Just a quick teaser here. I had a dream last night, a rather detailed and prolonged dream, that essentially fed me what will likely be my third novel. I've jotted down all the notes I could think of and drafted a first paragraph, to capture the tone. And to whet your appetite.
"Rex Avunculus"
by C. N. Nevets, excerpt (c) 2010
The sun never seemed to rise on the estate of King Uzziel. His acre of land at the northwest corner of the city, where man's creation butted up against God's, was dark around the clock. Uzziel Mann, the tyrant lord of little more than his own family, who had built his palace out of debris and discards, preferred that the sun stay out of his affairs. And like most who were more mortal than he, the sun appeared to defer to Uzziel's wishes.
.Nevets.
Ah, this sounds nicely creepy. Glad I don´t have to live in the shadow of King Uzziel.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great except. I love your writing style. The voice. Can't wait to read the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteCD
Ooooh Isn't it fantastic when that happens? Muse speaks through a dream. What a great metaphor for a dysfunctional family. I've been in houses where a tyrant reigned and the sun never shone. This is going to be great!
ReplyDeleteI am hooked...what a fantastic opening.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can't wait to meet him. What a cool concept and a very intriguing way to get the idea! Thanks for the tease!
ReplyDeleteOooh. Good start. More please.
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Nevets, this has a nice "King Lear noir" feel.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the voice nailed in the first paragraph, it's all plain sailing from here...
I love the writing! It's eerie. :)
ReplyDeleteOhh, I like it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad so many of you are as intrigued by this one as I am. I have a few short stories based on dreams, but most of them stalled out, because my dreams typically only replay a minute or so of activity in a nausea-inducing loop. This one was born as a full-fledged novel. I'm excited to finish books 2 and 3 so I can have time to work on this one for real!
ReplyDelete@Dorte - Definitely creepy. If I convey the imagery from my dream properly, it will only get creepier.
ReplyDelete@Clarissa - Thanks so much! Voice is really what I prioritize, so I always love when it works!
@Anne - Thanks! I think it's going to be a lot fun. Well, fun might not be the right word. But it will be a good write and a good read, I believe. As long as the surreal nature of the metaphor doesn't get in the way too much.
@Gail - Yay! Music to my ears!
@Fick - More upon completion of my first and second novels. :) I'm trying to be disciplined for once in my life.
@Tim - I love that description... King Lear Noir... Pretty accurate, actually. The part that scares me a little is that this thing has a little bit of a Neil Gaiman feel to it, and we know where I sit on that account. lol
@G'Eagle - Awesome! Eerie is one of my favorite things to be! In my writing, I mine. In real life, less so.
@Michelle - Woohoo! :-D
ooo, me likey! That's the thing about dream ideas. For now, it's all feelings and emotions. Must capture those in words. Love it~ :o)
ReplyDeleteI think it's incredible that you remembered it in so much detail, Nevets. Do you keep the statutory pen and paper by your bed? And will you dream the next bit, too?
ReplyDelete@Leigh - Thanks! It's rarely as easy to translate as we authors would like.
ReplyDelete@Frances - I do have them by my bed, but I never really use them. I sleep horribly and so am almost always a lucid dreamer. I remember specifically waking up and saying, maybe even out loud, "What a great book this would be!" And then I started the dream over from scratch, paying attention to the details and taking mental notes like a writer might.
I might dream some more, but the good news is that the way I write and dream and think, the essential story is already there so all that's left is that plot nonsense.