Again the Gears Begin to Turn…

Just wanted to let you all know how things were going!

So, for a while my brain refused to get back into gear with Heart of Hope edits.  It was frustrating, and I chased after that much needed inspiration with a very large club until I finally managed to catch up with it and beat it into submission.  Now, once again the gears of creativity are turning and the little pieces of Heart of Hope that I never quite had figured out are now beginning to fall into their respective places.  It’s so exciting to see the story being refined, all the dross is melting away and something beautiful is ever so slowly beginning to show through.

I am so very excited to see what it looks like in the end.

Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas!

God bless!

~Laura

Clip from Heart of Hope Chapter Two

Here is a scene from the second chapter of draft III chapter two.  It’s a little moment between Avalyn and Esten.  I really love how this scene came out, I just let them go with it, and they were brilliant.  

This scene I think, really shows their relationship.  They are best friends, brother and sister and cousins by blood. 

Let me know what you think.

“Avalyn!”

Pulled from her memories, Avalyn spun around. Esten stood in the barn doorway, silhouetted by the late afternoon sun.

“I thought I’d find you here, taking everything out on that post.” He gestured towards the post with the target. The wood was riddled with holes from the many arrows that had pierced it throughout the years.

Avalyn stroked the faded paint of the target she had made so long ago. “It helps, my mother told me my father use to do the same thing… his bow was his most prized position…”

Avalyn turned her back to the post and sank to the ground. “Now I have neither father nor mother, and it’s my fault.”

Esten crouched down beside her, “It’s not your fault Avie.”

She looked at him sidelong, “I brought Goel here. I suggested he stay in our barn. Now look what’s come of it.”

“You were being charitable. You couldn’t have guessed what would come of it.” Esten seated himself at her side and placed his arm over her shoulder. “You can’t blame yourself Avie. Goel deceived us all.”

“Deceived? No, we might have been many things, but he was not a deceiver.”

“How do you know?”

“I… He was truthful. He never raised his voice, never said anything to his own benefit. Isaac nearly threw him out of Bryth. And the prophecy he told… I don’t know. But, he said that truth was hard for some to see. Maybe what he meant was those people didn’t see that he was trying to help?”

“That’s a lot of speculation.”

“I know.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “But what do I do know? I can’t, I can’t go on without doing something. I just can’t.”

There was pause. Avalyn listened to Esten’s breathing. He was thinking, but of what? Esten, she wanted to reach out to him with her thoughts. Help me.

(c) Laura Jenkins

 

The Novel is Done! Can I Sleep Now?

CHOICES draft I was completed last night at 9:40-ish. (Yes, I took note of the time. ) It all comes to a grand total of 173 (8×11) pages and 52,488 words. Why does that seem small? Just wait ‘till draft II. It’s going to grow.

Thank you God for this amazing story I love so much, and the wonderful characters I love even more. I pray it will touch the hearts of those who read it.

I had mixed feelings as I typed the last sentence. I felt like grinning my face off; I just finished my second novel! But I also felt like crying. (I’m so weird…) I’m very thankful I have two more books to write with these characters, plus editing to do, else I probably would have cried.

As far as the title of this post goes… It would seem that when I’m in the midst of writing a novel, sleep tends to evade me late into the night. Plus, the closer I get to the end, the more insomnia plagues me. Guess what? I actually had a descend nights sleep last night. Woot!

Well, here is to Kate, Terren, Connor, Sara and the rest of the gang. They made it through all the terrible, heart breaking, emotional, painful, physically difficult, confusing and hard situations I put them through. Hooray for my cast! Until the next adventure guys, you can relax now.

14 down, 2 more to go!

CHOICES is only two chapter away from being finished!  I’m so excited to finish this story.  It’s weird to think that a world a made up when I was sixteen is now the center of a nearly full novel.

Chapter fifteen is the final showdown between the hero and villain.  I must say, I’ve been wanting to just sit down and write this chapter for the past seven months!  The highest stakes, the hardest choice, the final consequence, the ultimate moment for the hero, the villain’s demise; I love writing showdowns.

Here is a little scene from a previous chapter.  Just a little sneak peek of what’s been going in Kate’s world.

I blinked, two amber eyes came into focus watching me.

“Uraeus?”

The dragon snorted, sending a spray of hot air onto my face.

“How did you find me?” I tried to push myself to me knees, only to be met with a title wave of pain. My head swam and pounded away behind my eyes.  I thought I was going to pass out.  Uraeus nudged me, gently pressing his warm nose against my back.

“I… I… Oh Uraeus, he’s gone, and I can’t… it hurts so much.”  My wounds were bleeding freely again.  They soaked the ground where I laid.  Tears rolled down my dirty cheeks.  Come on Kate!  Get up!  You have to get up! No!  I can’t, I just can’t!

“Kate.”

I looked up, no one was there.

“Kate.”

“Who’s there?”

“You must get up.”

“I can’t, and I can’t see you!”

“You can Kate, look up.”

I raised my eyes, the man from my dream stood before me, his hand outstretched.

“What?”

“Get up Kate.”

Biting my lip I reached for his hand.  He clasped my hand in his and ever so gently, lifted me to my feet and into his arms.

“Terren needs you Kate, I give you the strength to do what you must.”  He set me down on Uraeus’ back.

“Are you?  Who?”

He kissed my forehead, “Yes Kate.  I am.”  His voice faded away and I opened my eyes.  I was sitting, nearly lying on the saddle across Uraeus’ back.  What had just happened?  No one was in sight, the world was quiet.

I am.

The man’s words repeated in my head.

I am.

CHOICES Sneak Peak: Dragon Landing

Here is a sneak peak of the chapter in CHOICES I just finished. 

“Ready yourself,” Terren said after I don’t know how long.  I blinked and looked down.  The forest was gone; we now glided over green fields and hills, bordered by a rocky crag.

“Are we landing?”  The wind had picked up and I had to shout.

“Yes!”  Terren yelled back.

Uraeus began to beat his wings in a steady rhythm as we slowly dropped towards the ground.  Terren let out a quick whistle then shouted back at me,

“Hold on!”

Uraeus folded in his wings and dove.  I squealed, hugging Terren as tightly as I could.  Tears raced from my eyes and flew away behind me as the wind rushed by.  Laughing, Terren leaned against Uraeus’ neck, holding tight to the leather handles.  We dropped through the sky, the ground rushing up to meet us. 

“Hoe!”  Terren yelled and Uraeus opened his wings, bringing us to a jaw wrenching halt.  Much more gently, the dragon brought us to rest on the solid ground.

“Wow,” I said as I slid from the saddle.  “Now that was something.” 

Terren grinned at me, “I thought you might enjoy that.”

“Enjoy?  I’m not quite sure that’s the right word.”  I crossed my arms and gave him a cynical look.  “I don’t think leaving your heart, lungs and stomach behind is enjoyable.”

He laughed, “I suspect you’re being sarcastic.”

“Me?  Never.”  I winked.

“Right.”

Choices Chapter 12: The Black Moment

Black Moments are hard chapters to get through.  They just are.  They are the point in the story where everything that could go wrong, goes wrong.  The hero faces their worst tragedy yet.  It’s the moment where the hero has to be their strongest, but it’s also the moment when the hero’s weakness comes out, usually because of grief.   

One thing that makes writing the Black Moment so hard is, I love my characters!  I don’t want to do these terrible things to them!  Yes, they are like real people to me, it hurts to hurt them.  But then, from another angle, it’s easy to hurt them because it will do so much for the story and make it brilliant!… yes, writers are crazy.

So, what do I do to get myself in the mood for such cruelty? 

1. Listen to sad music.

2. Watch a tribute video for my favorite TV characters (sad ones) before starting.

4. Keep a box of Kleenex handy.  

3. Eat chocolate.       

How depressing right?  I guess… if you’re not a writer writing the Black Moment of your story.

Well… it’s time to get back to making Kate and Terren’s lives miserable, but, it’s only for a little while.

Choices – book 1 of the Aeden Archives

Here is the novel I’m writing for NaNoWriMo! 

Synopsist:
Eighteen and no future.  That’s what Kate thought about her current stage in life, until one fateful day, the day she found herself in Aeden. 

In this new world of fantasy, Kate joins Terren, an outlawed king in a fight to regain his stolen throne.  But as time goes on, Kate unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with Terren, and even more unexpected, he’s falling in love with her.

As Kate’s time in Aeden draws to a close and victory for Terren is in sight, she must make a choice; Return home to her family, or stay in a world she hardly understands, with a man who showed her how to live again. 

 

This story is one that is very close to my heart.  It’s been around for nearly as long as HEAT OF HOPE, but I have never before committed it to paper.  There have been a few times where I started to write it then stopped, and there are several written scene floating about, but the rest has stayed for the most part in my head.

The world of Aeden was born several years ago.  I was about sixteen and having one of those “sixteen year old” days.  I can’t remember the details, just that I was having a hard time with wanting to get away.  So, I locked myself in the bathroom, (the only room with a lock…), had a good cry, and created this world.  I transported myself to a magical land only I knew about.  Where I could have wonderful adventures and never have to think or worry about life.  Along with that world came Terren.  Someone with whom I could share my adventures.  I believe is why I have never fully committed the story to paper.  It was my world.  My own little world, just for me.  Now, that world has evolved into a deep story and I feel it’s time to tell it.

Some of you may remember this poem from a post I made back in ’09.

Over dark mountains I glide,
On wind swept clouds I ride.
To a land that evil had claimed,
To a heart that time had maimed.

Where adventure lay in wait,
Where love plotted with fate.
I stepped into a world of doom,
Entwined in life’s cruel loom.

Two hearts together found healing,
Two worlds in the cosmos went reeling.
Side by side battles we fought,
Hand in hand loves peace we sought.

Together we defeated the evil holding the land,
And watched as victory spread out as a hand.
But fate had something else in store,
That would leave our hearts broken and sore.

When dawn brighten on that cruel day,
Not even love would let me stay.
We said farewell with tears like rain,
Never knowing if I would return again.

To a land where mysteries roam,
Through mist and time,
Ayden, Ayden, take me home.

As you can see the spelling of “Aeden” has changed since then and it was written when the story consisted of only one book.  Now, three books are planned to fully tell the story of Kate and Terren.

Aeden for me will always be a symbol of I world we all long to be transported too.  My Narnia, if you will.  Though time moves at the same rate, and getting there is harder then stepping through a wardrobe, it’s still a place, though mythical, that is very real in my heart. 

This story deals with allot of tough areas.  Pretty much every spiritual lesson I was learning while dwelling on it is crammed inside.  Faith, trust in Christ, unselfish love, the importance of family relationships, patience, God’s timing, things us humans can’t understand and much more. 

My prayer for this story is that it will show its readers a clear picture of Godly love, relationships and the rewards of fully trusting in Christ for/in everything.

Thank you for reading.  God bless.

And,

Welcome to Aeden.

New Novel!

*drum roll* 

Introducing, my third novel, TYRA’S STONE!  (You can view its page is HERE.)  I am now almost halfway through with outlining and will begin writing in the next couple of months.   I’m sure you’re wondering, if TYRA’S STONE is my third novel, where’s my second?  Well, the story in my second novel changed so much I’m going to re-do the small bit of outlining I’ve done for it.  Once I’m further along with that one, I’ll make a special post for it.  (Until then, you can check out its synopsis HERE.)

Alrighty!  Here is the full scoop on this new story. 

Synopsis:
Tyra is a bard, a storyteller, a master of spinning tales filled with true love and happy endings, something her life is devoid of.  Silas is a knight, a figure of honor and nobility, but right now, he couldn’t be farther from them.  Two people that could not be more different, yet so alike, whose lives intertwine in a way neither one of them could have imagined. 

As Tyra fights for freedom and Silas for forgiveness, they begin a journey that will test every part of their beings.  When the time comes, will Tyra betray the very love she has longed for her whole life?  Will Silas learn to let go of his mistakes and move on?  Or will they both give in to despair and reject the love that would save them? 

Characters:

Tyra (Hero): Quick and sharp.  She’s perfected the ability to appear brave and collected, but inside she is covered with scars and desperate for security.  Her trade as a bard is her one joy.  She loves spinning tales that capture the imagination and holds the listener spell bound.  

Silas (Supporting Cast): Kind and gentle:  Quiet and seemingly shy, Silas has a strong character and deep convictions.  He has a tender, yet brave heart and will fight valiantly for those he loves.

Darius (Villain): Cruel and cunning.  Darius lives by his obsessions.  He is no one’s fool, deceitfully resourceful, he is a master at fabricating truths.

About:

TYR’S STONE is about the saving power of Agape Love.  Involved is the fight between lies and truth, and the question, “am I worth being loved unconditionally?”

I’m really excited about is novel.  It’s taken a while to develop, but I love this set of characters and can’t wait to see where they take the story.  (Just like with HEART OF HOPE, I’ll be posting updates on how TYRA’S STONE is going.) 

As I write each story, God takes me on a journey, showing me new truths, and teaching me along the way.  This story is about love, why?  God has laid on my heart a desire to paint a picture for readers, (Christian, and non-Christian,) of what real love is.  Our culture has perverted what true love really is and I’m hoping this story helps clear the fog and point readers to where true love comes from, (or, Who it comes from).  

Thanks for reading.

God bless.

~Laura

Heart of Hope: The End (for now)

October 9^th 2006 began a journey that changed my life.  I began working on a story that God put on my heart to tell, a story about finding hope in hopeless times.  On that day I embraced God’s calling for my life and have never looked back.  Now, four years, seven months, four weeks, four days and 63,000 words later, draft II of that novel is complete!  Though I still have at least one more draft to go, the hard labor, the countless hours, the frustrating days of pounded my head on the wall over this draft are done!

What am I going to do now?  Do it again!  Yep.  After all, I am a writer and that’s what I do.   But first, I’m going to tell you about this novel, my first novel.  It’s title is…. *drum roll*…….

Heart of Hope. 

And this is what it’s all about.    

Heart of Hope is the allegorical story of a young girl learning to trust God and find hope in Him through the darkest of days.  It is a 63,700 word fantasy novel, written from the depths of my heart.  The story takes place in a world I created, loosely basted off the area in which I live, (Washington State, the north-western side).  The heroine is named for my lifelong friend whom I’ve known (literally) forever.  (Love you Avie! )  Here is the synopsis;  (Note: Yes, the name’s are different then what I put in the clips, and that is because I was keeping them secret until now.)

  When a stranger’s arrival in Arcana throws Avalyn into a world of danger and mystery, hope is the last thing she feels, as everything she knows begins to fall apart.  Her mother taken from her and her home no longer safe, Avalyn and her cousin Esten embark on a journey to reclaim their lost peace.  But what started out as a mission to bring back her mother becomes a quest to stop an evil from spreading across Arcana and devouring everything good in its wake.  Avalyn joins the mysterious stranger as the only remaining way to save her mother and return to the life she once had.  As her journey unfolds and darkness advances, Avalyn realizes that there is more going on than she first suspected.  She begins to wonder if there is any glimmer of hope, no matter how faint, left in a darkening world.  Can Avalyn learn to find courage and trust?  Can she rise above a heavy heart and go on?  Or will she give in to despair, letting her destiny slip away?

(copyright Laura Jenkins)

There you have it.  

What am I going to do now?  Like I said, do it again!  I’m going to begin outlining my next novel  (or two novels) in the next few weeks.  Other plans are… get a job, (yep, time to head into the working life) and figure out what I want to do for collage.  I took last year off so I could finish Heart of Hope and now it’s done, so it’s time to think about school. 

Other stuff:

I leave for Kansas this Thursdays!  I’m so excited!  I’ll be taking LOTS of pictures and will post them when I get back.

I have a lot of plans for the blog this summer.  I’m going to begin a series on character development that I am super excited about, (I love character development). Also, finish up Stephen of Scarborough.  (I even have plans for the next series after SoS.)  :)

And…. I’ve been working on Connect The Dots articles, the next instilment on that blog should be up by the end of the month.   

Keep your eyes open for upcoming post and please subscribe to receive e-mail updates!

God bless and thanks for reading,
~Laura

Update #3

Hello readers!

Here’s the scoop of what’s been happening.

Chapter eleven is finally finished!  The title is Reversing Night.  It turned out to be a whopping 9,169 words, just over 27 pages!  (Standard pages mind you.  It would be around 50 in book form.)  I’m SO happy to be moving on to the LAST CHAPTER!  I enjoyed writing chapter twelve and I’m rather excited to be revising it.

Now, since you all are expecting a clip or clips, here you go.

Cautiously making it over the last rise Ava laid on her belly and looked out over the fortress.  Its banners flapped in the wind from atop its high towers.  A sentry paced the upper battlement, a spear lazily slung over his shoulder.  Was that the only sentry?  Ava scanned the battlements but could find no sigh of another, but wait!  A flash of red and black appeared through the arrow slits, another sentry, perhaps two or three.  Ava waited until they moved on a pace.  The sentry on top turned his back; Ava rose and ran down the hill into a small clump of cotton woods growing beside the moat.  Gazing out from her hiding place she peered up at the walls, no alarm sounded, she was undetected.

Ava rolled out of the way, kicking him in the stomach as she went.  Pulling her sword out Ava sprang to her feet and met his next attack. Ava raised her sword, catching his blow in mid air.  She pushed him back and swing at his waist.  He parried, knocking Ava’s sword aside.  Ava stumbled back, regained herself and charged.

You’ll have to make to with that.  Anymore and it would give too much away.

I just realized I haven’t really mentioned my Kansas trip on here.  I guess it’s because most of the people who read this blog already know about.  Well anyway, I’m going to Kansas in June for a writer’s work shop hosted by the author of the One Year Adventure Novel Curriculum, Daniel Shwabauer.  The work shop is for OYAN students and we’re going to have a reunion barbecue/camp fire after!  I am so excited and can hardly wait!  It’s coming up so fast!  When they first announced they were planning this it was back in November and then, June seemed ages away.  But time definitely has flown.

The Summer Workshops have started on the OYAN forum and I’m posting chapters in it this year.  (The OYAN forum Summer Workshops are twelve intense weeks of revision and critiquing.  We post one chapter per week and other students critique them and vice-versa.)  I wasn’t planning on posting any of my novel this year, but my inner-editor talked me into it.  I’m a bit nervous about it because, well, I’m the writer and I hate people reading my stuff when I know there’s still work that needs to be done on it.

I guess that’s about it.  I have lots of plans for when I start blogging regularly again so stay tuned! 

God bless,
~Laura