Atonement Serial Research

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Pixabay

Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone.  You’d think I would be refreshed after such a long blog break.  Instead, I wrote a novella (A Peril in the Bayou).  Writing a short novel during that long break was actually arduous, and it didn’t lead to a replenishment of energy.  However, to keep the strange town of Atonement, TN in your minds, I thought I might share some of my process.  I’m sorry if this post bounces around, but that’s also how my brain works — twisting, bouncing…

As I write this post in advance of the weekend, my brain is feeling sluggish.  Although in fairness, I’ve had a lot to cope with.  That in mind, what did I do instead of writing?  Research!  Woot!  I do love researching my stories.

Since Atonement in Zugzwang used a chess term in the title, and all those jeweled chess pieces in the storyline, I must continue a chess theme for part 2.  Of course, I’ve been looking up chess terms.  I narrowed that to terms about certain pieces. 

Although the sirens in the story didn’t get a big role, they were swimming around in my brain most of the time, beckoning me to make more use of them.  Since in part 1, the opposing side had sirens in the rook’s position, I looked for moves or terms involving the rook.  The move I chose is castling.  Part 2 will probably be named Atonement Castled.

CGI from Teagan via Imagine

My research has also been about mythical creatures.  In chess there are two rooks for each side.  Mary Sue Leggett, a pixie, was Atonement’s king’s rook.  But we didn’t identify the queen’s rook.  That’s also the character that I’ve been trying to nudge, prod, and push into my mind throughout my so-called break.  I wanted a creature that could be the good counterpart of the bad guy’s sirens.  Research led me to a nix.

Mythologies for the nix vary widely.  There’s also a lot of lore on them and related creatures, both in old mythology and in modern fiction. I’ll leave you to Google that on your own.  However, the nix is usually male water spirit (or water demon), and they always seem to be shapeshifters. (Nixies are female river mermaids and a rather different critter, in case the slight difference in names confuses anyone.) 

I started letting my own nix mythology take form, and my nix is going to be a unique and formidable character as the queen’s rook.  Since one of his powers is the ability to lure people with the soothing music of his violin (that’s out of established mythology, not my head)… well, Pepper Riley’s life might get really interesting.  The relationship that was about to bud between her and Bheema in part 1 might have competition. 

CGI from Teagan

I didn’t plan to identify the “king” pieces, but the castling move requires a rook as well as a king.  So, I may have just put myself in zugzwang.

At first the magic barber pole was thought to be the king’s bishop, but Moccus took it apart when the bad guys got it.  Enoch was intended have actually been that bishop (none of the other chessmen were artifacts).  However, Enoch was just coming into the scene when we stopped part 1.  To make the “castling fit with that plot-bit, he might have to be the king (for the game only), rather than the bishop.  I’m relieved that I didn’t definitely state his chessman in the story.  Whomever the king is, he would be in as much jeopardy as Pepper.

Enoch Metatron overalls looking away CGI
Enoch Metatron, CGI from Teagan

Does this post and my yammering about research, mythology, and chess terms mean anything?  I hope it means that the next serial will begin soon.  Although I’m afraid to set any dates or deadlines for myself.  Maybe some of your random reader things, will lead me to the identity of the king chessman.  

On Saturday, November 4th, I’ll be at the No Facilities virtual bar with Dan Antion and the crew.  Dan had great questions for me about A Peril in the Bayou.

It’s so close to my favorite holiday that I’ll go ahead and send my wishes now.  Happy Halloween!  Hugs.

♣ ♣ ♣

If you’ll recall, I bookized part one of the serial.  So, I’m not going to do much in the way of recaps or reminders when/before I start the next part.  If you haven’t followed the serial, the book is a perfect way to start.  Because the e-book allows for searching terms, it is a cheap and easy way to refresh or catchup. 

Atonement in Zugzwang, Book 1

Universal Purchase Link
Kindle: relinks.me/B0CHNX2X6T

Paperback  relinks.me/B0CHL7DL6Q

Have a splendid new week.  Hugs!

♣ ♣ ♣

The rest of the Atonement Series

Atonement kindle covers Cat eyes shelf 2023

Atonement, Tennessee

Full series of e-books with one click:  relinks.me/B087JV25JT

Kindle:  rxe.me/HGSVA8A

Paperback: relinks.me/1481826948

Also in Spanish, translated by Olga Núñez Miret! The title for the Spanish-speaking market is Expiación y Magia

Atonement in Bloom

Kindle:  rxe.me/5RRBLH

Paperback:  relinks.me/1726882128

The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee

Kindle   rxe.me/LTBDNH

Paperback   relinks.me/1725891972

♣ ♣ ♣

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2023 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or used with permission, or from free sources.

59 thoughts on “Atonement Serial Research”

  2. Just finished reading Diana’s review (D.Wallace Peach) of Book 2 A Peril in The Bayou….great review!! I must say your process is very intensive and deep. I admire your process and your completed work! Thanks for sharing!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I do love the Atonement story, David — and I felt I was doing good quality work with it. However, it just seems like my heart is not in writing serials anymore… and serials are my “blog schtick.” Thanks for visiting. Have a happy Halloween. Hugs.

      Like

      Reply

  11. Hi Teagan, writing a book isn’t mental rest, but you did a great job and I see you had two new reviews this week for A Peril in the Bayou. Congratulations. The chess all sounds very complicated and I never learned to play the game but your explanations do make sense and I do know how to set up a chess board. Have a wonderful Halloween.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. Making stuff up isn’t easy. I am amazed by your research. Even more amazing will be when you lay it out in front of us. Hearing you describe the thises and thats in your mind is making me eager for the story. But I can wait until it’s ready.

    PS, I just finished ‘A Peril in the Bayou’ – Excellent!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Why thank you, Dan. I was afraid this post was just a lot of babble. I’m looking forward to my visit at your blog next weekend. I updated this post to include a mention of that. (When I wrote the post several days ago, I was thinking the visit was farther out.)
      I’m tickled pink that you liked “A Peril in the Bayou.” Big hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. It’s good to see you, Dave. Thanks very much! Creating the chessmen for this story was huge fun for me. I can’t resist a mythology mashup, and I have everything from (Hindu) Ganesha to (Native American) Wendigo to (Greek) the Erymanthian Boar. My inner would-be jewelry designer also had a field day describing them. I wish my artistic skills were up to the task of making an image of the entire chessboard, but I fall very short there. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  23. Yes, you’ve been busy, and you’ve got me thinking about what might come next. I’m even more intrigued now. I look forward to it whenever it is ready. Take care, big hugs, and love to Daphne and Velma.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.