Creating a Timeline

And Keeping It

I'm probably not the first one to say: timelines are tricky. There's a large scale, where you have to consider how much time should plausibly go by in your book between events in order to make your pacing make sense. Then there's a smaller scale, where you have to simply remember that you can't shove 48 hours worth of events into one day.

When you write, you really have to keep track of how many days and hours go by between events. Plots and events are time-sensitive, so charting out a timeline is a great way to keep yourself on track. It enables you to control the pacing of your novel, as well, since if you can see, visually, what happens when, you can better plan for if you need to move scenes around to create a better flow.

Basically, timelines matter.

Personally, I ignore time in my first drafts. I love simply writing without the constraint of days and weeks, and keeping track on how much time is passing between events. When it comes to a second draft, however, it's a pretty good time to start looking at when things happen.

I'm a huge fan of excel sheets. It's an easy chart to fill in and personalize in any way you need (check out my post on using Excel to chart out details on your characters: It's All in the Details).

Before I explain, here's an example of what a spreadsheet typically looks like when I'm done:

What to notice first:

-Each row consists of seven blocks, one for every day of the week (note: this does not mean that the first block is on a Sunday)

-The numbers in the top, left hand corner signify how many days have passed within the plot (these are not the days of a month)

The Broad View:

In square A1, I put the inciting incident. This is the very first thing to happen in the book, typically the initial blast in the chain reaction. Labeling it with "1" lets me see how many days have passed between the start of the book, and any other scene. Putting seven blocks within each row enables me to see the timeline in "weeks," which gives me a broader view of how much time passes between events, as well.

The Details:

Inside each block, there's a small description of what happens. Notice that it's not too detailed, simply because this is not supposed to be an outline (for me, at least). Instead, I give myself enough information so I can orient myself with what's happening at any point in time. With each description, I put it into a category of "day" or "night," to further organize the scenes throughout the course of the day.

The gray squares symbolize that nothing happens. Instead, these are time lapses in which there's no event that's directly tied into the plot. Never underestimate the power of having nothing happen; it's these time lapses that allow you to slow your pacing a bit and allow your reader to have a break between high-intensity moments.

Like I said, this method is my own way of keeping track of events that happen within the novel, so I can space them out and see how each scene fits with the others within the course of the book. I don't try to bog myself down with exact months, and what day of the week things happen on; typically this is because I don't use exact dates like that within my novel. Instead, I might reference a month or a season, so it saves me a headache.

It's totally customizeable, too, so you can include any information that you feel is pertinent for you to work with.

Good luck!

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Does your novel cover a lot of time? Blogger @Rae_Slater shares how she creates an easy-to-read timeline using Excel (Click to Tweet)

Tea Time: Masque of the Red Death

**Warning: Spoilers May Abound**

Masque of the Red Death, Bethany Griffin

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

 And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her. (source:goodreads)

Cover-I'll definitely admit that the cover caught my eye, and then the title is what kept my attention. I'm a huge fan of Edgar Allen Poe's work, and Masque of the Red Death is one of my favorite of his short stories, so seeing a YA that revolves around the re-imagining of this tale was kind of fantastic.

The cover itself, though, is like I said: it's attention grabbing, which is everything a cover should be. The splotches of read among what would otherwise be a black and white photograph give it menace, and the way the subject is turned away from the onlooker's sight is a bit mysterious. The entire thing just kind of pops and I find it gorgeous.

★★★★☆

Narrative-The book is told in the first person POV in Araby's perspective.For the most part it's smooth reading; you're very much inside her head, and when she's confused, you're confused (speaking most notably about the one/two times she goes on a drug trip).

I'll talk about pacing in the next section (plot) but one of the biggest hiccups in the book (in my opinion) was the world-building. I feel like there was definitely room for more about the setting and the times that Araby lives in. The city has been absolutely desecrated with this sickness that's been around for years, which creates a really interesting atmosphere. Also, toward the end of the book another sickness erupts, called the Red Death, and I felt that, craft-wise, there could have been a better lead up, considering that it just kind of popped up in the middle of a scene. It felt to me like it was being used as just another  strain on the characters.

Anywho.

★★★☆☆

Plot-I was absolutely ecstatic when I came across this book, since a premise that's based off Poe's short story was pretty much a dream come true.

The aspect of the club life that the rich can afford was also pretty interesting, and struck a chord in me because that's what people do. To escape tragedy, we tend to attempt to escape ourselves, and I think it was carried across really well in the scenes of the Debauchery Club, including Araby's drug usage.

What almost threw me off the book as a whole, however, was when Araby met Elliott, the brother of her best friend, April, who goes missing within the opening chapters. Upon a first secret meeting, Elliott reveals that there's a revolution and he wants Araby to join, which includes stealing blueprints to her father's inventions.

Personally, I think Araby said yes far too quickly and readily. She remarks many times that she, her father, and her mother could all get killed by the reigning prince should those blueprints and information get out, and yet she does it anyway. And then gives them to a boy. A boy she just met. It just didn't flow right with me.

I kept reading, though, and the rest of the plot came and went at a pretty regular and natural pace, with events following one another logically and without going too fast or too slow. Really, if it weren't for that initial "let's get this revolution going" scene, I'd say that the plot was handled pretty well.

★★★☆☆

Characters-I've already pointed out how I think that Araby was far too quick to enter into the revolution and steal her father's blueprints. Part of that was considering that she's spent years being almost ignored by her parents and blaming herself for her brother's death; she goes tot he clubs with April in order to numb herself and forget the world. So the transition between that and having such a high-risk purpose felt like too big of a jump to have within just a few pages.

Despite that, after awhile she wasn't that bad of a character, always poking the bear when it comes to Elliott, who confused me more than Araby did. He continuously told Araby not to trust him, but he never actually did anything to make me (the reader) not trust him, which I felt was hypocritical.

I guess, overall, the characters could have used a little bit more development.

★★★☆☆

Would I recommend this book to another? Yes. Am I going to try to find its sequel? Yes. Because, as I've said numerous times, I love the take on Poe's Masque of the Red Death, and this book was a literal lead-in to Prince Prospero letting 1,000 guests into his home and then sealing it off.

Final Answer: 3.25 / 5

Rae

Plotting vs. Pantsing

There are two general categories when it comes to writing a novel. One of them is by plotting: outlines, index cards, mapping, and any other way you can iron out a few details-general or specific-before you actually sit down and write the book. Then there are the pantsers, a.k.a. those who just sit down and write and see what happens.

The latter gets their name from the phrase that some use: "writing by the seat of their pants." As in, they glue their butts to a chair and go for it.

What some people will fail to tell you is that there is no "one" way to write a novel. Sure, people will try to sell you different kinds of writing processes, and there's definite pros and cons to both ways. The problem is that everybody's mind works differently, so their creative process is different, too.

Personally, I'm a panster. I've tried numerous times to plot before hand, but nothing ever happens. I need to be in the middle of the action in order to figure out what happens next, because it helps me create a more natural flow from one scene into the next. The furthest I'll go into pre-planning is to have a general direction: a character starts at point A, then X needs to happen, followed by Y, and eventually they need to get to point B.

Sometimes there's as many as 10-15 k words between each of those points.

Others, however, like to have a more concrete set of directions. It keeps them organized and it keeps them on-track. I have a number of friends who create outlines, either for their entire novel as one or even as detailed as chapter-by-chapter. It works for them, so I can't really tell them it's wrong.

Okay, I'll stop just jabbering. Here's a small list of pros and cons for each method, and keep in mind that these are my own observations. Also, I might be a tad biased:

Plotting

Pros: keeps you and your plot organized; gives you a sense of direction (i.e. you always know what happens next); it enables you to develop more of your characters and setting before you begin writing; while you write, the probability of getting stuck goes down

Cons: the structure makes it difficult to stray from the outline and explore other plot options (some people "marry" themselves to their pre-writing plot lines and feel guilty about wanting to try something else)

Pantsing

Pros: enables you to act with spontaneity; less structure tends to set the creative juices free; you can dive right into writing as soon as your ideas hit you, instead of forcing yourself to slow down

Cons: less structure makes it more difficult in the later stages of writing your novel, which allows for the chance of losing steam or getting writer's block

That's the most comprehensive list I can come up with, and I assure you that there's more pros and cons to both options. What it all boils down to, though, is finding what works best for you in order to keep you writing in a way that makes sense to you.

Even if you're a pantser, though, keep in mind that notes are good. If you get a scene in mind, write down the basic concept for it. If there's details you need to keep track of, write those down. While I've already admitted to being a pantser, I like to make use of excel spreadsheets in order to keep my characters in order. I also enjoy index cards to help me order or re-order my scenes.

Find what words best for you, and never let anybody tell you that there's a right or a wrong way to do things. That would be like telling an artist that there's a right or wrong way to paint a picture or design a sculpture.

And that would be weird.

Rae

Release Day Blitz: The Rose Master

Guys, lets all take a moment to realize that it's the release day for The Rose Master, by Valentina Cano! To celebrate, here's a whole bunch of information you need to know about the book and its author, and if you make it to the bottom there's even a giveaway for some awesome prizes (and by prizes I mean books, two of which I've read and can say they're worth the time!).

The Rose Master  

The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:

There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.

Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.

As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.

When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.

Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.

REUTS - Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Valentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in Miami, Florida.

Website – Twitter – Facebook - Goodreads





I don't know about ya'll, but personally I am ecstatic to read this book.

And, as promised, a giveaway!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Parents: Missing, Dead, or Deadbeat

Sometimes they're all three.

I have to send a quick shout-out to Sarah at Birds of a Writer, because I had absolutely no clue what to write about for today. Thankfully I decided to put out my feelers and she came up with this, and I thought it was a wonderful idea.

Parents are interesting creations, particularly in the world of YA fiction. Most of our main characters are so young that they're still minors, which means they're still under the legal guardianship of their parents. Considering the kinds of trials and adventures most of our teenage characters are forced to go through, they can't have their parents hovering over them every second telling them it's too dangerous, or worse: call the police and let them handle it instead of their underage children.

See, problem. Parents present problems, which means that the authors get to have to get pretty creative when they search for ways to get rid of them for part or even all of the plot. Because no parents means that the characters can basically do anything they want (within reason, of course).

Here are some common solutions for getting those pesky parents out of the way:

Dead parents are pretty common. What's more, their deaths could even have something to do with the plot. When I read Dracian Legacy, the main character's parents had died before the events of the novel, but later you find out that their murder is very much tied into the main events.

A danger of using dead parents? If you're placing your novel in modern times and your main character is under the age of eighteen, they need to have a guardian of some kind. Another family member, godparents, etc.

Neglectful parents. This category includes both the kind that are too busy with other things (like work or other family) or are too drunk/etc to notice their children. Or they hate their children and simply try to pay as little attention to them as possible. This category can apply to guardians, as well (since I already gave ya'll the warning about minors).

For example, in Cress, by Marissa Meyer, Cress is trapped on a satellite orbiting Earth. Her "guardian," Sybil, comes around once a month or so to take progress reports on her work as a spy and also bring provisions. Besides that? Cress is alone.

A perk of this is that you still have a parental figure of sorts, so you ca avoid any sticky legal stuff in regards to why the child has no parent. Because, technically, they do have a parent, That parent just doesn't pay much attention to their kid, which opens a world of possibilities.

Missing parents. Like the dead parents, parents that have disappeared can play an interesting role in the overall plot of the novel because it raises a lot more questions than the previous two. The main of these questions is: why did they leave? It can make way for a pretty tortured child. What's even funner is when those missing parents show up again during the course of the novel, such as in Marissa Meyer's Scarlet.

So those are three categories you can put those pesky parents into if you're having trouble working your way around them. There's other ways, of course. If you want them to be those caring parents who are around as much as possible, but they really interfere with some of the plot, another thing you can do is what Kate Karyus Quinn did in Another Little Piece: Anna's parents were in and out of the hospital, and at one point spent more than a few days there, with some medical issues that the mother was going through. Ergo: no parents around to keep an eagle eye on Anna, but at the same time they were those really awesome and nice parents who actually had an itnerest in their kid and cared about her.

Brainstorm. Trust me, it's actually kind of fun figuring out a way around the parents, and many of those ways can tie directly into the plot and create loads of conflict for you to work with.

Stay Crazy,

Rae

Tea Time: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

**Warning: Spoilers May Abound**

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, Gabrielle Zevin

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn’t have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn’t have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d know about her mom’s new family. She’d know about her dad’s fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back.

But Naomi picked heads. (source:goodreads)

Cover-Who doesn't find typewriters fantastic? The fact that a close-up of a typewriter is the picture used for the cover of this novel makes me smile, particularly because it kind of fits with thoughts of writing a "memoir" in that both ideas are a bit classic. Then the question mark is singled out due to its more cursive and curly nature as opposed to the other sans-serif letters, highlighting the point that this book is about an amnesiac.

Overall, I think the cover is simple and classy and pretty artfully done.

★★★★★

Narrative-This book is told in the first person POV from the perspective of the resident amnesiac: Naomi. What struck me, personally, about the writing style was that it all felt slightly distant, told passively in the way a typical memoir would. At the same time, though, I wasn't bored to tears. Still not sure how that happened.

The pacing was well done and overall the writing was interesting while I followed Naomi through her life as she tries to remember her life (she lost about 4 years, I think).

★★★★☆

Plot-The plot, itself, is fairly simple: due to a head injury, Naomi can't remember approximately the last four years of her life. This includes her parents' divorce, her mother's her family, her father's fiance, meeting her best friend, getting a boyfriend, etc. All things that have a huge impact on her life in the present.

Truthfully, I love novels like this, that include a character who has no memory (for some reason) because it gives them a chance to be who they really are (in my opinion). Since they can't remember, they have no qualms about asking the questions they want to ask, behaving the way they want. The exception is when people look at them funny and say, "You never used to do/think that," or "You always used it [fill in the blank]."

With this book, I wasn't disappointed. Naomi questions her boyfriend, tries new things, gains new friends, and tries to figure out why, exactly she did or said the things people said she did. It's a complete self-discovery that's full of a girl trying to take back her life, instead of letting other people tell her how things should be.

There's also a lot of lying and general high school drama, the latter of which wasn't overplayed the way I feared it would.

★★★☆☆

Characters-Alright, almost done. (I feel like I'm jacking ya'll in not being as detailed as usual, but this is one of those books that I don't have much to say)

Naomi. She's funny and usually has a point in the things she says. Of course, she's lost and confused most of the book, but she puts on a brave smile as she tries to piece her life together and figure out if she wants to be who she was or who she currently is. However, I think the character that really stole the cake is:

Will, a.k.a. "Coach" (he calls Naomi "chief"). Will's the perfect best friend. Motivated, funny, always has something to say, and he's right there by Naomi's side while she goes through, well, everything. He answers her questions, tries to get her reoriented, and I feel like he put up with a lot from Naomi that I would have slapped her for.

Since I said that, I should clarify: a lot of what Naomi did kind of pissed me off, just in the way she acted toward her family and best friend. I don't mean her actions toward Ace, her boyfriend (let's face it, he deserved what he got). I mean the people who literally did nothing but stand by her side, and she just betrayed their trust and ditched them. So that really made me mad.

Last character I'll talk about: James. I like him because he's complicated and because, as a character, he provided so many bumps in the road. For about a third of the novel I couldn't help but try and decipher the things he did and the way they connected with his past, and it made me try and guess what happened with him later in the story (which I typically got right). So he was a bit predictable, but hey we can't all be perfect.

Basically, I'd read the book again just for Dex.

★★★☆☆

So . . . mostly there wasn't much for me to say about this book. I mean, I didn't hate it, but I wasn't bouncing up and down in my chair wanting to read more. It was a light read, relaxing; basically, I don't regret reading it, but . . . yeah. Just not much to say.

Final Answer: 3.75 / 5

Tea Time: Chasing Freedom

**Warning: Spoilers May Abound**

Chasing Freedom, Nicola S. Dorrington

Chase Finn is being hunted, and if he ever stops running he’s going to end up dead.

It doesn’t matter that he’s only seventeen. It doesn’t matter that just a few weeks ago he was a normal teenager. All that matters is that he is a threat, and the Agents tracking him will stop at nothing to see him neutralised.

With the line between friends and enemies blurring, Chase discovers he is just a pawn in the middle of a war that’s lasted for centuries, but he isn’t going to let himself be used any longer.

Soon both sides of the war are going to learn that the most important thing about Chase Finn isn’t that he’s a werewolf, it’s that he’ll sacrifice everything, even his own freedom, for the people he loves.(source:goodreads)

Cover-I like the boy on the cover, I like the moon, and I like the trees. They're all positioned fairly well, too, when looking at it from the technical perspective.

I think, overall, however, the cover should be on the darker side; if the moon's out, for example, it should be dark out (even with a glimmer of moonlight). Then there's the fact that it's somewhat of a dark novel. If there were a little more darkness and less white the tone and overall vibe of the cover would have worked better with the book.

★★★☆☆

Narrative-The narrative is told from the third person POV, in the perspective of Chase Finn. Overall, the writing was smooth and easy to read. At times, however, I felt like it was a little too simple: sentences too short, too often, for example.

I think that's the main problem I had while reading it. The simplicity made it difficult to feel the urgent nature associated with the plot.

★★★☆☆

Plot-I enjoyed the plot; then again, I've always enjoyed plots in which one species of people are being hunted down by another (particularly when it's run by the government, because then it creates all kinds of fictional juicy messes).

The pacing was off, though. There was too much plot without enough space within the novel, which prevented it from flowing together smoother. By the end, I felt like there was too much happening within the span of one novel without enough lead-in or hints along the way. I might have to wait and see what's in store with the sequel, but there were aspects of the plot, villain-wise, that could have fit in better had part of it been stretched out more; either more space within this novel, or else within a future one.

★★★☆☆

Characters-The characters were probably my favorite part of this. Chase, himself, was alright: a cocky teenage boy, but I think his voice came out pretty well during the actual narrative. Above all, though, it didn't really feel like there was anything special about him, so I'm still a little on the fence.

However, I loved the supporting cast. Victoria, Maladict, Anna, Kat, Andy, Jason, Will. Maybe I shouldn't be listing them, but I loved them. Them, their banter with each other, their abilities, their personalities. In all actuality I feel like I didn't get enough of them, a strange through considering they were always around. It would have been great to see them through their "special talents" in the same way we got to see Chase.

★★★★☆

Final Answer: 3.25 / 5

Special thanks to Nicola S. Dorrington, who provided me with a copy of Chasing Freedom to read and review.

Rae

An Interview with Jelsa Mepsey

Today is really exciting. In case you haven't noticed already, I'm interviewing Miss Jelsa Mepsey, author of a soon-to-be-release novel titled Second Chance. This is her debut novel, being published through Winslet Press.

Another reason this is so exciting? Jelsa has been an acquaintance of mine for years, and I'm just super excited for her.

So without further ado, please welcome Miss Jelsa Mepsey.

*

How long have you been writing?

I began writing when I was 13. So, 7 years, since I’m 20.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

It depends on the novel how much I lean towards being a pantser. If I ever do plot, it’s very minimal, and intentionally so. When I do this, I write a line per chapter detailing what I’m going to do in a bare bones state, and add more as I continue writing. I tend to write as I go because most of my best ideas come when I do that, and then I go back and fix any inconsistencies I previously had.

Second Chance is your debut novel. What was your experience like in querying?

Despite the many warnings from people telling me that querying would be a terrible, horrifying, soul-wrenching experience, I actually really enjoyed querying. At first I had a difficult time hitting the send button on emails, but then I learned to believe in my work and just send the queries. I received positive feedback with my rejection letters, so I just continued to push forward, revising my work, and just kept going for it. Overall, it taught a lot of perseverance and patience, and as fun as it was, I’m glad to be done with it.

How many other manuscripts had you completed before Second Chance?

First drafts wise, I completed 39 manuscripts prior to writing Second Chance. In terms of manuscripts that are actually possibly ready for publication, however, I have around 3-4 that I plan to further revise, then seek publication for.

How are you feeling right at this moment, amidst your blog tour and marketing your novel?

20% nervous wreck, 30% stressed out, 51% ecstatic. Whoops, that’s 101%. Told you I was ecstatic, stressed out, and a nervous wreck.

What advice do you have for other aspiring writers, both those with finished manuscripts and those with unfinished?

For those who have finished a manuscript, my advice is to keep revising until you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s ready to face the public and stand on its own, without any excuses or other support to back it up. If you have the resources available to you, find other writers who know their craft and who are willing to be brutally honest with you. Even if not, people who read a lot are also good candidates for this.

For those with unfinished manuscripts, my advice is to keep writing, because that’s the only way to come up with a finished manuscript. Then follow the steps above.

Will we be seeing more from you in the future?

That’s a great question! I just submitted another novel to Winslet Press, my publication company, for consideration. I hope to have updates on that in the near future.

Is there anything you can tell us about your novel, Second Chance, regarding the plot or characters? What can we expect?

You can expect to see the story told in before and after, in two points of view! That's all I'll say for now.

When's the release date for Second Chance?

July 15, 2014!

*

Jelsa Mepsey

Jelsa Mepsey is in the process of double majoring in psychology and child development and minoring in music at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has been writing since she was 13 and doesn’t regret a single moment with her various pens. When not writing, rock climbing, or doing something related to music, Jelsa can be found at her local library with a stack of at least ten books, staring at her dog Waffles for inspiration, or preparing to apply to seminary for a graduate degree in biblical counseling.

Website: http://jelsamepsey.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jelsamepsey
Twitter: @JelsaMepsey

Blog Tour: Meet Chase Finn (Chasing Freedom, Nicola S. Dorrington)

Special day today, because guess what? The Blog Tour for Chasing Freedom, by Nicols S. Dorrington, is officially being kicked off, today!

*releases confetti*

And I am officially handing the reins to Nicola and the main character of her novel, Chase Finn. I'm fairly certain that Miss Dorrington doesn't bite, but be wary; I can't caution the same thing for Mr. Finn.

*

So I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the world to Chase Finn, the main character from my new novel Chasing Freedom. I think people might like him!

He first came into my head over 9 years ago. I didn’t know much about him back then, other than that he was a hulking 17-year-old werewolf, who was a little bit cocky, fun-loving, charming and good-looking…

You think I'm good-looking?

You know you’re good-looking, now go and sit down and be quiet. Where was I? He took shape quite slowly. He was tall, muscular, from a good family, played rugby…

Hey, I don't just play rugby, I was Captain of my school team.

Shush. All right, very good at rugby. I knew he had to have had a good childhood, a good life. I wanted to turn the typical trope on its head a little. This wasn’t a guy who was a loner, or who didn’t fit in and whose life is turned around in a good way by finding out he’s a supernatural. This was a guy who had the perfect life, only to have it be destroyed by becoming a werewolf.

Too right it was destroyed. I lost everything, my friends, my home my family.

But you got a new one. But the most important thing I wanted was for Chase to be more than just a werewolf. I didn’t want that to be the all defining characteristic of him. He is so much more than that.

Are you going to tell them about Victoria?

No. That would be a spoiler. They’ll have to read the book to find out about her.

What about Maladict? Anna? Kat? Are you going to tell them about them? They're pretty important.

Spoilers. If I give too much away they won’t read the book. 

So what are you going to tell them?

Only this:

Chase Finn is being hunted, and if he ever stops running he’s going to end up dead.

It doesn’t matter that he’s only seventeen. It doesn’t matter that just a few weeks ago he was a normal teenager. All that matters is that he is a threat, and the Agents tracking him will stop at nothing to see him neutralised.

With the line between friends and enemies blurring, Chase discovers he is just a pawn in the middle of a war that’s lasted for centuries, but he isn’t going to let himself be used any longer.

Soon both sides of the war are going to learn that the most important thing about Chase Finn isn’t that he’s a werewolf, it’s that he’ll sacrifice everything, even his own freedom, for the people he loves.

*

Nicola S. Dorrington

Nicola S. Dorrington is a 30 year-old writer from England, currently living in the Cayman Islands,
where she procrastinates by staring at the ocean. CHASING FREEDOM is her second novel, set in a wet and mythical version of the country she left behind. Her first novel THE LAST KNIGHT was published 2013. She fully expects to one day be a crazy old cat lady - only with dogs.

You can find out more about Nicola on her blog, on Facebook and on Twitter at @NSDorrington. You can add CHASING FREEDOM to Goodreads.

  

 Buy the Book:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KZZXDAY

Nook:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-freedom-nicola-s-dorrington/1119720901?

Other Formats:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446951