One Year Of Killing Snow

   I would say something along the lines of 'wow, has it really been a year since I started Killing Snow? I can hardly believe it!' but ... yeah, I can believe it. All the ink stains on my hands, twenty full documents, and scribbled-in notebooks attest to it.

   My friend Rachael Steele (who was also the alpha reader for novella Killing Snow, so obviously she's awesome) created a linkup of sorts for Camp NaNoWriMo prep, and just in time to save you guys from me randomly rambling about how this book is killing me. Now you get a fairly put-together post all about Killing Snow - which I am, in fact, writing for Camp in April. I'll be using some of Rach's questions, making up some of my own, and throwing snippets to you at random intervals

   Honestly, it's confusing. Killing Snow is currently a fifth-draft novella that will be turned into a first-draft novel during Camp NaNoWrimo. Go ahead and try to wrap your head around that. Or just enjoy the post xD. I'll be using some of Rach's questions (and inserting two of my own), and throwing snippets to you at the end (consider it your reward for making it through this massive post). Let's see how this goes ... 

What inspired the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea? 

   Seems I've had the idea for a year! And the way I got inspired for this idea is only as interesting as saying 'I had the idea', but I'll share it anyways. I wrote my first retelling in 2015 (for the Rooglewood writing contest), and learned that I loved them. So I went on a random kick of writing down ideas for different retellings - I had whole pages in my diary dedicated to think of multiple ideas for retellings. This one wouldn't let go. I'd give you the raw brainstorming, but it's full of spoilers and terribly choppy to read. Anyways, all that being said, I've been writing for six years and Killing Snow is the only story that I've worked this hard on. 

1. What is the genre/setting/world like?

   Killing Snow is YA sci-fi dystopian - and the whole story takes place in a flying city. Basically, it's a massive (think twenty-mile radius) airship that has been turned into a city. Technically you could say it takes place in our world, but it's more in outer space. If a city can fly to the stars, then why not?  

2. What is the plot about?

   An evil Snow White and her seven assassins. A girl who wants to see home again. Sarcasm. Guns and daggers. An airship that's also a city. A forbidden Library and a gated Palace. Secrets and friendships. Forgiveness - of self and others. Labyrinth alleyways and a city in shambles. 

   You can see a little more about it on my Writings page ;). 

3. Who is the main character, and who is the supporting cast?

   The main character is Raven Gale, who never meant to be living her life the way she is. All she wants to do is go home and see her brother again. And then there's the supporting cast - Elyse Marie Grace, a peppy optimist who has no problem believing that 'the sun will come out tomorrow'. Fagin Tarrok, who's like a father to Elyse and Raven. Cerulean Kane, who definitely knows more than he's saying. Snow White, whom many call insane - but only in whispers. And there are a lot of others that I can't tell you about right now. But I can show you a picture, no? ;)   

4. What are you most excited about in this story?

   The characters. I'm always the most excited about characters. But I'm having fun with the plot, too. Kind of. Honestly, the plot been really annoying and I don't know where it wants to go anymore - so I'm trying to untangle it while keeping my lovely characters from killing each other, while praying that it will somehow turn out in the end. Because I'm kind of hating the thing right now and it all feels very flat and boring and pointless to me *rant over*. I'm sure I'll love it again once I'm not killing myself to write a thousand words of it a day xD. 

5. Tell us about your OTP/Friendship in the story!

   Uh, OTP? I don't think I have one (though that could end up changing at some point in the novel. What can I say - my characters change the story however they want to) Friendships are definitely there though - probably my favorite being between Elyse (dubbed the optimist by her friend) and Raven (a self-proclaimed realist). They're lots of fun. Sometimes they annoy each other, but they're practically as close as sisters. 

6. What is the theme or point of the story?

   Not telling, and not telling. But one of the themes is forgiveness (lets say that one of the characters has a tough past), but I don't think it's prominent enough to count is as the book's "theme". I'm terrible at theme, so that's definitely something that still needs to be worked on.

7. Post some pictures from your storyboard!

   Oh, dear me. Well, you asked for it ...

   I tried to limit myself, so you're only getting eleven pictures out of many xD.

8. Do you have a cover for your book, or main picture?

   Alea Harper made the most amazing mock cover in all the universes for Killing Snow, and I love it to death. It always inspires me to write more of my story, even when I feel like throwing it in a blazing fire and watching it burn to ashes (... like right about now ...).

   So, what are you going to do with your novel from here?

   I could ramble on for ages about what I have planned to come for this story - but I literally wrote out a month by month plan for it, so I'll just give you that organized little thing, no? It's very subject to change - seeing as this could take longer than I suppose - but then, everything I told you about in this post is very subject to change xD.

March: finish writing some scenes for the novel
April: finish the scenes that still need writing, then piece together the first draft over the rest of the month
May: take a short break, then edits
June: send to alpha(s)
July: receive info from alpha(s) and work on editing that
August: send to betas
September (or October): receive info from betas and work on editing that
October (or November): last brush up, then send to an editor

   ... so there's that. Definitely subject to change, but I hope to have everything completely finished up by January 1st, 2018 ;).

Okay - we made it through the post. Give us snippets. 

    Gracious, fine! None of them are really edited (these are bits for the novel), but I'll let you take a peek anyways.

   ALSO - the first draft of the novella (not the novel - like I said, that's going to get written in April) is only partially edited (and most of it will probably be scrapped during the novel rewrite) ... but if you want to read the first chapter of that, here it is ;). 

~ Savannah Grace

   So, there's your peek at Killing Snow - what do you think? Are you doing Camp NaNoWriMo this April (what's your username? I'd love to stalk your stats!)? What novel are you working on?