Michael F. Stewart, author of 24 Bones (Oct 26-Nov 6)

Please welcome Michael F. Stewart, author of 24 Bones. Michael will be chatting on LibraryThing until November 6th.

Thanks so much, Abby!

Hi, Everyone, I hope you will join me over the next couple of weeks to discuss 24 Bones. I’ll talk about anything from writing, to character, to revision, to research, whatever you like, even penguins!

Constructive criticism, welcome. The book is meant to be entertainment, not literature. What was your favorite part?

If my research centered on two areas it was with regards to early Christianity and Egyptian Myth. When I take on a book I do a lot of research, and here more than any other. With there being so much information on both these subjects, I spent months on each and I hope that comes through.

In any case, for a starter, what did you think of 24 Bones?

MFS

So this chat has appeared to have encouraged new ratings and one review for 24 Bones and I appreciate them all. Really, even the 2 Star I received. Someone took the time to read my novel and rate it, and that's quite an investment.

The criticism, however, is what I like the most, both good and bad.

Here's what aseeofgreen said: "I really enjoyed the story line of this novel. I have always been intrigued by Egyptian history. I’m fascinated by the pyramids. Stewart’s view of the modernizing of these ancient religions was believable to the end.

My problem with this book is the character development. Or lack thereof. By the end of the book I did not feel like I really had a good take on the motivation of either of the main characters. I did not feel their passion. I did not know them as people. The book was relatively short and a very fast read. In each scene, I kept thinking that I wished he would have provided more insight into the characters themselves as well as he had drawn the action."

First of all, thanks! I'm pleased with credible 3.5 star reviews and I'm glad my research did come through.

I want to address the character development issue. In writing there is something called narrative distance. For example, writing in first person closes that narrative distance, you're essentially in the head of the protagonist. I write in third person, and third person near omniscient. I.e. I really don't tell you what the character is thinking. I try to show you. 'Try' of course being the operative word. So my narrative distance is set way back. There is a lot of first person narrative currently on the market and I think we're getting used to reading a lot of telling - for good or bad.

So, I don't linger in people's heads and perhaps that's a stylistic choice that will hamper me. I move forward with story. But stories are about people, and despite my writing style I need to make sure you're invested or you won't care. Point taken.

Thanks again, aseeofgreen,

MFS

Hello! I received an ebook copy of 24 Bones through Early Reviewers. I am in progress of reading it --darn school has been kicking my butt, sorry it's taking so long for the review. I've also learned from this that ebooks do funny things to my eyes, unfortunately.

On the third person aspect, I definitely appreciate it. I've grown up on mostly first person stories where everything is told to you, which is why I gravitated towards science fiction and fantasy--need imagination for those. I think it creates a more active reader. You need to put yourself in their situation to understand motives, just like you would in the real world.

Ancient Egypt was one of my favorite histories to study and I love how you've incorporated it into modern times. What influenced you to write about this merging of times? I'm not very up on my non-mainstream religions, do these groups actually exist, past or present?

Hi, Katelisim! Thanks for your comments. I think books these days often leave too little for the imagination. IMO. Before I forget, what are you studying?

As for what influenced me? I am fascinated with many myths. I have a thriller coming out next spring called HURAKAN (so Mayan themed) and another next Fall that weaves Seminoles myth into the story line. So first off, I'm interested in myths and religion. The next part of my influence comes through research. So I actually didn't know the story premise even, until I started researching. It just built from there and it tied into some of the reading I'd been doing on Carl Jung, who had a lot of Gnostic writings, and concepts like the Collective Unconscious (which in the novel is the Fullness). I enjoy urban fantasy in the vein of Neil Gaiman, who definitely influenced me in making it a modern day story.

As for these religious groups? The Coptic Christians certainly still exist, and they do have a Pope. Little is known of the Shemsu Hor, they were a predynastic group that some believed were seen as demigods. The Shemsu Seth are entirely fictional as are the Sisters of Isis.

Thanks for the questions and I hope you enjoy the rest of the book. Good luck with your studies!

MFS

Thanks for answering! I'm in a Marketing Communications major, so a lot of writing and research. Mostly formal and structured writing right now, not much of the creative fun stuff yet.

Another question about the Egyptian myths, which books did you find most helpful in your research? I've been distantly interested in finding a book with a lot of their myths compiled, but I haven't been actively searching, any recommendations for that?

On a different note, what was your favorite part about writing this book?

Books on Egyptian myth. There are SOOO many, and I can't really point to any one on my shelf that was exceptional. Oddly enough, the www.touregypt.net site is excellent. www.sacred-texts.com is great for some source and secondary material although Budge is a major contributor to public-domain and his translations are suspect. What I found after reading yet another version of the Osiris myth was that they began to congeal together a bit and I'd write from that sort of understanding.

More importantly after the book research, I traveled to Egypt for a bit to see everything first hand. That moderated some of the discussion on Christianity/Egyptian myth. For example, one of the books I used in that research was written by Tom Harpur and I couldn't actually find some of the carvings he mentioned as evidence. Sort of threw certain concepts out the window. But if you want to know the basic thread of each myth, I actually think you'll be better served to go to Wikipedia - (I don't know whether this is a good or a bad thing!).

The best part about writing 24 Bones was watching Sam and Taggart transform. Although I must say that my favorite characters are Askari and Faris. My second favorite part was having the research hold the book together, so that for a couple of hours at least I could suspend my belief and think that this could actually happen.

Wrapping up! Thanks again to Abby. And anyone who did want to participate, please feel free to strike up a chat via my profile.

All the best!

MFS