Three Blood Prince by G. David Walker

9/9/2022

Multi-volume, multi-genre author G. David Walker introduces us to urban, paranormal fantasy, “Three Blood Prince”:
J.D. Williams’ parents have kept a secret from him and his big sister, Megan, for their entire lives. Now, that secret might just get J.D. killed.
The arrival of a strange girl at his school sets J.D. on a journey which will completely change the course of his life as well as that of his sister. Together, they discover that none of the closest people in their lives, from their parents to J.D.’s best friend, are who they thought they were. Which means neither are J.D. and Megan.
J.D. becomes the target of a dark Fae who believes his blood contains the key to ultimate power. She will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, sending bloodthirsty creatures of nightmares and legends in pursuit of him and his family, from their home in the Ozarks to the shores of northern Scotland.
With teeth and claws potentially lurking in every shadow, the Williams need any allies they can find to keep J.D. safe from the malevolent creatures hunting him and stop their dark mistress forever.

I have read two other books by Mr. Walker and he is getting better in his craft! I see improvement in his character development and dialogue. His story is not to be missed!
The relationship between JD and his older sister seems very normal and there is a lot of interaction between them. The parents seem typical until they are forced to reveal the truth about their identity to their children. It gets rather complicated after that. No spoilers from me!
Mr. Walker has done a marvelous job of respecting the familiar tropes of most fantasy stories and spun them into something quite good.
I am fervently hoping this is merely the first volume of several. This is such a good start! If you like fast-paced action, urban fantasy and a decent dose of the paranormal you have found a home.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Blood-Prince-David-Walker-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-three-blood-prince

You can connect with the author:
https://twitter.com/gdavidwalker
https://gdavidwalker.com
https://www.amazon.com/G.-David-Walker
https://www.facebook.com/gdavidwalker
https://www.instagram.com/g_david_walker

This is my first review of a book by the author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/jabens-rift-by-g-david-walker
This is my review of another book by the author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/redemptions-edge

Tags: urban fantasy, high school, modern paranormal, dark, action, quest, family

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

53 Comments

David link

9/19/2022 08:28:33 am

Thanks for the kind words, Mark. I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

Mark

9/19/2022 01:06:23 pm

You are welcome, David. I really enjoyed that story! Actually, I have enjoyed all of your writing that I have read.

We had a lengthy interview during the promotion of Jaben's Rift and we did not have one for Redemption's Edge. We are not going to cover all of the ground we did for Jaben's Rift. The link is above for any who wish to see that interview.

First questions.

Is this book on sale right now or it will be soon?

Is this your first Urban Fantasy story?

Where did the inspiration for this story come from?

David link

9/19/2022 02:29:58 pm

Is this book on sale right now or it will be soon?
It is currently available in print or for Kindle on Amazon.

Is this your first Urban Fantasy story?
I’m not sure “urban” would be the right word for it. Maybe something like contemporary rural fantasy, lol. Other than a visit to an Unseelie rave, it takes place mainly in small towns. But, as it has fantasy creatures in modern settings, then I suppose we could stretch “urban fantasy” to include that. But, to the question, yes, this is my first urban fantasy. The Far Land Trilogy was fantasy with a touch of science fiction thrown in, while Redemption’s Edge was swords and sorcery fantasy.

Where did the inspiration for this story come from?
I wanted to write a story using our children as the main characters. Something for them and our grandkids to remember me by years from now. And for their kids and grandkids to remember them by further on down the road. Just a bit of a literary gift. So, most of the main characters in the story are loosely based on family members. There’s me, my wife, our son and daughter, and my brother-in-law and mother-in-law. All of us are the good guys, by the way. I’d never make someone I knew a villain (unless they asked me to).
There are a few references in the story to other friends and relatives as well. Aside from a brief jaunt to Scotland, the story mainly takes place in our town and the surrounding area, so any readers in the SW Missouri area would recognize the names and places.

Mark

9/19/2022 03:36:14 pm

Urban fantasy is used loosely in this context, magic use in our contemporary times.
Most writers shy away from basing characters on family or friends. One author reported to me that a person he used as a basis for a character, with permission, took exception to something the character did and was angry for years. I think that person identified too closely with the character.

You made a wise choice to model only the positive characters after family and friends, perhaps you won't have an issue like the other author did.

An author friend of mine wanted to use me and my dog in her book. The character was a minion of the antagonist and redeemed himself by revolting against the final plan of destruction at the end. The antagonist killed that character. The dog was adopted by a family in the story and nearly stole the entire show. It was cute.

The setting and the characters are a wonderful gift to leave for your progeny and later family members.

New questions.

You penned a wonderful story. Are you going to extend the story, will there be a sequel to TBP?

How about a prequel? I would like to know that backstory.

David link

9/19/2022 06:44:12 pm

You penned a wonderful story. Are you going to extend the story, will there be a sequel to TBP?
Thank you. I originally wrote this to be a standalone novel, but I have been working on putting together a sequel, The Morrigan’s Quest. This one will, most likely, take place mainly in Scotland, so I’ll either need to find a Scottish native to pick their brain, or do a whole lot of Google and YouTube research. I’ve also been working out which new Fae creatures will be showing up in this one and what the overall storyline will be. But it’s coming…eventually.

How about a prequel? I would like to know that backstory.
I’m not sure about a prequel, as I wanted this story to focus mainly on J.D. and Megan, while a prequel would probably deal with Mom and Dad and how they met and what sent them from their homes in Scotland to the middle of the U.S. Maybe after another sequel or two, I’ll give some more thought to it.

Mark

9/19/2022 07:41:09 pm

I know an editor that is pretty good with the Scottish accent, she lives in Oregon.

The prequel should definitely involve the mom and the dad, how they met and all of that. There are the makings of a good story there.

New questions.

Why did you have the Scottish origin for some of the story?

How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

David link

9/19/2022 08:40:37 pm

The accent isn’t as much of a concern as the landscape, locales, and landmarks, along with the day to day life is. With Three Blood Prince, I was able to find online information all the way down to a video of the ferry ride the family takes in Scotland. Thank goodness for YouTube! But that was just a quick excursion. If the next story is going to take place mainly in Scotland and that area, I’d at least like a native to be a Beta reader to point out anything that sounds inauthentic.

New questions.

Why did you have the Scottish origin for some of the story?
Aside from wanting to visit Scotland and Ireland for years (it's on my bucket list), it was mainly because of my interest in the legends of the Fae from that part of the world, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, and the ongoing animosity between them. Shakespeare actually touches upon that mythology in his A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other authors have also written stories about conflicts between the Courts. I wanted to write something that would make J.D. and Megan unique and still touch on the Fae.

How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?
Because of working on two other novels at the time, along with researching the Fae and the myriad of different members of the faery realm, it was definitely longer than I wanted it to be. Although I’m working on three stories right now, I certainly hope to get The Morrigan’s Quest out in a much shorter time frame.

Mark

9/20/2022 07:04:20 am

That makes sense. If you haven't already search for Scottish people on Twitter. You might find a writer who would be willing to help you.

I am always amazed at how many different topics Shakespeare touched on in his plays. Much of his work is deeply embedded in western culture.

New questions.

What is the significance of the terms, Seelie and Unseelie?

Are they particular to Scotland?

How long do you think it would have taken if you were only writing TBP, at that time?

David link

9/20/2022 08:46:23 am

What is the significance of the terms, Seelie and Unseelie?
These are the two Courts of the Fae, with the Seelie considered the Light Court and the Unseelie the Dark Court.
In Three Blood Prince, the Court J.D. and his family encounter most (but not solely) is the Unseelie Court. These Fae are generally more hostile toward humans and are easily offended. Often, by the time you realize you’ve offended a member of the Unseelie, you’re already on the receiving end of payback. Their nature spans the gamut from simple mischief to threat of life and limb. The Seelie, on the other hand, have a much more benevolent attitude toward humans, even to the point of liking humanity. While they can still be offended, it is not unusual for them to give the offending party the chance to make amends. While they too can be mischievous, they are rarely malevolent, and will sometimes even help humans.
I’ve found references that suggest the two Courts were once united, until something happened to split them apart. They have not been on good terms ever since. This comes into play a little in Three Blood Prince.

Are they particular to Scotland?
Not particularly Scotland, per se, but the area of northern Europe. As in other cultures around the world, Northern Europe has a rich and varied mythology that ranges from the Fae to nature spirits like Mither and Teran, all the way up to Celtic deities and those who opposed them. There are so many tales that you could (and some have) make an entire career out of studying them.

How long do you think it would have taken if you were only writing TBP, at that time?
Wow, that’s a more difficult question than you might imagine. Like the majority of authors, I have a day job (at least until the movie offers start coming in). So, anything to do with Three Blood Prince had to be done in the evenings. Studying the mythology, understanding the interaction between humans and Fae, and between the two Courts, as well as figuring out how to incorporate them into the life of my small town, not to mention doing so in a way that didn’t upset any of my family members, took a bit of time. Plus, bringing in the occasional creature that wasn’t associated with the Fae had to be explained. As one of my characters says in the story, all Fae are faery, but not all faery are Fae.
I’m not sure I really have an answer for this one.

Mark

9/20/2022 12:01:29 pm

I read a variety of mythologies from different parts of the world when Iwas in junior and senior high school. I missed many of the Celtic and Faery stories. The seelie and Unseelie courts are pretty interesting. I imagine the story of the splintering is full of intrigue.

That makes sense that it would be hard to calculate the time separately.

New questions.

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

Do you get ideas for future books while writing a book?

David link

9/20/2022 01:34:57 pm

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?
I don’t actually write my stories the “correct” way, by which I mean do a draft and then open a new document and begin the next draft. Unless I make a pretty significant change to the story line, I almost always work from the same document. I can hear writing coaches gasping in horror even as I write this. So, for Three Blood Prince, I had one story document at the time I published. I also had about a half dozen other documents with research and story notes that I either added to the story or considered putting in the story. Of course, if I have to upload a revised document for any reason, then I will create a new document for upload, but it’s not really a new draft.

Do you get ideas for future books while writing a book?
I do, but not usually about future sequels of the story I’m working on. Typically, I’ll have an idea of a story and any sequels when I first start writing. I won’t know all of the details or have an intricate plot outlined for the sequels, but I’ll generally know what the overall arc of the story will be.
For example, I’ve just begun work on the first book of a scifi story that I see ending up at about six books, and I know the main story line of each book. I just have to fill in the details and subplots as I get closer to writing them.
Now, as far as for other books and other stories unrelated to what I’m currently working on, right now I’ve got around 60 pages of scene ideas, snippets of dialogue, character and world building thoughts. Anytime I have an idea, whether it’s while I’m writing a book, reading a book, watching a show, or even just driving in my car, as soon as I can I get it added to my “Story ideas” document. In fact, I’ve recently had to split that document up into separate documents for story ideas, dialogue ideas, character possibilities, and a couple of others. Every so often, I go back and read through those documents to see if there’s anything I can use in my current WIP, or if I can flesh the idea out a little bit that I had when I added it to the document in the first place.
Having a "story ideas" document is something I always recommend to anyone who asks me. You never know what kind of story idea a random thought two years ago might spark.

Mark

9/20/2022 04:17:03 pm

You are not the first writer to say they are in the massage business. They keep massaging the current draft as long as they can.

I find that interesting. You might be somewhat unique in having a general idea of where a story will go, even across 6 volumes.

Many authors get ideas for other stories at all different times of the day. Some even hear from their muse in the middle of the night. One author bemoans that her muse regularly visits her at 2:30 in the morning. She keeps a pen and pad of paper on her nightstand. She can even read her notes, sometimes, after she gets up in the morning.

Your story ideas document is a great idea and similar to what I have encouraged writers for years to do. I think it's much better to have a hundred ideas written down and use only one or two, than to trust to memory long after the inspiration has gone.

New questions.

A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.

Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out some of the wrinkles before publishing?

If you don’t, why?

David link

9/20/2022 06:10:27 pm

I don’t have a set group of beta-readers, although I do try to find some for each book. For Three Blood Prince, that group was mainly those friends and family who had characters in the book (for obvious reasons). I also know a couple of teachers who give me good feedback. They know I’m not looking for a cheering section, but honest feedback even if it’s critical. You never improve if no one ever tells you what needs work. Generally, I prefer people I know or who I have interacted with in the past. I’m not really comfortable handing my unfinished work over to total strangers. Being from a small town, there aren’t a lot of writer groups nearby where we can share and compare work, but I do try to find beta-readers. It’s an important part of the process.

Mark

9/20/2022 07:58:14 pm

I think you are definitely on the right track. I do appreciate the tentative feelings about dealing with strangers as beta readers. That being said, I do have a list of people on Twitter who are willing to beta read. You can find the list of lists by clicking on the 3 dots under my banner picture on my Twitter. Check their requirements carefully, many of them only do certain genres.

There are definite advantages to living in a small town and disadvantages. I graduated from a high school in a small town with a population of less than 1500. I couldn't get out of that town fast enough after high school.

New questions.

Do you ask the beta readers to read through more than one draft of the manuscript?

At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the readers?

David link

9/20/2022 09:11:44 pm

Once I finish a manuscript, I put it away for at least two weeks, preferably a month. During that time, I’ll work on something else, whether it’s a sequel or a completely different story. Usually, it’s something I’ve already been working on at the same time as the one I just stuck in a virtual drawer. Anything to get the completed manuscript out of my head. Then, after those few weeks, I’ll open up the story again and begin editing. Only after a few rounds of editing will I hand it over to my beta readers. And, as a proofreader yourself, you know that it’s not at all unusual for the beta readers to still find typos or other issues I may have missed even after multiple edits.
But the beta readers don’t come into the picture until I’ve found and corrected as many mistakes as possible. And I only ask them to read the one draft.

David link

9/20/2022 09:20:05 pm

Oh, and I just wanted to let your visitors know, Three Blood Prince is free for Kindle on the 20th and 21st of this month.

Mark

9/21/2022 08:18:13 am

That is a good plan. Fresh eyes are very important to find the errors. It's actually brain fatigue that we fight against. After poring over a manuscript dozens of times, our brain seems to tire of showing the errors to us. Putting a manuscript away for a month or more is a great idea. Here are a few more tips to refresh your brain when working on a manuscript. You can change the font, style, size and color. You can change the background color or print it out on colored paper. You can also switch from portrait view to landscape view. Reading it aloud or having the computer read it aloud will be helpful. You can also read it backwards, from the end, one paragraph at a time.

Thanks for letting us know the book is on sale!

New questions.

Do you give the beta readers an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?

What kind of questions did you ask them to get the feedback you wanted or do you let them provide feedback without particular questions?

David link

9/21/2022 11:15:47 am

Well, naturally, I ask them to let me know if they spot any typos, grammatical errors, or any other technical issues. But my main request of my beta readers is to give me their overall impression of the story, the characters, and the plot and flow. If there is anything that takes them out of the story or that they find questionable or implausible, I want them to tell me. And if they find anything like that or any other plot or story related issues, I’m always open to their suggestions as to how to improve it. If I have specific things I want them to pay particular attention to, I’ll let them know and then wait for their feedback. Beta readers are a vital part of the writing/publishing process.

Mark

9/21/2022 12:36:00 pm

Most authors, I have spoken to, say about the same thing. There are a few who tell the beta readers to ignore any typos or spelling errors, but they are sending out a less polished draft than you do. Personally, your method works better in my eyes. But then I am the Hyper-Speller.

New questions.

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

David link

9/21/2022 03:43:40 pm

I will confess, the only creative writing I did in school was what was required by my teachers. I was much more interested in music (band geek) and sports in those years. I didn’t really start appreciating the power of language until my college years when I began writing my own music and songs. And before you ask, none of the songs I wrote ever saw the light of day other than my own personal recordings of them, all of which are now long gone.

Mark

9/21/2022 05:30:10 pm

I didn't do well in creative writing also. Don't feel too bad. I tried to write the piece as fast as I could so I could read for the rest of the class. That was my primary motivation in high school.

I won't ask any questions about your old music.

New questions.

Are you still writing music?

Do you have a hero, real or fictional?

David link

9/21/2022 07:18:04 pm

I would love to get back into writing songs again. I have a keyboard and drum machine beside my desk, and I bought an acoustic guitar a while back that I hope to learn how to play someday, but between the brain drain of a day job and then working on writing in the evenings, there’s just not a lot of time (or brain cells) left to pack in something else.

Heroes, hmm... I don’t really have anyone I would put into the category of personal hero, although there are people whose lives I consider truly inspirational. People like, Mandy Harvey, Liz Murray, Daniel Ruettiger, Chris Gardner or anyone who has ever faced obstacles, whether physical or societal, that someone else might have considered insurmountable, and overcome them. So many amazing individuals who refused to give up on their dreams, no matter what life threw at them.
And I also admire those selfless individuals in our world who sacrifice of themselves in the service or care of others. I think there are heroes all around us, from the well-known to the nameless, in big cities and small towns. Anyone can be an inspiration to someone else under the right circumstances. Whether you inspire the world or just someone on your block or even in your own home, you’ve made a difference to someone.

Mark

9/22/2022 07:02:37 am

The only musical instrument I know how to play is the stereo.

Heroes come in many different forms. There are a multitude of heroes that most people will never know about. There are so many who give of themselves to aid others.

New questions.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?

David link

9/22/2022 10:30:32 am

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
Most of the advice I’ve found from other writers has been either online or by reading books on the craft. But I would say the most valuable would be to keep working on your skills, and I’ve heard and read that from numerous sources. The more you write and the more you learn, the better your writing will be. It’s a never-ending process. There is always, always, always something we can learn to do better. I mean, if it was possible to become a perfect writer, what would editors and proofreaders have to do?

What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?
Probably that writing the book is the easy part. Once the book is written, edited, and proofread, then the real work begins. In today’s publishing world, the majority of the marketing and promotion falls on the shoulders of the author, and that’s the same for self-published authors and traditionally published ones. Unless a publisher thinks you’re the next Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, they might do a little bit of promo for you, but you’re going to be carrying the lion’s share. And with the explosion of self-publishing and the accompanying clamor for attention on social media, it’s not easy to get noticed.
That’s been particularly difficult for me personally. Marketing is all about “Look at me! Look at me!” and, aside from a brief stint in a rock band in the 80s, I’ve generally been a behind-the-scenes type of person. Doing the things necessary to get people to notice me and my books has not been an easy road.

Mark

9/22/2022 11:33:53 am

That is good advice. I agree, there is always room for improvement. An author's only real competition is him or herself. Making each book better than the last is the never-ending quest.

Pretty much every author works really hard on the first book. There is a lot to learn. There is a legendary editor that when handed the first book from a new writer will toss it in the bin and say something to the effect, "Now you know how to write a real book, bring me that one."

Yes, writing the book is easy compared to the rest of the process, especially marketing and promoting the book. Writing the first draft, maybe two or three drafts, is a very solitary project. At some point, for the independent author, others must be brought into the process as beta readers, critique partners, editors, proofreaders, formatters, cover makers and probably others to bring the manuscript to a point where it can be released into the world. So many authors find the rest of the process after publishing most difficult. Partly because the book began as a solitary work.

Most of us, including me, prefer to remain in the background. Speaking for myself, I like to help people and that provides a motivation for me to keep working. Knowing that I offer something of value makes it worthwhile.

New questions.

What are common traps for beginning writers?

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

David link

9/22/2022 08:09:38 pm

What are common traps for beginning writers?
Wow, there are so many it’s like tiptoeing through a literary mine field. But one I’ll point out is comparing our early attempts to the work of experienced writers. Getting discouraged because our prose isn’t as polished as we think it should be. Writers are our own worst critics and enemies. We see amazing writing and then criticize ourselves because our writing doesn’t flow like that author’s. What we have to realize is that it’s a process. Just like weightlifters don’t start out curling 100-pound weights with one hand, we’re probably not going to write the Great American Novel on our first (or second or third or…) attempt.
And another that goes along with that is overreacting to negative reviews. The first thing any writer has to realize when putting their work out for the world to see is that not everyone is going to like your work, no matter how well-written it may be. Sometimes, we won’t even like what we’re writing (more on that in a moment). We can’t let that get us down or make us give up on our writing dreams and goals. Take a look at Stephen King. If you go on Amazon and look up his most successful book, The Shining, you will find one-star reviews on it. In fact, I’d be surprised if you could find any successful author who doesn’t have some negative reviews of their work. You just keep going, but you do it for yourself, not for those readers who will never appreciate your work. “Keep going” is the operative phrase there. Back to Stephen King. He typed out three pages of his first novel, Carrie, and then threw it in the trash. Even he didn’t like it. His wife, Tabitha, dug it out and prompted him to keep writing. And that was the first step to the career he has today.

David link

9/22/2022 08:14:09 pm

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?
I think there’s a difference between “ego” and “confidence.” A writer definitely needs to have a strong sense of self-confidence, both in their current abilities and in the knowledge that they can improve their writing skills. Something that happened a few years ago illustrates the difference pretty well. A reader had given a negative review on a book. The author took exception with the review and began an online argument with the reviewer (never a good idea). The overall review wasn’t bad, the reviewer just pointed out some technical issues with the writing which the writer didn’t agree with. Things got heated and it just ended up making the author look bad. She eventually apologized, but the damage to her reputation (word had spread about the dispute) had already been done. The author’s ego wouldn’t allow her to consider that the reviewer may have been correct. A more self-confident author would have made note of the critique, considered whether the reviewer had a point or not, and if they did, make the appropriate adjustments to their editing and proofreading. Or, if the reviewer was off base, a more confident writer would have just blown it off. Self-confidence is a must. Strong ego, if easily bruised, is a liability.

Mark

9/23/2022 07:59:03 am

The weightlifting analogy is appropriate. Whether general fitness or heavy lifting, it takes work and patience to reach the goal. More work is required to maintain the goal. As soon as you stop working for the goal degradation takes place. Nice anecdote about King, the lesson applies to all of us, regardless of the pursuit.

Hubris is the downfall of so many. Yet, internal fortitude is necessary to keep yourself motivated and finish the book, then the next. You illustrated the problem quite well and it's not all that uncommon, unfortunately. That sort of event leaves a lasting impression on all witnesses and usually on the negative side.

New questions.

What was the message you wanted to deliver when you wrote this book?

Do you feel you were successful in getting that message across to the reader?

David link

9/23/2022 08:25:30 am

I wish I could say I try to put deeper meanings into my stories, but, honestly, I’m just trying to write books that let people get away from the craziness of this world and forget about their problems for a while. I know some authors write with the intention of teaching some life or moral lesson or making deep statements on the human condition. I admire those authors but that’s just not my style. Oh, I might slip a remark in here or there sometimes. In my first book, one of the characters told another one that falling down isn’t failure; refusing to get up is. So, I’ll slip little things like that in occasionally if it fits the situation, but overall, my stories are just intended to give people an escape, even if only for a few hours. Sometimes simply taking our minds off our problems for a bit is just as important as learning a lesson about life. And, if someone does see a deeper message in one of my stories that helps them in some way, that’s awesome.

Mark

9/23/2022 09:31:03 am

Perfect! Profound messages get in the way of entertainment, especially when the message doesn't fit the situation. Most of us don't like being preached to. A well-placed message is discovered rather than shoved down a person's throat.

We all need entertainment, our lives are full of responsibility and necessary activities of daily living. Entertainment provides a welcome bit of relief.

New questions.

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

With the explosion of different streaming services, these companies are scrambling for content. Writers are going to be sitting on the top of the heap soon, because they are content providers. Have you considered shopping your content to these companies?

David link

9/23/2022 11:05:49 am

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?
Up to this point, the best investment I’ve made has been to have professional book covers done. The current covers for The Far Land Trilogy are actually the third iteration. I did the first two myself. While my efforts weren’t terrible, they certainly didn’t measure up to the current versions. So, when it came to Redemption’s Edge and Three Blood Prince, I didn’t even consider doing my own covers. You know how the saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, that’s precisely the first thing potential readers have to decide whether or not they want to check out a book or not. After the visual, then they read the blurb, and then they decide to purchase or pass, but the cover is first.

With the explosion of different streaming services, these companies are scrambling for content. Writers are going to be sitting on the top of the heap soon, because they are content providers. Have you considered shopping your content to these companies?
To be honest, I’m not sure how soon writers will be on “top of the heap,” simply because so much of what we’re seeing come out of Hollywood these days is rehashed, rebooted, and repackaged content that already exists. But you’re right, for any production companies looking for new material, new stories and writers will be vitally important.
But to the actual question: I would love to see any of my material on a screen, big or small. I have actually already split my first book, Jaben’s Rift, into ten sections to potentially create screenplays for a ten episode streaming series. If (when?) Three Blood Prince becomes a trilogy (or more), I may do the same for that story. It never hurts to dream. But I’ll either need to learn how to write a good screenplay, or I’ll need to team up with a screenwriter, preferably one who has connections. The possibility of seeing my work on screen is definitely something I keep in mind.

Mark

9/23/2022 01:28:51 pm

That old aphorism, while pithy is somewhat reversed. We 'shouldn't judge a book by its cover' means to me that judgement should be withheld until reading it. I confess that I am guilty of judging by the cover. If the title doesn't grab me enough to look at the cover or vice versa, that is a book I won't be reading. With a million new books published each year, we are inundated and have to winnow most of them out to find something that attracts us. Fortunately, everyone's tastes are not the same so there are plenty of readers to make different choices and most books get read.

We don't know how soon authors will be on top of the heap. For that to happen, many people will have to reject watching the reboots and reruns. One of these days, a small, indie producer will sell a video to a studio and it will take off. When the public gets a taste of independent talent, they will want more.

I know you don't have time right now, but I have encouraged many authors to take a screenwriting course or two. It's a slightly different way to tell a story and a writer can never have too many tools in their skillset. It seems to me that you have already absorbed one of those skills by dividing JR into ten episodes. You are on your way.

New questions.

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.

What are your favorite reference books or websites for grammar and writing?

David link

9/23/2022 06:41:11 pm

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.
I don’t really have much time, although I should probably make time. What I usually subscribe to are other authors' blogs or newsletters, trying to show a little support. A couple of sites that I do subscribe to are Kristen Lamb’s blog and The Creative Penn. Kristen covers topics ranging from writing to platform building and social media for authors. I love her writing style in her blog posts. Joanna Penn covers mostly writing topics, although she hasn’t been posting quite as often lately as she used to. I also have a subscription to Writer’s Digest. But usually, if I’m looking for information on writing, I’ll either Google for specifically what I’m looking for or find a book that covers it. Podcasts just aren’t my thing. I know a lot of people love them and they can provide some good information, but I’ve never been good at just listening to people talk without having accompanying visuals to go with it. It’s the same reason I never listened to talk radio. I'll look up YouTube videos on various writing topics from time to time.

What are your favorite reference books or websites for grammar and writing?
I have an entire shelf of books on writing and related topics, but I’ll mention a few. Going back to Kristen Lamb, I have her book “The Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World. I think it’s an outstanding book on how authors can use social media to build connections with their audience. I've recommended it to authors numerous times. Some others that stood out for me: On Writing, by Stephen King. Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg, The First Five Pages, by Noah Lukeman, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, by Renni Brown and Dave King, and the old standby, The Elements of Style, by Strunk, White, and Kalman. Elements is very dry reading, but it’s got some good information in it. Just make sure you have an ample supply of caffeine when you sit down to read it.

Mark

9/23/2022 07:06:30 pm

Kristen Lamb and Joanna Penn are a couple of my favorite bloggers also. I have links to many of their blogs on my website. I have another blogger to suggest, Anne R. Allen has posted a lot of practical content. I have links to many of her blogs also.

Those books are pretty good, I have one or two of them. My main resource is The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed.

New questions.

What did you buy with your first royalty check?

How did you celebrate when you published your first book?

David link

9/23/2022 07:44:23 pm

Self-publishing through Amazon, I don’t get a royalty “check” per se. It gets deposited directly into my bank account. But looking back at 2010, with my first royalty deposit I might have had enough to buy a Happy Meal from McDonalds. I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but I’m terrible at marketing a promotion, lol.
And I'm afraid I didn’t really do much in the way of celebrating after publishing the first book of the Far Land Trilogy. After thinking about how cool it was to hold a book in my hands that I’d written, I just started working on the next book.
Boring answers, I know. As Popeye says, "I am what I am."

Mark

9/24/2022 06:31:14 am

Boring? Not really. Most authors have given me similar answers. Practical and realistic might be better descriptions. But I am pretty certain it must feel very gratifying to hold a book you have written in your hands whether it's the first or twenty first.

New questions.

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

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

David link

9/24/2022 10:24:31 am

For Three Blood Prince, with the characters being based on family members, I had a pretty good idea before I ever started writing what I wanted the first scene/chapter to be. I had it all planned out in my head before I ever hit the keyboard, so the first chapter really came out as is, other than editing. The only thing I really changed was the name of the teacher. I asked a high school friend who was a teacher for a while if I could use her name after the first draft was completed. She gave me permission and even told me what her students called her over-the-glasses look, the Death Stare. So, I changed it up. But other than her name and editing, I didn’t really make any real changes to the opening.
Filler word. I’ve noticed I have a tendency to overuse “that.” It was actually mentioned in a review of my first trilogy, and the reviewer was absolutely correct. So, as part of my editing process now, I specifically look for “that” as I go through the manuscript. It’s so easy to put it in where it’s not needed. For example: “She told him that she liked him” reads better as “She told him she liked him.” Things along those lines. (I almost wrote “Things like that,” but I’m trying very hard not to use “that” in this answer, lol.)

Mark

9/24/2022 05:00:05 pm

I am not surprised it went so smoothly for you. Knowing your characters so well certainly didn't hurt at all. Maybe it's only new writers who struggle with the first page and chapter. There is no denying the first book is a learning process.

The word that shall not be mentioned, Wait! I did it already. Take 2. The unmentionable word is a common filler word used and perhaps overused by many authors. I definitely agree with you, most sentences read quite well without the unmentionable word. It's not easy to write without the word. Whew.

When I am proofreading, I go through a manuscript four times in quick succession. Filler words start to intrude upon my consciousness after the second pass. I start searching for the number of times a particular word is used in the manuscript and make recommendations to remove some or most of them as it seems expedient to me. Of course, the author has the final say regarding all of my suggestions.

New questions.

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

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?

David link

9/24/2022 06:05:48 pm

Going back to the question of first scene/chapter rewrites, you did ask about THIS book. Had you asked about my first book, the answer would have been a bit different. So, as you said, it may be that the more you write, the less you end up rewriting…maybe.

Okay, biggest myth. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve seen articles that say “X side gigs that can make six figures” and invariably, at some point, the writer will mention e-books. The implication being, just write an e-book and then start shopping for yachts as you wait for the royalties to start pouring in. No, no, no. Can you make six figures writing e-books? Yes. It is easy? A very emphatic NO. Writing the book is the easy part. Getting people to notice it, and more importantly, buy it, is a whole different animal. In fact, it’s more basic than that. Writing an e-book is easy. Writing a GOOD e-book? Not so much. To be fair to the article writer, it is possible. I’m in online writer groups where multiple members have crossed the six-figure mark. But it didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen with just one book. They usually have an entire back list available and they’ve spent years marketing their books as they write more. Sorry, that’s just a bit of a sore point for me. I’ll get off the soap box now. Moving on…

Know your characters. I’ve told more than one prospective writer that (there it is) they absolutely must know their characters better than their readers ever will. Although I’ve mainly kept character traits in my head, for the scifi series I’m working on I do have character sheets where I keep notes on my characters’ appearance, history, fears, beliefs, and more. This deep dive into the character is vital in order to keep the character’s actions, dialogue, and motivations consistent. Trust me, if a character does something unexpected, your readers will notice. I’ll give you an example. Close to the end of the third book of The Hunger Games, “Mockingjay,” Katniss does something that, on the surface, appears to be completely at odds with everything she’d said and done up to that point. I was annoyed. I was curious whether anyone else was also annoyed. Big YES on that. Message boards at the time were filled with outraged comments to the tune of “Katniss would NEVER do that! What was Collins (the author) thinking?” But one astute reader figured it out. Once they’d explained why Katniss did what she did, it made perfect sense. So, if an author is going to have a character do something completely out of character, they might consider giving at least a hint of explanation to keep from outraging their readers.

Mark

9/24/2022 07:06:52 pm

Yes, I did ask about this book. I have no doubt your answer for this book is quite a bit different than for your first book.

I have seen those ads also. What a pile of malarky. Many people write a non-fiction book so they can gain some credibility in their vocation. The title of author added to other titles is fairly impressive for most people and is somewhat necessary if you are marketing yourself as an expert on some topic it can help a great deal.

Backlist and regular marketing are essential to become a fulltime author but it's not a guarantee.

I think you are wise to have the character sheets. You pointed out a very real problem for a series also. I love the anecdote about Katniss. Another author, Rick Hall, has created a website for other authors that will help maintain the psychological balance for the main characters. I think it's free, here is the copy-and-paste link or search his name in the box below: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation

New questions.

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

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

David link

9/25/2022 09:48:55 am

Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex, why or why not?
Although male vs female can make a difference in how characters act and react, I try not to think about the sex when working on characters. I prefer to write them as individuals rather than male or female. As individuals, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and I try very hard not to fall into the “damsel in distress” trope. In my books, sometimes the male saves the female and sometimes the female saves the male. If it serves the story to have one save the other, then that’s how I’ll write it. No need to force a story into the “knight in shining armor” mold. Of course, there are some aspects which seem to be intrinsic to one sex or the other, and while those may come up in my stories occasionally, I don’t usually focus on them.

How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?
The relationships come first; they have to. Almost every story, at its heart, is about some sort of relationship, or involves a relationship. The more you can focus on the relationships in your life, whether romantic or platonic, the better you’ll be able to depict them in your stories. My wife and I are the epitome of “opposites attract.” She’s the outgoing one, always on the go. Plus, her job involves putting on multiple events per year, so those take up a lot of her time. I’m the introverted hermit. I work from home, and, unless she needs me to help out with something, when she’s working on an event or doing something with her friends, I’ll be sitting at my computer, plotting, plotting, plotting. Our kids are grown, so, again, unless they need my help with something, they’re usually doing their own things.

Mark

9/25/2022 01:33:59 pm

I like your approach, male or female, both are human. They have complementary attributes that work well together as a team.

A lot of men don't like shopping with their wife or girlfriend. Most women browse and compare styles, fabric, cut and other features that go into choosing an outfit. Most men have a very good idea of what they want and might shop for price, or not, if they want a specific brand. There is a physiological reason for the contrasting shopping style. When a baby is still in the womb, a series of hormones are released to produce a boy instead of a girl, a certain hormone severs most of the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain and that baby will be a boy. This chemical action is what allows a man to narrow his focus down to a needlepoint to the exclusion of nearly all else. Being able to ignore interruptions while on the hunt leads to success. A woman can absorb many different factors from all of her environment and respond accordingly.

I agree completely, the relationships must come first. Our kids are grown and have their kids now, so we get to play with the grandkids and send them home, in our dreams. We are very much involved with our youngest daughter and their three daughters. We help shuttle them to and from school and have added dogsitter to our resume.

New questions.

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

Do you experiment with writing or prefer to stay in the safe zone?

David link

9/25/2022 04:39:02 pm

Do you have any other passions or creative outlets to pursue if you didn't write?
Nothing I think I could make a living at. As I mentioned, I bought an acoustic guitar a while back. I hope to learn how to play someday. It would be fun to get back into music, either writing or performing, but I can’t see it becoming a career. I recently signed up for some graphic arts courses, but again, I don’t see that becoming anything more than a hobby. I’d like to be able to draw the creatures I dream up, so it would be something supplemental to the writing. I find almost anything involving creativity to be interesting, whether that’s music, art, customizing cars, or anything along those lines. But I don’t see myself abandoning the writing any time soon, whether that’s novel writing or screen writing.

Do you experiment with writing or prefer to stay in the safe zone?
I prefer staying in my “safe zone” for the time being. If I ever make it to the point of being able to write full time, I might try experimenting, but it would probably still be in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. Steampunk is interesting. I don’t see myself ever trying out the romance or mystery genres. I do have some ideas for horror novels, but those are on the back burner for the time being.

Mark

9/25/2022 05:36:41 pm

Music and art are wonderful creative pursuits as a hobby or a vocation. As you noted, not a way for most people to make a living.

I have read a few steampunk novels and similar genres. I enjoyed them quite a bit. I am glad you are staying with science fiction and fantasy for now, they are my favorite genres to read.

New questions.

Did you have a favorite book or type of book as a child?

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

David link

9/25/2022 09:11:49 pm

Did you have a favorite book or type of book as a child?
I was pure science fiction as a kid. The only books I read that weren’t science fiction were books assigned to read in school. For movies, I was split between science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional horror movie, but my reading material was nothing but science fiction.

What type of scenes do you find hard to write and why?
I don’t like killing good characters, even though those deaths add depth and pathos to a story. The hardest scene I’ve ever written was the first character I ever killed off. And the character was created specifically to get killed off. But, going back to knowing your characters, even though her part was a “bit part,” I knew everything about her and her fiancé. For a long time, I couldn’t even read the scene without getting a little choked up.

Mark

9/26/2022 08:21:19 am

Science fiction was my favorite genre starting in the 6th or 7th grade. Most of the comics I read were superhero stuff also. Growing up in a small town we didn't see very many movies because the nearest theater was almost 20 miles away.

I admire your dedication to your craft. That was difficult.

New questions.

How do you maintain the excitement for yourself? Your excitement or lack thereof will impact your writing.

What area of your writing has the greatest need for improvement at this time?

David link

9/26/2022 09:11:50 am

How do you maintain the excitement for yourself? Your excitement or lack thereof will impact your writing.
Every scene I think up is a personal mood elevator, especially if I’ve been stuck for a while. And the closer I get to the end of the book, the more upbeat I get. I’m one of those odd writers who actually enjoys the editing process, so I always have that waiting for me.

What area of your writing has the greatest need for improvement at this time?
Not an easy question, especially since most writers are their own worst critics. If I had to pick something, maybe it would be adding more subplots to my stories. Or the pacing. Or more (or less) descriptions. Wait, let’s come at this from the other direction. I think my dialogue is great. Maybe it’s just good. Well, it’s all right. (An inside joke for any Firefly fans reading this.) I’m working on improving everything else, lol.

Mark

9/26/2022 09:20:32 am

I am not surprised you enjoy editing. That process applied multiple times results in a book that is easy to read. I forget who said it, "Easy reading is very hard writing", or something to that effect.

You are right. Authors are their own worst critic. I think that is true for all of us. There is an inner voice that degrades and accuses us at every turn. I encourage authors to do their best and ignore the voice after that.

There is a limit to how intricate the plotting can be, how many characters are in motion at any one moment. Too many of either and the reader can lose track thus the reading pleasure is diminished.
You make a good point, there is always room for improvement.

New questions.

When do you think your next book will be published?

What will you do differently with this next book, in terms of publishing, if anything?

David link

9/26/2022 10:45:17 am

When do you think your next book will be published?
I’m hoping next year, but (and maybe this should have been in my last answer) I’m a slow writer. We’re always told to just get the first draft on paper, no matter how bad we think it is. I envy writers who can do that because I’m not one of them. I have to see a scene complete in my head before I begin writing it and that tends to slow me down a bit. I’m also a rather linear writer. It’s always better, if you get hung up on a scene, to just move on to the next scene, or just another scene. That’s another thing I need to teach my brain to do. I see writers putting out a new full-length novels every 3-4 months and I’m just astounded by them. I’m sure I could put more content out if I could do it full-time, but, like so many other authors, I have a day job. Unlike many who also have day jobs, it’s difficult for me to switch gears back into writer mode after a long day. Even writing full time, though, I can’t imagine putting out more than two per year.

What will you do differently with this next book, in terms of publishing, if anything?
Assuming the next book is a sequel to Three Blood Prince, I probably won’t change anything in my publishing process. For the multi-book science fiction series I’m working on, I won’t release the first book until I have at least two books done and a good way into the third book. I released the first book of The Far Land Trilogy before I even began the second one. I may also try IngramSpark for the print version instead of just going through Amazon as I’ve always done in the past. That would allow a wider print distribution instead of being solely on Amazon.

Mark

9/26/2022 12:31:07 pm

Your fans, including me, will be very happy when that book comes out. Some people have jobs of a certain nature that allows the creative part of their mind to float along in the background, solving issues almost effortlessly. I don't think your job falls into that category. So, I am not surprised that switching gears is difficult sometimes.

Being a linear writer can leave you stuck in writer's block unless you have another project to work on. Please forgive me if I have shared this guest blog from my website with you previously. Rick Hall wrote this blog about writing out of sequence some time ago and it may or may not prove useful for you. Here is a copy-and-paste link or search out his name in the box below: http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing

Many authors do exactly that, get at least two books written before releasing the first. It seems like a good idea to me. Ingram Spark is another good idea. It's never wise to have all of your eggs in one basket, even a basket as big as Amazon. Here is another link that might be helpful for going wide. Aggregators just might be an author's best friend! https://www.kotobee.com/blog/everything-need-know-aggregators/

Last questions.

Do the reviews of your books make an impact on how you write subsequent books or volumes?

What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?

David link

9/26/2022 01:31:46 pm

Do the reviews of your books make an impact on how you write subsequent books or volumes?
Not really, unless multiple reviews mention the same issues. But I’ve only done the one trilogy so far, so I suppose that may change in the future. My other two books, Redemption's Edge and Three Blood Prince, were written to allow them to be stand-alone stories in case I decided to move on to other stories rather than do sequels. But if multiple reviews mention the same issues, then I would probably take a closer look at how I could fix that in future sequels.

What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?
Not everyone is going to like every book we write. We, as writers, have to understand and acknowledge that. If I get a bad review, I’ll look at what the reviewer is saying to determine whether it’s an actual problem with the writing, or if it’s just a personal preference type of thing. And if it just appears to be a “troll” review, or even what I call a “drive by” one-star rating (Redemption’s Edge was gifted with one of those), I’ll generally ignore it.

Mark

9/26/2022 02:23:31 pm

That makes a lot of sense. Multiple mentions of the same or similar issues are certainly worth examining carefully.

You covered that quite succinctly. A bad review while disappointing also validates the other good reviews. It proves the good reviews didn't come from the crazy aunt and her cats. Trolls are pretty miserable creatures; they seem to enjoy knocking other people down as much as they can and deserve no attention whatsoever. Unfortunately, most platforms (are you listening Amazon?) make it very difficult to get negative reviews removed if they even allow that.

It's time to bring our chat to a close. I have enjoyed our conversation tremendously. You have been a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel.

Until next time, keep on writing.

David link

9/26/2022 02:53:49 pm

Thanks, Mark! It's been a pleasure. Good reading!

Three Blood Prince by G. David Walker

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