story apps – Kristen Brand

Meet the Cast of Wardrobe

All 5 episodes of Wardrobe have been released on Tales! If you like superhero stories or are looking for something fun to play on your phone, you can download the app Tales: Choose Your Own Story on iOS.

I talked a bit about the plot and gameplay during my last post about Wardrobe. Today I want to introduce you to the characters.

Clair is the protagonist, a fashion designer who makes costumes for the supervillain Death Diva on the side.

One challenge I had when writing interactive fiction was characterization. How do you offer the reader choices for the character’s actions but still give that character a consistent personality?

For me, the answer was to offer choices that are “in-character.” Clair has a big dilemma in the story, caught between her loyalty to her boss and her sense of right and wrong, and I can see her making several different choices in the heat of the moment. But none of those choices betray who she is as a character.

She doesn’t like superheroes, so even if you choose to help the heroes, she’s going to do so grudgingly and snark at them the whole time. She has lines she won’t cross, so if you take a more “villainous” path, there’s never going to be a choice that says “Kill him” or anything like that.

And she’ll never do anything that has even the slightest chance of hurting Eric.

Demons, Superheroes, and Ghosts: An Author Update

Being a writer is weird. It’s April, and I haven’t put out any new books yet this year, which makes me feel unproductive. But I’ve been working so hard!

So I figured I’d post an author update to prove to myself that I’ve accomplished things.

First off, let’s talk about The Shadow Journals. This is my new urban fantasy project that I mentioned in my post of goals for 2021, and I’m happy to report that I’ve finished the first draft of four novella-length stories in the series.

The fifth story is turning out to be way longer than the others. I’m considering bundling the first four stories into one volume and putting it out for free as a reader magnet. Then the rest of the books would be novel-length.

Maybe. I’m still thinking it over.

Choose Heroism or Villainy in this sneak peak of WARDROBE

Being the costume designer for a supervillain is a pretty sweet gig. At least until two heroes ambush me with an ultimatum to betray my boss.
Episode 1 of Wardrobe

I’m writing superhero fiction again, and boy, it feels good to be back. Only this time I don’t have an ebook for you, I’ve got an interactive game.

Cover for interactive superhero story Wardrobe on a phone screen.

Wardrobe is like a visual novel. It has illustrated backgrounds and characters, and at certain points in the story, you get to choose what action Clair, the protagonist, takes next.

Screenshot of superhero visual novel Wardrobe showing the protagonist being followed. — Which would you choose?

Some choices only slightly affect the way the story unfolds, while others have drastic consequences. You can lead Clair down a path of heroism or villainy or just do your own thing.