I looked back and realized that the seed of this idea came about almost 5 years ago! It has grown and morphed substantially since then and even though I’m in the middle of Hydra rewrites and the continuation/completion of the Ansgari Civil War series, I think that I’ve gotten the core ideas locked down.

So “The Plan” for the novel web is to have a stand-alone novel that will set the scene but, more importantly, introduce some of the key characters. Each series will have its own style, main character and arc while at the same time weaving around a central idea and sharing interactions between the different book.

I think the challenge of that latter point will be re-telling the same scene but from an entirely different POV. I intend to use that sparingly so it doesn’t become overdone, but I also will try to have vastly different POVs to tell the story through. What they notice, what they think of the other person, etc.

Characters

As of now, there are 5 different story threads that will form the novel web. I had considered a 6th but have since dropped it.

So who are the poor victims of my machinations?

Gunpowder Gangsters

Influenced by some of my favorite gangster/mafia movies and tv series, Eden Fara will lead her small gang on her quest to become a powerful and respected member of the Andivari criminal underworld.

Law and Shadow

Lex Cana is a constable who gets involved in some of the activities of the other members while figuring out who killed his first partner and sent his life into a tail-spin.

Gunpowder Politics

Raina Portia is a leader of the Modern Citizens Party, but when she is passed over for a promised promotion within the party, she starts to plot her revenge and her actions may change the face of politics in Andivar forever.

“Criminal Underground”/”Stratus”

The series title is still a Work-In-Progress. The Stratus Charter is a compact signed between all of the major criminal groups more than a millennia before the “current” day. They are neutral, but maintain order between and provide services to the gangs. Voradiscia Vitella is responsible for thwarting attempts to undermine the Charter and to keep the police off her back.

The Pale Wraith

Ivanhoe Tesmier was a successful and feared assassin for most of his adult life. He retired as age crept up on him, but when the Charter comes under threat the successors to his former boss try to bring him back into action. They try to intimidate him into action, but instead earn his ire.

I think it should be fairly easy to see where some of the influence and inspiration for these come from, but I hope to be able to put my own unique Gunpowder Fantasy spin on the ideas and weave a tapestry of writing styles and story lines together.