio, which launched his career. Throughout the 1920s, Anderson published several short story collections, novels, memoirs, books of essays, and a book of poetry. Though his books sold reasonably well, Dark Laughter (1925), a novel inspired by Anderson's time in New Orleans during the 1920s, was his only bestseller.

The marketing avenues that have worked for me are Amazon Advertising and Bookbub ads. For new releases I have found Itsy Bitsy Book Tours to be very effective in garnering a lot of high quality Advanced Copy Reviews that reflect the reader actually read the book and truly enjoyed it. I continue to throw money at Facebook and Instagram about once per year, and they report thousands of “clicks” results but there are never, and I mean never (!) any book purchases which is the final measuring stick. Twitter also gets a lot of exposure but doesn’t seem to sell books—it could be because my 8500+ followers are all in the writing community and they are there promoting their works, so we are trapped in an echo chamber of our own design.

My current efforts are to reach book bloggers in the fantasy genre and get them to read and mention my series. I have a Barnes and Nobles book signing event scheduled for a store in New Jersey in December for the holidays. Some friends are going to introduce me to some additional store managers, and I hope to sell some new books there. I am also trying to get an audiobook of Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse ready for a holiday release. The narrator has completed his reading and I have a Nashville based musician doing the music interstitial breaks between sections. As for advertising I am going to run Bookbub and Amazon ads over the holidays and see if I can keep sales moving, including Kindle Unlimited reads.

Mark

9/11/2022 02:01:51 pm

Sherwood sounds like a rather sad guy, pretty good in business but failing in the relationship department. Four marriages for a guy who lived only 65 years. Maybe all that angst fueled his writing.

There are so many ways to spread the word about your book, book bloggers are a good angle. The book signing is another good idea. Facetime with people in the real world is always fun. Have you considered flea markets, craft fairs and other weekend-type events? Another possibility for exposure could include local newspapers, TV and radio stations, cable access, literature, history or broadcasting arts classes and clubs in colleges and high schools.

New questions.

What is the biggest myth about writing that you can dispel that would help aspiring authors?

Have your research and writing methods changed much since your first book?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/11/2022 02:24:42 pm

Sherwood Anderson's writings were exceptional despite his tragic personal life.

You asked have I considered flea markets, craft fairs and other weekend-type events? I have been thinking about getting a stand at the local Renaissance Festival, which is quite popular and runs for 6 weeks. Fantasy books should draw interest there, and we can dress up in Viking costumes. It is on my long-term list for when I am no longer working a full-time job.

The biggest myth about writing that I can dispel is the idea that one can become famous writing. Occasionally fame and fortune come to an author, but most of us are writing because we have something to say or we enjoy the creative process and we are not in it for the money.

My research and writing methods have evolved. I try to gather all the background historical materials and put notes in the end of specific chapter synopsis in order to remind me of critical events to add to the story at the appropriate time. Once I start writing the first draft, I try to put my head down and write it as fast as possible to keep a flow of the narration. I don’t want to stop that faucet to investigate a technical detail if I can help it.

Mark

9/11/2022 03:32:41 pm

The Renaissance Festival is so much fun. I attended one in Marin County in Northern California a couple of times in the early 70s. One of my best friends was involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism for a long time, in Oregon. He was a blacksmith and a member of two or three Scottish clans. That will be a lot of fun to get involved with after you retire.

That is a great choice of a myth! Write the great American novel and the world will beat a path to your door. Not. Reality really sucks at times. I wouldn't be surprised if the odds of playing the lottery are better. It certainly isn't for money; it has to be for love.

That sounds like a very good plan for writing. Knock out most, if not all, of the research before writing that first draft. Losing the flow of inspiration is all too easy.

New questions.

Some authors go to great lengths to get inside the heads of their characters. Some create a biography, find photos that match the picture in their head, fill out psychological profiles. What do you do in that regard, if anything?

Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex, why or why not?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/11/2022 04:29:36 pm

In my books there are many different points of view and writing each section usually involves a restart of efforts, or a “reset” if you will, to make the characters subtly different. For the Forerunner, I did not create individual biographies or “photo boards” that many authors use to keep details straight, but that seems to be a good method and if I continue to write multi-character stories beyond this series, I am sure I will resort to something similar, to create a mnemonic tool. It seems like a tried-and-true method for managing the background that diversifies your characters. PLOTTR has a tool for maintaining this data with each plot line.

I don’t believe I have any difficulty getting the different sexes to “feel right” to a reader. But I will freely admit that I read several psychological papers on typical issues faced by teenaged girls to get the character of Kara Agnesdatter correct. Once decades have passed, it is difficult to remember the challenges and tribulations of those early teen years, and I was never a young lady. I worked hard to build a believable character and not be too “over the top.” Honestly, I was most worried about the ending of the fourth book when tragedy descends on Kara. I wanted it to first seem real, then devastating and finally surreal, extending the fantasy.

The next novel in the series will be the most “fantastic,” as most of the action will take place beyond Midgard in the other Realms of Norse mythology. And while Thorfinn is growing in power and capabilities, I want Kara to save herself and in order to keep her true to her character, I must balance Thorfinn as the hero of the series with his sister’s personal growth. It should be a good tale, and I plan to introduce some new characters too.

Mark

9/11/2022 05:44:45 pm

Your characters do come across as individuals, they do not talk or act the same. Your efforts have paid off.

Another author/client, Rick Hall, made a website, free to use, devoted to helping authors maintain the congruency of their characters. He has many different examples of characters from history and literature and employs different popular, psychological measurements for the characters. You may find it useful, here is the copy-and-paste link or search his name or topic below: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation

I think you handled Kara's physical and emotional growth quite well. Kara's tragedy was a showstopper! I am glad her story isn't over. Your fans will be happy to learn about that.

New questions.

How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?

Do you have any other passions or creative outlets to pursue if you didn't write?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/11/2022 05:56:51 pm

My wife is supportive of my writing, and I usually try to have a date night with her most weeks which breaks up the monotony of watching me hunch over a laptop for hours upon end. She is also a tennis player and often is out on the courts, leaving me to my own devices. We have some great neighbors and friends who help me get out into the real world and interact with other carbon life forms on a weekly basis. When family is in town, I stay away from the laptop and visit with my children and grandchildren. That is always a welcome interruption. Little ones only stay little for a short time, don’t they?

My main hobby is acrylic painting with collage. I am better than an amateur but not a professional—which means that I make 3 out of 4 paintings before I make a junky, throw away piece. Artwork is a great release for me because it is creative but there is no pressure, and I can make a mess and just enjoy the process. Before I decided to write novels, I would paint lots of work and had a few galleries that would sell my efforts. These days I get 3 or 4 paintings done in a year and usually give them away as gifts. This year I have two nieces getting married and in addition to their registry, each will get a painting from “Uncle Jay.”

Mark

9/11/2022 07:27:38 pm

Your wife sounds like a lovely person, she has activities she enjoys and humors you. My wife is quite supportive also and encourages me to get my nose out of the computer often. The struggle is real.

Your hobby sounds interesting. Other than walls, I have not done any painting since high school. I discovered I had a little talent for drawing and enjoyed that quite a bit. But I was always anxious to finish so I could resume my most favorite activity, reading. Yes, reading is my favorite avocation. I am willing to forsake many other activities and transient pleasures to read a good book.

New questions.

What type of scene do you find hard to write and why?

How do you maintain the excitement for yourself? Your excitement impacts others around you.

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/12/2022 07:53:47 am

When I write I don’t find that I have problems with “scenes” per se. What happens is that I start a new section in a different point of view and I write a few paragraphs or even a couple of pages before I realize I am off the track of the narrative—in other words, the new writing is not carrying the story forward to the climax I had intended, or is not pointed at the direction the chapter is expected to take, and rather than follow the new direction like a “pantser” would, I cut the section entirely and start fresh. This keeps the focus of the plot that is already defined, especially the effort I have put into creating little “cliff hanging” moments for different characters to keep the story compelling for an engaged reader. The only nod I make to the “pantser” that lives within all writers is that I do not name chapters until I have finished them and look for a single phrase or an overarching theme for the chapter to make the name resonant.

Excitement—Yes, this is key to the success of adventure and action novels. When I write it is usually early evening after my day job, and I often am slow to start, but once the “excitement” in the narrative takes over, I get rolling and can’t stop. Sometimes I am so excited about what I have written and what I planned to write next that I can’t settle down to sleep! Coffee helps! 😃 When I am deep inside the story, I sometimes spend the entire weekend glued to the laptop, pressing forward with the writing and it is exhilarating. I really enjoy that aspect of writing adventure novels.

Mark

9/12/2022 09:36:31 am

I can see how it would be easy to get off track with 4 different plot threads to keep track of. You have done an admirable job of keeping everyone and everything on the straight and narrow.

I am glad to hear you have no problems getting excited when writing, it shows in your books. I can fall quite deep into a book nearly to the exclusion of reality.

New questions.

Was it hard to find a person to produce audio book versions of your books?

What is your favorite motivational phrase that keeps you going?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/12/2022 01:49:34 pm

My audio books will feature Ulf Bjorklund, who has voiced several Viking Age stories as well as fantasy books. He has a hint of a Swedish accent and is based on the west coast. The interstitial music between the Point of View sections is composed and arranged by Joe Andrews, a musician based in Nashville who is best known for his work in the Band “The Old Crow Medicine Show.” I am working with the ACX website to publish on Audible and hope to have the first release, Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse later this year, in time for the holidays. It has been a process and not as easy as I thought it would be….

Every Tuesday I post an Instagram meme on the “Art of Writing” and these quotes are the famous and not so famous musings and meanderings on the subject of writing and authorship. Publishing today requires a social media presence, and this is one of the efforts I make to build my followers and support the writing community. However, there are a few quotes I have yet to post…

“Never Give Up, Never Surrender!” followed closely by “By Grabthar’s hammer, you shall be avenged,” and the equally important “Look, I have one job on this lousy ship. It’s stupid, but I am going to do it, OK?" These phrases are from “an important historical record” and can be used in many conversations. I quote them frequently in business meetings. If you don’t know the reference, LMGIFY. 🤔😁

Mark

9/12/2022 03:13:27 pm

With a name like that and a slight accent, it should be a great production. I bet your audio book fans will love it.

You might cause me to go back to Instagram. I have avoided it for some time. I found some humor there but no lasting value. My goals are probably different than yours.

You are quoting lines from one of my favorite movies, I didn't even have to look the quotes up, I know they come from the world famous, Tim Allen movie, Galaxy Quest. I enjoyed Rickman's role and Weaver's role in that movie.

Last questions.

When do you think your next book will be published?

Will you do anything differently with this new book, in terms of publishing?

Jay Veloso Batista link

9/12/2022 04:02:24 pm

I want to publish Book 5 of the Forerunner Series in Spring of 2023, but I have not set a publication date yet. I am targeting April for now. This is another expansive fantasy work, with Karl and Thorfinn headed into the nine realms of Norse legend and Kara finding her way in the Unseelie Court. While I would like to get the book out faster, I suspect I will need every bit of time to write a solid work, get it edited properly and released. For this release I am going to stick with Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, so nothing new planned for this release. When the series is complete, I have been learning about taking the work “wide” to all book platforms, but that would be for the 6th and final novel in this series.

Mark, thanks for your time and insightful dialogue. I appreciate the great work you have done as an editor of my work and I appreciate this in-depth interview process.

Mark

9/12/2022 04:17:50 pm

Spring will be a good target. Your fans will be very excited to read more of the stories.

Thank you, Jay, for joining me on the Word Refiner channel again. You have shared a great deal of your creative process with us. I have a new promotion starting tomorrow so this one must come to an end. You have been a fabulous guest!
Until next time, keep on writing.

Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire (Forerunner Series Book 4) by Jay Veloso Batista

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