Category Archives: Delfaerune Rhapsody

Ann’s work-in-progress, a young-adult fantasy adventure series about a young New Zealander discovers she’s the “Maestra” in the fae realm of Delfaerune, destined to retrieve and master three ancient Maori instruments, and use her strong Earth connection and unique musical prowess to save her worlds.
Book 1: The Song of the Ocarina (due in late 2013)
Book 2: The Beat of the Påkiri
Book 3: The Thrum of the Autangi

Find your Dark Fae name

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Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone. Can you guess what rock star's name played muse for my antagonist's identity? Comment below.

Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone. Can you guess what rock star’s name played muse for my antagonist’s identity? Comment below.

For my pending Song of the Ocarina novel, I picked Dark Fae character names based on famous, and even some burned-out, rock and rollers. Think long hair, studded black leathers, tattoos and piercings.

Use the first letter of your first name, for either a guy or a gal, then use the first letter of your last name.

Example:
As a gal, my first name starts with A, so my Dark Fae first name is Jett.
My last name starts with V, so my so my Dark Fae surname is Rotten.
That makes me Jett Rotten.

GUYS GALS SURNAME
A       Motorhead

B       Bowie

C       Davyd Lee

D       Vynce

E       Jym

F       Skidd

G       Iggie

H       Mikk

I        Ronney

J       Keyth

K       Stevinn

L       Blackie

M      Chrys

N       Alyiss

O       Myke

P       Kert

Q       Eddy

R       Black

S       Axyl

T       Ozzy

U       Iron

V       Chryss

W      Elvish

X       Def

Y       Phyl

Z       Motley

 A       Jett

B       Nikki

C       Phair

D       Rhiki

E       Byorc

F       Siouxsie

G       Thyn Lizzy

H       Indigo

I        Boney

J       Jewyl

K       Sherr

L       Zola

M      Runaway

N       Janys

O       Inez

P       Tyna

Q       Mad Donna

R       Jhoan

S       Lyz

T       Cass

U       Exene

V       Chryssie

W      Shinayde

X       Queen

Y       Alanys

Z       Motley

 A       Morryson

B       Joplyn

C       Hendryx

D       Moon

E       Lawless

F       Winehouse

G       Crue

H       Pretender

I        Hynde

J       Osbourne

K       Banshee

L       Maiden

M      Kreeper

N       Wild

O       Whitesnake

P       Cyclone

Q       Guns

R       Thorne

S       Ness

T       Leeroth

U       Sabbath

V       Rotten

W      Distortion

X       Ratt

Y       Sixx

Z       Poison

Can you come up with a better Dark Fae name yourself? Please share.

Help create Roshambo hand symbols for NZ fae characters

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Image courtesy of Kittikun Atsawintarangkul at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Kittikun Atsawintarangkul at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

OK, friends, I could use your help again with content for my Song of the Ocarina novel. My heroine Lark has two bodyguards, Leif and Sonny, who Roshambo to decide who must carry Lark’s shopping packages. They each smack their palm twice and, on the third beat, open into a representative hand symbol. What symbols/hand gestures would these Noble Fae use?

In the U.S. we use these:

  • Rock (breaks scissors) with fist
  • Paper (covers rock) with flat palm
  • Scissors (cuts paper) with middle and index fingers extended like a peace sign

Consider:

  • My characters reside within the country of Zealynd (on a different plane, but the same geographical location as New Zealand in the human realm).
  • The fae are attuned to nature, magic, and animals.
  • They are influenced by the Maori culture.

So, maybe my fae could use fern leaves, daggers and stones? Or something more creative? What can you suggest?

In the comments below, suggest a set of symbols and hand gestures for my fae to use for this game in the realm of Delfaerune. If I use your suggestion, I’ll include your name in the Acknowledgements page of my published novel. 🙂

Fae react to iPod, in “Song of the Ocarina” excerpt

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Lark and her ever-present iPod, as illustrated by John Taylor.

Lark and her ever-present iPod, as illustrated by John Taylor.

The first time I heard about an iPod, I thought, “Great. Another electronic contraption I’ll need to manage.” [sigh] Really. I could not wait not to have one. Of course, now that I understand how the elegant and useful device truly serves me, it never leaves my side.

In the first book in my Delfaerune Rhapsody series of young-adult novels, Song of the Ocarina, my heroine Lark Tūrehu (pronounced “to-are-air-who) introduces the concept of an iPod to her sister B’rook. Here’s a book excerpt showing her reaction:

Lark’s heightened emotion pushed all thoughts from her mind, and she suddenly blanked on how to start this conversation with her sister. Reaching for calm, she merged her energy with one of the ripples on the pond, now smoothing after its choreographed orchestration. The bright flare in her aura settled it into a calm glow. With a deep breath, she reached down to turn off her iPod.

“What the heck is that thing, Lark? You’ve had it on both times I’ve seen you since I got back. Another human habit you can’t quite get rid of?”

Lark touched the iPod attached to her waistband, and smiled begrudgingly.

“Actually, you’re right, B’rook. This is an iPod, an electronic music player. It goes with me everywhere now. I can pull up any song I want, from any of my favorite artists, at any time, as long as I’ve loaded them into this device.”

B’rook frowned, but with interest. She probably wanted to hate it, but couldn’t get past her weakness for human rock music, which the girls had developed as small children in their tutored Human Culture class.

“Beatles?”

“Yes.”

“Van Halen?”

Lark nodded, smiling. “Even Linkin Park.”

B’rook’s gaze devoured the device.

“Here, give it a try.” Lark held out the ear buds to her sister, who placed them in her ears. Lark dialed up “Faint,” her sister’s favorite Linkin Park song, wondering if B’rook’s eyes could widen any further.

After a few moments, B’rook grinned and returned the earbuds. “I may just have to pick me up one of those.”

“In the meantime, sis’, I have something to distract you.”

“Oh?”

“In honor of our return, and the successful retrieval of the Sacred Pākiri drum, our Magistra of Glamour and Administrator of Protocol are planning a masquerade ball.”

How did/would you react the first time you saw an iPod work?

Mikk Stone, Final Reveal (#5)

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Delfaerune Rhapsody series’
full character profile of antagonist
Mikk Stone.

Debut of Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone, by John Taylor.

Debut of Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone, by John Taylor.

Age: 22

Stature: 6’9” tall

Race:
A Dark Fae—the tall, wingless, magical people sometimes called “Rotters” by their Noble Fae cousins in Delfaerune.

Residence:
Mikk lives on a plane parallel to Queenstown, New Zealand, in the fae land of Delfaerune.  There —in Queens’tyn, Zealynd—extinct and mythical creatures thrive, sentient foliage energize the Noble Fae, and speaking animals lend magical glamour to the Dark Fae. His current home is a cave with an every-day mosh pit concert.

Family:
Born to a well-known Dark Fae family, Mikk is the older brother to Noel who abandoned his family to join the Noble Fae. He works to magically control his brother, who defected to the Noble Fae to teach music to the future Maestra.

Job:
He’s a drummer in a band, but would rather jam and party with his friends than actually find gigs where he can play as a drummer. Power-hungry Mikk leads a group of Dark Fae in a subversive scheme to take over the human realm.

Strengths: Musical skill and powerful glamour (magic)

Flaw: Self-centered and egotistic

Quirk: Loves human rock stars, and emulates them

Animal familiar: “Eddy,” a young silver dragon (extinct in the human realm)

Love interest: Mikk likes to hang out with his groupies.

…………………………………………………

Mikk Stone is the young Dark Fae antagonist in the Delfaerune Rhapsody series—my young-adult, fantasy-adventure trilogy-in-progress. His story begins in Song of the Ocarina, the first book in the series, due out in late 2013.

Watch in the coming days for more character information about the trilogy. Also watch Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Back to Reveal #4             To Noel Stone Final Reveal           To Lark Tūrehu Final Reveal

Mikk Stone, Reveal #4

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Can you tell from John Taylor's partial image Mikk is the story's antagonist?

Can you tell from John Taylor‘s partial image Mikk is the story’s antagonist?

Reveal #4: Mikk’s band of troublemakers stole forbidden magical spellbooks from the Delfaerune leadership, and their misuse is unbalancing the worlds.

All of Mother Earth’s realms—including humans, fae and “extinct” animals like the moa, dragons and phoenix—become endangered by Mikk’s attempt to use dark spells.

The Dark Fae plans unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #3                                          To Reveal #5

Mikk Stone, Reveal #3

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Reveal #3: Mikk always carries drumsticks, and uses them to control Eddy, his dragon “familiar.”

Eddy's hiding behind this partial image of Mikk by John Taylor.

Eddy hides behind Mikk in this partial image by John Taylor.

Eddy is a young silver dragon who takes battle direction from Mikk, who uses his drumsticks like conductor batons. In his direction, Mikk also incorporates legendary human rock-star moves like the windmill guitar strum, the runway strut, and others.

The Dark Fae antagonist’s story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #2                                          To Reveal #4

Mikk Stone, Reveal #2

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Reveal #2: Mikk is a drummer who loves to party. He uses his drumsticks as conductor batons to direct… something very unusual.

Mikk's drumsticks are always nearby. Illustration by John Taylor.

Mikk’s drumsticks are always tucked in a pocket. Illustration by John Taylor.

He and his rebel Dark Fae buddies stole magical tools controlled by the Noble Fae, and experiment with them to get what they want, even if the consequences lead to the breakdown of their own world.

His best friend, Axyl Thorne, is Delfaerune’s most famous—and handsome singer/songwriter.

His story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #1                                          Reveal #3

Mikk Stone, Reveal #1

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A snippet of Mikk's image, by John Taylor.

A snippet of Mikk’s image, by John Taylor.

Reveal #1: Mikk Stone leads the Dark Fae movement to take over the human world.

He uses glamoured music and Earth connections long banned in the fae realm to influence human propogation.

Brother to the Delfaerune Rhapsody hero, Noel, this edgy Dark Fae role models himself after burned-out human rock stars, wearing black jeans, black leather jackets with silver  studs, and immersing his evenings in heavy metal music and groupies.

His story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

To Reveal #2

Noel Stone, Final Reveal (#5)

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Delfaerune Rhapsody series’
full character profile of hero
Noel Stone.

The debut of Noel Stone, by John Taylor.

The debut of Noel Stone, by John Taylor.

Age: 20

Stature: 6’7” tall

Race:
A former Dark Fae—the tall, wingless, magical people sometimes called “Rotters” by their Noble Fae cousins.

Residence:
Noel lives on a plane parallel to Queenstown, New Zealand, in the fae land of Delfaerune.  There, in Queens’tyn, extinct and mythical creatures thrive, sentient foliage energize the Noble Fae, and speaking animals lend magical glamour to the Dark Fae.

Family:
Born to a well-known Dark Fae family, Noel decided to abandon his family for a more noble life teaching music to Lark, the future Delfaerune “Maestra.” His brother Mikk leads a scheme to take over the human realm.

Job:
Noel took a job as a cowboy/sheep shearer in Queenstown, NZ, while guarding Lark in the human world. In Delfaerune, he could have been the realm’s “Maestro,” but saw more potential in Lark, so chose to become her teacher and Delfaerune’s Music Director.

Strengths: Musical skill and mentor, goodness despite all appearances

Flaw: Dark Fae lineage

Quirk: Plays harmonica and hums constantly

Animal familiar: “Shadow,”a young ostrich-like moa (extinct in the human realm).

Love interest: Lark Tūrehu, the one Noble Fae with the musical prowess and a powerful enough magical Earth connection to save their worlds.

………………………………………………….

Noel Stone is the young Dark Fae-turned-Noble hero in the Delfaerune Rhapsody series—my young-adult, fantasy-adventure trilogy-in-progress. His story begins in Song of the Ocarina, the first book in the series, due out in late 2013.

Watch in the coming days for more character information about Noel’s Dark Fae brother, the evil Mikk Stone. Also watch Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Back to Reveal #4                                To Mikk Stone Reveal #1

Noel Stone, Reveal #4

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Is he good or bad? Love John Taylor's interpretation of Noel.

I love how John Taylor captured the two sides to Noel in just his eyes.

Reveal #4: Noel could have been Delfaerune’s Dark “Maestro,” but he chose to use his musical skills and Earth-magic connection for good, instead.

Noel is a hero, but on which side? Does he stay on the side of the Noble Fae, or help his brother Mikk Stone take over the humans with dark glamour (magic)?

You’ll find out in Song of the Ocarina, the first book in my Delfaerune Rhapsody young-adult, fantasy-adventure series-in-progress, due out in late 2013.

Watch for Noel’s final character image — plus, image reveals of Mikk coming up. Also watch Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Back to Reveal #3                                To Final Reveal (#5)