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Song of the Sword “a great new spin on a familiar story”
A brief new review of Song of the Sword at the blog think.thank.thought (a trail of reading) says: Song of the Sword is carried by an exciting plot that gives a great new spin to a favourite story. It can also take credit for a great cast of characters...set up to play out what might become the battle of the ages. I can see that exciting adventures await as they all struggle to decide what's worth fighting for: power, friends, or family. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series! Read the whole thing.Another review of Song of the Sword…
...this one coming from Vilate at the Young Adult Literature Review blog, who was not particularly disposed to liking it, since she's "not particularly fond of Arthurian tales, as a rule. Arthur is done too often and there aren’t that many new ways to look at him," as she puts it. And she found it slow going to begin with, but in the end I won her over: I did like the main character, Ariane, and her “sidekick” Wally. They were both developed well, and they felt well-rounded. Wally is particularly interesting as the nerdy kid who attaches himself to Ariane. There’s a nice dark side ...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 ...Once more into the breach
A while back I discussed a variety of ideas for new projects with my agent, Ethan Ellenberg. There was one in particular he liked, which is tentatively titled Masks. It's a YA fantasy, and since he's anxious to see some sample chapters, I've plunged into it. Here's how it begins: A week before her thirteenth birthday and her Masking, Mara sat on the city wall, bare legs dangling into space, and looked down past her dirty toes at the crowds milling around in the Outside Market. I've finished the first scene (about 1,200 words so far) and looking forward to carrying on with it as I can, although time is in ...Blue Fire or bust
Those who have followed my occasional series "The First Sentence I Wrote Today," a.k.a. on Twitter as TFSIWT, will know that I have been working, interminably, on a young adult fantasy novel called Blue Fire. I've written it. I've re-written it. I've re-re-written it. It first came in at a ridiculous length, so I chopped 30 or 40,000 words out of it. Now I'm on the final pass through it before submitting it (there's an editor interested in taking a look, but only when it's complete). And I'm desperately trying to get it out of my hair so I can focus on other projects with looming deadlines (hi, Magebane!). So, this ...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!).I’ve been a bad blogger…
...by not posting regularly this week as I did last, but although I was a bad little blogger, I was a good little writer. See, Twist of the Blade, the sequel to Song of the Sword, and the second book in my brand-new YA fantasy series Shards of Excalibur, is in the revision stage. And there were lots of revisions. Which I did not allow enough time to do before they were due, which was Friday (actually a week earlier, but I'd already begged for an extensions.) These weren't just a-word-here-and-a-word-there revisions, either, but take-out-that-scene-right-a-new-scene-move-that-scene-over-there-and-then-rewrite-it-so-it-makes-sense-and-oh-darn-I-just-contradicted-something-in-Chapter-One-I'll-have-to-go-back-and-fix-that-too revisions. Also, embarrassing revisions. Like rewriting scenes so I was showing and not telling. Adding sensory ...Twist of the Blade synopsis
I don't think I've posted this; maybe I have, but in that case, well...here it is again. It's the description of Twist of the Blade, Book 2 of the Shards of Excalibur, as included in Song of the Sword. No time for more this morning since I'm desperately trying to finish revisions to, yes, Twist of the Blade. Following hard on the heels of which will be revisions to Magebane: I heard from Sheila Gilbert at DAW this morning and will be talking to her about the book tomorrow. Of course, there'll also be more revisions to Twist of the Blade. I'm still trying to make Blue Fire submittable. And ...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...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 ...
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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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