Expect at least 3000 words per chapter with periodic pictures to break up the paragraphs. If that’s too much for you to read in one sitting, I’ve done my best to place the pictures in places where you can take a break. While the story isn’t designed for breaks, if you need one, it is provided. At the moment I’m looking into how to create .pdf files or something like it so you can read the story offline. As soon as I figure out how to do this I’ll begin posting the file just above the chapter title.
In 1981 János Takács is a very popular Hungarian painter is lauded throughout the Western world for his paintings of shorelines, ports and beaches. Twisting such landscapes into a Mannerism style hasn’t been easy for him but Janos has been rewarded for his difficult work, as has the Hungarian nation.
On a return trip from Madrid to Budapest János finds himself in a world of trouble after an emergency landing in Algeria. The Hungarian is soon kidnaped and taken to an undisclosed location in an abandoned factory in Central/Southern Algeria. It is here where Khayr ad-Din introduces himself to János. Khayr also introduces the artist to a book.
The book is old and battered but it has unspeakable powers. For someone trained to read it, it has the strength to alter known history. Unbeknownst to János, he was trained as a Reader and must form Khayr ad-Din’s paradise or face the wrath of a man bent on global domination.
Know first and foremost that I’m looking for constructive criticism more than anything, if you choose to comment. The only reason why I’m writing a narrative is so I can improve my writing. I may not like what you have to say at first but I’ll get over it. After you fill a box of rejection slips, your skin tends to grow thick when your writing goes under the glass. But know that I’ll take each criticism and think it over and decide whether or not I’ll listen to it. Who knows, your advice may be just what I need.
Once I took a stranger’s advice on my songwriting and it totally transformed the way I wrote. I didn’t like her for a few days after the criticism but when I looked honestly at my work, I discovered she was right. In the years since that exchange I’ve been writing better material and even gathered a few interested parties before I decided to write material for myself.
If you want to criticize, feel free to. As with the girl, I may not like you for a few days but I’ll get over it. And just maybe I’ll remember your words for a lifetime, as I remember hers.
I’ve nearly completed this AAR. By the time I release it this weekend it will be completely finished. This means there won’t be any abandonments nor will there be an ending that is nowhere in sight. Working with an outline I’ve set strict perimeters and while I’ve stretched outside of them when the characters dictated, there is a story here. It isn’t a muddled mess. At least not from my perspective.
The only thing I haven’t completed are the pictures. Please don’t expect them to be of great quality as I simply don’t have the product to make great pictures. I am limited not by imagination, rather I’m limited by what’s on my computer and while I’m learning more as I go I’m already seeing barriers. I will do what I can in this area.
Know that the story may change as time goes on. Yes, the story is finished but based on the comments I receive, I may change the ending, reword sentences or rewrite chapters. It really depends on how the comments go. To end, you can always shape the story if I decide to take your advice.
I believe I put in enough research into Hungary, Algeria and the Mannerism art form to get by but know that I don’t claim to know anything. I’m going to be twisting the art and minor details to help fill the story however, I’ll also do my best to honestly represent the nationalities and the histories when concerned with them. If you know something I don’t, feel free to mention it. I may have left it out on purpose or I might not have but a little honest knowledge never hurt anyone.
Each chapter will appear every four days as long as I don’t get too tied up making these bad, bad pictures.
Again, offer any criticisms you have once the story has begun. Nitpick and rip it apart if you need because there’s no point in me doing this if I don’t get better. But don’t bash the pictures. Those aren’t going to get better no matter how much you complain.
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