LEAP OF FAITH - what happens next?
I originally looked on Leap of Faith as being a one-off story, but it became obvious that Tertia and Unita were not going to fade easily into the background...especially Tertia, as I may have said before. The original story was too complicated and when I'd simplified it to what Leap of Faith now is I realised I had enough material for a number (well, 4 or 5 at least) of books which would become the Temporal Detective Agency series.
Much or the plot for the second book in the series, Trouble With Swords, was already established and the book is now finished, is currently being edited and should be out in August / September under the Publerati Publishing banner.
Trouble With Swords mostly has the same core characters, but a different set of villains and takes the girls (and their new boyfriends) all over Europe trying to save the world.
The third book is provisionally called The Big Bang Theory and involves the Gunpowder Plot, while in the fourth book the Temporal Detective Agency will be going to America for the first time.
In parallel, Tertia is writing her own version of History in an encyclopedia called "Tertia's Cyclepodica" (she hates long words unless they're used for swearing) and a great friend of mine (Marit Meredith) is helping me write a cookery book based on recipes through the centuries. You'll find out the reason for the cookery book when you read Leap of Faith!
So Merl's Girls and the Temporal Detective Agency will fight many more fights and solve many more cases.
Please forward and RT!
Monday, 21 May 2012
LEAP OF FAITH. How did it REALLY start? (part two)
Ten years ago I wrote a show for the Scouts and Guides association. It was known as a Gang Show and had been put on every 2 years with sketches, jokes and songs. I and my production team (I was also producer) wanted to make it a story that would appeal to both kids and grown-ups with up to date songs. We chose an updated Camelot theme and the plot evolved over a period of weeks. Songs were chosen, ranging from Pink Floyd to Ralph Reader (the original Gang Show producer from half a century ago!). Our one problem (blessing) was that the perfect person to play the part of Merlin was a Brownie leader and definitely a woman! There was no hiding the fact, so our Merl became a well disguised female wizard with a wardrobe of false beards and a massive crush on her king!
I always thought the story-line had the potential for a book, but it was another 9 years and multiple rewrites and plot changes before I found an agent and publisher that agreed with me.
Merlin, Arthur, Marlene (her sister), together with Unita and Tertia (Merlin's apprentice wizards and known as Merl's Girls) all made the transition to the final book, Leap of Faith, and they were joined by Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad and a host of new characters.
In Leap of Faith they become the Temporal Detective Agency and solve their first case which involves the disappearance of Nelson's statue, the theft of the biggest diamond in the world and a battle with evil ship-wreckers and smugglers.
Leap of Faith is intentionally full of humour as well as adventure and was great fun to write. Indeed as the plot matured, Unita and Tertia (especially) became more and more capable of dictating what would happen next as their personalities became more powerful. Unfortunately Tertia hasn't learned how to use a keyboard yet so I still have to type everything up!
So what happens next....?
Ten years ago I wrote a show for the Scouts and Guides association. It was known as a Gang Show and had been put on every 2 years with sketches, jokes and songs. I and my production team (I was also producer) wanted to make it a story that would appeal to both kids and grown-ups with up to date songs. We chose an updated Camelot theme and the plot evolved over a period of weeks. Songs were chosen, ranging from Pink Floyd to Ralph Reader (the original Gang Show producer from half a century ago!). Our one problem (blessing) was that the perfect person to play the part of Merlin was a Brownie leader and definitely a woman! There was no hiding the fact, so our Merl became a well disguised female wizard with a wardrobe of false beards and a massive crush on her king!
I always thought the story-line had the potential for a book, but it was another 9 years and multiple rewrites and plot changes before I found an agent and publisher that agreed with me.
Merlin, Arthur, Marlene (her sister), together with Unita and Tertia (Merlin's apprentice wizards and known as Merl's Girls) all made the transition to the final book, Leap of Faith, and they were joined by Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad and a host of new characters.
In Leap of Faith they become the Temporal Detective Agency and solve their first case which involves the disappearance of Nelson's statue, the theft of the biggest diamond in the world and a battle with evil ship-wreckers and smugglers.
Leap of Faith is intentionally full of humour as well as adventure and was great fun to write. Indeed as the plot matured, Unita and Tertia (especially) became more and more capable of dictating what would happen next as their personalities became more powerful. Unfortunately Tertia hasn't learned how to use a keyboard yet so I still have to type everything up!
So what happens next....?
What's it all about and how did it start? (part one)
Good question!
One dark and stormy knight! ....once upon a time Merlin had fifteen apprentices (all girls) and all given names she made up because at her ripe old age of 30 her memory wasn't what it was. As a result there was Unita (one), Douvet (two), Tertia (three), Quattra (four) etc....up to Quindecatta (fifteen). But that was far too many to build into the story of the Temporal Detective Agency, so it quickly became Unita, Douvet and Terta. Though even Douvet melted into the background, even though I suspect she may make an appearance later in the series.
To me Merlin was always a woman (for reasons I may go into one day!) and was madly in love with Arthur, the King of the Britons. She also had a younger sister called Marlene who was frumpy, dumpy and had an amazing shock of orange / red hair. With Arthur eventually realising Merlin is the woman of his dreams and the two of them disappearing to the island of Avalon for a honeymoon the opportunity was there for Unita, Tertia and Marlene to start the Temporal Detective Agency and base it in Merlin's old cave. Rather than operate from Camelot in the 5th century they used Merlin's Time Portal to set up the center of their operation in the 21st century because the cases would be more interesting and thee toilet facilities infinitely better! They also took sir Galahad with them because he made darned good coffee and didn't charge much!
The Temporal Detective Agency was ready for its first major case!
Good question!
One dark and stormy knight! ....once upon a time Merlin had fifteen apprentices (all girls) and all given names she made up because at her ripe old age of 30 her memory wasn't what it was. As a result there was Unita (one), Douvet (two), Tertia (three), Quattra (four) etc....up to Quindecatta (fifteen). But that was far too many to build into the story of the Temporal Detective Agency, so it quickly became Unita, Douvet and Terta. Though even Douvet melted into the background, even though I suspect she may make an appearance later in the series.
To me Merlin was always a woman (for reasons I may go into one day!) and was madly in love with Arthur, the King of the Britons. She also had a younger sister called Marlene who was frumpy, dumpy and had an amazing shock of orange / red hair. With Arthur eventually realising Merlin is the woman of his dreams and the two of them disappearing to the island of Avalon for a honeymoon the opportunity was there for Unita, Tertia and Marlene to start the Temporal Detective Agency and base it in Merlin's old cave. Rather than operate from Camelot in the 5th century they used Merlin's Time Portal to set up the center of their operation in the 21st century because the cases would be more interesting and thee toilet facilities infinitely better! They also took sir Galahad with them because he made darned good coffee and didn't charge much!
Amazing!
Leap of Faith is now number 5 in the ranking of books with a Camelot theme. It's even beating most of the Merlin TV spin-ff books. It's even number 14 with the tag "Children Fantasy Adventure".!
I'm not sure how accurate or representative the rankings are, but Tertia and Unita and the whole Temporal Detective Agency is thrilled to bits. They also added that of course they were beating the Merlin books, because they have the real one and besides she's honeymooning with Arthur at the moment!
Can't argue with that!
Leap of Faith is now number 5 in the ranking of books with a Camelot theme. It's even beating most of the Merlin TV spin-ff books. It's even number 14 with the tag "Children Fantasy Adventure".!
I'm not sure how accurate or representative the rankings are, but Tertia and Unita and the whole Temporal Detective Agency is thrilled to bits. They also added that of course they were beating the Merlin books, because they have the real one and besides she's honeymooning with Arthur at the moment!
Can't argue with that!
Hi everyone,
What a Friday Facebook launch party for Leap of Faith!
I was stunned at the number of people who "popped in" and wished me, Tertia and Unita the very best success. Visitors came from the UK (expected), Norway, Africa, India, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Luckily we had plenty of virtual sandwiches and make-believe Chateau Laffitte 1967 to keep everyone happy and after 8 hours the party closed at 6.00pm UK time and the celebrations began in earnest!
In the evening I looked at the Amazon rankings and Leap of Faith had leaped 250,000 places on Amazon.com and 80,000 places on Amazon.co.uk.
Massive thanks to everyone who came to the party and supported me and my two young Camelot detectives so fantastically!
What a Friday Facebook launch party for Leap of Faith!
I was stunned at the number of people who "popped in" and wished me, Tertia and Unita the very best success. Visitors came from the UK (expected), Norway, Africa, India, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Luckily we had plenty of virtual sandwiches and make-believe Chateau Laffitte 1967 to keep everyone happy and after 8 hours the party closed at 6.00pm UK time and the celebrations began in earnest!
In the evening I looked at the Amazon rankings and Leap of Faith had leaped 250,000 places on Amazon.com and 80,000 places on Amazon.co.uk.
Massive thanks to everyone who came to the party and supported me and my two young Camelot detectives so fantastically!
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Launch in the United States
I heard today from my e-publisher in America that he and his team are doing a final edit read-through this week and then converting into e-format together with all graphics in 2 weeks time. I then get to read the e-formatted version and my publisher hopes to release Leap of Faith to Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc in March. The big launch will be at the Book Expo in New York in June with all the marketing razmatazz.
Meanwhile I'm concentrating on the second book in the series Trouble With Swords.
Exciting Times!
Meanwhile I'm concentrating on the second book in the series Trouble With Swords.
Exciting Times!
Friday, 20 January 2012
Knee Man
Some 5 years ago I fell and hurt my knee while in the Peruvian Andes. Not so romantic as it soiunds, as I was getting off the coach and into the hotel courtyard at the time. Nevertheless it hurt link anything and 2 uears later after lots of X-rays, MRI scans and doctoring I had an arthroscopy, which effectively means keyhole surgery to clean out the broken cartlidge ubder the kneecap and smooth down what's left. I believe WD40 comes into it somewhere!
Yesterday I went to see the Knee Man again because the pain seems to be coming back and I reckoned I might need a rebore. He was brilliant!
I'm booking in for an MRI in 2 weeks, seeing him for the results 1st March and a decision on whether another arthroscopy is necessary.
Not only that, I twisted my ankkle and it hasn't been right for some months now. He gave me a simple exercise from which after only one day I can feel the benefit. He also gave me aother exercise involving a tonic water bottle for a swollen nerve in the heel of my foot. All for gratis.
In return he has a free copy of A Leap of Faith, donated by a grateful author!
Yesterday I went to see the Knee Man again because the pain seems to be coming back and I reckoned I might need a rebore. He was brilliant!
I'm booking in for an MRI in 2 weeks, seeing him for the results 1st March and a decision on whether another arthroscopy is necessary.
Not only that, I twisted my ankkle and it hasn't been right for some months now. He gave me a simple exercise from which after only one day I can feel the benefit. He also gave me aother exercise involving a tonic water bottle for a swollen nerve in the heel of my foot. All for gratis.
In return he has a free copy of A Leap of Faith, donated by a grateful author!
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