Know the Novel Part One: Land of the Living

Some possibly interesting backstory:

I've attempted to participate in the Know the Novel link-up before, with a earlier 'edition' of this same story. Unfortunately a mixture of Blogger switching to my brothers email when I signed up for my previous blog. At least, I want to say that the email mix up hindered my ability to participate. and (probably mostly) laziness kept me from fully participating.

I'm happy to say I'm in a better state to complete the Know the Novel link up this year. Having a blog not using my brother's email certainly being a good start! 

With that being said, let's take a look at the questions!

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

I've wanted to tell a story based off of the Sherlock Holmes books for years now.

At first being a story actually taking place in Doyle's world, Land of the Living North of Noorfyldde has shifted throughout the years into more of a vague retelling.

2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!

I'm not that good at writing blurbs. A bullet list of the story aesthetic is easier.

• Radiation

• Clockwork

• Mechanical wolves

• Areoships

• Lookalikes

• flawed families 

• Coffee shops

• Orchestras

Even though I like the bullet points better. 😂 I've included an unfortunate summary anyhow. It might not capture the aesthetic, but it is at least the basic plot, more or less.

"When the popular statesman Myles Greccio Holmes, son of the late famous police investigator Delakely Greccio Holmes, goes missing on the same night that the Riechenbach Society's captial city headquarters is destroyed, evidence suggests Myles was the culprit.

However, William—the Holmes family's estranged youngest son—and Verity refuse to believe that Myles is guilty. Together, they join forces to discover the truth.

As William and Verity continue their investigation, they discover that the Society is far from being the philanthropic business it is perceived to be."

I have a title now! It is Land of the Living.

I haven't discovered the title of the story yet. I've been calling it North of Noorfyldde, but that's just the working title.

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects of the setting?

It takes place in a small island country that's inspired by the geography and culture of England and Wales. You weren't expecting that, were you? 😂 

Some of my favorite aspects of the setting would be the historical, vaugely steampunk brick and stone buildings.

Old fashioned, fantastical technology.

The late autumn season.

Coffee shops and cafes.

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

Verity Jankowski Vadász: tall-ish average height. She has coppery red, wavy hair and hazel eyes. She is a smart, no nonsense young woman. A recent immigrant to Noorfyldde from Cheskova Idovia, she has a hard time feeling at home in the individualistic culture. However, she is determined to stick it out and succeed in her new life.

"Stop it. Get some help."//Sanguine Choleric//Extroverted

~

William Greccio Alias Holmes: Doesn't want any nonsense. All of his family and friends are unhinged, in his respectful opinion.

"Who said I was homeless? Do I look homeless to you?"//Melancholic Choleric//Introverted

~

Myles Greccio: Tall. He has light blond hair and brown eyes. Quite possibly passed away. A people pleaser.

"Drink more espresso to be less depresso."//Melancholic Sanguine//Extroverted

~

Meriol Hudson: average height. Blonde hair and blue grey eyes. The childhood best friend of Myles.

"I'm just going to drink my tea and pretend you didn't say that."//Sanguine//Extroverted

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

The Riechenbach Society.

• Disordered appreciation of science

• Criminals

• Xenophobic 

It's basically a group of corrupt scientists and rich people who want to start wars and steal from people.

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

To hopefully show a glimpse of what is good, beautiful, and true!

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

There may be a few books.

I have an idea for a story that would be about Myles.

I also have an idea for a short story taking place during Advent and the Christmas season.

Frankly, I would rather these stories be graphic novels. That is how I imagine them. It feels like the story flows better as images rather than me writing it. The only problem is that my artistic capabilities aren't up to the standards I have.

That just means I need to practice way more than I do now. No more being lazy!

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

Plansting. I have a vague idea for the plot, but not much to 'fill out the story' so to speak. 

9. Name a few unique elements in this story.

I changed the names of and pretty much everything else about the characters. I'm sorry Dr. Doyle, but Sherlock and Mycroft are not names that I can tolerate. They are not aesthetic.

Despite this being a steampunk inspired story, the Noorfylddian government heavily restricts the usage of mechanical vehicles. It's a tiny country with a crowded capital city. You can imagine the disaster zone it would be if everyone who needed to get somewhere went zipping around Kaeslle in flying craft.

Most people get around on foot or by carriage. Automobiles and Airships being mostly used in the countryside and for international travel, respectively.

Another unique thing in my story is that my main characters William and Verity don't love each other. Not romantically anyway.

Someday they might end up liking each other, but I don't want them to fall in love in just a few months after meeting each other. I'm not interested in making my book a romance either.

10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

These are a few songs for the Noorfyldde story—with the caveat that, unless you have a ad blocker, it is not worth using yt and you shouldn't play the songs—that fit the general aesthetic. 

 ~

This is the 'squad's' song. The group of main and secondary protagonists: Verity, William, Meriol, and Myles.

~

This song, and dulcimer music in general, match the general aesthetic of the story/world.

 ~

This song reminds me of William.

~

And pretty much any of Dvorak's stringed instrument music is aesthetic.

Plus, here's a link to the story's playlist.

 Also!

This is an aesthetic Pinterest Board. For the story and characters.

~ 

So that was a small intoduction  to Land of the Living! North of Noorfyldde! (not the official title) It's definitely still a work in progress. Thankfully, that is what Know the Novel is for. By December I plan on having a lot more written; maybe a lot more drawn! Comparatively speaking of course. :D