The Rise of the Papilion trilogy is completed, but it has taken years to complete each book. So long, in fact, that when I released Wolf’s Bane, followed by the soon to be released Berserker, the pastor’s wife at my church suggested I write book summaries to help re-situate her.
So, this Recap series is inspired by that request. I also figure that it’s partly therapeutic for me. Writing, publishing, distributing, and marketing the 3 books over an 8-year period were some of the hardest things I’ve ever done. So much so that I had to take a long break after publishing Wolf’s Bane, to the point I wondered IF I’d even finish the series. Luckily, I did and Berserker will be released next week on March 8.
So, leading up to that event, I thought I’d write a post about each book, partly to catch everyone up about them, where they came from, what they’re about. And, yes, for (my own) closure.
Why did I write the series in the first place?
Every writer finds inspiration in their own way. Most times for me, a short story or novel starts as an emotion or thought (colour, action, sound) that evolves into a character first and then a story. Once the characters are nailed down, the story falls into place piece by piece. When I started The Purple Morrow, I wanted to chronicle the journey of a man (Jeru) who begins the story at his lowest point and who, through various situations, finds resolution and transformation at the other end of the proverbial tunnel. So, why not write about a young man whose wife dies on their wedding night and, guilt-ridden, decides he can’t face the future? That is until his homeland is threatened by the same Beast-Men who destroyed his village years before, he comes face to face with someone from his past who complicates his already complicated life, all while dealing with the most terrifying thing of all: the threat of falling in love again. Somewhere along the way, he discovers that he’s the key to saving everyone. All he has to do it pull his head out of his…butt…long enough to do it.
Memorable Moments
Writing New Things: The Purple Morrow was the first time I got to explore writing some things for the first time, like fight scenes. I’ve always loved them in movies, particularly kung fu, I like watching boxing (thanks Granddad), and I studied karate for a time. I remember standing in my living room working out movements and sequences, or holding a sword to test the weight and how it moves when I swung it, and then sitting down to figure out how to transpose that into words. Joy!
The Characters: Jeru and Nyssa kinda dropped in on me. I remember when I decided to write the story, I saw them clearly in my mind. I knew what their relationship was going to be, what the tension between them was about, as well as the fact that they needed each other in order to move on from their traumatic pasts. Kelen also surprised me. I was walking home from the bus when I suddenly pictured him kneeling by a lake and staring at his reflection. His personality, pain, and dilemma sprung out of that and I remember bursting with excitement to get home and write the scene. It’s one of my favorite moments in the book.
Painting of Jeru by Amy Hands
Unexpected Directions: Then there was the moment I was struggling to write the story because it had grown too big for one book. In comes my sister (who did the cover art for Wolf’s Bane and Berserker, and the above digital painting of Jeru) who chimed in: “Why don’t you write more than one book?” Thanks, sis, for setting me upon the most arduous, torturous experience of my life!
So, that’s a little about The Purple Morrow. The trilogy is a passion project. When I started this journey, I had hoped to ‘make it big’ and sell a ton of books. The book market is tough. The market is saturated with books and every author is clamoring for attention. It’s all quite exhausting, to be honest. Of course, I want people to buy the books. But what has become more important to me over time, is that I hope readers will also enjoy them. That they will be touched or moved in some way, and will remember the story and the characters long after they finish the books.
In closing, here’s a little excerpt from another of my favorite scenes. It’s from chapter 14, and it’s the first time Kelen and Jeru meet.
Excerpt from The Purple Morrow, Chapter 14-Crossing Paths
In the few seconds it took for Kelen to take up his axe, he had already assessed his foe. The man was strongly built and was as lithe as a panther. He stood with his weight balanced between his feet, and from the stance alone, Kelen gleaned he was trained in some form of the fighting arts. The man’s breathing was steady, unhurried. He grasped his swords comfortably, ready to change grips at a moment’s notice. For a moment, Kelen concluded that the coming fight would not be fair. He knew he outweighed the other by at least fifty pounds and that a good, solid blow to the chest or head would quickly end the contest. But as he assessed the look in the other man’s eyes, Kelen checked himself. The clansman showed no fear. He is dangerous, either desperate and not caring about his life and is therefore ready to throw it away. Or he is a man with something to fight for and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
Kelen liked these new odds.
“Beast-man of the North,” the man said in an even tone. He raised his right hand, pointing a sword-tip at him. “I have come to reclaim what you have stolen from me.”
Kelen smiled to himself, satisfied that his hunch had proven correct. He had come for the woman. Was he her husband? Her lover?
Kelen took a moment and formed a response in his mind. He had always been amazed that he could understand the Southland’s languages and dialects with an ease that surpassed his brethren. To him, accessing the skills needed to understand and to speak them was like delving into a long-forgotten chest which had suddenly sprung open, revealing its secrets.
“What have I…stolen…from you?” he asked with only a little difficulty.
The man advanced a step. “A woman. She was taken from our woods. I want her back.”
Nonchalant, Kelen lifted and dropped his shoulders. Then he swept a hand in a semi-circle, indicating they were the only ones in the area. “There is no woman here.”
The black-haired man advanced a few steps more, his sword still pointed towards Kelen. “You are a liar. I know she was taken by your people. You will return her to me.”
“Ah, yes. I seem to remember the face of a pretty, new slave. I was thinking she might make a good wife.”
“Return her!”
The Rover laughed. “If you want her, you will have to go through me.”
A thin, mean smile carved itself across the clansman’s face, and his eyes glittered. Green eyes, Kelen realized with some surprise. He did not have long to consider this, as the man flicked his wrists, propelling the swords into a series of arcs. The blades split the air with sharp sighs as they spun.
Kelen felt the thrill of the impending clash pulsing through his veins. He lifted his axe into position.
Yes, he liked these new odds very, very much.
Hope you enjoyed the post and the read. Drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.
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