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Winter 2021 Story Updates

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Winter of 2021 is here already! Here are my plans for this season.

The Agitator’s Code: Check out Vaironian Tides and Ledani Moons! I plan to publish Tildari Sunrises in November 2022. Most of the writing I do this winter will be for the third and final book in this series.

The Architect’s Guardian: I’m revising Awakening, book one of this series, and fleshing out details for the other books.

Balance: This series is on the backburner, while I work on my others.

Drama: The Rebel Princess

When I’m not writing, I love watching dramas. One of my favorites this year is The Rebel Princess, a Chinese costume drama, starring Zhang Zi Yi and Zhou Yi Wei. I’d first seen Zhang Zi Yi in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Zhou Yi Wei was a new actor to me. Together they portrayed Awu and Xiao Qi, two individuals with strong convictions.

There were so many wonderful elements:

  • Acting – Stellar. The characters were complex. I found myself even feeling remorse for some of the villains.
  • Cinematography – Each episode was like a gorgeous movie.
  • Costumes – Detailed and exquisite. There are so many beautiful pieces.
  • Soundtrack- The intro alone is fantastic. Each part of the soundtrack is rich and memorable.
  • Writing – Incredible. I was often on the edge, eager to find out what would happen.

This was a spectacular drama. The competition was fierce. I could tell because by episode 65, so many characters featured in the intro had died. ??

Fortunately, the show wasn’t difficult to locate because all the episodes were officially on YouTube. While it consisted of 68 episodes, it was well-worth the time. Don’t worry. This drama had a happy ending.

Attack on Titan: Eren and Gabi Analysis

As of today, I’ve watched all available episodes of Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), an action/dark fantasy/post-apocalyptic anime. While the series has many interesting characters, the best discussions have taken place about Eren Yeager and Gabi Braun. The below video, by WordyBlerd, is an excellent analysis of Eren and Gabi. I understand why these two operate as they do but, in complicated circumstances like the ones in the series, the reasons for their actions matter.

My perspective is that, with all the horrors they’ve had to endure, Eren is more confident. Gabi, however, is brash and loud, which can look like confidence. Most societies cater to people who are extroverted and confuse being loud with being confident/informed/right.

In terms of strong character similarities, I believe Reiner Braun and Eren are the most alike and in more than superficial ways. Both Reiner and Eren are driven, but that doesn’t make them ignore the circumstances. They’re able to pivot and accept new truths. By the way, it’s interesting that Reiner’s name encompasses Eren. Maybe that’s an accident, but it still fascinates me.

At any rate, there are still more episodes in this fourth and final season. I’ve been watching the anime, but I’m planning on diving back into the manga. A show with this much conflict and depth must have more layers to explore in the books. When it’s all said and done, who knows how I’ll feel?

Winter 2020 Story Updates

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Winter has arrived, tempting me to wrap myself in a thick blanket and continue writing. Here are my plans for this season.

Balance: This series is still a priority, but I’m shifting my focus to my other stories for a while.

The Architect’s Guardian: I’m almost ready for the next step with Awakening, book one of this series. That means sending it to an editor.

The Agitator’s Code: The first book in this series, Vaironian Tides, is available! Purchase an ebook or paperback at these retailers. I’m revising my manuscript for the second book, which is titled Ledani Moons.