The Ashes Settle

Book Cover

SCI-FI ADVENTURE

Future

Gary A Osborn

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Submision Type

book

Logline

It is a continuation of "Sea of Red" for the Windmill Series. You reviewed "Sea of Red" and it was a TaleFlick choice in March of 2021

Genre

Sci-fi,Adventure

Short Summary

The story begins where Book two left off. The world is at a crossroads and his women board takeover after Hitler left it in shambles.

Setting

Canada, the Moon and a number of locations across the world

Based on a True Story

No

Plot - Premise

Other

Plot - Other Elements

Other

Mature Audience Themes

Information not completed

Main Character Details

Name: Violet Richards

Age: 40

Gender: Female

Role: Logical

Key Traits: Decisive,Lone Wolf,Leader,Aggressive

Additional Character Details

Name: Lynette Holmes

Age: 45

Gender: Female

Role: Mentor

Key Traits: Confident,Decisive,Engaging,Leader,Skillful,Funny

Additional Character Details

Name: Lynette Holmes

Age: 40

Gender:

Role:

Key Traits: Decisive,Engaging,Modest,Skillful

Additional Character Details

The author has not yet written this

About The Author

Gary Osborn took up writing after his retirement and got considerable help from friends in the process. He is currently rewriting his first unpublished book. Osborn and his wife have just completed their fiftieth year of marriage. They have four children and six grandchildren. Osborn spends most of his time writing, binge-watching TV with his wife, playing steel-tipped darts in various leagues, and participates in the occasional 5K walk or run. He is a sports fan of the Detroit teams and was a sentry dog handler in the Vietnam War.

Target Audiences

Age: 35-54

Target Gender: Universal

Group Specific

Information not completed

Publishing Details

Status: Yes: with a Publisher

Publisher: Newman Springs

Year Published: 2021

Hard Copy Available

No

ISBN

ISBN: 978-1-63692-640-7 eb- 978-1-63692-641-4

Genre

ACTION, DRAMA

Brief

With Hitler subdued, the rogue women who stopped his abuse of the aging technology and death rays focus on the external conflicts of Earth. The general populations thinks all the phenomenon are aliens and as the world leaders work behind the scenes, they let them. A single leader is elected and as expected for the betterment of mankind, that leader is Lynette, a female.

Overall Rating

FAIR

Point of View

THIRD PERSON

Narrative Elements

Authors Writing Style: FAIR

Characterization: FAIR

Commerciality: GOOD

Franchise Potential: EXCELLENT

Pace: FAIR

Premise: GOOD

Structure: FAIR

Theme: FAIR

Accuracy of Book Profile

The profile somewhat reflects the book. Rather than discussing TaleFlick and the past books in the profile, focusing on the current work would help show its marketability in its own right. Indeed it is commendable that the series is a March choice, but like in theater or series where someone may be joining late in the series, answering what about the work as a standalone piece will make it worth watching is important to capture interest. The character details repeat Lynette so could benefit from variation such as adding Megan. The logline should be a one to two sentence summary describing the main goal. The development pitch reflects the story well but expanding it to what the marketable themes are may enhance the pitch even more to add details outside the scope of the short summary.

Draw of Story

The idea of an all women board leading a space expedition in a race to save Earth after they just defeated Hitler is a unique world building universe with a lot of avenues it could take. The potential of the premise is compelling.

Possible Drawbacks

The characters often talk about what they will do and or their reactions are doubting another character which can slow down the pacing of telling rather than showing. Showing characters advancing the plot and having more purposeful conversations to provide exposition may adjust the pacing and plot development.

Use of Special Effects

THE STORY RELIES HEAVILY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS

Primary Hook of Story

The hook is that a group of women must save Earth and where just elected as the leader of the world so all eyes and hope is on them.

Fanbase Potential

As a sci-fi concept led by women with a fantasy space component, this might have a medium fanbase depending on the character development and greater action sequences.

Awards Potential

Due to its sci-fi space nature with a touch of dystopian apocalypse and for being part of an action series, this is unlikely to win prestige awards due to genre predictability of the awards circuit.

Envisioned Budget

LARGE BUDGET

Similar Films/TV Series

ANNIHILATION, FIREFLY, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, ARRIVAL, INDEPENDENCE DAY, AD ASTRA

What’s New About the Story

The uniqueness of the story is the large sweeping goal of saving earth through space and the characters being women-centric with power. Further developing the women to seem more dynamic with inner conflicts alongside the plot will create greater emotional investment in their success.

Lead Characters

Lynette is brave, practical and a take charge type of gal. Violet has a lot of decorum but is still a rebel. Megan is amenable and charming.

Uniqueness of Story

The concept is great, but the characters and action within the plot could be further enhanced to reach its full action potential in world building and engagement.

Possible Formats

Film: Streaming, Indie, Studio

Analyst Recommendation

WORK IN PROGRESS

Justification

While the story has many positive points, it has room for improvement (see possible paths below). If you can't change the story at this point, my suggestion is using your notes as a guide to highlight the best aspects of it when taking the next steps, either putting a pitch page together, a treatment, or a presentation.

Tips for Improvement

Adding inner conflicts and transformation to the characters will help them feel more three-dimensional. Adjusting some of the dialogue to show the actions rather than talk about the actions without providing new information would create greater consistent tension and thus make the pacing quicker.