Thursday, May 28, 2015

Playlist Feature: Scorpians

I write Centernia while listening to music.  This week we have a song from the early 90s that influenced Return to the Castle.  I'm so in love the live version of this because the cello is so strong.

Scorpians: Send me An Angel
Album: Crazy World

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Reader Q & A: Rapidfire Responses 2

Jessi on horseback,1997
1. Do you consider Centernia to be anthro lit? Are you a furry?

In the late 1990s, in the days before Deviant Art, there were not a lot of great digital art communities other than Elfwood. While stumbling through the internet I found a community called Yerf,(subtitled the Squeaky Clean Furry Archive). I became addicted to the website and learned an enormous amount about digital art through the other artists. Yerf was all anthro or furry art, and that influenced my early art and writing.

When I wrote the first draft of Centernia, the premise involved shape-shifting. When a human crossed the Gate they became feline. Much of the old art of Centernia depicts Jessi in cat-form. At some point in high school I altered this plot element and introduced the concept of magic users instead, finding it more versatile and interesting.

I like anthro art and find anthro characters fun to draw. I've never been into the community enough to ever consider being a fursuiter or call myself a furry.

Jessi on the back of a bicorn, 2014

2. Do you have this whole thing planned out, or do you just make it up as you go along?

I have it very, very planned out. I know the entire timeline of each character's life and the lives of their parents, with a few vague areas for the delight of discovery. Return to the Castle and The Crimson Mage were precisely outlined at the same time. I only had enough time to finish Return to the Castle for NYCC, so everything was designed to flow into the Crimson Mage. Now as I flesh out the scenes for Book Two, I'm also working on Book Three.

3. Are Teren and Lee going to hook up in the next book? Did they already hook up?

In Return to the Castle, Lee is fifteen and Teren is almost twenty. I feel pretty strongly about keeping my characters restricted to the laws of their respective lands. Teren may sleep around a lot, but he does have enough sense of earth laws to know which very fine lines not to cross.

4. When are you going to have the illustrated guide to Centernia's flora and fauna?

I am presently working on an encyclopedia as I write The Crimson Mage. Everytime a new creature, place or social custom is created, a new entry is jotted down into a Word doc. In 2016, I hope to embark on turning these entries into an art book/encyclopedia with the help of a few artist friends. I would like the produce the volume as an inexpensive paperback. Ultimately, it would be great to crowdfund that paperback into a shiny, glossy hardcover and invite in more artists and pay them all a fair wage. The success of the Crimson Mage will influence if I can make this project a reality. The funds from the second novel will seed the creation of this art book.

Have Centernia questions? Contact us to have your question answered in the next Reader Q & A.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Creature Feature: The Burch

     They traveled across a small wooden bridge over a pristine pond. In the water below, small brown hippopotamus turtles waded through the mud. Water sloshed up onto their patterned shells.
     “What are those?” Jessica asked.
     “The burch,” Misa explained. “They’re a little tough but they taste good in a sauce.” 
      Jessica couldn’t imagine killing one of the dog-sized beasts. They seemed so happy in their watery little home.  --Return to the Castle

Mud Loving Creatures

The water-dwelling burch are very common throughout the continent of Madierna.  Most often they are found in muddy, swampy areas where they eat insects, small fish, and freshwater plankton.

Burch species range from approximately eight inches to as much as three feet.  They have leathery skin and unique shell patterns.  These marsh-loving creatures have been described as being very similar to the tortoise, though they can move much quicker on land.  Burch are monotremes and lay eggs buried deep into the mud. A typical clutch of burch eggs is about three to five, the young are quite rounded and endearing.

There are many species of burch, usually distinguishable by the patterning on their shells.  Most live in freshwater environments.  There is only two species of sea burch, commonly found on the Galbrian coast.  Burch can be easily farmed though they reproduce a in the wild.  Burch have the ability to hold their breath for several hours at a time, making it possible for them to avoid land-dwelling predators. When threatened, a burch will dive to far depths.  They  are strong swimmers.  If a burch is threatened on land, it will retreat into its shell.

Common Uses of the Burch

As Misa pointed out, burch are very tasty in stew.  Their meat can be tough but when slow cooked can have a very pleasant rich taste.  In some places, burch is considered to be a peasant fare as burch are easy to find in the wild and reproduce well in captivity. Many farms in Trabalis and the surrounding lands will have a pond on the property specifically for the purpose of raising burch. Certain organs of the burch are found to be particularly tasty, including the kidneys, and neck.

The shell of the burch is rich with minerals.  When ground, it cam be taken as a vitamin supplement. People have also used burch shells in decorative and jewelry elements.  A burch's diet influences the color, patterning and chemical composition of a its shell.  Burch fed special diets can have shells with a shiny, reflective-like quality, particularly desirable in low-cost jewelry.

The Holy Circus

While most inhabitants of Centernia value the burch for their tastiness, there are some who recognize the intelligence of these water-dwelling creatures.  The Holy Circus of the Auroriates will train burch and use them in their shows.  When hand-reared, burch are very docile and respond well to commands.  They can be used for simple tumbling tricks and are displayed in combination with clownish and humorous portions of an Auroriate show.

People commonly hold the belief that the Auroriates use some sort of holy influence in order to make the burch respond so well.  Burch are perceived by most people to be unintelligent. In reality, it is just good training and experienced burch handlers that make for the success of circus burch.  Burch are actually very intelligent animals with complex social patterns, however they are often very stubborn and unlikely to trust most people.

The Burch in Mythology

The most devote members of the Holy Circus restrain from consuming burch flesh entirely. There is a legend that the goddess Aurora was saved by the burch.  Fallen into a grief-stricken state from the loss of her son Caprarius, the goddess lived forty days in a cave far on the edge of the world.  She plunged into a pool of murky water to end her life, but was saved and gently lifted up by the shells of the burch.  They proceeded to entertain and comfort her until she had the strength to leave the cave.

The religion of Kiuski and Kilati view the burch differently.  In the myths, the burch are depicted as dirty, feral beasts.  They deserve no place of honor and are considered the dinner of the peasants.  As the religion of the moon predates the Auroriates, this view of the burch is commonly accepted.

With the rise of the Auroriate religions, society seems to be swinging in a more favorable view of the burch.  Perhaps someday they will rise from being a tasty entree to a beloved creature.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015


Centernia has just entered an agreement with ComicPOPShop for distribution in conventions across the southern US.  What does that mean?

Centernia will be brought to more cons to reach more fans, who will have access to exclusive and awesome Centernia merch. :-D

Centernia will be featured at the ComicPOPShop booth at Comicpalooza in Houston, TX on May 22 - 25, 2015.