Words

"I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all." ~Richard Wright, American Hunger, 1977

"I write when I dream and I dream when I write."

~Khadija Craddock

Thursday, July 31, 2014

BLOG TAG- MY WRITING PROCESS



My Writing Process

I want to thank the talented, forward-thinking, entrepreneur, author Kish Knight for tagging me into the blog tour. It was she who came up with the idea to collaborate, along with another great author, Dormaine G, to establish Tintd Teen; an imprint of young adult novels with protagonists of color. If you haven't already experienced Kish Knight's young adult fantasy novels then I highly recommend you go on the ride. Beware, pages turn easily so hold on. Learn more about this wonderful person and author on her blog here.

What Are You Working On?


Currently, I'm working on the second novel in the Wak Series. Awakened was the first novel and Descendants is the second. Awakened follows the journal of Alaya Eveland. A junior at  Equinox High in Equinox, Florida. Alaya 's passion for running track and field kills her and her mother. Alaya is revived somehow. After her recovery she undergoes difficulty with the guilt of her mother's death and some developing physical changes. Changes that cause her to have an insatiable hunger for something no human would deem edible and she is plagued with prophetic dreams. But as she changes so does Equinox, Florida. People end up dead in their seemly safe city and these murders seem to encompass her. Her peers are getting kidnapped and her crush is one of them. To add to her drastically changing life, Alaya's father has to kill her for existing.

I'm writing Descendants (Wak Series 2), which, continues with Alaya's journey. We get more in depth of who Alaya is and what her role is among the Waks. We learn why she is so important to her dying race and experience her attempt to save them and her family and friends as well as all humans from the demons known as Lyse. Coming soon late 2014.

How Does Your Work Differ From Others of It's Genre?

Most young adult fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi novels are Eurocentric which neglects the melting pot that which is the world. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that because writers want to always represent their culture and ethnicity. What's popular is the echo of the majority group in the population. However, there is still not many fantasy.scifi, paranormal, novels with protagonist of color. Most African American novels are in a different genre, not even close to scifi. My novels are Afrocentric based from my African history and African mythology and religion. That' s not to say I won't pull from...lets say....Asian culture or Hispanic Culture; which, quintessentially is derived from African culture since we all came from Africa and migrated and dispersed or displaced across the globe. 

I always like to do a lot of scientific research on my stories. Even though it's scifi/fantasy/paranormal romance it has to make sense scientifically. I know that's strange because as a writer you make up what ever you want. But to me it has to be a logical reason why, even if that why is made up. If lightning is after my protagonist there has to be a reason why besides the gods are after her. It has to be more than that. In the Wak Series, Lyse are the natural enemies of Waks. Lyse blood kills Waks by destroying Waks blood cells. But why? Because Lyse blood creates a hemolysis in the Waks blood thus the demons being called Lyse. I'm also a poet so my writing tends to use colorful descriptions and poetic dialogue. I try to find a balance between the poet in me in the fiction writer in me. I think that's what makes my writings different. 

Why Do You Write What You Do?

I write what I do because if I don't I will suffocate. I have all these crazy ideas and visions that pop into my head at any course of the day; awake or asleep. I yearn to get them out. I have to convey my perspective of my world outside the ordinary world we see with our eyes in our mundane daily schedule of coffee, newspapers, and clocking in and out. I want people to experience what I experience. So I try to manifest my world into writing rather it be in a novel or in a poem. I have experienced many things, witnessed many things in my 32 years of life and I comprise that into my novels. I just wish their were 10 of me so I could write more stories. 

How Does Your Writing Process Work?

I start with the vision or dream that formulated in my mind. Usually, that vision or dream came with a protagonist all of it's own. Sometimes the vision is very detailed or general. Then I get to know my protagonist. I develop the traits, the name, attributes, idiosyncrasies and the hometown. The hometown is important because it conditions the person. If you are from the projects in New Jersey, the person maybe be a little tougher than someone raised in the suburbs or the country. If the person is from the south the person may be more polite than a protag' from the north. Most of the time during the character development stage I simultaneously think of secondary characters and develop them. After my characters are well developed and research documented on Onenote (Can't live without Microscot OneNote), I begin writing on Microsoft Word. I do like to make an outline of the first few chapters just to get an idea of what I want to convey. Then I let the characters write the story. If I feel like my story is losing it's way I refer to my outline to make sure I get the point across because I can be verbose. I don't plot because the story sometimes changes while writing. It kind of writes it self  by listening to the characters. So yes...that would make me crazy. 

Who Goes Next?

I'm happy to say on August 7th the talented author, Pamela E. Cash is tagged. She is author of Chausiku - The Gathering Storm  Book 1 and of Chausiku - The Secret Gambit  Book 2. She is currently working on the third book in the series. Learn more about her work and where to buy here.  Enjoy.


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wak Series Website has Updates

Want to learn more about Waks check out the new Wak page added to the Wak Series Website. I also added some more words to the language dictionary. I added more information on some characters in the story and soon you will be able to download a fun free Wak Guide with inside information you want get from any where else about your favorite characters and the history of Waks and the god who made them. I hope you enjoy the new content. Stay tune for more content will be jogging this way.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Who Said it? Friday

Welcome to Game 4 of #Whosaidit?Friday.

These rap lyrics are by one of my favorite artist. These words are visual and puts me into the setting. I feel like I'm ready parts of a novel. So all you rap fans, guess #whosaidit.


http://images.liveluvcreate.com/create/w/whosaiditfriday_guess_who_said_these_words_game-633269.jpg?i

Monday, June 9, 2014

Word Of the Day! How Would You Use it in Everyday Context


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w0zrOlxrq7GeA4nV50bN1o6r5X4r_nVpJNed_5gQAkFdkmW9IErl3mPPiZQUQeGBkmHWeubVMgWkXJWse13aE9TOg66QN6SJcTdyAsnX3C6VUSYaED_OEMvxfS1eT8jzi-_gLabBINU/s1600/dictionary.jpg Word Of The Day

How Would You Use This Word?

Embroil- verb

  1. to bring into discord or conflict; involve in contention or strife.
2. to throw into confusion; complicate.

Sentence:


It is not my nature to involve myself with such lunatics in my school who wish to only embroil those unlike them into the pattern of being bullied because they rather study than wear high heels and make-up.

Terry embroiled herself into the passionate whims of Cooper; even though, her friends advised her he was a heart breaker.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Who Said it? Friday

Welcome to game 3 of Who Said it? Today's words are well known and easy to guess. This is one of my favorite poems. Perhaps I shouldn't have said that because now I'm being too obvious. Or am I being paranoid? Anywhoooo...

Who Said it?


"The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still"