Edward Willett

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A YouTube interview avec moi…

...promoting the re-release of Spirit Singer by Tyche Books. Among many other things.

Posted by Edward Willett at 23:34, June 11th, 2013 under Blog, Writing and Editing | Comment now »

A nice new review of Magebane…

...courtesy of T.E.J. Johnson, who gives it 91%. Read the whole thing, but here's an excerpt: This is a rich book, and Chane sets the plot zipping through a crackling political landscape.  The land of the Evenfels is wonderfully realised...The way Chane describe the use and abuse of magic makes sense, you can feel the characters make a spell, or draw on energy and it is with this careful kind of craft with which he weaves the lands behind the barrier. The books principle characters are strong and Mother Goodwind (sic; it's actually Northwind, but, oh well - Ed) is a particular standout.  A dotty, forgetful Miss Marple kind of ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 15:23, March 7th, 2013 under Blog, Books | Comment now »

Bundoran Press buys my SF novel Right to Know

I'm very pleased to announce that Bundoran Press, a small Canadian press that's put out some terrific books in its short life and has a new owner and managing editor, Aurora Award-winning author Hayden Trenholm, has bought my science fiction novel Right to Know (that's the working title--it could still change), with the goal of having it out by August, in time for the When Words Collide conference in Calgary. Here's how Hayden describes the book in his press release: Edward Willett’s novel, Right To Know (working title), is a fast-paced space opera about the power of information – and disinformation – in closed societies and whether the public has ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 23:38, January 11th, 2013 under Blog, Books | Comment now »

Nice review of “A Little Space Music”

Speculating Canada, a relatively new blog focusing on Canadian science fiction, fantasy and horror, has a nice review of "A Little Space Music," my humorous "amateur theatre in outer space" short story just published in OnSpec. It begins: In “A Little Space Music”, Edward Willett demonstrates his creative wit and humour. He plays on an issue that is familiar to any of us who have done amateur theatre… the issue of making a cast out of actors with varying skills. But, ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 9:58, July 15th, 2012 under Blog | Comment now »

Magebane shortlisted for Saskatchewan Book Award

Magebane has been shortlisted for the Regina Book Award in this year's Saskatchewan Book Awards. The Regina Book Award is described this way: "In recognition of the vitality of the literary community in Regina, this award is presented to a Regina author (or pair of authors) for the best book, judged on the quality of writing." Other shortlisted in the same category: Mark Cronlund Anderson & Carmen L. Robertson, for Seeing Red: A History of Natives in Canadian Newspapers (University of Manitoba Press); Wilfred Burton and Anne Patton for Call of the Fiddle (Gabriel Dumont Institute; illustrated by Sherry Farrell Racette and translated by Norman Fleury), Britt Holmström for Leaving Berlin ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 16:01, February 16th, 2012 under Books | Comment now »

Magebane picked up by Science Fiction Book Club

Wonderful to see that Magebane has been picked up by the Science Fiction Book Club; my last book the SFBC brought out in hardcover was Marseguro. Their description is nice, too: Magebane by Lee Arthur Chane is that rare breed of novel—a brisk-paced, twist-filled stand-alone adventure of science vs magic! Four centuries ago, a devastating revolution swept the world, and the arrogant MageLords, who had long ruled by spell power, were driven to a distant land, protected by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords devolved into legend, and people turned to science to improve their lives. Meanwhile, behind the Barrier, the magic-wielders’ brutal ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 9:32, January 16th, 2012 under Blog, Books | Comment now »

VOYA likes Magebane

Although Magebane is not a YA novel, it does have relatively young protaganists, and there's certainly no reason older teens wouldn't enjoy it...a fact with which VOYA concurs. VOYA (it stands for Voice of Youth Advocates) magazine is "the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and reading," so it's gratifying that their reviewer Heidi Uphoff has this to say about Magebane (it's not an unadulterated rave, as you'll see, but I'll take it!): Chane created a fascinating and unique world in Magebane, a stand-alone fantasy novel. There is a little predictability ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 8:54, December 9th, 2011 under Blog, Books | Comment now »

A couple of more Magebane reviews…

First up, Just a Guy Who Reads Books begins his review by saying: Chane combines some steampunk sensibilities with a magic world, infuses the whole thing with some potent political plotting, and presents the result - a fantastic novel. And finishes... Ultimately, a highly satisfying novel. I'd love to see something further in the world that Chane has created... Read the whole thing. Review Room has some quibbles, but still says: I found the book quite appealing because it pitted science against magic, and couldn’t help being drawn in by the detailed descriptions of this alternate magical reality – it’s spells, it’s inventions and it’s different life. Commoners have achieved through ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 17:58, December 4th, 2011 under Blog, Books | Comment now »

Errant Dreams gives Magebane 5/5

Another nice review for Magebane, this one from Errant Dreams: Lee Arthur Chane’s Magebane is an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love.... The mix of high fantasy and steampunk is one that I regarded with suspicion; such a blend is difficult to do well, such that it makes sense and doesn’t create a sense of genre discord. Chane did a marvelous job with it, however... Although I’ve raved solely about the worldbuilding so far, there’s plenty more to recommend it. The characters are delightful...There’s plenty of action and excitement to keep things going... If you ...

Posted by Edward Willett at 12:34, November 8th, 2011 under Blog, Books | Comment now »

Night Owl Reviews likes Magebane

A.M. Donovan at Night Owl Reviews rates Magebane at 4.5 stars ("I Loved it - Top Pick"): Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, magic, hidden kingdoms, cruel tyrants, usurpers, and a hint of steampunk make this book entertaining. Lee Arthur Chane (also known as Edward Willett) has done a marvelous job of making all of this work together. Instead of being overwhelmingly complicated and difficult to follow with the danger of being boring, he manages to tie the different themes together into an entertaining, cohesive whole. The good guys do win, just not the way anyone expected. Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time. Yay!

Posted by Edward Willett at 23:35, November 6th, 2011 under Blog, Books | Comment now »