Hey, Bk2 Update on Drawing Headings

Hey Everyone,

I know I haven't written anything for almost a month but family stuff does that to you. On to the news:

I'm nearly finished with all the Line Art (LA) for HoC bk2. I have a few more pictures left. But, I'm moving along and I'm pretty happy with the results so far.

There's a couple of fun or thrilling pictures in it that I hope will make you just think "Wow!" or "Cool!" or just make you smile/laugh.

Write ch-yah later.


-T. Erickson

Update on RD's for chapter headers on HoC2

Hi Everyone,

Finally completed all the Rough Drafts (art) for the chapter headings. Guess what? So far, you're gonna get 56 of them! Geez! (wipes sweat off the brow) Some were a lot of work, others were pretty simple.
Although the simple ones save on time, I find that I prefer more action shots or something that can evoke emotion.
I tend to listen to a variety of mood music to get just the right expression on a character's face. For example: Sarah has a more magical-innocent feel to her themes; Cameron (Cam) has quick battle music; Ari has a lot of violin and Lindsey Stirling; Ransom has more faith promoting lyrics, Taps has anything from calm-happy melodies to battle, The Lurker King...well, I hate him, he gets shifty themes. (Smirk)

Anyway, just thought I'd catch you up. Hope all's well and fun all of 'yah.

Have a great Halloween everyone!


-T. Erickson

Taps' Mansion Garden Picture

I commissioned our cover artist (Mates Laurentiu) to work on this picture. I think he did a very good job, especially since we have 2 very different styles. But he was kind enough to work with my constant corrections and now you have a wonderful piece of art to look at.

Description:

Taps: Realm Keeper (RK), Royal bodyguard, Highest ranked Club of her time; Teresa Accolade Persimmons is one of a kind. She delights in pleasant company and beautiful gardens when she has time off. Here she can be seen speaking with General Zizzor.

(She would normally be wearing her mother's lacy gloves, but, due to my excitement, I didn't have the artist do it.)

General Zizzor (Gold and white hummingbird): Watch out for his battle prowess! 

(There's a lot more to know about this cute little fellow in the books.)

Smitten Rose (in the vase): A creation of Jeffery, Taps' butler. (See HOC Bk1 for the deeper reason)

Books: Taps is all about expanding her knowledge and deepening her understanding. *They actually are: the Holy Bible (brown), Book of Mormon (blue), Children's Song Book (small green), and the open book is...hmm...I'll have to think about that one.

Bench Decor: The moon and stars represent Taps' office. As a RK, she's one rank below royalty.

Mer-man statue: King Tempest, whom was courting Taps at one time...

(This isn't the pose his statue has in the books. But I liked what Mr. Laurentiu did, so it stayed.)

Ghosty Butterflies: There are several varieties in Taps' gardens. These blue butterflies are there to help one relax.

Roses: Taps loves roses, especially enchanted ones.

Tava Tree: This special tree is literally "out of this world" and was a gift. 

(If you've ever read my mother's COS prequels and specifically books 3-5, you should know ALL about the Tava tree.)

Garden (In general): Everything in Taps' garden does something magical, from the plants to the decor.

(Several of the BG trees should actually be fruit trees, but I didn't think about it before Mates had done a lot of work and since there were other parts of the picture that I felt more important, the correct trees weren't put on. Should've added a distraction creature too, and fairies...oh well, thoughts for next time.)

So there you have it. :) One beautiful picture and an idea about what a small part of Taps' garden looks like.

-T. Erickson

Third Edit for Shuffled (HoC2) done!

Third edit complete! (YAY!)

Now for our fourth edit.

Generally, we do 6-7 edits, to make sure our book has the best adventure possible in its pages.

As for the illustration side, I'm working on the rough drafts for the chapter headings.


-T. Erickson

Good News - Shuffled update

Good news,

We've just completed our 3rd edit for HoC bk2!

A lot of the big events are running smoother.

Now for some of our pre-readers opinions...theeen, back to editing.


-T. Erickson

Reader's Favorite - Final Round

Well,

We didn't place in the final Reader's Favorite. That was a disappointment.
There were 1,000's of books and it is international.

But, as Taps would say: "Moving on."
We're still going to tell the story and enjoy our work.


-T. Erickson

Shuffled, Hoc bk2 update

We've finished the 2nd draft and are working on the 3rd.

So far, we have over 50 chapters! We're going to be doing a lot of editing. Mom usually likes to stick to thirty chapters or so. This way, the story is full but the readers won't have to feel like they're wading through fluff.

It's part of the challenge the book presents. This magical world is enormous! And even the small things tend to have a story behind them. I actually like all the learning that's done in the SKS classes, I find it fascinating. But, still, we might have to cut some of these classes because it's not important enough to the story.
It's possible we'll post them here. But we'll see.

-T. Erickson

Shuffled-Front Cover

Well,

Here's the front cover of book 2!

This is a scene that will be happening in the book. 

I'm very excited about the armor, like I told you. I've always been fascinated with armor and I've wanted a suit of it for as long as I can remember. :) In any case, I helped with the concept for the special armor that Sarah's wearing.

Our artist is very good at drawing armor, as you can see. I love the reflected light and all the fine detail that I had him put on it. 

The armor is important and necessary for the mask that's in that tank. It's something you'd rather not mess with.

We need to figure out the blurb on the back of the book. Once the book is closer to completion, then we'll have a better idea about what to say.

Enjoy!

-T.Erickson

HoC Bk2 - Shuffed Update

Hello Everyone!

Just to let you know, we're still in the editing process. We have several more rounds to go. So far, bk2 has 500+ pages but it is in the early stages. We have some exciting scenes coming up and a tad more action! ;)

I've hurt my wrist so, I can't do much drawing at the moment. I'll hopefully get that fixed soon. Can't wait to get back to the sketches.

Also, to alert you, we have some big stuff going on here at home. So, don't expect much during the month of September. Hopefully, you'll get more fun stuff to look at in October!

-T.Erickson

HoC Bk1 Characters: Dev & Yaz Cubay

Name: Dev Cubay

Relationship Status: Married. (See Yas)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic User

Suit: Club ♣ ♣ (Double)

Rank: 9

Occupation: Top Clash Lunchbox engineer. Co-owner of Top Clash. Magicanik.

Known Talent: Welding. Armor. Making magical lunchboxes.

Known Habits: Attending LBWs at SKS with his wife Yas. Enjoys judging when a Pro match is going.

Awards/Recognition: Knight of the Tapestry Realm (KoTR). His lunchboxes are at the tip-top of the brands in the USA.

Current Status: Alive

Last known location: Tapesty.  

Name: Yas Cubay

Relationship Status: Married. (See Dev)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Heart ♥/ Diamond ♦

Card Rank: 9

Occupation: Sensei for a martial arts studio. Co-owner of Top Clash.

Known Talent: Hand to hand combat.

Known Habits: Going with her husband Dev to help judge LBWs Pro level.

Awards/Recognition: Knight of the Tapestry Realm (KoTR).

Current Status: Alive.

Last known location: Tapestry

Back to Character List

HoC Art - More about the Persimmons cousins...

These are fun pictures that I wanted to post about the cousins:

 

Triple trouble or triumph?

Lacey Devine...so much chaos and brilliance wrapped into one it's scary.

Lana Devine. Organized. To the point. Strict as they come. Stick to the rules and you'll be fine.

Teresa Accolade Persimmons (TAPS). Kind, courageous, and always willing to lend a helping hand or fist. Depending on your need.

Author's Note:

What I've done here is post some old sketches of the characters and revamped the Devine Twins a little. 

Lacey's outfits are always a lot of work but they're even a surprise for me because I never have a set plan in mind when it comes to her clothes. I just sketch and my imagination does the rest. 

Lana's outfits are less work, sharp 'n crisp, but boring for color. She generally sticks to black-white-grey combos. If she's wearing purple or some other color, she's having a really good day.

Taps' outfit stays the same in book 1. Her tux & tails are her signature mark. I just wanted to show off her pretty blouse in the top picture.

HoC Bk2 Shuffled: Update 2

Hello to all our wonderful readers!

Here's my update:

1. We're working with our cover artist on the 2nd book cover. (I'm loving the armor! ;))

2. I'm still editing the first draft and filling in more gaps that will help the book go smooth.

3. I've still got a lot of posts that I've put on a large "To Do" list. (Due to life getting in the way, I haven't been able to post as much as I'd like.)


Hope your summer is going well!

-T. Erickson

HoC Bk1 Characters: Darrin Clowol

Name: Darrin “Dare” Clowol

Relationship Status: Single

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Spade ♠/Diamond ♦

Rank: 9

Occupation: Monster Caretaker. 

Known Talent: Works with several high Z classes.

Known Habits: Dresses like a cowboy. Has a bull whip he carries with him.

Awards/Recognition: Knight of the Tapestry Realm (KoTR).

Current Status: Alive.

Last known location: Unknown

Back to Character List

HoC Series: Card Rank and Rhyme

Card Rank & Rhyme

The higher the rank, the more power you hold. Each rank comes with a talent and general personality attached.

King - Strong and hard-working.

• They are joint rulers with their queens.
• Current Kings (HoC Bk1):
• Zelotes "Z", King of Hearts
• Daniel Musgrove Hyland, King of Diamonds
• Gunnar "Gun", King of Clubs
• Gideon "Gid", King of Spades

Queen - So pristine.

• They are joint rulers with their kings.
• Current Queens (HoC Bk1):
• Piedee, Queen of Hearts
• Charlotte "Letty" Ariminta Marble, Queen of Diamonds
• Eva, Queen of Clubs
• Pamela "Pam",Queen of Spades

Jack/Jaquelin - Gotta grin.

• Prince/Princess of their suit. Every size, style, and variety.
• There are several (and I mean 75+ in some of the monarchs royal immediate families). So forgive us if we don't list them!
• EX: Arianna, Sarah

Ten - Number 10, Realms they tend.

• Responsible to the max. The highest magick a citizen can be, but 98% of the time they become RKs. 
• Realm Keeper (RK) - They are appointed by their suits monarch(s) to watch over parts of the United States and the people within them. 
• EX: Taps
• There are 12 of 13 current realms functioning during HoC book 1.

Nine - Number 9, Likes to Shine.

• They've got the power and you're gonna hear about it in one way or another. 
• Knights of the Realm (KofR) - Defenders of the Realm that will only answer to the RK or monarchy they serve.
• EX: Kory & Lori 

Eight - Number 8, Close the gate! AKA "Crazy Eights"

• Known as major risk-takers/dare devils.
• If there's a 99% chance they could loose a battle and be trapped somewhere forever, they've still got a 1% chance, right?
• EX: Jacer, Rose

Seven - Lucky 7, Taste of heaven.

• Beautiful or handsome. 
• They have a great amount of charisma and can persuade people to do what they want. Unless someone has a very strong will.

Six - Number 6, Knows all the tricks.

• They know the "In's and Out's" & the "Do's and Don't's".
• Generally magicaniks - who combine magic and machine to make something wonderful. Ex: Lunchbox Wars, ladybug cars, monster trash bins, etc.
• EX: Griff

Five - Number 5, Really Jives.

• The best PR (Public Relations) workers you'll ever have. 
• They can get along with almost anyone and they're great dancers. Patience is their best virtue.
• EX: Zack

Four - Number 4, Disguises galore!

• First you see 'em - but do you really?
• They can transform into anyone their own gender and sound like them.

Three - Number 3, Holds the key.

• Puzzle solvers.
• If there's some fatal riddle or a puzzling contraption nearby, they won't be able to resist. An explosion/battle could be going on behind them and they wouldn't think twice about it. 9 times out of 10, they can solve any problem brought to their attention.
• EX: Ronnie

Two - Number 2, Good at what they do.

• Always do a satisfactory job.
• Trustworthy, reliable, and can blend in with the human crowd so well, humans wouldn't know if they were standing right next to them.

Ace - Any Ace, Can change their place.

• Can change their rank.
• Only once in their lifetime, can they become anything from: a Two to a Jack or Jaquelin (depending on their gender). The change is permanent. They have their own personality.

Joker - There are two at all times. They work as intelligence gatherers (spies). Chosen only by the King & Queen of Hearts.

Wild Card - Their are only four in existence at any time. Each royal couple gets to choose one person from their suit that they trust enough to bestow this gift. The powers and benefits are unknown to all but the wild card and their royal suit.


Q&A:

Can a card move up in rank?

• Yes.
• Your monarch(s) are the only ones who can do this.
• When you are raised in rank, it won't change your basic personality from your original card number.

Can a normal card become royalty?

• Yes. If they are an Ace, or if they marry into the royal family. 
• EX: Queen Piedee, who was a 7, married King Z. 

HoC: LBWs: What do I do if my Lunchbox is damaged?

What if my lunchbox is damaged but I still want to use it?

Go to the shop of/send your lunchbox back to it's maker to see if it can be fixed. There are 3 in the USA.

1. There's Dev*, who's world-renown for his Lunchbox logo: Top Clash.

Top Clash is known for it's clear link between competitor and LB Avatar, allowing the lunchbox faster reflexes, which can quickly turn the tide in battle.

*Dev and his wife Yaz, have been known to come and judge SKS's 6th Circle from time to time. You could snag him after a match. If you've purchased your LB from him, he'll fix it the first time for half price. He can also add extra battle enchantments (offense or defense) if you've got the cash on hand.

2. Gensing owns the Grinder logo: 

Known for their stiff competition to Top Clash, Grinder's boxes are known to pack a punch! Very durable and hard to defeat, Grinder guarantees that you'll make it to the fourth ring in any school without breaking a sweat. 

3. Selkie's was created by Moirah McShore:

Selkie's brand brings cuteness to the ring, but the competition could well find their LB in several pieces by the time they're done laughing; leaving you the satisfied victor! Every LB that leaves McShore's shop comes with a hidden secret to cripple the competition.

Don't have the cash to do that?

-Take it to one of the top magicanik students in SKS (AKA Griff). They don't cost as much as the true brand makers. But remember they are students in training; think of Mid-level vs. Master.

-Fix it yourself. If you've got the skill, you can do it. (You should at least be a fourth grader before you even attempt it, otherwise you could be sucked into your lunchbox...a general hex that every maker puts on their product, so the competition can't mess with it.)

If all else fails and you just want to play cause  you can't get enough, you can always bring a paper bag from home or purchase one from Mrs. Haberlie, the SKS Lunch Lady.

Back to: Lunchbox Wars (LBWs)

HoC Bk2: Shuffled - Update

I'm sorry that I haven't posted as much.

I'm working on editing the first draft of Shuffled, the 2nd book in the HoC series. (We'll let you know if the title changes) I'm also thinking of all the chapter heading illustrations as I go through it. Plus, we're working with the cover artist for the 2nd novel. Busy, busy, busy!

But don't worry, I have several posts that are still being worked on. I have 2 more for LBWs, with one nearing completion and over 16 other posts on the "to do" list! I'm sure more posts will crop up in my mind as I go along.

This summer will be fun as I continue to visually bring more of the HoC universe into play; so when you read about it, you'll be able to picture the creatures, people, and anything else we come up with.

I hope you will be able to continue to emerge yourselves in this magical world of adventure and excitement!

-T. Erickson

HoC SKS: Lunchbox Wars (LBWs)

If you wish to eat lunch at SKS and don't have to hurry home, you might want to stay for Lunchbox Wars.

What is LBWs?

-A battle of minds and lunch containers.

When did it start?

-It was invented by a group of children in the early 1700's during lunch break at a magick school and has been a time honored tradition ever since.

LBWs Rules (Coming Soon)

Layout

-Astro-turf floor (fake grass) on which six white circles are enchanted. Bleachers on either side with a sound proof barrier in front. A diamond wall (to separate Circle 6 from young eyes).

To Participate

What's required?

-A paper bag, lunchbox, or lunch pail.
-Your brain.
-An opponent.

Steps:

1. Take your lunch container and stick it in the center of the white circle, next to your opponents.

2. Step out of the circle.

A 6 foot tall cylinder of red sparkles rises from the white circle and encompasses the containers to animate them.

When the sparkles turn yellow, the magical field is attaching your lunch container to your mind.

-You need to choose: Animal, plant, or something else straight from your imagination. Your lunch container will then become your avatar.

-What your avatar can't be: a lurker (of any type), anything nude/scandalous (according to the Founders Rules), any religious figure (let's keep it respectful).

-Keep in mind that your avatar will remain what it is made out of. Generally, that's plastic, paper, or metal.

When sparkles turn green, the attachment of mind to lunch container is finished.

The sparkles will become a see-through barrier that neither magick opponent can cross. The barrier will shimmer from time to time to remind you it's there.

3. Salute!

It's good to show honor to your opponent. Have your lunch container salute your opponent.

4. It's time to fight!

-Whatever you think, your lunch container will do! Keep in mind, if you don't have control of your emotions, your avatar will display them.

-To get a better angle on the fight, you can move around the circle.

-The name of the game is to win your opponent by damaging their lunch box enough so it can't move or your opponent calls "Stop".

5. Once your fight is over and a winner is announced, the lunch containers will morph back together, the barrier will disappear, and you can pick them up.

The winner's name will be put on the large overhead holo-roster with their rank number.

In the beginner's circles you have to win 3 times before you can move onto the next circle.

Generally, the judge is the acting Principal, until Circle 6. If the principal can't attend, another SKS teacher will take the Principal's place.


Circle Details (Coming Soon)

What if my lunchbox is damaged but I still want to use it?

What if my avatar won't change?

That means 1 of 2 things:

1. It's a malfunction, due to all the hard knocks it's received in the ring. (You might want to get a new one so you remain unpredictable)

2. You own a lunch pail. If you own a lunch pail, it's likely from an earlier era. When LBWs first began, the students only used one avatar. (You'll need to get it updated. Dev Cubay specializes in updating old lunch pails.)

What if I want to watch instead of participate?

That's what the stands are for. Just walk through the sound proof barriers and take a seat. In order to listen into a match, you'll have to link into the magic viewing system.

-Get one of the SKS students/staff to teach you how to listen in.


Back to Starlight Key School

The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1 - NEW COVER!!!

It's finally out!

Go here to buy it on Amazon: The Last Alley  $3.99 USD (Digital)

The new cover.

Our cover artist is Mates Laurentiu.

I've drawn the inside illustrations under my artist name. The digital format (Amazon.com) has color and the book format (Lulu.com) has greyscale pictures. We hope to have colored pictures in there one day, but it would be more expensive.

Buy the paperback version: The Last Alley: House of Cards Book 1 $19.99 USD (Book Format) 396 pgs, 6 x 9 inches.


I'm SO excited! It's finally ready for all of you to get!

Be sure if you read and love it, to leave us a good review on Amazon. It always helps a book gain popularity and people need more good books to read. Especially if it expands their imaginations to limitless possibilities!


-T. Erickson

HoC Bk1 Characters: Kory & Lori Williams

Name: Kory Williams

Relationship Status: Married. (See Lori below)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Club ♣ ♣ (Double)

Card Rank: 9

Occupation: Co-owner of Guns & Roses. Weapons Smith.

Known Talent: Making magical weapons.

Known Habits: Likes overalls.

Awards/Recognition: SKS Alumni.1^st Knight of the Tapestry Realm.

Current Status: Alive.

Last known location: SKS

SKS Badge:

Name: Lori Goodchild Williams

Relationship Status: Married. (See Kory above)

Race: Magick

Spark: Magic Born

Suit: Spade ♠/ Heart ♥

Card Rank: 9

Occupation: Co-owner of Guns & Roses.

Known Talent: Plants

Awards/Recognition: Knight of the Tapestry Realm (KoTR).

Current Status: Alive

Last known location: Unknown

Back to Character List

HoC Bk1 SKS: Teacher/Staff Badges

SKS Teacher/Staff Badges

Each staff member has a colored chimera holo-badge which appear above their left breast when they walk into the doors of the school. It will disappear when they leave.

The symbol of their suit will appear in the upper curve of the "S".

For those who wish to show both suits they belong to, or if they are a double suit, they may display the second suit with pride in the lower "S" curve. Each suit has a selection of four:

Hearts

Diamonds

Clubs

Spades

Staff benefits:
-Watching your students succeed. (What could be more rewarding?)
-High pay. (You're required to be the best and be on guard; who knows what your students will bring into class?)
-Contact with upper authorities, thinkers, magicaniks, warriors, etc. (Expand your social circle and your curriculum)
-End of the School Year party. (White elephant gifts that include but are not limited to: all expenses-paid vacation to a destination of your choice for 2 weeks, a ancient magical object, or a meeting with a magical celebrity. Everyone gets something!)


Back to Starlight Key School