Grey Wolf: Blog

Hello VoaT readers (and potential future VoaT readers!)

For the first topic in this blog: I messed up and used a name twice. While I do that intentionally a few places, this one is just plain an oops. Didn't mean to do it, feel bad about it, need to fix it. Darla Kwan had the name Darla first, but Darla Winton took it over and won't let it go. So, Ms. Kwan relinquished the name and is now Debra.

On the bigger topic of names in VoaT: There are a lot of them, attached to a lot of characters. My best guess right now (yes, I don't have an exhaustive list either) is that there are around 250 named characters, counting everyone. What 'counts' is tricky. Someone like Nurse Sandra, not seen since chapter 4, is certainly a 'character', but she seems unlikely to return and take center stage. On the other hand, someone like Sharon (Angie's mother, aka 'the FW'), who has never yet turned up on-page, is an important character.

With all of these characters, combined with my penchant for having some turn up, vanish, then return in a significant role, sometimes has people scratching their heads wondering who so-and-so is. Sometimes I can reintroduce them gracefully, but sometimes I can't, and I don't always know who needs a reintroduction. Obviously (see above), even I get confused about names on occasion, and every so often my editors lose track of someone, too.

All of this has brought up a discussion about a 'Cast of Characters'. It's a great idea, but brings complexity with it. Where should it go? A separate document? An appendix? An entirely separate location (website, wiki, etc)?

Here are some open questions:
Who gets in? Everyone? Does Nurse Sandra get a listing, for instance?

How are spoilers managed? Obviously, to readers of Book 1, listings for Candice in August 1980, December 1980, February 1982, and August 1982 would vary considerably. Which is 'correct'?

How much detail? Name, age, looks? That helps for some, but would be useless for Dave Winton and even more useless for Sharon.

When does it get updated? Once per book is easy for me, but we're 70 chapters into Book 2. Having some sort of catch-up on who's-who may be useful for readers who are missing someone introduced in the fall of 1981.

I have tentative thoughts on these, and there are some things I'm pretty sure I won't do. I don't want to do anything that intrudes on the story. Nothing per-chapter, nor every 5 or 10 or whatever. Someone who just wants to pick up the book and read it should be able to do so without being bothered by a list of characters, even if it's easily skipped. That argues for appendix, not foreword, if it's within the book itself.

Appendix solves the spoiler issue - it's after the book and covers the characters' progress through that book. Each book has its own appendix, and someone like Nurse Sandra might get kicked out of a Book 2 appendix.

I think the most likely information for most characters is name, age (and/or grade, which is more important in most cases for students), and a sentence or two giving a few details.

Should listings have a 'first mention' pointer? That's work to maintain, but might be useful.

A wiki has its points, but also would be chock full of spoilers without careful design. I have no problem with people opting to seek out spoilers, but I don't want someone looking up something simple to find out information they really didn't want to know. It also would require ongoing maintenance, most likely.

Lots of thoughts here. Some of you have already written with comments about a Cast of Characters (and you may see my reactions above, plus I've either written back or somehow missed your message - I try to write back to everyone who writes me). Perhaps someone has the perfect answer, or can point to a really good solution - or one they can't stand. Either is helpful.

As always, thank you for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying Variation On A Theme, and I hope you continue to. And, if you're not, let me know why. I'll respond, unless - again - I somehow just miss your message. Whether it's praise or criticism, a typo or an anachronism, a factual error or a difference of opinion, I enjoy heading from you.

We've just about reached the halfway point of posting for Book 2 (barring any major chapter reorganizations in the editing process, which is still underway for just over thirty chapters).

Book 2 ends in early July at chapter 117. Yes, that makes it 58 chapters for just under 7 months and 59 chapters for just over 4 months. It's an eventful spring!

Writing is continuing on Book 3. No idea yet how long it'll be nor any ETA, but I do expect it to begin publishing immediately on the heels of Book 2.

Several readers have asked questions about Dave Winton. Briefly, Dave was one of Steve's best friends in his first go-round at life. From high school all the way to 2021, they were friends, companions, even 'family of choice'. Shared vacations, innumerable dinners, visiting each others' houses. Even (with his ex-wife) introducing Dave to his wife and encouraging them to get together. That's why events relating to Dave matter.

One of my editors and I are considering a cast of characters. I'll post another blog on the idea sometime soon. It sounds like a great idea, but can be tricky to actually create and maintain and nearly inevitably means a risk of spoilers.

It's Angie's birthday today. I won't say which birthday it is...

Everyone gets a present Sunday in the form of an extra posting.

Thanks as always to all of my readers, and especially to those who've written to me with comments (whether large or small). I appreciate it. Thanks!

As a few very attentive readers noted, today - June 21, 2021 - is the day my main character, Steve, finds himself in the path of a runaway truck, leading to a most surprising outcome.

I don't have a bonus chapter for you today, but today's chapter is pretty important in its own right, and there are some other opportunities coming up. I didn't want to miss commenting on this important date, though.

And, if you do happen into the path of a runaway truck, today or any day (hopefully not!), may it bring you a second chance at life, love, happiness, and growth. Worked for Steve!

Hi everyone! Nothing earth-shattering here, but you'll notice a couple of style changes starting with Chapter 36 of Book 2, and eventually these will be incorporated into prior chapters as I update existing text.

The first change is the addition of the day of the week to the dates given at the beginning of each day. One of my editors suggested this, and it seems like a good way to keep connected with what's going on. Often it's obvious which day of the week a certain day is, but not always.

The second change is that what was formerly 'OK' is now 'okay'. Another editor suggested that, and it feels better. I've been dragging my feet on making the change, but it's a good time to bite the bullet. I'll have to go through and edit, and there may be occasional misses.

As always, if you have suggestions, thoughts, feedback, whatever - please let me know!