Advancing Nocturna

I have embarked on a second volume of Nocturna Club tales. Volume One ended with The Twelfth Night: The Nocturna Club Annual Dinner Dance, and, truthfully, I had fallen in love with the characters and happenings of this strange little world. I simply didn’t want it to end.

Nocturna Volume II already features two new poems: The Mermaid’s Tale and The Brigade de Cuisine. I’ve become much more immersed in the world and increasingly comfortable fleshing out its characters and situations. I’m learning a great deal as I go, too. The Brigade tale, in particular, led me down the fascinating rabbit hole of Edwardian French kitchen staff, procedures, and some wonderfully strange dishes.

My world-building master list now tracks every location, oddity, creature and character, along with their connections, appearances, and story references. With the named character count now sitting at 52, maintaining those connections to Volume One has become vital. I’ve started adding deeper links between characters, including Prudence Pike, the Poissonnier (seafood chef) and cousin of the performing Pike Twins; Selena Marlowe, Captain Abercrombie Marlowe’s maritime folklorist daughter; and young Percival “Pip” Rook, the kitchen plongeur (dishwasher and porter) and nephew of club attendant Gideon Rook.

Writing in this world really lifts my spirits, and I hope readers enjoy exploring it with me.

So lace those corsets, button up those waistcoats, and come and imagine with me.

Onwards!