Foreshadowing is a skill I have not learned yet, though I am trying. Foreshadowing as a rule seems to work best in a visual medium, like television, but some authors (Like George R. R. Martin) seem to have mastered it. Here are a few visual examples to consider…
https://www.cbr.com/hidden-spoilers-in-superhero-tv-movies/
Happy Holidays!
Jeff
Not long ago I had a discussion with Alice Meyer at Beaverdale Books (http://beaverdalebooks.com/), who supports local authors by offering shelf-space for their self-published books on a consignment basis. Consequently, she agreed to place a few copies of my novel in that section of her store.
Even more interesting, she also offer options for book signings. For authors who can guarantee attendance of 15-20 people for a book signing, she will host an individual event (it has to be scheduled for the store’s convenience and to ensure the author can provide enough books). The other option is to participate in the store’s Local Author Fair, which is held 2-3 times a year (they just had one in February and will have another in August), when they invite 5-6 authors into the store for an afternoon. Either option is flattering, to say the least.
Looks to be an interesting year.
Jeff
As a reader, I like to try and visialuze what the characters of a novel look like as the author intended. On rare occasions, the author will actually provide illustrations as a guideposts for the readers. On even rarer occasions, popular novels will get made into movies or television series, and then a professional casting agency will actually look for actors that resemble the illustrations. A terrific example would be this comparison from George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels versus HBO’s adaptation “Game of Thrones”:
As a writer, I visualize what my characters look like as I write about them, usually inspired by various celebrities, knowing that readers will interpret any descriptions. So, I would like to provide the sources I used for some of the characters in my novel…..
Tjeran Tjelle:
* André “the Giant” René Roussimoff
* Note: “Roussimoff was arrested by the Linn County, Iowa, sheriff in 1989 and charged with assault after he allegedly roughed up a local television cameraman.”– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant
Victoria McGarry:
* Sally Field
* Note: Not only did she age well, and she could play a Southern Belle with aplomb, but most significantly she played Elsie Ethrington, aka Sister Bertrille, on the ABC sitcom “The Flying Nun” from 1967–1970!
Senator Vivienne Vissac – District 39 (Iowa City):
* Sharon Stone
* Note: I was totally mesmerized by her performance as Catherine Tramell in “Basic Instinct” (1992) and “Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction” (2006). Read “A Love Letter to Catherine Trammel of ‘Basic Instinct’”
Colonel Jameer Howard, 104th Cavalry Regiment:
* Wesley Snipes
* Note: “Characters in his films, usually his own characters, frequently quote the literary classic ‘The Art of War’, written by Sun Tzu around 500 B.C.E., which is widely regarded as the single best resource for training military special forces groups worldwide.” – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000648/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Jeremy Tjelle:
* William Zabka
* Note: “He was not at all experienced in martial arts prior to the filming of The Karate Kid (1984). He was actually an accomplished wrestler. However, in the years since, he has earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do.” – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0951420/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Zhenia Samagalskaya:
* Shelley Duvall
* Note: “Watery eyes, horse face, rat teeth” – https://imgur.com/gallery/VHDLGJh
George Bernard Lingwall, aka “Gerbil”:
* Robert Carradine
* Note: Best known for his role as Lewis Skolnick in “Revenge of the Nerds” (1984)
Suvetha Nageswaran:
* Parminder Nagra
* Note: Best known for her role as Jesminder ‘Jess’ Kaur Bhamra in “Bend It Like Beckham” (2002)
Of course, I wrote the novel between 2000 and 2010, so the references pre-date the period somewhat. If I was writing it now, I would use a different roster of celebrities, such as…
Tjeran Tjelle:
* Hafþór Júlíus “Thor” Björnsson
* Note: He’s better known as Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on “Game of Thrones”
Food for thought.
Jeff
Ok, for you “Game of Thrones” fans, here are some interesting videos to watch, some slightly out of date, but intriguing nonetheless, while we all wait for the final season to start next year. For me, as a fledgling novelist, they illustrate the depth of sophistication that a writer like George R. R. Martin can infuse into a series of stories. I clearly have a lot to learn.
Rhaegar: was Jon’s father the true hero of Game of Thrones?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrhqmMRv1gQ
What’s up with Jaqen H’ghar and the Faceless Men?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfkFzpktyVk
The Faceless Men’s masterplan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyPblxFZ9vI
Valyrian steel: who has the swords that can defeat white walkers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBEGuOPlDUE
Spider: what’s Varys up to?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M_hhVg9XUE
Bloodraven: what’s the three-eyed raven’s secret plan?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oEqnDAbCfE
Others: what do we know about the white walkers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih_ZAGCfMY0
The Grand Maester Conspiracy: what are the maesters up to?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svPOe0OrGAg
Aegon’s Conquest: how did Daenerys’ ancestors take Westeros?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I1jTJ9sYeA
What do Dany’s Undying visions mean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuNsMZQbqw
Lioness: how will Cersei’s story end?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5TX2aLdB4s
How Tyrion Lannister Can Help Against The Night King – Game of Thrones Season 8:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08aKObD5B94
The Hidden Clues That Reveal The Last Dragonking – Game of Thrones Season 8:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge485dOoFCw
The Horn of Winter: will Joramun’s Horn destroy the Wall?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rchj4oOG4KE
The Horn of Winter and the Crypts of Winterfell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rus_mXVLkJM
Dragon Laid Eggs In The Crypts of Winterfell | Game of Thrones Theories:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PThyhlT80Ks
Entire Game of Thrones Map/World Detailed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdC2b6IL9No
Jeff
Greetings.
An auspicious start to what I hope becomes a consuming hobby (and maybe even profitable).
By way of introduction, I am an uber-geek with 40+ years in the I.T. industry, 50+ years reading sci-fi/fantasy stories, and 60+ years addicted to comic books (notably Superman). When not writing, I can be found building sci-fi/fantasy models, participating in martial arts classes, watching television/movies, or attending to my family.
Primarily, though, I am a writer. I started clear back in grade school, back when LBJ was in the White House, so that gives you some idea how old I am (’nuff said). I kept poking the bear over the years, got a short story published in a now-defunct martial arts magazine (again, ’nuff said), and eventually got around to putting short stories on-line, mostly on FanFiction.Net (for those anime and comic book fans out there). I have just recently published my first novel, available from Amazon.com. Sequels already in the works.
I hope you drop in again.
Jeff
Jeffery L. Harris 
