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Tag Archives: Science fiction

The Superiority of Supporting Characters – An #Author’s Diatribe by Jake Lanum

10 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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5 Star Books, Action Adventure Books, Author Spotlights, Behind the Story, Book Lovers, Bookstagram, Historical Fiction, Indie Authors, Kindle Unlimited, Science fiction, War Stories

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I’ve never liked the protagonists in stories. Too often, they are just too gosh-darn graceful in adversity, as if they’re in the eye of a hurricane. People tend to reserve their love for “the proverbial Tyrion Lannister(s) and Aragorn(s) rather than the rounded (sometimes ugly) Hound(s)” and Boromir(s) of the world. From where I sit, the measure of a man is not in effortless perfection, but his struggle against adversity. Flaws and tribulation, internal and external, is what makes characters human, fallible, and worth rooting for. My quiet love affair with supporting characters drove the development of my own debut novel, Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, in a few key ways.

 

  • You’ll Hate the Protagonist.

The main character in Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a young man named Wilhelm Geier. Readers spend quite a bit of time in Will’s head, and they’ll quickly learn that he, unlike most protagonists, is terrible. This is not an iteration of revisionist Disney origin stories which cast villains as misunderstood (see: Maleficent). He is a spoiled, drunken, man-child by design. Geier has few redeeming qualities, and is patently unworthy of any love of he receives from other characters (furthermore, unworthy of reader’s admiration). I made a deliberate choice to steer readers affections away from the main character and, based on the feedback I have received so far, it has worked.

 

  • You’ll Love the Antagonist.

Professional editors and reviewers who have read the book have all favored another character, called Roo. If not in reality, she is Will’s perceived antagonist. Roo is a Cimaroon, an escaped slave-turned-insurgent, in the Spanish Main. She is Will’s opposite. He was born into privilege, coddled, and externally motivated. In contrast, her traumatic past is an unexplored certainty. In the face of slavery and living for subsistence, she proves capable and cunning. She is internally motivated, but not at the expense of generosity or warmth.

 

  • But, in my Opinion, the Supporting Cast is Peerless.

 

Personally, I like Roo as well, but you’re supposed to. At the risk of being labelled a hipster, I think that superlative adoration for Roo is almost as cliché as fandom for Katniss or Harry Potter himself. So, I wanted to take a moment to share why my prospective readers should give “Ugly,” and “Drunk Johnny,” a fair shake.

 

“Ugly,” was a green sailor, much like Will, who might’ve been called Jim before life at sea.  Ugly had been a promising farrier’s apprentice at age ten, and had an unimpeachable work ethic, but had gotten kicked in the face by a mule. He was left disfigured, and developed a crippling fear of all large animals. His apprehension thrust him towards privateering, where he hoped the only horses he’d encounter would be seahorses. The former-farrier never fails to stand his post or deliver on his assigned shipboard duties, but landfall eventually brings him face-to-face with his greatest fears. In his moment of weakness, will he continue to deliver, or will he falter?

 

“Drunk Johnny” was an apt description for the seasoned drunk and veteran seaman who sailed with Will and Ugly. He lived in an impressively uninterrupted state of inebriation. He managed to wake and stand post as scheduled, but his aptitude for such was dubious. When we meet Johnny, he escapes punishment for his shoddy work by bribing his ranking officer, a glutton, with salted pork. He was a slightly built man with gaunt features, and a ghastly dental malady that ensured that every time he spat it came out a shade of brown or red, depending on the amount of blood in it. Despite his shortcomings, both in sobriety and virtue, Drunk Johnny is the most capable and functional alcoholic you will ever hear of. On multiple occasions in the book, Johnny proves himself to be a resourceful combatant, and an astounding marksman – redeeming qualities for a privateer. Unfortunately for Johnny, privateers are subject to high rates of attrition. There is no guarantee that the next Quartermaster will be swayed with extra rations of pork – there is no promise that his failings will continue to be overlooked.

 

I have always had a thing for supporting characters in books and movies. As the writer of Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, I fell in love with Ugly and Drunk Johnny, and I hope that you will too. These are not vacuous placeholders, but they have backstories that leave a bit to the imagination. The balance of detail and omission in these characters, to me, makes them both complex and mysterious. At the same time, I invite you to read the book, and to disagree.

Biography

Jake Lanum has worked in corporate security, investigations, and intelligence since 2011. In this capacity he was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and eventually published an academic study in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. At 30, Jake endeavored to undertake law school, and to write his first book, “Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen.” While Jake remains in steadfast pursuit of his Juris Doctor, the latter made its debut in Fall of 2020.

Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/jake-lanum

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakelanum/

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Synopsis

After the Spanish discovered the Americas, world powers endeavored to project naval power and occupy the promise-filled void. This gave rise to the golden age of privateering and piracy.

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a fast-burning tale of maritime adventure. A cobbler’s son, Wilhelm “Will” Geier, joins an English privateer, Captain Drake, on a journey at the ends of the earth. In search of gold and glory, Will learns the trade. He hunts for subsistence in wildlands, finds allies in far-flung insurgencies, and struggles against the perils and threats looming in every navigable stream.

5- Star Review

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen by Jake Lanum is a tale of old. A young man who feels as if everything should be given to him. It’s the year 1572, and Wilhelm Gaier is that seventeen-year-old young man. Will dreams of a lavish lifestyle and therefore purposely ruins every apprenticeship his father sets up for him. Will’s father is a cobbler, and he does work for the right Socialites to get him on a ship as a privateer.

Will struggles to grow up and mature, even with his new life. While raiding a village one night, they come into the company of Cimaroons. This is where we meet “Roo”. She is fluent in her native tongue but knows little English. She is very cunning, and Will admires her prowess skills. They became thick as thieves, inseparable as they steal from the Spaniards. Will devises a plan to help Roo.

My favorite character is Roo. She is different, in every way possible, but that does not stop her. She is herself and everyone loves her. In a world where women did not navigate the seas, let alone do anything other than be a Debutante, she gains the respect of all the men. They listen to her. She fights alongside them. She is not a sex object to them. She is one of them.

I am awarding this book 5 stars. It is well-written and well-edited. It does contain minor profanity, violence, and some nudity. The year in which our story takes place is 1572, so there are subjects like slavery and how people of color were treated, which could make this book inappropriate for young or immature readers. Being a sailor myself, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to mature readers who love a historical piracy novel. Who doesn’t like pirates?

REVIEWED BY

Nikki Libby at Discovery Reedsy
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I would very much like to thank Jake for taking the time to share his story and his insights with BnV.  Its always a delight to meet new authors and share their books!
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~Morgan~

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In The Lime Light – #AuthorInterview with #SciFi #Writer Lynne Stringer

22 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Tags

Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Indie Authors, Science fiction, SciFi, Supporting Indie Authors, YA Books, ~Morgan~

.

I’d like to introduce you today to fellow author Lynne Stringer.

Lynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life, beginning with short stories in her primary school days. She began writing professionally as a journalist and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, before turning her hand to screenplay writing, novels and professional editing.

Lynne is the author of the Verindon trilogy, a young adult science fiction romance series released in 2013. Her latest novel, released in October 2016, is Once Confronted, a contemporary drama. Visit http://www.lynnestringer.com for more information.

Please Introduce us to your Blog.  What is it all about?   What sorts of posts do you lean towards?

In my blog I talk about my journey as an author and editor. I talk about the daily trials of an author and sometimes I combine this with advice for new authors from both an author and editor’s perspective.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?

That being an author is a tough business. It’s rewarding but you should only do it if you love it, not because you think you’re going to become the next J.K. Rowling!

Tell us about your book(s):

I am the author of the Verindon trilogy, a young adult science fiction romance series about a girl named Sarah who thinks her life is completely normal until strange things start happening around her. When all is revealed, she’s taken out of this world and goes somewhere else …

 What Inspired you to write your book?

My husband and I were going on holidays and on the long drive, he was trying to make me laugh by telling me cheesy pick-up lines. I was trying to think of some myself so I could join in the fun but the only one I could think of was, ‘You are the only reason I was put on this planet.’ I thought that sounded pretty lame and I imagined a guy saying it to a girl and she rolled her eyes, but then he said, ‘No, you are the only reason I was put on this planet.’ And I realized he meant it literally. I spent all our holiday wondering why and that’s when the Verindon trilogy was born. 

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?

I usually write in first person. I’m not sure why. That’s just the way it sounds in my head so that’s what I write. 

Do you have a favourite or least favourite character? And Why?

My favorite character would have to be Dan. I admire him for his nobility and strength. I love Sarah, my protagonist, as well, for her compassion and sense of social justice. Another favourite character is Mr. Hatchet but you’ll have to read the books to find out all you need to know about him!

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?

I would like to meet Charlotte Bronte as I’m a big fan of her writing and the life of the Bronte family is something that fascinates me. She’s definitely an author who knows how to move you and can make you love or hate her characters in equal measure.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?

I like to spend time with my family, read, and watch my favourite TV shows and movies. I’m definitely not a party animal.

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Please be sure to visit Lynne at her social places to discover more about her writing:

Website: http://www.lynnestringer.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynnestringer.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHeirNovel

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lynne-Stringer/e/B00BT60S1K

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7007776.Lynne_Stringer

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh0Pio7vL_yM47XR9RR2chQ

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/lynnestringer/

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~Morgan~

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Caption Me Curious

14 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Morgan in Just Me Musing

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

BnV, BooknVolume, Chronicles of Riddick, creative writing, Dickensian, Facebook, Film Badies, Kevlar, Movies, Sci-fi, Science fiction, Seriously?, Shakespearian, Vin Diesel, ~Morgan~

fail-buzzer

Caption me curious, but I do not understand the allure.

I recently went to see a movie at the theatre knowing full well that it was rated R. Willy Nilly, I went in anyway, but when the opportunity to see Vin Diesel on the big screen presents itself, I, for one, tend to step up, hand over my hard earned tenner and proceed to the top row of seats. After all, I liked the first two installments of the Riddick series, for some peculiar reason (although with the rippling muscles and that deep baritone voice, that reason isn’t really all that peculiar). Sci-Fi action hero flick? Sure. Unrealistic, even for Sci-Fi? Yes sir! Entertaining? Potentially. Except for one teensy-tiny little problem.

Ok, maybe not quite teensy-tiny. (mind the gutter!)

Being a Riddick flick, (no rhyme intended) I anticipated the odd F-bomb and, not being a prude, I didn’t honestly mind. After all, it’s Riddick, right? Blatant, over-testosterone driven hero with delusions of grandeur? Yeah, probably, but again, this was all anticipated. Still, after a dozen or so uses of this flagrantly over-utilized expression by every character in the movie except the alien dog, it got old. And after the second and third dozen exploitations of said F-bomb, I felt like I was in the middle of strafing gunfire (or the high school lunchroom), rather than sitting in a theater presumably enjoying a movie.

Seriously?

Now, before I go any farther, please understand; I am by no means suggesting that this word cannot and should not be used, for any purpose. It’s a truly nasty word, I’m sure you will agree, but let’s face fact, sometimes no other word will quite do. Still, I’m reasonably intelligent and have a functioning imagination. Is this really the only word known to these writers? Honestly, with all the colourful, expressive, imaginative possibilities, am I to believe that this one word, and its equally unimpressive variations, tops the list for useful methods to effectively portray the “badies” in film, on the page and in art? Even in this post I find myself coming up with, at least, slightly interesting or unique euphemisms, lest I fall into enemy territory, so I ask again: Seriously?

Perhaps I’m a bit old-fashioned, somewhat out of date, more Shakespearian of thought and Dickensian of nature than my counterparts in the here and now, but I simply don’t feel the need. Perhaps my vocabulary (if I manage to spell the word correctly!) is more expansive than most or perhaps I’m simply a bit of a word-snob. (very possibly, in point of fact), but if truth be told, I often wish someone would have handed out a Thesaurus before film editing happened.

Ok, before this turns into a rant (too late!): my point. Nope, haven’t got one really. Maybe this is a rant. Unusual for me? Absolutely! But perchance you might agree. In any event, as I perused the offerings today on Facebook and even the WordPress Reader, I was shocked by how many times the image of and/or the word itself (and any variation thereof) accosted me, and before I grabbed my Kevlar and ran for cover, I had to vent, just a wee bit.

~Morgan~

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