Pages in Flight: Unfinished and upcoming glimpses into works to come (Dane Lowell and the Dark Tides)

 

    I must admit to a certain level of ADWD (Attention Deficit Writing Disorder), specifically as to how that pertains to finishing projects. For every one piece of finished work I have accomplished, I have ten more "in flight". I am sure that is a made up statistic, but it feels right nonetheless.

    This means that I have several works in progress that I alternate working on to try and finish. This is not to say that the ones I do complete are better (in fact, some of my favorite pieces are yet to be done). All this means is that I was able to finish something over another body of work for whatever reason the writing gods have allowed.

    In an effort to forge a semblance of culpability for those unfinished works, I am adding a new recurring blog post category called "Pages in Flight". This will highlight something I am working on to hopefully keep me working on it to completion. It will also hint at future works and perhaps even garner some reader interest.

    For the inaugural post of this category, I wanted to showcase the first book of a hopefully new series. It is drawn from a character, Dane Lowell, who first appeared in the short story "House Wine" from my book 31 Spells for October (the third anthology in the "31 for October" quadrilogy). He is an Elizabethan Era paranormal detective and in "House Wine", he solves the mystery of the Vargas Wine label, a libation that enables ghostly possession in those who partake. 

    This differs from my usual fare in that the book is non-linear in approach. Much like the Choose Your Own Adventure Books, only targeted for adults, horror readers, and fans of H.P. Lovecraft, it has several dynamic paths to follow which make for a completely different reading experience. 

    Here is concept cover art for the book:

    

    As professed in the description of the book, there will be 111 difference ways to be killed off (violently). There are also six completely different endings, which are derived from three unique paths (so, basically, it is several books in one with three main directions).

    A great deal of planning has gone into the book so that the choices readers' make will be fluid and cohesive. I used an organization tool to map out the various paths called FreeMind. Here is a flowchart of that process:

    From there, I mapped out each portion of the book using Excel. Here are branches of the story from each of the three main paths:

    Regarding its completion, I have it all mapped out and have begun writing each of the beginning sections. It is likely to be finished soon, which is why I have included it as one of the "Pages in Flight". 

    I wanted to include the instruction and introduction page that explains to readers their unique role in the book. This is still considered a work in progress, so it is a rough introduction that could potentially change. Here it is:

Letter to a Ghost, Namely YOU 

Context for your active role in this mystery novel

My Dearest Phantom,

In the realm of the uncanny, one tale forged of the paranormal set forth the dubious career of the world’s first supernatural detective. An unlikely pursuit wrought from the sprawling vineyards of Santa Luna, Argentina. The land where the history and intrigue intertwine. At the heart of this enigma was a label of wine – the Vargas label – whose sweet nectar held secrets darker than the depths of its crimson hue.

Dane Lowell was to cut his teeth on the arcane with this investigation. With an analytical mind as sharp as the tip of a rapier, he embarked on a journey to decipher the unsettling riddle that shrouded the Pascal Vargas label. The vineyard itself held a somber past. Unbeknownst to many, it grew over an old campo de batalla, a battleground where the echoes of the Argentine Battle for Independence still whispered in the wind. Beneath the vines lay the unmarked graves of countless fallen soldiers, Spanish and Argentinian alike, who had met their fate in that tumultuous clash. The roots of the vineyard intertwined with the restless dead, their tortured souls reaching out from the ground and into the sun-kissed grapes.

It was here that Dane Lowell studied a mysterious murder, amidst the rolling hills and verdant grapevines of the vineyard. Offered a glass of the Vargas wine, he held it, his fingers tracing the delicate curvature of the stem. His instincts well-honed and intune with the supernatural, he chose not to partake. Not due to any moral stance, but one of caution. Something was amiss.

The enigma of the Vargas label was far more insidious than anticipated. The tale held a twist that eluded even his discerning gaze. It wasn’t just the act of drinking that unleashed the forces of the restless undead. Even the simple act of breathing in the wine’s fragrance was enough to awaken dormant spirits. He was possessed, but not completely overtaken. He was enchanted symbiotically, not malevolently. He was haunted. By you.

And thus, it is here that our story unfolds. This is a tale where you and the detective meld, where the ethereal realm of ghosts and the mortal plane of Dane Lowell align. You, dear reader, are the ghost from another life. A past life. You a being unbound by time and flesh, and yet intimately intertwined with Dane’s decisions. Your presence shapes the course of events. Your choices are a chorus that echoes through the meandering corridors of Dane’s subconscious. You are the inner voice Dane follows. Choose the options to follow your shared destiny.

The unknown awaits. The haunting influence of the past flows through you. Guide Dane through the investigation. Make the right choices and keep him alive. Make the best choices and unravel the mystery. The supernatural detective has you as the paranormal ace up his sleeve. Keep him alive at all costs for if he dies, your soul is lost to the nether eternally.

With upmost respect and sincerity,

Your humble author

   This is a glimpse into my writing process as well as a look behind the veil of an upcoming horror novel. I am eager to hear your thoughts on the matter. Please respond to this post or you may email me directly at BrianJamesLane@writeme.com.