Hello, Readers!!! Clevenger here.

So, we’re talking about our “must-haves,” our “core” ideas, the essential topics that we won’t change in this story for anyone. And well, Graham said a lot of them. Because, as this story has merged, I realized that so much of what made it special was things we expanded from some of Graham’s original seeds. My contributions weren’t as (heavily air quoted because sarcasm states they shouldn’t be, but somehow society keeps making them be) “controversial.” So they had a bit of malleability.

Symon (as previously discussed), has always been the core. The biggest “no-give” situation for him was a story element in what is now Book 2. It became a discussion point between Graham and I because it was challenging to write properly, and was causing a bit of extra work. It was important to me, but not as much to him. Eventually, he saw what I was trying to do, and we agreed to keep it. But that’s the closest “hill” I had to fight for. (Sorry for the vagueness, but it’s a SPOILER).

The rest of the hills became fresh developments. Characters like Thorn, Moria, Zenesul, and Rakar who grew under our guidance and became essential to the backdrop. I cannot think of our story without them. They have become lenses to the story that can help shift perspective and give a broader base to the events that are happening in the lives of our Main Characters (MCs). And while they may continue to evolve, I don’t think that I could ever see them removed.

Through this process, I have grown to feel strongly about Jesse. Graham’s thief, his street rat, the center of his gay romance. Symon is my perspective in this arc. A young man who is learning more about who he is, and discovering his family. But fantasy has explored the “adventurers” journey of this character for decades. Jesse is what makes our story shine. The development of his relationships, his friendship with Symon, and giving a clear representation of an unapologetic gay boy living an open life made a real impact on me. Knowing that I have friends and family who have limited representation in sci-fi and fantasy narratives made me aware that I have always been able to identify with the “traditional” characters arcs.

So, this became my hill, as well as Graham’s. I want our characters to show how normal relationships it can complicate lives because of the emotions involved, not because of any gender-bias or sexual orientation. How do we build a platonic, caring, vulnerable, and deep relationship between our two MCs?Easy. The 20+ years of friendship with Graham became our template for Jesse and Symon’s relationship.

Graham and I have come to this place together over writing this project together. As he said, if he were to walk away, this project would falter. I wouldn’t be able to pull Symon out of it, not without Jesse, not without Highston, not without Graham. They are linked. If one of us were to fall, the other would likely do their best to honor the message that we built together. I had to think about that more openly while Graham had his medical scares mere months ago. But this is OUR story. As long as we are both still breathing, we can only do it together.

Well, that ended downward. Hold on, let’s liven this back up…

Sainan is Graham and I’s baby. We are clearly passionate about it, and the story we are telling there. I hope that is evident. Understanding what it means to us may give you better insight into our characters as you read it. I think identifying what we will fight for shows why this project has been so successful for us so far. To know that we put a story out in the world, only if it’s read by us and a handful of friends, that has importance to our living message of support and love.

Alright, that’s better. Next, we’ll see where Graham steers us.

Be kind,

-Clevenger