The Planning of Elemental Heroes [Network]

Elemental Heroes has been a series concept since around December/2006 as just a twenty slide Powerpoint story. Space Race Championship didn’t follow until around January/2009. Of the two, though, it was Space Race Championship that got the most attention. Elemental Heroes felt a very one and done deal – even if I had very briefly started on a sequel around May/2007.

However, twenty slides seems a bit too little to be turning into a full story, so it sat on my storage for ten years not being touched. The idea of the world was too much to pass up – even if there was little to it. Bit by bit I gleaned everything I could, reworking and expanding everything. Characters, the world, even the elements themselves. Then there was the fact that – as I’ve said – twenty slides is a bit too little to be turning into a full story.

The story as presented in that Powerpoint is easily told in a paragraph. It’s Halloween, and five teenagers get arrested for something they didn’t do. In the cell they wait, they find five stones and get launched into the world of being Power Rang- I mean police force members. 2006 was the year of Power Rangers SPD, remember, and Dino Thunder still would have been in my mind at the time. Those five teenagers are recruited into the force, do battle against a witch named Darcy and her sidekick Draco, and stop her collecting the elemental powers the force possesses.

Very Rangers inspired, with the elemental powers coming from Pokémon types and moves. It focused on a few battles and felt very much like a very condensed season of Rangers. A few names were taken from Rangers, such as Brandon and Sky, with others coming from other cartoons of the times [or at least inspired by them]. When planning started on expanding everything, the names of those characters would be changing.

Max became Martin. Sky became Kieron. Sally became Emma. Brandon… stayed the same, though the meaning of the name changed. Just as there was a Brandon Golden in the Alternate Halesowen and Beyond series, so there became a Brandon Golden in the Elemental Heroes series. This version of Brandon borrows very little from me as a person, though perhaps is favoured more than the others.

With the characters defined, I then did the same with the world, building it up to create a lot of the rules it obeys. From the start I wanted it to be in episode format rather than naming them chapters. A hold-out of the fact I still wanted the Rangers feel within. I wasn’t going to go through an entire forty episodes in one book, but build arcs that were defined by the book. The first seven episodes introduced the mechanics of the world, who the heroes and villains were, and a bit of history as well.

The opening episode was changed to have the three prospective force members already be in training. They show their skill to earn being picked for the team. And note that the number has dropped. Another hold-out to Rangers – specifically Dino Thunder – was to not have the full team together at the start, but build it up. However, I was messing with the team dynamics all through the seven episodes to see how the characters would react. At the end of the first arc, the team stands at four of five.

The world had taken on a more videogame-like outlook, so I used that to the full. As such, the main villain of Darcy controls very videogame-like creatures such as those found in Kingdom Hearts. I separated Draco from her to become an individual character in his own right, with his own history that gets explored here.

The first few missions also play out differently between the two versions. In the original Powerpoint version, the team are instantly ready to deal with Darcy being who they fight. With the full version, the team don’t even have their elements to hand as they are called to aid the primary unit. The second battle involves just the two leaders. Both of those battles are against a few of those creatures. And speaking of leaders, in the original version it is Brandon who was the leader, but I settled for Kieron in the full version as I felt this version of Brandon was better suited to not be constrained by the leadership role.

The capture of the commander – Gary – moved up the field a few episodes from the original version. In that original version, he’s captured just because. Whereas the full version gives a reason in line with the history on display. Instead, the full version explores the elements and builds up more of the world. It also introduces the fourth member of the team before the story hits the point Gary is captured.

The original version then decided to end… weirdly. Evil was still around yet a break was had from fighting. Competitions were held and a holiday to Benidorm won. Christmas and New Year’s parties held, and the next fight with Darcy didn’t take place until February. However, before that took place, the battle with Draco was held.

This entire section of the story involved Draco leaving Darcy and mind-controlling the regular citizenry to become his soldiers. Unfortunately, that part of the original version is the weakest of the lot, and wouldn’t have worked with the new history and character of Draco. It was also weak because the team faced no morality about the fact they were defeating the regular folk of the city they lived.

In the full version, episode six sees Gary captured and rescued, with the seventh being the victory Darcy been looking for, only to have it wiped from her. That episode was meant to be a two-part episode, but when I got to writing it, there simply wasn’t enough material to split it into two parts. Besides, it’s not like that was the final end.

The sequel of the original version would have involved time travel. Now isn’t that a fun topic to go into. Darcy would have created the time element to send the team back to the time when her sisters were powerful. I don’t need to be using this at all, but the concept of Darcy having sisters – like all the ideas from the original version – got expanded and hinted at the end of the full version. The second arc of the full version will be detailing all that.

So far, only a quarter of this entire story has been planned, but I know who the characters are and where they are headed. Since I already have forty episodes pegged total [though that might have to drop a few] I know roughly how many episodes per arc I want. I also know roughly what those arcs will be, with the second arc exploring more of the world and of Darcy, then three more arcs after it. By the time of the final arc, all the elements will be shown off.

 If this look into the planning has you wanting to check this ebook out, you can find Elemental Heroes here [UK link], and all my other ebooks from the sidebar - which will take you to my Amazon Author Page.

Elemental Heroes Has Released [Network]

The third novel starts off a new series, based in a cyber world using video game logic. On the Kindle store for £2.70, the previews should have given a good idea of what this is about. The basic story of good vs evil, filled with character, action, and a number of references to a certain franchise.
There's something satisfying about reworking the basics of an idea into something that can be published, and this is one of those ideas. From the beginnings of nothing more than a Powerpoint with a bunch of short scenarios that barely linked to what has become seven episodes of an interlinked arc. A few ideas have been kept, but others were either changed or scrapped [one short scenario featured a competition between members of the force to win a holiday for two - and I can only guess twelve-year-old me was writing this on a Saturday night where such game shows are common]. I'm not going to go deeper into the changes I made, since this has only just released, but there will be a post in the future that covers such differences.

Since the third is done, it's onto the fourth. Space Race Championship. Yes, it's being announced now, purely because a preview is already out in the wilds from 2012, but mostly because a preview was ready to be added to the back of this book. The preview deals with the same thing as that 2012 preview, but has been rewritten to take into account the changes the story is going through. Space Race Championship features the titular event coming round again, and this year is sure to be the best one ever for two friends, who have entered into it. Space-faring action and the opportunity to explore another world. This time, I have learnt lessons, so there is no time-frame for release at the minute, but as soon as new previews start appearing, that will be the time to look out for a release. I will say that I am hoping to target this year.

Elemental Heroes can be found here - Kindle Store - with the opportunity to read through most of the first episode in the preview. As ever, I welcome feedback, and I hope you enjoy.
Happy reading.

Elemental Heroes - Second Episode Preview [Network]

First off, I just want to say that I am sorry about the month delay this has seen. It's even longer than a month if you consider the original estimated release was meant to be December '17. There's a few personal issues I'm suffering, and as such I'm in a weird motivational limbo. Everything except final checks is now complete, so a firm date of 7-May is set.
As for this preview, if you looked at the preview of the first episode, you'll know that three people for a Secondary Elemental Unit was in the process of being selected for the Elemental Division of the Ballart Police Force. That selection has happened and the unit has seen some action. In the second episode, there's a bit more exploration into the elements, as well as the current mission of the elementals.

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“You’re picking up experience with that weapon fast, but you shouldn’t have come at all.”

Kieron didn’t want to be hearing any more about not being wanted, and so said, “You need the help. And if we’re to be working together, now is as good a time as any to know how to work with each other – instead of against each other, like what you seem to be doing.”

Terrance didn’t reply to that, but used the power of the rock element to turn the ammunition in his guns to stones. Firing upon the dredders with them proved effective, and he cut a path through to the entrance that some of the regular units had alerted them was where two drastic knights had entered earlier. Kieron was about to follow, but the ranks of dredders closed again.

I need to get through, Kieron thought. But I don’t know how to activate the element’s powers.

While fending off an attack from one of the dredders, he scrolled through on his wrist panel for anything that might help. His ability list showed him a few new ones, and he hoped that it was the same as using normal abilities.

Flicking the energy whip upward, he caught another of the dredders as it made an attack. It was then that he noticed the whip’s energy colour had changed to a purple-black. Launching himself forward, spinning the whip around himself, he passed through all the dredders as though they weren’t there at all.

He flipped forward to land on his feet and turned around. Those dredders he had passed through had turned the same purple-black as his whip, and were frozen. After a second, they disappeared – the one point of energy they had drained from them.

He allowed himself a second of self-congratulation before heading inside to find Terrance and the drastic knights who had previously entered.

Within the training room, Gary and the other four watched as Kieron performed the ghost drill attack. The two of primary didn’t look impressed, but the two of secondary looked amazed.

“The powers are great,” Brandon commented.

“Don’t be easily impressed,” Robin scolded. “Dredders get took down by anything.”

Gary gave him a slightly stern look, but said, “While true, it can still be used to great effect for larger enemies – especially when powered-up some more.”

“And we’ll be training to gain experience in powering them up?” Emma asked.

“That is the idea. Head to a panel and go inside the simulation zone.”

The two did so, and were stood on a smaller plaza area much the same as the one they were currently watching. Emma drew the elemental baton, and Brandon had his arm cannon attached.

A few dredders appeared in front of them, and both stood waiting.

“Elemental powers are like your usual abilities. Activating them is just the same. Be aware of your charge power, as that will show how strong an attack you can use. Begin.”

Emma held out the baton in front of her, and an icicle shot out of the front end. Smaller ones broke out all around it. Upon seeing that she now had a longer weapon, she jumped straight into the dredders and attacked.

Brandon took a bit longer to figure things out. The first thing he managed was using his arm cannon to fire gusts of wind, knocking over those dredders closest, and unbalancing a few others. He had used up most of his charge power, so backed off.

Emma had swapped from using the baton as a sword to scattering small icicles from it as she span on the spot. A number of dredders despawned, leaving just a few that Brandon cleared up with another blast of wind.

“So how did we do?” Emma asked.

“For a first-time use of the elements, that was good,” Gary replied. “Though you both wasted the elemental power on smaller attacks. You need to save that energy for the more powerful stuff.” Not telling them that had been a test. New to their powers, he had wanted them to test the elements in a way that suited them. With the first play test over with, the proper training with them could now begin.

“It’s going to take some getting used to, but I’m sure we can. Just one thing, though. How am I meant to not use elemental power with this thing?”

Emma held up the baton, and seemed to be ready to change to the longstaff she so wanted.

“It’s powerful on its own,” Gary instructed. “Yes, you need to get up close to attack, but one-handed strikes with it can be effective against multiple enemies. Remember, as Robin said, dredders get taken out by anything. Even smaller attacks can wipe them out.”

“And the cannon is able to fire regular attacks?” Brandon asked.

“Of course. Now, when the dredders appear again, conserve elemental power to use against the second wave.”

Both affirmed, and Gary set the simulation zone to spawn two waves. The first appeared, and the two launched their attack.

“Thanks for waiting,” Kieron stated with sarcasm, having spotted Terrance up the corridor.

It had taken three levels of searching to find him, and down here was less lighting. It was emergency red only. It caused eerie shadows nearly everywhere.

“You aren’t needed,” Terrance said as Kieron walked up to him.

“I think you do need me. You just don’t want to admit it. Just like you don’t want to admit that the only reason you are here is payback.”

Even in the small amount of light, Kieron could see that Terrance’s eyes had sharpened. He didn’t step back from it, wanting to show that no matter what he wasn’t leaving.

“You think I won’t admit to that?” Terrance said, starting to walk away. “Of course I admit to it. That’s the only reason I’m here.”

“Then it’s something else,” Kieron persisted, following. “Do you think it your fault? If so, you shouldn’t.”

“It isn’t that. Something similar has happened to me before.”

“Losing a fight happens to everyone.”

“Not that. The not coming back part.”

“Are you sure they-”

“Of course they aren’t! They are gone, and there is no point trying to think anything else. But by being back in the action, I can make sure I’m not thinking about them and continue the fight they left behind.”

“Everyone is trying to stop… whatever’s happening.” It was that which made Kieron realise the only thing he knew was to stop this. Nothing else. No history, no names, no anything. Of course there was something greater – some main objective to this – but he had no idea. The only thing he knew, was that this place was important in that.

“You have no idea what you’re fighting for, do you? Haven’t you ever heard about the ongoing battles?”

Kieron thought on it for a bit, then replied, “Trainees don’t really hear a lot. I’d never heard of the elemental division before Gary came along.”

Terrance stopped before another set of stairs, and looked at Kieron. “How far had you got?”

“We were ready to graduate, in case you were thinking we were new to the force.”

“Well, now you have graduated, you’ll be hearing stuff soon enough.” He then started down the stairs. "Or at least you would if you were in the main division."

“And what’s that meant to mean?”

“You haven’t heard of the whispers that go around the regular force. I have. Friends within the regular units were happy upon my promotion, but were quick to distance themselves from me soon after.”

Kieron was curious. He wanted to hear more.

“You don’t need to know more. Just know that some within the force feel our division isn’t needed.”

That was confusing to Kieron, but he didn’t press on. They needed to listen out for any voices that were around. However…

“That doesn’t explain how you’ve been through this before.”

They had descended two more levels, and were slowly making their way down a corridor when Terrance spoke again.

“Two of those friends I had mentioned were also elevated to the elemental division. It didn’t take long before a patrol got a bit out of hand, and the two were caught out. Despawned, but never returned to their pods in the elemental division. Next I know, they’re back in with the regular units. When I asked them about it, they said they’d given themselves demotion. Didn’t want to be a part of some special unit.”

“So… Why didn’t they just fail the test?”

“It was different back then. It was the first time a full unit for the elemental division had been formed. We were taken based on success rates. Three units had been split to form that elemental unit.” Terrance let his head fall, Kieron waited to hear what was coming. “In a way, I feel the bonds of the unit weren’t tight enough then. In a way, it feels like my fault. I was leader, and failed to bring them together.”

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That's all the previews that will be appearing on this blog. Look out for the post upon release, which will be the only non-Star Wars post aside from the monthly update. Seven episodes/chapters that tell the story of the police force and their battle against an evil force within the city of Ballart. Hope you enjoyed the preview, and the full book when it releases.