In 1999, a whole lifetime ago, I had the opportunity to lead a botanical survey in Papua New Guinea. Lucky me, my boss at the time despised being in the bush and rather than suffer through six weeks of being in the Papua New Guinea lowland forests he decided to send me -- who neither … Continue reading Chapter 9: About Sabogar
Chapter 7: The Chapter I Hated to Write
I am curious if other writers out there have a favorite chapter and one that they did not like at all. Not necessarily in the writing but as part of the storyline. Perhaps it is the unavoidable death of a beloved character that you really don’t want to kill off but, their death is what … Continue reading Chapter 7: The Chapter I Hated to Write
Chapter 6: Last Stop before the Overworld
In 2013 my consulting company at the time received a sizable grant from a large foundation to figure out how to integrate smallholder farming communities in rural Appalachia and Alabama into mainstream commercial markets. The communities we were looking at were small, isolated and marginalized. It was disheartening to me that in the world of … Continue reading Chapter 6: Last Stop before the Overworld
Chapter 5: Gael and other Names
As an avid reader, I have often wondered how the author comes up with their character’s names. There are basic guidelines to a writer’s character name choice, of course, that includes considering things like the genre, the era in which the story takes place, the meaning of the name, the character’s main qualities. And then … Continue reading Chapter 5: Gael and other Names
Chapter 4: The Voice in Our Heads
Haigan (pronounced Hī-gän) is one of my two favorite characters in this book. She started out with the usual motivations ... stature in society, a title, some girl power. But the more I wrote her the more complex she became. And, admittedly, it has been her chapters that I’ve enjoyed writing the most. Her significance in … Continue reading Chapter 4: The Voice in Our Heads
Chapter 2/3: The Setting
The Biltmore Estate is what happens when traditional period European architecture is built with American flare. Naturally, it is grandiose and imposing and boasts luxuries such as an indoor swimming pool with underwater lighting, a bowling alley and exercise room that were state-of-the art for the 1890’s when it was completed. As an American interpretation of … Continue reading Chapter 2/3: The Setting
Chapter 1: The Writing
I have been told that I am the worst reader in the world. Why? Because I have this habit of reading the last two pages of a book first. Yes, I am aware that it gives away the punchline. No, it doesn’t ruin it for me. It all started with James Clavell. The year was … Continue reading Chapter 1: The Writing
Realm of the Malach Origin
This is the excerpt for your very first post.
S.S. Pfuntner 