Authorpreneur Dashboard – Richard Vobes

Richard  Vobes

Splidge the Cragflinger book 1 Free Sample

Children's Books

Splidge needs a job urgently. He is only twelve, but if he cannot find employment he will be sent to the dreaded workhouse. The Royal Tournament takes place every six years. It is the national sport of Gud and King Guddamac is depending on it to save his Kingdom from rack and ruin. The Royal Cragflinger has died and the competition cannot take place without another one, so the King has a vacancy. But someone has a plan to scupper the Tournament and an evil scheme to ‘improve’ the City forever. Can Splidge find a job? What is cragflinging? Why is a piggy-eyed man trying to kill him? Who is the leather-clad girl with the raven coloured hair? And, what are the small mop-like creatures that people are throwing around?

Book Bubbles from Splidge the Cragflinger book 1 Free Sample

King Guddamac

For me, part of the fun of writing is building the characters and making them fun. King Guddamac is a hugely overweight man. He came to power rapidly and enjoyed the status that it brought. However, whereas before, as a humble prince he was active and slim, the newly crowned man began to eat to excess. He soon discovered that he couldn't stop eating and the pounds (or kilos) piled on. It came to the point that the simple act of walking was too difficult for him. Not an ideal situation for the ruler of the land.

Real People in Fiction

Okay, so this is a fantasy story for children. That doesn't mean that real people from history cannot pop in from time to time, right? That is exactly what I thought. So, in Splidge's adventures, he encounters real historic folk. Now it matters not a jot if the reader knows this or not, but if they do, there is an extra twist for them. Christopher Wren famously built St Paul's Cathedral in London. :)

Introducing the Villain

For my story to work I needed to introduce the villain, or at least, on of his henchmen pretty early on. Although, Pigface does have a real name, he is mostly referred to by this nickname given by Splidge and his friends. It is how they see him and helps identify his role. The real nasty character arrives on to the stage a bit later, but I aimed to build up his importance and evil intent by his minions long before we meet him.

Lamps of Gud

In the early days of gas lamps, a lamplighter was required to go round and do this manually. In my story, Splidge's best friend, Snotty, is a short dwarf-like chap and climbs the lamppost individually. At daybreak, his job also requires him to extinguish them. Splidge the Cragflinger is set in a fantasy world, but much of its history is based on real life in England between 17th and 19th century. I hope you will enjoy it.

Always Raining?

The first line I wrote when starting Splidge was 'It was always raining in the land of Gud'. Immediately I had problems. Why was it always raining and where was Gud? I am a writer who likes to fly from the seat of my pants and I answered these important questions as I went along. The rain completely affected the whole story and became integral to the plot. Just goes to show how important the first line can be!

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