The Swithen
The arthurian legend, reimagined.
Deep Writing Process Discussion
Hey there! Are you that person who likes to go right to the spoiler of a book? Or to put it differently, to hear the thought process that went into setting up a novel in a certain way? If so, you might want to check out a new video I just posted that discusses the big spoiler/reveal in the middle of my novel of King Arthur’s childhood, The Flower of Chivalry.
I’ve been putting up an audio version of the novel on YouTube in small parts every weekday (making it a video audiobook, but whatevs), with a little introduction to each installment where I discuss who the characters are or which parts are adapted from a real Welsh legend or what future events of the Arthurian legend I am setting up with a scene in this book. But when I got to discussing the big spoiler I knew I had to take a bit longer to discuss it, while also avoiding spoiling it for the people who don’t want to know… which is why I ended up making the separate video.
So in the book we find out the identity of a major character, and hopefully it makes the reader reassess everything that has happened in the book to that point—and I’ve been very gratified that it has worked, most of my readers had no idea who this character was and were shocked when it was revealed. I discuss how the idea came for this, and also why it fits into the conclusion to another character’s arc.
We also discuss a major character that had to be written out. I am adapting the Arthurian legend and this character vanishes after the story told in the first novel, although I managed to keep her around for a while. That said, by four novels in the character had no place in the overall narrative anymore, and it was time to write her out. I discuss my process in doing that in a way that respected her important place in kicking off the story.
So deep writing process discussion, and it’s all here in the Post-Reveal Discussion. Just remember it WILL spoil the biggest reveal of the book for you…
Free audiobook
We’re almost seven weeks into the serialized audiobook of The Flower of Chivalry, which tells the story of King Arthur’s childhood, and we’re almost up to the big reveal that comes halfway through the book, so if you feel like checking in, now’s a good time.
I introduce each of the segments and give a little extra info when needed to understand who the characters are, what’s happening or why I decided to put that in the book… usually it’s setting something up later in the book or sometimes even later in the series. And as we’re listening hypnotic background videos play, usually a slow-motion pattern from nature, like rustling leaves or surfaces of water.
The book isn’t like the King Arthur stuff you’re used to, and that is definitely by design. It’s more patterned after classic novels of childhood, and my series tries to get us involved in their thoughts and emotions rather than remain in awe of the grand destiny they all have ahead of them or whatnot.
At this point in the story Arthur is starting to realize that he’s not like his family, although no one will be honest with him and tell him that he is adopted. He is also a gifted child which leads his foster parents to want to hold him back and give their own son a chance to shine, to not always be in Arthur’s shadow.
It is the gift of the Arthurian legend that it laid out these fascinatingly rich relationships.
Anyhoo, should you wish to check it out, you’ll find “Free Audiobook” in the top menu of my site, or you can find the free audiobook on YouTube.
Free audiobook serial: King Arthur’s childhood
Greetings, folks! Yesterday I started an audiobook serial novel of Book 4 of The Swithen, The Flower of Chivalry, which tells of King Arthur’s childhood until he pulls the sword from the stone. It’s on YouTube, which makes it a video audiobook [?!] but let’s not get caught up in semantics. The point is it’s free, it’s a fun ongoing thing, and you should go over there and check it out!
The deal is that there is one or more chapters uploaded every week day until it’s done. You watch soothing nature videos (shot by me) as you hear the story unfold, and I tell you any information you need to know in a short introduction to each segment.
This book is mostly light, fun and lyrical (until it turns dark and terrifying) and is kind of young adult, although there is violence and a hint of adult themes, so I tell people that although it is about a child, it is written for adults. I’ve made a separate video explaining what happens so that parents can decide if it’s appropriate for their kids. There’s also another video that will catch you up on everything that happens in the first three books, so you know what the context is. Even so, this begins the Arthur story and introduces mostly new characters, so it’s a great place to start.
Check out the first video in the series… they’re all linked from there! There’s also a playlist that will take you from one to another. Hope you like it, let me know what you think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4_iO4yuYhA
Author Reading: Merlin Scolds Uther and Pendragon
Greetings everyone, I hope you’re well… or as well as can be. Here in Canada I thought we were managing the pandemic pretty well, but now… I kind of can’t even go into it. I hope you are doing better!
Anyway, I just put up an author reading video of a scene from Book 2 in which Merlin lays some pretty serious law down on King Pendragon and Uther (Arthur’s future father) when they doubt him.
What has happened in that this advisor to the king was shunted aside when Merlin comes in, so he’s going to try to discredit Merlin, which as you can imagine, is a pretty bad idea. His plan is to ask Merlin to predict his death, then disguise himself as someone else and ask again. When Merlin predicts one death and then a different one, the King thinks he’s been duped! In this scene the king is talking to his brother Uther about the deception when Merlin shows up and he’s pretty peeved!
This is one of my favorite scenes in the book because Merlin kicks some serious ass and has some awesome lines. Both brothers are left with some lingering issues after this, especially after what Merlin says at the end. And the guy trying to discredit Merlin, well… let’s just say things don’t end well.
So get on over there and watch that sucker! It’s 10 minutes.
In other exciting developments, I plan to put Book 4, The Flower of Chivalry, which tells the story of King Arthur’s childhood until he pulls the sword from the stone, up on YouTube in serialized audiobook form (except it’s on video… see? PARADOXES). I’ll put up one or more chapters up every weekday until we’re done.
That book is very light and fun (until it’s dark and terrifying) because it’s about childhood and learning life lessons and the carefree days before responsibility—or, in Arthur’s case, the ultimate responsibility—descend on one as an adult. I’ll let you know when it’s going up, and hopefully you’ll tune in. It’s free and fun and you know… it’s a good book. I’m proud of it.
In the meantime, why don’t you leave me a comment or hit a like button or something just to let me know that you’re out there and I am not actually hurtling alone though space in a tiny capsule while hallucinating all this.
Thanks! Scott
Greetings, sexy followers
Remember that article I just published called Excalibur: Movie vs. Legend? The one that changed your life and made you rethink how you see yourself AND your world AND your cats AND your taxes AND your car AND like… whoever those people are?
Well, now it has been edited and cleaned-up for a non-Arthurian audience and is a story at the publication FanFare on Medium, so if you would prefer to read it there, you can make the magic happen. Live the dream–make it your own!
Now did you also know that in addition to writing your favorite Arthurian book series I also write humorous reviews of mostly bad and cheesy movies AND make Spotify playlists AND generally add so much to this world that the Nobel committe is meeting regularly to discuss creating a new award in my honor? No, I suppose you didn’t. The point is, now there is one place where you can follow everything Scott Telek and that place is my Personal Page on Medium.
Not enough following? You can also follow Me/The Swithen series on Instagram and I swear, I SWEAR I will update it more than I do now! No really–I will!
Okay, I know your busy now, so… Thanks!
The Swithen 