Helcyon: a novel
What it’s about?
In a far-from-ordinary life, thirteen-year-old Bobby Porter grapples with anxiety, endures a tormenting bully, and carries the weight of his mother's grief. His only solace emerges from an unexpected source — a single memento from his recently deceased father. An unfinished manuscript penned during a tour in Afghanistan, it's more than a tale; it's a gateway into a startling fantasy world.
Suddenly, Bobby finds himself in his father's twisted realm, a place echoing with monstrous creatures and haunting landscapes, a chilling mirror of his father's war-ravaged psyche. As he delves deeper, Bobby fears he might be inheriting not just his father's story but his unseen scars as well.
But Bobby is not alone. Zenobia, a courageous twelve-year-old from his father's narrative, allies with him. Together, they undertake a daunting mission to heal Helcyon, the fractured world his father conceived. Yet, in this realm, every decision carries significant consequences. One misstep could trap Bobby in this surreal world forever.
Confronting his deepest fears and summoning a courage he didn't know he possessed, Bobby must make a decision. A decision that has the power to change not only his own life but the fate of Helcyon, forever.
Backstory
As 2018 dawned, I ventured into another screenplay, my most ambitious one yet. One that was a departure from my customary depravity and horror-filled fun. This was to be a young adult fantasy adventure. The clatter of my keyboard echoed in the quiet solitude as I poured my heart into creating a world that had never existed before. I proudly finished my first draft, held it high like a trophy, but then reality struck - this cinematic dreamscape would demand a budget in the high hundreds of millions—a gamble no one would take on an unproven writer such as myself.
A disheartening thought that quickly ignited a novel idea. This script, I realized, was a roadmap into the labyrinthine world of prose. Long discovered territory I had yearned to traverse myself but was too afraid to venture into the shadows of author giants until now. Over the subsequent years, I hunkered down, toiled away, using my script as the blueprint to navigate my newfound path. By January 2020, my manuscript's first draft was completed.
Excited yet, concerned as to when I would find the time for the inevitable rewrites. The answer arrived in the form of a global pandemic. February 2020 swept in with the harsh winds of Covid-19, confining me to my quirky little Pink Flamingo apartment. Suddenly, I was bestowed with an abundance of time, anxiety, and fear.
Fast forward to now, my journey continues. Numerous query letters to literary agents lie unanswered or rejected. Unfazed, I've decided to navigate yet another uncharted territory for myself— the world of self-publishing. This decision beckons another round of edits and a fresh cover design. All for my mammoth 170,000-word fantasy epic, a tale waiting to be read.
As I chisel through this behemoth, I've decided to open my creation to you. To share my story, chapter by chapter, as I inch towards my final physical book. I've put on my thick skin, welcoming you to the comment section for your invaluable constructive criticism.
To those who choose to embark on this journey with me, to absorb my offerings of story, I extend my deepest gratitude. Your time and your readership mean the world to me. And the denizens of Helcyon.
We begin with Chapter ZERO—yes, zero! Some writers say this is a cheat to call what is essentially the prologue Chapter Zero. Well, all I have to say to that is… so what? Deal with it. I called it Chapter Zero.
