Category Archives: Australian Writers

June 29, 2010 · 11:19 am

Dark Urban Fantasy of Another Flavour

Just when you thought you’d seen all the permutations you possible could in the Dark Urban Fantasy genre along comes something fresh.

Power and Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts.

Of course I am biased. I read Tansy’s book in draft form before it was published as part of a ROR writers retreat. And I’ve been hanging out for the next instalment ever since.

She takes the decadence and frivolity of Ancient Rome, combines it with the Roaring Twenties, Sky Battles and Seriously Sexy Shape-shifters. Impossible you say?

See here for a taste.

But don’t listen to me. See here and here for what the reviewers are saying.

And if that doesn’t convince you, go here for a podcast reading.

And the best thing is that we RORees are on a countdown for another ROR right before World Con in September,  so I get to read book two of the Creature Court!

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Filed under Australian Writers, Dark Urban Fantasy, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, Genre, Promoting Friend's Books, Writing Groups

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June 26, 2010 · 10:05 am

Lovers of Dark Urban Fantasy …

For those of you who like Dark Urban Fantasy, here is a review of Trent Jamieson’s book. Death Most Definite. They say:

‘The fascinating central premise of Death as a corporate interest is handled in a serious and frighteningly credible manner, allowing for some engrossing and inventive world-building on the author’s part; the twist-laden plot belts along at breathtaking pace from page one (‘unputdownable’ is a fair description)’

Naturally, I’m delighted with this. I got to read Trent’s book in the final draft at ROR in March 2009 when we stayed in Maleny. Lots of delicious cooking, thanks to Dirk Flinthart, lots of wine and lots of talk about the craft of writing, while analysing my friends’ wonderful books. What could be better?

And here is the bookplate I designed for Trent. Look out for book one of his Death Works trilogy in the bookstores in August.

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Filed under Australian Writers, creativity, Dark Urban Fantasy, Promoting Friend's Books, The Writing Fraternity, Writing craft, Writing Groups

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June 19, 2010 · 10:10 pm

Help for writers …

Writing is a lonely business, just you and the characters in your head.

But you don’t have to be alone, looking out at the big world of publishing, wishing you were swimming in those waves. (OK, I’ll stop the analogy now).

There are writing groups out there specifically for Speculative Fiction writers (spec fic – fantasy, science fiction and horror). I’ve done a post over at the ROR blog which attempts to be a round-up of Australian Spec Fic writing groups.

I learnt so much from the Vision writing group and made friends many of whom have gone on to be published writers. It is great to be able to share the ups and downs of completing a book, sending it off, getting rejections and ploughing on.

Only another writer will really understand the thrill of that phone call, when an editor rings you up to make an offer on your book. (They ring you up because they like to hear you go ‘Squeeee’ when you realise what they are saying).

So consider joining a writing group. If meeting in person feels a bit daunting, there are the online groups. Vision has an e-group where you can dip your toes in the water, as it were. (Okay, now I really will stop with the analogy).

Do you belong to a writing group? Maybe you belong to a reading group.

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Filed under Australian Writers, Nourish the Writer, The Writing Fraternity, Writing craft, Writing Groups

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June 17, 2010 · 11:36 am

The Power of Fantasy

I spent way too long today writing an article on fantasy, why it is popular with both the writers who choose to write in this genre, and with the readers, who keep buying those trilogies.

I should have been working on the the first draft of the book I have to put into ROR for critiquing. We plan to have a ROR the week before World Con and I’m really looking forward to the feedback.  But first I have to get my book finished (at least the story arc completed, if not polished) and then I have to read everyone else’s books and write reports on them. I’m 360 pages into the new book, but I need to go right through it from the beginning to tie all the loose ends together, then sail past page 360 and give resolution to the story.

So I should not have spent my only day off work writing an article on the fantasy genre. I agonised over what to cover and what to leave out. I had to make it accessible for those who did not read fantasy, while giving it an Australian slant. I emailed writer friends for quotes on why they wrote fantasy and what they thought readers got from fantasy books. And I sourced lots of links for readers to click through. I could not find a definitive list of Australian fantasy writers, categorised by fiction length and sub genre.

I’d like to thank everyone who indulged me and answered my emails. And I’d like to say, if I haven’t mentioned your favourite author it was not because I don’t appreciate them, rather it was due to lack of space. The genre is far too big to cover in one article. The article is here at the Australian Literature Review.

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Filed under Australian Writers, Fantasy books, Genre, The Writing Fraternity

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