Post 3 -- A New Religion

During the last few talks Trevor and I have had regarding Turncycle, we have been discussing the need for some established religions in the story. Different sects, if you will. This story just gets more amazing as it develops. It was meant to be.

You may wonder why religion should enter in, but it seems that the muses are dictating it and it cannot be denied. Our discussion has begun to envision and develop a few deviations from a true faith that should be the cornerstone of this world, the apostate factions that develop and the subterfuge that ensues in the major faction. A true prophet is isolated for the 'good' of the upper crust and the privileged. He is mis-represented and misquoted by those who should be his staunchest supporters. When he is removed to another planet and its colony, the inhabitants there take him more seriously than his own. A powerful chain of events seems destined to ensue.

Other discussions have rotated around alternative energy sources, plus a radical and engaging new theory of the nature of light and of quantum mechanics. This excites me perhaps more than any other thing right now. The only word I can use is 'stoked'. When this book is released, this theory will turn some heads, I feel. There may also be some talk of new considerations of theories of earth's religious and secular histories. Perfectly good explanations that have been previously ignored by the 'scientific' elite and the purveyors of 'junk science' will need to be acknowledged finally.

As always, this is still in the formative stages and the shape will surely morph and take a clearer shape as time passes. It is still as exciting as ever.

UPDATE: July 22, 2006 Regarding the new theory of the nature of light and quantum mechanics, I have recently spoken with a friend I had not seen for some time. He is known for having his fingers in some diverse and interesting pies. His background is physics in general and lasers in particular. He also has some interesting acquaintances of his own, as you might imagine. One of these is a dual Ph.D. who ascribes to the same unique and bleeding edge theories that Trevor has lighted upon (Trevor says it is simple "common sense"--I wish I had such insights and confidence). Anyway, it is extremely reassuring that the insights are considered correct by such an eminently qualified individual. This will assure that the story will be cutting edge, as well, with a certain and lengthy life span.

Post 2--First Contact

Hi. I'm Steven O'Dell, father of Trevor, whose story Turncycle is. I felt it important to share the history thus far, from my point of view. First, Turncycle is a story that will not go away. It grows continually and will one day be entirely clear. 'Someone' wants this tale to be written. It cannot and will not die.

Trevor first began to tell me the concept of the Turncycle tale about one year ago. I will never forget that night. I had given him a ride home to his apartment, as it was the dead cold of winter. We sat for a short while in the van and I expected to say our goodbyes for the evening and leave. Trevor then told me he had a story in his head that he wanted to tell me about. (A story that I did not know had already been haunting him for seven years at that point).

As he began to share his vision of Turncycle, I was thoroughly engrossed in the details that he opened to my own view. Half an hour later I was absolutely certain that this story had to be told and was destined to become a film of the highest caliber. I still feel the excitement and the certainty of that night. The more we hammer out the details of this story for the outline, the more excited I get. It has a life of its own.

There is one thing I have learned from my own writing projects, and that is that a truly great story takes on a life of its own and literally dictates to the author what is meant to be written. Nothing else will do. It must unfold for the author as it does for a reader. It must totally engage the writer as it does a reading audience. If it does not, there will be no life to it and it will be a flat failure before it is even finished. As I was writing my own novel, I said, "I can't wait to see what happens next." In working with Trevor on Turncycle, I have found myself saying the same thing again.

I can say with certainty, even before it is completed, that Turncycle is a work of epic and monumental proportions. I do not say that lightly. I am fully aware of all the hype that accompanies the release of some real 'stinkers' in the book and film industries. There are many "stories" that I have found to be a waste of paper or a waste of film. Turncycle grabbed me and drew me in without any effort and will not let me go. In fact, I have no desire to be let go. This is truly a great work--the work of a lifetime and a masterpiece in the making. I do not hesitate to place its potential in the same category as Frank Herbert's Dune series or J.R.R. Tolkien's Ring Trilogy.

I have read the works of true masters for many, many years and know what makes a good story, what makes it flow, what a cliffhanger is--and I know what is engaging and what is not. I have learned techniques from the masters since my childhood, because I have read the works of the masters since my childhood. I claim no other qualifications and have no shame in claiming this lone badge of authority. Time will bear me out. Turncycle is here to stay and will yet have millions of fans who will verify the claims.

Now you must judge for yourself. Stay tuned for further details.

--A Novel Approach--

Post 1--Behind the curtain

Over the years I have had opportunity to read many novels and wonder how certain concepts or characters were developed. I have also noticed that often the writer’s own comments are limited on those points of interest. Therefore, I thought it would be neat to give readers an inside view of the story as it develops, so they can see a glimpse of how exciting and/or difficult the development can be.

I used to be puzzled with the idea that some writers had extensive notes that they referred to as they wrote a story. It baffled me that an author could write a story without an instinctive detailed knowledge of each character and story nuance. Since beginning this project, I have been humbled and have begun taking extensive notes of my own. This has led me to a greater appreciation of the works of such great authors as J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert. Anyone that can build entire worlds and civilizations from scratch—with or without the aid of a notebook—is worthy of great respect.

Our intent with this site is to expand it into a behind-the-scenes exposition of the creation of the Turncycle series. We hope you enjoy this and we appreciate your patience until such time as it becomes fully developed.

Feel free to leave comments and impressions as things ensue. I have been gathering plot and character ideas from numerous eclectic sources. There is no reason why you couldn’t be one of them. Just don’t be hurt if your suggestions can’t be fitted into the storyline. I am working with my father as a sounding board on this and I have had to shoot down some of his ideas that seemed quite sound on the surface. There are still parts of the tale that have not been fleshed out in my mind yet, but there are also parts that I already know have to be portrayed in a specific manner…even if I don’t yet know how or why. Even without the flesh, the spirit is still there and that is, after all, what defines the form.