Now that I've set a timeline to self publish Antigone, I've been working like crazy editing and learning all of the things I need to know to self publish. I even decided to get my cover designed and, after much research, am going with Deranged Doctor Design (DDD). Their covers look phenomenal and original and, it would appear from their web site, that they have a great sense of humour.
But, in the process of telling DDD about my book so they could make their design, I realized how unwieldy the story had become. Kind of epic, actually. And epic is not quite what I was looking for in a first novel for a young adult audience. I think that putting the plots of all three of Sophocles' Oedipus plays plus my own retelling and drama into one book is just too much. I'm over 108,000 thousand words and the average novel these days is 65,000. I didn't realize how long it had gotten and how much actually happens. A lot, to say the least.
The solution: break up the novel into three parts, with each part being based on one of the plays. There are natural breaks in the novel and enough material to easily make three novels. I'm hoping this will make the work, as a whole, more approachable.
I'm excited about the change because I will be able to really concentrate on each part as I publish it, giving each of them more time and energy.
It feels like the right decision and I'm learning to trust my gut feelings on these things.
The first installment will come out this fall, hopefully in October. It shouldn't be too long between installments because the whole thing is written, and will only have to be edited to fit the new format.
Thank you to everyone who has borne with me even though I have been negligent in my blogging. Like the writing process itself, this blog has had some ups and downs. I am hoping to remedy that by revamping the blog and sharing more of what I am doing.
Currently, I am heavily into editing my young adult mythological fiction novel, Antigone: The True Story. This novel is near and dear to my heart, based in the world of ancient Greek mythology. I love Greek mythology. I adore it. It makes me excited. I studied it extensively in university. I read books of it to my kids. I get all tingly just thinking about it.
Antigone by Frederic Leighton, 1882
And not only is this book a story that takes place in ancient Greece, but the main character is Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus. Yes, that Oedipus. The one who killed his father and married his mother. His daughter is not as well known as he is, but I remember being in first year university and reading Antigone, a play by Sophocles.
Wow. Talk about a story. Talk about a character.
Most of the female characters in ancient Greek literature are, shall we say, subservient. Those that aren't are pure evil (think Medea cutting up her children and throwing them overboard to stop her husband from chasing her as she made her escape). Antigone, though, is different. She is a worthy heroine and a match for any ancient Greek man, someone who could stand up for herself. Who violated the laws of the state when her family values and duty to the gods were at risk. A woman who buried her brother with her own two hands, twice. I could envision her, standing tall, shoulders back, chest out, defying her uncle, the king, and refusing to hide away, even when her own life is at stake.
And this, after her mother committed suicide. This after she led her self blinded and exiled father around the countryside until his death.
Sure, Antigone was a princess, but she had scruples and morals and didn't let anyone push her around. So, when I decided to write a novel a few years ago, I chose to write about Antigone.
I didn't know where to begin, so I just started typing. As I wrote, the words started to flow almost effortlessly (at least at first). Out came this story, the "true" story of her life. Connections I hadn't even dreamed of were made in my writing. Unknowingly, I foreshadowed major plot points. I drew heavily on the Oedipus trilogy of plays by Sophocles, using his milestones in my book, but the story is my own and definitely adds another level of fantasy to an already remarkable myth.
I am hoping to have this novel edited soon and to make it available within a few months. In the mean time, I invite you to join my mailing list. When you do, I will email you the first three (mostly edited) chapters of Antigone: The True Story to give you a taste of what's to come.
