The working title of the book, Here We Lie comes from a monument at Thermopylae, “Go young stranger passing by and tell the Spartans that here according to their laws we lie.”

The first few chapters of the book introduces you to the Lamodamon Peninsula, the books equivalent of the Greek Hellespont. Here you meet the Kalandarians, the books equivalent of the war like Spartans.

My problem with this is I am hoping the opening page snags a reader as the book appears rather dry as it is just a tour the Peninsula. And nothing major happens until the Mastinians (The Persians) start their march, which will not be anytime soon, as it so appears as I have not even started describing them yet alone mentioned them.

My fears may just be me writing for myself as I like action as is my other book, whose 13 I'll post some day, and this seems to be turning into a geography lesson. My other idea is to start with some sort of prologue, then lead into this.

The Melasian Plains of Kalandaria lie between the saw toothed Kalandarian Mountains to the west and the ominous Oronous Mountain chain to the east that loops southward, curling around the plains and ending in a labyrinth network of foothills.

Despite the Kalandarian city-state lying in the northern most region of the Lamodamon Peninsula, which is normally a brutal region during the winter months, the Melasian Plains gets relatively no snow due to the protection of the two large mountain ranges it is nestled between. The only entrances into the plains are from the south through the heavily guarded Oronous foothills and from the Taber pass in the Kalandarian chain to the west.

The Kalandarian people, a rugged warrior based society ruled by two kings

[This message has been edited by Zodiaxe (edited January 05, 2006).]

I am thinking the prologue will be the dying thoughts of the main character. The rest of the book will be the events leading up to the battle and end coming full circle to the point where the main character, the hero falls mortally wounded.

Peace,
Scott

Have you read Dan Simmon's Ilium? If you haven't I highly recommend you do. Although its more science fiction than fantasy its a brilliant take on the Iliad. Dissect Simmon's work, see how he seamlessly merges exposition with the thoughts and actions of his characters.

I'm not saying that starting with the march is not feasable but the politics simply complicates some matters. I was hoping to lay some those issues out with the tour. I am constantly re-writing certain pieces to ensure it doesn't read like a history book.

The action laden book, Delicate Balance, ws and is being written quite differently. The first three chapters were written back to back from outlines. The rest of the book was written in pieces, action here, action there, in fact the final scene was one of the first scenes written. All I am doing now is filling in the gaps. How do I get from this spot to this spot.

As for maps, heh, well I'm ahead of you, I'm working on that.

The slowest part of the process is the research. The names of the characters and the places will have a Greek or Mid-Eastern background.

Kaladaria: Loosely translated means snake in the grass. My ethnic background is Mexican and Native American. My mother was a Lakota Indian. I was born on the Rosebud Reservation in Chamberlain, South Dakota. The Lakota Indians (Sioux) derive the Sioux name from the Algonquin word Nadouessioux, which means little snakes.

Lamodamon: The Spartans were called the Lakedameons. Lamodamon is just a play on that word. In the book, the Kalandarians will also be refered to as the Lamodameans.

Mastinians: From the Greek phrase, mas-tid'-zo, meaning scourge of the people or to scourge the people.

Melasian: From the Greek word Melas which means black. The plains are named the black plains because of the smoke that raises from the foundries of the Kalandarian smiths.

Oronus: Greek for many horns, describes the jagged look of the Oronus Mountains.

Peace,
Scott