I wrote last year about National Novel Writers’ Month and the project I’m working on with Dr. Stacia Kelly. Our story came together really well, and we’re both very proud of our individual characters, and the flow of the story. Each of us is accustomed to working on our own individual writing projects. I have the Catwalk series. Stacia has the Goddess Chronicles. “Ichi” was the first story we did together. This Nanowrimo, we’re going to continue the series, with a very different set of villains (and some familiar faces from the first book).
“Ichi” tells the story of Shia Ronin, a centuries-old Samurai, who fights alongside her sisters to rid the world of demons. Shia’s cover is that she is a medical examiner in Washington, DC. This career provides the perfect cover for her to research murders and access police data on crimes in her territory. She is supported by Jace, the Artificial Intelligence that runs her operations.
The flip side to Shia’s spirituality is homicide detective Ryan Calder; a cynical, classic-rock loving cop. He believes in all things tangible; blood work, fisticuffs, concrete evidence. When Ryan is exposed to the larger reality of Shia’s world, he’s forced to believe the unbelievable…to save his life and others.
“Ichi” was a blast to write, and we’ve challenged ourselves to top it with the follow-up. Writing “Ni” kicks off with NanoWriMo on November 1st. The Nano challenge is to compose a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November. Stacia and I have completed it separately and together in the past, and we’re excited about our challenge in 2011.
Where did it all come from?
NanoWriMo is run by a nonprofit company called The Office of Letters and Light. In addition to Nano, OLL hosts the Young Writers’ Program, Camp NanoWrimo, April’s Script Writing Frenzy, and the Nov. 20th Write-a-thon. Check out OLL’s informative blog for writers at http://blog.lettersandlight.org/post/12036523778.
Nano is widely embraced by many successful writers, from horror/thriller/crime master Joe Konrath, to young adult vampire writer Heather Brewer, to “Dark Earth” author J.T.Bock.
Writers, are you participating in Nano this year? Plan on joining us via Twitter @Nanowrimo? What is your story? Please share.
One love,
nK