Character Interview: Cy & Chunk

Since I'll be releasing The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion this week, I thought it might be a good idea to start to get to know some of the characters that Eric and the rest of the Deliverers will be meeting. I decided to kick things off with two of my favorites. Now, they're a little camera shy because they're members of a secret society called the Order of the Crystal Lion, so they have requested that I don't post their pictures. Since they were such a big help  in the book, I was happy to make an exception. I'm posting the book trailer instead.

Cyril, or Cy as he prefers to be called, and Chunk are the best of friends. As agents for the Order, they have participated in many top secret espionage-type missions in the quest to bring freedom to the Chazum who serve the ruling Vynistri. There has been a civil war raging for over a year, but both sides are at a stalemate. Let's hear what they've got to say.

Greg:  Hello, gentlemen, thanks for coming by to tell us a little bit about yourselves and your roles in the latest Deliverers book.

Chunk:  Gentlemen, d'ya hear that Cy, he called us gentlemen.

Cy:  Yeah, sure I heard him Chunk. I guess he don't know us very well, huh?

Chunk:  Huh? Uh, no, Cy he don't know us too good, we just met him.

Cy:  Ya have ta excuse Chunk, here, he ain't too quick on the uptake sometimes.

Chunk:  Upwhich?

Cy: See what I mean? That's okay, though, 'cause he's gotta heart of gold. Plus which he's real strong, which comes in handy in a fight.

Greg:  He looks strong. In fact, he's really big, almost as big as an elephant.

Cy:  Ya noticed, huh? Yeah, he's big all right. Ya see, way back when, the rulers of the Vynistri added some elephant genes to his family's DNA. For generations, his family was used for manual labor wherever the Vynistri needed 'em, ain't that right, Chunk?

Chunk:  Yup, that's right Cy. Gee you explained that real good. 

Cy:  Thank youse.

Greg:  How do the Vynistri add the DNA?

Cy:  Well, they got this machine that they calls, er, the Machine. They chain ya up against a wall, aim the Machine at ya, put the DNA of whatever animal they wanna add inta it, press a button and bingo it's done. Only thing is a lotta the time it don't work so good and ya wind up with genetic glop instead. No one wants ta go in front of the Machine.

Greg:  It sounds very unpleasant and dangerous. 

Cy:  Yeah, well the most reliable conversion is when they use lion DNA. I ain't too sure why, but not as many people die durin' the process. These lion people call themselves the Chazum. They make up a lotta the Vynistri army. They also make good bodyguards. It's kinda ironic that some of the Chazum are fightin' for the Vynistri against the rebel Chazum, but then again, some of the Vynistri are rebellin' and fightin' against their own kind, too. Life's strange that way, ya know?

Chunk:  Yeah, you're right, Cy, like sure is funny. Like how about the time Eric was put in front of the Machine?

Cy:  Quiet, Chunk. Do ya wanna ruin the story for everybody? Ya don't wanna give too much of it away.

Chunk:  Oh, sure, sure, Cy. You're right. I just thought, well, they might want ta know.

Cy:  Yeah, I know, your heart was in the right place, Chunk. Only, they gotta find out for themselves. That's the fun part of readin' a book, or one of them electronic thingys.

Chunk: Ya mean them Kindlings?

Cy:  Yeah, somethin' like that, Chunk. Anyways, there's a lotta action in this book--lots of shootin' and chases. Some unexpected things happen, too, but we gotta let ya find out what they are for yourself.

Greg:  Sure, I understand. What can you tell us about the book?

Chunk:  Cy, can I tell him about Chancellor Trelango?

Cy:  Sure ya can, Chunk, if ya think you're up for it.

Chunk:  Thanks Cy, I'll try. See, there's this guy named Chancellor Trelango. He's the leader of the Vynistri. He ain't nice, he's mean, real mean. How'm I doin' so far Cy?

Cy:  You're doin' swell, Chunk, real nice.

Chunk:  Thanks a lot, Cy. Like I was sayin' he ain't nice. His family has been convertin' people inta Chazum for a real long time. Now, they're tryin' ta stop him and we're helpin', ain't we, Cy?

Cy: Sure, Chunk. Us and a whole bunch of people, even some Vynistri. That's why we joined up with the Order. They're workin' undercover in the capital, Vynistra City just like us. That's where we run inta Eric.

Chunk:  Uh, didn't he run inta us?

Cy:  Strictly speakin', he run inta you, Chunk. He was escapin' from--

Chunk:  Ain't you givin' away the story now, Cy?

Cy:  Hey, I guess youse are right. Sorry 'bout that. I think it's time we shoved off. We gotta get back before anyone misses us. Hey kid, it was great talkin' with ya. We'll give your regards ta Eric, and Kate and Hallo and Stig.

Chunk:  Yeah Stig. He's a nice birdie, ain't he?

Cy: Chunk, how many time do I gotta tel ya, he don't like it when people call him that.

Chunk:  Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry Cy. I keep forgettin'. Bye Mr. Interviewer, see ya at the end of the book!

Greg:  See you guys! Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with the big finish!

A Writer's Week #31: So, What's This Book About?

Okay, let's get the statistics out of the way so that I can get to the main event. I had another great writing week. I hit my goal of 2,000 words, which is great. That puts me at 179 pages and 40,000 words. Yay, another milestone! The story has been coming pretty easily for the last month or so.

I thought that this week, I would give up some details about the sequel to The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel or The Deliverers 2 as I have been calling it until I can come up with something better. In this book, Eric & Co. have been given an Assignment to stop a civil war. One side has a machine that adds lion genes to people. If they live through the process, they take on some of the abilities of the animal. These people are used as soldiers and bodyguards. They're also classed as second class citizens--less than human.

Other animals were also combined with people and other animals to a lesser extent. Three of the characters that Eric, Kate, Hallo and Stig meet have been altered. Max, Cyril (Cy) and Chunk have been altered. I really like these guys, particularly Cy & Chunk who are a little bit Abbot and Costello-ish. So, here's an excerpt featuring  these three with some support from Stig. They're trying to track down Eric, Kate & Hallo in the ancient sewers of Vynistra City.

They rushed around the corner. The pack of wolfrats was taken completely by surprise as Chunk, Cy and Max started throwing immobilizers at them. Many were frozen in their tracks by the glowing green balls. Stig added to the beasts’ confusion by darting in and pecking at them with his beak.

Chunk started sweeping the wolfrats aside with large, powerful strokes of his arms, trying to clear a path to the ladder leading up to the hatch. Cy and Max began firing their laser rifles. Stig continued his aerial assault.

The onslaught was too much for the wolfrats. They broke and fled, their whimpering reverberating down the chamber.

“Well, we seem to have sorted that lot out quite nicely,” Stig said. “Those immobilizers are frightfully effective.”

“Yeah, they do the job all right,” Cy agreed. “Like I always say, ya won’t have no trouble in the sewers as long as ya got enough immobilizers.”

“Okay, now we gotta get up this ladder and inta the palace before they get brave and decide ta come back,” Max said. ”Cy, why don’t ya get up there and open the hatch.”

“Ya got it, Max,” Cy said and scrambled up the ladder. He tried turning the wheel on the hatch, but it would not budge. “It aint workin’, Max. They must’ve locked it up good an’ tight.”

“All right, Cy. Get down here, we’ll hafta think of somethin’ else.”

Cy climbed down, and they all thought over the situation. Suddenly, Chunk’s face brightened. “Hey Cy, we gotta get through the hatch, right?”

“That’s right, Chunk, we gotta get through the hatch,” Cy said.

“We can’t open it, ‘cause it’s locked, right?”

“Hey, you’re followin’ along pretty good,” Cy said. To Stig, Cy said, “It usually takes him a little longer ta get stuff like this.”

“And we aint got no key or nuthin’, right?”

“Right.”

“Uh, so what we need, is somethin’ big that can give that hatch a push, right?”

“Right again,” Cy said. “Where do ya think we can find somethin’ like that?”

“Well, I was kinda thinkin’ I could try an’ bash the top off.”

“Say, that’s real smart, Chunk. Why don’t ya try it?”

Chunk’s face lit up with a huge smile. He nodded, and climbed up the ladder. He rapped a meaty fist on the hatch lid a couple of times.

Cy called up to him. “What do ya think?”

“It feels kinda thin, Cy. Shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

Chunk’s soft rapping suddenly became a loud pounding as he swung his fist. Stig saw that with each punch, the metal moved and expanded, like a potter pounding clay. Soon, with a loud wrenching noise, the hatch popped up and open.

Chunk lumbered up and out, followed by Cy and Max. Stig flew up after them.

Cy and Max were both thumping Chunk on the back and smiling.

“I say, well done, Chunk,” Stig said.

“Ya did good Chunk,” Max said.

“Yeah,” Cy agreed. “And ya came up with the idea all by yourself. You’re gettin’ downright brainy, Chunk.”

Chunk smiled and blushed a little. “It weren’t nothin’. I only done what came natural.”

Sneak Peek: The Deliverers Book 2

I've been working on the sequel to The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel for about six months now, and I'm a little over halfway through. If you've been following along in my A Writer's Week posts, you've got a good sense of my trials and tribulations. 

I thought now would be a good time to give you a little taste of the new book. This is an excerpt from Chapter 27. Let me know what you think.

Hallo handed the torches out to everyone, and Eric was able to get a good look at the sewers. They were much like Cy had described. There was a channel running down the middle of the tunnel in which brackish water flowed. Garbage floated in the water. On either side of the channel was a concrete walkway. The tunnel was dark, although Eric found he could see a little bit as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

“Not the most cheery place in the world,” Eric said.

“Not even close,” Kate agreed.

“Now, now,” Hallo said cheerfully. “What kind o’ talk is that? M’ folk have a sayin’, ‘It’s better underground.’ Aint no truer words ‘n that I’m a thinkin’.”

Eric and Kate looked at each other, and then laughed. “Whatever, Hallo,” Eric said. “Which way do we go, Cy?”

Cy pointed off down the channel. “That’s the way to Pig Town. We better get movin’.We gotta catch up t’ Ari, an’ it don’t pay to stay in one place for long down here.”

Cy and Chunk started off at a brisk pace down the walkway, followed by Eric, Kate and Hallo. It was funny, but after a little bit, Eric found that he couldn’t notice the smell so much anymore. He did notice other things, though.

For one thing, he thought he heard a scrabbling and scraping as they walked. He couldn’t be sure if it was just the echoes of the group’s footsteps, or if it was the sound of unseen creatures in the darkness beyond the reach of their torchlight.

“Hey, does anyone else hear anything?” he asked.

“No, no I don’t,” Hallo said. “Unless by hearin’ anythin’, ya mean do I hear the sounds o’ some creatures followin’ us out in the darkness, then yes, yes I do, laddie.”

“I was afraid of that,” Eric said, and tightened the grip on his immobilizer as they continued down the channel.

Suddenly, the quiet of the sewer was rent by a horrible screech. Eric thought it sounded like part howl and part squeak.

“We’re bein’ tracked,” Cy said over his shoulder to them. “We gotta pick up the pace!”

They started jogging down the walkway, which was a difficult thing, because the stones were broken and slimy in places. The scrabbling picked up speed also. Eric thought it sounded like mice scurrying behind a wall, only much louder. Whatever creatures were out there were much larger than mice, and there were a lot of them.

Suddenly, a host of gray forms darted out from the shadows straight toward them. Kate screamed, and Hallo shouted. Cy and Chunk both gave a quick twist, and hurled two immobilizers at them. Instantly, two of the creatures froze, each suspended in a green haze.

The rest were still coming on. Kate threw an immobilizer, and another creature was frozen. One leapt on Hallo, its jaws snapping inches from the dwarf’s throat. Eric, not wanting to immobilize Hallo, fired at the creature with his laser rifle, and the beast fell lifeless to the stones.

“Thanks lad!” Hallo grunted. “Look out behind ya!”

Eric spun around just as one of the creatures bounding toward him leaped.

A Writer's Week #5: Overcoming A Challenge

This week has been exciting, but strange. The book signing  for The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel was fantastic, but it threw my schedule all out of whack, from my blog posting to my writing. The signing was on Sunday, which is usually my big writing day. So, while I had a great time and sold a lot of books, it was looking like I was going to sacrifice writing this week.

I felt like this a lot this week!

Ah, but it didn't work out that way. Even though I can be a very lazy writer, I buckled down and was able to write over 1,000 words during the week. I was still able to make regular blog posts, too! So, I'm still on track for my goal to have the first draft of the new book finished by the end of April.

Right now I'm over 10,000 words in, deep in to chapter 11. I still don't know what this one's going to be called. All I've got is The Deliverers: ..., the subtitle has eluded me. Oh well, I still have 80% to go.

I keep running in to characters in this book. Eric ran into two (literally) this week. I don't know where they're coming from, but they all seem to be adding something to the story, so I'll just go with it. I think these two will be a lot of fun, and maybe add a comic aspect that will lighten things up a bit. Their names are Chunk and Cyril. They've got an important role to play, but hopefully they'll make you chuckle a little, too.

That's my writer's week for week #5 of 2012. It was a very successful one all the way around. I'm really proud that I was able to stick to it and get some real writing accomplished. This weeked is beckoning, and although I've got a full schedule, I have some time earmarked to write. I'll let you know how it went next week.