Initiated: The magical ritual of writing a saga, or prophesizing with a pen

Back on the magical block, y'all!!!

Between otha people newz, and some otha thangs, I was able to finsh the first chapter to Fable Avenue Book III this weekend.

I've had the idea on how this opening chapter would flow, and one creative strike, allowing it all be from one character's p.o.v. helped keep a consistency among its movement. There's a quirkiness to the first chapter...not quite as quirky as following the airflow of subway trains out of the station and up the street to Fable Avenue (as in Book II, Brooklyn's Lilac Brew), but there's a slick way I was able to reintroduce all the characters, where they are, and a hint at the consequences of the last installment, and see how they've been getting a long.

And there's also some new characters to say 'Hi' too.

There's no dialogue. There's a fun action sequence. A good deal of mystery and intrigue. And a lot of sentimentality. While Brooklyn's Lilac Brew was an introduction to Fable Avenue's culture, Book III treats the reader as an initiated member. But it does not scoff at the newcomer.

(Hey, even I've started on the second or third...sometimes the fourth book of a series).

There's some exposition at play, which usually scares the hell out of writers. Treated as vampires, the word 'exposition' is a enough to make any writer grab a sacred, religious trinket, a stake, and some garlic...or whatever the ritual is for warding off techniques labeled as 'bad writing'. But I believe there's a correct way to write anything.

To make sure I put myself on the correct path of penning this opening chapter, I consulted some other works. Not all of them were literature. I consulted part of Mario Puzo's The Godfather. A part of the book that wasn't translated into film. I also took a look at a sequence in an episode of The Sopranos. Now, while both pieces have Mafia themes, going back and reading and observing the structure of a scene (or scenes) had nothing to do with gangsters.

I also took a look at the opening to the film adaption of Watchmen. Beautiful. Watched it over and over. The whole opening credit sequence putting on display the passage of time, the movement through eras gone by, and the influence made to create an alternate timeline, is amazing. A plus is it being appropriately serenaded with Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'". But I also liked the fight between Comedian and 'his attacker'. I know people cursed the movie for not being frame-for-frame of the comic, and retouching some points, but it was awesome to me.

Sorry, Alan Moore.

Though it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to have music playing in a fight sequence in Brooklyn's Lilac Brew, I'm sure my mind was recalling that scene deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down. And this opening sequence for Book III is the same. Imagine the blues.

I like what I have. I'll look back at it later and see that it actually sucks, but for now (and before my editor sees it), I'll remain happy.

More info will be coming soon. What's next in the writing will take me back to High School to two manuscripts I wrote in the 9th and 10th grades. They're getting cut up and sprinkled into The Fable Avenue Saga. And keeping with the musical theme, one of the manuscripts was not only inspired by a song, but a whole album.

Thanks, Prince.

On the one, y'all. Confusion! Las Vegas!

b write black...

Spirits and Conjure, incants and hexes

Here I stand, returning to Fable Avenue. Writing has begun on the third installment, and I can feel the growing intensity of the story. As cliché as it sounds, it’s like that moment when the elements gather for a storm. The tense humidity, the increasing winds, all feeling like Mother Nature balling her fist and getting ready to remind humanity of her strength.

The story’s weight has become heavier.

Yeah, I know…

The Fable Avenue Saga has always had a certain gravitas to it, even with all its whimsical text. The story is still, at its core, a reflection of what black people have been through (the Maafa). It’s our burdens wrapped up in a fairytale. It sounds disrespectful, but it’s far from it. It’s as respectful and honest as our story can ever get. A road map presented as mythology, where we’ve gone, where we’re going, and where we stand spiritually in the eyes of the Cosmos.

It’s all been an introduction from here. The Ghost of Gabriel’s Horn was an introduction to the mythos, the hidden mysticism of the world. It set the ground rules for the invisible universe ready to be tapped into by the main characters, those gods and goddesses tricked into believing they were mortal men and women. Though not always ‘proper’ in its usage, the vocabulary was presented. “Tricks,” and “hexes”. It was simple, before turning into “incants” and “conjures”. Nothing that hadn’t been used before in other stories, but a fresh twist on how they were used.

Brooklyn’s Lilac Brew, the second installment, took place 57 years after The Ghost of Gabriel’s Horn, and it continued with the theme of introductions. Fable Avenue was an established culture. I wanted to write it as if there was still a good deal of history to it, and starting the book with that gut punch of a first chapter dropped people in the middle of some drama. The shockwave of that chapter would resonate all the way through the book’s climax.

And here I am. Book III has begun. Introductions aside.

We know the characters. We know the place. We know the rules of the world. It’s time to play chess.

Yes, there will be new characters to come into the fold of this grand mythology. Other characters, only mentioned or cameoed in Brooklyn’s Lilac Brew (and The Ghost of Gabriel’s Horn) will be expounded on.

The elements have gathered. The tension has compressed. Mother Nature has balled her fist.

And The Fable Avenue Saga’s third installment will reveal itself as a force of nature!

BROOKLYN'S LILAC BREW IS AVAILABLE NOW

Thank you for your patience.

And now, TWIN GRIFFIN BOOKS presents its feature, literary presentation:

FABLE AVENUE BOOK II: BROOKLYN'S LILAC BREW!!!!

 

AVAILABLE FOR ORDER NOW

@ AMAZON.COM and BARNES AND NOBLE(.COM).

 

Brewed in Brooklyn

 "I would've waited an eternity for this..." - Megatron

Fable Avenue's second installment's proof has been APPROVED!!!!

We are now simply waiting for all outlets to update their catalogs to include BROOKLYN'S LILAC BREW.

As stated earlier, coming this month from TWIN GRIFFIN BOOKS...



 B. WRITE. BLACK!!!!!!!!