Kindred Spirits & Idle Spirits
LOL, I was trying to find a replacement for Corel Photo-Paint, but then I realized Preview does everything I need (crop, resize, resample). So I can get back to posting new Kindred Spirits pages. Still need a new scanner, though. (And printer - turns out the 3-in-1 I have doesn't have drivers that work with OS X. Huh.)

But I suppose I should start talking more about the main story, Idle Spirits. As soon as I get a new scanner, I'll post something on the site besides "coming soon."

In the world of Idle Spirits exists a group of people known as "spirit guides," who, essentially, guide spirits to the afterlife, and also have some special abilities. This is a duty that passes from mother to child. 18 year-old Derica Zo learns in the first chapter from Shiri and Karmina Lerato that her mother, Adelle, was a spirit guide - and thus she herself. That explains everything except why she saw Shiri in her dreams before even knowing she existed...

Idle Spirits is an embarrassingly long story that I've broken up into eight series. Series 1 happens to be 16 chapters long. (But Series 5 is only 6 chapters, for example.) I'm not sure if it will show, but I was particularly inspired by Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Nana, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Torchwood, and television in general while developing the series from scattered notes over the last year.

So, spoilers?



Mostly because I'm going to explode. And since I have no pictures for now, I wrote down their physical appearances.

Derica Zo
First Appearance: Chapter 1
Age: 18 (May 12)
Physical Appearance: 5' 5"; brown eyes; black, mid-back straight hair (Black)
Special ability: super-strong gut feeling. ("Pretty lame as far as super powers go," in her words.)
Interesting info: she does a big chop early on in the story to go natural.

Shiri Lerato
First Appearance: Chapter 1
Age: 19 (December 5)
Physical Appearance: 5' 8"; green eyes; red, shoulder-length, wavy hair (Jewish)
Special abiity: not tellin'.
Interesting info: has a super-secret boyfriend and is studying to become a biochemist.

Manasa Price
First Appearance: Chapter 4
Age: 18 (September 5)
Physical Appearance: 5' 3"; gray eyes; black, waist-length straight hair (White)
Special ability: can see auras and is claircognizant (aka, she just knows stuff).
Interesting info: blind, adoptive sister of Shiri, plays cello and piano.

Adelle Zo
First Appearance: Chapter 1
Age: 42 at death
Physical Appearance: 5' 5"; brown eyes; black, dreadlocked hair (Black)
Special ability: telepathy.
Interesting info: Karmina's BFF. Was, at least. The end of the first story arc in Series 1 is not the last we see of her. (Sorry, no resurrections.)

Karmina Lerato
First Appearance: Chapter 1
Age: 43
Physical Appearance: 5' 7"; green eyes; brown, shoulder-length wavy hair (Jewish)
Special ability: clairaudience ("supernatural hearing, so to speak," says Shiri).
Interesting info: Adelle's BFF.

Ethan Way
First Appearance: Chapter 1
Age: 18 (January 17)
Physical Appearance: 5' 11"; brown eyes; short, black, kinky hair (Black); glasses
Info: Went on one date with Derica, then her mother died. Kinda-sorta friends now. Studying to be a lawyer. Plays only a small part in Series 1.

Marco di Fiore
First Appearance: Chapter 1
Age: 17 (July 11)
Physical Appearance: 5' 9"; green eyes; short, brown, wavy hair (White); freckles
Info: Derica's BFF. Everyone always thinks they're a couple. More like siblings - called Adelle "Mom." Studying to be a nurse.

Altair
First Appearance: Chapter 11
Age: 19
Physical Appearance: 5' 8"; blue eyes; short, black, straight hair (Asian - yes, I know what, specifically, but I'm not tellin' yet)
Info: Knows Manasa. Is only in a few chapters, but will show up later on and prove to be more than just an Asian, bisexual, pretty-boy.

Nathan Gray
First Appearance: Chapter 5
Age: 35
Physical Appearance: 5' 11"; brown eyes; short, brown, wavy hair (White); if I learn to draw facial hair properly, there will be facial hair
Info: Scientist. Otherwise not tellin'.

Simon Edwards
First Appearance: Chapter 4
Age: 18
Physical Appearance: 5' 9"; brown eyes; short, black, kinky hair (Black)
Info: Religious. Otherwise not tellin'.

All Characters
Derica Zo
Shiri Lerato
Manasa Price
Adelle Zo
Karmina Lerato
Ethan Way
Marco di Fiore
Altair
Silvia Way
Gina di Fiore
Ja-young Kwan
Michael Collins
Hannah Richardson
Dean Langley
Four
Ginette Huang
Daina Cole
Warren Seaver
Dorothea Hampton
Tom Spiros
Evan Hudson
Kendall Hudson
Rakesh Modi
Adara Zo

I will have a good time if anyone tries to guess who these people are in relation to the main cast XD



I have to say, writing Idle Spirits so far has been incredible. I never put so much thought into themes, and plot points are dovetailing effortlessly. I adore all of the characters and all their wonderful flaws. I hope I'm able to complete the entire story eventually, because I love the ending.