Wednesday Prequel Mood Board & Update
with author Rachael Ritchey
Hello, my friend!
I have been reading up a storm this past week or two and enjoying myself a little too much in the process. Now I need to get back to work, but before I do, I thought I’d share a mood board with you for the Ismene and Othniel prequel that still needs a name.
Making mood boards is not my strong suit, but it certainly helps to have an image/picture/visual for how I see the characters and world. I think it’s pretty common in the writer sphere to make mood boards because they help us visually ground ourselves in the world we’re creating, whether that is a real place or one we made up!
Honestly, I’m about ready to get on Minecraft and design Castle Taisce just so I can see what I keep imagining. That, or I’ll need to draw out a map for it…or maybe both. What do you think? Minecraft? Paper map? Both?
Anyway, this last week I have put writing on hold because I’m mostly happy with the first part of the story now, and I’m developing the next act, which will actually constitute about 50% of the story. This is where all the fun and games take place that will make these characters fall in love.
Can you think of any interesting, awkward, or funny situations you’d think would make these two strangers who are married fall in love? Message me and maybe it’ll end up the in the book! :D
So, to get a feel for Ismene and Othniel and their love story, this is the mood board I created from purchased stock images:
The mood board should give you a sense of the setting and atmosphere as well as some of the characters themselves. I have had a VERY hard time finding an “Othniel,” but this gentleman is a pretty good likeness for how I’d imagined him, so YAY! Ismene, I had to take her blond hair and darken it, but she has just the right sort of face and feeling for our young heroine.
My husband says these are not at all how he imagined either of the main characters. What do you think?
Beyond their love story, I’m sure you can imagine there are other plotlines running that affect their relationship and either draw them closer or pull them apart. I can’t wait to get into all that!
Do you have any questions? Shall I share some more of the story parts I have cut? Some of it is backstory that will end up being relevant later, but it wasn’t necessary at the beginning.
Reading Update
So I said I’ve been reading a lot (and I am a slow reader).
Here’s what I’ve finished since last I updated on books on my list:
Muffalettas & Murder by Jann Frank (#LAMSRC Book by a Featured Author)
The Existence of Bea Pearl by Candice Marley Conner (#LAMSRC Book by Round Table Author)
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
The Beggar Prince: A King Thrushbeard Retelling by Kate Stradling (#LAMSRC Book with a brown cover)
Books I’m currently reading:
Silent Orchids by Morgan Wylie (book one of The Age of Alandria)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (#LAMSRC Book Club Rec)
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
Going to Read:
Illuminare by Bryn Shutt
Queen of Shifting Sands by Kaitlyn Carter Brown
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
Earthbound by Katee Stein (ARC, book releases September 18th, 2024!)
I’m also still reading Mere Christianity and Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart.
You can still join the LAM Summer Reading Challenge, btw!
Books Series by Morgan Wylie
I’m super thrilled that books four and five of The Age of Alandria series by Morgan Wylie arrived on my doorstep! Now I just have to wait patiently for book five to come out! The Sol-lumieth arrives in stores August 1st!
And that’s all I have time for today! I hope you are finding some interesting reads this summer. I’d love to hear what you are enjoying!
Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit!
~ Rachael