Another reason why I drew inspiration from the Enlightenment Era, particularly the years 1780 – 1800, is because the story is about the conflict between tradition and reinvention, and few periods of history are better examples of that. The rapidly changing fashion of the late 18th century is aesthetically pleasing to me (who doesn’t like a nice waistcoat, seriously?) and also makes for memorable visual clues to relate the period of the story. Just as the chapters telling the characters’ past adventures are written in past tense, readers will also note the presence of tricorne or “cocked” hats and breeches, where characters in the “present era” dress in top hats, cravats and trousers. These details serve the themes, guide the reader… and make the escape (for me) just a little more fun.
Designing The World: Fashion
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So, about Chapter Two…
John Crye, , Announcement, BTS, News, 0
For me, the hardest part of writing this book is talking about it now that it is written. I...
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Doubling back
John Crye, , BTS, Designing The Characters, Developing The Story, News, Story, 0
Intrigued by Todd Sharp’s portrait of an angst-ridden Jonny Guess featured on the cover of Chapter 9, a friend...
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Paint It Black
John Crye, , Announcement, BTS, Developing The Story, News, 0
If nothing else, this month’s cover art – a dark portrait lit with unnatural neon colors, our standard background...
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Writers Read
John Crye, , BTS, Designing The World, Story, Thoughts, 0
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and...
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The Story In The Spaces
John Crye, , BTS, Developing The Story, 1
I remember the first time I saw “Star Wars” back in 1977. I was seven years old, but I...
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Swords & Cowboys: Genre mash-up time!
John Crye, , BTS, Developing The Story, News, 0
This month’s cover art by Todd Sharp features the blood-red silhouettes of three men mounted on galloping horses. The...
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The Underside of Fantasy
John Crye, , BTS, Designing The Characters, Exploring The World, 0
With the arrival this month of our fourth installment – “Negotiation, or, The Various and Sundry Businesses of Mister...
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Telos and Jessy
John Crye, , BTS, Developing The Story, Exploring The World, 0
Plato wrote about the concept of “telos” as being a “perfect paradigm” or “ultimate version” of whatever was being...