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28 April 2015
Twitter followers: 48,280 Facebook page likes: 841
Twitter followers: 48,280 Facebook page likes: 841
...Eureka moments.
That's what it takes to write a book.
The first of those is often the most crucial, it's the point at which you get an idea that can be made into a fully fleshed out story.
Get one of those and you really do jump out of the bath and run down the street naked.
From that point of course it's all easy. Isn't it? Well no it's not. While it may seem like everyone these days is writing a book. Writing a book that has the length and depth to be worth reading is a lot harder than I suspect anyone just starting out truly realises.
But every step of the way. Every new character you create. Every interaction you give them. Every plot device you come up with. They are all eureka moments. Each spark of inspiration that drives your quest to complete that first draft or fill that plot hole is a Eureka moment.
Take the sequel to George and the Dragon that I'm currently working on. There are at least ten new characters all with their part to play in the narrative. Naming them all was not easy and I sought help on that part but even with help when the right name came up I knew it and at that moment another little part of the novel fell into place.
The ending of the novel had me stumped for sometime and then a series of ideas I had tumbling around inside my skull unraveled themselves and led to the perfect ending for the book.
One particular moment resolves the issue of what to do with Major Evans, Captain Atkins and Dawn Raider. When we left them the the Dawn Raider was just of the French Mediterranean coastline. To return home they have to sail around Spain and Portugal then along the French Atlantic coastline before finally reaching the British Isles. That's a long and boring trip so something else had to happen with them.
Another part of the plot provided the answer and again when that little spark flickered of inspiration I just knew it worked, it all fit nicely into place.....Eureka!
I'm still only about half way into writing the first draft of the sequel and some way behind the schedule I had set myself but it's forming into something I will be proud to publish when it's ready.
You will all just have to wait a little longer until I have had all the Eureka moments it needs.
Phil
You will all just have to wait a little longer until I have had all the Eureka moments it needs.
Phil
23 April 2015
...but never made the final cut.
Today is the day we celebrate the cowardly knight St George killing a baby dragon, what a heroic deed that was. Spitfire certainly doesn't think so!
To celebrate this I thought I would share with you 10 things that could have happened in George and the Dragon but never made it past the editing stage.
1. George aged unnaturally so he could bond romantically with Emily. He ended up tearing out of his clothes but it didn't really work and was vetoed by my sister who was heavily involved in the early editing of the novel.
2. There was a coven formed of mystics, shamans, warlocks etc from different nationalities there were responsible for summoning Spitfire. Except for the spell the coven were largely in the way and their roles otherwise in the book were easily filled by the two scientists on their own.
3. Originally a French female spy went on the trip with George and Emily to London. She was to have a German rival but anything she offered the narrative could easily be distributed to Squadron Leader Andy McKnight and Section Officer Caroline King.
4. The shopkeeper was Chinese. He was called Bai Hu and was the personification of the White Tiger of the West. He was a master with the spear amongst other abilities. In the end I felt it was better not to mix eastern and western mythologies. Although looking forward to the introduction of the Japanese into the war and I guess it becomes inevitable in some way.
5. Group Captain Ford was an expert fencer, having won awards during his time spent at Cambridge. I guess this never changed but the fight in which he demonstrates his prowess was removed as it served no purpose to the overall narrative.
6. The original message between George and his mother overwhelms her and she is taken to the medical room at Camelot. The coven then seek to revive her. It was a clumsy attempt to make the coven more useful and was removed when they were removed.
7. The original coven survives the attack on George's uncle's mansion via teleportation. Teleportation was a magical device I used a few times but it felt like an easy way to solve various situations and the tunnel concept I used in this scene has a much more realistic feel to it,
8. There was a fight on the train home from London which resulted in half a carriage being destroyed. George unleashes his full powers and it's the first time you get a glimpse of what he can do but again it just felt unnecessary and was removed at the beta reading stage.
9. The Dawn Raider encountered a German torpedo boat and destroyed it before it could act. It was nice bit of action but unnecessary in the overall narrative of the book.
10. The armoured coffins that the German pilots ride in where a very late addition to the novel. A beta reader pointed out the pilots survival rates would be minimal otherwise as they have no magical protection. The Silver dragons already had their armoured shells so the change seemed logical. It's also an attempt to show a difference between how the allies and the axis treat their dragons.
So there you go 10 things that never made the final cut.
Don't forget if you are interested I'm currently running a give away in celebration of the fact George and the Dragon is 1. There are 5 signed copies of George and the Dragon I'm giving away.
All you have to do is get yourself over to Goodreads and enter the competition. Easy!
If you know anyone else that might like to win one of the books let them know too!
Phil
Today is the day we celebrate the cowardly knight St George killing a baby dragon, what a heroic deed that was. Spitfire certainly doesn't think so!
To celebrate this I thought I would share with you 10 things that could have happened in George and the Dragon but never made it past the editing stage.
1. George aged unnaturally so he could bond romantically with Emily. He ended up tearing out of his clothes but it didn't really work and was vetoed by my sister who was heavily involved in the early editing of the novel.
2. There was a coven formed of mystics, shamans, warlocks etc from different nationalities there were responsible for summoning Spitfire. Except for the spell the coven were largely in the way and their roles otherwise in the book were easily filled by the two scientists on their own.
3. Originally a French female spy went on the trip with George and Emily to London. She was to have a German rival but anything she offered the narrative could easily be distributed to Squadron Leader Andy McKnight and Section Officer Caroline King.
4. The shopkeeper was Chinese. He was called Bai Hu and was the personification of the White Tiger of the West. He was a master with the spear amongst other abilities. In the end I felt it was better not to mix eastern and western mythologies. Although looking forward to the introduction of the Japanese into the war and I guess it becomes inevitable in some way.
5. Group Captain Ford was an expert fencer, having won awards during his time spent at Cambridge. I guess this never changed but the fight in which he demonstrates his prowess was removed as it served no purpose to the overall narrative.
6. The original message between George and his mother overwhelms her and she is taken to the medical room at Camelot. The coven then seek to revive her. It was a clumsy attempt to make the coven more useful and was removed when they were removed.
7. The original coven survives the attack on George's uncle's mansion via teleportation. Teleportation was a magical device I used a few times but it felt like an easy way to solve various situations and the tunnel concept I used in this scene has a much more realistic feel to it,
8. There was a fight on the train home from London which resulted in half a carriage being destroyed. George unleashes his full powers and it's the first time you get a glimpse of what he can do but again it just felt unnecessary and was removed at the beta reading stage.
9. The Dawn Raider encountered a German torpedo boat and destroyed it before it could act. It was nice bit of action but unnecessary in the overall narrative of the book.
10. The armoured coffins that the German pilots ride in where a very late addition to the novel. A beta reader pointed out the pilots survival rates would be minimal otherwise as they have no magical protection. The Silver dragons already had their armoured shells so the change seemed logical. It's also an attempt to show a difference between how the allies and the axis treat their dragons.
So there you go 10 things that never made the final cut.
Don't forget if you are interested I'm currently running a give away in celebration of the fact George and the Dragon is 1. There are 5 signed copies of George and the Dragon I'm giving away.
All you have to do is get yourself over to Goodreads and enter the competition. Easy!
If you know anyone else that might like to win one of the books let them know too!
Phil
20 April 2015
That's right, George and the Dragon has officially been out a year. Although I announced it's release on St George's day, 23 April 2014, the official publication date on Amazon is 19 April 2014, today!
To celebrate this momentous occasion I have decided to be a little reckless and give away five signed copies of George and the Dragon to five lucky people.
All you have to do is enter the book giveaway on Goodreads. There are no catches, it doesn't matter where you live so long as I can post the book to you then you can enter.
So why not let your friends know. Get them to let their friends know. Spread the word and maybe just maybe they can find out what happens when the mythical clash with the legendary during World War 2.
Thank you in advance for entering and I wish each and everyone one of you good luck :)
Phil
Thank you in advance for entering and I wish each and everyone one of you good luck :)
Phil
Goodreads Book Giveaway
George and the Dragon
by Philip Tolhurst
Giveaway ends May 03, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
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