I began this post a year or two ago:

As my characters tell their own stories (my stories are all first person narratives), it should be easy to keep everyone straight and in their own places. Right? Wrong! It is nothing to begin a story with Dev narrating and end up with Demon narrating. DELETE. Start over where Demon interfered and three paragraphs later...why is Riot telling the story now? DELETE. Go back to where Dev and I lost control of this story. Kick Riot in his fictional butt. Begin again and... Go away, Demon! This isn't your story! Why is Bane... Wait, Morgana!... Okay, I'll come back tomorrow. I have a headache now. No, Robin. This is not the time to tell your story...
It's like trying to referee a roomful of two year olds on a sugar spree.

It is time to dig out my notebooks again and start taking notes at work...in the lunch room again...sorry everyone...it's been lovely chatting with you but I am dealing with a stubborn so and so of a character right now. Rogan (you get to meet him in Book Three) is supposed to tell the fifth book but can't seem to make up his mind where to start. Though we know where its going and what the eventual result will be, it is the how we get there that is the problem. My brain wants to jump ahead to the conclusion but that would make for an extremely short book (think 50 pages or less). How do other writers deal with ornery characters?

Today's date: I finished Book Three and Four... and Five. I am now currently battling the same issues but this time with Onyx's story. Everyone starts talking at once. Or not talking at all. Why is it that the character who is supposed to be telling the story is the only one NOT talking?

Update: Third Time Deadly In Edit Mode!

The third book is currently going through a read-through and I hope to turn it into an e-book soon. Will keep you posted.

Thanks Again Workadayreads!!!

This book picked up minutes after the first book ended, which is good because the cliffhanger ending in the first book was killer. While it started right away, it did take a few chapters to get to the easy and relaxed feel of the first book. Those first few pages felt forced and formal, but once the writing relaxed, it was fun and entertaining again.

This book focused on Bane, who is such a sweetheart. He seems to spend most of his time in the shadow behind Demon, and even in this story where he played the main part, I felt like I gained a lot more insight into Demon than anyone else.

The Graces played a prominent part in this book. It was interesting learning more about them, but I still don’t quite understand their purpose. The Deadlies are enforcers, but what are the Graces? Beside being a bunch of people who seem to be mostly the opposite of their powers. They seem like better candidates for bad guys than the Deadlies ever do.
This book ends on another killer cliffhanger ending, and it seems even worse than the first, but that may just be because the third book isn’t out yet. I really need for it to be available. I can’t wait to find out which Deadlie is the star of the next book. I hope Demon, but I’m guessing he will be the last one, so I’m going with Riot, which should make for a hot and humourous read.

 

Author's note: Sarah is right. Riot narrates the next book :) 

Many Thanks to Workaday Reads for my First Ever Review

"I will admit that I didn’t have high expectation going into this local author’s book, but oh man, I was blown away, even with the cliffhanger ending."

Thank you. I hope Twice As Deadly blows you away too. And if you like Books One and Two just wait 'til you find out what happens in Books Three and Four! I promise it is so worth the wait!

The Deadlies’ Resolutions

 

Kaz: Okay, everyone. It’s New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2012. Time to make New Year resolutions.

Bane: Why?

Kaz: Rowan says that every time a new year begins, people make resolutions to improve themselves or their lives. It’s a human thing.

Onyx: But we’re not—

Demon: Do not attempt to dissuade him. Rowan has spoken. We must bow to her wisdom or be turned into toads.

Kaz: That’s not funny.

Bane: Okay, shall we start with Demon then since he seems willing to play the game? What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Demon: I like how you said that in all capitals.

Bane: Thank you.

Demon: I resolve to kill vampires.

Kaz: That’s not exactly what I meant, Demon. It has to be some way of improving yourself.

Demon: Very well. I will get better at killing vampires.

Kaz: No—

Demon: I will get better at killing more vampires?

Kaz: Skip it. Riot, what about you?

Riot:  Why mess with perfection?

Kaz: Oh, brother. You are not Vanity, you know! Speaking of which—

Bane: Um, I, um, resolve to, um…

Dev: Stop using the word “um” so much.

Kaz: Dev—

Bane: I like it. I resolve to stop saying “um” so much. See? I am improving already.

Kaz: You guys suck.

Bane: Morgana?

Morgana: You guys are trying too hard. I’ll set a goal I know I can make. I resolve to not throw myself at Riot.

Riot: Thanks. What a load…off my mind.

Morgana: Ha!

Onyx: I resolve not to drink Hex’s tea.

Demon: Forget it. If I have to drink it, you have to drink it.

Onyx: You’re just jealous because you didn’t think of it first.

Bane: Can I change mine—

Demon: NO.

Bane: Aw. Come on—

Onyx: What about you, Dev? There must be thousands of ways you can improve, but remember, you only get to pick one.

Dev: Bite me, Jealousy. Okay. I’ll resolve to…no, wait. Maybe I’ll…uh uh. Hang on. Can we come back to me?

Bane: A.C? Do you have any resolutions?

A.C: Here now. Leave me out of this.

Dev: Okay. I resolve to…No, that won’t work. I like doing that too much. And Maia likes it too, especially with pickles.

*dead silence*

Demon: Bad visual.

Bane: Try not to think about it.

Morgana: Hey Kaz, what is your New year’s Resolution?

Kaz: I resolve to get some new freakin’ friends.

 

Happy New Year from A.C. Miller and the Deadlies.

Just Checking

Windows 8 on my new laptop is screwing with me. No...really. It doesn't like to keep things simple. I have to jump through twenty different hoops to get to stuff that I found with one click on my old (and regrettably dead) Toshiba with Windows 7. Maybe Gus was right and all I have to do is get used to it but seriously, does it have to be this difficult? I am not a computer programmer. All I want to do is write some stories and publish them. Maybe I would like to play a game or two of Sims3 (that isn't working out so well either, but that is another story.) The problem is, first I have to insist that the new laptop load these things. It doesn't want to. Then I have to download a bunch of updates for flash player, adobe, etc. It doesn't want to do that either. In my opinion, an $800 laptop should get up early to make my coffee and breakfast in the morning and tie my shoes after picking out the perfect outfit for the day.
It doesn't do windows either.

Dev's First Blog

Author's Disclaimer: As some of you have expressed disappointment that Dev's part of the story has ended (I knew it. They love me)...Dev, please. Demon and I have agreed to allow him to make a post here. Please note that the opinions expressed by Dev are not necessarily…wait, make that definitely not those of the author or the other Deadlies. Warning: Dev has no filter and often says exactly what he is thinking…(and is right on the money every time)…Dev, stop that. As a result, Demon has given the job of monitoring this blog to Kaz…(wait a minute! Why me???)…Kaz, not now. So any complaints should be directed to Kaz or Dev…(at devdoesntgiveashit.com)…Dev, behave yourself…(or takealongwalkoffashortpier.on.fu)…okay, you two! That’s it! DEMON!!!

Kaz: Dude, you don’t really think A.C. is going to Demon, do you?

Dev: Hell, no. She loves us…But just in case, I’ll type fast.

Okay, about singers inserting his or her name into a song six times...I am not sure when this new marketing strategy came about (I am over 300 years old so Frank Sinatra is “new” to me) but it is freaking annoying. Seriously, having the DJ of the radio station announce your name and the name of the song at the beginning and end of the song isn’t enough? 

I understand that you want to market yourself but really? Do it in your debut song not in EVERY FREAKIN’ SONG YOU EVER SING! (Kaz' side note: Dev knows NOTHING about marketing. Don’t listen to him…) There is nothing worse than singing along with a great song only to have the singer randomly announce his or her name in the middle of it. You stop dead in the middle of the song and listen, waiting for the ego trip to end so you can resume singing...but it isn't the same. Okay, you wrote a great song up until the part where you insert your name and start boasting about how many women (or men) you have slept with (you'll never top Riot so really?...you have nothing to brag about) or how about what a bad ass you are (think Wrath- need I say more?)

Let me put it to you this way...

Imagine walking down a beautiful tree-lined street. There are tall, stately, well-kept Victorian houses on either side of it. Then suddenly, your eye falls upon an ugly little ranch style painted hot pink with bright orange shutters. AUGH!!! You try to turn away and focus back on the beautiful Victorians but it is too late. You have already seen the garish little rancher. Now the streetscape is ruined for you forever. 

That is why having the singer’s name inserted randomly throughout a song is like a hot pink ranch style house with orange shutters. Seriously, dude. Don’t do that.

DEV!!!

What? Uh oh.

Author’s note: Thank you, Demon. The links provided by Dev and Kaz do not work. Please do not attempt to use them.