Jade #2 is "Storm Maker"

Loeffelholz

With B&A in production at the publisher, and me with nothing to focus my nervous/creative energies on except my long-languishing wooden model ship (an Armed Virginia Sloop, circa 1768)...and the distinctly terrifying prospect of planning my PR media campaign for B&A (I've got my first radio appearance lined up for sometime in June)...I've inevitably turned toward initial research and structure-building for the next book. I've got the beginning now---the opening scene, with the first line of the book ("There is a terrible wisdom in the eyes of the dead.")---along with the final scene, where I at least know what happens, if not exactly how...I figure it will be set sometime between March and June of 1942...

I've googled the working title, which apparently was used for a children's book published in 2008...and also as the title of a nice modern-style painting by someone called Ciska just this year, but I'm not going to let that deter me. My initial choice was "Stormbringer" (a '70s-era Deep Purple album, and also the name of a sword in somebody's fanasy book series)...I only know "Storm" has to be in the title, and every cool-sounding variation of "Storm" as a prefix has been used by somebody at some point, so one must pick his poison.

Very early in the process, but there we are...

Hardyboy

"Storm Maker?" Practicing your Bondian titles, Loeffs? :007)

Loeffelholz

It does rather sound that way, doesn't it? ) There's actually a method to my madness...but if Eon rips it off, I'm gonna be highly annoyed X-( )

Mr Martini

Sounds good Loeff. Let your creative juices flow. Do you have a set number of books you'd like to write for your character?

Loeffelholz

Mr Martini wrote:

Sounds good Loeff. Let your creative juices flow. Do you have a set number of books you'd like to write for your character?

Not really...I've toyed with the idea of running Jade up to 1962 (when I was born)...since I control when the stories happen, that could be way more than twenty books!...but in reality I'll probably keel over dead in front of my computer before that happens B-)

Alex

Count me in. Another applicant for "Riders of the Storm" signing up!

Loeffelholz

Research continues to yield exciting and useful gems, such as the sinking of the Mexican tanker Potrero de Llano by a German U-boat just off the coast of Miami Beach on 14th May, 1942...

And the ill-fated Jewish passengers of the SS St. Louis, who in 1939 sought asylum in the United States only to be turned down by the Roosevelt administration, which at the time must have been struggling to maintain American neutrality in the coming conflict. The St. Louis lingered off Miami Beach for several days, until the diplomatic refusal became official, and then sailed for Belgium. Shortly thereafter, when war broke out, most of them were swept up and lost in the Holocaust. I read a touching recollection by a man who'd been just a boy at the time, looking at the lights and art deco buildings of Miami Beach for days on end...he lost the rest of his family, who'd been on the St. Louis with him, to the concentration camps. In 1948, he moved to Miami Beach, where he lived out the rest of his days.

The war got close to Miami Beach...even closer than that---it's hard to improve on fact when you're writing fiction...but thankfully, fact does accept a fine bright sheen of embellishment...without the need for primer B-)

Loeffelholz

Question for some of our gun enthusiasts---this time, re: rifles. I'm considering the use of an early-era Winchester Model 70 with a scope. I know that the 70 evolved from the Model 54; production began in 1936, so in '42 this would definitely be one of the early models.

My questions concern calibre, since there were so many possibilities (perhaps .270?)...and, naturally, alternative choices, as as far as good bolt-action sporting rifles go---though we do need to stick with what would have been present in the U.S. around this time.

As ever, thoughts and/or input are welcome and appreciated -{

thesecretagent

Loeffelholz wrote:

Question for some of our gun enthusiasts---this time, re: rifles. I'm considering the use of an early-era Winchester Model 70 with a scope. I know that the 70 evolved from the Model 54; production began in 1936, so in '42 this would definitely be one of the early models.

My questions concern calibre, since there were so many possibilities (perhaps .270?)...and, naturally, alternative choices, as as far as good bolt-action sporting rifles go---though we do need to stick with what would have been present in the U.S. around this time.

As ever, thoughts and/or input are welcome and appreciated -{

As far as I'm aware, government issued 70 Winchesters were in 30-06 with .270 reserved for sporting shooters. Both are highly potent rounds, but 30-06 has the edge as a sniper's tool. The Springfield 30.06 of the time was readily available and in standard form was considered a more durable military use weapon than the Winchester.

Good luck with your next project, can't wait to read B&A.

thesecretagent

You've got to get Jade using a BAR in 30-06. I had a go with one once and it's so bloody awesome - when you consider it first saw service in WW1. It has to be one of the first "assault rifles". A shoulder-fired fully auto in 30-06 is unbelievable at close range, and effective well out to 1000 yds and beyond. The one I used was so basic - fully auto and fully auto, but a bit slower! I think I'm right in saying it was a pair of BAR's that took down Bonnie and Clyde. Just a thought, and authentic for the timeline you're writing in.

7289

A private-eye with a BAR ..... prehaps overkill!!!!

thesecretagent

Oh I don't know, out in the everglades, picks up a henchman's weapon, takes out a load of bad guys, boat chase with BAR thudding away blowing up plumes of water...

Loeffelholz

thesecretagent wrote:

You've got to get Jade using a BAR in 30-06. I had a go with one once and it's so bloody awesome - when you consider it first saw service in WW1. It has to be one of the first "assault rifles". A shoulder-fired fully auto in 30-06 is unbelievable at close range, and effective well out to 1000 yds and beyond. The one I used was so basic - fully auto and fully auto, but a bit slower! I think I'm right in saying it was a pair of BAR's that took down Bonnie and Clyde. Just a thought, and authentic for the timeline you're writing in.

Well, tss, you're in for a treat :v ...As it happens, the B.A.R. 30-06 features rather prominently in the third act of B&A B-)
(as do a couple of British trinkets from WWI :v )...and thanks for the note on the Winchester Model 70---forgot about the Springfield; we'll see how the plot goes...

7289: Your note about possible 'overkill' is a good one, and was a concern when writing B&A---but when Act 3 got more violent than anticipated, it turned out that the B.A.R. was a perfectly appropriate reponse )

thesecretagent

Leoff: Can't wait to read it. -{

7289: Ha!

7289

I have nothing against the BAR - just a bit big and heavy.

1930's Florida suggests Thompson to me, prehaps that's just because Hemingway had one to shoot at sharks from his fishing boat. Maybe it's too cliche though...

thesecretagent

7289 wrote:

I have nothing against the BAR - just a bit big and heavy.

1930's Florida suggests Thompson to me, prehaps that's just because Hemingway had one to shoot at sharks from his fishing boat. Maybe it's too cliche though...

Yeah, but Hemmingway also shot himself in the foot whilst pulling in a shark off the Keys, and if he had the heavy BAR, he would have had to put it down to pull in the shark...

Loeffelholz

Well, we see the Chicago Typewriter in B&A as well...I didn't want to leave any arrows in my quiver for Jade's debut B-)

7289

Hemingway also liked to hit the sauce..... if he did shoot himself in the foot, it would not have been the wieght of the firearm that was the cause!

Any gun is OK with me, basically I like 'em all!!!

thesecretagent

I love your end statement - I'm going to use it quite a bit from now on.

Hemmingway was once stranded with his wife and pilot in the African bush after a plane crash, with two crates of whisky. They limited themselves to a bottle each, per day. After a week, they were picked up, but the plane clipped a tree and they crashed a second time in the same place. They had finished the rest of the whisky as a celebration, and only had water to survive. I don't know where this was going, but I do like the story, as I do about shooting himself in the foot whilst shooting sharks, and being underneath a toilet cystern in Paris when it decided to fall on his head at that moment, and he lay unconcious on the toilet with a fractured skull, yet didn't spill his drink (apparantly)... -{

Loeffelholz

Picked up yet another round of historical Miami/Miami Beach books from Amazon and Overstock.com...nice thing about this time is that Jade was able to pick up the tab B-) ...still looking on some comprehensive historical data on the Port of Miami dockyard, esp. in the Early Forties :v

Pendragon

Loeffelholz wrote:

Jade was able to pick up the tab B-)

so cool He's finally pulling his weight then, huh?

impatiently awaiting book II's arrival in my mailbox B-)

Loeffelholz

Pendragon wrote:

Loeffelholz wrote:

Jade was able to pick up the tab B-)

so cool He's finally pulling his weight then, huh?

A bit...I'm hoping for the day when he can help with the mortgage!

Pendragon wrote:

impatiently awaiting book II's arrival in my mailbox B-)

I'm starting to feel the pressure! I'll be composing by the end of the month---an exciting, nervous and daunting time. But the exhilaration when the characters and story start talking back is what makes the whole venture (writing, rewriting, editing, production, publication, PR) worthwhile...has to be like shooting cocaine straight into the vein.

Pendragon

Loeffelholz wrote:

I'm starting to feel the pressure! I'll be composing by the end of the month---an exciting, nervous and daunting time. But the exhilaration when the characters and story start talking back is what makes the whole venture (writing, rewriting, editing, production, publication, PR) worthwhile...has to be like shooting cocaine straight into the vein.

gotta love when they start talking back...some of mine have started doing that in recent years, Originals and characters I write fan fiction for (yes, I'm one of those :P)....

g'luck!

Loeffelholz

An extremely minor news event, but hopefully worth noting for those who care...composition on "Storm Maker" began today, with three sentences:

"There is a terrible wisdom in the eyes of the dead. I have a secret, they say. And you're going to have to die to learn the secret."

More research to come, and and plotting and outlining...and miles to go before I sleep...but this evening it begins

Pendragon

and what a teasing three lines they are. now I'm all antsy :P

dare I say? I like it already.

Napoleon Plural

Loeffelholz wrote:

But the exhilaration when the characters and story start talking back is what makes the whole venture (writing, rewriting, editing, production, publication, PR) worthwhile...has to be like shooting cocaine straight into the vein.

You're not much of a writer if you're not prepared to try these things for real, Loeffs. "Has to be like..."

I talk back at you Loeffs. How do you know I'm not imaginary?

Loeffelholz

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Loeffelholz wrote:

But the exhilaration when the characters and story start talking back is what makes the whole venture (writing, rewriting, editing, production, publication, PR) worthwhile...has to be like shooting cocaine straight into the vein.

You're not much of a writer if you're not prepared to try these things for real, Loeffs. "Has to be like..."

I talk back at you Loeffs. How do you know I'm not imaginary?

You have a point there. I'm officially alarmed. Truth is, I have slightly less control over some of my characters than I have over you...

Loeffelholz

Outline for SM is 99.5% done...and that's as far as it'll go. I've got a scene left unplotted in Act 3 that's got Napoleon Plural written all over it...so to speak When I get there, the characters will just have to lead me through it. I told Mrs. Loeffelholz what I have planned, and she was outraged. When he heard, my brother (known here as Another Loeffelholz) asked, "How are you going to get away with that?" I truthfully replied that I've no idea...

I've been researching newspaper archive websites for background stuff. Headlines from the week ending 15th February 1942: SINGAPORE OCCUPIED BY JAPS...BRITISH PRESS AROUSED BY NAZI CHANNEL DASH...U-BOATS ATTACK DUTCH OIL BASE IN WEST INDIES...plus stuff on air raid paranoia, rationing, etc.

"It's going to be fun." - Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence B-)

Pendragon

haha now you've got me alarmed, Loeffs

Loeffelholz

Pendragon wrote:

haha now you've got me alarmed, Loeffs

I'm quite alarmed, myself And more than a little intimidated. Or is it simply terrified??

Pendragon

Loeffelholz wrote:

Pendragon wrote:

haha now you've got me alarmed, Loeffs

I'm quite alarmed, myself And more than a little intimidated. Or is it simply terrified??

haha. well...now I'm anxious for this book!

my characters have done that too me too. I find the best way to keep them quiet is with strong black tea :v