Here at last is a sneak-peek look at the cover of the 6th Faerie Path book: The Charmed Return, hot off the presses, as people used to say.
For anyone not yet in the know, the book is due out towards the end of January 2011. At the end of 2010, I am planning on posting some sneak peeks of the book online, so watch out for them in Nov/Dec.
Meanwhile, I have been asked if I’d be prepared to post some riddles based on the storylines in The Charmed Return.
here are the rules of the following riddles:
There are no rules except for the ones that I make up as I go along. If you work out the whole plot from these riddles and ask me if you have got it right I may say “yes” or I may say “no” or I may say “no comment”. I may give further hints, or suggestions based on questions you ask, but I may not tell the truth, or I may tell the truth, or I may say “no comment”. (I’m not about to give the whole plot away for everyone just because some of you are really really good at this kind of thing.) The riddles are all based on true things in the book - none of the riddles are untrue.
Okay: here goes.
1,2 & 4 are trapped in amber.
3 is no more, alas, but why do birds flock around the Dolorous Tower?
5 arrives, but can 5 really be alive?
6 and a boy appear when they jump through a hoop - but which of 2 boys and how are they here?
7 is half lost, but the Green Girl will help 7 to reunite.
The formula for the return:
TFP (221+4=T)=TLQ (135+11=A)=(181+24=G)=(248+7=F)
The answer is: 4 of 7.
5 of 7 is 50% TA+50%AP. In other words, 1 of 7 and 5 of seven are the same power twice over.
6 of 7 and 7 of 7 are hidden in TCR.
Together these 7 will make a new Power of Seven.
The Solution:
When Brother cries Uncle all evil is done - so why are the horses still galloping from the North, and who is the new Captain of Weir?
And if all is well, what does this mean: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World%27s_End_(Camden)
That’s it.
For those who enjoy this kind of thing, happy puzzling.
Why do you use roman numbers beginnging each chapter?
Thanks, I will do that letter but how do I do the letter?
How old is the king and queen of faerie?
Who is your favorite character in your book? Mine is Tania.
BLH I would say that Tania is the main character, as it follows her actions, what she sees, thinks and hears (also known as writing in third person). As for the century Conner said that he believed that Faerie was similar in technology to that of the 1600’s or 1700’s with the exceptions of the mystic arts (a.k.a magic)
AFJ. B.L.H. - I used Roman numerals because they fit in with the antiquity of Faerie - and because they look cute, I think.
I’m not quite sure what you’re asking me with regards to the letter. Find a potential publisher and write to them as I suggested. If you’re not sure exactly what to put, try borrowing a book on writing from your local library - there will be a fuller explanation there, I’m sure. Just be polite and tell them about your book and ask if they would like to read it.
How old are Oberon and Titania? Titania is somewhere between five and six hundred years old - Oberon is a little over ten thousand years old.
I dont’ really have a favourite character, other than Tania of course - but I do like all the sisters - and the villains are also good fun to write. I like writing scenes with Lord Aldritch!
Laura Lynn - that’s about right - the world of Faerie is like Tudor times in England.
Thanks. I will do that. You are a great writer. I’m a starting book writer. Do you have 30 characters in your books? I think you do.
My story takes place between the 1800’s and the early 1900’s.
Do you use a timeline for your story?
I have about 20 characters in the novel I am writing.
AFJ. The most thrilling thing for a writer is to get mail from people who are just starting out writing. I was inspired to write by reading books - and it’s great to think I might be helping inspire the next generation of writers!
Not sure quite what you mean by a “timeline” - I don’t use a Historical one for the Faerie Path, but Warrior Princess is set in a real time - but with changes to fit!
But if you mean a timeline within the book, then yes, it’s all plotted out quite precisely scene by scene before I start writing.
How many pages are in this book?
How do I make an author website like yours?
How do I make a good website good like yours?
AFJ. B.L.H. - the Faerie Path books are about 75,000 words long.
I hired a professional website designer in England to set up my website, told her what I’d like and let her get on with it - but I did the artwork myself. Maybe if you log onto the Fan Forum site shown on the Home Page here, someone will be able to suggest a cheaper way of setting up your own site.
How old is the guy who was Gabriel’s servent?
AFJ. B.L.H. - he’s seventeen - but he’s been seventeen for 500 years.
why did you chose to write about seven daughters of Oberon and Titania?
AFJ. B.L.H. I thought it would be fun.
I’m glad you did.
AFJ. Laura - Me too! Oh, and I forgot to mention, I was also told by the publisher that I would be given money if I wrote the books, and as someone who makes his living from writing, I can tell you that money is quite a nice thing to be given. But sometimes having fun is just as important.
What made you want to be a writer? Does your next book have 30 chapters?
AFJ. B.L.H. I always loved writing from as far back as I can remember. I just really enjoy the act of putting words together and having characters talking to one another. I’ve been doing that since I was about nine years old. I spent a lot of my spare time right through my teens writing in my bedroom, just because I loved doing it. I wrote 12 books before I got the first one published. I guess I’m just obsessed with writing. I don’t know how many chapters my next book will have - I haven’t started writing it yet.
I haven’t been on here in a while, school and all. Could the numbers be related to the chronological order the sisters were born? Like, Zara would be 5 and Rathina would be 6. It sort of makes sense, otherwise I have no idea. I’m so excited for the Charmed Return!!
How old is Gabriel? Do editors help authors like you fix or change the writing chapters or the paragraph?
Is Gabriel 500 years old? Who is your editor and do you have one?
AFJ. B.L.H. Gabriel is about 527 years old.
Yes, I have several editors - Karen and Rosie in London, England, and Sarah and Jocelyn in New York. Every book you have ever read by any author will have been edited at least once, and probably several times. My editors will make comments and suggestions right from the very start, when I submit my plot. The ones that I like, I act on, the others we discuss and try to find some compromise. Editors, you need to understand, are very powerful and ultimately can make the difference between a book being published or not - but in the vast majority of cases, writers and editors get along fine and there are no problems. Once I have written the first draft of the book it goes to Karen and Rosie and they look it over and make suggestions, most of which are usually good and upon which I am happy to act - then the 2nd draft goes to New York for Sarah and Jocelyn to look at and to comment on. I then write the finished version, based on their thoughts. Then there is a last edit - a copy-edit - at which point any spelling or grammatical errors are ironed out. Then it goes to print. Then we get a copy to double-check. Then it is printed for real, about two to three months before it hits the stores.
How much are editors?
What is the name of the editors page from New York?
AFJ. B. L. H. The editors with whom I work are employees of the publisher, so they don’t cost me anything. I don’t use freelance editors, but I think they cost about $4 - $5 per edited page - so for a book like The Faerie Path, you’d be looking at about $1,400. The New York editors work for Harper Collins, but there are plenty of freelance editors about if you look online.
once the book is out will you tell us how the riddle was actually supposed to be answered?
AFJ. SM - for sure, I will. But not straight away - I’d like you all to have actually read the book first!
What kind of font do you use when you write the stories?
AFJ B.L.H. - I use Times New Roman 12 point with double spacing.
Are there any mermaids or mermen in the book or only painting of merfolk?
AFJ. B.L. H. - sorry, not sure what you’re referring to here - which book and what paintings?
Does book 1 have a mermaid paiting?
Did you choose the number of pages for your book?
Do you think 13 chapters is too much for me or not?
Is Frewin your middle name?
AFJ. B.L.H. 1. I honestly can’t remember if book one had a mermaid picture or not - I wrote it five years ago and I’ve forgotten some of the details. 2. I was asked to write a book of about 60,000 words - but I asked if I could make it 75,000 - so, yes, I guess I did choose the number of pages, up to a point. 3. I don’t know if 13 chapters is too much - I don’t know what you’re writing or what market you are writing for - the best way of deciding is to check the length of a book similar to the one you are writing and then work it out from there. 4. Frewin is my Middle Name, yes.
Cool are your middle name. How long is 75,000 words? What is the title of the new book that you are writing?
How did you make Tania to have red hair like her mom the fairy queen? Mostly my characters in my chapter novel have black hair.
Who marries the warrior princess in the warrior princess books?
Is Tania’s uncle evil?
AFJ. B.L.H. 75,000 words is about 325 pages - depending on print size. The Faerie Queen traditionally has red hair - and I wanted Tania to look just like her mother - hence they both have red hair. No one marries the Warrior Princess - Branwen is only 15! For sure, Oberon’s older brother is evil - but Tania’s Uncle Cornelius is good.
I can’t figure out how to subscribe to the comments via my reader . I want to keep up to date on this, how do I do that?
So Oberon’s older brother who is evil is died? Did you send your finish manuscript to your agent then to your editors and then to be published?
Did you send the finished manuscript to your agent first?
AFJ. B.L.H. The explanation about Oberon’s older brother can be found at the end of The Immortal Realm. No, I didn’t send the book via an agent - I don’t use an agent for these books.