So, where do I begin?
Alterum 2 was released a few months after Alterum 1, and in between that time, I was working on several other books. Because of it, I ended up forgetting a lot of Alterum 1’s world and history. I have a ton of messy notes, but it became a bit too difficult to remember what was right and what needed to be changed. To get around this, I created a wiki. Most TV shows, books or games have their own wiki. I’ve heard of some authors checking their fan-made wikis for reminders and information, and that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t have a fan wiki, so I made my own personal one that is saved onto my computer. It’s filled with information about each character, clan, location, events and more. Basically, anything I needed was in there. It was an easy way for me to check up to date information on the series. Anything in that wiki was basically set in stone, even if I hadn’t mentioned it in books yet.
Moving on, let’s talk about the name, The Mineral Continent. Obviously, it’s named after the Gold and Silver clan, but that was never going to be the name of the book.
Some other possible names were:
“The Quiet Islands.”
“The Quiet Sea.”
“The Silent Lands.”
I decided to change the name because 99% of the story takes place in the Mineral Continent. It felt strange to name it after the sea when only the first bit is there.
Next, let’s discuss parts of the story.
To start, the departure scene at the start was inspired by the beginning of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. At the start of the game, Link departs and sees his sad grandmother watching helplessly as Link goes out to save his sister. You can easily see the similarities between the departure in Alterum 2 and Wind Waker.
As for the crew, it was originally going to be a proper crew of 20 or so people. I can’t remember why I changed it. I just preferred the smaller more developed cast instead of throwaway unnamed nobodies. You may read the boat sections and think it’s rushed, and you might be right. But had I spent any longer on it, then it would have been super boring.
The boat is the first part of their long journey into pain and terror. The characters have changed since they started their journey in book 1, and it shows. Zac’s matured whilst Ryan and Sally are determined to see their goal to the end.
Speaking of characters, let’s talk about Sandy. Sandy is an interesting character who was only added because I thought she was cool. But her addition added a lot to the story and bonding of the characters. Although, her joining the team did mean someone else missed out, as originally Iris was to be where Sandy stood. Iris was going to join the crew, but I didn’t want to clutter it too much with too many new characters on the journey. I had to come up with a reason for the character to be there, and it kinda didn’t make much sense for Iris to join through Zac and Ryan. This is why she doesn’t join them and is instead kidnapped by Victoria. She is unknowingly dragged into the mess but not in the way I originally intended. But that’s perfect because this way works out better.
Typically, I was the type of writer to plan everything, but recently I’ve been just writing and going with it. I’ve been using little things from previous books that will become something bigger to help develop the story. I can’t say what’s best, because I believe that you should work in whatever way is best for you. If you can write, then go for it. If you like to plan, then also do that. I’ve recently used a bit of both and see what I can create in the moment.
Before I wrap up, let’s discuss two different chapters. First I want to discuss the chapter about Ryan’s past. This is one of my favourite chapters. I’ve always been a big fan of writing backstories. The history of the Valil was one said to be full of pain and violence, but in reality, we now see just how heartbreaking it really is. We get to see Ryan’s parents and the struggles they faced in a world that hated them. I can’t say if it’s well written, but I believe it’s my favourite chapter.
Finally, let’s discuss the final meeting. This book develops the world a ton. It answers many questions whilst also creating even more. And I think one of the best moments is the final meeting, where all the clan leaders are finally seen together. These people are the most powerful in the world, each with their own quirks and motivations. I intended it to be an epic meeting with a lot of tension. I don’t know if that came through, but it’s an important meeting that will shape the third and final novel.
I don’t think there is much else to discuss about this book. I recommend checking it out for yourself. I also don’t have a release date for the final book, book 3, but it will be sometime this year. Things have been pushed back as I’ve been taking a lot more on my plate recently. But so far, I’m yet to crumble under it. We’ll have to see. If you have any questions about the book, please ask below.
Thanks for reading. As always, my links are below and thank you very much for supporting me. I hope you’ll continue to do so. Don’t forget to like, comment and share as it helps me out a lot.
Once again, Thank you for reading.