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Hey guys! I’m S. M. Boyce (call me Boyce)—fantasy author of the young adult Grimoire Saga. I’ve been invited over to chat about the most difficult scene I’ve ever written.
The scene that involved the most rewriting was actually the opening to Lichgates, the first book in my young adult fantasy series, the Grimoire Saga.
The saga itself is huge. Though it was originally a trilogy, the series evolved until I couldn’t contain it in just three books. So it’s only natural that it was hard for me to figure out exactly where such a huge story really started.
I’ve been writing for most of my life, and in my writing workshops, I was always taught to start the story where it really began. Sounds easy, right? It isn’t. If an opening involves too much backstory—i.e. a lot of past tense summary or flashbacks—chances are you started too late. If the opening is slow and drags on, chances are you started too early and have too much exposition. If you’re in either boat, you’ll lose a lot of readers.
I must have written a dozen or more first chapters for Lichgates. For quite a while, I just didn’t know where to start it. My novel features a secret world within our own called Ourea, which has a complex political structure and an ancient history—there’s just too much backstory to deliver in an opening. So I decided that Kara, one of the series’ two main characters and an outsider to this hidden world, needed to discover it with the reader.
I finally settled on the opening I have now, but even that was tweaked in the re-release last fall because it was still missing that something that would make it perfect. And though I don’t like to edit a novel after it has been released, I feel like that was a good choice.
Curious? You can read the first chapter of Lichgates for free by heading here. Hopefully it hooks you and drags you into Ourea alongside Kara. If it does, it was well worth the months of thought, writing, and editing that went into it. If not, thanks anyway for giving it a shot.
Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things--Ourea.
Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother's recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book's untamed power. Discovered by Ourea's royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict--a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn't trust anyone... but she's being hunted and can't survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn't know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.
For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.
Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.
Lichgates is FREE
Download your copy now!
Praise for Lichgates
Wow, the world building on this one was breathtaking. The world of Ourea is just full of so many things. Surprises are around every corner.
~Alexia P.
From the first few pages into this story, it was obvious that Boyce has a way with words.
~Author Becca Campbell
International Amazon Bestseller. Fantasy Author. Twitter addict. Book Blogger. Geek. Sarcastic. Gooey. Odd. Author of the action-packed Grimoire Saga.
S.M. Boyce is a novelist who loves ghosts, magic, and spooky things. She prefers loose-leaf tea, reads far too many books, and is always cold. She’s married to her soul mate and couldn’t be happier. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries.
Boyce likes to update her blog a few times each week so that you have something to wake you up in the morning.
Contact
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 4/25/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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1 comments:
Thanks for having me!
-Boyce
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