First things first: we are okay. The Houston storms are far away from us. Thank you for worrying.
I’m sorry there was no updates. The last week was so long and busy.
Gordon had a due diligence medical test on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday flew by, wrapped in writing and editing on the secret project which may or may not exist. Thursday was admin heavy, and again more writing. Also the bills from the surgery are coming in in bits and pieces, and a chunk of time is going to matching them up to the insurance write-up. Friday there was pressure washing, and Saturday the arborist team came through. All of the damaged trees have been removed or trimmed.
We have 2.5 acres and probably close to 100 trees, most of which are oaks growing in clumps. It was a very expensive storm. But could’ve been much worse.
Mostly it’s all about the secret project. It has eaten all of the brain. There is nothing left.
Usually when we write something, it lands in the borderland between the genres. Innkeeper looks like an urban fantasy, but is actually a SF. Hidden Legacy is a modern world fantasy romance that pretends to be a paranormal. But we usually at least know roughly what it is we are writing. With this project, we didn’t. For the longest time, it didn’t have an identity or direction.
But now we know what it is, and that means it needs to be bigger, with more texture and color and details. The villains need to be more villainy, the plots need to be plottier, and so on. It sucks up brain power. We haven’t worked on any side projects.
This week I need to get some pronunciations done for Sanctuary audio. I’ve already had a merch Zoom, so that’s out of the way. Bad news: the coconut fiber unwelcome mat didn’t pass the muster. The design is completely illegible after a month of wear and tear. We will not be offering the coconut, but we will see how the polyester one does.
This is the most boring post.
Um… Okay, so we asked you good guy or bad guy on Thursday. Here is the full character description.
Another man followed, with a second bodyguard close behind. He was about 6’2 or 6’3 and solid, almost stocky, with broad shoulders and a wide face, made wider by a chin strap beard. His light brown hair, probably naturally wavy, fell on the left side of his face in a fringe cut. He wore black as well, but his outfit must’ve cost about ten times more than his bodyguard’s.
His boots were made of some leather-like material I had never seen before, with large ridged scales forming gold and burgundy patterns. It looked like he’d skinned a couple of small fantasy dragons and wrapped their hides over his feet. His black trousers flared above his boots, and a small decorative belt crossed each of his thighs, with large buckles that were probably gold. He wore a red undertunic with golden embroidery and an elaborate black doublet with more gold embroidery. His black belt was wide and studded with gold. A red cloak edged with black dripped from his shoulders but left his chest exposed, presumably so everyone would note a gold chain around his neck.
His clothes were too loud. I’d read that phrase before, but I’d never seen it so clearly illustrated. Nothing he wore was garish or gaudy, quite the opposite. Everything was exquisitely made and tasteful, but every individual part of his outfit, from boots to cloak, was a statement piece with its own voice. Put together, they screamed in unison.
There you go. Well, I’m off to work some more.
First???? I’m never first.
Today is your day! 😃
Congratulations!!!!
*tosses edible confetti while dancing in celebration*
Pretty Darn Goid for some one who had used all their words gone! Thank you, it was fun.
Good not Good! Happy Monday All
He’s got to be a bluff. I bet the bodyguard is the main character and he’s the red herring. Clothes that scream are like male birds 🦆 that draw attention away from nests… so good guy? But like a minor character?
After the description, I guess I’m leaning bad guy, but I didn’t pay much attention to the guy after “fantasy dragons”. Does that mean there are real dragons but the skin/scales wouldn’t look like that? (I know, wait and find out :D)
Komodo dragons ?
I had the same thought!
My first thought is Scarlet Pimpernel. Hide in plain sight by being too noticeable to be taken seriously.
Or Zorro who pretended to be a fop when he was anything but.
You guys are good. Zoro and Scarlet Pimpernel. But yes, our author lords have left enough room to go in either direction.
Not boring! “They screamed in unison” and now I want to scream for more more more. Trying to be patient. Of course, my clothes today scream “needs to do laundry!”
Same +1
Seems like a villian to me!
So glad you came through without too much damage, started worrying..
The description is very detailed, so it must be an important character. Lack of taste rules out a friend or an ally. So it has to be a villain but not the head guy. Perhaps he was hired to kidnap someone the MC is trying to save. Or maybe an information dealer…
I am taking back the ‘kidnapper’, the clothes is too expensive, plus he has two bodyguards.
How about a stolen goods dealer. The MC is about to rob him:)
+1 to your theory! Rich not-good guy getting robbed by MC. Also, MC sounds feminine too – by the use of the word exquisitely. Right?
Uh-oh, Mr Mod R says “exquisite” in common speech, I’ll check on him when we get home 😅
hehehehehe
I’m keeping my confirmed bachelor friend card.
also, any time I read “secret project”, my brain busts out with the animated Avatar the Last Airbender 🎶SECRET TUNNEL! SECRET TUNNEL!🎶 but with “Project”.
So glad all of you are ok. I looked up San Marcos on Wikipedia and saw you were away from the coast. I read the description of the character’s clothes and even though he is not dressed gaudily one of the 1632 universe characters [Herr Doctor Gribbleflotz] popped into my head. I am currently getting over a cold and rereading favorites is less demanding than going with something new. My last reading binge was your Innkeeper series! Time for more tea and maybe a nap. I hate spring cold season.
Not the clothing — ‘fantasy dragons’ *laughs* — but the mood of the character with the gold chain, reminds me of the guy with the big knife in ‘Indiana Jones’ where Indy simply pulled out his gun and shot him down.
Yes, I understand from the lengthy description that the guy matters. So probably can’t just be killed plot-wise. But bluntly, after that description, I just want the hero to off him like the villain he clearly is.
‘Kill them. The Lord knows those that are his own.’
It’s Monday. I’m tired.
Glad you’re all okay.
I’m guessing pompous client or something like that.
Glad you escaped the storms ok! I love it when you guys are like “my brain is dead” then give us something amazing. I wish my brain could produce this kind of stuff when it’s dead. I usually just trip over my own feet.
Well,
with the Picture above i just hope it’s not Damian Angevin 😉
This sounds like my son in one of his DND cosplays. And since he also has a red chinstrap beard IRL, I’m going with jolly best friend. He’s a very happy guy, not a drop of evil in him. Of course now it’s going to throw me when we get the book. Lol.
Hmmm still on the not a villain side… lol intriguing friend who probably has secrets if they are dressing so obviously out loud ish … 😎😂 my idea of villainy could be off though …
+1
Happy to hear all is well at home. As for the description my first inclination is bad guy. But then it crossed my mind what if he is actually a rich, good but somewhat clueless guy who has more money than sense. He thinks he has dressed as an ultra-deadly dude but didn’t know where to stop. Now he just looks out of place. Or he could just be a straight up bad guy. 😉
bad guy… unless his mom dressed him in which case ‘fashion victim’…or maybe rogue dressed as villain to accomplish roguish deeds….or oooh oooh glamour….soo ya know completely not what he seems to be and it’s really one of the bodyguards whose the villain and it’s just somr poor schlub set out as a stalking horse.
hmmm….my guess is the ‘too much guy’ is either an entertainment industry ‘talent’ (I lean towards that needing to be in quotes because of a good likelihood of his having a lot of money but very little talent) or very much wants to be a talented bad guy, but needs real bad guys to watch his over dressed back.
I still vote
in disguise
lol
maybe an obvious disguise
Sticking with douche bag. Try hard wannabe, insecure, might come good but could go awful. Bet he doesn’t even need two bodyguards, probably just for show. Mr Jerky McJerkface.
Also, loving the idea of you writing plottier plots. That so happens to be my absolute favourite type of plot! #excited #GimmeGimmeGimme
Complicated plots and characters are what you do best! Yay for more!!
Glad you guys are safe!
I still think our boy is a grey character. Like Augustine flashy, rich, important maybe but not an absolute out right villian.
Hmm.Villain or undercover, playing a role?
He sounds like the “quest giver.” The person at the start of the story who sets the hero on their journey.
Oh definitely bad guy. Or maybe good guy pretending to be bad guy.
Not so much friend or foe, more getting a “Littlefinger” vibe. Neutral, out for himself. Saiman
I’m so intrigued by secret project! Every post makes me think something different. I don’t know what to expect at this point! What fun! And also what torture to not know LOL.
Dealing with insurance in our healthcare system is hugely stressful. Getting anything else at all done indicates heroic effort on your part. I hope you get to take some kind of break soon
I will still wait until I get to read the story before I decide about the guy. Could go either way, or somewhere else entirely.
Anyone who’d wear an outfit like that has much too much of an inferiority complex. People who are truly sure of themselves would be into something more subdued. So…. Bad guy for sure, probably with a hair-trigger temper.
Plottier plots? Woohoo!
Interesting post! Every tiny bit of info in the secret project is very welcome. Thanks! And I hope the editing goes well.
I dunno about boring…. I’m pretty invested in your test runs of future merch. I’d watch that on YouTube. The print on my Cutting Edge sweatshirt still looks great despite it being my maternity leave go to. I washed it with towels and jeans by mistake which is the only issue and clearly a me problem.
The perfectly sized ferret heist mug gets a lot of use and also still looks fab. 10/10 would order both again.
Wow, life is very full for you right now! As long as there is a light at the end of the tunnel it should be bearable. Good luck!
Hmm sounds like either “I’m so bad-a$$ I can wear the hell outta this (go ahead, comment, I could give a sh!t) good-ish guy, or rich assh*le bad guy…
Either a villain or a hero trying to look like a villain. ‘Cause I like my heroes to be understated.
1) Glad the weather is not near you. If you have family/friends in Houston, hoping they are ok.
2) Medical test due diligence is major league important – glad for Gordon that it’s done!
3) Matching up surgery billings with insurance notices/payments will test the patience of saints. I have done those – I am not a saint, the proof being cursing and sobbing (which consumed an entire box of tissues on one occasion).
4) Anyone else hear “Mars, Bringer of War” from Holst’s “The Planets” while reading the armored warrior guy description?
Here’s to things getting, and staying, better!
Bad guy. But, bad guy with a hidden (he thinks) inferiority complex. But that’s okay with him as he believes his flash of decorated clothes cover that issue fully. He is wrong.
THANK YOU and brain power yay!!
Also this guy sounds like a total peacock d-bag. I can’t wait to see what you do with this.
if you spend that much time in front of the mirror you are vapid or villainous
glad you are safe and feeling well enough to re-engage brain
Best coconut print that does not fade its burnt like cattle marks. Poliester is less compostable tha coco fibers
The merch type is unfortunately dependent on local printers’ catalogue of offerings.
Good Guy funny with strong personality. If I were to compare to your existing characters I would say somewhere between Jim and Dessandra. With Jims strong ideas and opinions and Dessandras flare for dramatics.
I’m going to go with roguish, edgy antagonist turns companion. Sort of like Kurama in YuYuHakusho.
Obviously villainy
Either a bad guy or a good guy undercover as a bad guy.
Glad to hear you’re okay! Good luck with the secret project stuff *sends virtual tea for some energy boost*
This character could be either good or bad. He knows that he has to use a baseball bat to get someone’s attention. The clothing is his bat.
Good one, Henry.
Good luck with the health bills and insurance stuff.
The character with the bodyguard could still go either way with the villain vs. good guy in disguise.
At first, I thought “Hugh!”, then the hair color wasn’t right. Also, he wouldn’t need a bodyguard unless one of the Iron Dogs was in disguise. 😉
Also, Hugh considers black to be the flashiest color around.
Very true. However, Hugh would not be wearing that much gold unless he was in disguise.
Good guy, that everyone thinks bad.
Happy writing, y’all.
I’ll go with a slightly (?) clueless client type. More money than sense, but needs help with some real baddies.
I read this as another hero type like Arland or Raphael. This is a gent who has deliberately cultivated an appearance that is rich and Over The Top so that people will judge him differently than he really is.
While I’m hoping you’re having fun with Schrödingers project, which may or may not exist, I’m having fun guessing. The description is cool, seeing all the search items becoming an intriguing scene – and might still he hero in (flamboyant) disguise.
Glad the week/storms have passed.
I think he is the best friend, fresh from court or some other official function. This is mostly inspired by the fringe cut for his hair, and the feeling that his clothing was so over the top it must have been dictated by his position (with each generation before him adding another ridiculous required piece to the ensemble). This is what I imagined happening next.
First thing he does is groan and get a manservant to help him get the ridiculous, and likely constricting thigh belts off (with complaints about them restricting blood flow to certain critical man bits). Then the doublet is removed carefully and the under tunic pulled off more roughly than the embroidery warrants. His manservant winces. and hands over a looser solid black tunic, embroidered in black at hem and neck. Evidently, the embroidery cannot be escaped. He sits and the gaudy boots are whisked away, to be replaced by …boots that were likely identical 5 years ago but are now well-worn and faded. His casual look.
Ooh! I like this scene! Well done! 📖
My first reaction is that I hate this guy! Therefore, bad!
This guy feel like the atention whore Tonny Stark stile or the magnificente bastart antagonist arquetype like the gargoyles animated tv series vilain David Xanathos.
For those that are curious see more about magnificent bastards bellow.
https://antagonists.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Magnificent_Bastards
“Put together, they screamed in unison.” I have never seen this fashion catastrophe expressed more perfectly. 😍
That’s some outfit. Stands out excellently.
Glad you’re okay. Texas is a big state, but it seems some type of disaster hits each part.
Loved your characters description. Just not going to pass judgement. I need to know more. 😉
Most definitely a villain. Possibly lawful evil, however.
The last time I had a hospital stay, I did what you are doing afterwards (matched charges to the insurance which is really not fun). At the end of it, I felt that I owed X, but they said X+Y. Of course, when I did not immediately pay Y, they threatened me with a collection agency. I contacted them and asked for an explanation of Y. They said “You want your account audited?” “Yes.” hoping this was the right answer.
A few weeks later I got a check in the mail for Z. It seems that I had overpaid. No more collection letters either.
Plottier plots! All the plottiness! Woo Hoo!
Hmmmm… Good guy? Bad guy? Good guy that is disguising himself as a Bad guy or as someone not to be taken seriously? (Yeah, maybe…I like that last guess!) All I can say for sure is this is a character that I can’t wait to read more about! 😁
(Also, really glad to hear you made it through the storms ok. House/tree issues can be dealt with, the safety of HA family and pets is the most important thing.)
I liked “plottier” … I love the plottiest stories!
Glad all is well and House Ade Afefe did their thing to keep the weather from House Andrews. Hope your minds are recuperating–time for some vacation. Also thank you for more snippet, and best wishes with the unnamed project.
I think the over-fashion conscious guy is really a bodyguard and the important person is hiding as the ignored ostensible bodyguard, sort of how Queen Amidala in all the face paint and clothes was a servant and Padme the servant was the queen (Star Wars).
When I saw the damage in Houston, I thought “Alexander Strum had a temper tantrum.” 😀
YOU KNOW. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED AT MYSELF. I fell in love with my first glimpse and read of Puffles – and have pleaded all these years that you might bring that awesome story to full life. And then when you were mentioning the possible stories coming up – and there it was: PUFFLES – all I could see was Wilmington 3. So, I apologize for the lack of appreciation! I just got lost. Sigh ….
To me he’s a guy who thinks he’s a player but is really a poser. A villain wanna be
Gold neck chains always make me think of a sleazeball.
Glad y’all are doing okay, other than probably need an extra day to chill and do nothing. Arborist do good things, but i’ve seen those bills. don’t envy that!
Sounds like a villian or an over the top side character who thinks he’s subtle. Definitely not lead character…if he is, he’s going get made fun off extensively. 😁🤣
sounds like a rogue, chaotic neutral to me
I kind of like him. Hoping he’s not a villain. Maybe neutral who has a soft spot for the heroine. Maybe he’s like Captian Shakespear in Stardust . . .
Yeah I’d say EVIL first impression. Dude wears boots covered in the scales. “It looked like he’d skinned a couple of small fantasy dragons and wrapped their hides over his feet”. Good people don’t wear the skins of baby dragons.
Also just wanted to speculate that the secret project is Maggie or Puffles. Or maybe they’ll give us something new? Omg so excited! Anticipation is half the fun of new releases!
Well now I’m going with good guy in a disguise that needs to be over the top to fit in.
I love all the guessing games and can’t wait to see the pre-order link! 😁
I spit out my ice cream when I read about the plot needing to be plottier lol
Any word on Maggie’s fate?
We can neither confirm nor deny anything about Maggie at the moment. 🤫
Ohhh interesting! Bigger, more texture and colour and detail sounds good! Love a plottier plot and an extra villainous villain! There’s a part of me that whisper-shouts “Maggie! Maggie! Maggie,” every time posts like this come out, lol. So excited to learn more about the mystery-maybe project!
As for the man, my vote is villain, but maybe with a fun streak? A little ambiguous to keep things interesting? But not a straight up good guy.
Hopefully there is some rest coming your way soon! Dealing with medical appointments (even routine ones), medical bills, property damage from trees etc doesn’t sound like much fun. Sending good wishes your way!
ps. My arcane books arrived and they’re beautiful! I’m just waiting for my toddler to go to bed before I take off the plastic wrap. Must beware tiny tyrant’s sticky fingers!
I just wanted to say my arcane society special editions came in, and there are the most exquisitely beautiful books I own and already a beloved treasure.
Good bad guy. It makes me think of a Duke of Versailles. He knows he is rich, entitled and arrogant.
I’d say bad guy because of the point that each piece of clothing was trying to make a statement, and the statement was “Look at me, I am rich and powerful and you are not.” Even if he is presented as a “Good Guy” he really isn’t. No one who tries that hard with their clothes and misses the mark is the hero of the story.
“The villains need to be more villainy, the plots need to be plottier…” HAHAHA. I can hardly wait!!!!
Sounds like the poor sod is just teying way too hard.
nope, Bad Guy.
the Bodyguard is a dead give away, he is badly dressed, so the peacock? large colourful bird pays Bad, so villain
Anime is influencing my brain. 🙂
.. it’s all an illusion spell.
I stand by my first impression:
You’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover or a man by his clothes. I am guilty of both at times! Gaudy for the sake of vanity is an absolute no. Perhaps not a villian but definitely a fool.
Oh, my! I’ve never seen a better description of the nouveau riche! I’m sorry to hear about the mats. I hope the polyester ones work, because I love the message. (I want to get mine out the next time proselytizers of any variety grace my doorstep. And to accompany a “No! I’m writing!” sign.) I’ll be watching for further developments.
I’m going with new rich guy who is leaning HARD into the stereotypes because he does not LIKE the richy richy upper crust society and he absolutely adores making them get that little twitch in their eye when they have to look at him in all his sartorial splendor. And he makes sure they have to look at him by being invited to all the same parties and knowing how to make a spectacle of himself. Probably a spymaster and smarter than your average bear. Good guy, but the reluctantly good type who knows exactly how much work doing the right thing is going to be and is sharply sarcastic about it.
I don’t know whether he is good or bad because—as people have said— this could be a Pimpernel moment. However, as soon as I read the word “stocky“ I suspected that he wouldn’t be the main love interest. It’s not a word that is often given to the lead character.
Omg, been a busy week! So now I’m playing catch-up, seriously. Love reading everyone’s comments. I learn so much.
Had to Google chin strap beard, oh my, now I’m not sure if he should be good or bad guy, could go either way.
I’m intrigued to find out now. Then I had to Google Damian Angevin, as it’s been so long since I read the Kate Daniels series. (apologies, though I’ve started listening to the Graphic Audio versions-Love love love them!!!)
The blog post “Grand Master Damian Angevin, In His Own Words”, on Sept 18, 2020, was very interesting, and a great overview of the major events in the series. (spoiler alert if you haven’t read all the books).
So, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens here (whilst bouncing up and down impatiently on the inside – my knees won’t allow it any other way..)
Glad you’re all ok, though.
The combination of small dragon boots and the dreaded chin strap beard makes him sound like a WWE wrestler, in full kit.
I often think I want to write a book, then I do all the things I need to get done in a day and the sun goes down. Then I cook dinner and do all the things I need to get done in an evening. Then I go to bed and think, “I should write a book in my spare time.” So that is going exactly as it sounds, not well 😂