I’ve noticed the number of hits on my site has gone up over Christmas. I can only think of two reasons.
People got copies of my books for Christmas. (Thank you for giving my books as presents, who ever you are!).
And/or people have time on their hands over Christmas holidays and are surfing the net.
Of course, if you are like me then you probably have less time over the Christmas holidays. Why did I think renovating and writing the new trilogy at the same time would be a good idea?
Filed under creativity, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff
Kudos to Clint Langley, the cover artist for the KRK trilogy. Clint’s cover for book one ‘The King’s Bastard’ has been nominated for the Ravenheart Award. That’s the cover section of the Gemmell Award. Fingers crossed Clint!
Filed under Awards, Covers, creativity, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, Genre, Inspiring Art
Many cultures believe words have power. The bards sang stories. They made sure things were remembered and took these stories from one place to another. They could also lampoon someone and make them suffer.
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me …
Not true if everyone is laughing at you because of an easy to remember catchy rhyme that is passing through the village like wild fire!
When I set out to write King Rolen’s Kin I wanted a traditional fantasy story, but some of the words we use have been used so many times they lose their power. So I avoided prince or princess and used kingson and kingsdaughter. Both of these are based on the way people were described (and what is a name but a description?) in the Norse sagas. Unlike our society, in the Norse sagas a man might also be described by his mother’s ancestors as well, and I use this in KRK.
The other word I wanted to avoid was magic. It has been used so much it has lost its original awe inspiring power. It used to be out there, all around us, tied to the earth and to specific places where someone with the right ability could tap into it. So I came up with affinity. In KRK power seeps up from the earth’s heart. It affects animals and people. Some people are born with the ability to manipulate this power, they have an ‘affinity’ for it. So the term becomes, they have affinity. This way magic becomes something ‘other’ and powerful again.
What I look for in fantasy and science fiction is that the thrill of wonder. It can be associated with the future and the possibilities of where we will go as human beings, or it can be associated with the past and the powerful things our ancestors held to be important. There was a time when your word was your bond. You could not break an oath, or you would be known as an oath-breaker and no one would trust you.
Filed under creativity, Fantasy books, Resonance, Writing craft
David Gemmel said:
‘There is no gratuitous violence in my books, I tend to concentrate on courage, loyalty, love and redemption. I believe in these things. If there’s anything I’d like my books to achieve, it would be to increase the desire of people to do good.’
The David Gemmell Award Poll has now opened and will stay open until the 11th of March. (See here for the post) According to the team behind the David Gemmel award, their aim is:
• Raise public awareness of the Fantasy genre
• Celebrate the history and cultural importance of Fantasy literature
• Appreciate & reward excellence in the field
• Commemorate the legacy of David Andrew Gemmell and his contribution to the Fantasy genre
All this leads up to the fact that The King’s Bastard is nominated for the DGLA this year. If you enjoyed it please drop by and vote for it. Here’s the link.
Filed under Awards, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff
My friend AA Bell has just released her latest book, something she’s been working on for 10 years. (I know that feeling). Here’s her blog post about it. Her book is called Diamond Eyes.
And here is her ROR blog post about crossing genres. Go AA!
I’d like to thank all the people who’ve contacted me about the fourth book in the Chronicles of King Rolen’s Kin. A writer spends years developing the world of a series. They dedicate themselves to the characters. They devote themselves to the plot. And then they send their books out into the world, hoping someone will get as much of a buzz from the stories as they do.
It makes my day, when readers come looking for KRK 4.
The good news is that I have heaps of ideas for another three books. The bad news for KRK readers is that I have to hand in a new fantasy series – The Outcast Chronicles – before I can tackle the new KRK books.
But once I have handed the new series in to my publisher, I’ll be free to take a journey to Rolencia and find out what happens to Byren, Piro and Fyn.
Filed under Characterisation, creativity, Fantasy books, Nourish the Writer
Come to Victoria Point Angus and Robertson bookstore this Saturday, 11 am. (This is Brisbane, Queensland, Australia).
I’ll be there along with the cute, but canny Kylie Chan.
One of life’s true romantics, Trent Jamieson.
And the effervescent Marianne de Pierres (who moonlights as Marianne Delacourt).
Book one of King Rolen’s Kin has been given a one-star review on Amazon because it has a gay character in it. Orrie is loyal and smart and one of my favourite characters.
I feel honoured. Now if I can only get the book banned!
I came across Bookcrossing a couple of years ago, when I attended the Aurealis Awards in Brisbane and someone ‘released’ a Doctor Who book into the wild. I found it nestling on my car windscreen, took it home and adopted it. Much later I released it to a secondhand book shop where I’m sure it made lots of friends before being adopted by a reader. (Not a true bookcrossing, but my version of it).
Apparently the third book of my King Rolen’s Kin trilogy, The Usurper, has been released into the wild in Spain. The ‘releaser’ (if there is such a term says):
‘a good end to a fantasy series that kept me enthralled and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The political plots, the hidden agendas, the magic, it all makes this an interesting tale of good, bad, and all that lies in between. ‘ (see more here)
I hope my book finds a good home …
Filed under Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, The World in all its Absurdity
My publishers have asked me to encapsulate my new trilogy, The Outcast Chronicles, in 100 to 150 words for each book. Gahhhh
They need this for the cover artist, for the book stores, or the back cover blurb etc. But these books are 100,ooo to 150,000 words. I know the characters intimately and all the twists and turns of the plots. Encapsulating the books in 150 words is so hard its painful.
This is an amusing irony, because I teach how to write a synopsis and how to pitch your books. When pitching your book you need to do the ‘elevator pitch’ that means you need to encapsulate the core of your book in 25 words or less.
Here goes:
This is a story about a tribe of mystics who are persecuted in their own land and banished. It’s about how they struggle to find a new home.
Terrible, I know. I have to talk about the people. Because we want to hear about someone we can care about. Another try:
Imoshen didn’t want to lead her people into exile. She didn’t want to battle the brotherhood leaders for this dubious honour but she needed to make sure her children were safe.
Not bad, could do better. Sigh.
Will keep trying.
Filed under creativity, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, Genre, Writing craft
