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.
In my novel story Leilani’s children get trials to do to see who is the next leader of their clan.
Great post! I want to see a follow up to this topic…
My Regards,
Brandy
Is Tania going to meet her grandmother?
AFJ. B.L.H. I don’t think so. At least, I haven’t planned for her to meet her. But you never know…
How did you chose doing the series? florian insurance agency, are you a real writing agency?
Who is the oldest character in the six book?
Hi Allan Happy summer I love the cover of the fearie path series. I cannot wait for the charmed return to come out. I am also waiting for the next book of the warrior princess.
AFJ. B.L.H. I chose to write the series because I thought it would be fun, and because I really like fantasy. I think the oldest character in book six is probably Eden’s husband, Lord Valentine.
Brigitte - sneak peeks of the new Branwen book will be online next week for sure.
I am writing a chapter novel when I get it finished it that the best time to send it to the editor.
When the manuscript is done is that the best time to sent it to the editor.
AFJ. B.L.H. - yes, once the manuscript is finished, you could send it to an editor - there’s really no point in sending an unfinished manuscript.
I will do that. My immortal sea elves age slower. In my story there is a painting of Titiana and Oberon
I am also writing a fantasy story about sea elves but they were called mer-elves before.
If you were writing a fantasy story about sea elves would you call them sea elves or mer elves?
AFJ. B.L.H. I like sea elves best.
Thanks. Does Cordelia get better?
Thanks. How does Cordelia get better?
AFJ. B.L.H. - you’ll have to read The Charmed Return to find that out.
If you were writing about immortal sea elves then would you put that they are immortal in the story and age slower than other people. My oldest character is Leilani’s grandma Irena–she is the ancestor sea elf who lives in Leilani’s castle/palace on the top floor. Leilani’s palace has 7 floors. She lives on the bottom floor. How would I write about the palace on the inside if I have not seen what it looks like but I know what it looks like to me?
Are there any illustrators that do art from Harper collins publishing that draw pictures?
My story takes place in the 19th century.
AFJ. B.L.H. A big part of a writer’s job is to be able to describe things that only exist in their heads - like Leilani’s palace. If you can see it in your head, then do your best to put what you see into words. I don’t know what else to suggest - except maybe you could draw it first?
You’d have to contact Harper Collins for the answer to that question about illustrators - I don’t know the answer.
How do you write synopsis and do you write them when the book is done?
AFJ. B.L.H. It depends - if I want publishers to pay me before I write the book, then I have to write the synopsis in advance - but if the book is written first, then the synopsis will be needed to let publishers know what the book is about and can be written afterwards. The synopsis simply has to cover the most important features of the whole plot - so that anyone reading it would know exactly what happens all the way through and why. A normal synopsis can be anything from two pages to fifteen pages, depending on the length of the book. You could also accompany the synopsis with a brief run-down of each of the main characters.
Do you cut the word clitter of what you write to make it more intersting when you revise the story?
AFJ. B.L.H. I try to do that as I go along, I tend to revise my work daily. Like, I’ll write 2 thousand words, and then spend the rest of the day working on them till I’m happy with them. Then the next day, I look at them again and do some more revising before writing new stuff. Some writers work right to the end of the story before revising, but that doesn’t really work for me.
Cool. Is about 1500 words to much for me to write a day?
AFJ. B.L.H. 1500 is quite a lot of words to write every day, but you will have to find the number that works for you - don’t write just to make up the numbers - write only when you’re feeling creative.
When you wrote your write novel or picture book it is get published the first time you did it?
AFJ. B.L.H. No, not at all! I think I sent off about four books before a Literary Agent liked one enough to take me on. Then it took six months and 7 publishers before we found one who wanted to publish the book. But a lot of people say that getting your SECOND book published is far harder.
I have it figured out! Dang it, I wish he hadn’t given me that many clues! I have everything!
AFJ. Sarah - uhh…no, you don’t, actually. Those clues only cover things that happen in the first third of the book. Oh, except for the Camden thing…and no one has gotten anywhere close to working that one out yet!
Found your book brousing the Library the picture on the cover caught my attention. Read the first two books right away. Ran to the Library after finishing the second book, They didn’t have it avaliable. so I had to buy it. waited impatiently for the mail to arrive. Then read the next two staying up late at night. and was just about to run back to the Library when I discovered the 6th book is not out yet! “pout…” I need a cookie. “sniff…” You are an amazing Writer. Love your books!
AFJ. Melissa - thanks for your kind words about the Faerie Path. You might like to try Warrior Princess while you’re waiting for Faerie Path book 6?? Meanwhile, I do plan on posting some sneak peeks in December for The Charmed Return. Watch this space, as they say.
How did you make your grammar better? Mine is okay but not great. Do you have any advice from me?
AFJ. B.L.H. - I learned the long hard way by trial and error - and by reading books where the grammar was good, and remembering how other writers do it. These days, you can set your computer up to underline bad grammar and show you what to put instead. But the best way is to practice and practice till you get it right. writing is a craft and like any other it takes a long long time to perfect it - if you ever do. I haven’t perfected it yet by a long way, and I’ve been a published writer since 1987!
When you write the descriptions of your characters you don’t put that they had feckles or gills or do you?
How many sentences can be four the pysical description of the character?
I meant for.
AFJ. B.L. H. There are no set rules for descriptions of people - but I’d probably mention gills, as they are fairly unusual. I think I said Cordelia had freckles. It’s really up to you.
I mean having alot of sentences for the sea elf queen. Example:
Leilani, the sea elf queen had long lustrous black wavy hair and green eyes. Leilani had a beautiful oval face and high cheek bones. She wore a teal halter-top and a seashell with pearl crown on her head. Leilani had purple ring on her left hand. Her long tail was bluish-green and purple. In Leilani’s hair she had streaks of blue-blond.
AFJ. B.L. H. Yes, that’s fine - not too long, and it gives you a good clear idea of how she looks.
When you write your stories or the faerie path books you did not tell the readers that the royal faires are immortal. There are immortal sea elves in my story that I am writing on.
I’m sooooo angry. Why did you make the last book a cliffhanger?????????????? And then, the next book doesn’t come out until January!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh….
AFJ. Nicole - well, it certainly wasn’t to make people angry, so sorry about that. And the long delay in publication was a decision by the publisher - I’d have liked the books to come out much closer to one another, but the publisher decided one Faerie Path book a year was enough - something few readers agree with. But ending a book on a cliffhanger is not a new idea - when The Lord of The Rings first came out, it was divided into three volumes, and they came out separately with many months in between - and at the end of The Two Towers Frodo was stung by Shelob and captured by the Orcs and carried away to their tower - so that was a pretty major cliffhanger. I wonder if Tolkien got angry mail about that? I bet he did.
If you were writing about four immortal sea elf daughters and their mom who is 400 and looks 30 her children are about 120 and look 17, 16, and 14 years old. Since Tania is immortal is she only 16 or looks 16 years old.
I love this series I can’t wait for the next book! When will you post some sneak peaks? I have been waiting forever to read this one! I read the others in less than a day! I love this story and can’t wait for the Charmed Return to come out!
AFJH. B.L.H. That’s quite an interesting philosophical question you’ve posed there! The girl called Anita Palmer is definitely 16 years old - but inhabiting her is the soul of a Faerie Princess that came originally into existence 532 years ago. So, is Tania 16 or 532? What do you think?
AFJ. Tanya - thanks for letting me know how much you’re looking forward to the next book - I’m hoping to post some sneak-peeks about a month before publication - so keep a lookout in December.
I think Tania is 16 years old.
I think that the 5 arrives but can 5 really be alive means that Zara arrivves. The the one where birds flock around the tower means that Cordelia is in there. the 1,2,3,and 4 are trapped in amber means the sisters. That’s what I think I am not sure!