Take These Broken Shards (Know the Novel - Part I)

Next month I'm writing a novel (hopefully using NaNoWriMo, but we'll see). And last year, I did something — Know the Novel — and I want to do it again. (And at the end there's an update on the prizes for the Inktober challenge!)

This event, which started over at Christine @ Christine Smith Author, is really interesting. I think the idea—to get you and your readers excited about a new novel—is incredibly fun.

Before we begin, I'll quickly mention that the story I'm introducing is called Then We'll All Burn Together. Beyond that, well... read on!

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

This is a difficult question, because this story is a mix of many different stories, many of which I have been writing for a while now. Last year, I did the first Know the Novel part with a part of this story, then called Take These Broken Shards.

A part of this story started years ago, during Covid. I remember penning the words: If they are found, all is lost...

And The Saga of the Stars was born.

Over the years, it's changed quite a bit. (Originally, it was actually a more sci-fi novel set on Earth!) The main characters have shifted and developed, the themes of the story have changed, and yet a couple ideas have always stayed strong.

What — you expected me to tell you what those are? Well, I can't tell you everything without major spoilers, but the ideas of family and platonic love have stayed true throughout the years I have been working on this project.

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

Ooh. I've been excited to share this with you. Although, to be fair, you have had the ability to read this blurb for a while (I've added a section on my blog regarding my books, actually).

But. Without further ado, here is the summery of my new project, Then We'll All Burn Together.

In a world where only one thing has held steadfast through the ages, Audrey Dawnsting and Jameson Sallow are born. Thrust into two different roles—she is the child of an Àlkalri and a human; he, the son of the king—the two begin to learn the rules of their world: the Àlkalri rule and humankind submits.

When the very foundation of their world is shaken, Jameson and Audrey realize that the only way to change is to rebel against the laws that are shoved onto them.

But the fire of rebellion is a dangerous thing—impossible to control.

When you strike a match, you can only hope you won't be burned.

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

Then We'll All Burn Together will be taking place in a fictional world. I've spent a couple of years working on developing it — although, to be fair, I have spent a lot more time developing cultures and the such then the actual physical features. So, that ought to be fun...

One of my favorite aspects of the setting is the complexities behind everyone's interactions. Because of the physical aspects of the world, a lot of cultures have developed outside of one another — and yet they still have knowledge of each other and have created sterotypes. I like playing around with that.

Oh, and a couple of years ago, my sister and I created a phoenix cave and I just love seeing my characters stumble in there. It's always pretty hilarious.

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

I think this is a little bit difficult for me to do, just because of how the story is structured.

You see, in the first book of the series, it's split into two parts. In the first part, the story is told from the perspective of Jameson Sallow and Audrey Donsting. In the second part, Jameson keeps his perspective but the Donsting story shifts to the perspective of her younger brother, Ethan, and another character called Kenna. (The story takes place over the course of multiple years.) There are other perspectives for the two other books, but, yeah.

I'll introduce you to the first two characters.

First, Jameson.

Jameson Sallow is the eldest son of the king and queen of the Kalran land. His one sibling (Regulus) is five years younger than him. Although he loves his younger brother, when their world topples into chaos, he realizes how frustrating towing a nine-year-old along with him can be.

Over the course of the books, he'll learn the true meaning of sacrifice — of laying down ones life while still living.

However, when you first meet him, he's a confident, obnoxious character who is extremely arrogant and thinks first about himself. He does truly care about his people and family, though.

Jameson happens one of my favorite characters. He also has been a character since the very dawn of this series, although when I began the series we only saw him after most of his arc had been completed. I'm excited to delve into his story before everything happened, and see how it changed him.

And Audrey.

Audrey Donsting is the eldest daughter of an Aklalri and human — an almost unheard of pair in her world. Her younger siblings (Isaac, Ethan, and Abigail) were young enough to have few memories of the world before their lives were destroyed, but Audrey knows what the world looked like. And she's not sure she wants to return there.

She's far more mature than Jameson when the story starts, even though they're technically the same age. Even this, though, doesn't stop her anger from flaring up at times when she talks to her ssecond in command, Kiara.

Throughout the books, she grows in her role of leader, and looks at the before and after of their world critically, no matter what.

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

Of course, there's the main antagonist: the Guild. The humans. At least, that's what Jameson thinks. But Audrey isn't so sure. The humans are doing some pretty bad things, to be sure, but they're also acting out of years — centuries, really — of hurt and anger and pain.

Are the humans really the enemy? Are the Àlkalri? Or is there something bigger at play, an ancient power set on destroying the world?

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

Although it's technically a subplot that only emerges in the second part of the book, and I didn't introduce you to the characters, the entire sibling relationship between Ethan and Kenna is one of my favorite parts of the book. I've written a bit of it, before, actually, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

Additionally, in the first book, Jameson starts journalling. In the last book, this becomes important. I'm excited, because there will have to be a bit of unreliable narrating in the story to leave some of the bigger revelations for the last book, and I think it'll be interesting to work with.

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

Oh, definitely a series. Hopefully, it'll be a trilogy, called the Saga of the Stars.

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

Plotting would be more true than pantsing but neither are truly accurate. I have a basic outline with important scenes and ideas, but I don't exactly have a specific outline I'm working with.

So, plansting.

9. Name a few unique elements in this story.

I think to call these elements "unique" would be arrogant, so I'm not sure I'll call it that, but I like delving into certain characters' guilt. Also, — I'm not perfect at this by any means — I'm trying to find ways to find strong feminine characters I've read about and imitate that/learn from that and put those strong aspects in my story.

(Would you like a post working on strong female characters sometime? Comment below!)

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!).

First and foremost, there's a playlist I made that (I think) captures the general vibe of the series.

the playlist

Secondly, well... I don't really have anything else. Nothing that's ready, really.

But keep a lookout for snippets regarding this story in the coming weeks. Because they're coming.

Lastly, an update on the bookmark prizes. I've decided on an official three, but I won't be sharing those until November.

And remember. Submissions for both competitions close at the end of the month — and you do not have to complete Inktober to compete in the first competition.

For more information, check out the official post about it: https://auroraoriens.wixsite.com/a-m-lambert/post/inktober-2023-writing-competition.

Keep writing!