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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Not Just Best Friends by S.A. Hoag



by S.A. Hoag

Notice – the views expressed here are mine and not those of the SFRB.

Character building is a complex and time-consuming affair.  You want them to be realistic, but usually they are extraordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.  In The Wildblood series, I’ve used the relationship between two unusual people to reveal the storyline.  The catch is – they are best friends, and it’s complicated.

No, really it is, and there’s the fun part.  The dynamics between these two reveal important subplots and hint at things that I hope keep the readers intrigued.  While Wade is nearly a perfect example of an alpha male, and Shannon a head-strong alpha female, there are enough twists to make them unique.  I’ve been character-building around this pair, and I’ve been world building through their interactions.  Using them, I’ve expanded on family interactions, their friends and co-workers, and perhaps most importantly, the world they occupy.

What makes this work for me, in this series, is that they have a unique relationship.  The little quirks and details, complications that might echo similarities in Real Life.  They bicker, sometimes they fight, they laugh and joke, they share their hopes and fears with each other.  What are they afraid of, and what do they cherish most?  In this series, the question is, what would they do to protect their home?  People, even fictional ones, have their limits.  The author should exploit those, and the reader should enjoy them.  

When I’m reading, that’s what catches me – details that I can relate to.  Is this character confident and well-mannered, but afraid of large group of people?  Does she dance alone when she’s happy?  Does he keep a secret stash of romance novels?  When all is said and done, why will I remember this character?  Why would I read more, or why wouldn’t I? 

These are the things I consider during my many edits.  Spelling, sentence structure, plot, all those things of course are important.  If the story is boring or the characters don’t catch the imagination of the reader, technical stuff won’t matter.

What hooks you, in that first page?

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Renegades: Book 2 of The Wildblood
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYNY774
Uncontrollable. Unpredictable. Dangerous. The Wildblood.
Now, Team Three know what they are.



Renegades: Book 2 of The Wildblood takes up with Team Three out among clans of the Altered, and cities where civilization has held ground.  Their efforts to establish The Vista’s domain create unique conflicts and forge unexpected allies. One of the most pressing obstacle turns out to be their own governing council, a threat as real and dangerous as the nomads of the outlands.
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Find all my books, in eBook formats and paperback here - www.topaz08.com
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The Wildblood Series
No one remembers what started the war, the big one. It happened too fast, and there were too many lies, for the truth to be known. Civilization stopped, and what came next was fueled by rage and fear.

Twenty years on, a tiny refuge, a place called The Vista, may be one of the last vestiges of humanity. Isolated, guarded, and hiding a dark secret, the people have survived World War Last, and they are content with that. Their children, however, are not. The search for others will send them out into a world they know nothing about, where the line between enemy and ally is blurred. The war may not be over.
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S. A. Hoag - Author

I've been a lifelong Sci Fi addict, from Saturday morning monster movies, to a well-stocked public library, and being absolutely thrilled at the advent of CGI.
Writing came about naturally. I love contemplating 'what if' or 'what next', and then books happen. Detailed plots, intricate relationships, surprise twists, these are a few of my favorite things. I want my readers to be entertained.
Now I watch sunsets in the desert, the stars at night, and enjoy being with my family. You can find all my current books at my website. I hope you have as much fun reading them as I did writing them.
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Where you can find me


1 comment:

  1. Great post. Within the first page, I want something that makes me connect with the character--a thought or bit of dialogue that makes me smile or gets my curiosity up; a hint of the conflict.

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