Artist, Author of Sci-Fi, Space Opera, and Romance

Sneak peek at the Pietas halberd cosplay @nitsvetov #cosplay #malecosplay #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 09/23/2020 Cosplay 5 Comments

This is the scene Nik will cosplay live. Julia will photograph the event. You're getting it out of context, because to give more would give a huge spoiler.

Halberd

Pietas walked into sight, dragging a massive steel halberd inlaid with turquoise stones, a cross between a battle axe and a sword.

The pointed tip screeched along the steel floor.

The image of Pietas in black, knowing he represented Luc, affixed itself in Luc's mind.

With that bright silver and turquoise halberd at his side, the forbidding darkness of his masked king channeled awe straight through him.

-- A Stolen Heart

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Witness the transformation: Pietas morphs into the Bringer of Chaos @nitsvetov @voicesbyzack #SciFi #Cosplay #MFRWhooks #PietasFans

Kayelle Allen 09/16/2020 Conventions for Sci Fi Lovers 8 Comments

The Ritual of Strength tranforms Pietas into the War Leader of the Ultras -- a fighting machine known as the Bringer of Chaos. He earned the title because his strongest Sempervian gift is Chaos, the ability to create chaotic feelings with no outside source. In battle, it mind-dazes an enemy. But with a lover, his gift renders a partner helpless, inundating them with overwhelming pleasure.

He has worn a mask in battle ever since defeating the First Division, a human special-ops group formed to fight Ultras. It came about because Pietas slew an enemy, and blood splashed across his eyes. Thinking the blood belonged to Pietas, the Ultra troops rallied to him and slaughtered the humans. By the end of the battle, the blood had dried almost black. Stories of how their "bandit king" had conquered the First Division filled the night. To his troops, he was now the conqueror of the First Division, and they gave him a new title to celebrate: First Conqueror, War Leader of the Ultras.

Look at the facial expressions as Pietas lifts the mask into place, hiding his true self and preparing to morph into the Bringer of Chaos.

The expression of utter confidence while Pietas is wearing the mask reveals how much performing the ritual affects him. In the left image, he's removing a small knife used in the ritual. The story behind this knife -- I bought it at OutlantaCon a few years ago. It was made from hand-forged metal, a handle of hand-carved wood, and sheathed in hand-tooled leather. One of a kind. In the story (a Bringer of Chaos book not out yet), Six makes this knife and gives it to Pietas. He has used it for thousands of years and it's so fragile he now keeps it in a glass case. He never parts with a gift from a friend if there is any way possible to keep it.

In the second photo, Nik performs the scene where Pietas makes a small cut in his skin, symbolically shedding blood for his people. He heals instantly, but the point is he is ready to die for his people. Look at those eyes. Nik transformed as much as Pietas.

When the ritual is complete, Pietas removes his mask. In Origin of Pietas, he paints on the mask with soot from a fire, and right after, he and Six are caught in a downpour. When Six sees Pietas's face, he bursts into laughter and says Pietas looks like a "weapon of mascara destruction."

On the first photo, notice the focus in those eyes as Pietas begins the transformation back to his usual self. The next picture shows him with the mask off and a partial smile. I love that photo. It's the backdrop for my email program. My interpretation of this image is that Pietas is happy to return to his (somewhat) normal life and be who he really is.

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Video: Book Fair Kindle Unlimited books from top authors in #SciFi and #SpaceOpera #KU

Kayelle Allen 09/13/2020 Science Fiction Books

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5 #MustRead Sci Fi & Space Opera Book Fairs #BookFair #KU #FreeBooks

Kayelle Allen 09/11/2020 Science Fiction Books

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Bringing Pietas to Life #Voiceover @voicesbyzack #Cosplayer @nitsvetov #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks #MFRWorg

Kayelle Allen 09/09/2020 Character Insights 6 Comments

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Video: Pick up #SciFi and #SpaceOpera #Books with #LGBT+ Characters

Kayelle Allen 09/06/2020 MM Romance

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Pick up #SciFi and #SpaceOpera #Books with #LGBT+ Characters

Kayelle Allen 09/04/2020 MM Romance

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Hiring a voiceover artist for Pietas @voicesbyzack #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks #Voiceover

Kayelle Allen 09/02/2020 Cosplay 9 Comments

Hiring a Voiceover Artist

Hiring a voiceover artist takes time and patience. I found mine on Fiverr. Here's how it went. Be prepared to listen to samples and watch video reels. This can be fun. You will see many different levels of expertise. You might get lucky and find the right person on the first try, but I had specifics in mind and that made it a bit more daunting.
If you'd like to search for a voice actor yourself, try this link. Fiverr Voice Actors

Giving a Voice to Pietas

In 2018, I worked with the Russian cosplayer Nik Nitsvetov, who is a dead ringer for Pietas. After he recreated the Ritual of Strength from the book, Origin of Pietas, I decided to find a voiceover artist who could give Pietas a voice.

I wanted someone with at least a slight English accent, as if he'd learned English from someone in the UK. And he'd been born in Wales, so that was important to pull into the sound.

Also, Pietas has a tenor voice, not too deep. He speaks properly. The immortal king is a perfectionist who demands the best of himself and others, so he had to enunciate each word without sounding like he was reading a script.

Are you thinking -- you are one crazy woman, Kayelle. Where are you going to find someone like that? And how could you afford it? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

I decided to try Fiverr. I've been lucky at getting help there over the last few years. I recommend giving it a try if you need help on a quick project -- or a long one.

After listening to bajillion different samples of voiceover artists, I settled with one. Got the sample back, and hired him. He did a great job, but I wasn't quite satisfied. I decided to try again, but I still wasn't happy with the final product.

Should I try one more time, I wondered? You know what they say about the third time being a charm? Well it was true on this one, because I found someone who sounded EXACTLY the way I hear Pietas in my head.

Each created a sample using this dialogue: "No. I cannot imagine settling down with the same person for eternity. How mundane. It would take a special person indeed. I have, however, cohabitated with the same person for centuries and been quite happy. At least at first." When you hear Zack read it, I think you'll see why I chose him.