Launching Romance into the stars.
Showing posts with label non-linear format. Show all posts
Showing posts with label non-linear format. Show all posts

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Clone--The Book of Eva. The most difficult story I've written to date.

Five years ago I started a story. At the time, I wasn't sure where I'd submit it, as speculative fiction can be a difficult pitch. Often it doesn't follow an expected formula or fit into a specific genre or niche. This story spoke to me, and demanded to be told, but in a way that is completely different from anything I've written. I have to say it was the biggest challenge I had to date with my writing and forced me to stretch my mind and knowledge. In many instances I found I had to put a square peg in a round hole. I'm sure my editors can attest to how crazy the format made them--at times, it drove me nuts. It is my hopes that my readers not only see what is obvious, but read between the lines and find what is hidden or implied. I am a cerebral author and wanted a cerebral story. If anything, I hope this story makes you think and ponder things you might otherwise not.

You probably keep hearing me say, it's not a romance, but it is a love story. I was recently asked why. Well, first off, if you read the first few pages you already know where I'm headed with the story--almost. But, there's so much more involved in that opening than you see in the first few pages, in fact, some things won't become clear until the very end--even when I give you the ending up front.

Some things about Clone that made it one of the most difficult stories for me to write:
  • It has a very non-traditional ending that is also the beginning. It is the only ending I could legitimately give this story. I could not visualize another. It is not reverse chronology though.
  • It has a non-linear format, there is a common anchor point though.
  • It is told primarily in first person and third person narrative--omniscient point of view.
  • There is a lot of symbolism in the story. (Hint: pay attention to the names.)
  • There are two major plot threads that run parallel. Both are separate stories, but support each other and bottleneck at the ending.
  • The story is plausible, actually some of the things that happen could be a very likely future. I took history lessons and said what if mankind didn't apply what he learned from the past?
  • Dare I? Olivia's heart. Yes, I did.
So, now you know a bit about this story, I hope you'll check it out. My hopes are it will engage both your heart and mind, and give you a story a little different than what I normally write. Buy Clone--The Book of Eva here for Kindle

Best,

D. L. Jackson