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I’m going to be the Regina Public Library’s writer-in-residence!
Well, it looks like the official announcement has been made: I'm going to be writer-in-residence at the Regina Public Library this September 1 through the end of next May. The Regina LeaderPost has the story here. I'm very excited about it. It's a paid position, $35,000 over the nine months, and 70 percent of my time remains my own for my own writing projects, with 30 percent going to writer-in-residence projects. Those will include meeting with anyone who wants to talk about writing with me one day a week at the library's main branch (looks like that day will be Wednesday), conducting school readings, and holding at least one free ...McNally Robinson likes Song of the Sword
A great review of Song of the Sword has appeared on McNally Robinson Booksellers' website. Chadwick Ginther begins: If you think you know Arthur, Merlin and the Lady of the Lake guess again. Ariane is a troubled teen, starting a new life with her aunt in Regina. A new school would be hard enough, but learning you're a descendant of the Lady of the Lake too? And ends: You can't always judge a book by its cover--but in the case of Song of the Sword, you can. Its stunning cover is the door to a unique, clever, and beautifully modern retelling of an old legend. Read the ...School Library Journal praises Song of the Sword
A nice new review of Song of the Sword in the important School Library Journal. After a very nice synopsis, reviewer Michele Shaw says: "This is a fantasy of epic proportions, with the perfect blend of suspense; well-developed, likable characters; and a touch of sarcastic humor. Ariane and Wally find four shards and the hilt of the sword, ensuring readers that this is just the beginning of the fantastical journey." Read the whole review (scroll down!).Song of the Sword on McNally Robinson list of Aurora-eligible titles that “excited the staff”
Too busy working on revisions for Twist of the Blade, Book 2 of the Shards of Excalibur series, to write a long post this morning, so this little self-serving item will have to do. As the title says, Song of the Sword shows up on a list of titles that "excited the staff" at McNally Robinson Booksellers and are eligible for this year's Aurora Award for best Canadian science fiction or fantasy novel in English. It's a good list to be on: Eligible works that excited our staff in 2010 include: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong, Tesseracts 14 edited by John Robert Colombo ...Song of the Sword recommended in Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Song of the Sword got a nice mention in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix today. In a feature called "Read aloud for holiday wonders," Beverley Brenna writes: Favourite books for the holidays can be divided into two categories: older titles that withstand the test of time, and contemporary reads that more closely reflect today's reading audience. Literacy research advocates reading aloud to children as the single most important thing a parent can do to support reading development, and the good news is: there's lots of titles available that interest adults as well as children, a far ...Night Owl Reviews calls Terra Insegura “a very good read”
It's always nice to see a positive review of a book, even if said book has been out for a year and half, like Terra Insegura. Today a new review popped up at Night Owl Reviews, where reviewer Lilyraines writes: I found the book to have an intriguing take on genetic modification and what could go wrong. It also talks about obsession, arrogance, and a rigidly imposed belief that does not see anything beyond it... Terra Insegura also shows through its characters how people who may not entirely trust each other can, in the end, respect each other and learn to ...Montreal Review of Books likes Song of the Sword
The Montreal Review of Books, published by the Association of English-Language Publishers of Quebec, has a very nice review of Song of the Sword in its latest issue. (My publisher, Lobster Press, is based in Montreal.) Andrea Belcham writes: Willett's novel will please fantasy junkies with its intricate details; yet there's also an appealing poetry to Ariane's story, best manifested when she learns to use her powers to merge with water and transport herself wherever it flows. Song of the Sword is a unique twist on the old subjects of teenage rebellion and self-discovery. Read the whole thing.Fine Lifestyles Regina has feature article about me
Yes, I know, I edited the thing, but honestly, the story wasn't my idea: it was publisher Randy Liberet's. And since I have a new book coming out (November 15 is the new release date for Song of the Sword) I'd have to have been an idiot to let modesty get in the way of promotion. And so I assigned Mark Claxton, one of the best writers available to me, the task of interviewing me and making me sound interesting. Remarkably, I think he succeeded. The feature is called "A fantastic life" and begins thusly: Edward Willett has a few things on his plate these days. In fact, he ...Leader Post features Song of the Sword
There was a nice feature about Song of the Sword (and me) in the Regina LeaderPost on Saturday. The accompanying photo (at left: it was posted online on Global TV's Your Saskatchewan site, though with a hilariously wrong caption) was taken on the shore of Wascana Lake with Willow Island in the background: this is the exact spot where, in the book, the Lady of the Lake makes her appearance to my young heroine). The story, by Tim Switzer, begins: Looking out over Wascana Lake on foggy mornings in Regina, Edward Willett loved the thought that anything could be hidden in ...Song of the Sword is staff pick at Library Bound
Library Bound Inc., "Your Canadian choice for all your library needs," a company that helps libraries build their collections, lists Song of the Sword among their Staff Favorites for September. Helen Wilding Cook, Children's Collection Development Coordinator, writes that: "The story...has wonderful Canadian references and some really funny passages. Ariane is constantly in danger, and the suspense is beautifully maintained." Yay!
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Magebane
“Spectacular” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, hidden kingdoms…Lee Arthur Chane…has done a marvelous job…Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time.” – A.M. Donovan, Night Owl Reviews
I happily recommend Magebane and I’ll certainly give Chane’s next novel a try based on this one.” —Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature
“…an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love…” – Errant Dreams Reviews
Eight centuries ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change….
Written as Lee Arthur Chane (the middle names of my older brothers, Jimmy Lee and Dwight Arthur, and myself, Edward Chane Willett).
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
When country music legend Johnny Cash took the stage at Folsom State Prison in 1968, he solidified the public’s perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path. Born in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Cash endured poverty, the death of his older brother, and a difficult relationship with his father. He turned to gospel and country music to express the pain, and after many years of struggling, his songs of hardship and hope would finally reach the ears of those waiting for an artist who represented them, ordinary people fighting to survive.
Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes
“Paintings are too hard. Machines have less problems…” In the 1960s, Andy Warhol became the most famous creator of a new style of art called pop art, which transformed mass-produced items of popular culture into fine works of art. From Campbell’s Soup cans to photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol’s willingness to use anything and everything from the mass media in his work expanded the range of subject matter available to artists. His avant-garde films, artistic usage of American icons, and unconventional social life made him a controversial figure, both greatly admired and deeply reviled. A trendsetter rather than a trend-follower, a dispassionate observer of both the seamy and celebrity sides of life, Warhol was a true American rebel.
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
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