Supporting Cast

From the development stages of the Titan series I have worked very hard at making an exciting and engaging cast of characters. Having a solid hero and protagonist are important and great, but the key to having a great series is having a lush and deep cast of characters that people can get to know and love. the key to any great superhero is the rogues gallery. After all, a hero can only be as good as the villains they face. That only gets you so far though, after all what is superman without Jimmy Olsen or Perry White. Spider-man without his friends and co-workers. These characters all help ground or protagonist and help us relate to him. I have spent a great deal of time creating Delta City and all its inhabitants. I think they come across rather well in 'The Midnight Hour', and hope they get even better in 'City Under Siege'. Throughout the series they will all get to See their character arc develop and they will all have an impact, good or bad, to Michael/Titan. In the end I can only create the characters that I think are good and then it is up to you all who stay tuned for the series to see if I was even remotely successful.

Titan Christmas Special

After watching the onslaught of Christmas specials over the last two weeks I've been thinking that next year may be time to make the first Titan  Christmas themed mini serial. I do remember reading many a holiday special issue did I read when I was young (a particularly funny holiday themed Spawn issue strikes me quite clearly), and I think it would be fun to do one for Titan. The trick, of course, would be to do it where it is not entirely ham fisted and overly corny. If done right it could not only be fun but maybe have some kind of meaning as well.


Merry Christmas to everyone from all here in the Titan Universe.

Titan Mini Serial 2

Right after the holidays I will start writing the next Titan mini serial. My hope is to take the first week of January to write the whole thing and then release each part in successive weeks. I curently have two stroylines for the mini serials that I am working with. One is from the view point of Delta City reporter Vicki Earnthardt, and the other is from evil twin terrors Shock and Awe. The latter will end essentially where Titan 2 will start from. It will all depend on whether I have time to do both before the release of Titan 2. I was quite pleased with how the first mini serial went. I was really only dissapointed in the delays I took in gettnig each part out. That is why my main point this time will be to have basically the whole thing written before the first part even comes out this time around.

Weapon of Choice

When i was first developing Titan I knew I wanted to have him as a superhero with a weapon that he would carry around and use in his battle against evil. In was unsure what kind of weapon I would give to him however. I took into account the kinds of weapons any other heroes had, and the history I had given the Titan powers. I was still stuck. All I knew was that I didn't want to use a sword because it simply seemed far too cliched. then it hit me, the staff. After all, my favourite ninja turtle growing up had been Donatello. I wasn't sure how I would be able to explain how the ring was able to arm Titan with a staff after he would transform, but hey if it can change his clothes and give him superpowers then why not arm him as well. It was a magical ring after all so belief should be able to be suspended.

Ring Slinging

One of the questions that was asked of me by one of the students at Magrath junior High School was regarding Titan's power ring and where I came up with it. It was thought then, and I'm sure by many others as well, that it was directly related and influenced solely by DC's Green Lantern. That was one of the sources, but not at all the only one. There are at least two other influences of the power ring that I conceptualised for Titan and they are The Lord of the Rings, and The Mighty Hercules cartoon. I had just finished reading LOTR when I was creating Titan, and I watched old reruns of Mighty Hercules everyday before school as a kid. Those are the obvious influences I consciously know of for the power ring that Michael wields. I wanted a talisman, and object to be the source of Titan's power and the ring seemed like a perfect totem for me. I had originally had him just find the Titan staff, but come on that just seems ludicrous to have Michael have to either walk around with this staff (imagine the excuses he would have to make for that) or have him run looking for it every time there was trouble. The ring fits, and there are some mystery that surrounds it still. It's secrets will eventually be revealed.

Indie in the Digital Age

 It's now been ten months since I made the plunge of going Indie for Titan: The Midnight Hour and fro the most part I feel it has paid off. I am starting a series so I was always prepared to lay the groundwork and wait for it to start to pay off.  So far the biggest obstacle I have encountered is creating the awareness to the public of my book and the series. I have been using several social media tool to promote the book, Amazon, blogger, facebook, biblioscribe, and goodreads, and briefly with Kindle boards which I have yet to fully explore.

Amazon, I found, actually offered a good array of tools that authors can use through Kindle as well as Createspace. I have not used my author page probably nearly as much as I should have so far, but it is a good tool to have. I am just not sure how much it helps in the long run. Do people actually check them?  the biggest advantage has been the free promo days offered by Kindle. Yes, it is a bit of a double edged sword giving my book out for free, but it seem to slightly boost sales for a short span after the promo would end. I did seem to get some reviews out of it as well. as I stated, I am starting a series so some free copies to get some momentum built up is a small sacrifice to pay.

Blogger has been good, but I am not too sure just how the hits I received have yielded any increase in overall sales, bu the hits to my blog have been nice and steady in their growth since I started this.

Facebook has been much more disappointing than I had ever hoped. I was relying on it heavily to get some exposure for the book but it has been one of the slowest social Media outlets I have used. I am sure it all depends on a number of factors in getting any online  buzz with Facebook, but so far I have had very little.

Biblioscribe seemed like it would be positive but once I started to explore the site I was very disappointed with it. I had many problems just getting an account set up. I tried creating some press releases and an author page and just found the site very glitch filled and not user friendly, and then just grew aggravated and tired with the site altogether. I have not used it at all in months now and likely will not go back.


Goodreads was a real wonder once I started with it, and it left me wondering why it took me so long to find it in the first place. the site is very multifaceted and easy to navigate. I have not been on long enough to see any positive results as far as my book sales are concerned, but it seems full of potential.

As far as hard copies go it takes a lot of good old fashioned hitting the pavement and getting yourself out there. I have approached numerous bookstores and am in close to ten now. I am in several public libraries and a couple of school libraries as well which have resulted from hard work on my part.

This just teh start. I plan on doing more for "Midnight Hour" after the holidays and seeing what else other authors are doing to support their work and then the new Titan book will be out by the spring of 2013.

Action AND Adventure

So, with the first full draft of Titan:City Under Siege complete I will be moving on to the editing and re-write stage in January. With "The Midnight Hour" I felt very comfortable with the pace and flow of the story as I wrote it. All of the edits were largely for minor story facets, some of which simply impacted the whole story and had to be followed throughout the manuscript. However, I never felt uneasy about balancing the action with the character development. "City Under Siege" it had a very different flow to it and I found myself questioning the balance. I do think overall it is a very strong book, even stronger than the first, but I am very curious to see what others think, I guess I will find out during editing. I am just a natural self doubter, I questioned "The Midnight Hour relentlessly until I got validation from editrs and outside sources . This book started feeling very similar to the first in flow until chapter 11 then through to chapter 15 it very much took on a life of its own. The climax simply kept building and building. Those chapters, 11 through 15, are pure action adventure chapters, the kind of adventure I wanted for Titan from the start. If its a roler coaster ride you want to go on with Titan then "City Under Siege" will be for you.

Carly Support

the one thing that I regret about the new Titan book is that I don't have Carly giving Michael/Titan the kind of support and help she did in the first book. The kind of grip that Dr. Melodian puts onto Delta City did not leave a lot of room for her to get her hands dirty this time. I always sort of envisioned the character a little like Penny from Inspector Gadget, in that she was the brains of the outfit. I may yet be able to give her some more justified page time with edits but it will have to work with the story. Rest assured her role will remain big in Titan's adventures in the book to come.

Titan 2 & 3

I am very nearly done the first full draft of the new Titan book, Titan: City Under Siege. I am really trying to cram in all edits and rewrites so that it should still be out spring of 2013. the new book is much more of an action adventure story, but many of the characters from the main cast still have some great moments of development throughout. I am very excited about it and cannot wait for people to read it.

To maintain the momentum of the series I will be taking no breaks while the book is being edited. i will be starting right in on the next draft of Titan 3, Shadow Games. I still have no idea when book 3 will be releaased, but no earlier then late fall 2013 I would geuss. This is the book I have come to think of as the allies book. It has two distinct story lines with two sets of villains and two sets of allies, and scores of new characters overall. Of course the old choristers will take plenty of time mingled in as well.

Azure

When I began developing Titan I wanted there to be a guide or mentor that would help him understand his new powers and responsibilities. How, after all, could a teenager be expected to just have these powers and know how to handle all of it on there own. At first I thought of some secret order that would have been charged with overseeing the ring and laying in waiting until one day another was chosen. The problem with that is how would they be able to keep paces with Titan. In the end I decided on the disembodied spirit guide, Azure. He's been there from the beginning and is fully aware of all Titan does, and is also been given some powers of his own to match Titan. Azure is not seen but Titan but he is always there and giving advice even if it is sometimes cryptic. The fact that he is disembodied and all seeing only offers some challenges for Michael to deal with. Eventually we will get to see Azure (in book 3 and 5) but until then we will all have to imagine like Michael does.

General Stevenson

There is a new character introduced in "City Under Siege" who is veiled under mysterious motives. He is a military general who we first meet in a secret meeting with Mayor Winfield, who we already know is not happy with Titan being in his city. As the story unfolds we see General Stevenson and his men appear whenever Titan arrives at a scene of a crime, usually chasing down Dr. Melodian's henchmen. The question for Titan is, is the general here to take him in or for some other purpose. Titan  has already had issues with the Delta City police department, and the last thing he needs is a battle with the military!

Delivering the Goods

Chapters 11-15 of "City Under Siege" are going t feel like one big action adventure marathon. It has inadvertently made the climax of the story quite long, especially when compared to" The Midnight Hour". It almost becomes like a separate story that starts at chapter 11. Once Titan faces off against Hammerhead, the last of Dr. Melodian's henchmen, he is in one big battle against the mad doctor. This is why I waited throughout the story to actually bring Dr. Melodian forward in the book. He is nothing more than a shadowy figure until chapter 13. I can also guarantee that Delta City will never be the same after experiencing Dr. Melodian's wrath. His henchmen have already wreaked considerable havoc on the city, but it is nothing compared to what Melodian himself will do with his machinations at his command. There are still many loose ends but the will all be wrapped up tightly after chapter 16.

Titan mini serial part 6

The following is the concluding chapter of the first Titan  mini serial:

Titan:

In the Clutches of the Leviathan pt.6

            Regulus’s fist connected to the massive jaw of the leviathan and snapped the creatures head back with a snap. The leviathan recoiled back nearly flipping backwards completely. Regulus was toppling over with it while continuing his attack. Before the beast could regain any ground he connected with another blow that broke several long sharp teeth from its mouth. As the leviathan was flailing back one of its enormous limbs caught Regulus off guard and he was sent flying to the ground with a crash.

            “You have made a great mistake creature,” Regulus said, as he quickly got to his feet, ignoring the pain from the fall. “You have taken everything from me. Now I will take everything from you!”

            The leviathan let loose with a mighty roar as it tried to get back its footing. Regulus coiled his legs and launched himself at the creature. He stayed low and soared forward across the short distance with all his might. He connected with the knee of one of its front legs. A loud crack filled the air as the bone gave way. The leviathan roared again, but this time not in anger, as its massive upper body tumbled forward. Regulus laced his hands together and swung them upward like a club. He connected again with its jaw. The formed jaw line crumbled inward like a straw house with the force of the blow. The leviathan crumbled to the ground in agony motionless.

            Titan, do not toy with this creature. Do not lower yourself to its standards.

            “This creature deserves no better,” Regulus replied to Azure.

            Perhaps, but you are better than that. As Titan you serve a higher principle. I am greatly sorry for your loss, but had you acted differently the outcome here would have been different.

            Regulus did not answer. He walked calmly over to where his sword lay and picked it up. He came back to the leviathan and raised it high. A single tear welled up and ran down the side of his cheek.

            “To hell with you now, creature,” Regulus said in a whisper.

            He brought the sword down to the leviathan’s head with all his might. The massive beast flinched once and then lay still. It was Regulus who broke the silence as he let loose a mighty wail. His hands let go of the sword and he fell forward onto the creature sobbing. His body jerked and heaved with each sob he let loose.

            The scene then pulled back and the destruction of the town by the leviathan lay out before Michael Novak as he sat gazing into the blue jewel at the end of his staff. He gazed down at his own Titan uniform which was vastly different from the one worn by Regulus all those centuries ago.

            “Is that it?” Titan asked Azure.

            It is the end of that story, but not the story of Regulus.

            “So, what happened then, you know, after all that?"

            Regulus learned a very valuable lesson that day one that came with a very high price. Naturally he was devastated after the loss he sustained, but he did manage to pull himself away from the abyss and he became a great Titan. Many stories were passed around for some time of the great deeds he did. He recommitted his life to those in need in honour of the family he lost. In the end it is sad that he had to lose all that he had in order to become that man, but the lives he saved after that day far outweighed the lives that were lost, Regulus saw to that.

            Titan hopped off the heating duct he had been sitting on while he watched the story of Regulus. He stepped toward the edge of the rooftop and looked out over the city before him. His body was in the present as he looked over the city that was under his protection, but his mind was stuck in the past.

            “I get it. My hasty actions tonight could have hurt or even killed people. I couldn’t imagine if my actions ended up causing harm to Carly or Grandpa Dale or any of my friends. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if that happened.”

            It would be unfortunate, that is why you must always be thinking of the greater good that you represent when you don the symbol of Titan. With that symbol comes a greater responsibility. Your choices will rarely involve Michael Novak, they will involve the greater good of the people you protect.

            “Yeah, I would way rather have Carly just mad at me for being late then to have anyone hurt because of me.”

            Titan stepped on to the ledge.

            “Well, unless we come under some other trouble, let’s call it a night,” Titan said.

            Very well.

            Titan leaped forward toward home, but instead of thoughts of Carly and his plans for the night he focused himself on the sights and sounds of the city and was alert to any trouble or danger that might present itself.

 

                                                                                The End

 

Shock & Awe

Titan: City Under Siege literally will be starting off with a bang as Titan will be at the climax of a battle against pyro twins Shock and Awe. Awe is young girl gifted and creating explosives as is her twin brother Shock. They work out of a mobile blasting station taht is an old van they have converted into a fully functioning bomb factory. Together they go on a spree of destruction that is nothing more than senseless violence that is causing destruction across Delta City before Titan gets on their trail. They do not take anything or have any real mission they simply want to watch the city burn. The next mini serial, which will likely be out in the new year, will focus on the beginning of the this battle and chase of Titan and the twins an the story will end at the start of book 2.

You and What Army?

Before you ever see Dr. Melodian in 'City Under Siege' we meet his three accomplices, Hawk, Hammerhead, and Sonic. These are three of the guinea pigs that he has handpicked and either drafted, payed off, or forced to do his bidding. Sonic was lured to Dr. Melodian in the hope that he would be able to have his handicap overcome and instead was forced against his will to wear the artificial legs that gave him super speed. and armed with a series of explosives and grenades to wreak havoc upon Delta City. Hawk was another disgruntled individual who Dr. Melodian was able to manipulate into donning his mechanical wing and attacking the city from above. Hammerhead was a highly paid mercenary who was willing to ask no questions and take orders from the highest bidder. They were to be the first of Dr. Melodian's new army. Individually the were a threat, together they are extremely dangerous, and they all fear not fulfilling their goals and answering to their boss. Titan will not just have to face one mad scientist and his invention, but a small army armed with highly sophisticated and lethal weapons.

Dr. Melodian

I thought it would be a good time to elaborate on the main villain of "City Under Siege" as I am nearly done the first complete draft. Dr. Carl Melodian is the mad scientist villain of the Titan universe. He was a gifted boy with a genius level IQ that excelled in all areas of science. As he was born with no legs he quickly developed ways to overcome his handicap using the technology he could create on his own. before he graduated university he discovered that there was nothing he could not create using science and technology. He wanted to wanted to use his genius to help others the way he had been able to help himself. Before long he found himself working for the military where he was promised the opportunity to put his skills to work helping those in need. Eventually, as the years passed, he came to learn that his creations were being taken and altered and then used to cause harm to many innocent people. DR. Melodian was furious, and when he approached his peers he was essentially turned away and expected to keep at the work put forth to him. When he refused the military let him go, and he found himself without work and no credit for all he had worked on for years. He had nothing. He vowed to have revenge on the people he felt wronged him. he wanted to do to them what they had done to him. He will have his revenge, and only Titan will be able to stop him!

The Interior Artwork

One regret I had from the first Titan book is that there are only 3 illustrated pages in the entire book. Unfortunately, due to the last minute switch of artists and cost that was all I could do at the time. I do hope to have at least 6 pages for "City Under Siege". With the nature of the Titan universe I always intended to have art be one of the focal points of the series. That was one of the big factors in me deciding to independent, publishers were extremely unlikely to allow a first time writer to have the added cost of interior artwork. I had always gone back and forth as to how the interior art should be. At one point I wanted to have each chapter with its own cover page. I also contemplated just dropping in numerous character sketches within the pages. I wanted a full illustrated novel feel to the series. So, the interior artwork may evolve with the course of the series.When many people see the cover of "The Midnight Hour" the grab it quickly flip through it and then say, "Oh, this isn't a graphic novel." That used to upset me, but know I look forward to those comments. The intention, after all, was to pay homage to those comic book superheroes that I grew up with and love to this day. I wanted it to feel like a monthly comic book series, so I guess mission accomplished!

Titan Mini Serial

I am working on the last chapter of the first Titan mini serial now, and I will be posting it on the blog as well as the website by next week. It will feature the final battle of Regulus and the Leviathan, as well as our current Titan Michael, and we will at last see what Michael thinks of this story of one of the very first Titan's that Azure has shown him. I already have the idea for the next mini serial and I hope to start it early in the new year. I also see many other possibilities for other mini serial story lines as well. perhaps some stories featuring some of the other characters in the Titan world. Vince, Vicki, Chief Ross are just some of the characters I am working story angles for. I will also be dropping some new villains for Titan to face as well. I do plan on putting all the mini serials together in one collected volume once there is enough of them. For now we will just have to see just how the story of Regulus ends!

Allies

The new Titan book that I will be working on, "Shadow Games", will not only have many more new villains but there will finally be some allies in Titan's battle against evil as well. First up will be the mysterious female superhero, Myst, who has the ability to turn herself into a smoke like fog allowing her to move through areas unnoticed and easily as well as fly. Myst has been around longer than many people realise and is someone Titan can learn a great deal from. He will take on the a sidekick like role to Myst throughout the book.

Also there will be the  super trio of T.R.I. (technologically reinforced infantry) that consist of female Jane and male John and their android partner MAC. Jane and John are former soldiers that have been turned into half cyborgs and given robotic abilities much like another Titan character, Kaizen.  Jane has robotic limbs that are able to extend to great distances as well as have super strength. John has four robotic arms that are super strong and MAC is a complete robot that offers many functions to his teammates. This team is not an ally to Titan right out of the gate, but through the course of the book we find out som o f the hidden motives of the people pulling the strings on T.R.I. And none of this includes what the villains are up to in book 3! Much more to come.

Kelowna Book Signing

The book signing even at Chapters Kelowna went very well last night. Thanks to all who showed up. It is always great to talk to people at these events. I must say also that the Kelowna Chapters has been wonderfully supportive over the last couple of months. It is so great as it is hard enough getting your work out there to these stores on your own, so to have a major chain give you their support is very encouraging. I likely won't be doing any more events until after the holidays, but I do have plans for the new year.

1st Draft Blues

I am very nearly done the 1st draft of Titan: City Under Siege. I am at he point where I am finding it difficult to slug through this last bit even if it has lots of action and closes off all the plot points throughout the book. I find the 1st drafts are the hardest. You are working from scratch and ploughing through page after blank page. It's more of a marathon where as I find the subsequent drafts more of a sprint as they are typically just numerous rewrites and edits. For "The Midnight Hour" The first and second were hard but my own skills were not there as well (and I know its arguable whether they are even there now). I still think I will be able to stick to a Spring 2013 time line for "City Under Siege" as long as the next couple drafts go as smooth as I am hoping they will.

Book signing Event!

I have been asked to participate in the upcoming members shopping night at the Kelowna Chapters this Thursday November the 8th 6pm-9pm. I will be there among some other authors signing copies of Titan: The Midnight Hour. Hope to see you there.

Kaizen

The only other character in "The Midnight Hour" that is shrouded in more mystery even than Mr. Midnight is his personal bodyguard, Kaizen. She is also the only character that can physically give Titan a run for his money. She remains shrouded in that cloak of mystery even at the end of the book. We only hear vague dipictions of her by the end with the conversation between Langara and Chief Ross. When creating her I wanted to instill some good female femme fatale angle into the story. As I was developing many of the plots of teh Titan Universe I quickly realized that there was a lack of strong female villains,  by the series end there will be several more. Kaizen has no lines a very vague back story (even more than Mr. Midnight's story), she has metal covering parts of her face, and she is feared by everyone and never even utters a single line. I based her look on several comic and video game characters. She is apprehended at the end of volume 1 so we may very well get to her more about her back story (which I admit I have had a hard time trying to nail down) and we may get to see a rematch between her and Titan before too long.

Man Vs. Machine

Something that seemed to be quite big back in the heyday of the golden age of comics is the giant villains that he heroes would have to fight. You don't see much of it anymore, and I think it's too bad. When you are always looking for worthy foes for your heroes what better than a villain 10 times their size. There will be such a villain in  'City Under Siege' thanks to the mad scientist antagonist of the story Dr. Melodian. One of the creations that Dr. Melodian will unleash upon Titan and Delta City in the climax of the book is a 100 foot robot. Earlier in the book Titan will have to face off against a horde of smaller robots only to find himself facing off against a much bigger mechanical foe a short time later. This book will feature many exciting first for Titan including battling evil robots small and large.

Inferno

My favourite chapter in Titan: The Midnight Hour is chapter 14: Inferno. I grew quite fond of the main villain in the chapter, Inferno. Inferno was the assassin hired by Mr. Midnight to take out Titan. He also ended up being the first major super villain that Titan ever faces. Inferno to me represents one of those great secondary villain archetypes that exist in comics. Hes mean, he's colourful, he has a catchy hook with all his weapons, and he's far peskier than he ever should be for Titan. For me, there's still so many questions that circle around this fun character. We don't even get a great sense of who is is and what drives him ther than mopney and the pride he take sin being the best at what he does (sorry, eat your heart out Wolverine). He only lasts one chapter in 'The Midnight Hour' and we don't even learn his back story or real name. I had more plans for him , but just wasn;t able to fit everything in for Vol 1. So, I think it's safe to say that Inferno will return.

Hitting the Big Time

Since May I have been building and promoting Titan:The Midnight Hour independently through bookstores. I have done book signings and am in BC interior bookstores in Kelowna, Penticton, and Vernon. It is also no in Lethbridge Alberta as well. Now I am trying to expand into some bigger markets. I have been contacting some bookstores in the Vancouver area. I am not too sure what if any book signing events I will be able to do but I am hoping to at east get it in a couple stores by Christmas. I am also hoping to expand the e-book into some other platforms as well. This whole process has been quite the learning experience, but I think it has made me much more prepared for the next book in regards to what needs to be done for promoting and marketing.

Dude...Looks Like a Lady

One of the big factors when planning a series like Titan is figuring out how you can broaden your reach over a wider audience. At one point when I was developing Titan I thought that I would be alienating young girls from reading Titan. It was a story about a young boy becoming a superhero. So, I toyed with the ideas of swapping the roles of Michael and Carly, and making her the superhero. It would hvae been a relatifvely easy adjustment to make through out the manuscript. I though this would have broadened the audience base as well as offer some very intriguing story lines. the role of the female superhero is one I find very interesting. They are typically hyper sexualised and ridiculously stereotyped, and I thought a great new female Titan would be a great way to not only tackle some of those stereotypes but challenge them in a fun way as well. Who knows maybe somehow Carly will get to wield the ring yet. Of course there is also the matter of what will happen when the ring is through with Michael and another Titan  must be chosen? Also, we have only seen one Titan from the past so far and I have only mentioned another here, so maybe there has already been one and we have simply yet to meet her.

The Doppelganger

Book 3 'Shadow Games' will feature, as one of the main villains, that falls into the doppelganger archetype. I have always loved the doppelganger villains like Bizarro, Reverse Flash, or Black Adam. His name will be Shadow and he will mirror Titan's power in every way, but he will wear black and red. When I was first conceiving him I was trying to go for something ancient of the old Titan's world. Then, I suddenly had a revelation of how to combine certain other plot lines I was already exploring and found a totally different way to introduce him in the Titan universe. he is one of my favourite villains now and cannot wait to start writing him.

Chapter Titles

The list of chapter titles for the the upcoming Titan volume 'City UnderSiege' are currently as follows:

1-Shock and Awe
2-Warnings and Threats
3-Apologies
4-Sonic
5-Vince
6-Hawk
7-Aerial Assault
8-Martial Law
9-Pieces of the Puzzle
10-Hammerhead
11-Passage of Doom
12-Dr. Melodian
13-Death From Below
14-Fifty Feet of Terror
15-Picking Up the Pieces

Looking Forward Back

One of the benefits of having the entire Titan series fully planned out is that I know exactly what every character's arc will be. I know that's kind of obvious, but what's great is that I know certain characters will have their story fully expanded by say book 4 or 5 so I can drop in subtle references foreshadowing that now. I have done this in book 1 and am doing it now in book 2. I always loved personally, whether in TV or a comic series, a big character or story reveal would happen and I could go back through past episodes or issues to see how that story built up. So, if I have done my job right, when certain things happen throughout the series you should be able to go back to the other books and see the little hints and clues that should leave a trail all the way to the big moment when we find out certain developments i.e. when Mr. Midnight is unmasked (yes he lived and yes he will certainly be unmasked at some point). All I can really say is that every character is worth watching out for because you will just never know what lays ahead.

Ghosts of Titans Past

I have really enjoyed writing the first Titan mini serial, In the Clutches of the Leviathan. It has been great fun exploring the world of Regulus one of the very first Titans. In all there have been over a dozen Titans throughout history. I will definitely be introducing more of them. In Vol 4 "Reign of Diablo" we will meet another one who will join Michael in current time, two Titans fighting along side one another. I would also like to explore more in future mini serial's and possibly in the novels as well.

Buckle Up!

I cannot wait for people to be able to read "City Under Siege". I know people say those kind of things all the time, but I think it is far better than the original. By establishing most of the characters already it seems to be a much nicer balance for developing many of them further as well as keep the action and pace very high. The whole last third of the book is once action packed sequence after another that just builds and builds to its ultimate climax. I already can't wait to bring back Dr. Melodian in vol. 5. Even though I had the book plotted out it managed to take on a life of its own once it started coming out. I found so many of the characters had a story that needed telling, and most of the those stories don't get any closure until the very last chapter.  

Building Foundations

When I first started creating Titan and his entire world I started with just the vague image of the hero I wanted. i knew the colours I wanted and I had a vague notion of his look. I knew what mask he would wear and I knew that he wouldn't have a cape he would have the a long flowing belt and the ends of his bandanna would be the same. What I had more than anything though was the villains and many of the key plot point for the series. I had been developing superheroes and super villains since I was a teenager and wanted to use all of the bets villains I had made as well as find ways to bring in the other heroes and give them guest spots or cameos. So before I had even fully designed my hero i had created the world of Delta City and and outlined all of my stories and then I went to work exclusively on Titan. Choosing his name was one of the last things I did. It was no easy task either as most good superrhero names are taken. I cold find no mention of a hero named Titan however in 2005, there was only the Teen Titans. plus, Titan worked perfect with the background I had created for the character. The very last thing was the symbol on his chest. That was the ,most iconic and cool thing I could come up with so I hope it will work alright.

Rise of the mini's

I am nearly done the first Titan mini serial. It has gone well overall and I have enjoyed doing it. It was harder to stick to any deadlines I set for myself than I thought that it would be but otherwise i feel very good about it. To see an even better viewing version of the mini chapters go to titansadventures.com or Titan: The Midnight Hour on facebook to see the PDF's Jim Henry has made for them. I have been thinking already about the future of the mini's. I would like to do at least one more before the release of "City Under Siege", and after that I plan on doing many more through the course of the series. I think they can add a great new dimension to the overall Titan story. Now that I have condensed several Titan volumes I may even have to move some smaller characters out of the books and tell their stories through one of the mini's. I would like to try some different things with them such as telling stories through other characters points of view including even the villains. There are many stories in the Titan universe that can and should be told and I can't wait to do so. I have many ideas so we'll see here it goes form here. Also, if there becomes enough of them I may release a collected volume of them as well.

Titan mini serial part 5

the following is part 5 of the Titan mini serial:

                 Titan:

                   In the Clutches of the Leviathan pt. 5 

                Regulus stood frozen as he gazed across the scene of destruction laid out before him. Much of the city he had been sworn to protect lay in smouldering ruin. His hands began to tremble in a mixture of fear and rage as he stared down from the hill top. He dropped down to street level to gauge the extent of the damage.

                From the middle of one of the nearest streets to the edge of the hill Regulus saw firsthand the extent of the damage left by the Leviathan. Buildings all around were either completely levelled to rubble or had large pieces ripped out of them. The street was littered with debris and bodies. Regulus could see several citizens limping badly with visible wounds or lying in the street struggling to get up.

                “Regulus, oh Regulus, I am so glad you’re back,” came a familiar voice from behind him.

                Regulus turned and was shocked to see a man with a wide gash down the side of his head that was still seeping blood down the side of his face and neck. The man had one arm outstretched and the other clutched at his side which was also soaked in crimson. It took Regulus a moment to recognise this man as his friend, Seamus.

                “Seamus, what’s happened here? How can all of this be?” Regulus asked as he rushed toward his friend.

                As Regulus reached him, Seamus’s knees buckled and he began to drop to the ground. Regulus quickly wrapped his arms around him and eased him down to the ground.

                “The Leviathan awoke shortly after you left. There was nothing we could do,” Seamus said in a faltering weak voice.

                “Why did you approach the beast, old friend? You should have simply ran,” Regulus said, as he tried to wipe the blood from Seamus’s face.

                “I had to confront the creature. It had reached your home, and your son was still too ill to be moved.” The words to cut Regulus like a knife to the heart. He suddenly froze and looked into Seamus’s eyes. “We tried old friend we were just not strong enough. We…”

                Before his voice could even trail off to an endless sleep, Regulus was setting his friend aside and rising to his feet, that old feeling of fear and rage boiling over now. He glanced over to the east toward his home and saw only various thick plumes of smoke that rose high into the air. He took several steps and then launched himself into the air.

                Regulus, I know you are worried and angry, but you cannot let your anger cloud your judgement now. You must find the Leviathan and put him to rest for good.

                “No, nothing else is done until I see that my family is okay,” Regulus seethed as he flew over the city.

Do not forget your higher duty to the innocent civilians still at stake. Also, do not forget that this has only happened because you were neglectful of your duties before you left. You should never have left that creature to the people of this city.

                “Do not worry. I have forgotten none of this.”

                Regulus almost refused to believe the sight of the scene he saw before he landed and could see it up close for himself. His home and all other structures ion the surrounding area were completely and utterly destroyed. It was as though they had been stomped completely flat. He rushed into the ruins of what was once his home and began to frantically search for his wife and son. He was tossing wooden beams and throwing big chunks of rock when he saw a long thin arm poking from beneath the remains of a wall.

                Regulus rushed over and tossed the rubble aside with ease. There lying before him was his wife. Clutched tightly in her arms was their son. He knelt on trembling legs and reached out with one shaky arm to check for any signs of life. He found none. He pulled them close and held them as his body convulsed and shook. At last, a loud sob escaped him and rivers of tears poured down his face as he looked up to the sky cursing himself for letting the happen to his family.

                Regulus clutched his family tightly letting his grief consume him when a long dark shadow suddenly hung over him. Warm air pushed against the back of his neck. He recognised the breathing sounds instantly, and gently laid his family down. Then, he stood and turned and stared at the Leviathan as it hovered over him, teeth bared.

                “You were unwise to come back, creature,” Regulus said, as he gazed up at the creature through tear streaked eyes.

                Without another word Regulus leaped for the beasts head with one mighty fist outstretched and the other cocked ready to deliver another immediate blow. The Leviathan opened its mouth wide, exposing rows after row of sharp jagged teeth, and ready to accept its prey.

To be Concluded…

Sky's the Limit

I was asked some questions the other day about what Titan has done so far, in regards to sales and in stores and libraries, and I was shocked once I tallied it all up. I have sold around 1,400 copies, I am in 5 bookstores, 3 community libraries, 2 school libraries, and read in 2 schools to students, and I have gone to speak at 1 school so far. Then there's the blog, the facebook page, and the website. I have been able to do more and accomplished more than I ever thought I would with this first book. I feel extremely lucky and fortunate, but I'm far from done. I'm really just starting to scratch the surface of indie publishing and how to make it all work. I am still looking into what other authors have done and where they have seen success. I am also looking for new ways to add to the series with all of the new avenues and technologies that are now available. We'll see what the future holds!

Dr. Feelbad!

I am just in the midst of writing the first encounter of Titan and Dr. Melodian, the titular bad guy from "City Under Siege". Up until now in the book Dr. Melodian has something of a shadowy figure.We will have heard from him and will have seen some of his henchmen, but we will not get to fully see him until the last third of the book. we first see him with a direct encounter with Titan that does not go exactly as Titan will have hoped. He may take some time to make his first appearance,but once he does he will leave his mark on Delta City forever.

Growing Pains

One thing that has aways got to me about the long standing superheroes is how none of them ever age. It's not something that has bugged me or anything it's just something that I have noticed and wondered about in an affectionate and reflective way when I think about the superhero concept as a whole. Obviously I know that it wouldn't work on so many levels to have any of the cast of characters on any book age in any way naturally, but I do find an interesting occurrence in comics. With Titan, however, one inters ting turn I look forward to taking is to have Michael age normally throughout the series. We will watch him go through high school and then college and out into the world. We will see him mature as h goes as well as in his relationship with Carly. They may move in together, get engaged, married, and even have children within the course of the 7 books. Having all of the books planned out thoroughly definitely helps as I know exactly how to guide the characters toward the end results that I have planned. I can already see those final moments in the entire series. I can only hope that Michael and company are ready for what's ahead.

Wanted!

I cannot decide what angle to take with Titan's involvement with the Delta City police. I left the opinion of Chief Thomas Ross rather open in regards to Titan at the end of "The Midnight Hour" and now am trying to decide where to take Chief Ross's direction in "City Under Siege". I feel torn because I want Chief Ross to be Titan's Jim Gordon, but then I can't accept that  police chief would simply allow a vigilante to run wild through his city even if well intended. I only have a few more chapters to write in "City Under Siege" and then it will all come to a head, but I will likely not know for sure until I get to that part exactly what I will do

Holy sidekick, Titan!

One of the most intriguing and fun elements of the superhero mythos to me is that of the sidekick. Since the early 1940's the superhero sidekick has been a staple in comics. From Aqualad to Bucky, Speedy to Toro, and Kid Flash to, what is arguably the biggest of all sidekicks, Robin, the sidekick has been easily one of the biggest elements of the superhero, and I can't wait to explore this archetype in the world of Titan. Book 3 "Shadow Games" will be the first time that I will tackle the world of sidekicks in Titan. In that book it will be Titan that experiences something of what it is like to be a sidekick himself. later in the series, for a time, Titan will also be getting a sidekick of his own. This is a favourite superhero element of mine and I think there is plenty that I have to say about sidekicks and much that can be harvested for great stories.I know that does gice a lot of detail but I don't want to say any more that would act as spoiler, but I think it will be very fun to explore. 

Acknowledgements

An acknowledgements page was something I regrettably did not have in the pages of "The Midnight Hour". Of course, like any writer I had the help and support of many people to aid me in accomplishing my goal. Johanna, Wendy, and Anne from the Johanna Bates literary consultants group who provided me with of insight into the world of publishing and in editing my manuscript when it was still very young. Rick and Diane Kelly, Diane who read my manuscript when it was nearly ready, and Rick who spent many a hour helping me format and prepare my files for print, he also provided me with the first professional illustration of Titan that carried the light of inspiration through many dark hours. Jim Henry, who created and put up the titansadventures.com website and also formatted my e-pub file, and continues to offer help and encouragement in the ongoing process of building the Titan series. Wanda Gibbons, who, when I was only in junior high, was one of the first and only teachers to be very complimentary in my creative writing and remains supportive to this day. To my mother in law Jackie who always remains one of my biggest fans and advocates. To my parents, Tom and Kathy, who always had me believe that I could do anything I set my mind to. And lastly my wife, the real Carly, who was the one whose eyes shone the brightest when I told her of my dream to write encouraged me to give it I try so that I wouldn't regret it and also forced me to not delete my first draft when I thought it was beyond saving. Without these people there would be no Titan, thank you.

Southern Alberta Book Tour Photos

Here are a couple more pictures from the Magrath school event as well as the book signing at Chapters in Lethbridge. the Alberta events were both fantastic. Thanks to all who attended I had a blast with you all!

Student Titan Artwork

Here are some pictures of the Titan artwork that the Magrath grade 7 students did. I loved having these greet me as I walked into the school!

Discussing Titan and Writing at Magrath Junior High

Here are a few pictures from the talk I gave to the Magrath junior high on Thursday. I had a great time at the school with the students. I was amazed at the question the students had for me, many of whom had been reading the book in class.

Thanks to everyone at Magrath school for having me today. Was great to be back especially with something like my book to talk about with the students. I had some really great questions from the students as well. I truly loved all the Titan artwork they did too. I will be posting some photos very soon.

Titan Mini Serial pt. 4

The following is part 4 of the Titan mini serial:

Titan:

In the Clutches of the Leviathan pt. 4

            People craned their necks to look up as Titan soared high overhead. They looked on in wide eyed disbelief as he passed by at incredible speeds. Regulus, however, barely glanced down as he went sailing over. His sole focus was on his ailing son, and getting him the medicine he hoped would break his fever and make him better. He remembered the details of the little plant the doctor had described to him. He could practically picture it.

            The journey was a long one even for him, but finally he came to the hillside where he was to find the little plant. It was a lush area that was full of tall green grass and many small floral bushes and trees. There was a small village that he could see at the foot of the hill below. Regulus began to frantically search through all the plant life around looking for the bush that was to have the little berries he required. He scrambled through numerous bushes and small shrubs that littered the hillside.

            Regulus was sweating profusely with drops running into his eyes as he raced across the hillside searching. Then, at last, he found it. As he rounded one of the largest trees on the hill he saw the little purple berries that could save his son hanging from a small shrub beside the tree. He rushed forward and started to quickly pick as many berries as he could at once and placed them in a pouch at his waist. Once he thought he had more than enough of the little berries he once again took to the sky.

            Regulus leaped as hard and fast as he had ever done before. He felt he was racing the clock much more than he ever had while facing any threat as Titan before. Landscape and villages passed by in blur. Then he heard numerous loud crashes up ahead. Regulus landed atop a small rocky mountain the stood at the edge of the vast blue ocean. As Regulus looked below for the source of the crashes he saw two young boys scramble for cover at the base of the mountain while a giant rock monster towered over them about twenty feet up the rock face and lobbed large boulders at the boys.

            Titan we must help those boys form that creature.

            “All that I have to do is get these berries back to my son,” Regulus replied.

            Need I remind once again of the greater responsibility you accepted as Titan. A responsibility that has given you the ability to be able to save your son.

            Regulus did not answer. He dove down at the creature below. The rock monster was well over ten feet tall. It resembled a giant gorilla made out of nothing but different sized rocks. There was no real facial features on the creature. There were only dark hollowed areas facial features would normally be. When it opened its mouth it was like one giant rock ripping apart with its jagged edges alone to act as pointed teeth. When Regulus collided with the creature from behind they both went flying in different directions.

            Regulus gathered himself quickly and prepared to battle the rock monster. The monster itself let out an ear piercing roar that brought smaller rocks and boulders tumbling down the mountainside. As it tried to roll over and get back to its feet Regulus was already upon it. He thrashed at it with his sword and shield. The creature was very durable however and took many blows before it began to crumble and fall apart. At last the creature lay at his feet in ruin.

            “Thank you so very much,” one of the boys said, as they came out of hiding.

            Regulus never even glanced at them. His fists remained clenched and his teeth gritted tight as his face flushed red with anger. Every second was precious. With each moment he was delayed his son was that much closer to death. No other lives mattered to him.

“That was truly amazing!” the other boy said coming to his side.

He shot a quick glare at the two boys, stopping them in their tracks. Then he launched himself into the air with tremendous force kicking up large bits of rock as he did so. The two boys were reduced to specks in seconds. The only thing on his mind was his son. He only hoped the last image he would have of him would not be in his fevered state.

At last Regulus landed atop the hill that shadowed over his city and what he saw left him shocked. Much of the town lay in smoldering ruin. Buildings in a giant swath across the city lay in crumbled ruin. Regulus stood in stunned silence as long tendrils of the thick smoke of the city washed over him. Deep into the city he saw his greatest failure emerge as the Leviathan reared its head and let out a mighty roar.

 

To be continued…

Titan 3 Prep

I have just finished preparing the new story line for Titan 3 "Shadow Games". There will be two main villains throughout the book. The first is Mezmorrozo, who is a little different style of comic book villain. he has tremendous psychic powers that emanate from a third eye in his forehead. His psychic powers give him the ability to control the minds of anyone who comes under his stare. What effects will this have on Titan? We will find out soon. The other villain is Shadow who is a carbon copy of Titan. Dr. Frederich Marsh was a military scientist sent to find the source of Titan's powers. When he tries to duplicate them he finds that copying such powers as some unintended side effects. Shadow has equal powers to Titan but they have corrupted him into a being of pure evil. There is also more that will give Titan difficulty in stnding to his duty to protect Delta City.

Indie Author

being an indie author has many perks and has been a great experience so far. I have achieved far more with this first book than I ever thought I would. I have also had many great people who have been there to offer a great amount of support. In many ways the book and series has already taken on a life of its own. I just found out that "The Midnight Hour" is being read to a elementary school class in Kelowna. The only element to indie publishing that has remainde elusive is how to effectively tap into marketing and getting the book to a wider audience. I have been reading interviews with indie stars like konrath and Hocking which has been a big help as they have dropped lots of hints to how they did it. I have managed to sell over 1,800 copies of "Midnight Hour" now and can't wait to see what else lies in store of Titan.

Maintaining Momentum

To keep the Titan series moving at a good pace where there is little gap between the books release I am planning to begin writing book 3 "Shadow Games" while "City Under Siege" is being read, reviewed, and edited. That way once "City Under Siege" is released I will already have a jump start on book 3. When I was writing "the Midnight Hour" I used editors and literary consultants. That is effective but can be quite pricey. This time i want to use qualified people such as librarians and teachers who would be willing to read through the manuscript for a much more reasonable price and still give me the same results. the Titan series is not necessarily something where I would need heavy duty editing to complete. I am confident that book 2 will be out next spring. Once it is out i am hoping that by fall book three will be close to ready as well.

I'm nearing the end of writing the first draft of "City Under Siege". The story hasn't really changed from the planning stages, but I have added several scenes that i think add a great deal to the overall story. The most recent addition being a the climax of the big battle between Titan and Dr. Melodian. This new scene came from me wanting to add a little something more to the main villain. the way I was bringing in Dr. Melodian he does not actually appear himself until much later in the book. I wanted to make sure that his presence is felt and he definitely leaves his mark on Delta City and the Titan universe. There is no doubt that will happen now, the real question becomes what will be left of Delta City once Dr. Melodian is done!?!

Titan Merchandise

I took the first step toward securing some merchandise in the Titan line. For my book signing at Chapters last Saturday I had a small amount of T-shirts made. these shirts just  had the image of the front cover of "The Midnight Hour". I am hoping, over the next several months to be able to acquire some T-shirts that can be sold from the Titan website. I would like to get some that have some new Titan artwork too. I would also like to be able to sell some posters of original Titan artwork as well. merchandise was one of the other big factors of me not wanting to go with traditional publishing. As an independent I can go into any avenue available to me. the real trick is figuring out how to get much of it accomplished, but where there's a will...

Book Signing Pics

Here are a few pictures from my book signing in Penticton last month. Thanks again to all who came.

The book signing event at Chapters in Kelowna went very well today. Thanks to all those who came out. I sold a lot  books and was able to talk to a lot of people which was a lot of fun.

Vince

Here is Jena's sketch of Michael's brother Vince. He is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters of the series. It seems that many others feel the same way too. I see so many comments and so many from readers that say how one of the best parts of the book to them is the feuding between the two Novak brothers. As I have stated you will see a very different side of Vince in the next book and the relationship of the brother will go through some major developments through the course of the series. Vince's story is only beginning!

The People of Delta City

Here is Jena's sketch of Grandpa Dale, Vicky, and Chief Ross. All three of these characters take on slightly different roles in "City Under Siege". Titan's role with Vicky and Chief Ross takes a turn and Grandpa Dale plays a much bigger part that reflects more of the big role he plays in Michael's life.

I am very excited to announce that i will be doing an in store book signing at Chapters in the Orchard Park mall in Kelowna on Saturday September 15th from 10-2, hope to see you there.

I am please to announce that I will be doing a reading and discussion of writing and Titan to the junior high school in Magrath Alberta on Thursday September 27th in the Tom Karen Gymnasium. Thank you so much to Wand Gibbons and the staff at Magrath school for allowing me the chance to do this. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to come and talk with the students. I had harboured dreams of writing for so long and didn't have the slightest idea about how to write a full novel or then work at getting it published. If I can help one student who aspires to be a writer and point them in the right direction that would be fantastic. Many of the students will have had the chance to read some or all of "The Midnight hour" as well. So, it will be exciting to see what my target audience thinks of the book and series.

The Gang's All Here

The gangs all here! here is Jena's sketch of the rest of Michale group of friends: Perminder, Dave, and Monica. These three had a rather small role in "The Midnight Hour" but will definitely have a big role moving forward in the series moving forward.

Titan Mini Serial pt. 3

Sorry for the delay, here is part three of the Titan mini serial...

Titan:

In the Clutches of the Leviathan pt. 3

 

“Where is he?” Regulus said, as he burst through the front door of his home.

                The house seemed to be empty at first. There was no one as he walked in through the kitchen and into the main sitting area. He began to move frantically through the house. Finally, he got to his sons room and found he wife kneeling at the edge of their son`s bed. Their son was lying in the bed. He was very pale and beads of sweat pilled and sat all around his forehead. A short slender old man stood on the far side of the bed against the wall. Regulus recognized him as the town doctor.

                “What is wrong with him?” Regulus asked the doctor.

                “I am afraid it is fever. It has grown quite serious. I fear it is beyond my skill at this point,” the doctor replied.

The doctor looked grave and lowered his head. He looked down at his wife, who he noticed was openly weeping as she clutched her son’s hand. Regulus removed his helmet and let it drop to the floor with his sword. He moved closer and knelt, wrapping his arm around his wife’s slender shoulder.

“Are you sure that nothing can be done?” Regulus asked.

The doctor raised his head to meet the gaze of Regulus for the first time. A glimmer of hope could be seen in the old man’s eyes.

“I have seen a fever such as this, but it was many years ago and very far away. In that land there was a small bush that grew a purple berry. When those berries were boiled down and ingested the fever would break. It would be impossible to get those berries here fast enough, however,” the doctor said.

“Impossible! Nothing is impossible for Titan. You will tell me where to find these berries. I will get them back in time to save my son, that much is assured,” Regulus declared.

After getting the location Regulus rushed back out the front door. He was about to take to the air when he felt a tug at his shoulder. He turned to see his friend Seamus once again. This time Seamus had another man Regulus recognised from town.

“Regulus, I know you have pressing personal matters, but I thought it pertinent to tell you that this fisherman from town has just come to ask of your aid. It appears the Leviathan still lives and has attacked the harbour,” Seamus said.

Regulus paused as he looked at the distraught face of the fisherman and then back to the home that held his ailing son. He remembered the Leviathan well. It was enormous beast that had risen from the depths of the sea to attack the town he had been sworn to protect. It had proven one of his greatest tests. He had thought he had killed the beast and dragged its body back out to sea.

Titan, you must take carer if the Leviathan at once. You will have time. You know this creature now and should be able to dispatch it quickly.

“My son is all that matters now. This will simply have to wait.”

Seamus’s jaw dropped and his eyes went wide. The fisherman slumped his shoulders and hung his head. He then turned back down the path to town.

Titan, I know that your son means a great deal to you, but many more lives are stake if this creature persists. Think of all the people that will lose sons and daughters of their own.

Regulus let out a deep sigh. He clenched his fists and shook his head in frustration.

“Very well, I will stop the Leviathan quickly. After that there will be no distractions until my son has the aid he needs.”

“Regulus, you won’t regret this. Don’t worry, I know you’ll be able to save your son easily as well,” Seamus said, suddenly beaming.

Regulus did not respond. He leaped high into the air. He landed on a hilltop at the edge of town. From that vantage point he could easily see the massive leviathan as it thrashed anything in its path at the harbour. It was truly a fearsome beast. It had a giant body and four long fins that he was also able to use on land. A long thick tail flailed around behind. Its large triangular head sat atop a long sturdy neck. It used its fins and head to thrash buildings and carts along the harbour. It bit and snapped its large sharp teeth at the townspeople that scattered and ran all around.

Regulus leaped as hard as he could toward the leviathan. His right fist was thrust out in front as he hurtled from the hilltop to the creature. Just as the leviathan reared its head back with fresh meat in its jaws, Regulus came slamming into its lower neck with ferocious force. The leviathan was knocked over onto its back with a crash.

“I will teach you to meddle in my town once and for all, creature!” Regulus said as he climbed upon the beast’s stomach.

The leviathan seemed stunned as it attempted to turn back over. Its head swung and thrashed around wildly. Before it could turn, however, Regulus launched his fist again. This time he connected with the leviathan’s head. The force was tremendous leaving several of its long sharp teeth shattered. The creature was sent back to the ground this time no longer awake at all.

The townspeople cheered as Regulus stood at the head of the defeated leviathan. He looked on in anger at the smiling grateful crowd. The leviathan’s body was stretched all across the front of the harbour and shoreline streets. Dust still rose into the air as at least a half dozen buildings lay in ruins from the attack.

“The mess is yours to clean up!” Regulus told the crowd.

He then leaped high and away, making his way over the mountain range toward the plant he hoped held his sons salvation.

To Be Continued…