Christmas 2012 Greetings

"So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, and new one's just begun." - John Lennon, "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"
 

2012, a.k.a. the so-called year of the apocalypse. I'm still not buying the Mayans' warning.

Nevertheless, 2012 is coming to an end, and now we have to look toward 2013. Personally, this year has been nothing more than another ordinary year for me. It disappoints me to say that my goal to get Angelic Guardians: The Gathering signed by an agent has failed. I've had one nibble out of a pool of over 50 possible agents in my target genre, but even that nibble was thrown into the growing pile of rejection replies. The only good thing that came out of that experience was not hearing the words, "Frankly, you suck". Still, not one agent was interested in what could be the next best thing.

So, like many authors and artists, I went back and looked at the manuscript again. That was probably not the smartest move on my half because I'm a perfectionist. Then again, I saw a few things that could use some tweaking. Now, I started that back in late April/early May. Here it is... December, close to Christmas, and I'm now tweaking the last chapter.

But I'm not done. During the summer, my Toshiba crashed, and I resorted to my old MacBook that I had back in college to continue my writing. (thank God for flash drives!) I was doing pretty good until I was in the middle of tweaking Chapter 3 during my break at my night job, and I didn't safely remove the flash drive by the Mac protocol. So, my file got corrupted and lost. Thankfully, I've got backups... except I get to start over again, which is okay, considering I had an idea of where I wanted to go with that chapter.

Not only that, but I feel it's time to start incorporating the proper Japanese honorifics in the dialogue. It used to be that when Japanese manga was first translated into English, the honorifics were dropped because it would confuse readers. Nowadays, most translators are keeping the honorifics while including a translation or note page at the end of each issue. A prime example can be found in the re-release issues of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Kodansha Comics where Usagi (Bunny/Serena) refers to her Inner Senshi friends with -chan at the end of their first names, -san for her Outer Senshi allies (because they're older and not as close to her as the others), etc. I have two copies of #9 and #10 from the Tokyopop/Mixx release from back in 2005, and nowhere are the honorifics ever used in the English translation. Seven years of cultural and language understanding can make a difference, no?

As soon as I feel like I am ready to take on the world again, I will look into publishing companies before I go back to agents.

But at least The Gathering looks better this time around.

On a side note, I've been thinking about writing a Christmas television screepnplay or short story within the Angelic Guardians franchise set sometime between The Choice and The Revelations. What do you think about this: Rizu and Robu are about to celebrate their first Christmas together in their new apartment, but to Rizu, a decorated home isn't the same without a Nativity set like the one her parents had, which gives Robu an idea of what to get her for Christmas.

Meanwhile, Myoujou the Dark Demon travels back in time to the day when the Magi are warned about going back to Judea, where the king is plotting to kill baby Iesu in order to secure his throne, and successfully convinces them to continue on their way. History is rewritten, and by Christmas Eve in the present day, everything related to Iesu--carols, Nativity sets, and Christmas itself--disappears without a trace, only to be replaced by Christmas' other famous icon Santa Claus. Not just that, but the purpose of the Angelic Guardians is missing, and they're the only ones who know Christmas is something more than just the presents.

And because I think of the Grinch every time I envision Myoujou trying to thrwart Tamashii & co., "How the Dark Demon Stopped Christmas" somehow keeps coming back to me. What do you think? Good concept?

Thanks to those who have supported me in 2012. I hope you'll do the same in 2013. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a Happy New Year to all.

L.D. Smith

The Next Big Thing (An Author's Blog Tour)

One of my close friends suggested that I do an author's blog tour as a way to promote the Angelic Guardians series. I've never done one before, but, hey, if it means a bit of shameless promotion, then I'm all for it! So, here we go.


What is the working title of your book?
Angelic Guardians: The Gathering

Where did the idea come from for the book?
Initially, I was practicing my manga drawing skills while I was in my sophomore year at Ball State University, and I decided to draw characters based on several people I knew (myself included) in a setting out of a magical girls franchise like Sailor Moon. Then, I thought about writing a story about them; I just never came up with a solid idea until I began my Religious Studies minor. By the end of my junior year, I knew what I wanted to do and which direction I wanted my book to go.

What genre does your book fall under?
Obviously fantasy/urban fantasy. There are a slew of religious themes, and the entire series is pro-Revelation, but because of the language, drugs, and sex that will be evident in later books, I wouldn't consider The Gathering and the installments to come as Christian. And while there is romance and drama, it's really more along the lines of fantasy.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Rizu Hikarino (Liz Light)/Tamashii - Emma Watson
Gaburieru (Gabriel) - Hugo Weaving
Myoujou (Lucifer) - Alan Rickman
Kasushiusu (Cassius) - Jason Isaacs

As for Beronika Hoshino (Veronica Starr)/Medetai, Megu Hino (Meg Blaze)/Iinaka, Jeison Ankokuno (Jason Dark)/Shi, Deibiddo Fushimawashino (David Bard)/Inochi, and Robu Tsuchino (Rob Stone), I would rather have fresh new faces in the acting world to play these characters. I just need a strong actress to portray Rizu/Tamashii in order to get the critics' attention.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The great battle between angels and demons is approaching, and the King of Heaven has chosen the world's biggest asocial loser to lead his holy army.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I would rather be represented by an agency, but if I must invest in self-publishing, then I will.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Honestly, I'd say about three years, getting started and all. Maybe less than that.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I would say Harry Potter, but there are no wizards present in the series. Actually, the entire series is like the cousin to Sailor Moon because of its magical girl/boy plotline, but it's more geared toward adults. But I have given a nod to both Dante's Inferno and Milton's Paradise Lost, which are two of my favorite classics to read.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
You can say that God told me to write The Gathering or perhaps the Devil himself (although I can't imagine why he would encourage me to do that when we all know how the series is going to end if you have read the book of Revelation... other than it might offend the church despite of its message). But, really, I wanted to do something anime and manga-like, and since I don't draw professionally, why not write and have someone draw it for me in time?

What else about your book might pique the readers’ interest?
Did I forget to mention that not only will The Gathering reflect on religion, but it sheds light on the mission of secret societies (the Illuminati, being one) and how they will later contribute to the rise of the Antichrist. So, if you're big into conspiracy theories or if you're wondering where our governments are taking us, this series is for you.

Perfection Goeth Before the Fall

Just when I thought I was done with The Gathering, I was forced to pull it back out and do some tweaking. Unfortunately, the tweaking is leading me to another round of editing.

Sorry, folks, but the agents aren't looking at me. There are a lot of factors going on, mainly the rise of The Hunger Games and the temporary farewell to supernatural/urban fantasy series. Keyword: temporary. We all know how these two genres of fiction tend to come around a decade later. That and being a new author, especially one who has never made networking connections at a writer's workshop, doesn't help much to my credibility.

So, that means it's time to move onto Plan B: the publishing companies. Whether or not I'll be signed by Christmas is another thing, but time is running out financially, and I'm about to make one last attempt with this project. Please keep me in your prayers or thoughts, whichever you choose, and let's hope that a company is interested with what I have to bring to the table. Honestly, I don't see how I can't get signed, but that's just me being bias.

"It is finished"...

Ever had that uplifting feeling when you feel proud of what you've accomplished? I have and for the very first time too. And I celebrated it with a victory lap around Cass County.

Yesterday was the official date both the original and English versions of Angelic Guardians: The Gathering were filed under "COMPLETE" on my flash drive. That's right. They're finished.

And I have to say that I was very pleased with how the plot turned out in the end. I knew before I thought about submitting The Gathering to an agent or publishing company, I had some rough spots to smooth out. Delete a few scenes, make the words flow, and touch up on some areas, and BOOM! I could not have asked for a better storyline.

Well, I could have, but that'll come later.

It felt good saving the final chapter of the English adaption one last time and putting the laptop away with a completed piece of work I began in my college years, knowing that I'm now ready to ask for an agent's helping hand toward publishing. It was like having a great weight being taken off my shoulders. Sure, I will admit that it does feel weird not sitting down in between jobs and spend my afternoons thinking about how can I make this book better, but I believe it's time to move forward and focus on the future.

Will The Gathering need more polishing? I'm sure, but definitely not as much as before. Thankfully, my parents are willing to support me financially and help me pay any editor that wants to take on this project. Aside from that, I'm ready to hand it over to someone who can get it on the shelves.

Thank you to everyone who followed me over the years. Next week starts another big project: writing a good query letter as part of my search for an agent. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

And as a reward for your faithfulness, the series' illustrator Erin Gentry sent me a pic of the lineart version for one of the covers. Enjoy!

Kinda reminds you of Sailor Moon, doesn't it? Mission accomplished.

Two Versions? No Way!

Earlier in my postings of The Gathering on Fiction Press, I received a critique from an annonymous reviewer which left me disgruntled as first but it gave me an idea.

Considering the Angelic Guardians and Angelic Guardians Beginnings series take place in Japan, it made sense for the characters to have Japanese names or Western names that have been translated to Japanese, but not every reader agreed to my thinking. They didn't like seeing key religious terms in romanji, and it confused those who were Christian or a particular Western religion. I even had one reader say that she would not buy my books because it looked like I was creating a new religion based on Christianity.

Seriously, why would I do that?

But I got to thinking... if popular anime and manga titles like Sailor Moon were dubbed and translated into English using Western names, why can't Angelic Guardians do the same?

So, in addition to the original Japanese story, each release will also have an English/Western adaption. Here's an example of what to expect:

• Rizu Hikarino --> Liz Light
• Beronika Hoshino --> Veronica Starr
• Megu Hino --> Meg Blaze
• Jeison Ankokuno --> Jason Dark
• Deibiddo Fushimawashino --> David Bard
• Robu Tsuchino --> Rob Stone
• Raian Daishizenno --> Ryan Forrest
• Ami Umino --> Amy Waterson
• Shinmei --> God
• Iesu --> Jesus
• Gaburieru --> Gabriel
• Myoujou --> Lucifer
• Kasushiusu --> Cassius
• Deiraira --> Delilah
• Kureopatora --> Cleopatora
• Medosa --> Medusa
• Buruutasu --> Brutus
• Judasu --> Judas
• Kirisutokyou --> Christianity
• Kurisuchan --> Christian
• Mushiron --> Atheism
• Mushinsha --> Atheist

However, names like Tamashii, Medetai, and so forth will not change due to the fact that the twelve Angelic Guardians are directly named after certain aspects such as soul, joy, love, death, life, etc. It'd be weird to go from Tamashii in Japan to Soul in America or England. Yeah. I'll stick with something more mystic.

So, to those who are complaining about their eyes hurting as they read my series, your wish has been granted.

And you know what that means, right? New artwork! My illustrator is spending time working hard on the original version, but she's looking forward to do an alternate verison for the English/Western release.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to see it!

"All we are sayin' is give peace a chance..."

Well, since my last blog, shit hit the ceiling fan. Hard. To begin with, my laptop had a meltdown a few hours later and the harddrive crashed. But have no fear -- I managed to save the original files on my Mac, and the updated files online. However, any work and fan fiction that was on my Toshiba are gone. Forever. Ah well. Thank God for backups. Unfortunately, my Mac is out of date, so I'm limited in terms of online time.

I'm also more than halfway done touching up on The Gathering, but I wish I was further at this point. But I'm still doing good time-wise. I hope to get in contact with an agent by early 2012. Go me.

On a sadder note, I posted (and promoted) a new business that was coming to downtown Logansport. Unfortunately, Some Kind of Wonderful Books & Gifts has been abandoned. The article from the November 27, 2011 issue of the Pharos-Tribune said that the owner (Kitty Keswick) went back to California to be with her family, whereas a reliable source told me through the realtor that she had second thoughts. Regardless, this is a major blow to me.

I know that Christmas is coming around the corner for many of you, regardless if you see it as a day of Santa's gifts or God's Gift (Jesus, that is), but I do pay my respects to those that don't observe Christmas due to religious reasons. Happy (or Merry) Christmas to my Christian peeps, Happy Chanukah to my Jewish peps, Happy Kwanzaa to my black peeps, and to those who don't have a particular day of celebration at this time, Happy Holidays to you.

One last thing, usually I post a holiday special with the gang from Angelic Guardians, but since I lost the revised version of "Finding the Christmas Spirit" and I don't feel like stopping in the middle of my progress with The Gathering just to redo it, I'm gonna do something special next year. And you can thank Mr. Grinch for giving me the idea. I'll give you a clue as to why I'm thinking How the Grinch Stole Christmas: read the story of the Magi in Matthew 2 and see where Myoujou/Lucifer would twist it around.

Goodbye, 2011. Hello, 2012!

"Give thanks with a grateful heart..."

Yesterday in the US was a day of thanks. Many of us spent the afternoon with our loved ones around a giant cooked turkey at the table, while others (like myself) prepared for Christmas and watched a little bit of football (which, by the way, GO COWBOYS!). Don't worry... tomorrow, I'll get my turkey fix for the year. I even made an agreement with my future brother-in-law over the drumsticks. XD

Now, I don't have a lot to be thankful for... okay, so maybe I do: having parents who allowed me to come back home after college without charging rent, two jobs to keep the income flow going, friends who have my back no matter how far away they are, and, believe it or not, people who are interested with my progress concerning Angelic Guardians. To those who continue to follow me on Facebook, FanFiction.net, and FictionPress.com, THANK YOU!!! Your support has boosted me in dark times, and you have no idea how much it has helped. I'm hoping by next year around this time, you'll have included Angelic Guardians: The Gathering on your holiday wishlist. As for me, I'm hoping to be touching up on The Awakening and get it ready for publishing. I can't afford to leave all you fans hanging, can I?

Again, words cannot describe how much I am thankful to have fans like you. 2012 isn't gonna be the end of the world. Well, it might be the end of the world as we know it once I'm done, but it's gonna be our year for sure! Thank you and be careful on this Black Friday!

"Angelic Guardians: The Gathering" Promo video #1 (beta/annotated)

So, I redid the promo video for The Gathering and uploaded an annotated version on YouTube. I'm done making videos... for now. I will make a second promo video with Erin's artwork for the cover and any new sketches she sends my way. Until then, enjoy this clip.

All characters and plots from Angelic Guardians belong to L. D. Smith ©2011.