An Interview with Lish McBride

I have a special treat for you today kind readers of The Friendly Necromancer. Lish McBride (author of Hold Me Closer Necromancer, Necromancing the Stone, and more -- see her website for details) agreed to do a Q&A interview for us! 

I'm so happy she could find some time in her busy schedule to talk with us today! I'll definitely be adding her to my list of VIPs on the sidebar. Enjoy!

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Click here for more about Lish McBride

Question: At the back of your second book, Necromancing the Stone, there is a really good Author Q&A that answers a lot of the standard questions. You explain that the story behind your necromancer books stemmed from essays about a fast food worker getting attacked by Vampires and the undead, which you wrote back in school. Was it hugely gratifying to finish these books and watch them come to fruition from those essays?

Answer: Not really an essay, but a truly awful short story that I wrote during down time in my brief stint in alternative school. Comparing that short story to my novel...well, they really only have the barest of things in common, but I consider that a good thing. Hopefully my writing has improved since I was eighteen. Ha! That being said, it's immensely gratifying to have anything you make up published into book form. It's still a little surreal, honestly.

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Question: While running the Friendly Necromancer blog for the past 10 years, I’ve had a couple of interesting emails from random strangers asking if I had any information on how to become a real-life Necromancer. I made sure to let them know that I write about video game necromancers and not training books for something that in the real world would get you arrested. What was it like researching necromancy for your books? Did you run into any interesting characters?

Answer: Most of my research was done via mythology books (like the Encyclopedia of the Undead by Curran) while I was living in rural Mississippi (where we'd evacuated during Katrina) and New Orleans. So basically book and internet without coming into contact with pretty much any humans at all. I love research, but it's not terribly exciting for most people. 

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Question: On the back of your first book, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, the dictionary definition for “Necromancy” is front and center – and I admit, before playing a necromancer in games like Dungeons and Dragons, Diablo, Everquest, Guild Wars, and Wizard101, I didn’t have a very good understanding of what “Necromancers” were. Was there a fear that readers just wouldn’t know what Necromancy was and, being that it does seem a bit of a darker topic, that the book wouldn’t sell?

Answer:  Dark topics aren't really a worry in young adult books--the age range for YA is actually somewhere between fourteen and early twenties. It's a rough time and you're dealing with a lot of really dark and terrible things. Horror actually helps a lot of teens cope with real life topics. (Believe it or not I wrote a paper on that in college.) So no, it wasn't a dark topic issue. It was, in fact, an issue of people not knowing what a necromancer was. I'm a mythology nerd and cut my teeth on horror and fantasy and I honestly didn't realize how few people knew what a necromancer was when I wrote the book and the publisher was concerned. There was also the unexpected fact that some readers--and we're talking adults here--mixed it up with other similar words. Some decided that the "romance" part of the word meant HMC,N was a romance novel. (I am 100% not knocking the romance genre here, but HMC,N doesn't fall into the category.) A few mixed up "necromancer" and "necrophiliac." No joke--I got an email from a librarian in Louisiana who had her own little free library and one of the neighbors was really upset about my book being in there because she made that mistake. Basically, the publisher wanted to be clear and they were worried that people would put the book down instead of taking the time to google, which is a valid worry. 

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Question: I see you’ve written at least one other short story surrounding Sam and Ramon from your Necromancer books. Will there ever be a third book in the series?

Answer: There are...four? I think there are four short stories with HMC,N characters. Death & Waffles is Ashley's first appearance in a short story I wrote in graduate school. We Should Get Jersey's is a Frank short story. Freaks & Other Family is a bundle with two short stories (One Sam, one Ramon) that I published myself but were originally written for my Patreon page. (There are several more on there that I haven't polished up yet.) Heads Will Roll is a story I wrote for Tor.Com and actually does feature a cameo from Ed, one of the minor characters from the Necromancer books. I have all the short stories listed on my website if anyone wants to look at them all in list form. I do plan a third book--I promise! The series is meant to have at least one more book. The problem was that my publisher wanted me to move on, so I wrote the Firebug books (which are set in the same universe) and now I've moved publishers. I'm currently writing a whole new thing for Putnam, but that doesn't mean I'm comfortable leaving Sam where I left him. I will write at least one more Sam book, even if I have to publish it myself.

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Question: You also have a newer series of books out surrounding a Pyromancer, which I have yet to read. Which do you like writing about more, Pyromancers or Necromancers? Will we see books about different types of magic (like perhaps a wizard that can channel life magic) in the future? 

Answer:  I enjoy writing both for different reasons. There is a weird amount of overlap as both characters have to deal with the fact that their powers are fairly destructive. They both have to deal with the possibility that they might become corrupt, destructive monsters. Both books have fun and weird side characters--I might miss writing the gnomes, but the Pyro books have biker were-rabbits, so...I love them both. Honestly, since all the books take place in the same universe, they didn't feel that different to me. Ava is snarkier than Sam and has definitely had more of a rough time of things. As for the future, who knows? 

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Question: Do you play video games and have any served as inspiration points for your books? Would you ever give Wizard101 a try (I’d love to see if the starting quiz for the game would place you as either a Necromancer or a Pyromancer)?

Answer:  I almost never play video games anymore. When I was a kid I was hugely into the Sierra games King's Quest and Space Quest and Sim games. I would also beg my mom for quarters so we could go play Rampage in the arcade at my local bowling alley (small town life) with my brothers. The thing is, I'm not very good at them. I never rescued the princess in Super Mario Bros. I can't remember what all the buttons do on most controllers and I get lost in large map games. The last game I seriously played was Fable and I was constantly getting distracted and forgetting my quest. (I spent a lot of time kicking chickens.) I'm more of a computer game person, and until recently I spent all my time writing, working a day job and juggling kids, so most downtime involved reading. Most of the kinds of games I would like now force you to interact with other humans and I play to get away from people, so it doesn't really work out. This is probably a good thing though as my husband and sons are huge gamers and I would have to fight for the TV. Right now my house is all Red Dead Redemption 2 and State of Decay. That being said, Wizard 101 looks like it would entirely be up my alley.

Might I suggest the name Samantha Skullmancer? Give it a shot!

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Question: Mounts and pets are all part of the fun in Wizard101!  During Necromancing the Stone, Sam summons an Undead Elk (if I remember correctly??), which in my mind becomes his “mount.” (He even talks about bringing it back to the mansion with him.) He also ends up gaining a Chupacabra pet, which he finds in his basement bathroom of all places. Any backstory to those choices, or did they just naturally happen during writing?

Answer: You are correct on the elk! The elk was mostly chosen based on what animals are natural to the pacific northwest--I needed something big enough for Sam to ride and elk won. Plus, elk are really cool. I grew up in the PNW, and we spent summers camping and such, and we'd occasionally get to see elk, especially if we were at my stepdad's cabin up in Forks. Yes, that Forks. I never saw a vampire there but I did get to play with a machete, so I'm calling that a win. As for Taco, the pygmy chupacabra...I found the idea funny? Honestly, when I'm writing a book, at least during that first draft, it's just me for long hours staring at my laptop. I have to entertain myself. I had to come up with something to hide in that closet and the very idea of Taco made me giggle. Which made my writing buddy ask what was wrong with me and all I could get out was, "pygmy chupacabra!" over and over. Fortunately, he's known me a long times so he understood.

Find out more from Lish's FAQ on her website

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Question: One of the things that really stands out in your books is your love of puns. Case in point, the very title of the book Hold me Closer, Necromancer is a play on words from Elton John’s song Tiny Dancer. In fact, every chapter title in your Necromancer books contain this same fun word play with song titles and lyrics. To be honest, it reminds me a lot of quest titles from Wizard101! Ever thought about working as a writer in the games industry? 

Answer: It's funny because the joke in my house is that I hate puns. This isn't true--I don't hate them, but it's a kind of word play that I'm generally not great to be honest. Also, my husband is a pun-master so I mostly make fun of him for them. If we didn't make fun of each other, I'm not sure what our relationship would be based on. I have thought a little about the game industry, and I do actually have a game writing credit--a minor one from the game Dark Void. My friend Jose threw a little work my way because their game writer was overworked and very tired. The thing is, most game writers don't seem to have much in the way of control. It's like screenwriting that way. I'm okay with doing either of them, but I like getting to do things my way most of the time. 

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Question: There’s a great scene in Necromancing the Stone where Sam spends time in a huge music room full of old LPs and great music. Three questions: Does this music room exist in your real life, what’s your favorite song of all time, and how does your love of music play into your writing?

Answer: The music room does not exist. In fact, my small record collection was destroyed in hurricane Katrina and I haven't really had the heart to rebuild it. The only record that survived was a single of the Patrick Swayze song, "She's Like the Wind" from Dirty Dancing. My husband framed it. Someone did gift me a Tom Jones record recently, because they felt Patrick needed a friend, so I've been considering breaking down and getting a record player again. I don't have a favorite song of all time. I also can't answer the favorite book question--so much of it depends on mood and changes every few moments. I did grow up with a lot of musical influences and that does show up in the books. (My mom loved Bobby Darin so much that my oldest brother is named Darin.) Lots of oldies and classic country and musicals from my mom and stepmom, lots of punk and rockabilly from my oldest brother. My brother Jeremy mostly listened to pop music and rap. I grew up in a small town about an hour from Seattle. There wasn't much to do besides go to the freshly built mall or go to the movies. I didn't have any money for the movies and I hate the mall. The only other option, besides loitering in the bookstore, was to go to shows. So lots of bands in barns and basements and community centers. Social interaction was largely based on what kind of music you listened to. Seattle is also a very musical city, so it would make sense for Sam to be into it.

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Question: As with any fandom, there are a lot of artists and writers that draw inspiration from their game of choice (like Wizard101). Have you done any fan fiction writing in your past that no one knows about? Do you have any words of wisdom for those out there who may want to break out of this type of writing and develop a universe of their own as you have?

Answer:  I have not done any real fan fiction writing, sadly. Well, except for a short story I tried to write in elementary school that was clearly David Eddings fan fiction except Belgarath the wizard was a cat. At that age, everything was cats. At that age I also didn't know what fan fiction was. I think fan fiction is really cool, but it just never occurred to me to join in. I have several writer friends that started in fan fiction and I think it's a great way to learn, really. The other thing you can do besides that is to reread favorite books critically--how did the author pull of the things that you liked? What about their writing do you love? Most of writing is practice and developing your voice. What works for some authors won't work for others. I went to an MFA program to help me figure some things out, but you don't need an MFA to write well. I read books on writing. For world building, I'd check out Wonderbook. That has a lot of good stuff in it from many different authors. I don't have an official writing group, but I've built up a list of friends that I can talk to if I'm stuck or need to work something out, or if I need a quick read on something. Chuck Wendig has some great writing advice on his blog that he compiled into an ebook. It's funny and very practical, but if you have issues with cursing it will not be your bag.

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Question: If Necromancing the Stone and Hold Me Closer, Necromancer were ever made into video games, what would you hope they end up being like?

Answer:  I don't know if I have anything current to compare them to. It would be cool if someone made them so you could explore the world like games like State of Decay do, but I wouldn't want it to be that serious. Something bonkers and fun...but probably gory, like that movie Tucker and Dave vs Evil. 

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Trouble on Triton Avenue—Chapter 5 (Intimidation Tactics)

I've had a few requests to revisit my fan fiction from waaaaaay back. :-) Ok, I'll give you the next chapter. From what I have planned there will probably be four or five more chapters after this one, and then it'll be done. Thanks for making me revisit this story! It's been a long time in the making.

If you'd like to do some back reading on this story:

Chapter 1 - Ripped from the light
Chapter 2 - Leaves of Healing
Chapter 3 - Lexicons for Lionblood
Chapter 4 - On the Heels of Akilles

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Chapter Five – Intimidation Tactics

Thomas pushed open the palatial door of Sgt. Akilles retreat and held the door open for Merle. The air in the room grew instantly stiff as the low rumble of Cyclops voices died in a breath. Sgt. Akilles looked quickly to his men and dismissed them all but one, who would remain by his side . . . It was obvious that Akilles knew two eyes were better than one when dealing with Merle.

Akilles’s titan sized hands clenched around his large mallet that he stomped in his hand from habit. He spit to the side and grumbled lowly. “So, I see the young wizard is back and you still have him on your leash. How’s that feel dog?”

Before Thomas could defend himself, which he was perfectly willing and able to do, Merle had tapped his staff onto the floor and spun it toward Akilles. A long, leathery strand of light snaked out from the tip of his staff and securely fastened itself around Akilles’ throat. Sparks flew and died in a moment to reveal that Merle had put a leash around Akilles’s neck. Merle took the end of the leash and handed it to a stunned Thomas. “You tell him how it feels, Private Akilles,” said Merle, extending the sting of the word “Private.”

Akilles appeared as completely stunned as Thomas at the old man’s bold actions.

Merle moved towards Akilles more briskly than anticipated, “Another taunt like that to the protector of Wizard City, and I’ll have you eating dog food next.” Akilles dropped his mallet and put his hand over his lips to guard his mouth. Akilles’s guard dropped his mallet and covered his mouth too, mimicking the actions of his leader.

Merle pulled up a chair to the table covered in fine fruit in front of Akilles, set his cane aside, and grabbed the nearest apple and took a bite. “Now that the intimidation part of this visit is over, let’s talk business.” Merle snapped his fingers and the leash and collar disappeared. “Pull up a chair, Akilles and Thomas.” Merle took another loud bite. “You know, they say that if you elongated the tone your mouth creates when you bite an apple for a period of 30 seconds, you’d completely lose your hearing.”

Both Thomas and Akilles lowered themselves slowly to their chairs around the table, still stunned and cautious.

“Yes,” continued Merle, “But there’s a kind of magic between the jaw and the ear that actually turns off the harshness of the sound when you bite so you don’t go deaf from your own eating. Now THAT’s magic my friends. That’s magic that every common beast has.” Merle pointed his mouth in the direction of Akilles’s guard and took another bite of the apple, and this time really crunched into it. A brisk wind picked up from the sound, and Akilles’ guard was blown back against the wall and knocked out.

“Did you really come here to talk about apples, Merle?” grunted Akilles. “Or did you . . .” Merle cut off Akilles sentence with another gracious bite of apple. Akilles looked even more humiliated for a moment.

“No, I didn’t, “slopped Merle as he twirled the apple in his hand. “I came to talk about magic and to ask your advice.”

Akilles laughed. “After humiliating me time and time again, you think I’m going to give you advice?” Merle laughed along with Akilles. Thomas laughed nervously too. The air in the room was so uncomfortable that it felt like being elevated above a pit of scorpions.

Merle suddenly stopped laughing and said, “yes, and I think you’ll see why you will.” Merle pointed over to Thomas, “show him the card, Thomas.”

Thomas pulled out the broken card and turned its back toward Akillies. “Harold Argelston noted that your symbol is on the back of this damaged card of mine, which he also said appeared to be pre-titans work.”

Akillies pushed himself quickly from the table. “Oh no!” said Akillies, “It’s Tumok Gravelbeard!” Akilles grabbed his jaw as if trying to hold it up from falling on the ground. “Tumok has returned . . . Tumok has returned . . .” he whimpered in disbelief.

“Get a hold of yourself, please, Akilles,” demanded Thomas. “Who is Tumok?”

“Tumok is the keyholder of the Great Spyre,” backed Akillies, unable to contain his outward expression of fear.

“The Great Spyre?” asked Thomas. Merle put a finger to Thomas’s mouth. Akilles was starting to give them the information they needed, and Merle knew he could explain the location to Thomas later.

“Tumok is the punisher of all myth magic,” further backed Akillies “ . . . and Tumok was enslaved by Malistaire himself”

Merle stared at the staggering Cyclops and dropped the core of his apple to the table. “Tumok,” whispered Merle to Thomas. “I knew Malistaire was in trouble with his emotions, but this could mean the end of Wizard City for us all. We must take action.”

Thomas raised himself from the table and nodded at Merle. Merle blinked his eyes, and they were quickly teleported from Akilles’s sanctum.

Trouble on Triton Avenue—Chapter 4 (On the Heels of Akilles)

Got a great message from John yesterday:

"i read the Lexicons for Lionblood articles you had posted to my 7 year old and he was asking when you would release the next chapter. they are very good and well written and both of us enjoyed them greatly. we both love your blog and check it everyday to see what you wrote about next.

thanks in advance
John DreamWalker"

With that note, I now present to you Chapter 4 from the Trouble on Triton Avenue series!

If you'd like to do some back reading on this story:

Chapter 1 - Ripped from the light
Chapter 2 - Leaves of Healing
Chapter 3 - Lexicons for Lionblood

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“STOP!” yelled Thomas as Merle, Calab, and himself teleported into Cyclops Lane. Thomas crumbled to the ground and leaned his back against the wall.

“Thomas?” queried Merle. Merle’s brow was crinkled and tanning in the bright summer daylight from above. Wizard City seemed to be in a perpetual summer’s solstice, and today, it just seemed too bright to Thomas. There were other thoughts lingering on like a long summer day in his mind as well. It all seemed too bright in his mind, like a mirror shining sunlight right into his eyes. Sometimes a death wizard simply prefers the dark.

“I just need a second to think about what’s going on here. Gah, maybe it’s the sun,” gasped Thomas.

Calab leaned against the wall and blurted out, “and maybe he’s just nervous about talking to General Akilles again . . .”

Thomas hung his head low to his chest, and clasped his hands behind his neck to create a pocket of shadow, “No, Calab, I just need to think a second and get out of this sun!” It was true that Thomas needed to think for a minute since he had been through so much in the span of what seemed to be ten to twenty minutes and with Merle teleporting here and there with blindingly hot urgency. Well, he just felt overwhelmed. At least that’s what he was telling himself, of course, what Calab was saying had truth to it as well; Thomas was concerned about General Akilles since there had been a confrontation with him a few weeks ago.

Thomas had learned Akilles was capturing the wallflower students of the school and putting them in cells until they made him a trove of treasure cards for his army. Treasure cards are illusionary, one-use cards crafted from a deck of real cards and usually contain a slightly stronger and temporary magic. They are called treasure cards since they feel real enough to the touch, but once used, they vanish . . . like all wealth does eventually. Only experience is permanent. Treasure is fleeting.

To make matters worse, Thomas had fears that the treasure cards were not merely for Akilles’s Cyclops army; detaining students had Malistaire’s work written all over it. Akilles wouldn’t dare detain students in the heart of Wizard City unless he had been offered a large prize. And so, with a commission from Merle, Thomas had been sent to “stop this silliness” and free the students. Since Akilles wouldn’t free the students without a duel, Thomas had to comply and, in fact, won and, thereby, won the freedom of the trapped students! Unfortunately, the “trove of treasure cards” had never been found, and the students seemed to have no recollection of making those supposed treasure cards either.

Though it was suspicious, Merle had pardoned General Akilles and only punished him with a demotion to “Private” Akilles for a day. It was a soft punishment that seemed empty, but Merle knew Akilles’s strength might be needed in the end as the children of the titans could be helpful someday in protecting Wizard City. The shame of Private Akilles having to shine the boots of his officers for a day was punishment though, especially for a proud Cyclops like General Akilles. It was a far better choice than banishment. It was best to let them make this world of the spiral their home. And that was that.

“We’re going to talk to General Akilles, Thomas, and that is that!” said Merle as he hovered his wand over Thomas’s head. A magical hand appeared from the gemmed tip, grasped on to Thomas’s head, and lifted him up like a basketball while spinning him in a full 360 degree angle. “Thomas, you will have your head on straight when we talk to Akilles, won’t you? I’m counting on you to help us all. This card that’s leaking magic is more dangerous than you know.” Merle grew a very concerned look on his face.

Thomas really didn’t have a choice here. This needed to be done, and he knew it. “Yes, Headmaster Merle,” he said using Merle’s formal and respectful title.

“Good.” said Merle. The hand from Merle’s wand rubbed Thomas’s back and popped it back into shape with a chop of perfect precision. “And Calab,” Merle continued while his wand’s hand pointed toward the street, “I need you to entertain General Akilles’s troops out front while we talk with him.”

“You got it!” laughed Calab as he shuffled his dueling deck and ran toward the nearest brawl-worthy Cyclops.

The hand on Merle’s staff retracted. Merle put his arm around Thomas, and they walked together up the marble steps toward Akilles’s hall. He wasn’t going to be happy to see Thomas . . . the sting from public humiliation was still fresh in his eye.

Trouble on Triton Avenue--Chapter 3 (Lexicons for Lionblood)

Hello all, I'd like to now present you with Chapter 3 of my fan fiction. In case you're late on the scene and haven't read my other two chapters, here are some links to them:

Chapter 1 - Ripped from the Light
Chapter 2 - Leaves of Healing

Thank you all for reading.
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Chapter 3 – Lexicons for Lionblood

In an effervescent puff of mist, the students landed securely below the steps to the Wizard City Library with Merle. Thomas felt the eyes of his classmates that had suddenly stopped to view the headmaster and the two class clowns; they all had such deadly serious looks on their faces.

Adding to the odd sight was how amazingly nimble Professor Ambrose was for his age. Thomas wondered why they had appeared at the bottom of the steps to the library instead of at the top? It might just be that Ambrose liked climbing stairs . . . or maybe he wanted to make this entrance.

“Here we are, students!” said Merle as he sprang up the steps with Thomas and Caleb trying to keep up.

Merle peeked his head through the doors to see his students busily checking out research materials for mid-terms. “Good day, all” Merle announced with a quick, clear voice, “Shut the doors and finish your transactions, Harold; we’ve got urgent spiral business!”

Harold, the Marleybonian librarian of Wizard City, calmly looked up through his dusty spectacles, licked his nose, finished his current transaction, and said in his calm, slow, and dog-like voice, “Pardon me students, the library is now closed.” He reached under his desk and pressed a magical clockwork button that quickly both sealed the doors and magically teleported the students back to the Wizard City commons.

“Um, Professor Ambrose?” asked Caleb. Thomas, Caleb, and Ambrose were still standing outside the library doors, which were now sealed magically tight.

“Yes, boy, I know we’re not inside the library,” stated Merle resolutely. Merle knocked on the library door three times quickly and three times slowly. Suddenly Thomas, Caleb, and Merle were shrunk and spun through the keyhole in the library door as if draining through the holes on a bathtub. When they materialized on the other side, there was Harold, who was raised from his usual position behind the desk and rising up the stairs to the second level of the library.

Merle once again sprung up the steps of the library staircase, completely passing the slow and methodical Harold. Harold, Thomas, and Caleb all reached the top of the staircase while Merle paced back and forth, muttering to himself about needing to talk to Falmea about recent fire wizard fashions. “What in the blazes is he muttering about” whispered Caleb to Thomas. Harold slowly winked at the boys and slowly opened the upstairs door. “Please, students and headmaster; let us retire to this private meeting room to discuss your urgent business.”

Harold had such an amazing sense of old school charm about him that most of Wizard City lacked. It was a true class and wisdom that was to be admired.

The students and Harold sat down in the comfortable leather seats and stared at each other for an uncomfortable moment. Harold served tea—silently—methodically—spectacularly.

“Well,” said Merle, feeling the uncomfortable silence. “How about that card, Thomas?”

"Uh, right!" Thomas started searching his pockets. It wasn't just moments ago he was in hospital robes . . . not student robes, "let's see, here they are." Thomas reached into his right hand pocket and produced a torn Cyclops summoning card.

Harold looked Thomas in the eyes and said softly, "may I please inspect your card, sir." Thomas, almost embarrassed by the formalities of Harold replied as formally, "of course Mister Argleston."

Harold took the card and elevated it to the light and pulled a small magnifying glass out of his coat pocket. "Yes, pre-titans card. Nice. Very nice. Horrible rip. I heard through the grapevine that you tried to heal the card?"

Thomas finished, "Yes, and when I did a hand came out of the card."

"Well that's what I heard, boy,” Harold laughed quietly. “And believe me, I've seen stranger occurrences happen in this city in my day.” Harold grew a more serious look, “What concerns me is that this card is pre-titans work. Work that should have expired years ago”

Thomas felt a bit unsure, "You’re talking about the time before the battle between the titans and the dragons?"

Harold nodded, “You know, Life and Death magic are the oldest of all the schools. Storm, Ice, and Fire are the youngest. But, Myth is interesting because it is both old and new at once--for legends are created everyday.” There was a moment of silence for Harold’s wise knowledge of history. "Tell me, did your cyclops friend tell you anything when he came out of the card?" asked Harold.

Thomas stared at the ceiling. What did happen? It all seemed so dream-like now to him. And then he remembered something outside the pain in his hand, "Yes, he asked me to help him."

Harold looked taken aback, "help him? Certainly the cyclops whose tear made this pre-titan card was vanquished in battle many years ago . . . perhaps before even Merle here was born."

Harold continued to look at the card and flipped it over, "Where'd you come by this card, Mr. Lionblood?"

Thomas once again stared at the ceiling, "You know, I'm not quite sure where this card came from. It was almost like it just was there one day among my other cards."

Merle stepped toward Thomas and Harold, "Thomas, you know it's customary for the head of the Myth School to give students their summoning cards . . . are you sure this isn't from Cyrus Drake?"

Thomas noted, "Yes, I had already received my cards from Cyrus when this appeared."

Merle looked shocked, "And you didn't find it strange it appeared?"

Thomas shook his head, "Actually, no I didn't. I'm sorry." “Strange things just kind of happen at a magic school,” Thomas shrugged.

Merle remembered Thomas had just been through a lot during that day and reached out comfortingly to him, "It's ok, Thomas. I just want to make sure you and Caleb know that the operating procedures of this city dictate that students report malfunctions of magic like this, but I know you're not a trouble maker. There is no crime here." Merle motioned to Harold who was still studying the card intently, "Mr. Argleston, can you see any clues to its origin besides being pre-Titan era?"

Harold shook his head yes, "Yes, yes I can, the back of the card has been painted with a rosin from a tree other than Ivan. And there is a brand here that resembles the symbol of General Akilles on Cyclops Avenue here in town. I think he might be able to give us some more assistance."

Merle smiled. He knew his old friend Harold would have some insight. It was his nature. "Thank you Mr. Argleston, we are off now to talk to General Akilles. Your assistance is as always, invaluable."

Harold slowly handed the card back to Thomas. "Thank you, young Lionblood, for letting me examine this card.” Harold rose from his chair and began to gather the tea cups before them, “And let me know how things go with Akilles, that stubborn old cyclops."

And with a flash of effervescent mist and a click of Merle’s fingers, Thomas, Caleb, and the headmaster vanished out of sight.

Harold descended the stairs and moved to the locked doors of the library. He whispered under his breath, "That boy's going to change the way we do business around here someday, I'm sure of it . . . now, let's make some more money," he said with his tail wagging the dust in the air.

The doors opened wide and a few students who had been trying to listen through the door stumbled in. Harold smiled and moved back to his chair.

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Happy Dueling!

Trouble on Triton Avenue -- Chapter 2 (Leaves of Healing)

Thank you so much for the positive responses on Chapter 1 of my fan fiction. I've decided to go ahead and publish the second chapter here for you all.

Keep in mind that I'm taking TONS of liberties in my fan fiction. hehe. I've always wondered what was behind some of those locked doors in Marleybone, so I kind of let my imagination go a bit. I hope you don't mind that. :-)

Happy Reading!

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Chapter 2 – Leaves of Healing

Thomas blinked his eyes open. They were dry, and his mouth was a dry Krokotopian desert too.

There was a haze floating on the ceiling above him. He saw it swirl in a deep green smoke--like the eye of a tornado from deep in space.

Thomas had seen this ceiling before, but it took a moment for him to realize where he was. He was in a Marleybone healing room, a place not often used, seen, or even known about by students. The room and the haze were said to increase the purity of healing. Thomas knew these things from his intense studies, but what he didn't know was why he was here?

"He's waking up," said a familiar voice from the side.

"Good, good, I'll contact Merle" answered a dog-like voice from behind a door.

Thomas began to sit up.

"Welcome back, bud, you had us all scared half out of our minds." It was Calab. "You'll notice your new wardrobe addition."

Thomas looked down and noticed the sling of leaves wrapped around his hand. “What's this?" said Thomas; the words came out curiously smooth from his throat despite how dry it felt.

"I was hoping you could tell me," laughed Calab.

Thomas glanced over to his good friend and noticed his smile and his way of leaning against the door. Calab chose to wear his caps slightly forward, which made is eyes look even more jovial and sarcastic than they already were.

"I'm not sure entirely what happened back there," said Thomas, rising up from his reclining position in the bed to sitting. His arm and hand felt like it was vibrating and humming from inside, like he had become part clockwork golem. "What's up with my arm?"

"Oh that. That there is a sling made out of the leaves from Blossom, the life school tree," said Caleb. He moved a bit closer and plopped himself on the bed. "How's it feel?" he said as he motioned to the arm.

"It feels surprisingly good," laughed Thomas. "Maybe I should do this more often." He felt in amazingly good spirits even though the air of mystery remained in his mind.

Calab laughed, "I need a turn too, but I don't think Blossom gives up her leaves when a wound is self inflicted."

There was a knock on the door to the room and the door began to slowly open.

"Come in," said Thomas.

A quiet, monocled eye peeked around the corner of the door. It was Merle, the headmaster. "Oh good, you're awake." said Merle. "Let's have a look at that arm." The old wizard quickly teleported from behind the door to the bedside opposite of Calab. Teleporting quickly here and there was a trademark of Merle. "I have my intelligence hologram entertaining the students back at my house until I get back," explained Merle unnecessarily. Merle seemed to have a knack for talking to himself through having a conversation with his students.

"I imagine that's feeling pretty good by now, eh Thomas?" said Merle, tapping on the leaf covered limb. Thomas nodded. "Good. Blossom doesn't so willingly give up her leaves you know . . . especially to a death magic student like yourself." Merle had made a tongue in cheek joke along with the class clowns. It was widely known that Thomas was a friendly necromancer in Wizard City and good company. Calab was definitely the prankster of the bunch--but also a very loyal friend.

Thomas smiled and nodded again. Something about Merle quieted Thomas. "So I'm wondering the same thing as young Calab here. What happened there on Rainbow Bridge?"

Thomas opened his mouth to speak, "I . . . well I . . ." Thomas paused. What *had* happened? He could see both Calab and Merle looking at him in anticipation for an answer, so he quickly decided to just blurt out what he could understand from the experience. "I had a torn card and I sang a muse song to it," said Thomas, almost too quickly to be comprehended. "And it . . ." Thomas paused again. They aren't going to believe me, he thought to himself.

Merle's soft smile turned to concern. "A hand? From the card?" Merle had the occasion to finish sentences. Not so much because he knew the answer, but because he had an advanced wizard's precognition of communication.

"Yes," nodded Thomas. "It was crushing my hand and pulling my arm, but it was . . ."

Merle gasped, "A Cyclops!" Merle again used his precognition.

"Yes," nodded Thomas again. "The torn card was a Cyclops summoning card."

There was silence, and then Calab started laughing from the side of the bed. "You gotta be kidding me," he laughed. It wasn't so much that Calab was heartless--it was more that he was cynical. "It sounds more likely that you had your hand stepped on by a passing student." "You're crazy sitting on that bridge you know, it's a total high-traffic area."

Merle hushed Calab. "We did have some students in the area at the time and none of them recounted a Cyclops attack, Thomas."

Thomas's jaw dropped. "I'm not lying or making this up!"

Calab laughed again, "Come on, Thomas, everybody knows you're a huge daydreamer."

Merle picked up his umbrella, reached across the bed, and bopped it on Calab's head. Calab froze in place as if Merle has pressed the off button.

"Quiet now, both of you, I wasn't done talking," said Merle in a slightly annoyed voice. "As I was about to say, your wounds indicated some other magic was at work other than that of a foot stepping on your hand." Merle put his hand on Thomas's shoulder. "We were very worried when you hadn't woken for three days after you were found."

Calab's lips moved from his frozen position on the side of the bed, "I was just kidding" he mumbled out of his pierced lips.

Merle bopped Calab on the head again, and Calab unfroze as if Merle had pressed the on button.

"Three Days?" asked Thomas in disbelief.

Almost as if the question had no bearing on the events at hand, Merle whisked up from the bed and snapped his wand in the air without explaining. Thomas and Calab were lifted up off of the bed and instantly to the side of Merle. Merle snapped his fingers and the healing leaves fell off Thomas's arm. It was quite healed and back to normal now.

Merle blinked and snorted, and Thomas was no longer in his hospital garb, but instead wearing his official wizard clothing.

Calab and Thomas were both as equally stunned from the less than five minute visit of Merle. "How does he do that," Calab whispered under his voice and toward Thomas.

"Boys, we're off!" gasped Merle. "This vision of the Cyclops is very interesting, Thomas." "We're off to the library to get some answers."

And with a single puff of smoke, they were gone from the empty, swirling healing room of Marleybone.

A note of payment, signed as being from "The Headmaster," glided softly from the smoke to the pillow of the hospital bed.

Trouble on Triton Avenue -- Chapter 1 (Ripped from the Light)

Hello all, I started writing this piece of fan fiction many months ago. Unfortunately I let this sit off to the side for a long time and never picked it back up. At this time I only have five chapters of this story written. I'm writing this tale as a short story book . . . something my oldest might want to read. And in fact, she has enjoyed reading the first few chapters.

I think the timing is right now to unveil at least the first chapter of this story. I may publish another chapter here based on the responses. My ultimate goal would be to provide this story as a .pdf file that would be available through an online publishing site. /shrug . . . who knows . . .

In this story Thomas Lionblood is around 22nd level and just starting his journeys in Krokotopia; however, there seems to still be some unfinished business in Wizard City as the story of Malistaire begins to unfold around him.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse, and . . . Happy reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1 – Ripped from the Light

Wizard City bustled and shimmered in the afternoon sun. Students were busy at work replenishing their magic through spirited jousting and solving mathematical problems. Students were busy retrieving magical tombs from the local library to increase their learning. Students were busy gaining wisdom from Merle the headmaster and generally darting back and forth following his instructions on the lessons he gave them. In other words, students at Wizard City were busy . . . except for one lonely wizard sitting on Rainbow Bridge.

The colors danced and splashed around Thomas Lionblood. They birthed from a mist hovering above the waterfall and caught colors as the magic was pulled back to a place behind the tumbling waters. Intermediate students of the Death School, like Thomas, knew what it was that pulled from behind the waterfall at Rainbow Bridge. It was the door to the death magic school: soggy and smelling of dark, burning roses from a funeral pyre.

Thomas wasn't lazy; he just felt like he deserved a break. After all, he hadn't been declared one of the master diplomats for Wizard City for no reason. No, he had served a good time amongst the Haunted Cave and down the gobbler-infested paths of Colossus Boulevard. Helping to strike a deal with the Gobbler King alongside fellow students was one of his shining moments and had led to his invitation to the inner sanctum of Bartleby, the master tree that contained the gateways to other worlds.

Thomas's foot swung softly from the bridge as he presented his card deck of necromancy from his side pocket. He held to the new vampire cards he had just acquired and sung a tune that Dworgyn, the current Death School Trainer, had taught him. His eyes glowed a faint red.

Thomas shuffled the cards before him and drew a quick six pick of cards. He laid the cards on his legs to get a good look. His hand showed five myth magic cards and one death magic card. Interesting. Usually his hands were more balanced between myth and death.

"Oh shoot!" breathed Thomas as he noticed a severe error. A Cyclops card from his deck had torn at the corner. This was bad. This was very bad.

It was a strange sight, not completely unheard of, but still a strange sight to see since magic cards were made of blessed paper soaked in the tears of the magic beast they contain (along with some other combination of materials mostly too vile or too blessed to mention in the standard classroom environment) and laminated with the sap of the tree of magic the card represented. It was quite a process and resulted in a magically sturdy creation that could be used again and again. Torn cards, meant less effective spells, which could mean defeat, which could mean more lectures from teachers. No one wanted that.

"Well at least it wasn't one of my death cards," mumbled Thomas as he flipped the card between his fingers. It was a cool trick he had learned from his friend Calab, an Ice Wizard and a trusted ally. The card began between the little finger and ring finger and quickly made its rounded trip up to thumb and index.

Thomas held his torn Cyclops card up now to the dancing rainbow mist above him and used it to shade his eyes. Something seemed different about this torn card . . . the colors or the depth . . . maybe it was leaking some magic? He couldn't tell.

"A quick song for you, friend, and then it's off to the Library for repairs," Thomas said comfortingly to his bleeding card. Once again he sung the tune that the Death School Master had taught him. The song was meant to be sung to help feel the devastating beauty that each card held. Dworgyn was big on feelings believe it or not. Funny, thought Thomas, funny for someone so concerned with the undead to need to feel so deeply for the life of these things.

And then it hit like a wildbolt.

"AAAHK," gulped Thomas, a sudden pain stuck his hand, muffling his cry with its intensity. The pain was ruthless like rope burning through the skin of his hand. Then, it shot through his arm like it was being pulled from his body.

Thomas's first reaction was to drop the card and grasp his arm away from the awful pain, but he couldn't. In fact, the card seemed to be hovering and pushing away from him while clenching his hand in a fist. Thomas watched in shock as a thick and muscular arm pulled away from him and out of the torn card, and suddenly there was a deep guttural scream being pulled from the card itself.

There, at that moment, it was as if Wizard City had stopped around Thomas in space and time as the half-card/half-cyclops stopped his own scream and blinked at Thomas with a large and frightened eye. It's hard to think of a Cyclops as being scared actually, but this was the truth of the matter.

Thomas sensed this cyclops was afraid and in pain just as he had been. The pain in his arm had gone now. In fact, most feeling had left his body entirely. Perhaps time and space had stopped here in this moment, and he was alone with his imagination?

"Help me" pleaded the Cyclops in his deep and muffled voice. "Help me,"
again.

Fan Fiction

So . . . at the nudging of the Wizard101 correspondent . . . I actually have been trying my hand (as an exercise mind you) at writing some fan fiction for this game. I wrote chapter 1 and 2 the other day.

I fear I have gone off the deep end.

Anyone else writing fan fiction out there?

(or just reading the blog? I'd love to hear a hello if anyone is out there.)