Ravensong: A Look Back & What’s Next
Note: Spoilers for Wolfsong, Ravensong, and Lovesong. If you haven't ready any or all of these, click away as this post will reveal major spoilers.
In the original outline of Ravensong, Chris and Tanner were executed by Elijah in the streets of Green Creek upon the arrival of the hunters. Unable to take the loss of their friends after Elijah was defeated, Jessie and Rico left the pack, breaking ties, wanting to escape the wolf world. The plan after that, vague though it was, was to have Jessie and Rico show up again in Heartsong, as hunters of sorts.
For some reason, I thought this was a good idea.
And now, looking back, I have no fucking idea why.
Because that's stupid.
And I realized that just as soon as I started writing. Seeing the younger versions of Rico, Tanner, Chris and Gordo all together and how they stuck by his side when he was abandoned by the wolves made me realize that not only would killing off half of Team Human be unnecessary, but it would be a weirdly cruel thing to do, given all Gordo had been through. While these books are very angsty, there needs to be a line. It's one thing to slog through angst; it's something else entirely to drown in it.
So I didn't kill them.
I just hurt them.
A lot.
(also in the original outline :Joe was infected along with Mark and Carter and turned Omega, but it was too much and took the focus away from Mark and Gordo.)
Hi, and welcome to my TED talk, where I'll be discussing a few key points in the story, what part made me unintentionally laugh my ass off (and got edited out), why I had to go and "ruin" Thomas and Elizabeth (what one angry tweeter wrote to me, yay!), the twist at the end, and what happens next.
First things first: Gordo was always going to lose a hand. That was not up for debate. That scene was one of the first I thought up. Oh, it changed a few times as to who was actually going to be the one doing it, but it was always going to happen.
Shortly after, there was a scene that made me just fucking die that ended up being cut, given how my editors thought it really went too far and undercut the seriousness of what happened to Gordo, and the gravity of his moment with Thomas. (And ultimately, they were correct in making me cut it.)
He wakes up, right? He asks where his hand is. Joe has to point out to him with no small amount of trepidation that Carter might have...gnawed on it a little while Gordo was passed out. And eaten parts of it.
I just...I don't know, man. I still laugh at it now. Fucking stupid, right? But it just seemed so Carter for reasons I can't quite explain. Alas, cutting it was for the better.
Second: Elijah. I have a...well. Let's just say I have a complicated history with religion. I tend to think most organized religion is no better than a cult (but you do you). I went in one direction with the idea of religion in Into This River I Drown, though it was vague enough that it wasn't meant to represent any one faith. But I have this fascination with those who use the supposed words of God as a weapon. It's a queer dichotomy, given how two people can so vastly differ on how they interpret scripture. In the end, Elijah, so indignant and righteous in her faith and fury, failed. And with the death of her and her clan, I think the backbone of the hunter movement was broken, though there might be some stragglers out there still causing up trouble. Which, honestly sucks because while she was obviously bad, she was such a cool character. She wore the skin of a werewolf, for fuck's sake.
Third (and this is a big one): Thomas and Elizabeth Bennett. Look. I get that people adored them in Wolfsong for the most part. I did too when I was writing them. But as I get older, I'm less and less impressed by perfection, and more interested in imperfection and flaws. Take away the fairy-tale shine, and what lies underneath? That's what I want to know about.
Thomas, especially, made bad decisions. Did he make them for the right reasons? Only time will tell. I think he did, but I still think he went about it the wrong way. With Gordo and Ox, Thomas messed up a bunch. He listened to the wrong people. Even worse, he trusted the wrong people. And Elizabeth, put in a desperate situation (as seen in Lovesong), had to make a choice. Follow him or let him go? She chose. Again, was it the right decision? Or was it made for the right reasons?
People are complex. What you see isn't always what you get. Ox saw the Bennetts one way. Gordo saw them another. Does it make one of them right over the other? I don't know that it does. But it was important to me that Gordo called them out for their manipulation of Ox. Looking back, Ox wasn't given a choice in the matter when Joe gave him his stone wolf at such a young age. Had he known, he most likely would have made the same decision, but I needed Gordo to be the voice of reason for this. It was important to me.
And coming back to Elizabeth, the reason the short story Lovesong exists is because of the scenes between Gordo and Thomas. Gordo was given a chance at forgiving Thomas, but what about Elizabeth? I didn't think it was fair, especially given how Thomas was her mate. I didn't want to take away from the momentum of the story, or Gordo's perspective, so I decided to give Elizabeth her moment in the spotlight. I like how it turned out.
(And to that angry tweeter who accused me of ruining Thomas and Elizabeth: eh.)
Fourth and finally: the ending. That scene between Michelle Hughes and Robert Livingstone? I love it so, so much. It's short, only a few pages, but it has so much to it, especially revealing the identity of the timber wolf as being Gordo's half-brother. And though I've done twists before, there's just something so satisfying about this one, given that you, the audience, are now in possession of knowledge that the characters aren't. It'll create a different kind of tension, and every interaction will be heightened. Who is this wolf? What happened to him? Where did he come from? What does he know? When will the pack find out, and how will Gordo and Carter react? WHAT THE FUCK IS HIS NAME???? (lolololol)
(Also, for those upset that Carter also has a dude as a mate, die mad about it. Everyone is queer. This pack is a goddamn Pride Parade, and I don't care if you hate it. Write your own werewolf story with hetero sex if it upsets you that much.)
But stepping back from this knowledge is the first glimpse of Robert Livingstone in the present day. What does he want? Are we to take him at his word that he only wants his son and nothing more? I guess we'll have to find out, won't we?
Speaking of.
Heartsong.
I'm going to be very close-lipped about it, much more than I was with the lead up to Ravensong. It's...different. With sequels, there is a always a strange desire to go bigger and darker, upping the action and the violence. I...didn't do that. Heartsong is a quieter book, more focused on Robbie and Kelly than anything else. Oh, shit goes down, sure, but there was something... innocent(??) about the two of them that I wanted to explore in more depth. It also gives Chris, Tanner, Rico and Jessie more of a chance to shine.
And it will bring the relationship between Carter and Kelly to the forefront. They'll need each other for what's coming. Because Heartsong is built around a deceptively simple question: What happens if you can't trust the people around you?
And that's it.
That's all I'm going to say about the wolves until next summer as we approach the release of Heartsong in September of 2019. Thank you, though. Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for letting me tell these stories. I'm proud of them. And I can't wait until we head back to Green Creek again, and hear our pack singing us home.
tj
Comments from the old website:
Kah June-Si
Hello TJ Klune,
I know you‘re probably too busy to ever read this comment but still, in case you‘ll ever read this, I want to thank you so much for this wonderful story. At first I thought it was cheesy but I‘ve come to love it so much and I had to shed tears at some part of it and then I had to laugh and just be happy for the characters.
I honestly don‘t care with whom Carter is going to end with as long as he‘s happy and the Timberwolf as well (I‘m very excited to find out what his story is in the next book). I just love all the with all their flaws and goods, this is what makes them human and special.
I love how team human in the pack interacts with Gordo and the Alphas by the way. It‘s just too hilarious. The Wolfs are also very heartwarming. Love them all!
Thank you so much!
Best Regards
Anonymous
Such a bad ass! Never change. 💜🖤
Hayley
Love the hand gnawing, it is so Carter. I loved where you went town Thomas. It made them so much more real to me. As for the killing half of Team Human...I was so pissed! Dude! I had to stop and call you a few choice mothercracking names! I loved where you ended up going with it them. As for Gordo losing a hand and the timber wolf being his brother... I called it! I so called it! It was the eyes that did it! Also, I was so...Gordo is so Luke skywalker right now and Robert is so Vader! Is his name going to be Gaia? Bahahaha
Aysha Khoury
The hand gnawing made me laugh so hard!!! That would have been hilarious and in a strange way shows that nothing's really changed.
A mate's a mate so why does gender matter - not sure I understand that. I didn't even question it - just thought it hilarious that Carter is so clueless and I love that!
I am happy went in a different direction with the humans. Everyone has a breaking point and they're definitely the most physically fragile of the pack but that said packpackpack.
Lastly, Thomas and Elizabeth. For me they're definitely not ruined. I think we're around the same age so I too appreciate that human nature is complex and often time contradictory. For me what's most upsetting about their leaving Gordo is the complete lack of contact. That seemed cruel to Gordo, but I respect Thomas's decision. It was a difficult one, but I think he made it for what he felt were the right reason at the time and he had the courage to follow through on them.
Complex characters are closer to real life and make them fuller, more well rounded. I cherish that more.
Suzan
I really appreciated Thomas and Elizabeth. Actually, if you want to write more short stories I'd love for you to explore the relationship between Thomas and his father, a man/wolf I did not like. (Not a bad thing - I enjoyed not liking him.) The relationship between Abel and Elizabeth intrigues me as well. As to Thomas and Elizabeth they are so much more well rounded, more fully developed characters. And they are so very human (wolfian) and I love them even more now.
Brenda
U are right. Scene with Carter gnawing the hand would have been weirdly funny. That is so Carter. The backlash re Elizabeth and Thomas, foolish no one even my fav Ox is perfect. As to Carter having male mate, did reader forget the genre. Am always happy to have a bit of author’s insight (or incite depending on the view).
Mar
Thank you for not choosing to break Team Human! So far I'm very pleased with the decisions made, I think at this point I'd just go along with anything you write. Show Thomas and Elizabeth's flaws? yes. Make everyone queer? yes. Give Carter a male mate? yes yes yes, it didn't even occur to me to question that. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens with him and the timber wolf, but most of all I can't wait to just read about Robbie and Kelly. I think they might be my favorite. That little moment between them in Lovesong pulled at my heartstrings. I almost can't believe we still get to wait a full year for the release, but I'm sure it's gonna be worth it. Thank you for sharing this!
Nyxie Noc
Ahhhwwooooooooo
Anonymous
The layers and complexities you write make your books my favourite.
Sharon Lynn
OMG a year ............ will not make it, I hate you so muck right now.
This is why I should wait until I have the full series, I have no patience’s.
Thank you for the heart ach xx. Love you really
Csilla
2019 september is soooooo far away!!!! I absolutely love these books. Thank you for them. Wolfsong is one of my to go books when I feel depression closing in. Ox is giving me strenght to go forward. You are an amazing storyteller hope to have more from Green Creek.
Lynn
Thank you for not killing Rico.
Debra Edwards
I love everything about this post!
While reading Ravensong changed my view of Thomas, it just made him more human. I was angry about his choice but understood the position he was in and where he came from (doesn't mean I liked what he did). Same with Elizabeth.
Angela
Okay, first of all, 100% what you said about wanting to see beneath the surface to the complexity. It's what makes your characters so real and important. (Does loving that mean I'm old?! Goddammit.)
As for the Pride Parade: as far as I'm concerned, every single tree and blade of grass in the Bennett's territory is queer unless you've specified otherwise. The waitresses at the diner are getting it on. Will gets sober and patches Jameson's trailer wall and their love story is epic, the end. <3
Lucian
I am always curious about what Thomas see in Ox. Like... What is he feeling when he is looking at Ox? The bond they share... Wonder if we will get a Thomas short story.
Tara
I'm not mad about any of the choices you made. This series is epic and I don't even like werewolves outside of this series. You made me loves these ones though. Thank you.
Jenny
People are mad that Carter has a male mate ? Ha, I’ll go the other way and say I was disappointed when he said he was straight in Wolfsong. I can’t wait to see him figure this shit out. I love your Rainbow Pack, to hell with those who don’t.
Elizabeth
I liked the flawed version of Thomas and Elizabeth better anyways. It made them REAL. Nobody ever agrees 100% with their significant other.
I always wonder why some authors write mates as Wham! Hey, it’s you. Let’s skip off for a HEA where there’s no conflict and we just make love faces at each other all the time. If that’s your thing great, but for me, I like flawed characters.
euge
Man I just loved every FINAL choice you made. From Carter having a male mate to pulling out the scenes killing of the human crew. I would have died a little if you had done that. I swear I will never understand why a reader would yell at an author for a creative choice ( not the first time I have heard of this happening) they made cause its your world and what you write is exactly what it should be! I love that Thomas and Elizabeth are flawed, thats what makes them so real. Ox is my heart, thank you for the gift of him. Cant wait to read the next installment. These books are up there with Dune, GOT and LOTR for me.
