Writing the second half of Reila's adventure was an interesting task as the story shifted from a coming-of-age tale to an account of war. I had to detail the horror and gruesomeness of war while keeping in mind (1) the age of my audience and (2) the age of my protagonist.
War is horrible. It smells of rotting flesh and blood; it is graphic and ruthlessly violent. Atrocities and acts of barbarism are committed continuously. Sights, sounds, sensations - how was I to convey such strong emotions while maintaining a relatively safe environment for my readers? |
Originally, these two works were one. The idea to split them (and the sequel) came from a publisher who thought that because they were geared toward young adults, a shorter adventure would garner more attention.
Of course, determining where to split the story was a difficult one. Separating the book when it was meant to be read as a single entity seemed like a daunting task. Splitting the book to create two pieces each with a title, introduction, new book cover, and entirely new feel was intimidating. Nevertheless, it was completed and a full quartet was born! |