My character Pietas had always been the villain, but I had it in my head to write his origin story. I knew he was well aquainted with storms, personal, psychic, physical, and spiritual. Turned out he wasn't so much a villain as an anti-hero. I learned a lot about negative character traits writing him.
When I wanted to create a dragon for his spirit animal, the dragon had something to do with storms as well.
Stormsinger is well named. He can summon storms by singing to the wind and sky. His color is a blue so pale it looks white at first. Tips of nose, paws and tail are turquoise. Stormsinger can create a literal blizzard and even freeze rivers. Before Pietas met Stormsinger he could create a physical chill in the air; since developing a bond with the animal, he can freeze people solid.
Pietas's sister, Dessy, has a dragon spirit animal as well. Hers is a red dragon called Fireshade and the dragon can create heat and fire. Dessy can generate heat as well, but not fire.
Pietas and his sister met the dragons on the planet Stachien in the Colonies of Man. They were there at the dragons' birth, and protected them during an attack and a storm, which resulted in their bond. That story is found in more detail in Ring of the Dragon.
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For millennia, they fight side by side. Now one king faces a lonely quest.
As Light and Shadow, King Pietas and General Cyken share every battle, as well as a fierce and passionate love.
But, torn apart by the king's rage, Cyken ends their stormy relationship.
When General Cyken falls in love with another man, Pietas undertakes a perilous quest on the dangerous world of Felidae to prove he is the better choice for Cyken.
If he succeeds in his quest, it will either bring Cyken back, or drive him even closer to his new love.
Pietas must try, for he cannot walk into eternity alone.
He must have a shadow to balance his light...
Welcome to Book Hooks!
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
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My character Pietas has always been the villain, but I had it in my head to write his origin story. I knew he was well aquainted with storms, personal, psychic, physical, and spiritual. So when I wanted to create a dragon for him to have as a spirit animal, I knew the dragon would have something to do with storms as well. You’ll be seeing more about Bringer of Chaos as I continue to work on the book.
Stormsinger with Pietas
It turns out, his dragon can summon storms by singing to the wind and sky, and although his color is a very cold blue and turquoise, Stormsinger is a firedrake. Pietas’s sister, Dessy, has a dragon spirit animal as well. Hers is a red ice dragon called Fireshade. Does it do me any good to complain to these characters that their creatures are completely opposite of what’s expected? Talk to the floor and see how far you get.
Pietas and the dragon met on the planet Stachien in the Colonies of Man. I haven’t written that part of the story yet, so I don’t have details, but it’s coming. I thought you’d like to see a preview of a drawing of Pietas with his dragon. Clicking the picture below will open the image full size, which is 1920×1200, full wallpaper size for a desktop computer. Art is by Jamin Allen, my son, although I have done extensive work on both the dragon and Pietas.
Stormsinger with Pietas
Watch Jamin create the Pietas image in this speed-drawing video. You’ll also get a peek at the real life model he used as the inspiration for the drawing.
I got a sweet review: “This gem of a scifi book offers tips for scifi writers, and secrets for fans of Kayelle Allen’s Tarthian Empire series.”
This is more true than you’d think. I’ve partnered with EssenTiles on Etsy to create beautiful gem-like charms of the cover, and my friend Paige created handmade glass beads (also a gem) that match the planets on the cover. She put beads and charms together to create a unique dustplug you can use with your cellphone.
Companion dustplugs in use
How do they work? (in the phone image, it’s shown at the bottom. Your phone will have this jack at the top.) Insert the plastic plug into your cellphone’s audio jack and it keeps the dust out. It also makes a pretty gem dangle of bright color. I’ll give away one of these to the first five (US address only, please) who ask. You don’t have to leave personal info here. You can email me your contact info at author@kayelleallen.com and I’ll get back with you.
Paige created the beads by melting the glass and adding “frit” — fused or partially fused materials used in making glass — to create the markings on the “planets”. This ensures each bead is unique. The charms are quality glass with the image embedded inside.
I loved creating this unique gem as a giveaway, and hope you’ll enjoy using it!
About the Tarthian Empire Companion
For the science fiction writer, this volume teaches you how to build believable worlds, track details of your story, organize your writing, and lay out your story bible. Novice or experienced, you will pick up tricks and tips here. This EPIC eBook Award winning writer shares organizational tips, links to marketing sites, groups supporting writers, science fiction groups, and more. Material from the author’s 90+ page website is included. For the science fiction fan, the Companion reveals the worldbuilding magic that makes Kayelle Allen’s Tarthian Empire tick. She shares every character in every book, 10k years of future history, offers inside peeks at scenes and stories, lays out a quick tour of the Empire, and dishes up a surfeit of secrets, all in one illustrated volume. Original art by Jamin Allen and Kayelle Allen.
Series page: https://kayelleallen.com/hot-series
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
