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Gosh.  I just realized I'm writing a trilogy.  I've always wanted to write a trilogy, but never thought it would happen.  You're witnessing the birth of a trilogy.  It started with the re-booting of the original Rhiannon series, which like classic re-boots (Superman, Smallville, etc.  Superman was the first of this kind), rearranged and re-vamped familiar iconography from the original series  And it was funny how that happened.  I was writing the story from Jeb's perspective (poor guy needs a novel of his own, but haven't been successful yet.  Any ideas?), needed some backstory--200 pages later, I realized the backstory was the story.)  So "The Fairy Princess:  Cursed to Nakedness was born. It is now over 500 pages long, and in two parts.  The parts could be separate novels, but they are unified by the quest-plot. In this regard, I cite Suin's comments as helping me with an end.  My endings tend to suck--I guess I dont want the story to end.  But in asking me to go into Rhi's relationship with Branwen, I ended up going into her relationship with her father, with her reminescence about Branwen as an gangplank to that. Heveydd is now a major minor character, and not just an object of comic relief (original series) or pity (Re-boot).  A scene with her father made for a logical conclusion to CtN.  So thank you, Suin!  *Everyone* (too lazy to make italics) thought the story started in the middle--as is fine, as you are supposed to start stories in the middle.  I read one example in a "How to Write Good" book where a man wakes up to find his wife is a robot.  The instructor said, "fine, now write the backstory--that's the real story."  So you guys inspired me to write "The Fairy Princess and the Offworlder."  (The term offworlder is original with me; they now use it on Supergirl to describe the alien population as the Earth is the galaxy's refugee camp, but I can prove I was using it years before the series )  Again, a not so great ending, although the last scene dovetails with a scene in CtN--in fact, is the same scene from Rhiannon's POV.  And some of you have been wondering about the witch that cursed Rhiannon to nakedness  Some have even suggested it's Heather.  That has inspired a sequel, the first draft of which was put together yesterday.  Even though not posted, Suin's inspiration on Rhiannon & Branwen made me have to revise the whole ending, and in doing so, I realized I did a fine job of writing a mystery--for I had forgotten 'Whodunnit' and was surprised my self.  Although all the clues were there, the misdirection led me, the first reader of my own stuff, down a different avenue.  Although ready for review and posting, I won't do so until at least one of you has reached the end of CtN, as it would be a big spoiler to one of the subplots to read it.  Again, thanks for all your help.  A trilogy?  Wow.  And I owe it to you guys.  You're the best!

J'ohn J'ones, or his secret identiy, Hank Crenshaw.

Just as long as it doesn't beat under a floorboard, I'm good with it.  lol

Suin:  Glad you liked the scene with Rhiannon and her father, where she meets Branwen.  It's actually inspired me to include more of Heveydd in the story.

No need to apologize; I kind of figured out it was a mistake in translation.  I lived in Puerto Rico, ordered some bottled water.  There was a knock on the door.   A man holding a water jug declared, "I am the man of the water."  (El hombre de la aqua.)  I knew he meant "water man."  The difference?  In English the first would signify some special relationship with water--like maybe he was Aquaman, who could easily have an epithet--the man of the water.  (Like Superman's "Man of Steel."  A steel man would probably be a steel worker, maybe an investor in the steel industry.)  Pronunciation can be fun too.  A colleague of mine, from Puerto Rico, worked in NYC.  He said, "Do not shit on the exams."  He was mispronouncing 'cheat.'  And my own case.  I put my clothes in a washer in the laundry room at my dormitory for faculty and graduate students (called 'hotel' in Espanol).  I was trying to tell him "The machine is broken."  ("La machina is roto.")  Instead, I said, "La machina es roho!  Es roho!"  He gave me the funniest look.  Probably thinking, "No, it is white."

Gacela:  I've been told that I'm a great YA author, and have deliberately structured my stories so that there can be YA stories about Rhiannon.  Don't remember whether I published it, but I have one story about Rhiannon's daughter and friend (whose name will have to be changed, unless I change her backstory, as there is a new character called Mellengell, so it could be a little confusing).  No date for resuming this, as the four Rhiannon novels are far from done, except perhaps for the main one.  But keep me in mind. 

Tobias, 20 Master Plots was helpful.  For non-fiction, Jacques Barzun, "Simple and Direct."  Some articles in Writer's Digest.  Mostly, I find emulating writers you admire is the most helpful.

It takes skill to write anything, and if you can write, you can use all sorts of techniques, or strategems, that bad writers need to steer clear of.  Of course, that raises the issue of what counts as bad writing.  Edgar Rice Burroughs was inspired by reading the writers of his day--he thought he could write at least as bad as they could.

Trundle bed

I thought I'd share my responses to Gacela's latest review of my work:

Gacela:  Thanks for your review.  I found parts of it very useful.  The bit about missing body language was much appreciated.  This is both part of the genre and a send-up of it.  Think Young Frankenstein, although for the fantasy, not the horror genre. You have both the classic horror movie and a satire on it.  Like Gene Hackman's blind hermit scene.  Other possible comparisons could be with Fritz Laumer's Retief series, which was a parody of the French diplomatic corps, which he served in. 

You may be right about Zusanna.  I think Norm also questioned that.  I hadn't realized how the peeing scene, at least to those who don't know wolves, would lesson her creepiness. 

The sub-theme of Rosalyn and Heather's almost comical competition for Rhiannon is going to stay.  There are similar comic relief moments in literature--but I might make the levels a little more traditional in character (such as the fool in Lear). 

Indeed, Heather's presence was a bit, shall we say, extraordinary.  I think I make a reference to that--Ioseff wants new wife included, and in such a way as to make it seem extraordinary.  Rosalyn and Rhiannon go way back.  I'll include some more of Rhiannon's reasoning here, but she stays.  I forget which reviewer wasn't sure if there was anyone Rhiannon could trust, ,except Lido, and Rhiannon is aware of that problem--she is picking those who she thinks she can trust, more than competence at particular areas.  Although written way before recent events in the US, this is how Trump seems to be picking his cabinet (And that was a coup of sorts.) 

Anyway, thanks for your candid remarks, it has helped me rethink some things, and you can be sure, now that I'm aware of the "two Rhiannon's," I'll use that contrast in the future--always stressing the "take charge" side.

Everyone should give thanks, and a lot of countries do have Thanksgiving, although it is too late for some of them (like Canada).  Happy Thanksgiving, back!