Tynasian Dreams

presents

The Origin of the Chronicles

To try and describe how an idea such as the Tynasian Chronicles came to me is very difficult.  It evolved out of a much earlier work, The Broken Sceptre Sequence.  In that I introduced a small, bitter character called Synak who came from a city far to the south.  The name I gave to that city was Tynash and because I wanted to introduce a warninig about the incorrect use of the Dark Arts I made it a city of magic.

After the Sceptre Sequence went onto the back burner I wrote little, discovered girls and got a job.  Stories still scurried around inside my head keeping me awake at night and so one evening I sketched out the idea for a novel composed completely of short stories.  They would all be set in the city of Tynash but would deal with different aspects of city life.

The first short I wrote was called - The Crystal of Mamanoth

The second - The Earthworks at Rimin

The third - The High Priestess of Lanca

and the fourth - The Merchant's Casket.

I showed the longhand scrawl to a friend who took it away, read it and came back with the comment: "There's a novel in here trying to get out."  Suitably inspired, and now having access to a work processor, I laid the foundation for what evolved into The Crystal of Mamanoth - the novel.  On about page 203 there was a footnote to my friend that said:  "You are now on page three of the short story."

The Earthworks at Rimin was written immediately upon the completion of C of M.  It simply flowed out and completed much of the original story.  

Inspired I tried to then go on and write a third novel but got to Chapter 9 and dried up.  I remained dry for quite a while but then returned to it and wrote The High Priestess of Lanca.  This took elements from the last two short stories but didn't follow them exactly.

Throughout the dry patches, however, the world continued to evolve.  Maps, history and other background information were all put down on paper.  The world of Tynash and the Broken Sceptre was evolving at a frightening rate.

Originally planned as a trilogy I soon realised that there was more to be told and so after a delay, in which Valcothian Red was written, I wrote the final chapter so far - Shadow of the Black Keep; a darker novel exploring the more supernatural and magical influences in the world.