Because I can’t say it enough, Ichabod Brooks & the City of Beasts debuts tomorrow. As a pre-release treat, I’m going behind the scenes to show how this character came about. Would you believe he first appeared on this blog in April of 2013? Well he did and here’s the post.
Originally Ichabod Jones, he started as a name that I couldn’t get out of my head. I decided to peek down the rabbit hole after a few weeks of wondering why I liked that name. Not much happened for several months, but one day a story evolved around Ichabod. He was a loner in a world where people lived above a toxic cloud. He was one of the few who could ‘dive’ into the old world and not be poisoned by the pollution. So he would take assignments to recover items for people. This was going to be a book where Ichabod got involved in rebels, survivors on the surface, and the truth behind the fate of the world. It never made it beyond a brief explanation in one of my many notebooks. So our apathetic hero remained in slumber until I wrote the poem in April and forgot him again.
Bring us to earlier this year and I found myself in the darker parts of Legends of Windemere. Heroic spirits were being battered, Stephen was having sadistic fun, hearts were being stomped, and I really needed something more simple and upbeat to write. I saw my son playing and got the idea of a short story where the hero was a father. At first, he was going to travel with the kid like ‘Lone Wolf & Cub‘. I’d never read that, but I knew of the basic concept. Then everything changed by having the hero become a family man that is simply trying to earn a living. At this point I wanted to make the man before I settled on the adventure and life details.
I remembered Ichabod Jones and changed him into the middle-aged father/husband with a reputation for taking on dangerous jobs. The personality came about as writing, but I started with the idea that he was dedicated to his family. He talks and thinks about them quite often. Even a part of his contract involves allowing him to claim a souvenir for his son. This was the new hero of Windemere, who wasn’t going to have epic struggles like Luke Callindor. He was only out to make a living and sometimes his assignments went a little out of whack.
Now for anybody who remembers a few months ago, Ichabod Jones was revealed to already exist in a comic book. Entirely different character and world, but why take the risk? So I took suggestions and votes where ‘Brooks’ took the gold medal. I’ve gotten used to calling him Ichabod Brooks and I like what he’s become. How many adventures will he have? I don’t know. It really depends on the reception, but he might become a summer release and, if he gets enough traction, I’ll try to make the next one a compilation of short stories. So fingers are crossed that Ichabod is greeted with positivity and can be a recurring hero for me to work with.
Legends of Windemere 
That was fun reading about the origins of your character and how he has evolved. Good luck with his future adventures!
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Thanks. Hoping I get a lot of inspiration for him. Making him a yearly thing might help with that.
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I, for one, hope Ichabod meets the success he deserves, so that we can read more of his awesome adventures! 😀
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Me too. Once I finish the current novel and a summer long editing run, I might start in on the next Ichabod tale. The question is if I do another solo short story or put a few into one release.
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Leave it up to the character, as I always say 🙂
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Well, he’ll just choose the actual adventures. I’m thinking more about bundling the tales. I already have a list somewhere of potential jobs for the guy.
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Fair enough. Still, it may more sense, business-wise, to have a dozen short stories selling for 99c each, that having one book with a dozen stories selling for $2.99.
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Good point. Especially if I’m only doing these during the summer. I can spread it out for years and make Ichabod a yearly tradition even when I finish Legends of Windemere.
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An Ichabod yearly tradition – I like that!
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I’m sure the old man will be happy for the work. Guy’s gotta eat after all. 😉
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Good post. I too hope Ichabod is a raging success.
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Thanks. Fingers crossed.
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I must remember to get my copy tomorrow. It’s about time for another book buying spree.
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Thanks. That’s always a fun spree to indulge in. I’ll be sending the guest posts out tomorrow morning too. Just need to get the link in there.
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Congrats, Charles! I wish you all the best with your new book!
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Thanks. Hopefully the storm that just started doesn’t knock out the power before I hit publish. 🙂
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Fingers crossed. 🙂
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Just need one more piece too. Check short stories on Amazon to see if people put a ‘warning’ in the description. I mean, the page amount is there, so it should be fine.
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You should be good. No need for warnings or disclaimers. If the storm hits, hit publish right away.
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That’s the plan. I have a big morning of emails to send out.
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I actually can’t wait to read this! I seriously need to catch up on the rest of the Legend of Windemere books–I’ve only read up to book 2! Also, apologies, as I realise I missed the release post for the cover reveal for Ichabod Brooks–I wasn’t quite all there at the time as you might be aware if you’re keeping up to date with my Weekly Word posts.
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No problem. Life takes over and knocks fiction away at times. Seems a lot of people are having ‘not all there’ periods this year.
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Wishing you much success with your book, Charles!
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Thanks. Already did all the promo emails, so all I can do is cross my fingers and promote on social media. Tempted to try FB groups again.
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He sounds really cool. Looking forward to reading his story.
Cheers
MTM
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Thanks. Really hoping the book does well. That way I can write more of his stories.
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So excited! I already read the opening and can’t wait to read the rest! Your writing style really shines in this work. Hooked already!
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Thanks. Glad to hear that my style shines. Enjoy the adventure. 🙂
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