Wow! Slow down peoples! You're not supposed to talk and talk and talk while I'm having fun at the NW Washington Fair, or should I rather say, the AWESOME NW WA Fair! Before I get to business, it was great! Similar to what I'm used to (rides, entertainment, shows, food - although not quite the same or the same portions or the same price (much much much cheaper here, the fair rides and entrance too compared to the Royal Perth Show). Experienced a few new/first in my life things too - kids rodeo (as young as 5 years old, on sheep!) [missed the "real" rodeo, but there will more opportunities to come, so it's not a biggy] and an event where dogs have to jump for a prop suspended over a huge inflatable pool! It was a great day/night feeling like a kid again. But I digress.
K wrote:Men's minds are like trains. We're chugging forward to the destination or slogging away from it. The only time we switch tracks is if the current track has no possible chance to get us to the destination. And even then we might stay on it just to be double sure.
I think I get this to some extent (I have after all been on the receiving end of men's single-mindedness a couple of times in my life 
), but the question I now have is: when guys are "interested" in a lady, will they never ever analyse it/think about it? ie I'm trying to show that with Matthew, it's not lust only, but he also cares about her emotions and brain too. Too much or not possible at all or too soon perhaps?
njc wrote:It was my impression that if you wanted to be on the wrong side of Black John it would help to have either an army or a death wish.
amy wrote:Interesting. I agree with NJC, so that would mean showing BJ's skill set before the actual battle so that it isn't a surprise or Deux Ex Machina.
This is interesting, especially with Amy agreeing here too. So I have a couple of questions:
(1) Is this based on the first version or on what you've seen so far in this posted version?
(2) What are your thoughts on Matthew? ie how do you rate Matthew's "dangerous-ness/lethal-ness"?
As a side-note, my original comment was more Matthew AND BJ together you need an army kind of thing. My biggest concern here is that BJ is overshadowing Matthew which I can't have/allow, as much as I like the big fella.
Also, some of their skill sets will be on display when they raid Anthony's tower. And some more of their skill set/level of greatness as well as their approach to be battle ready at all times as well as their "personalities" will be displayed as they beat the snot out of Anthony, sorry, "help" him, I meant to say help the poor youngster. It's a better fit for my timeline as I don't have to force the issue while they're looking for the bad guy too. I could mention it, at best, but I don't think there will be an opportunity to properly display it (in any great detail to do it justice) before the raid. Also, it has been hinted at (remember when Catherine's and Anthony's dad died - Matthew was on a reprisal raid and survived, so he must be okay with his lance and sword, yes?)
amy wrote:I see BJ as a lone Wolf. He doesn't play well with others but will behave because he is lessor to M.
njc wrote:And yet he played well with Matthew as a child.
Both can be true and doesn't have to be exclusive. Depends on life changing events as well and BJ lost his wife and unborn child in a fire. That could change a man that was really in love. It won't come out too strongly in NS (and I think I have decided to tone down on BJ's aggressiveness for exactly the reason not to overshadow M) , but the next story (Northern Ice - preliminary title) will get into this when a scullery maid crosses paths with BJ and turns his life upside down. (One day you'll be able to rip it apart, sorry, review that one too! 
njc wrote:Well, he showed up in the first chapter. We just don't know who he is.
Just when it looks like Matthew and Catherine have either reached stasis or are an arm's length length from Real Progress, the villain must strike again.
True and true. Readers know there is a villain, but whether he is lurking in the background already or not, I'm not going to say in this thread. I want to know how long I'm keeping you guys guessing and based on that, I might make him "disappear" more into the background or not (but only if no one goes - wait a minute, that's cheating, it can't be him!) in the next revision round. So basically, I want you lot to kick yourselves for not suspecting/knowing/realising who it was. Just know that I will also rub your noses in it, so consider the glove to be thrown on the floor!
Put differently for the one that wants a list of names and play the NS boardgame of "who dunnit", amy (hehehehe), you don't need a list. A few names will obviously be innocent given that they were with Matthew at the time when bad things are happening, but remember, Isaac's sister overheard TWO men talking, which implies the villain isn't acting on his own, he has help.
*SPOILER ALERT*
This guy will get away in NS, but he will meet justice in the third book of the series (Northern Fire - preliminary title) when Anthony meets a lady that knocks him over (literally or not, I don't know yet, Anthony's story is too far away for me to worry about the details at the moment - I only worry about the details that need to line up in NS at the moment).
*SPOILER ALERT*
The killer of Matthew's brother, parents, and BJ's wife will be taken care of in the second book while BJ falls in LURVVVE ...
amy wrote:In other words, having the villain introduced but not revealed yet...getting to see him in his non-scheming role.
He's there, all innocent and non-scheming or not. And he's GOOOODDDDDDD. He needs to be, otherwise it will be too easy for Matthew.
njc wrote:Prime suspects are Catherine's step-relations.
Good try, njc, but I'm not saying anything. *covers ears and sings tra-la-la-lah-laaaaa*
But this was a great discussion to read! It means people are thinking, analysing, wondering and you guys are GREAT and the BEST (but I knew this already). I want NS (and the other books) to be more than just about the relationship, especially because in romance, everyone knows the two will end up together, it's just a matter of time and how. But apart from the villain, there is also the sub-plot complication of everyone thinking Catherine can't have children ... I'm just crossing all my fingers and toes and ears hoping I can pull this off. But then again *uncrossing fingers, toes and ears* I'm in good company here, so I'll just be fine. I will be, right? Right?!!!!
