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Centernia: Building a Castle

A behind-the-scenes peak into the realm of Centernia.

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October 06, 2016

Oh Misa....ever plotting, ever planning, never running out of dreams....

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So I have a brain tumor....

April 27, 2017

My Tumor This is a very odd post that seems more like the stuff of fiction than fact. I have a tumor growing out of my 8th cranial nerve, pressing on my brainstem. Also, because that isn't exciting enough, I'm pregnant with my second child. The Path to Diagnosis I think it's important to share this story. A vestibular schwannoma is a tumor that is apparently growing in popularity, despite Google classifying it as "very rare". Symptoms can be confused for other things, such as anxiety and migraines. My first clue something was amiss was in July of 2016. The right corner of my mouth felt wet and cold, even though it wasn't. The odd wet feeling came and went over the course of a week, then vanished. I didn't see a doctor since it went away on its own. A month later, I was vacationing and enjoying some amazing coastal shellfish. The right side of my tongue started going numb and I was convinced I developed a shellfi...

Centernian Fashion: Part 1, Basic Attire

December 07, 2014

Note: To best view these images, open this article in the stand-alone blog: here The images used are sourced from retail outlets and fashion articles. I've cited all links in the captions. Basic Centernian Fashion http://www.indianattire.com/ I'm happily in the process of drawing comprehensive character designs for Centernia. In order to do so, I've assembled an array of references which I've been asked to share. :-) Centernian clothing is a combination of styles, the most common influences are Indian and Art Nouveau . Clothing is often governed by asymmetrical lines, displayed in either cut, pattern or decoration. Nature is the inspiration for patterns, which are often based on fish, feathers, and flowers . Laces and buttons are common and zippers are very rare. Jewelry is popular among all classes, and earnings are worn by both genders. Color vibrancy and class are connected. Low-class citizens, such as the people of Rockwood, typica...

Centernia: A One Year Retrospective

September 02, 2015

September 2nd holds significance to Centernia as it's the day Muse died and the same day first printed proof arrived in the mail. It truly marks the beginning of Return to the Castle. This has been a whirlwind, and I have learned so much and am so grateful. We did a pre-order at RocCon in Rochester, NY in mid-September, and followed it with a full launch at New York Comic Con in October. After which, the book was whisked to Detroit for Youmacon, Genericon in Troy, Anime Boston, Tora Con, Sci-Fi Valley Con. I learned some rough lessons too. The first edition was edited, but errors still snuck through and I put out an updated edition in February. The hardest lesson I've learned is that writing a sequel is not as easy as I had anticipated. My husband chides me, reminding me that the core story of Return to the Castle was the story I had written and re-written over a half dozen times before I froze it into its final printed form. It's natural that t...

Centernia Fashion: Part 2, Jewelry & Footwear

January 12, 2015

Jewelry Inhabitants of Centernia love to wear jewelry. For some, it is a talisman of good luck. For others, it is an ostentatious bit of show. For those in mourning, a simple choker may be a means to feel connected with the dead. In the land of Centernia, almost all types of jewelry are worn by both genders. Earrings are very popular, as are ear cuffs, ring bracelets and simple pendants. It is not unusual to see someone with as many as ten piercings along their earlobe. Tongue and nose piercings are not as common in Centernia, but you will see them among members of the Holy Circus and people of the northern regions. Materials Much of the jewelry common in the area of Trabalis is made from a gold variant, mined in the mountains. It is plentiful and cheap metal with relatively low toxicity. Silver jewelry is also popular. Gemstones are more rare than gold. Most jewelry worn by common folk feature polished stones, glass, painted wood, and innovative combinations of natu...

GIANT THANK YOU and SEQUEL STATUS UPDATE

October 15, 2016

I'm spending the weekend out at Another Anime Con in Manchester, New Hampshire. I've met some really nice people and sold half a case of Centernia (with still one more day of con to go!). I also just read another very kind Amazon review from an anonymous reader who purchased a copy in Fan World Niagara. That review made me really, really, really happy and I'm reminded of how far we've come. Centernia went on sale October two years ago. I appreciate every single reader in a way I can barely communicate. To put this in perspective.... I have spent over half my life with Nico, Jessica, Teren and the rest of the castlefolk arguing in my brain. When you, the reader, chose to spend hours invested inside the pages of the book, you see, hear, and feel everything I do. I don't take this shared experience for granted. It is true magic that ink on a piece of paper can bring you into the abandoned halls of Castle Aurumice. I can't believe this journey ha...

The original Mark of the Castle Outline

September 21, 2019

I was organizing my studio and came across this tattered old document. As we’re coming upon the one year anniversary of Mark of the Castle, I thought it would be a perfect time to share the original outline. As I completed each chapter, I would fill in the chapter number with a scribble of pen. The yellow, green, and lavender backgrounds denote the three acts of the story. I always had a solid path, but I wandered on and off it as the plot evolved. I’m a very digital person, but sometimes I just need something physical to grip onto and reassure myself that I am moving forward. This document was only ever intended for my eyes. It’s not spell-checked, half-thoughts are scribbled, but this is as close to my brain as you can get. So without further introduction, this is the Mark of the Castle that could have been. :-) Click here to view the six page outline in full-screen mode.

Q & A: How do you pronounce.....?

August 11, 2015

How do you pronounce the names and places of Centernia? Here is a very straightforward guide to all names and places unusual! Castlefolk Nicoveren Aristo Verdian: "Neek-o-varen Ah-risto Vare-de-an" Teren Wynter: "Tare-en Winter" Artemisa Wynter: "Art-a-mee-sa Winter" Kaity Cosette: "Kate-e Co-zette" Corwin Evansi: "Core-win Ev-an-see" Jared Evansi: "Ja-red Ev-an-see" Alba: "All-ba" Savina: "Sah-vee-nah" Wadjette: "Wa-jet" Jiberty: "Jib-er-ty" Abrianna: "Ah-bree-ana" Aden: "Aye-den" Otto Onyxgrove: "Ot-oh On-ex-grove" Elina: "Ell-eena" Circusfolk Amberynn: "Amber-rin" Malachi: "Male-uhk-eye" Cobalt: "Co-ballt" Places Centernia: "Sent-urn-e-uh" Aurumice: "Or-uh-mice" or "Aura-mice" Trabalis: "Trah-ball-is" Briken: "Bry-ken"

Depression in Centernia

April 15, 2019

"Centernia is realistic fantasy." This is a phrase that's been repeated to me many times during convention conversations. Centernia hits on a variety of heavy topics...divorce, drug abuse, sexuality, economic imbalance...all wrapped up in a wild tale of magic and mayhem. I would like to analyze a few of these topics in greater depth, starting with depression. *****Book 1 & 2 Spoilers Ahead***** *********** Nico is a character who experiences an inordinate amount of trauma. At the end of Return to the Castle , his parents are dead, Misa is dead, he's been doomed to a life without physical intimacy and he's about to become enslaved in the Mines of Briken. At the opening of Mark of the Castle , we can add torture, physical maiming, and an encounter with a Sinari woman. He’s hunted by mages and he fears that returning home may put Teren in danger. There's not much more that could be done to torture this ma...

May 2021 Update

May 12, 2021

Child of Aurumice came back from my editor. I'm still reviewing all the comments, but his overarching concern is both exciting and gut-punching. I have written two books. My editor's intuition is dead on, as when I wrote the original outline, it was two books. As the story evolved, I thought I didn't have enough content for two stories, so I left it as one book, the length rivaling Mark of the Castle. I need time to process all the comments before I rush to make this change. If I go through with it, bad news for you all, book three is delayed. However, on the bright side, you get two books and more story! This isn't the only Centernia project on the horizon. For years, I've written short stories from different parts of the Centernia timeline, from Elina's childhood to Nico's ultimate sacrifice. I had considered putting the stories up on the website for free or offering them for 99 cents each. Neither felt right. Instead, I'm experimenting with a...

Creature Feature: The Burch

May 15, 2015

They traveled across a small wooden bridge over a pristine pond. In the water below, small brown hippopotamus turtles waded through the mud. Water sloshed up onto their patterned shells. “What are those?” Jessica asked. “The burch,” Misa explained. “They’re a little tough but they taste good in a sauce.” Jessica couldn’t imagine killing one of the dog-sized beasts. They seemed so happy in their watery little home. --Return to the Castle Mud Loving Creatures The water-dwelling burch are very common throughout the continent of Madierna. Most often they are found in muddy, swampy areas where they eat insects, small fish, and freshwater plankton. Burch species range from approximately eight inches to as much as three feet. They have leathery skin and unique shell patterns. These marsh-loving creatures have been described as being very similar to the tortoise, thou...