meltintall3 | NaNo2012: The Novel(s?) (Reply)

The Wolves of Brandon
by Meltintalle
NaNoWriMo 2012

David Lowell, werewolf, believes he can become human. Status quo says he's vermin to be exterminated and David's just been flushed out of hiding. Lured by promise of transformation not only for himself but for all werewolves, he's got five days of grace while status quo is left horrified by a massive and malicious explosion in the werewolf population. Too bad five years of dedicated work hasn't left him closer to a solution.

Okay, so I'm not quite thrilled with the synopsis as it stands. And the title reminds me too much of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase even though I have actual four-footed critters as well as metaphorical ravening wolves. But I do like the cover. What else do I like about this story? There are characters who were happily doing their own thing before being thrown into this mess, and there are characters who really don't like each other which always means fun times when they're forced to be polite to each other, and I can see dire consequences for the characters if they fail. *rubs hands with glee* Have I mentioned that I'm looking forward to reading this one when it's done? I just wish someone else had written it already.

That big house in the background is interesting. I haven't nailed down how one is supposed to refer to the estate. On one hand, "the ol' Duke of Brandon" has a nice ring to it for when people want to be dismissive and the family has been "Brandon" since the younger son walked in. However, "Branwell Abbey" sounds better than "Brandon Abbey" and I'm sort of attached to the house name though there isn't really any striking reason for them to live in a repurposed religious structure... and since my research tells me that peerage titles are connected with the estate its all a confusing mess in my head. I want there to be a bunch of related titles so that there's the Duke, and his heir takes the title of his next biggest [I can't remember what this word is] so I grab the next most important rank after Duke which means he gets to be a Margrave because that's the militant variant and the younger son is (the?) Lord Brandon and the daughter is (the?) Lady Brandon and...

Why did I want a bunch of titles again? Oh, because it sounds impressive when they are introduced... (there is a scene about this that I'm looking forward to writing except that it doesn't work as well when it's all "long list of impressive and meaningful titles that I haven't created yet" XD )

It's a messy, messy pile of ideas that wants to be shaped into a story, folks.

And as a bonus, here's the possible second novel:

Kingsward
by Meltintalle
NaNoWriMo 2012

He's supposed to be on his way home, not saving the world. But taking first prize in a tournament and solving a few mysterious disappearances might go a long way to convincing his father that he's a worthy son and heir.

Like I mentioned before, this one is all about ~~stealing~~ borrowing the plot of Ivanhoe. Except I'm grabbing from the one movie I saw as well as what I remember reading when I was ten or so and probably some of my favourite Robin Hood retellings. But it'll take place in some made up countries because that seems much easier than pretending to write hi-fi. I'd love to work in a few wacky things, but no running gag or plausible absurdity springs to mind. Oh, and the characters aren't named yet, except the dog who is, imaginatively, Dog. But there probably will be some form of smuggling and "Becky for the Clark", and a king held for ransom.