FOR WRITERS: Research Link for Minerals (Gemstones)

I'm writing book two in THE ELVEN LORDS series, THE STORM LORD'S DAUGHTER, and I have an elven lady whose magic is with gemstones. Her main ability is to enspell jewels but she is certainly capable of 'creating' her own gems with her magic. But that would require more energy than just digging them up from the earth. And besides, each of the seven sovereignties that the elven lords created in England has been changed according to their magical gifts. So, I needed to know what gemstones she could unearth that were native to England, thereby altering the landscape.

So, all stop on the manuscript and off to hunt down the information. I should say at this point that although I change England with magic, which gives me more leeway with history than a straight historical author, I still need to know the facts before I change them. When I alter something, I don't wish to do it out of ignorance, but with purpose. Call me picky, but I do like to keep the historical aspects of my books as real for my readers as I possibly can.

So what gemstones can be unearthed from England? I tried all sorts of search words (which is the key when searching the internet) from natural minerals to lapidary England. Finally I thought of the term, mineralogy and bazinga! I hit the jackpot with this site:

http://www.webmineral.com/

It's amazing! Not only can you search the site for all the minerals found in England (or anywhere else in the world), but you can narrow it down by city/county etc. And each mineral has a photo and description, when it was named, chemical breakdown (I didn't need this, but it was cool!), etc. You might have to look up the definition of each mineral to find out what it was used for, whether to make concrete or pottery, but many of the minerals that were used for gemstones you would recognize by name.

I discovered that quartz is the most common mineral in England (and the world) so I had my answer for my book, and passing this on to save my fellow writers some research time (or hey, to those that love to look at pics of gorgeous stones).

Can inanimate objects be characters in a novel?

In my new Georgian fantasy romance series, THE ELVEN LORDS, there are seven magical scepters that the elven lords used to open the gate to the world of man. The scepters long to return to their home world of Elfhame, and using their magical connection to the dragon-steeds, aid the English in taking back their home world through their magical connection to the sentient dragons. In book one, THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER, the scepter communicates that need through the dragon Ador, and the dragon in turn begins to influence the half-blood son of the elven lord, Dominic, in their quest to return home.

It didn’t occur to me that the scepter might be a character until I started writing book two, THE STORM LORD’S DAUGHTER. My warrior hero, Giles Beaumont, has an enchanted sword (or cursed, depending on your point of view) that quivers at the scent of blood and flies to Giles’s hand when battle is near. Like the scepters, the sword has wants and needs…and develops a personality even stronger than the scepters’. I then realized that the influence of the scepter permeates throughout THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER, although it doesn’t appear in too many scenes, and when it does, it is nothing but a cold lump of ancient jet-black stone. They may not be fully fleshed characters, given that they are inanimate objects, but I think the fantasy element allows them a sort of awareness of the world around them, and combined with their needs and desires, may certainly qualify them as characters.

So can inanimate objects be a character in a novel? I believe that, with magic, anything is possible…but I will let you decide for yourself when you read my upcoming series, THE ELVEN LORDS.

I finished the first three chapters of THE STORM LORD’S DAUGHTER, the second book in my new Georgian fantasy romance series, THE ELVEN LORDS!

I’ll admit, after I finished THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER, I was having a difficult time with the second book. I’ve had a hell of a year, and my head and heart have been muddled with so many life-altering changes that I wasn’t sure if I could manage to write the next book…well, of course I could write it, but would it be any good? Would I fall in love with the characters and the story as strongly as I did with book one?

I struggled. I should have known better.

I made myself keep writing, and when I finished the first three chapters, I had my answer.

Oh, yes.

I decided to post this blog so that if it ever happens to me again, I can go back and read this to reassure myself. It takes those first three chapters to get to know my characters, to introduce complications that I couldn’t have thought of in the outline, because the magic of writing for me always happens when I’m in the story. When I’m living the lives of my characters, and describing the world around them.

If you’re a writer and reading this, and life is interfering with your creative process, don’t worry about it. Sit down in your chair and write. Let your talent for storytelling take over, and I promise that it will all work out. If you’re a reader, hang on to your seats, cause I’m writing you a story full of thrilling adventure, passion, and magic!

Wishing you all my best,
Kathryne