The Table Rappers universe

Published by neil on October 31st, 2007

Being away on holiday last week and not having the opportunity to work on completing the final few pages of the first draft of Table Rappers: A Persistent Spirit, gave me some time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

The possibilities currently arising out of what was, in its original incarnation a television series script, are broadening significantly. With the decision to run at least the first book initially as an audiobook release (hopefully in association with PodShow Press), the potential to create a wealth of online supporting elements has grown significantly. Tablerappers.com will be the central resource for the book(s), but will offer far more: a virtual glimpse into the world in which the characters play out their adventures.

One of the most significant aspects of the website content will be the journals, letters, and other correspondence associated with various characters. These will act to colour the people and places, whether imaginary or historical, and offer a greater insight particularly into the backstory leading up to the main events in the first book. This additional material will not be required reading in order to appreciate the stories and characters, of course, but the plan is for it to offer additional colour and interest, building a world in which readers can feel much more involved in the story than simply passively listening to or reading a book.

This is going to take a great deal of work, which means likely putting aside any other non work related activity, and focus on this project exclusively. My personal feeling about the characters and concept is that they deserve such effort in solidifying them and giving them access to as broad an audience as possible - and the audience access to them, of course. Who knows, with the ability for the audience to effectively interact with the characters, they could influence the direct of future stories and books. It’s looking far ahead, but the ultimate aim in building audience loyalty is to reach a stage here fan fiction appears surrounding and about the characters I have grown to love over the past six or seven years. Wishful thinking at this stage perhaps, but not beyond the bounds of possibility if the stories and characters appeal.

That is all for the future, likely not until 2008. For now, for those of you keeping up with the latest, I am just a scene or two from completing the first draft - which will likely be done and dusted before the planned deadline of the end of October (yes, I know, that’s today). Following immediately on its heels will be the second draft: a complete re-write in a format suitable for the audio book. Watch out for the release of the preface episode before the end of November.

This is going to be fun!

Tags: community, novel, Podshow, Table Rappers, Writing
Posted in Table Rappers, Writing |