Author Commentary - Pangaea: Unsettled Land | Chapter 1
Episode description
This is my author commentary on my first book Pangaea: Unsettled Land. Each week, I’ll be diving into one chapter in sequential order to give you the following:
- my thoughts on my intentions for the chapter
- how things changed through various drafts
- why you should love this chapter
- and even why you may stop reading
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't already read the book, buy it now and follow along: http://www.jarrodking.com/pangaea-unsettled-land/
Chapter 1 Summary
We're introduced to an eight-year-old Gisela Benitez who is crying and being consoled by neighbors who find her alone by the frozen lake. We jump back a few moments and see why she's so distraught. After investigating a mysterious voice on the frozen lake, Gisela falls through, gets rescued by her mom, then her mom falls through and disappears underwater for good.
Intentions for this Chapter
- To start off the book with a bang
- Gain the reader's trust that I could follow through and deliver on underlying tension
- Do a small bit of worldbuilding without revealing too much
Changes from Earlier Drafts
- Included opening scene with neighbors as a way to instantly connect with character as opposed to setting the scene
Why You Love This Chapter
- Set a tone for what's to come and left breadcrumbs leaving you interested to find out more about this world
Why You May Dislike This Chapter
- Mixture of technologies may confuse reader about genre
- Faults in my own writing may show since this was my first book
What's Next?
I talk about chapter 2 where we're introduced to the main character, Slade Maxwell, and see how he is similar to me at a time in my own life.
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