Move Over Story #1
Hi friends,
A few weeks ago, wham! an idea for a romantic comedy hit me, and I couldn’t ignore it. I had to start writing it right then.
There are several reasons why this is odd for me:
- I usually have to be actively searching for a story idea – especially my supernatural fairy tales because I purposely pick a fairy tale plus a supernatural element and start from there.
- This romantic comedy is not paranormal. What? That’s right – it is just a straight-out romance.
- I’m already in the middle of working on a YA fairy tale inspired supernatural novel. And I don’t want to stop working on it.
At first, I asked anyone who would listen which book I should write, and after much debate I decided on both. It has only been a couple of weeks, but so far I like writing the two books at once. If I get stuck on one, I work on the other. Sometimes I do feel guilty for favoring one more than the other. I’m thinking of trying a schedule so they will both get equal time. We shall see how that goes.
Here’s where I’m at with both of them right now:
YA: Rough draft complete (from 2 years ago) and have worked back through 10,000 words.
Romantic Comedy: 4,500 words into rough draft.
By the end of the year, I’m hoping to have the YA finished and the romantic comedy’s rough draft complete. Wish me luck!
Love and Laughter,
Dorlana
Image credit: binkski / 123RF Stock Photo
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Reconstructing Grimm presents Sherlock Holmes
Production team; from left to right:
Production Manager: Amanda Hull
Co-Director: Tom Marks
Writer/Director: Liz Shipe
The very talented and creative team, Reconstructing Grimm (They are responsible for the awesome cover of Supernatural Fairy Tales) has a new project: “Sherlock Holmes and a Most Irregular Tea Party” is an interactive show in collaboration with Milwaukee Entertainment Group, written by Liz Shipe.
The location itself, The Historic Brumder Mansion in Milwaukee, WI., is so primed for the world of 221 b. Baker St. the audience will feel completely immersed into the Victorian era.
A fun and unique aspect of the show is that it will be documented online from auditions to opening night on Reconstructing Grimm’s blog.
Here are the details:
Main Cast; from left to right
Dr. John Watson: Max Hultquist
Inspector Lestrade: Bryan Quinn
Sherlock Holmes: Michael Traynor
“Sherlock Holmes and a Most Irregular Tea Party”
[ a Murder Mystery Event ]
September 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th at 6:30pm
October 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th at 6:30pm
Sunday October 14th at 1:30pm
Join the Baker Street Irregulars at the home of Sherlock Holmes for an action-packed party hosted by Mrs. Hudson, and help Sherlock and Watson solve the unexpected mysteries of the evening and keep the streets of London Safe!
Images © copyright Reconstructing Grimm
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A Big Giveaway!
Silverweed: a supernatural fairy tale by Dorlana Vann
A signed paperback copy of, Silverweed: a supernatural fairy tale, is now included in The Darkwoods Trilogy Party Giveaway on author J.A. Redmerski’s blog in honor of her triolgy, which consist of:
THE BALLAD OF ARAMEI (coming soon)
This contest is big and prizes are still being added. As of this post, one lucky winner will win 11 paperbacks and 3 secret eBooks. You still have over 100 days to enter, so get over there and enter!
About Silverweed:
Once upon a time Granny was attacked by a werewolf. Eighteen years later her grandson, Aiden Young, arrives in Indiana for his aunt’s funeral, and his unfortunate discovery of the family secret leads to a fatal mistake. Before the weekend is over, he’s trapped by a blizzard along with his superstitious cousin, Diesel, and Scarlet, Diesel’s manipulative girlfriend. In his grandmother’s spooky, old house in the middle of the woods, the teen faces life and death decisions: who can be trusted, and who needs to be saved? However, he must first figure out what the true monster is… werewolf or fear. Because in this Little Red Riding Hood-inspired supernatural fairy tale, the roles of prey and predator become interchangeable.
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Ninja vs. Pirates Goodreads Giveaway
Hi friends, Click on over to Goodreads and enter the Giveaway for my Children’s Book, Ninja vs. Pirates!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Ninja vs Pirates
by Dorlana Vann
Giveaway ends August 16, 2012.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Are you Team Ninja or Team Pirate?
Step into the hilarious imagination of Riley and Richard as they use clowns, ghosts, poop, and jokes to argue who are the better warriors—ninja or pirates? Riley dramatically acts out his tale about how the ninja tricked the brainless pirates. And Richard draws pictures to get his point across: pirates were smart and inventive; the ninja were the real clowns! Will the boys ever agree? Or will it always be ninja vs. pirates?
For all ages (especially 8-year-old boys)
Mild Pirate Violence
Dorlana’s 8-year-old son, Dean, wanted his mom to write a book for him that had pirates, ninja, and jokes. Soon, the project became a partnership. Dean is the illustrator of PART II, model, and advisor on all things little boy.
Buy the paperback at Amazon
Ninja vs Pirates
Buy the paperback at Barnes and Noble:
Ninja vs Pirates
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The Retelling of a Fairy Tale (Dorlana Style)
Hi Friends,
I’ve been using fairy tales to inspire my paranormal short stories and novels for many years. Instead of a straight retelling of the classic tales, I love using them as a stimulus by borrowing elements, capturing the mood, or using them as a backstory, etc., to write contemporary interpretations. Sometimes I even use a formula: classic fairy tale + paranormal element = supernatural fairy tale. I also often add a fun challenge.
Here is a list of my favorite methods that I have used over the years for you to try:
- Have someone list all the words which they associate with a fairy tale and then write a story, using the fairy tale as your muse, but without using any of the words on the list.
- Add another element: I usually use something supernatural, like werewolves, mermaids, vampires, etc.
- Pick a genre (mystery, romance, sci-fi) before you read or reread the fairy tale you are going to use.
- Interpret the moral, and only use that for your story.
- Pick one of the supporting characters from the fairy tale and put that character in a predetermined setting or time.
- Use a picture/snapshot plus a fairy tale to write the story.
- Use one of the motifs ( love conquers all, jealous sisters, good vs. evil)
A while back, I received a comment on my short story, Forbidden Beach:
“I really enjoyed this tale but can see no relation to Thumbelina at all.”
These are actually the stories I’m most proud of. I love when the inspiration get absorbed into the rewrites. Sure, you can see the fairy tale in some of my stories more than others, but my goal is to write an original paranormal short story. Then, when I go to write a novel using my short story as a starting point, I have an unique plot-line.
And most of all, it can be a really fun challenge.
In my collection, supernatural fairy tales: fairy tale inspired paranormal short stories, I have 18 short stories and 13 poems using some of the methods described above.
If You Feed a Wolf – Inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This is one of my favorites because it was experimental. I just let myself be free to write without a real plan. As far as what I took from the original story: it reminded me of how I feel in dreams – so some of the things that happen in this story are taken from my actual dream journal.
The Emperor’s New Clothes + vampires = The Vampire’s New Suit
Blueberry Eyes – I used method #6 and used a picture of steps leading to a bridge to boost my imagination.
The Gift – Inspired by The Ghost of Christmas Past from “A Christmas Carol.” This one was one of my favorites because I wrote the entire story backwards – line by line – It was my daughter’s idea to write it that way because I was stuck. I also like it because it is my first and only western – and it has a touch of steampunk and ghosts.
If it weren’t for Bad Luck – You see, I have this theory about luck, which I combined with Rumpelstilzchen.
Muse – This was an exercise we did in my writer’s group years ago. We gave each other letters they were supposed to be from someone in history and use that as inspiration. I added that to the fairy tale, Prince Ariel from, “The Fairy Tales of Madame D’Aulnoy.”
His Soul Inspiration – Inspired by The Little Mermaid, this tale is more of a mood piece and uses lines from the original story.
Jorinda and Joringel + mind reading = Quiet on the Nightingale
That’s a few of my stories and how they were inspired. The Supernatural Fairy Tales collection is in eBook and paperback on Amazon. Here are a couple of links.
Thanks for visiting my blog. If you write a story that has been inspired by a fairy tale, I would be happy to link to it from this page.
Love, Laughter and fairy tales,
Dorlana
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Supernatural Mystery FREE today
Hi Friends,
Passage to Queen Mesentia is a Paranormal Egyptian Mystery. The Kindle edition is free today worldwide. Here is the blurb:
The assassination of her archeologist parents thrusts Lillian Steward from her comfortable life and into a dangerous quest for an ancient Egyptian artifact. The mystery guides her from Texas to Egypt as she follows the clues left by her parents. Accompanied by a mysterious stranger with a romantically tragic past and her protective ex-boyfriend, who is still in love with her, Lilly walks a tightrope of forbidden attraction and blind determination. Will they finally be able to bury the past, or will a history of love, hate, and blood repeat itself?
Also, Passage to Queen Mesentia, is lonely over there on Amazon – poor little thing has no reviews. If you do pick it up today and love -or hate it 😦 or anywhere it between, a couple of words would be cool and much appreciated!
Love and Laughter,
Dorlana
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Character and Story Exercises
Just last week my writer friend mentioned how she writes side short stories using characters from her work-in-progress. Later on, I told her about how I tried to change my setting (I actually wanted to turn my contemporary YA into a western) and had written a new first chapter and had also brainstormed with my daughter about all the period changes I would have to make. During our conversation, I realized, although different, they both ended up being methods of character and story examination. Because even though, after a week, I gave up on the western idea, there were a lot of things I got out of this little detour that I don’t think would’ve ever occurred to me if this had not happened. (Be warned, one day I will write my cowboy novel!)
I know there are a lot of different writing exercises out there, like Character Questionnaires – And I’m sure they help a lot of writers get inside their character’s head, but I look at them with complete and utter dread. When the writing process stops being enjoyable, that is when I stop writing.
So this has me pondering new ways to a deeper understanding of my characters and storyline that I won’t detest doing or feel is a waste of time. I’m not sure I would go as far as trying to rewrite my novel into another era again, but I do realize that getting my thoughts away from the novel itself can be valuable.
Love and Laughter,
Dorlana 🙂
Dorlana Vann - Author 