Monday, December 31, 2012

The Thames Family


They're smart and they're witty, 
Bloodthirsty and broken, 
They're all together crazy, 
The Thames Family. 


(Fail.)

Abigal and Thomas Thames

Abigal Thames is the sort of person who gives an order and people follow it, no questions asked. She is about 5'8" with orange, curly hair and brown eyes. In 2018, she was 53.

Thomas is quieter than his wife and very smart. He is a weapons inventor for the military and his wife's partner. Thomas is a year older than Abigal with brown hair and the Thames's green eyes. 

Abigal and her future husband, Thomas, met in high school. At age 18, she and Thomas joined the army. Abigal worked as a nurse, but soon made her way into the ranks with her remarkable knowledge of military strategy. Abigal's father was a general in the army. After seven years of fighting alongside Thomas, Abigal married him. Abigal and Thomas had three children: Matthew and Phillip, born when Abi was 25; and Gail, born when Abi was 32, just after Matt and Phillip were kidnapped. In 2000, Abby was selected as the Strategist for Operation Light. She and two others (Noah’s Dad and a general) prepared a plan to protect the United States from the impending Alliance Attack. Operation Light was finished just months before the attack. Abigal was captured and taken. She was assumed to be dead.

Abigal and Thomas were scientists in the first versions of The Night Stalker when The Night Stalker revolved around DNA and super soldiers. Although the story is told from Gail's point of view, the plot revolves mostly around Abigal and her part in the war, but that's a huge post for another time. I chose Abigal mostly to connect Gail to the rest of the war and put Gail in the center of everything- almost accidentally. Also, Abigal has a really amazing backstory, and is a kick-butt 50 year old woman.

Matthew

Matthew is tall with brown hair and green eyes, like his father. He has a very strong survival instinct and is a natural leader, like Abigal, his mother.

Matthew was kidnapped at age 7, and thought to have been killed because he was weak. A nice soldier let him go, and Matt spent time in Europe traveling from family to family and trying to get back to the United States. He couldn’t go to an Embassy because Alliance had spies everywhere. Matt met up with the European Rebellion after war started. He also met Abigal, but didn’t realize it was his mom. However, Abigal knew it was him. Matthew rose through the Rebellion ranks and was kidnapped by Hamilton to be taken to the United States.

Philip

Philip is the son of Abigal and Thomas Thames. He is the older identical twin brother of Matthew. He has been mentally and physically abused for most of his life, so Philip is filled with rage and hate towards everyone in his life. 

Philip lived in Brownings City, PA until he was kidnapped at age 7 with Matthew. He was raised in Russia under the guidance of Alliance leader Alyxandr Romov. Philip hates his parents and Gail which was the main reason he attacked the United States. This hate was caused by Romov's psychological torture on Philip. Philip married an older woman named Eleanor at age 15. They had Hamilton same year. Eleanor was 18. Philip was forced to marry Eleanor because Romov wanted two heirs to the Alliance throne. Philip later killed Romov and took over the Alliance.


Hope you enjoyed another round of Things You Didn't Know But Know Not About The Night Stalker! Happy Holidays!

~Snowie

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Why Them?


So far, you know the plot and the sides to the story. Now it's time to start meeting the characters and learn why I chose them.

Gail Thames

Gail is my main character. She narrates most of the novel in the first person ("I"). Gail is telling the story a few years after it happened, so it features other peoples' stories that Gail has heard. Physically, Gail has her mother's orange, very curly hair (Think Merida from Brave, but shoulder length), and she has the Thames's green eyes. She is twenty-one and loves martial arts, kickboxing, reading, knitting, and cooking. Her three best friends are Kayla, Jeff, and James (You'll hear more about them later). 

Gail and Jeff grew up together along with Kayla and Morganne. When the war started in 2012, Gail was removed from public school. In 2012, the US was invaded and Gail’s mom was taken. Gail grieved for a few years and then was inspired by Robin Hood. She started stealing from the Alliance and giving her spoils to the fugitives. Gail kept this a secret. Her secret was stumbled upon by Jeff and Lucy, an Alliant turn Rebel. Lucy and Gail were partners for about 1.5 years before the Black Carriages took Lucy. During this 1.5 years, Tom found out about Gail’s secret and started properly training her. In 2015, a storyteller came through who knew Gail’s secret. She told the Shelters about Gail- indirectly- calling her the Night Stalker. Gail stops stealing because the guard in the city went up. The storyteller goes on to spread the news of the Night Stalker. By 2018, nearly the whole world knows of the Night Stalker, but not one, not even Gail, knows who the Night Stalker is. After reuniting with Kayla, Morganne, and Jeff, Noah and James show up. And the story begins.

I can't really remember why I chose Gail exactly. A long, long time has passed since I came up with Gail Thames. If I were to chose Gail today, I would chose her to tell this story, because she's not your average soldier. She doesn't take orders from others well, and always wants to go off and do her own thing. Gail is constantly getting in the middle of the action without ever really trying to. Gail's main goal is to travel to Maine and find her mother, but at the same time she feels the need to fight the Alliance and fight for her freedom. Gail is very stubborn and set in her ways. She has a hard time connecting with people, and prefers to be alone, which is a downfall of hers.


Hamilton Romov

Hamilton Romov is the son of Philip and Eleanor Romov. For most of The Night Stalker, he is our resident "baddie". Hammy, as I like to call him, is a fresh fifteen. His most distinguishing features are his died white hair and blue eyes. For a fifteen year old, he's pretty tall- 6"2'. Imagine a mix of Chris Zylka, Matt Lanter, and Austin Butler with blond hair and blue eyes. 

As a child, Hammy was trained by Philip and Alyxandr Romov, the King of the Alliance up until 2010 when he mysteriously died. Hamilton was abused mentally and physically by daily whippings, beatings, and torture. On the upside, Hammy became very tough physically and mentally. On the other hand, he wouldn't mind seeing Philip dead. Hamilton hates his mother because she is weak, but at the same time, he loves her as his mother. Hammy took a liking to hunting, fishing, horse riding, and knife throwing. From a young age, he was the friend and the fiancĂ© of Octavia Blackwelt. 

I chose Hamilton mainly for his background. Hammy hasn't had an easy life. He hates his father and has a love/hate relationship with his mother. He has taken mental and physical abuse daily for almost ten years of his life. The only love and support in his life comes from Octavia, his childhood friend and now assassin. I wanted a raw and violent, perhaps a little psychotic character, but at the same time, I wanted the reader to feel sorry for him. I wanted my readers to be able to connect with him. 

So, there you have it. Gail and Hammy are two of the biggest most influential characters in The Night Stalker. More to come!

~Snowie

P.S. Merry Christmas
P.P.S. Don't forget to comment down below! I would love to hear your opinion on the plot, the sides, Gail, and Hamilton.  

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Now That You Know


So, how did you like the plot? (Psssst Leave a Comment. I'd love to hear your opinion of it.)

Now that you know the story, it's time to meet the two sides of it. 


The Alliance


Meet the Alliance. They are a Russian-based Mafia that was headed by Alyxandr Romov. Romov has held a grudge against the United States since they illegally captured his parents. When Romov died in 2010, he still had found them. In order to get back at the United States and a handful of other countries who interfered with his criminal web, Romov sent agents to a little house in Brownings, Pennsylvania. The agents kidnapped the twin sons of well-known Military Strategist Abigal Thames and her husband Thomas, a military weapons inventor. The seven year old boys were smuggled out of the country. 

On the way to Russia, one was deemed too weak for Romov and was killed. The boy, however, escaped. For 13 years, the twin that was still with the Alliance, named Philip, was heavily abused and trained by Romov. Plans to invade all six continents and kill Romov's enemies were put into place. Philip had plans of revenge of his own, but went along with Romov. Romov's death in 2010 is still suspicious. 

Philip took over after Romov's death and put the invasion steps into place instantly. The Alliance army was already in place in every country. Countries fell before any one knew what was happening. In less than 24 hours, bombs were falling. World War Three had begun. 

As a government, the Alliance is a Dictatorship, ruled by King Phillip. The next in line is Philip's son, Prince Hamilton. A majority of the major army positions and government positions are filled by old Russian, North Korean, and Chinese leaders. 


The Rebellion


The Rebellion was started as a part of Operation Light. OL was created by the President as a back up plan to the Alliance threat. 3 people (Abigal Thames, Alaric Cook, and General Crosley) worked together to create an army that would come together and fight the Alliance if the world powers were to fall. 

When the Alliance invaded and took over America, the operation was implemented and leaders gathered troops. 8 years into the war Newfoundland, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut have been won in the USA alone. The European army is gorging their way through the middle of Europe in an effort to cut off West Europe from the Alliance.

All over the world, there are ten Rebellion armies: one in Europe, four in Asia, two in Africa, one in Australia, one in South America, and one in North America. Some are lead by a single person, others, like the one in North America, are headed by a General and a counsil.


I hope you enjoyed this little break down of the Night Stalker's armies!

~Snowie

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Who, The What, The Where, The When, and The Why. Everything You Need To Know About The Night Stalker


What is The Night Stalker?
Why is it called that?
Who is in it? Why?
Where is it? Why?
Why? Why? Why?
Why?

Many of you may be wondering what in the world The Night Stalker even is. And, if you are a close friend, you probably can't ever remember. How supportive.

So, to clear up the confusion and put it down on paper, I now give you a short less than three hundred word summary of The Night Stalker's wonderful plot.

Two years after World War III began, Gail Thames's mother was captured by the Alliance, a Russian based mafia. Six years later, there still has been no word of Abigal's status. The Alliance now controls the world and the people in it. There is only one hope for freedom- the Rebellion. As Rebel and Alliance forces clash world wide, Gail is handed a paper proving her mother is still alive and well in the Freeland. Traveling with a Rebel battalion, Gail heads to Maine to search for her mother. But, a soldier's journey is never straight, and dark secrets never stay hidden long.

There you have it. The Night Stalker summary in less than 300 worlds.

~Snowie

Saturday, December 1, 2012

The End of All Things (Or At Least a Few)


When something ends, another thing must begin.

NaNoWriMo ended. And the beginning of novelling after of NaNoWriMo began.

November ended. December began.

2012 is ending, and 2013 is about to begin.

And according to some people, the world is ending soon. The beginning of a universe without an Earth populated by people will begin. To you I say... Yeah... Sure.

And last, but not least, The Night Stalker will be ending soon. I will finally allow myself to begin editing, polishing, and looking for a wonderful and very talented agent/publisher.

If you ask me, this November was very successful. I (re)wrote a novel!! You wrote a novel!!! You sat back and laughed at our craziness! You only wrote half a page! What ever you did, I clap for you. We had fun, I think. I nearly made it to 60,000 words in a month. I am actually just over 59,000 words and counting.

Soon, I hope to be posting more both on here and on YouTube. I have a book picked out to start recording, and I have a ton of Night Stalker Q&A I am really excited about writing for Writing Thoughts. 

During the month of December I am doing a No T.V. Challenge. You can stay updated with all of that on AnAwfulLotOfRunning, my nerdy workout blog and tumblr. Feel free to check it out while listening to awesome music

In the mean time, get some sleep. You deserve it.

Happy writings,

~Snowie