M. B. Weston's Blog

Brand New Podcast in the Works!

I'm currently working on creating a brand new podcast--something I've actually secretly been working on for about a year now. Well, "working on" is an overstatement. It's been in the back of my head, and I've been mulling it over for over a year. I've even sent out marketing surveys to some of you regarding it--so for those of you wondering what happened...It's coming. It's just not going to be a blog. It's going to be a podcast.

I can't give you much information yet (because I'm annoying and I like to torture people with secrets), but I can tell you a few things:

1. Those of you in my middle school and high school youth groups who know (and like) my teaching and speaking style will absolutely love it!
2. It is going to be called, To Elysia and Back Again. No, it has nothing to do with The Elysian Chronicles. (Or does it? He he he.)
3. My first podcast series will be called, The Second Birth of Davian the Great. It takes place about 200 years before A Prophecy Forgotten, which talks about Davian's experience in RSO training and kind of gives an explanation as to why he so ardently believes the Runes. A select few of you have actually already heard this series. Oh, and, um, the series isn't about the story of Davian. I'm just using the story to help me explain something...totally different.

Is that cryptic enough?

What's funny is that I haven't really taught in about four months, so I'm a bit rusty. I finished recording the series and thought, that was awful! So, I'm going to re-record it again after I do some more research--to make the series more like what I normally do. And now that the rust is gone...

Look for the podcast to start in about one to two weeks...

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

On Converting A Prophecy Forgotten into a Graphic Novel

Read on and discover a few secrets about A Prophecy Forgotten (and Out of the Shadows).

I’m currently working on the graphic novel script to A Prophecy Forgotten. (Yes, I realize that this should have been done over the summer, but remember I needed to “tweak” Out of the Shadows, which took up time…)

Now the problem with turning any novel into a graphic novel is…well, there are a lot of problems. First, with a novel, the author can talk directly to the audience. Trust me, it’s a beautiful thing. If I want to let you know about some history, I can just tell you about it. (Well, to an extent. If I go too far, I’ll be violating the “show, don’t tell” principle and bore you to tears.)

A graphic novel doesn’t have much of a narrator. This means that I have to somehow communicate all the intricacies of Heaven’s Realm, cherubians, mornachts, and the relationships between RSOs and LAFs using dialog and action only—oh, and on occasion, I can use a little “caption” box. (Yippee. Dude, I’m a novelist. The little “caption box” just isn’t going to do it for me.)

But that’s not the only problem. With graphic novels and novels, you have to satisfy audience expectations. A person has one expectation of what he or she will encounter when sitting down with a novel and another, quite different expectation when sitting down with a graphic novel. (Flowery prose isn’t one of those expectations, by the way.) Graphic novels are action-oriented and fast-paced. Novels don’t revolve around action as much, and their pacing is slower, leaving the author time to let the storyline and the mystery unfold.

Oh, and graphic novels are in color, meaning each page costs much more to print. This means that I’m going to have to (eek!) cut a few scenes in order to make A Prophecy Forgotten affordable for non-CEOs.

Fortunately, I’ve already spent time at the chopping block, so I’m over the pain of cutting the scenes. But now, I’m having to reorganize the book so it will make sense and flow—quickly.

To increase pacing, I’ve begun dividing the novel into more chapters. (Shorter chapters feel faster for readers.) This means I need to create or combine chapter titles, and…well, it kind of feels fraudulent. I mean, how can I just changechapter titles? Especially when most of my chapter titles were carefully chosen for their hidden meanings. ("Mornachts and Monsters"? Lorraine is the monster, not the mornachts. "Dealing With Tigers" centers on Davian fighting with sabers and Jim fighting with Lorraine for custody of Tommy. "Poisoned Water"? Go back and read that one again. It’s not just the water carrying poison. He he he. Oh, and be prepared: Out of the Shadows is so full of hidden meanings within chapter titles I could write a novel about that alone.)

Well, I figured out the answer. I’ve unearthed some of my old A Prophecy Forgotten manuscripts (called, The Forgotten Prophecy, The Cherubian, The Third Battle For the City of Ezzer, etc.). Those manuscripts have alternative chapter titles that I cut early on.

Viola! Chapter titles I can use that will keep the A Prophecy Forgotten graphic novel authentic, and actually make the graphic novel almost required reading for Elysian Chronicles fans!

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

New Events for January 2009!

I'm starting to work on my 2009 speaking, convention, and signing schedule, and I've just booked four new events:

• 01/20/08 11:00-1:30
  Christian Chamber of Commerce--Lee County Chapter
  Speaking and Book Signing
• 01/21/08 11:00am to 1:30pm
  Christian Chamber of Commerce--Collier County Chapter
  Speaking and Book Signing
• 01/22/08 11:00am to 1:30pm
  Christian Chamber of Commerce--Charlotte County Chapter
  Speaking and Book Signing
• 01/24/08 10:30am-7:00pm
  Barnes & Noble
  10:30am-12:00pm: Writing Workshop
  12:00pm-2:00pm: Book Signing
  7:00pm-9:00pm: MC For Open Mike (Be there for my famous Top 10 list!)
• 01/30/08 11:00am to 1:30pm
  Christian Chamber of Commerce--Polk County Chapter
  Speaking and Book Signing 

These are the first of many to come. If you are interested in having me come speak to your writing group or your classroom, please e-mail me at mbweston@elysianchronicles.com.

I've also got these events already scheduled for 2009:

• 02/05/09, All Day
  Carrollwood Day School's Author's Day
  Speaker and Book Signing
• 02/27/09 to 03/01/09
  MegaCon, Orlando, FL
  Book Signing
• 03/27/09 to 03/29/09
  ImagiCon, Birmingham, AL
  Panelist and Book Signing

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.

The Final Cut in Movies Will be Off Air For a Few Weeks

Ad Astra Radio is moving their equipment, so The Final Cut in Movies will be off-air for a few weeks. Don't worry, I'm still watching movies and taking good notes!

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason, which is being adapted into a graphic novel series by Wandering Sage Publications, Inc., with Weston penning the script and KISS comic book artist, Adam Black, doing the art. Weston is also the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy movies on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast on M. B. Weston's Podcasts site or on iTunes. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.