Archives
The Big Idea: Magebane
(This is a slightly modified version of an essay that originally ran on John Scalzi's blog Whatever--here's the original version. John generously gives over his popular blog on a regular basis to authors with new work coming out, for which he deserves much praise and honor. Thanks, John!) I know this is called “The Big Idea,” but my new fantasy novel Magebane didn’t grow out of a single big idea. Instead, it grew out of four ideas: three big ones, and one not-so-big one. (But “The Big 3 1/2 Ideas” isn’t nearly as catchy a name.) First: it is, of course, one of the hoariest of fairy-tale tropes that ...Ebook versions of my Andy Nebula books now available!
With the explosion in dedicated ebook readers, and the growing popularity of ebooks in general, I've finally decided to take some concrete steps to make sure my books are available in that format...so, I've added Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star and the never-published sequel (because publisher Roussan went out of business), Andy Nebula: Double Trouble to the Amazon Kindle store and to Smashwords (from which it should eventually propagate to other major online ebook sellers), where it is available in a variety of formats. Here are the links: Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Kindle Edition Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, Kindle Edition Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Smashwords Edition...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.Another online interview…
...this time with Casey at The Bookish Type. It begins: What inspired you to write The Shards of Excalibur? Have you always had an interest in Arthurian legend? I have always had an interest in things Arthurian, or at least since I read T.H. White’s The Once and Future King as a kid, followed up with Mary Stewart and any number of other retellings since. But what inspired The Shards of Excaliburwasn’t initially my interest in the Arthurian legends, but a very specific place: Wascana Lake, the man-made lake in the heart of Regina where Ariane sees the staircase descending into the water and meets the ...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 ...Here’s what I’ll be doing at VCon…
I'll be attending VCon 35 in Vancouver (well, Richmond, really, but close enough) the first weekend in October. And if you'll be there, too, here's my schedule...say hi! Tense Viewpoint - Friday 3pm Science Fiction And Comedy - Friday 4pm Book Launch - Friday 7pm How Did That Get On My Book Cover? - Saturday 2pm Reading - Saturday 6pm Religion In Fantasy And Science Fiction - Sunday 10am How To Write A Fight Scene - Sunday 11am Author Magic 8-Ball - Sunday 3pm Keeping me busy, aren't they? But that's OK. I like having lots of panels. While I'll definitely be at the mass book launch on Friday night, I don't know yet if we'll (as in, me ...Quill & Quire review raves about Song of the Sword
I was pleasantly--very pleasantly, as you'll see--surprised to discover a review, the first I've seen, of Shards of Excalibur: Song of the Sword in the September issue of Quill & Quire, Canada's magazine of book news and reviews. The review, by author Robert J. Wiersema, almost gave me a heart attack with the first sentence, though. It begins: Authors who incorporate, interpret, or subvert Arthurian legends in works of contemporary fantasy take a huge risk: the failure rate of such books is staggeringly high. Gulp. Fortunately, he continues with: Every so often, though, a writer is skilled enough to utilize the stories of King Arthur and Camelot to significant effect. ...Download a free bookmark for Song of the Sword!
Lobster Press has created a great bookmark for Shards of Excalibur: Song of the Sword, which I'm pleased to offer for free downloading. There's a JPG version at left, or you can download the full PDF version. Be the first on your block to have one! Get it now!In the author spotlight at Lobster Press: me!
With the release date of Song of the Sword, book one in The Shards of Excalibur series barreling down on us, Lobster Press is beginning its marketing in earnest. Today they ran an interview with me on their blog. It begins: With our Fall books soon on the way, we want to start introducing you to some of our new authors! This week, we have a behind-the-scenes Q&A with Edward Willett, author of the upcoming novel, Song of the Sword, the first book in the Shards of Excalibur series. Why did you choose to re-envision the story of the Lady of the Lake and Merlin? I’ve been ...
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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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