Origins: Amos Shapiro

A few weeks ago, I stopped writing. But a few weeks ago I also spent the WHOLE DAY writing (in random places at the university, and in-between tutoring people, whilst drinking a large thermos of my favorite kind of tea [Republic of Tea: Ginger Peach.]) I got to 64,000 words that day. 64,000! It's actually a few hundred over that, but I'm too lazy to figure it out and type it here.

I am just one chapter away from finishing Part 2 of the novel. Part 1 & 2 both include some "real leaf" events--i.e., conversations that really happened, personal experiences and situations that I've altered slightly for the purpose of making them more believable, more appropriate for fiction, for the novel, etc. Getting to Part 3 will require much more imagination for me. I won't have conversations that I can essentially copy/paste into the text. But I think if I really invest myself I can finish it within the next year.

Yeah, okay. We'll see about that.

In any case, while I haven't been writing, I did do a few Amos sketches. Here are some of the basics that you need to know for his character. You should know, he is based on a real person, and some his dialogue is indeed taken--in context!--from actual conversations. I mean verbatim, people. Word-for-word. I have written many characters in many short stories and other (secret) novels but Amos is by-far the most genuine, and the most deserving of such dubious speech.

Sketch 1. Rescued books.
I know, I know. His left hand looks weird. I got tired of trying to fix it.

Age: (at the beginning of the book) about 24

Hair: Dark Brown

Eyes: Brown

Original home/ethnicity: New Mexico

Favorite music: The Beatles, 

Favorite book: Crime & Punishment by Theodore Dostoevsky 

Likes: writing letters, the smell of a campfire, sunflowers

Dislikes: helplessness, dishonesty, being "tied down" by unnecessary things

Family: Mother, father, younger sister (all deceased)

Personality: INTJ

Character's importance to the story: Amos plays opposite of Gwen for the first 2/3 of the novel, during which he is the main "love interest." Amos shows up returns to initiate a relationship with Gwen, but after that he is often absent due to his obligations to the Ministry (he is also vaguely resentful of "settling down" in a place like Dexterhimmel.) His absence is detrimental to Gwen's stability and yet their tumultuous relationship drives many other plot points. You might love him, through Gwen, but he has other traits which will seriously cause some loathing and disgust. But you have to give him some credit because ultimately, he is the reason Gwen seeks out SubCity.

How he arrives in Dexterhimmel: After the loss of his family Amos wanders around the country until he sees campfire smoke from a distance. He follows the smoke to Dexterhimmel, and settles there until he meets Gwen. When Gwen gets involved with the Ministry Amos does too. He always has his own "home" in Dexterhimmel, although he is rarely in it.

Sketches 2 & 3 (done during those "in-between tutoring" periods I mentioned.)
On green paper. Don't judge me. I was just being resourceful.

That's all for now. I might try to finish part 2 this week, but we'll see. The pressure of part 3 immediately after is just a little intense and I might be subconsciously avoiding that. But please stay tuned, and tell your friends! :)

Origins: Gwen Esmond

You'll have to forgive me for not posting sooner. At first, I was just delaying because I needed to prepare some sketches. Then I started working, you know, at work. Life unexpectedly sped up, which I guess isn't quite so unexpected because it's September, but I feel like you all know what I'm saying.

I've come up with a way of introducing characters to you without spoiling the story. You might remember those popular Myspace quizzes (and later Facebook quizzes) that are like, "Fave song ever: anything Taylor Swift. Last thing you ate: sour skittles omg!!" Well, this is going to be sort of like that except less odiously reeking of junior high. Once I introduce a few characters the format will make a little more sense, so just bear with me. I promise to have another character intro post before too long.

Let me introduce Gwen Esmond. She might have a middle name, but it's undecided at this point. Here's what you need to know.

Age: (at the beginning of the book) about 22

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Blue

Original home/ethnicity: Pacific Northwest (USA)/Welsh & Russian

Favorite music: Johnny Cash, James Taylor

Favorite book: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Likes: coffee, daisies, Emily Dickinson, red leaves in the fall

Dislikes: lakes/deep water, being polite

Family: Mother, father, three brothers (all deceased)

Personality: INFJ

Character's importance to the story: Gwen is the protagonist, a young woman who struggles daily to survive and often finds difficulty in allowing herself to be happy, or be hopeful. We follow her through three separate settings, over the span of several years. While she is our protagonist she does some things that will definitely piss you off and make you wonder what makes her so great You will probably want her to suffer at some point. Don't worry, she does.

How she arrives in Dexterhimmel: Originally, a friend takes her there after both their families die. Eventually the friend leaves, so Gwen takes up a job at the Ministry for a few years, and when she returns to Dexterhimmel she is worse for the wear and has fewer connections within the fortress.

Here are a few other sketches I did. The one below was done with a red drawing pencil, the other three were drawn with charcoal pencils. I didn't scan these in because I feel like people will be less inclined to steal drawings from the internet if they're of poor graphic quality. Also, the one on the bottom is too big to scan. Anyhow. Enjoy.

Carrying Amos' lantern through the darkness.

A moment of frustration.

Saying goodbye. This scene occurs at the very end of the story.

That's all I have for now. Due to the busy-ness of life I haven't written much lately either, but I think in the next post I'll focus some more on Amos. Hope you stick around!