Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Untouchable Playlist

The music selection this time around has helped me a great deal with the writing of Untouchable—some even inspired entire scenes and storylines, pulling me even further into Troy’s world. Here are a few of the songs I listened to while writing Untouchable:

1.  “Turning Tables” — Adele
2.  “Breakeven”— The Script
3.  “Not Over You” — Gavin DeGraw
4.  “The Violet Hour”— Sea Wolf
5.   “Before The Worst”— The Script
6.   “The Shard”— Steve Jablonsky
7.   “Apologize” — One Republic
8.   “Seven Nation Army (Remix)” — The Glitch Mob
9.   “Burn It Down” — Linkin Park
10.  “Born To Be Somebody”— Justin Bieber
11.  “You Make Me Feel…” — Cobra Starship
12.  “Someone like You” — Adele
13.  “#Stupidfacedd” — Wallpaper
14.  “One and Only” — Adele
15. “Letters from the Sky” — Civil Twilight

Monday, September 08, 2014

The Story Behind Untouchable

**A note: if you haven't read Untouchable and you don't want to be spoiled, do not continue to read this.**

Writing a sequel is always a different experience than writing a one-shot story.

As I’ve explained in The Story Behind Invincible, the story in general just sprang up on me. This was not the kind of story I had planned on writing; originally it was just supposed to be a side project as I did other things. But as I wrote it, I began to get more involved in the story, and once that happened, it became my main priority.

I was so wrapped up in Troy’s story that while I was writing, I began to think about what would happen before it even happened. This whole process happened during the writing of Invincible, and even though I was still in the beginning of the story, I sort of knew what was going to happen to Troy by the end of it. Once I knew that, I fast forwarded to what would happen next after Invincible and what else would happen to Troy.

It was kind of ridiculous, really, but the character and his story was so amazing, so great to write, that I just had to continue the story. If I hadn’t done it, I would’ve never forgave myself, nor would have Troy and his family, so from there, I knew what I had to do.

So, as I was in the middle of Invincible, I began to sketch out Untouchable and some of book three, and asked myself, "What happened?"

Frankly, I was surprised by the answer because it was giving me a story I wasn’t quite expecting. More importantly, Troy did something I wasn’t expecting.

I should probably mention to you guys that I am a character writer. Having such strong, rich, developed characters motive me every day to write. Though sometimes it can be hard having a sense of who your characters are, and putting them in a situation that’s out of their nature. Sometimes the good writers, I’ve learned, are the ones that accept their characters truthfully.

As I started plotting Untouchable, it became clear to me that in Invincible, Troy commits to becoming a superhero, without ever once thinking about what price he'll have to pay. Once I knew that, I realized that the focus would be Troy’s discovery of this, with deadly consequences following it.

One of the first things I knew Troy would have to sacrifice was his relationship with Taylor, meaning that they would have to break up.

But it was so hard for me. I didn't want them to break up. I tried the best I could to talk him out of it, trying to figure out a way to save them. But that didn’t happen because Troy continued to refuse me. That goes to show you how much of a character writer I am, and that was one of those decisions where I had to accept Troy’s choice, no matter how I disagreed with him.

But as I got closer to writing it, I realized that maybe Troy was right to do that. You see, Troy cares about Taylor deeply, and the very thought of her being in danger terrifies him, (while, deep down, he believes he's not good enough for her). The fight with the Catchers acted as an example of the former, forcing him to put her safety first before their relationship. Although he loves Taylor, he was determined to save her life, and thought the best way to do that was to leave her.

Is he overreacting? In some ways, yes. Is he stupid to do it? Absolutely. But he couldn't see any other way to protect Taylor. No matter how strong and powerful he is, he always fears Taylor being used as his weakness, making him valuable to his enemies.

So there I was, facing the idea of Troy leaving Taylor. It was hard for me to accept, but once I got over it, an interesting question fell into my hands.

If Troy left Taylor because he loved her so much, how would he react afterwards? What would you do if your true love, not some school romance and not some random girl, but your true love has left you?
This was one of the questions I needed Troy to answer. What would Troy Conner do when he leaves his true love?  And more importantly, how would this affect his other relationships? How will this affect his responsibility as Lion-Man?

And so the premise of Untouchable came into being, along with its title. To follow up with Invincible, which title reflected Troy’s feeling, I needed something else to reflect the spirit of the story. As Troy feels he can’t be touched, in spite of all the things in his life falling apart, I thought it would be appropriate to name the book after Troy’s feelings in the story.

Now for those of you who have read Untouchable, by now you’re probably upset about what transpires in the story, whether it be the rift in Troy and Taylor’s relationship, the confrontations between him and Jack, and all the other intense situations that are placed on his shoulders throughout. It’s not that I love inflicting negative feelings on my characters (though what good book doesn’t contain harsh conflict?) but I knew these trials would have much effect on Troy that I knew had to be resolved and carried on through the rest of the series.  

In Invincible, Troy wholeheartedly commits to becoming a superhero, without ever once thinking about what price he'll have to pay. In Untouchable, Troy has to face the consequences of that choice. So every aspect of the novel—every character, every action sequence, every decision—revolves around this storyline.

Without all the lives lost because of him, and the presence of the villain, Whirlpool, Troy would’ve never learned what it means to hang onto hope and the morals he values most, gaining a strong sense of his beliefs and learning to mend with each pain instead of crumbling.  And without the separation, Troy may have never realized how much he’s underestimated Taylor’s feelings for him, and that they both have a hand in choosing to be with each other. No matter what obstacles stand in the way or how imperfect he thinks he is for her, Troy learns she wants to be with him.

With this, Troy gets a step closer to where he (and myself) needs himself to be going into the conclusion of his journey.

At that point, with all these things simmering in my head, I soon began to write them on the page. *shaking my head* If only things were that simple.

When I wrote the first book, no one really knew what is was or really expecting it.  With Untouchable, it was pretty much the same thing. Then halfway through the writing, Invincible came out, and it hit me immediately that people were going to read it. So the editing process proved to be a little more difficult (due to the book being written on and off for two years because of putting out the first book, school, ect.) and put it in perspective for me how much every little scene, dialogue, sentence needed to work.

Not that it’s a bad problem to have. In fact, to be in the position I’m in is the best. It’s very hard to explain what writing these books have meant to me, having the dream of telling stories coming to reality after wishing upon them since you were a five-year old kid. Sometimes people (random or members of my family) complement me on accomplishing so much at such a young age, and I really don’t how to react to it. It’s honestly never something that crosses my mind a lot, even though I’m constantly reminded of it.

It may seem naïve of me, but I don’t write for the prospect of getting noticed at a young age, or for monetary gain (though it is a nice perk). I write purely because I love to tell stories, and its moments where I see people reading the book or messaging me to tell me how much they love it and connect to what it says that move me the most. Or when I get my hands on the finished copy for the first time, flipping through the pages, staring at the cover, seeing my name at the bottom of it, that makes me realize, “this is doesn’t happen to everyone. You should be proud.”

For instance, writing one book alone is something to be proud of. Not many people can have the perseverance to do it, or have the right story, or the platform to present it. You essentially have to take a leap of faith. So once you write a second book, you basically have to do the same thing over again, but can use what you’ve learned from your first experience to make it easier and improve.

At this moment in time, I’ve learned a lot through my experience of writing the first two books, helping me grow and mature as a writer. With this knowledge, writing book three, which I’m in the middle of working on, is an easier and exciting process, and I can’t wait to bring you guys the finale that lies ahead!   

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Finished Copy of Untouchable!

Earlier this evening, I was at my grandma’s house sitting in a room watching my newly purchased blu-ray edition of Divergent (which I’ve watched 6 times today!) Then my younger sister knocked on the door and told me that a package arrived from the FedEx guy, handing it to me.

In that moment, I knew it was THE package.  The finished copy of Untouchable!
FYI, for those who don’t know, writers tend to get their own books early because, well…you know.
So anyway, after struggling to cut away the straps from the box with a nail file, and ripping through the inside protective layers with my own fingernails, I found…
The finished copy of Untouchable!

Here it is with its big brother:


And another with them showing their spines (Ohhhh!)

And as if teasing you guys isn’t enough, I’ll just show you the back cover.

You can’t tell you guys how surreal this experience has been writing these books, from last year when i was holding the first book in my hands and later releasing the book and the readers' reaction to it, to now having the second book in my hands and waiting once again to see how they respond to it. I’ll probably go more into detail with this leading into the release of the book, but at the moment, I’m the happiest guy in the world, witnessing my dreams coming true.
Just four more weeks!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

UNTOUCHABLE Cover!

You may have seen this on the Invincible facebook page already, but the cover of Untouchable has been revealed, and I thought it would be a good idea to give you guys a brief commentary about it. So for those of you who haven’t seen it yet:

Andy (cover designer)…if you’re reading this, you are the man.

Some of the things I can say about the cover:

I love it, and I think it’s amazing! (If I do say so, myself.)

The watch is an awesome design. (Short note, this particular object appears in the book, unlike the hand on the cover of Invincible. Unfortunately I can't share anymore than that.)

As with the crack on the face of the watch, I can't say anything about that either--that’s something you'll REALLY have to read it for yourself.

I also appreciate the color of the background (the cloudish blue that I think that so perfectly matches what lies within the pages), and that its image, just like the first cover, is powerful enough to make people want to the grab it, which I am really excited about. 


AHH! I can’t wait!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Book 2 News

I’m so relieved to finally announce some new book news.

So, here it is…

The title of the INVINCIBLE sequel is...






UNTOUCHABLE!

I think the title itself is pretty self-explanatory, but I won't tell you how exactly it relates to the book yet.

And I’m also excited to confirm another detail…

UNTOUCHABLE is scheduled to release September 2, 2014.

Fingers crossed I can get the edits done in time.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Finished Drafts

Hey guys! I’m sorry for not updating in a while, but trust me it’s all been for good reasons (sorry for saying that all the time, too).
I just wanted to tell you guys that I finally finished the first draft of Book 2 on Sunday! Can I get a yeah buddy?
*Awkward silence*
No. Oh well.
YEAH BUDDY!
Now there’s still a lot of work to do--this baby has MANY rounds of editing done ahead before it gets out in the wild. 
Damn it! If only I could it all done in one go. But hey…I guess that’s just the motion *in Drake voice*.
Anyway, updates will be coming pretty soon on its process and release date, but really, guys…I just can’t believe that it’s done,and I'm so excited with the way it’s turning out. 

I can’t wait for you guys to read it! 

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Best of 2013...And Beyond!

2013, unfortunately, your time has come to an end. Don’t worry, your passing will not be in vain. You’ve left some great entertainment and memories in your wake. Perhaps I could reminisce with you of those times, and maybe the hopes of 2014 if you’re up for it.

Favorite books of 2013:


Harken, by Kaleb Nation: If no one’s heard of this book, I really don’t know what to say. “No soup for you,” perhaps? But honestly, I really enjoyed this book. I found Kaleb’s writing very interesting, and his plotting and character development were just great for words. No book has really made me more cautious of the world around me since The Hunger Games, so thanks Kaleb!



Allegiant, by Veronica Roth: I don’t think words can describe how I felt when I read Allegiant. I had so many expectations leading up to its release that I wasn’t sure if they were going to be met or not. To my surprise, not only did they meet them, they surpassed them. And even though its conclusion was unexpected and heart wrenching, now that I’ve had distance from it for a while, I can honestly say that Veronica Roth’s created one of the best series finale in modern history, right up there next to Harry Potter for Christ’s sake! 

Favorite movies of 2013:
Man of Steel: This movie was everything I needed from a Superman film and more! And also the fact that it inspired Invincible, makes me even pleased.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: By far, the best of the series! Like seriously, it was so close to the book, I got chills in the movie theater. Thanks Francis Lawrence! You didn’t let me down.

Books I'm looking forward to in 2014:
Harvest, by Kaleb Nation: The suspense is killing me! Just tell me that Michael and Callista become a couple! That’s all I ever wanted!

Movies I'm looking forward to in 2014:
Divergent: I’ve seen every set picture, the trailers, like, 50 times each, and have already pre-ordered some of the movie merchandise. Seriously, I peeing my pants waiting to see this.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2: I don’t care what people say! If even for a fraction, I believe Jamie Foxx’s performance will be what Heath Ledger’s was to The Dark Knight.

The Fault in Our Stars: If my experience from reading the book is any indication, I might be needing a backpack full of tissues to make it through this movie.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1: My dear Tributes, I think it'd be best that we don't lie to each other. We are all anticipating Josh Hutcherson’s performance as Peeta more than anything else.
There’s also a few personal things to look forward to. ACT exams, learning to drive, and maybe (fingers crossed) the release of the Invincible sequel!

So, yeah, I think it’s going to be another good year.