A bit of backstory research

Today's progress had me looking into the history of Pompeii and Seattle. Lukas was born in Pompeii, c. 48 A.D., made vampire c. 78 A.D., just before Vesuvius erupted. As we race forward in history, Ramsey Kellogg was made vampire while living in Seattle, c. 1860.





This image is copyrighted. The copyright holder allows anyone to use it for any purpose. Media from the Discovery Channel's Pompeii: The Last Day, courtesy of Crew Creative, Ltd. See, Wikimedia Commons.


Delving into the backstory of these cities has also provided me with insight into both Lukas and Ramsey. It gives me that "oh, that's why he did that." Those are nuggets of information I really enjoy uncovering.

Such as, now I know why Ramsey dresses the way he does. And that he has a very stubborn temperament. I knew how he dressed, I just didn't know why. And I knew he was made of tough fiber, just now how deep the stubbornness ran, nor where it stemmed from. This is very good.

Courtesy of Flickr--Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle waterfront, c. 1892.

My characters are becoming three-dimensional. Without this groundwork, it's doubtful they would be as alive as they should be.

Some good progress today.

I'm excited about today's discoveries.

I know Marie's history will be much more complicated. And her emotions more complex because of the different species spliced into her personality.

Something has just come to mind and I must follow that thought. Yes, this is good. Very good.

A Clarification

Something to remember:

poison is inhaled or ingested; venom is injected

Something to consider. Poisonous venom or venomous poison? Either/or. Both?

Must research further.

Dictionary: ven·om (vĕn'əm) pronunciation

n.

1. A poisonous secretion of an animal, such as a snake, spider, or scorpion, usually transmitted by a bite or sting.
2. A poison.
3. Malice; spite: “They dislike making their just criticism of a useful and earnest man an excuse for a general discharge of venom from small-minded opponents” (W.E.B. DuBois).

[Middle English venim, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *venīmen, from Latin venēnum, poison.]

http://www.answers.com/topic/venom


poi·son (poizn)
n.
1. A substance that causes injury, illness, or death, especially by chemical means.
2. Something destructive or fatal.
3. Chemistry & Physics A substance that inhibits another substance or a reaction: a catalyst poison.
tr.v. poi·soned, poi·son·ing, poi·sons
1. To kill or harm with poison.
2. To put poison on or into: poisoning arrows; poisoned the drink.
3.
a. To pollute: Noxious fumes poison the air. See Synonyms at contaminate.
b. To have a harmful influence on; corrupt: Jealousy poisoned their friendship.
4. Chemistry & Physics To inhibit (a substance or reaction).
adj.
Poisonous.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pti, ptin-, drink; see p(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/poison

As with vampires, ones must use the correct terminiology with spinners

As vein to artery
As poison to venom

A little organization

Today, I spent time organizing what I have accomplished to date. I have discovered that my anticipated word count of 75k is low. It may range more around 95k, but we shall see.

The outline is eight pages. I have updated and reprinted it.

10k is already drafted. I had drafted it several months ago and was required to set it aside so I could meet other deadlines. I re-read those 10k this morning and those pages are now printed so I can edit.

I've printed out my character outline forms which go to background, motivations and actions, personality traits, tastes and preferences, and inward/outward appearance. I have also printed out the overall story sketch details. You might think the outline handles this, but there are different scene and character details in this story form.

I usually find I print out what I think I need in forms, but rarely do I use all of them. They serve as reminders in many cases.

Of interest: Before building a new web, the spider eats its old web.

Many intriguing research items to discover. I must remember to print out all my notes.

“Fuck her, you could lose your dick, depending on her mood.”

Ask my friend Caitlyn where this line evolved from. :-)

I don't know that it will be used in this particular story, but it certainly goes to Marie's deadly nature. As far as I know Marie has not maimed any of her men in this fashion. Not that she's saying at this point, anyway.

Progress #1

A powerful vampire and his lethal, DNA-altered lover confront a foe of preternatural and deadly cunning.


Lukas Emmanual, a vampire of ancient blood, and Marie Shilo, a woman with lethal Black Widow/alien-spliced DNA, have developed a darkly intense sexual relationship satisfying to them both. A request for assistance has come to the Vampyre Falls paranormal community where Lukas and Marie reside, requesting assistance in locating a killer on the loose in Seattle. Lukas and Marie travel to the city to work with the local psychic investigator assigned to the case–a former male lover of Lukas's. The realization that the killer shares very marked characteristics with Marie ups the stakes. As the danger increases and more women die, the head of the Vampyre Falls council has taken added precautions by sending in another ancient to monitor the situation. Miriam despises spiders and if Marie shows the least inkling that her killer instincts have become engaged, Miriam has no problem carrying out the order to eliminate her–no matter what Lukas may have to say about the situation.

The outline is complete.

The synopsis is complete.

Summaries and blurbs are complete.

Marie's Mantra

Spin You Dead

I spin the web to make you dead.
I bind you tightly, weeping.

I shed no tear for your black fate.
Lure. Fuck. Then I kill without feeling.

And so I spin to lure again.
I taste your blood. I scream your lust.
My venom drags you deep into the agony of my seduction.
My climax is my mortal weapon.

Only death offers you peace as I spin your shroud.
Made of silken strands I bind you, own you, consume you.
Completely.

Copyright 2008 by Adrianna Dane
All Rights Reserved