THE QUESTIONS
1. One a scale of one (worst) to ten (best), how well do you think this book turned out?
          Welllllll. . . First off, it's not complete. . . heheh.  But, thanks to this link-up and the 100-4-100 challenge by Go Teen Writers, it is a little further along and more. . . fleshy--for lack of a better word.  I can't rate it. Not really.  If I did, I'd say a neutral 5 would be safe.

2. Have you ever rewritten or edited one of your books before? If so, what do you do to prepare yourself? If not, what's your plan?
          Again, keeping in mind that I've never actually finished anything (I know, a horrid flaw). . . I have "edited" a short story, but by editing, I mean read through and fixed typos, other simple boo-boos, and so on.  Just enough to make it decent and readable for my blog.  I have also rewritten the first couple chapters of my WIP, Safia, changing and redoing a LOT.

As to preparation, I don't have much to say.  But I do hope to change that soon.  To start, I'd make a whole outline of the novel, with plot points, highlights, etc. Then, I'd sit down with a colored pen and make a thorough read-through, marking changes and mistakes, making sure times and places are consistent and all that.  Most all of the writing I do is on the old-fashioned paper, by the way.  Once I get it from mind to pen, and usually only then, do I actually transfer to computer.

3. What's your final word count? Do you plan to lengthen or trim your book?
          Wow.  I don't know my word count for Safia.  This has been an ongoing project for the last four years, I believe, and I haven't actually sat down to add all of the excerpts and chapter together to find out. . .  By the time the first draft is finally complete, I'll more than likely have to trim some scenes.

4. What are you most proud of? Plot, characters, or pacing? 
          Definitely my characters.  Love mah people.  They are usually the first thing to come to life. I struggle the most with plotting.

Muhktar, pirate captain of the Avenger

5. What's your favorite bit of prose or line from this novel?
          I'm rather proud of two poems composed specifically for this story: "The Ballad of Leif" and the "Song of Farewell."
          One of my favored quotes is taken from a scene where Safia's father, the great Captain Leifson, faces off against the well-known pirate Muhktar:


6. What aspect of your book needs the most work?
         As mentioned above, my PLOT.  TT_TT  Cue in sisters.  :]

7. What aspect of your book is your favourite?
         Again, I must answer with the characters.  They are all their own.  And they're so lovable.  (At least to me. . .)

8. How are your characters? Well-rounded, or do they still need to be fleshed out?
       Oh dear, tut tut.  Well, at times, they seemed well-rounded, but I suppose they are truly pretty flat.  I've got my work cut out for me, but is it work if you love it?

9. If you had to do it over again, what would you change about the whole process?
       I would (and still should) focus harder on the plotting.  Then, set sights fully on FINISHING a first draft.

Sir Jok Dundar

10. Did anything happen in the book that completely surprised you? Have any scenes or characters turned out differently to what you planned? Good or bad?
       Hmm.  Some character names have changed.  For instance, my male MC went from Rordan to Rydan.  His younger sisters also experienced name changes--Sasha to Kenna and Tori to Taryn.  My older-mentor-advisor-type guy went from a kind of frail, doctor-ly fellow, to a wise, doctor-ly, warrior man.  That was a surprise, I suppose.  I had previously imagined him as an old, bespectacled man, until I found a photo on Pinterest that was simply perfect.  (Pinterest is AMAZING for the use of authors and aspiring writers, can I get an "Amen!")

11. What was the theme and message? Do you think they came across? If not, is there anything you think you can do to bring them out more?
         My working theme is Faith and Trust in Christ, whose persona in my world is Eliadan (ee-LIE-ah-dan), though, like in our world, He is known by many names.
          Safia endures many tragedies, and through it all must come to trust in God, the people around her, and herself.  She reaches for the faith of her late mother (and father) and holds on to the long-forgotten promises of the God she had abandoned upon her mother's death.


12. Do you like writing with a deadline (NaNoWriMo) or do you prefer to write-as-it-comes?
          I think I would prefer a deadline.  Mayhaps that is why I have a difficult go on actually completing drafts.  Currently, I write as it comes.

13. Comparative title time! What published books, movies, or TV shows are like your book? (Ex: Inkheart meets X-Men)
         Oo. This is hard.  As to naming the title of my stories, so far, they are titled with the name of my MC: Safia, Kyndi, Chess, Nanami, etc. Which I just realized is similar to Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress).  This is just a simple way for me to keep track of my stories and ideas, each capable of changing, but I really like it.  :]  Actually, I was first given the idea thanks to Dee Henderson and her novel Danger in the Shadows.  Her MC, Sara, is an author and each of her novels are titled with a single name.
          As to similarities between books and films, I may have been inspired by The Pirates of the Caribbean.  And The Lord of the Rings, regarding world-building.  My story features the fantastical, with dragons, griffins, Elves, a mention or two of Dwarves and Giants (maybe), and I'm still trying to decide on the magic part.  As of now, there's nothing like that.

14. How do you celebrate your finished novel?
          Haha! When I finish it, you'll be the first to know!

15. When people are done reading your book, what feeling do you want them to come away with?
          Satisfaction.  The feeling that they have survived an epic adventure filled with simple, true faith and life values.  And maybe leaving them wishing for more. . . from me.  :]