Excerpts are for Perverts

So I'm getting really bad at posting my blog on Fridays. This is supposed to be a weekend blog so just as long as I get it posted before Monday I figure I'm good. Anyhow, you're probably wondering about the salacious title of this post. Well, I had to get your attention somehow! 

Okay, I'll get serious now. This weekend post is an excerpt from my urban fantasy novel "The Forsaken" (Children of Cain Series - book one). I've been adding a new chapter from the book to Wattpad each month. Currently we're on chapter five "The Boy in the Tower" 

What is Wattpad you ask? Here's the Wikipedia definition to explain it:  Wattpad is an online community for writers (and readers) Users are able to post articles, stories, and poems. The content includes work by undiscovered and published writers. Users are able to comment and like stories or join groups associated with the website. Around five in ten users are U.S. based; traffic also comes from the U.K., Canada, the Philippines, Australia, and more. The most frequently voted stories (every day) appear on the "What's Hot List". These stats change daily, due to reads and votes by other users. Wattpad also has a Featured Story list, which promotes content reviewed and approved by Staff and an editorial review board. Many of these featured stories are written by self-published and professional writers from different genres.

If you're on Wattpad, here's the link to read "The Forsaken" on my profile: Chapter Five - The Boy in the Tower For those of you who aren't involved in Wattpad, here's an excerpt from chapter five of "The Forsaken". Enjoy! 

*******************************************************************************************************************************

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t jump,” he demands, staring Gwen down, determined to scare the little girl away.

            “Because she needs you as much as you need her,” Gwen replies calmly, not the least bit intimidated by Douglas’s cold manner.

            “What’re you talking about?!” Douglas shouts, exasperated and surprised by her strange response. “Just leave me alone!” he yells at her, turning his back on her, determined that this time he would  jump even if he has to do it with Gwen watching. He doesn’t care anymore. He’s had it.

“Soon a couple will come. She’ll see you and she’ll love you right away. You’ll remind her of her little brother Thomas; he died when he was your age. They won’t care where you come from, or what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you. They’ll adopt you just as you are,” Gwen prophecies.

Douglas stops dead in his tracks, his back still turned away from her, he looks out of the bell tower at the Orphanage and the courtyard below.

“I’m not sure what will happen after, but she seems really nice, like someone who’d be a really good mom. I think you’re going to be happy

with them,” Gwen replies, feeling suddenly jealous of the glorious future Douglas has before him, something Gwen knows she will never have. She has been adopted and returned so many times now that, after two years, the Nuns had finally given up and no longer even show Gwen to prospective parents. It hasn’t bothered her before, but just now, she feels utterly unwanted and alone in the world. But now isn’t the time to feel sorry for herself. She still hasn’t fulfilled her obligation to save Douglas; this is her top priority at the moment.

“That’s a good enough reason, isn’t it?”

            Slowly, Douglas looks over his shoulder at Gwen.

            “How can you…?” Douglas begins to ask but Gwen cuts him off.

“I told you, just trust me. I just know things sometimes. It doesn’t matter how or why!” Gwen shouts at him, losing her patience.

            Douglas doesn’t know how to react, so he just stands there, stunned and speechless. 

*********************************************************************************

There you go. I hope that little tid bit peeked your curiosity. If you want to read more either login/join Wattpad to read the book for free (but make sure you vote for me and share it like crazy)! Or, you can buy "The Forsaken" in print or kindle form at www.rjcraddock.com. It's also available online at Amazon and Barnes  N' Noble. Now go forth and have a superb weekend!

R.J. Craddock

Some like it DARK

Most fiction writers put a lot of themselves into their hero/heroine. They either draw from their own life experiences when the character faces trials, or they endow the lead with some of their own characteristics. You have to invest a lot of time into your protagonist, to make them likable, interesting, and readable. Then you have to make the plot thicken so here comes the conflicts, the antagonist/villain, or natural disaster to liven things up a bit. So as a writer one has to do some pretty terrible things to their beloved characters. Which in itself is a little twisted if you think about it. It's like tormenting yourself, tearing out your own heart and soul and punishing one you love for the enjoyment of others. Yep, we authors are a sick twisted bunch.

In my series the "Children of Cain" my heroine, Gwenevere, goes through quite a lot to put it mildly. But for me, the dark nature of her reality is what gives the series a sense of realism. I, like many before me, have drawn heavily from my own life when creating my literary fantasy land. And although my childhood was not an easy one, I attribute the person I am today to my ability to overcome and learn from past mistakes and trials. To me a story such as mine wouldn't be realistic without the darkness. Her strength of character wouldn't shine forth without the obstacles to push her to find greatness within herself. So, although I love and worship my little sarcastic green-eyed Witch (Gwen) I have to push her to the breaking point time and time again.

Before publishing the first book ("The Forsaken") in the series, I had a group of beta readers give me some notes. However, a few felt that there was too much darkness in the subject matter. Some objected to certain "bad" characters in the book not understanding why they had to be a part of the story or why Gwen had to go through these terrible things.

Something all writers understand, but not all readers do, is that every obstacle, every plot turn along the journey is carefully orchestrated to develop the character or to move the story along. There is a reason Gwen has to go through these things, it's all to turn her into the person she needs to be by the end of the series when she has to make some pretty hard choices.

One of my favorite dark tales is "The Black Jewels" series by Anne Bishop. A great read if you like Fantasy, dark magi,c and amazing world building. I've noticed that the books that I truly enjoy are the ones that aren't afraid to go into dark places and expose the weaknesses of their world. However, they often end with a message of hope that seems to reiterate the saying, "There can be no light without the dark."

But what do you think? Do you like things on the dark side or do you prefer to keep the mood light? What are your favorite books? Whether dark or light, share them in the comments. Now go forth and read, love, and enjoy life. Till next weekend.

R.J. Craddock