This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alex Zenk will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Having strong, relatable characters will help your story. They do not need to be overpowered and unrealistic, but should feel real. Establish core traits, names, age, background, and role in the story. Work out their personality, identifying key traits such as bravery, cynicism, or compassion. Is your character flawed? What motivates the character to do what they do? Build out the character’s backstory, what was their upbringing like, and what moments shaped their worldview. Who does your character have relations with: friends, spouse, parents, or kids? Does your character have any wounds? Work out their arc and potential growth. Does the character have a positive arc, a negative arc, or a flat arc? The character should have an external conflict to drive growth and reveal the character. As you work out your villain or conflict in the story, use this in connection to various actions that your character could participate in. As you show development, does this show in dialogue and behavior? Where were they once shy, and now they talk to everyone? What does that dialogue look like? Keep your character consistent and stay true to the core of who they are. Try to steer clear of overused tropes, like the “chosen one”. What supporting characters do you have? Do they bring out the best in the main character, or the worst? Avoid the tropes, but you should still use the familiar archetypes, like hero, mentor, or rebel. Add your unique twists to these archetypes. There is a lot to be said about character development. Generally, authors who flesh out their characters extensively tend to have better stories, while those with weak characters often struggle.
In a world where ancient magic is fading and darkness grows, one dwarf mage stands between his realm and destruction.
Ordi, a gifted mage with the rare ability to command all elemental magic, is summoned by his king on a perilous quest. Accompanied by his loyal posh hound Mira and his warrior brother Verdun, Ordi must recover the legendary Otthroite Gems—powerful artifacts thought lost to time.
As they journey through forbidden forests, abandoned dwarven cities, and haunted valleys, they discover these gems are the only hope against the rising threat of the long-banished Dark Lord. With each step, they uncover secrets of ancient magic and face betrayals that test the bonds of brotherhood.
Rich in world-building and filled with magical encounters, “The Chronicles of Ordi” blends classic fantasy elements with fresh perspectives on courage, loyalty, and the price of power.
Enjoy an Excerpt
The battle intensified. The witch’s minions—a mix of twisted abominations and resurrected corpses—swarmed the clearing. Galen led the paladins in a valiant charge, striking down skeletal warriors only for them to rise again. Ordi and the mages unleashed torrents of arcane energy, incinerating the dark creatures. Despite their best efforts, the witch’s power seemed endless. She began summoning more skeletons to add to the chaos of the battle. Mira charged in, pounding and ripping bones apart. The skeletons reformed effortlessly, keeping her busy.
The skeletons pressed in, their bony fingers scraping and clawing, as Ordi and Mira fought back to back, the sounds of battle filling the clearing. Ordi summoned bolts of arcane magic that pierced through the skeletal frames, incinerating them to ash, but it was a fleeting victory. The skeletons reformed with unnatural speed, their rattling bones an unsettling soundtrack to the ongoing fight. Read more – link in comments.
About the Author Alex Zenk brings a fresh voice to the world of epic quests and magical realms. Born and raised in the midwest, Alex’s love for fantasy was kindled early by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and nurtured through years of immersive role-playing games. As a pastor by day and a storyteller by night, Alex brings a unique perspective to his writing, weaving themes of morality, redemption, and the complexities of good and evil into his narratives.
Drawing inspiration from his experiences in World of Warcraft, Alex has crafted a rich and immersive world in his debut series, “The Chronicles of Ordi.” His background in theology and his deep understanding of human nature inform the complex characters and intricate plot lines.
When not writing or tending to his pastoral duties, Alex can be found exploring the natural beauty of Iowa with his family, using these adventures to fuel his imagination and inspire new fantastic landscapes. With plans for multiple books set in the world of Asheros, Alex Zenk is poised to make a significant impact on the fantasy genre, offering readers a blend of classic epic fantasy with a modern, thoughtful twist.
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