I told you it was epic. Totting up spellcheck results, it appears Light of the World has at least 188 named characters. 'At least' because those are just the ones with the tricky spelling; I'm guessing 200+ is more accurate. Yes, a handful are animals (Winty, a cow; Od, a dog; Acærn, a pony...). Another handful are ancestral and/or legendary characters (Eliffer of the Great Retinue). But most are people who make a real-time appearance in this book (or will in book 2 or 3), and many play significant roles.
Many are actual historical characters. Many I made up. I'll have to find a way to differentiate the two in a list for the book. Oh, I see spreadsheets in my future. And maps. And family trees, glossary, pronunciation guide... A myriad nifty extras for the book and/or website.
Posts
I'm very excited--and I wish I was a 7th century expert to help you with this project!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm an excellent researcher and took a few classes on Medieval history. Put me on a topic and I'll see what I can find!
Kelley H. (another Kelley!)
KelHal on FB
Kelley, thanks, I might take you up on that for books 2 and 3. (Weird mixed feelings when say Books 2 & 3: I quail; I'm thrilled.)
ReplyDeleteHild: Light of the World, Author's special signed limited edition with DVD.
ReplyDeletehey, congrats on the new book. i love your work and am looking forward to reading more of it! uuuhhhh, don't love the title, "light of the world," however. it's just such a cliche in religious circles. i don't see it doing justice to the type of adventure you are likely to create with hild. if i saw that title and didn't already know your name as an author, i'd move past the it posthaste. sorry, but i had to say it...
ReplyDeleteDianne, yep :)
ReplyDeleteAnon, I'm not massively keen on it myself. I prefer As It Must, as in "Fate goes ever as it must..." I also really (really) like Butcher Bird, but it only reflects one aspect of Hild. Ditto God in the Nettles.
like "as it must." leaves one wondering like a good title should. how did you get stuck with "light of the world"? was that the pubhouse ed.? gosh, i hope it gets changed, or it might end up on the inspirational/spirituality section!
ReplyDeleteanon, Light of the World is just something I stuck on while I thought about it. Current top contenders: As It Must and Mene Wood. (Yeah, I know it's tautological, but if you read the book it makes perfect sense.)
ReplyDelete