A Character Driven Saga
A Character Driven Saga - July 19, 2024
Dear Reader,
In Publishing News:
Lord of Dragons launched July 17. Read the second volume of Valkyrie Riders, a miniseries in the Draoithe Saga by Ophelia Kee, and discover if Ash can win a maned wolf shifter for his mate. If you haven't grabbed your copy, it's now available from all the retailers.
The first five stories in the Mystic Dark Miniseries now have paperbacks available directly from Ophelia Kee. I've ordered stock to post all the rest of the stories which are currently published as well. Being able to offer the stories in four formats was important. I want to reach as many readers as I can in a way which makes the dream easier to access for more people.
In Serial Posting News:
Valkyrie Riders has three completed tales and is currently posting video posts in Nephilim's Claim. I've got the story episodes parts set up, and they are ready for the story content. Building a serial story isn't easy, but I might as well do it, because I have to do all the work to edit the stories, anyway.
I've updated the serials with a subscription model so they become more reasonable for people. You can still purchase each miniseries all at once for a one time price, or you can pay a small fee each month as you read. Each miniseries posts two episodes a day and a few extra at the beginning of each story as it progresses. When the miniseries ends, I post how long it takes to complete the tale.
I still believe the best way to experience the stories is to subscribe to Read the Draoithe Saga. It's only $5 a month and you get it all. Every miniseries, all the extras, video, art, graphics, lexicons, character introductions, story descriptions, deleted scenes, etc.
Behind The Scenes - Writing a Character Driven Saga
Some of you who've been with me for a while know this, but after some feedback from a reader on Radish, I thought I should address what is an admittedly slow start. It was why I cut the first 8 chapters from A Pack Forms and later published them as Thread. The Draoithe Saga isn't a single plot driven story. It's definitely classified as a character driven story. The character driving the story is the dream.
The dream, created with magic, is both the setting for the story and the driving force behind all the action in every story. The magic used to create the dream made it near sentient. It seeks to preserve itself from the destructive forces of chaos loosed upon it by the Unlikely Kings' prophecy, a spell written by Lucifer before he stepped into the void and left his magic behind to wreak havoc.
When Luke and Eli move to Tyler, they struggle with their secrets, but are blissfully unaware of the Unlikely Kings. Eli doesn't understand what the dream is. Luke only has bits and pieces of knowledge about shifters. Neither of them is aware of the dream's need to correct the balance of magic, and are unwitting pawns. As the Draoithe Saga progresses, they stumble over and puzzle out the mystery, even as they recognize the dangers they face and build defenses with which to protect themselves and others.
The first story in the Draoithe Saga, A Pack Forms, is NOT a stand-alone novel. It's the beginning of an immense saga full of miniseries and epic tales. As such, the entire first miniseries is actually the setting for the Draoithe Saga.
Each book within each miniseries involves the paranormal love story of one couple, but the fantasy plot plays out in the background and includes twists and turns or mini-plots. The main characters in each tale add details to the fantasy plot, slowly illuminating the dream's intent. Each book, while always accomplishing the beloved happily ever after of the characters in the foreground, doesn't always reach a conclusion within a single story for the fantasy playing out in the background. Instead, a theme wraps up by the end of each miniseries. For example: a kingdom rises, a royal council forms, Valkyries become dragon riders, a lion shifter adds an outpost kingdom, demon allies join Draoithe, rogue kings develop, etc.
This means neither the readers nor the characters (nor the author) are fully aware of how the prophecy will play out in the background. As each story builds toward the finale, the original main characters learn who they are, what their role is, who the villains are, and ways to defeat their enemies. They make cameo appearances in future tales as they decide how to help as many immortals as possible and decide how to act upon what they discover as unique pieces of the puzzle reveal themselves while each couple finds their HEA! They don't always make the right decisions.
In a saga, the members of a social group (immortals connected to Draoithe) chronicle a long story detailing a dramatic history. Hence why the events in the tale take place in 2016. It's a contemporary saga, but definitely a story filled with dramatic events from the recent past chronicled by the Druid pack's resident historian.
Sneak Peek at Ophelia Kee's Writing Projects
I spent all week at a training seminar for the day job and have had little time to edit any episodes from which I normally share a portion with you. So instead I wanted to allow you a sneak peek into a miniseries which has no single story complete. Kings Wilde has five stories at the moment. I've been writing in it for over two years. It's set in Alaska, features an old Russian mafioso as the family patriarch, and involves a two souled necromancer dragon. A group of evil, ancient druid kings meets their gruesome end, but that's too much detail because you haven't met the Eternal Partners. Trust me when I tell you they are bad news.
In the above excerpt, Viktor Wilde gives advice to his adopted son on how he should behave should he find a woman with world-tilting magic. This happens after his son has suffered through a painful divorce involving a woman Viktor never approved of. His son isn't in the mood to hear the advice, but no one disrespects Viktor Wilde. (Well, a few did, but they didn't live to do it again.) He's an old school entrepreneur with both illegal and legitimate business ventures, and he ran his empire with an iron fist with Winnifred running his household with a wooden spoon as her weapon of choice.
Imagine Viktor's been drinking vodka and has an accent which grows thicker the longer he drinks. His advice comes from the heart because his beloved Winnifred has passed away after a long bout of cancer. He's lost interest in the world, his business, and his life, but feels he can't neglect his sons or it would displease his deceased wife. He's stern and dangerous in his depression, but he wants the best for his sons. They'll be taking over the family business soon. They need to be grounded, not spending their nights chasing skirts.
I have a lot of edits to do and want to wish you a lovely weekend. As always, I will leave you with the fervent plea to be kind when you read and leave your honest reviews. Until we chat again, leave your comments or message me on social media and know you are always welcome to the dream...
Be Careful!
Happy Reading,
Ophelia Kee
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Thank you for your support! Welcome to the dream… Sincerely, -OK
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