Tag Archives: Fantasy books

October 7, 2010 · 11:17 am

News from the UK

My  friend Donna (waving madly) is in the UK at the moment on holiday.

Apparently she was wandering through Waterstones in Bath, when she spotted my book with the number 3 best seller tag on it. Being a good friend she took a picture and tweeted the news!

Here I am way over in Australia, wondering if anybody likes my books, hoping they’ll find a good home. I feel very honoured, there’s Joe Abercrombie on one side. Not sure what the other book is. Anyone recognise it from that sliver of cover?

Thanks, Donna!

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September 24, 2010 · 8:58 pm

Fancy becoming a hobbit?

According to BBC New Entertainment & Arts, Peter Jackson is looking for short people to play hobbits in the movie of the same name. (Following on from yesterday’s post ‘hobbit’ is another word created by an author that has made it into the Oxford dictionary).

So if you are a keen on the hobbit or film making, here’s an opportunity to do both. When watching the special features on Lord of the Rings (extended version) the one thing that came through clearly was how dedicated everyone behind the scenes was to getting the film just right. Clearly it was a life changing experience for many and they were sorry when the making of the films was over.

There just aren’t enough opportunities for creative people to work on something great.

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September 20, 2010 · 8:37 pm

Pratchett Insight

I came across a blog post on Pratchett’s books which says, much more eloquently, how I feel about his works. Here’s where you can find the full post.

‘Pratchett’s use of dwarfs, trolls, vampires and numerous other species as denizens of the Discworld epitomizes this. They started off as standard fantasy archetypes, reflecting the earlier Discworld novels’ genesis as a parody of fantasy cliché, but as the series progressed, they are developed into people, so that readers forget they have rocky hides for skin or fangs’

I love the way Pratchett uses the fantasy world to make us look at ourselves. Fantasy is the perfect medium for this. I did my Masters on Discrimination and Persecution in Fantasy Books. When you take a reader into an invented world and give them a character to identify with, they feel what the character feels (if you’ve engaged the reader).

So, I raise a glass of cyber champers to Terry. By the way that is an excellent cover.

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September 11, 2010 · 6:32 am

Thanks to Jessica

Thanks to Jessica who set up this promo for KRK in the bookshop where she works. World’s Biggest Bookstore Canada.

And here is the interview on SciFiFanLetter blogspot. Always a pleasure to talk to someone who loves books!

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August 26, 2010 · 3:38 am

Drop by and say Hi

On Saturday the 28th of August, I’m going to be at Logan North Library so drop by and say Hi.

I’ll be with the romantic by cynical Trent Jamieson, author of Death Most Definite, the pocket rocket Kylie Chan, author of the Dark Heaven series, the lovely Louise Cusack author and mentor, and Anthony Puttee author of the Johnny Marsh books.

We’ll be talking about promoting your books and this is all part of Logan North Library’s month of Speculative Fiction. So you are sure to see Darth Vader and a Storm Trouper or two!

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Filed under Australian Writers, Dark Urban Fantasy, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, Genre, Mentoring, Promoting Friend's Books, Publishing Industry, Specialist Bookshops, The Writing Fraternity

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August 25, 2010 · 7:07 am

Coffee and a chat

If you are coming to World Con and you’d like to share a coffee with me, or any of the fabulous authors who are there, here is the link to the World Con KoffeeKlatsche page. It’s a chance to talk about books, the publishing industry, writing and anything that interests you.

Coffee makes the World go Around … the World go Around … sung to the tune of Money Makes the World go Around from Cabaret!

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August 20, 2010 · 12:02 pm

Kings, Five of a kind!

Over at the SOLARIS blog they are doing a give-away.

‘In honour of the releases of Paul Kearney‘s The Monarchies of God omnibuses (Hawkwood and the Kings, out now, and Century of the Soldier, due out next month) and Rowena Cory Daniells‘ The Chronicles of King Rolen’s Kin trilogy (The King’s Bastard and The Uncrowned King, out now, and The Usurper, due out next month), we’re holding an all-kings-themed competition.’

All you have to do is name your favourite king. So drop over and try your luck!

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July 26, 2010 · 10:23 am

When friends have books coming out …

I get to celebrate!

Over at the ROR blog Kylie Chan has done a post on Sustaining Plots. Since this is book six of her Dark Heaven series, she can speak with authority. She’s also doing a giveaway of ‘Hell to Heaven’.

Go Kylie!

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July 19, 2010 · 9:37 pm

Advance copies of KRK book two

Came home from work yesterday to find a big package. Advance copies of KRK book two have arrived.  YAY!

Naturally, Sassy cat had to investigate.

Of all the KRK books this cover is my favourite. It’s so rich and lush. Exotic. Kudos to Clint Langley for the excellent job he did on the whole series.

I have a couple of friend who I’ve promised copies, so now I can pass these along.

Meanwhile, you’ve heard of the cat in the hat, well, meet the cat in the bag.  She likes to climb inside things and curl up asleep. I’ve gone to clear a shopping bag off the table only to discover her curled up inside asleep!

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July 1, 2010 · 9:43 am

Not a review, more of a reflection …

Copies of KRK book one are presently winging their away across the globe to the US, the UK, but also, Malta, Romania and Sweden!

So far there’s this post, which isn’t exactly a review, more reflection on the book.

She says:

‘Some mornings you have a dream that’s so wonderful you don’t want to wake up.  It’s full of unanswered questions and ideas that need to be followed.  The remnants of those thoughts cling to every moment of your day, but dreaming once more brings no relief.  Ah, the dream is lost forever!
The ending to The King’s Bastard reminded me of this feeling. ‘

You can read the rest of the post here.

I find it interesting because it isn’t about the plot or the writing. It’s about one person’s reaction to the book.

As a writer, I’m reaching out, sharing my dreams with readers. It’s nice to know I reached someone.

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