NaNoWriMo is taking place right now. I'm participating. 
And I am an idiot: I have a whole lot going on.
I'm polishing Mourningtide, I am doing a once-over on a (Civil War) novel that will be on KDP Select as a freebie later this month, and I signed up to write a minimum of 1700 words a day to produce 50,000 words in 30 days. (1700 words works out to about six printed pages). It's do-able if you work steadily, but in this case I am also working at a day job.
I'm giving it my best shot, and I think I can do it, but if one thing or another has to go Kadesh will be the casualty.
Which reminds me: Kadesh is a working title. Fans of Egyptian history will know that it was the battle that Ramesses II touted as his greatest triumph. The Hittites, whom he fought, were equally emphatic about their 'successs'. My read is that two superpowers met and mauled each other, though Ramesses probably had the shock of his life in the process. (There's a strong indication that his father, Seti I, died of a heart condition, and I've used that supposition in my own 'family history' to account for some deaths. It would appear, though, based on what happened at Kadesh, that Ramesses did not have a weak heart. He survived the shock of seeing the Hittite army breaking through the palisades of his camp.)
I'm telling this story from the point of view of lesser characters. Hori (Amunhorkhepechef) as a nineteen-year-old Crown Prince is given nominal command of one of the armies. Others of his brothers (Ramses and Montuhirkhopechef, who died prior to the opening of Pharaoh's Son) are in high command in other armies. Khaemwaset ('Khay' in Pharaoh's son, and the most well known, historically, of Ramesses' sons) is with his father, being all of fifteen years old.
It's important to understand strategy, but this event shaped Ramesses' reign and world history. It turned him from being a 'warrior king' (though he tried) to being a true statesman, where his greatness lay.
So I'm writing Kadesh. I truly must redo the temporary cover, but it's a decent placeholder for now.
My website has sample chapters that I've whacked out. Hori seems to be taking center stage just at the moment. (I know him rather well). Check them out here:
Diana,
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you are posting this morning tells all your friends that you are okay after the horrendous events that devastated much of the East Coast.
"Kadesh" immediately intrigued me; love the mystery the exotic locale evokes. Hope you keep writing so we can read it soon.