K.S. NIKAKIS

CONFLUX 2007 and 2008

2007-10-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

Conflux is a science fiction and fantasy writer's convention which was held in Canberra at the end of September. It was the first one I've been to and a fascinating experience. The days were full of panels and guest presenters, with famous writers attending like Garth Nix, Simon Brown, Kevin J Anderson, Rebecca Moesta and many others who generously and often humorously shared their writing and publishing experiences.

I had the happy experience of being part of a debate on whether the evil overlord was more interesting than the hero, on two panels - on the cross-over between creative and other types of writing,podcast and on the worst heroes in story, and presented on the particular characteristics of the female hero. My piece on the same topic also made it into the Conflux 4 Book which was a thrill. I still get a kick from seeing my writing in 'official' print.

If you are a fantasy fan - either as a writer, or reader, or both, conventions are a fun way to really immerse yourself in the genre with others who are keen to share their knowledge and interest. 'Cons' occur all over Australia (and the world for that matter). Googling 'fantasy/sci fi conventions' should bring up the next one.

Conflux 5 is coming up on October 3.

I had no hesitation in signing up for a second one. Since the last Conflux, my second book in the Kira Chronicles - The Song of the Silvercades has been released, and I've sent the third book The Cry of the Marwing off to Allen and Unwin - for their first look at it. Going to Conflux made me realise how important it is to link in with people writing/and or interested in the same area. It's just so great not to have to explain that fantasy is not escapism for the weak-minded. It's also great to see how other people manage their writing careers. Most of us - me included - fit writing in around the jobs that support us, and as a result, really aren't very good at driving our own careers. More of that else where on this blog.

Book 2 of The Kira Chronicles

2007-10-06T23:37:00.000-07:00

Book 2 in The Kira Chronicles went off to the editor Louise Thurtell in early Sept. Soon it will be coming back for me to look at Louise's suggestions, then it will go back to Allen and Unwin and the senior editor, Angela, will look at it. Angela will ask me difficult questions, mainly about why, if I said 'A' on page 23, I said 'B' on page 223. She has an incredible ability to see the whole story. That's how things proceeded with Book 1, The Whisper of Leaves.

I have had some great feedback on Book 1, and lots of questions about when Book 2 - The Song of the Silvercades will be released. It is due out in July 2008. I have really enjoyed writing Book 2, partly because it's gone off in an unexpected direction. I've known the story for many years, so was thrilled with this development, which I think adds a lot of interest. It also has romance in it, which I enjoy writing and reading.

I am presently working on Chpt 8 of Book 3, which has a working title of The Marwing. If you've read Book 1, you will know what sort of bird a marwing is. The title might change, but I'm keen to have a link between the three titles, in this case sound. Eg The Whisper of Leaves, The Song of the Silvercades and The Cry of the Marwing. This is just a bugbear of mine. I am still irritated by the titles of Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hill then The Last Enchantment. They are superb books but I would have been happier if the last one had continued the cave theme, perhaps The Gilded Grotto. Maybe not?

September 2008

Well, as mentioned, Book 2 - The Song of the Silvercades was released in July, and I was much happier with it, even though 50,000 words went during the edit. I enjoyed learning more about the Tremen, why and how the gold-eyed twins split a kingdom, and how perhaps, that kingdom might be mended. I can see why writers get tempted to make trilogies into quartets and quartets into quintets, as you get so attached to the people whose stories you tell.

But Kira's story does end at the end of Book 3 unless ... I'm open to very generous advances for a book 4 (it does happen). Generally I think the trilogy is a good structure for any story, and some series which keep growing, risk losing momentum. However, having said that, as long as readers keep enjoying them, it probably doesn't matter.

Building Allogrenia, Sarnia and Kessom

2007-06-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

World building is one of the buzziest things about writing fantasy. 'What if's' build into 'So then's' which become 'What about's'. For instance, if people (like the Tremen) live under a forest canopy, how do they see the world? If their language has been spoken in isolation for many years, how might it change? When their loved ones die, how might they dispose of the body, and why? If they die prematurely, what explanation might the forest dwellers come up with - or not come up with?

Allogrenia is the name of a northern tree. It's massive, with a spicy scent. It's broad sheltering boughs suggest a spiritual element - Shelter with a capital 'S'. Anthropology tells us that forest dwellers know that death and decay create life. So the Tremen bury their dead. If the trees and other growing things need decay to give them life, then this is a form of immortality for the Tremen's dead loved ones - their voices are heard in the whisper of leaves.

Allogrenia becomes corrupted to 'alwaysgreen', a phonetically similar word. It's also semantically similar in that the alwaysgreen is not deciduous - it is, literally always green.

All good fun.

Sarnia

Sarnia's a city, and made of stone. As such it is in stark contrast to Allogrenia and symbolises the gulf between the Tremen and Terak. Human-made and natural landscapes provide great opportunities for all writers to play about with symbolism, or to provide contrasts or reinforce their characters' traits. A harsh, evil man who dwells in a beautiful garden, is interesting, perhaps more so if than if his domain were Hell, or a gothic castle. The use of landscape can be more subtle though, and hopefully it is in the Kira Chronicles.

Kessom, with its healing tradition, allogrenias and mountains, is where the first Kira came from, and Kessomi blood flows in both Tierken's and Kira's veins. Its mountains (of stone) and trees suggest the same duality as the landscapes of Sarnia and Allogrenia. As an ex-geography teacher, I also enjoy landscapes for their own sakes. Sometimes we forget to simply look at the amazing pattern of clouds, the way that sunlight slides along the edge of leaves, the way a stone's skin is either pitted or smooth.

I've just started a stand alone novel which is set in a cold, snowy mountain, and am really enjoying the change from Allogrenia, Sarnia and Kessom. Lots of bright, glittery words, and sharp crystalline images to play with.