The Woman Behind the Series

This is a subject that has been on my mind for a while, but I have always been at a loss as to how to describe it. Even now, I highly doubt that I will do it justice, but I am a bit clearer on the subject than I was a few months ago.

The premise behind the titular "Crest of Zabutur" has changed numerous times, and yet the title remained since 2002. After giving it much thought, deciding what it really meant finally dawned upon me, and I was able to successfully tie titles with characters in ways that made me excited.

Each of the multiple volumes will feature its own heroes and villains, but there is one that stands above them all in terms of heroic and villainous accomplishments.

While I established the foundations of modern-day Mencu in March of 2009, it was not until early 2012 that I finally discovered who was pulling all the strings. It was through the diligent process of writing and rewriting that I learned who my friends and foes were; who would become mighty heroes and which ones would stoop to become the lowest villains. Of these, many of them are questionable. Those that get labeled as ‘heroes’ are certainly not the knights in shining armor, but instead have a unique set of motives that might sometimes drive them to extremes. Things they swore they would never do, they find themselves turning to in an act of desperation. While the day might be saved when all is said and done, that is not to say that it came without a price.

What happens when a protagonist learns that her efforts to increase her power “the fast way” forced another to pay a terrible price? How does a young man react after getting pulled into an assassination plot that led him to slay the emperor of one of the mightiest regions of Mencu? What would drive a formerly neutral party to pick one of the warring sides and go against that neutrality? All of these things are worth thinking of.

But perhaps, war really does bring out the ugliest in us all. The fierce military commander that is tearing through the ranks of her opponents appears as a savage killer because she is still distraught over news she had recently received that her husband and children had been killed in a massive attack while she was deployed abroad. That warrior attacking the empress is fighting for what little he has left of his home and family. Who are the heroes and who are the villains?

That is ultimately up to the readers. The little girl who originally wanted nothing more than to clear her name ended up becoming a killer and somewhat of a cultist. That man who assassinated the emperor ended up going on a lengthy journey to attempt to redeem himself. The commander fighting for a corrupt leader is fighting to protect the woman he loves, who is also in the military. The psychotic woman who set several cities ablaze is strangely amiable and actually very friendly—to the point where she has never been seen angry. The drunken jokester who is always grinning or goofily laughing drinks to help desensitize him to the war efforts. The empress who murdered the Admiral’s best friend was fighting to protect her own home. The ritualist who sacrificed innocents for his magic was doing so to regain knowledge that would improve society. The little siblings who had to swallow the terrible news that their mother had died decided to forgo a majority of their childhoods to join the military. The cheeky, flirty young boy who joined the fray is covering up an insecurity and lack of family or friendship.  The gentle, nature-loving seer who has shared so much profound wisdom is a notoriously dangerous politician who has her hands everywhere all at once.

All of the above are or are some variants of characters that have been written into one of the books. Which ones are the heroes, and which ones are the villains? That is for the audience to decide.

If one thinks that those examples are difficult to place, then perhaps the most prominent of them should be mentioned. Always the cunning one who runs 5 or 6 steps ahead of the rest of the gang, this Zurok Mia Takamatzu is essentially responsible for the series as a whole.

A devious and dangerous girl, Zurok was all about the smarts. She has played politics since she was a little child, and by the time the events of “The Crusade of Zulera” roll around, she seems to know exactly how this game is played. She cautiously picks sides offering her skills, wisdom, and services for various reasons and without a price. Her gentle nature and sage words have earned her enough respect that both “sides” have spoken with her, and neither side treats her as an enemy. Zurok is not easily bought, but her services are much sought-after because she is willing to go to whatever end to get things done. Some say she accomplishes good, while others remind them of the prices she has had to sometimes pay. Is a means to an end worth it? Were there other, safer ways to do what she did? Is Zurok good or evil?

…you tell me.

Of Ideas, Characters, and California

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who has had more ideas for a story than they are able to write down, let alone publish. There are even times when you're stuck with two earth-shattering ideas that you believe are so amazing that it's like choosing between the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail. While there is no real way to say what is and is not a good idea because some people have tastes for such things (yes, even the stupidest ideas will gain popularity among the stupidest of people, and sadly... such types are anything but in short supply), it comes down to wondering what should stay and what should go.

Most experienced authors will have a few answers that are probably similar to the one that I would personally suggest. When in doubt and looking for where to go as you go from point B to point E (or more accurately, Point B(eginning) and Point E(nd), pardon the lame pun), stop and take a look at your characters, particularly your major characters and protagonists, though major antagonists should also get a say in the matter. Get to really know them, and get to really know what they will and won't do under the circumstances that you have placed them in.

A lot of people will say never to treat your characters like real people or like friends. That's only true when you write for them. Most people wouldn't want their friends to get hurt or have to suffer through trials and tribulations. But... the connection ends there. you want your characters to seem real enough that you can at least give them real personalities. that way, it makes their behavior seem more realistic, and easier to relate to by the readers.

Often times, the best stories are written by the characters themselves. Notably in my own works, was Koara Ayumi Jenyx and California Sunanda Zendega, both of whom debut in The Crusade of Zulera. Originally, Koara was set to be the main character, because she had had a developed history and personality, and her origins date way back to around 2002 or 2003, making her one of my first characters that I have refined time and time again. I had expected Koara to remain the main character for the course of the book, and into the first couple of chapters, she played it well.

Then came little California.

Somehow, through actions that I don't even fully understand myself, she stepped up to the plate, pushing Koara aside and taking center stage right under the spotlight. She was a character created in late 2011, and thus was much newer and a cleaner slate. after hijacking the position of main protagonist from Koara, she proceeded to shape her fresh personality, tapping into some rather dark things in life, and exposing a bit of what war and pressure can do to the innocence of a child. Whatever the case, I knew that it was an example of a character guiding the story instead of me. that one change alone took the story in a completely different direction from my original ideas that I had had in January of 2012 when I had started writing The Crusade of Zulera. 

With that all in mind, don't be afraid if your characters start digressing from your original plans. chances are they have better ideas as to what they want to do, and so when they want to do something, it's best to go with their wishes if you want your characters to remain believable and prevent your plot from feeling forced. Just go with it. You never know where it will take you, but usually it's a better place than you expected.

The Premise of the "Zabutur" Series

Any novelist, from aspiring amateur to prominent professional, is familiar with the age-old question people will always inevitably ask when they learn you are writing (or have written) a novel or two.

"What's it about?"

There are so many ways to answer this question that I personally dislike it. There is usually far too much to explain in one simple sentence. Of course there is a story, and even with 10 volumes of my series outlined, I am aware of each story, and can put each one into one sentence. However, the series as a whole is a bit harder to explain. After all, how can you simplify a story that speaks of the dangers and differences of order and chaos, the bounds between good and evil, the illusion of right and wrong, and the concepts of eternity and spirituality, among so many other things?
Rewinding a little, I am currently working on a volume called "The Crusade of Zulera". To explain it in 3 sentences or less, it's a story about a young girl who suddenly becomes the poster child for a massive world war. She proceeds to seek ways to clear her name and ideally stop the war, although that is obviously much easier said than done. This is a tale that tells of the heroic accomplishments of a young California Sunanda Zendenga, and pits her against warriors and politicans in a struggle to see if she can overcome the schemes the world continues to throw at her.

I am not sure how many people can, will, or do say the same, but I write to tell a story first and foremost. anything else, including anything that could be considered "preachy", is all a distant second. While there are references to Mormonism, as well as the Book of Mormon, this is certainly not a series that tries to preach for or against any religion. The characters in the series have their own religion and politics, and so I am sure that if we ever made contact with such a world like Mencu, they would be utterly disinterested in our politics, religions, and the likes, simply because they have their own.

However, the Zabutur series is not a religious tract, nor does it preach politics. most dominantly, it is a story of love and war. If I had to use three words or less to describe what me series is about, the phrase of choice would be "Love and War". More than the story itself, it is about the characters of the world, how they grow and change, how they handle their conflicts, and how they handle each other. I am in the adamant belief that if you can write good, believable characters, it won't matter how you write plots, because the characters will come to life and make that for you.

Either way, I'll end here, since I could go on forever about explaining the Zabutur series and what it's about. Hopefully this will answer a few questions, perhaps inspire a few people, or some other happy whatnot.