Kevin's Watch

Menolly wrote:

Kenaustin Ardenol wrote:Is the official web site down at the moment, I am getting "FORBIDDEN" Site owner, please contact yout support centre for assistance.

Yes...

kevinswatch.ihugny.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16932

In the GI was written: wrote: James McMurrey: Dear Mr. Donaldson,

The Covenant series has been a great traveling companion of mine over the years. I even have a set in which when I open any one of the books a little bit of Iraqi sand (from my Desert Storm experience) trickles out -- generally onto my chest – while reading in the bed.

I recently introduced my 13 yr old son to the First Chronicle’s and he has raced all the way through to FR.

I asked Daniel (my son) as to what were his favorite parts of the books and he mentioned the story of when FoamFollower and TC first met sailing down the Soulease River. Since this was really one of my favorite parts of the story in LFB, I though it was fairly amazing my son identified this section, too.

Whenever, I begin LFB’s for the umpteenth time + 1, I always find myself re-reading the passage in which Foamfollower asks TC if he is a storyteller. Foamfollower’s subsequent response of “…. Say no more --- with one word you will make me weep.” – is such a great piece of dialogue. That was probably the hook that forever sold me on TC.

I am sure that the miracle of weaving plot, character and dialogue is part of your genius and calling. However, within that one piece of dialogue, did it have any special significance when you wrote it? Was there an “ Aha! moment “ ? ; Or a self-congratulatory chuckle?; Or even a “Genius-at-work, Movin’ on!” attitude?

BTW, my son and I have named you WordFriend <humble and hopeful smile>.

God Bless and Good Health! Looking forward to more of your grand work!

--James and Daniel






Saltheart Foamfollower (and then his time with Covenant between Andelain and Revelstone) is one of the VERY few occasions while writing when I felt that something was arriving in the story from outside the boundaries of my own imagination. (This is a fairly routine sensation where the ideas that inspire my stories are concerned. But it seldom occurs while I’m at work on the actual telling of the story.) One way to put it is that when Foamfollower came sailing up the Soulsease, I had planned what he would do in the story, and how he would contribute to the larger narrative; but I had never met him before. For me, he seemed to sail into the story from an entirely different dimension of reality (I mean “reality” as it applies to “character”). And my reaction was one of awe. Not, I hasten to add, Gee-I’m-great awe. It started as Gee-he’s-great-whoever-created-him-must-be-a-real-genius awe and moved quickly into Gee-this-is-why-people-write-so-they-can-experience-this-kind-of-miracle awe. I do live for those moments, rare though they are, when I somehow succeed at writing or creating better than I know how. So I’m not surprised that Foamfollower’s first appearance in the story has a special luminence for some readers.

(03/22/2009)

aliantha wrote:That's awesome. At the post-AATE-release Elohimfest, we should definitely greet SRD with, "Hail Wordfriend!"

StevieG wrote:

aliantha wrote:That's awesome. At the post-AATE-release Elohimfest, we should definitely greet SRD with, "Hail Wordfriend!"

SRD - Wordfriend - I like that. Wonder what he thinks......

aliantha wrote:Oh fine. Then we'll call him Dictionary-friend.

wayfriend wrote:(It sounds too much like a certain Watchmember for my taste, too! )

Menolly wrote:

wayfriend wrote:(It sounds too much like a certain Watchmember for my taste, too! )

We could call said Watcher...
...Kevin.

Ossie: No more wallowing in your own flaws! The recent run of "what did you mean when you said you wish you were a better author here?" or "isn't this a technical mistake?" questions in the GI would be enough to drive anyone to diamondraught. So my question is: of which parts of your work are you especially proud, where you feel you nailed it either from a technical aspect, connection with the audience ("they're gonna love this"), or you feel your work as the author did allow your intentions to come through on the page? Personally, I love both Earthblood scenes, and the cleansing of the Banefire - in fact, the entire section in Revelstone from one single word: "Nom". Awesome.

Thank you. For everything.


As I've suggested in other contexts, I'm proud of different things for different reasons. There are scenes in the Axbrewder/Fistoulari novels, especially "The Man Who Fought Alone," that still make me ache. Long sections of "The Power that Preserves," "The One Tree," and "White Gold Wielder" seem impossibly well-written. But from my perspective, "Mordant's Need" was my first truly successful attempt to organize a large narrative canvas. In that regard, nothing that I've done so far can compare with the GAP books. I'm perhaps maliciously pleased that "The Runes of the Earth" may be the only fantasy novel ever written that climaxes in an argument (AND it has a five-chapter prologue!). And I'm still in love with some of my short stories ("The Killing Stroke," anyone?).

Of course, I always aspire to do better....

(04/15/2009)

saltheart wrote:hear we go again.cant you folks appreciate a truth when its blogged.or are you completely blinded!

aliantha wrote:

saltheart wrote:hear we go again.cant you folks appreciate a truth when its blogged.or are you completely blinded!

I'm confused, saltheart. What are you referring to?