Tag Archives: Fantasy Trilogy

Doing the fun stuff…

Much of a writer’s life is spent slogging away over a keyboard, fighting for inspiration and the time to get the story down.  But the last couple of days I’ve been doing the fun stuff. My publisher, Solaris, has asked me to come up with ideas for the covers of the new series called:

The Outcast Chronicles

This means I get to pull out my Resonance File and go through it, putting together a page of visuals for the setting, another one for the way people dress and a couple of pages on the main characters. Then I do a brief background on the series and the characters, and finally I do a page on my vision for the series’ covers.

Eventually, I’ll put together an inspiration page on The Outcast Chronicles, as I did for King Rolen’s Kin. For now, this is my collage of images:

I’m very lucky really.  Most writers don’t get this much input into their covers. Of course, once I hand the Resonance File over, it is in the lap of the publishers and the cover artist. Clint Langley did a wonderful job on the KRK book covers, so I’m hoping for him again.

Meanwhile, there’s a  give away of KRK book one The King’s Bastard on Dave Brendon’s blog.

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Filed under Book Giveaway, Covers, creativity, Fun Stuff

Currently working on …

The Homeless Mystics (working title for the trilogy).

I chose these pictures from my Resonance file on this series. The mystics have a sophisticated society which evolved to keep their powerful gifts under control. They value honour and beauty in all things. I based the concept of their home, Celestial City, on the Heavenly City in medieval Japan and on the capital city of the Aztec Empire.

This series follows the fate of a tribe of dispossessed mystics, the T’Enatuath. Vastly outnumbered by the Meiren (people without magical abilities), the mystics are persecuted because the Mieren fear their gifts. This persecution culminates in a bloody pogrom sanctioned by the Meiren King who lays siege to the Celestial City, last bastion of the T’Enatuath.

When the city falls at great cost to both sides, the T’En leader, Imoshen, negotiates their surrender and the mystics are exiled from their homeland.

Under Imoshen’s leadership, the T’Enatuath battle vindictive Meiren, storms at sea, pirates, and even betrayal from within their own ranks.

 

I’m currently polishing the three books to hand in to my publishers early next year. I thought book one was almost done, but when I went away to World Con I spent every spare moment in my room writing and I had an epiphany. I realised I’d ended book one in the wrong place, (which explained why the opening of book two felt wrong). So I had to end book one earlier. This meant I had the room to explore a couple of narrative threads that had been implicit before. The book is much stronger now.

Love, loyalty … betrayal – all the things I like to explore.

Now if I only had more hours in a day! (If only I didn’t have to sleep!).

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Filed under creativity, Fantasy books, Genre, Resonance, Story Arc, Writing craft

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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Filed under Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, The Writing Fraternity

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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Filed under creativity, Fun Stuff, Genre, Movies & TV Shows, The World in all its Absurdity

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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Filed under Fantasy books, SF Books, Specialist Bookshops, Writing craft

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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Filed under Book Giveaway, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, Genre, Promoting Friend's Books

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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Filed under Covers, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, The World in all its Absurdity

Doing the Happy Dance!

You know how writers labour away for years in back rooms writing books, throwing their whole heart into these series, never knowing if anyone will read their stories?

Well,  every once in while the fates of publishing smile on the struggling author  and  these series do sell. This is one of those days. So I’m definitely Doing the Happy Dance!

Solaris have bought my First T’En trilogy.

Book one:
This series follows the fate of a tribe of  mystics, the T’Enatuath. Vastly outnumbered by people without magical abilities, the mystics are persecuted because ordinary people fear their gifts.

This persecution culminates in a bloody pogrom sanctioned by the King who lays siege to the Celestial City, last bastion of the T’Enatuath.

A fantasy-family saga, the characters are linked by blood, love and vows as they struggle with misplaced loyalties, over-riding ambition and hidden secrets which could destroy them. Some make desperate alliances only to suffer betrayal from those they trust, and some discover great personal strength in times of adversity.

You know how to fall in love with your characters?  I fell in love with these people.  I’m over the moon now that the trilogy has sold!

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Filed under creativity, Fantasy books, Nourish the Writer, Publishing Industry, Story Arc

Good News

Over at the Galaxy Bookshop’s Blog Spot there is a give away of The King’s Bastard and … drum roll …

Book one of King Rolen’s Kin has slipped into number 9 on their best seller list.

I can’t quite believe it.  A big thank you to all those people who have taken a punt on this new series. And a big thank you to the staff at Galaxy bookshop!

Where would we writers be without specialist bookstores?

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KRK Book One – Free Sample

Over HERE at the Solaris Blog, also known as When Gravity Fails, they have announced the first chapter of KRK book one is available for download.

Hope you enjoy.

And of course the good thing is that books two and three will be released in August and September. No waiting, for you fantasy junkies.

I know I would much rather buy a whole series so I don’t have to wait for the next book.  In fact, if I find an author I like, I buy all their books and read them in chronolgical order to see how they develop as a writer.

But not everyone is as obsessed as me.

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Filed under Book Giveaway, Fantasy books, Genre, Readers