Daniel Varona's Blog - Posts Tagged "fantasy"

Hey all!

On the 1st of February, my very first book is being published and it feels surreal. Since 2015, I have been working on a novel that turned into the Cycle of Eden series. What the story was then has totally changed but thinking about the journey we as authors go on to finish a novel is nothing short of valuable. As excited as I am about you getting the 1st Part of this series, there is still so much I have to share with you all that needs to be published! My three other parts, written beginning to end, are also waiting to be released. From very early on, I planned out how I wanted this tale to end, using it as a goal post to fill in the gaps easier, using that as a path to follow. As fast paced as my writing style is, almost like a script from a Video Game or Movie, every sentence has a purpose, some holding much bigger clues to world building elements than you think at the time. There are aspects and ideas mentioned in The Young Revolution that come back to bite the characters in Part 4, the Finale! That to me was the most fun part of writing this series, connecting those dots that strengthen the world's history. Nothing is forgotten, because I want this reading experience of the entire series to be rewarding beginning to end. I hope you all enjoy the character growth and high-octane action throughout. Thank you for checking out the first part of my series and I promise you will love Part 2's twist! While getting things situated as an author for The Young Revolution, I have been hard at work still reading Parts 2-4 daily to make this story as concrete as possible. I plan on doing an Author Reading of the entire prologue on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheLOAFSquad) so look forward to other content dealing with the series soon!
Peace and Love!

Recently, in order to make the world of Eden feel more concrete, I've been thinking and organizing thoughts about alternate paths or "What-If" scenarios. These are related to all the choices the characters "could" make but not the ones that are chosen in the Golden Path, a.k.a. the actual storyline. For Example, "What if Seth accepted to join Cain on the Airship escaping Haven at the beginning of The Young Revolution?" These outside the box thoughts are not only fun to think about but also help dig deeper into a character's motives and goals in the main storyline. I've tried hard with coming up with answers to these alternate storylines, but I will obviously miss a few. In the grand scheme this doesn't matter too much, but it's a fun activity to do when you need help with brainstorming or expounding certain sections you may feel are lacking. I wish I could speak about some of these answers here, but that is huge spoiler territory, so I'll have to hold off for now!

Daniel VaronaThe Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution

"A young warrior battles sinister forces in a world besieged by darkness in Varona’s fantasy debut and series launch."

"Lady Eve was once a queen in her utopian world of Eden. But evil has corrupted the Age of Light, and Eve now leads the Reclaimers in fighting to bring that Light back. A prophetic dream shows her that her youngest son, Seth, is the Chosen One who will ultimately triumph over the darkness. Eve trains him for combat, but a sudden attack at the Reclaimers’ base leaves most of them dead, and the boy is left alone. Six years later, Seth wanders the landscape with his trusty dog, Chase. He resolves to avenge his mother and all who’ve suffered, starting with taking out a diabolical group called the Hand of Sin. This pits him against the likes of Gomorrah, the Gluttonous King of Sodom, along with any number of deadly creatures and lethal mechanical beings. Luckily, he gathers allies along the way, including the skilled warrior Valentina and Ryder, who leads a band of “messengers” on their “speedy vehicles,” which resemble motorcycles. The author delivers an epic series opener reminiscent of the video games that served as his inspiration: Seth drinks a rejuvenating elixir; embarks on a side quest (winning a race to get a ride to the kingdom of Babylonia); and goes head-to-head with boss-level baddies like Gomorrah. The heroes engage in copious exhilarating action scenes as they battle ghouls, monsters sporting large “bone-like spikes,” and seriously depraved villains. Despite all of these evils, the story often feels lighthearted. Chase regularly converses with Seth; the text translates his barks (which Seth understands). The prose includes contemporary-sounding dialogue, breezy similes (a tremor shakes barracks “like a plucked guitar string”), and one-liners. The explosive final act ends on a stellar cliffhanger that will leave readers craving a sequel."

"A rollicking, otherworldly tale that’s only just getting started." — Kirkus Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

Daniel Varona
The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution

My debut action fantasy novel, The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution, recently received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for May 2023! This was awesome to see as an indie author, a real confidence booster as I start the publication process for its sequel!

Award Page: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/05/...

I also participated in a small interview that brings more insight of my investment and future with the Cycle of Eden series. The title of it is quoted from one of my answers, "Make My Readers Question That Norm."

Interview: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/26/...

You can read their amazing review of The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution on their website as well! Here is a sneak peek:
"Varona’s prose takes readers on an exhilarating ride as Seth and his companions encounter a host of creatively written monsters and face a variety of challenges that are both well-described and original. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the inner dialogue of the characters, particularly Seth, whose thoughts are laugh-out-loud funny and offer a lightness to the otherwise tense situations they find themselves in. The world-building and plot are intricately woven, and readers will appreciate the vivid descriptions of the various landscapes and characters that populate this richly imagined universe." - Literary Titan

Review: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/21/...

Daniel Varona

Hey Everyone!

Atmosphere Press released an interview I did with them that gives more behind the scenes insight and tips to aspiring indie authors. You can find the Interview here: https://atmospherepress.com/interview...

If you'd rather listen than read, I also made a video including this interview and an update on my debut novel, The Cycle of Eden: The Young Revolution.

I go over other reviews the book has received and my brand new Website!

Book #2 is soon to arrive in the coming months and I'm very excited for you to get your hands on it :)

Two Books Published in One Year!

I wasn’t lying whenever I said this entire series was already finished. Hopefully I can keep up this pace and I’ll have the entirety of the series released, all four parts, by next year!

With the stage set with my first release earlier this year, Two Sides of Corruption, Book #2 of my Action Fantasy series, The Cycle of Eden, picks up right where the previous cliffhanger left off. The journey expands to a whole other continent, and the heroes must confront a manipulative parasite brewing within their own community. Trust between loved ones is tested, emotions are high, and the suspense lingers from beginning to end!

Thank you so much to those who expressed their thoughts and left reviews for The Young Revolution! It helps a lot and motivates me to keep going. If you liked the first book, I promise you will LOVE the Two Sides of Corruption 😀

See you next year with Book #3!

Daniel Varona
The Cycle of Eden: Two Sides of Corruption

Bookview Review featured me in another Interview that delves into my thought process on Character Writing and how to approach writing a sequel to a series!
Interview Link: https://bookviewreview.com/2023/10/31...

1. Two Sides of Corruption deviates from the major plot line established in the previous book where the heroes were aiming to end the Hand of Sin regime. What caused you to shift the sequel’s direction?

I am a planner at heart, I love to have things ready ahead of time, sometimes even far in advance. However, no matter how far in advance we plan for certain things, life can/will suddenly change in the blink of an eye, and everything needs to be reevaluated. This premise is what occurs in the plot for Two Sides of Corruption after Seth and his friends realize he is corrupted by the very entity he was destined to destroy. He is vital to the Cycle of Eden due to the Seed of Light dwelling within him, so all the plans made by the heroes must be put on hold until they figure out how to handle the sudden issue of Seth’s health. This helped bring the focus away from the external conflict (The Hand of Sin) and made it more internal with the thoughts and feelings of the characters being more elaborate and necessary in understanding them as people. The characters relationships and bonds are put to the test, they must make hasty decisions in tense and dire situations which ultimately show where their loyalties fall. Character development is a major deal throughout the series, but I feel Two Sides of Corruption is where many readers will truly bond with the characters due to how emotionally invested they are in solving this new problem. Also, The Young Revolution had many moving parts and stories to set the stage as much as possible, but I wanted this sequel to have a common theme from beginning to end relating to the title of Corruption. The core subject or premise of a lingering threat is always there from start to finish, and the reader is always reminded to never feel safe around Seth. This is far different from Book #1 where Seth was a source of comfort and hope, but now the main hero needs those same qualities from his supporting cast who get a major boost in this novel. I wanted this sequel to feel like its own saga, which is my goal for each Book in this four-part series to keep it fresh for the readers.

2. Which character(s) were the most fun to write/develop in the sequel?

Ria and Duo, the two blessed children in the ways of Light and Dark, were both introduced towards the end of The Young Revolution. That only gave the readers a taste of their personalities and strengths, but now I was able to show the potential of their individual journeys and delve deeper into their characters. They are polar opposites, yet they are able to find comfort in the other because they come to understand that it’s their differences that make them strong. Both of these young teenagers are without a doubt the most powerful characters in the series. Because of that, what made writing them so fun was finding ways to limit their abilities, finding ways so they don’t overpower or crush the competition so easily. This is achieved throughout the novels via their individual personalities, through the fact that they are both growing kids still learning about the world and who they are. Like all characters should, Ria and Duo possess certain traits that make them stick out and determine what is more important to them in a situation compared to others. For example, we learn about Duo’s personal duty in Two Sides of Corruption. In a fighting scenario, there could be a moment where Duo could easily destroy the threat but will instead choose to stick by Ria’s side in order to not risk her getting hurt. Meanwhile, another character in that situation, such as the rambunctious Ryder, would dive right in with zero regard, and that is exactly what makes character writing and development so fun to me. Ria is on a whole other level technically because not only does she have her power under control compared to Duo, but she can literally do anything her creative, hyperactive mind comes up with. A power like this can be outstanding in the hands of a child, but at the same time Ria is a sweetheart that cares for the wellbeing of others and will choose to heal someone as her main priority over destruction. These are just two examples of how I limit them through their personalities, which makes it feel natural in the novel and the world itself. On top of this, they are both fun characters through their added banter which provides even more humorous and merry conversations with the entire cast. Children in storytelling have a purpose in representing a positive outlook and innocence that adults can learn from because as we grow older we tend to forget even the simplest of morals after dealing with the hardships of life.

3. What was your favorite part about making a sequel?

My favorite part about making a sequel for me was being able to spread my wings from the base novel I made with Book #1 and truly make the world my own, expanding on what makes the Cycle of Eden different from other worlds. Being able to delve deeper about the mysterious influences of Light and Dark hinted about in Book #1 brings the fantasy aspect to life, making it feel less grounded and more special compared to our own Earth. There are still many aspects of the world that the readers haven’t learned, and they won’t until Book #3, and more so Book #4. Elements that seem normal or similar to our own Earth in real life may not be all as they seem on Eden. For example, the sun Seth and his friends live under is not just a burning rock far, far away like in our world. You will learn that certain things fill another role that can only work in the world of Eden I built and nowhere else.

I always told myself that “a good story writes itself,” and I felt this many times during my journey with The Cycle of Eden where things just fit perfectly into place at moments. Making a world feel alive, natural and authentic, like it really could exist, is very tedious to accomplish, but addicting. Nothing is more satisfying than connecting vital dots or tying loose ends that others may have thought were overlooked or forgotten. The connections and the relationships of the world, the history that shaped what the characters now must confront, are pivotal for immersion and relatability. For example, the tales we hear about the region of Paradise in Book #2 make the reader not only want to see what happens next in the plot but also want to learn what happened in the past, how and why things turned out the way they did. World building is never just a forward-thinking process. Think of the major plot of a narrative like a flower that grows taller and taller until blooming with beautiful petals to end its cycle. This represents the end of the story. Now, in order to reach that point, the growth of the world that encompasses that plot truly comes from the many roots that entangle much more space within the soil than the space the actual flower takes above ground. The connecting roots are what really give the world life, they are what is most important because they are what cause readers to get engrossed in these worlds outside of our own.

4. There are many references made regarding the moon in this novel. Why is the symbolism of the moon so important?

The reason why the moon and the stars are a focal point in my series, a huge source for conveying a message, especially in the later installments, is because the hobby of stargazing is related to my own mother. It is a personal form of bonding her and I have, and I dedicated this series to her. When I look at the moon, I see and feel something completely different due to my upbringing while others may just see a floating rock reflecting the sun’s light. What they see is true, but we as humans attach our emotions to things, and our feelings are what give things power and meaning. The moon and the stars are beautiful for many reasons to me, and viewing them is a source of comfort, so it is rather easy for me to write about them symbolically. I see a symbol of hope, an image of unity, an inspiring guide showing the way, a sense of closeness and a reminder that we aren’t alone, because each and every one of us, no matter how far away we are from one another, all see the same moon in the night sky.

5. How do you select the names of your characters?

Characters to me have to exude the sound of their name, they need to wear it proudly to make them more memorable. The syllables need to feel appropriate, such as Cain sounding like an ominous threat, which is what he is to the heroes of Eden. When you say Ria out loud, her name sounds very lighthearted, encompassing the energetic little ball of sunshine she is. Each of my characters also have last names, which only a handful are ever mentioned, but will be shown in Character Guides and indexes in the later installments. Last names are mainly used to make the characters easier to identify outside of the book itself and to make them a permanent staple to The Cycle of Eden alone. For example, there are many characters named Seth, but no other character in the world is named Seth Varkees. When choosing a last name, I personally like to have the name chosen to have some significance to the character, even in a minor symbolic way. Many of the last names have a meaning that relates to a character’s traits or purpose. However, some are simply made-up names I came up with that simply sound cool and make them stand out in their uniqueness.

6. Which character(s) changed the most from first draft to published book?

Dezy was a character I tampered with for quite a while. He went through a lot of updates not only in Two Sides of Corruption but also in the next two installments of the series in terms of character depth, development and his action scenes. I changed his origin story about five times before I was satisfied with how it now incorporates a deep, tragic and intricate history on Eden. At first, he was a younger guy like Seth when I initially wrote him, but that all had to change, and for the better, when I associated him with the Reclaimers. Having him blame the character he does for forsaking his people tests not only Seth’s younger mindset and beliefs but also tests the readers thoughts on everything they had been told/taught so far. Dezy’s inclusion now adds spice to the narrative I hinted at in the beginning of Book #1, a reminder that the Light and its servants had failed Eden before. Because he is now so interwoven with other characters and events found in Eden’s history, there is truly a lot to unpack with him that is designed to entice readers into wanting to learn more about him. The little inklings of information I share through Dezy in Book #2 can go a long way if they are remembered in the future parts.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cubite6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

Website: https://cycleofeden.com/

Daniel Varona
The Cycle of Eden: Two Sides of Corruption

Literary Titan followed up with me on my third novel, Shadows of Reality:

1. The Cycle of Eden: Shadows of Reality follows a man prophesied to bring Eden back from the shadows and repel those who have twisted the morals of the world. What was the initial idea behind this story, and how did that transform as you were writing the novel?

Initially, Shadows of Reality and the second book of the series, Two Sides of Corruption, were combined into one novel. This obviously was far too long of a novel to digest, so I separated the books at the points where their individual sagas change. This novel in particular is separated into two acts, each tackling a different challenge and theme due to the location and/or villain. Due to the diversion the sequel, Two Sides of Corruption, took the plot, the main idea of Shadows of Reality was to go back to the series' roots, reveal more of Eden's haunted history and tie loose ends that were developed back in book #1, The Young Revolution, to set everything up for the final novel. The main things that were transformed as time went on was the more fleshed out history at key moments to make the world feel more alive, connected and concrete. For example, one of the last ideas that made it in was the lore/history behind the Angel species, repurposing this known entity to fit my Eden, my book's world compared to others. After the first novel, the main thing I wanted to do with the rest of the series was make this world mine, and by that I mean building upon and making The Cycle of Eden stand out creatively from the ideas that inspired me. I believe I have accomplished this goal, so I am proud of the series overall.


2. I felt that the supporting characters in this novel were intriguing and well developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?

I have found that my favorite character to write differentiates depending on which book is being referenced. In terms of Shadows of Reality, the character I had the most fun writing was easily Vargas. The method I used to write his story was basically offering you different puzzle pieces throughout the series and by the end of Shadows of Reality readers will be able to put all these pieces together to finally grasp the complete picture. His character has grown tremendously since we've met him in the first book of the series, The Young Revolution, and his complicated past and secretive involvement on Eden is vital to understanding its important history. Vargas serves as a mentor and father figure to Seth. However, he is very reserved about his past, and it's this in-depth history he has with Eden, and the important individuals who shaped it in the past, that finally gets revealed in Shadows of Reality. Since the first book, Vargas has made me have to triple-check my consistency throughout the series to make sure every little detail was connected by the end just the way I needed it too. In The Young Revolution especially, he is a man of many mysteries, mysteries that you aren’t supposed to understand until the future books, mainly Shadows of Reality. I’ve gone to great lengths making sure these historic scenarios are concrete throughout each part and finally you get some long-awaited answers to tie the loose ends I started in novel one. All in all, Vargas provided a fun challenge for me in making sure I don’t expose his secrets until the right time.


3. What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Redemption or Revenge, seeking respected values or accepting ones flaws. These ideas are tackled in different ways depending on the which act is being discussed in Shadows of Reality. The main subject of this theme is seen between Vargas and another character revealed in Act II. Vargas preaches about redemption quite a bit, but is that truly what he seeks? He may have built Final Heaven, the Light Continent's beaming city, but is that enough for him to move on from his past? Many of us seek to better ourselves everyday, falling back on respected and valued traits, but life can also create weaknesses that are undeniable, tempting. When you are faced with that weakness, what would you truly choose? Redemption or Revenge? Its easy to say what you should do, but in the moment, a moment Vargas is faced with, its truly not that simple.

The term Shadow of Reality is a play on the Darkness aspect involved in the series. Many things exist in reality, but due to the circumstances given to them, be it a person or a place, they have become a shadow of themselves, a darker or lesser version of what they truly could be if they embraced the entities that bind Eden. There are a number of examples of this seen throughout the the book itself, which is why I chose this term as the title.

Overall, the number one message of the entire series is: Never forget how we started, for history holds the keys to salvation.


4. I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?

Shadows of Reality leads directly into the final novel of the series, the grand finale leading up to the fated conflict that has haunted the world of Eden since its beginning. A war of judgment will be fought between Seth and Cain, Light and Darkness, to determine which side of the coin gets to rule Eden. However, both of these patriots are fighting for Peace. Both Cain and Seth want Eden to be saved from this Cycle. Which side of this conflict is best for Eden when both have already failed in previous Cycles? More importantly, who will come out on top? All of this and more, everything, will be answered in The Cycle of Eden: War of Judgment.

Daniel Varona