Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels Archives - Page 31 of 42

Condescending? But of course. Writing a patronizing character. Pietas Insults #AmWriting #PietasFans #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 02/04/2020 Fallen Empires 12 Comments

How do you know when to dial back a haughty character's arrogance?

Patronizing

A patronizing attitude reveals a character flaw, but it can be entertaining as well. How do you keep from going overboard? Here are 3 ways I found to temper my temperamental immortal king.

1 Do not use a patronizing attitude for no reason. Nothing alienates a reader faster than a character who is nasty to others just for the sake of being nasty. Make insults in the scene spring from an obvious need or cause. In the opening of Origin of Pietas: Bringer of Chaos, Pietas offers a direct insult to his father, but it's in response to his father's callous treatment.

2 Do not substitute a patronizing attitude when a scene calls for action. An action scene such as a fight or physical action can do much to advance the story. If you have your character just be snarky instead of dealing with danger, it comes off as negativity, or worse, as cowardice. Nothing says that you can't have your character mouth off during a fight. The fact that they can deal with physical action and still be able to think of something snarky to say says a lot about a person.

3 Do not allow the character to be verbally vicious unless the scene demands it. There is a big difference between disdain and cruelty. If your character insults someone viciously, ask yourself how that will move the story forward. Will it fuel the plot? Or do you intend the scene to show a major character flaw? If so, show the consequences as early as possible. Your character gets fired, or loses a friend, or someone takes it out on a person they love.

10 patronizing quips by Pietas

Oh, how exciting. (delivered deadpan) One can scarcely articulate the excitement.
I trust people, except for two types: those I know, and those I don't.
You don't wrestle your demons, do you? You cuddle them.
My father does indeed have a heart. It's shaped like a fist.
Am I going to be arrogant my entire life? I think we both know the answer to that question.
I see you're spoiling for a fight. Don't let me stop you. I'm ready to defeat you anytime.
He states the obvious with such an astonishing sense of discovery.
It's not that she's insane. It's that she's a high-functioning basket case.
I won't be there. I don't attend irredeemably boring events.
His life is a pedestrian and lamentable melodrama.

Just as in real life, actions and words have consequences. It's great to show the flaw, but remember to show the result as well.

Pietas inhabits many books in my story universe, including the Bringer of Chaos series, the Antonello Brothers, and Tales of the Chosen. Download a printable PDF list of my books: Booklist

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10 Snarky Ways to Say No: Pietas #SpaceOpera #PietasFans #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 01/22/2020 Fallen Empires 14 Comments

When I started writing about Pietas, he'd been a villain in other books, or at least a bad guy with serious issues. But after writing a couple of stories where he's the actual hero, I know him so much better. One thing I was surprised by is how snarky he is. I thought the immortal king would be much more dignified, but it turns out that around those he trusts, he can more than snarky.

Snarky is as Snarky Does

In fact, I started writing the Bringer of Chaos series so I could understand him. I was working on a book in the Antonello Brothers series and could not get Pietas to do what I wanted him to do. He wouldn't be the villain, no matter how much I tried to write him that way.

In exasperation, I told a friend about my problem and she suggested interviewing him. She'd call me on Skype and I would answer as Pietas. I would role play the character and free associate his answers. It opened my eyes to an entirely new aspect of my immortal king.

The Bringer of Chaos series was born from that interview.

An anti-hero is a protagonist but one who doesn't have the usual characteristics that would make them heroes (or heroines). Batman is a perfect example. He's a vigilante. He works outside the law. But we all root for him.

Here's what I've learned about writing anti-heroes in a nutshell. They have:

Character flaws
Complex motives
Internal conflicts
Issues with intimacy
Generally a realist

Character Flaws

With Pietas, I started listing his flaws and decided which two or three would be the ones I'd focus on. What are they? His are many, but I'll start with one that I showed on the first page of Origin of Pietas: Bringer of Chaos.

Perfectionism

He hates it when people mispronounce his name. I could have written "He hated it when people mispronounced his name." But where's the fun in that? It tells. I prefer to show. So I wrote a scene where he sees a video in which the media accuses him of a misdeed. I wrote:

At her mispronunciation of his name, he gritted his teeth. "My name is pronounced Pee-ah-toss, thank you. Not Pie-ah-toss. Pee-ah-toss. It's six letters. How hard is that to get right?" He stormed away from the podium.

By having him react strongly to the error, it reveals one of his flaws and a bit of his character.

Snarky

Pietas often chooses insults over tact. One way that shows best is when he's asked to do something he'd rather not do. Here are ten snarky ways Pietas might tell someone "no."

No, but do you know who would love doing that? Someone with less intelligence.
Try asking someone else. I'm too smart.
I would love to, but I'm planning a much more interesting nap.
Has the netherworld frozen solid? If so, then by all means, yes.
That sounds like a job for someone incapable of thinking past point A.
I'm sure there are worse ways to do that, but I can't think of any.
I was going to suggest you stop acting stupid, but I realized you weren't acting.
My original misconceptions of your idea have proven true.
If you don't want a sarcastic answer, then don't ask a stupid question.
Would you like me to spell the word NO for you?

Lovable

Pietas is lovable despite his mistakes, and he forgives mistakes in others. Here's a quick excerpt from Forged in Fire: Bringer of Chaos for example. In this scene, Joss, one of the warriors with whom Pietas has had a long relationship, keeps taking them in circles on the way back to camp. His usual snarky attitude gives way to tenderness.

"Joss, you've been saying 'not far' for hours. Did I not teach you to mark trails?"

"I'm sorry, Pietas. It won't happen again."

Oh, but it would. She wouldn't mean for it to happen, but it would. He'd tried for centuries to teach her how to find her way, to no avail. He kissed her cheek and drew her into his arms, savoring her warmth.

"Joss." He placed his mouth near her ear. "You couldn't find your way out of a round room with one door."

She jerked up her head and looked at him, eyes wide.

"And I adore you for it."

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“Look what I bought,” women said of him #SciFi #Romance

Kayelle Allen 01/10/2020 Character Insights

From For Women Only

In this scene from For Women Only, Khyff awakens beside Mehfawni, the feline-humanoid Kin ambassador to the Tarthian Empire. He'd been ordered to seduce her, part of a complicated ploy by the Empress, who wants to remove Mehfawni from the Kin line of succession.
The seduction took no time on Khyff's part. The moment Mehfawni saw the gorgeous blond and blue-eyed human, she pursued him.

Khyff has always been a plaything for women to enjoy, never a person to get to know. Until he meets Fawni.

Khyff drifted off to sleep, more comfortable than he could remember being in years and woke sometime later to the feel of a hand sliding down his abs and across his belly. He opened his eyes.

When she noticed he was watching her, mild surprise widened Mehfawni's big golden eyes with their jade green flecks. "Oh, you're awake."
"Mmm."
"I hope I didn't wake you. You looked..." She sighed. "I wanted to touch you. You're so smooth."
"It's okay. You can touch me any time you like." He stretched. It felt good to be rested. No light showed at the windows. "What time is it?"
She shrugged. "I pay no attention to such things. Local time. Tradestandard time. Time zones. Time to hold council. Time to sleep." She hooked her claws into the air, a picture of frustration. "My staff open doors and pour wine and feed me. They lay out my clothes and draw my bath. All the rest of my life is work." She dragged the tips of her claws down his body.
Khyff's skin jumped, still hypersensitive after their riotous lovemaking.
"This--" she stroked his belly "--is outside time. This is my time. I will not look at clocks while I'm with you."
Warmth swept over him that had nothing to do with sex. He turned the feeling over in his mind, unsure what to make of it, and held out his arms.
She moved into his embrace, body flush against his at leg and groin, skin pressed against his. She lay half atop him, leaning a bit to one side, propped on one elbow.
"Are you hungry, Khyff?"
He hadn't noticed until she asked. "Starving. I have plenty of food in the kitchen. What would you like?"

"Besides you?"
"You can have me, too."
She tapped his nose and sat up. "I want to take you out to dinner. In Tarth City, surely there is always food ready somewhere."
"I know plenty of places." They had told him to prepare to be spoiled. Kin females were accustomed to being in charge. Khyff hadn't mentioned he was used to women paying his way. They liked to flaunt him to their friends and display him like a new charm on their wrist bracelets. Look what I bought.
"Somewhere quiet." Mehfawni folded her legs, elbows on her knees. "I don't wish women to gawk at you when you're with me."

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If this is good news, why hide behind a fake face? #SpaceOpera #FreeBooks

Kayelle Allen 12/04/2019 Cosplay 10 Comments

Fake Face

We've spent the last few weeks talking about the cosplay for Pietas.

However, the single most important person in Pietas's life, other than his family, is a man called Six. Today's post is a scene from the story Lights Out, which chronicles how Six and Pietas met. I'll give you a hint. There was instant respect, but not instant friendship.

In Origin of Pietas, Tornahdo receives the name Six, and it's a direct result of what happens in Lights Out.

The Ghost Corps consists of special ops soldiers who have died, and have been resurrected with the blood of an immortal Ultra.

This scene begins with the delivery of a mission by a man wearing a "fake face" -- which the hero knows right away does not bode well.

Fake Face

The unlit room where Tornahdo and his crew waited closed in as if the walls pulled together and the ceiling sank. The longer they waited, the thicker the air. Warm, heavy with sweat and the tart bite of fear, every breath choked the senses.

More than one ghost pulled at his collar. Tension arced through the room, lightning skating over a metal fence.

Was the anti-emo chip even working?

After half an hour of waiting, no one had spoken.

Probably another test.

Tornahdo, for one, wasn't failing it.

The door opened, bringing a shock of icy air.

They all knew they were being sent to die. They were ghosts. That's what ghosts did. They hammered at Ultras until they perma-killed them or they kept Ultras busy until others escaped. But at least they were getting to breathe first.

In walked a person close to seven Terran feet. Silhouette looked male. Tall enough to be an Ultra. He strode into the center of the room and beckoned everyone closer.

No clue who hid behind the full-body fake-face. It cycled through various images, too fast to keep up. Like trying to count air bubbles rising in a pool.

Remaining at the back, Tornahdo stood at ease.

"This is the best day in human recollection." Speaking through a voice changer, the voice took on genderless robotic tones. "Today, we make history."

If it was such a good day, why hide behind a fake-face and a voice changer?

The chip in Tornahdo's head pinged a stinging reminder to avoid such thoughts. He reined in his doubt and focused.

"This mission is called Lights Out. Your duty is simple. Chancellor Pietas is unconscious. You'll put him in a lifepod. That's it." The guy paused. "Questions?"

A tall ghost removed his helmet. "How can Ultras be unconscious?"

"The peace talks were a trap. When Pietas and the Council arrived, we told them we'd jettison their module unless they entered their lifepods, which they did. Except Pietas, of course, so we siphoned the air out of the room. Before you go in, you'll hyperventilate, store up oxygen. This room is being pumped full at a high rate. Your chip will aid you."

Ultras held their breath ten times longer than humans. Tornahdo had trained to hold his five times longer. Pietas probably managed fifteen or twenty times.

Twelve of them. In a vacuum. Against the Ultra called Bringer of Chaos. Whose motto was, "Pain is a warrior's ally."

No number of chips made that doable.

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Pietas was too proud to steal; too stubborn to beg @nitsvetov #SpaceOpera #PietasFans

Kayelle Allen 11/30/2019 Character Insights 1 Comment

Proud to show you images from the Chaos is Coming cosplay featuring Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas, the immortal king. Members of my reader groups will receive a larger group of exclusive photos in the next newsletter. Info on how to sign up is at the end. Below is a quote from Elryk, the man Pietas considers his mentor and the father he never had. You’ll meet Elryk in a future series.

[bctt tweet=”When you’re proud, you must not only overcome adversity and obstacles, you must also overcome yourself. ~Elryk #SpaceOpera” username=”KayelleAllen”]

Chaos is Coming – Sci Fi Cosplay

On Nov 27th, Nik Nitsvetov wore the Pietas armor he hand made for the Chaos is Coming Cosplay, performed live on Instagram.

Last year Nik performed as Pietas from the Bringer of Chaos series doing the Ritual of Strength. You can see the video of him performing here. This cosplay he portrayed Pietas as a younger version of the immortal king. Before he led his people, Pietas was a plebe in the Discord. After all, even the mightiest river has a beginning.

The immortal king began life as a soldier when he was still a teenager. Imagine being abandoned on a new world where you have no idea about customs, no identification, no money, no food, and no friends. No one will hire you, and you are too proud to steal and too stubborn to beg. That was Pietas at age sixteen. Part of his story is revealed in the Bringer of Chaos series.

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Before the immortal king was a king @nitsvetov #cosplay #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 11/27/2019 Cosplay 8 Comments

Before the immortal king Pietas from the Bringer of Chaos series was king, he was a rookie a plebe in a group called the Discord. I'll be writing a series set in this period of Pietas's life, and these images will be used for covers, banners, and videos.

I plan two more books for the Bringer of Chaos series and then two books in the Antonello Brothers series before moving to the Discord books. The series is so new I don't even have a working title for it yet! The hero will be a teenager, freshly out in the world and on his own for the first time in his life. I'm open to suggestions if you have ideas.

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Creating armor for an immortal king @nitsvetov #cosplay #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 11/20/2019 Cosplay 8 Comments

Creating Armor

Nik Nitsvetov will cosplay Pietas in armor hand-made for the Chaos is Coming Cosplay. Creating armor for a king - quite a feat to list on your cosplay resume. Nik has done an amazing job.

Last year Nik performed as Pietas from the Bringer of Chaos series for the Ritual of Strength. But before Pietas was king, he was a rookie a plebe in the Discord. Even the mightiest river has a beginning. Playing the immortal king as a rookie teenager in training ought to be fun to watch.

I've enjoyed watching Nik creating armor designed by Nano-Core specifically for this cosplay. The final style is somewhat different because taking a brand-new design and transforming it into wearable armor -- that's a lot of work. Nik had free reign to alter as needed to suit the cosplay. When you are creating armor, you need a bit of leeway!

Watch the live stream of this cosplay on Instagram November 23, 2019 at 8:00 am Eastern (4:00 pm Russia).

Enter your email below to get an email reminder.

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Sneak peek at the Pietas armor @nitsvetov #cosplay #SciFi #MFRWauthor #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 11/13/2019 Cosplay 7 Comments

Chaos is Coming - Sci Fi Cosplay

Nik Nitsvetov models the Pietas armor he hand made for the Chaos is Coming Cosplay. His sense of humor is on full display.

Last year Nik performed as Pietas from the Bringer of Chaos series for the Ritual of Strength. You can see the video of him performing below. This November, he will be cosplaying Pietas as a younger version of the immortal king. Before he led his people, Pietas was a plebe in the Discord. After all, even the mightiest river has a beginning.

The live stream will be on Instagram the weekend of Nov 23/24.

The costume and weapons are finished and now we're awaiting a final time and date for the studio where the cosplay will be performed.

Nik lives in Russia, 7 hours ahead of us, so when it's 4pm here, it's 11pm there. Best way to know the time? Try Time.is I've linked this to show Moscow time, which is where Nik will cosplay Pietas.

Enter your email below to get an email when the date and time are confirmed.

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Life speaks louder than beads #Excerpt from A Stolen Heart #SpaceOpera #MFRWauthor

Kayelle Allen 10/23/2019 MM Romance 4 Comments

Beads: an excerpt from A Stolen Heart

"This is Shohn, sir. As of a few days ago, your permanent liaison."

"Permanent." Luc scoffed. "That remains to be seen."

"Oh, you won't fire me."

His attention jerked from the changing scenery outside. "What did you say?"

"That you won't fire me."

What audacity. "Indeed? Put yourself on holophone. I want to see the person cocky enough to say that."

When she appeared, the substantial holopresence smiled. She had dark hair, golden-hued skin. Athletic, she dressed in the green and black uniform of an idBot Guard. Catlike ears perched atop her head and she had the slit pupils of a cat in a very human face.

A Kin. He should have known, judging by the level of sass.

"How are you, Mr. Saint-Cyr?" She wore a blue bead of a Lexius clan warrior in her hair. It hung in a single braid on her left, designating the highest privilege among her people. The long string of ornate beads beneath it meant she'd earned the right to wear it many times over.

What was that Kin insult? You don't have the beads to fight me. Apparently, this one thought she did.

"So, you're a Kin."

"I'm a Kin?" She reached up, felt one pointed ear. "I think you're right." She gave the ear a swipe, looking for all the worlds like a cat grooming itself. "And you're human."

"According to my DNA." He steepled his fingers. "Whoever assigned you to me either wants to get rid of you, or they think the fact I speak Felis will make a difference."

"Dok cho," she said, in the slow, breathy tone of the language. "Sten til du?"

Any schoolchild knew Hello, how are you?

"Seeyoo, skah," he responded. "Yl tu?" Fine, thanks, and you?

"Not much accent. Well done." With one claw extended, she toyed with that single braid. "I've been told you're a warrior among your people and hold great honor despite a lamentable lack of beads to prove it." She angled one ear out at the side. "Although your curls are long enough to hold two or three, if you had beading skill."

"Skah." He inclined his head. "Nahtay shah cohahkka nokk."

"You're welcome. And you're right. Life speaks louder than beads." She tossed back her braid. "My people say that to face an enemy, you must sharpen three things; your wits, your blade, and your fangs. I hear you fired the last ten people who worked for you. You'll keep me."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Threaten the man half the empire calls the Harbinger and the other half is owned by? I have no death wish."

"I own no slaves." Luc sat straighter.

"Forgive my poor choice of words. I'll restate. You are the power half the empire bows to."

He would not argue that. It had taken multiple lifetimes to set it up.

"Sir, you'll keep me because the others didn't get results. They were trofee. Beadless. Useless. Results are my specialty."

"That remains to be seen. Say your first name again, Ms. Lexius."

"Shohn. Like the stars at night. And may I say, I'm impressed you know my clan. By my beads, I assume." She tugged on the long dangle of braid. "Good eyesight, even wearing those solid black contacts."

"You might be worth keeping purely for your sense of humor." And sass, though he'd never admit that to her.

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Luc’s house is lit up. Everyone is home. Uh oh! #SpaceOpera #YA #MFRWhooks #MFRWorg

Kayelle Allen 10/09/2019 MM Romance 12 Comments

Luc's House

Luc arrives home and knows the status of his house will be chaos. Luc's house is orderly. Unless the boys are back.

By the time they drove into the neighborhood where Luc lived, sleet pelted the hoversine. The splash-slide sound of it freezing and then slipping off the vehicle's shields set up an irregular rhythm, a heartbeat out of sync.

Of all the domiciles he owned on multiple planets, this house felt most like home. Dark brown marble trimmed a lighter brown stone and the windows showed lights behind the white curtains.

Which meant his Deshai were back.

Which, in turn, meant his usually immaculate house was no longer so.

What was it about boys? They walked into a house and it was like unsealing an inflatable boat. All available space immediately disappeared. Items fell off them and landed everywhere, scattering across furniture, onto tables, and into every room. Within an hour of anyone's arrival the house looked like it hadn't been picked up in a month.

Surprising how much he'd missed that.

After this, no one was graduating. No one would come back. If they did, it wouldn't be to see him. After all, their new homes would be wherever they decided to work and Luc could think of no reason he'd be invited. They'd want to see each other.

Family. Not him.

A dull ache bloomed in his chest.

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Tag: Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels

Patronizing

10 patronizing quips by Pietas

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Snarky is as Snarky Does

Character Flaws

Perfectionism

Snarky

Lovable

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

From For Women Only

The Antonello Brothers Series

Fake Face

Fake Face

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Chaos is Coming – Sci Fi Cosplay

Soldier to King

Nik Nitsvetov

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Creating Armor

Chaos is Coming Cosplay Reservation

Pietas Cosplay Reservation Request

Thank you!

Nik Nitsvetov

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Chaos is Coming - Sci Fi Cosplay

Chaos is Coming Cosplay Reservation

Pietas Cosplay Reservation Request

Thank you!

Ritual of Strength

Nik Nitsvetov

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Beads: an excerpt from A Stolen Heart

The Antonello Brothers Series

Luc's House

The Antonello Brothers Series