First, Masks got a second review in Locus this latest issue. Carolyn Cushman writes (not online), “Blake…know how to turn out an old-fashioned adventure with just enough of a dystopian edge to feel new again.” Meanwhile, Dark Faerie Tales gives Masks 4/5 stars…er, ravens, saying: “Young adult books can sometimes be hit or miss with …
Category: Books
Coteau Books releases Spring 2014 catalogue featuring Song of the Sword
The launch of my back-from-the-dead YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur grows ever nearer: Coteau Books has released its spring 2014 catalogue (download the whole thing here) which features Song of the Sword, book one in the five-book series which will continue with Twist of the Blade (currently in rewrites) this fall…with two more …
Some thoughts on the reviews of Masks
One of the…um, eye-opening…things about having novels published (and at this point, under both this name and others, I’ve had quite a few) is the realization, as the reviews start to come in (if you’re lucky enough to even get reviewed), that not everyone thinks you have written the most amazingly wonderful book of all …
An interview with me at Nine Day Wonder
The website Nine Day Wonder has just posted an interview with me. Here’s an excerpt that addresses one of the most common questions I’m asked: DW: E.C. Blake, Lee Arthur Chane, Edward Willett…You’ve gone by multiple pen names, which is not uncommon for writers are prolific as you are. What’s the advantage in building multiple “brands”? …
SF Revu calls Right to Know “wildly entertaining”
Masks, my fantasy novel written as E.C. Blake, has gotten quite a bit of attention since it came out, whereas my science fiction novel Right to Know, published by Bundoran Press, has been shamefully overlooked…which is why I was pleased when Hayden Trenholm, my publisher and editor at Bundoran, brought this review by Jon Guenther …
YA or not YA? Qwillery review of Masks hits on a salient point
I haven’t been posting about all the reviews Masks has been getting because there have been quite a lot of them–more than I’m used to, and a function, I think, of this being my first hardcover release and getting some early favorable attention from the likes of Publishers Weekly and RT Book Reviews. There’s also …
Masks makes Fantasy Faction’s list of top 25 fantasy novels of 2013
This is nice: Masks has been named to Fantasy Faction’s list of the top 25 fantasy novels of 2013. And I get compared to Garth Nix, which is an honour anytime. Marc Aplin writes: Masks is a book that took me by complete surprise. Not since the likes of Lirael or Sabriel have I enjoyed …
My next book to be published…
…is not one of the four novels I expect to appear in 2014. Instead, it’s this one, a non-fiction book for Rosen, an educational publisher I’ve done quite a bit of work-for-hire stuff over the years. Of which this is one. It’s about starting a career as a digital designer: pathways into the field, where …
Good review for Masks in Locus Magazine
Locus Magazine, the news magazine of the science fiction/fantasy field, has a good review of Masks in its December issue. The review isn’t online, but Faren Miller begins: “Masks, first in a fantasy series by E.C. Blake…chronicles the trials of a Gifted though largely untrained teenage heroine in an exotic, perilous world of magic, after …
Cover Art Reveal: New cover for the revised version of Song of the Sword, coming in May
Here’s the cover art for the revised version of Song of the Sword, first book in my new five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, being published by Coteau Books beginning in May. Even if you read the original Lobster Press version of the book, you’ll want a copy of the new one, which …
Ten autographed copies of Masks on sale for charity at Patrick Rothfuss’s blog
The estimable Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times-bestselling author of the amazing fantasies The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear, with whom I share the honor of being published by DAW Books, has a long history of selling signed books and other artifacts through his website to raise money for charity. Right now, …
RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy nominees highlighted
I was thrilled when Masks was named one of the finalists for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel, alongside some tough competition (Paul Cornell, London Falling; Kate Elliott, Cold Steel; Mary Robinette Kowal, Without A Summer, and Stella Gemmell, The City. The RT Book Reviews blog posted the mini-interviews it …
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Most Recent Episodes
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Episode 165: Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes – A Fifth of the Story
A chat with author, podcaster, and blogger Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes about her new spy thriller, A Fifth of the Story Websitedrkatherinehayes.com Facebook@authordrkatherinehayes Instagram@authordrkatherine X@khutch0767 Dr. Katherine Huthcinson-Hayes’s Amazon Page Amazon Links for A Fifth of the StoryAmazon.comAmazon.ca About the Book A fascinating thriller of espionage that takes you into the secretive world of the CIA… -
Episode 164: Kristen Ciccarelli – Heartless Hunter
A chat with New York Times bestselling YA author Kristen Cicarelli about Heartless Hunter, The Crimson Moth Book 1, a “dangerously romantic Scarlet Pimpernel-inspired fantasy.” Websitekristenciccarelli.com Facebook@AuthorKristenCiccarelli Instagram@kristenciccarelli Pinterest@kciccarelli Kristen Ciccarelli’s Amazon Page Amazon Links for Heartless HunterAmazon.comAmazon.ca About the Book Enemies-to-lovers doesn’t get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling… -
Episode 163: Sebastien de Castell – Play of Shadows
A chat with award-winning fantasy author Sebastien de Castell about Play of Shadows, Book 1 of Court of Shadows, set in the world of his popular Greatcoats series. Websitedecastell.com X@decastell Facebook@decastell Sebastien de Castell’s Amazon Page Amazon Links for Play of ShadowsAmazon.comAmazon.ca About the Book Swordplay, magic, intrigue and friendships stronger than iron: the first… -
Episode 162: Lyn McGinnis – Amarel Mountain
A chat with author Lyn McGinnis about Anu Awakes, an epic fantasy series, and the most recent release in that series, Book 2, Amarel Mountain. Websiteanuawakesseries.com Bluesky@anuawakes Goodreads Instagram@anuawakes Lyn McGinnis’s Amazon Page Amazon Links for Amarel MountainAmazon.comAmazon.ca About the Book Descendants of the Tolku of the Primary Epoch, the Koru, Yakku and Yelda, now… -
Episode 161: Jared N. Michaud – Brightstar
A chat with new author Jared N. Michaud about his upcoming YA science fiction novel Brightstar, first book in the Energematric6 space adventure series. Websiteenergematrice6.com Facebook@Energematrice6 X@Energematrice6 Instagram@jarednmichaud Jared N. Michaud’s Amazon Page Amazon Links for BrightstarAmazon.comAmazon.ca About the Book Brightstar is the beginning of an epic space-adventure series that introduces readers to Nate, a… -
Episode 160: Breakfield & Burkey – Enigma Tracer
A chat with the writing team of Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey about their long-running techno-thriller series, Enigma, and Enigma Tracer, first book in their new Enigma Heirs trilogy. Websiteenigmabookseries.com Facebook@TheEnigmaSeries X@EnigmaSeries@1rburkey Instagram@enigmabookseries YouTube Amazon Links for Engima TracerAmazon.comAmazon.ca About the Book The clock is ticking … can Gracie uncover the truth? Phillip Pliant is… -
Episode 159: Steve Truitt – The Mindset Chronicles
A chat with author and former television host Steve Truitt about his new science fiction novel series, The Mindset Chronicles. Websitestevetruitt.com Facebook@AuthorSteveTruitt Amazon Links for The DeletionAmazon.comAmazon.ca Steve Truitt’s Amazon Page About the Book In a world where artificial intelligence has become an integral part of daily life, the sudden death of all AI sends… -
Episode 158: Danièle Cybulskie – Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World
A chat with noted medievalist Danièle Cybulskie about her new book, Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World. Websitedanielecybulskie.com X/Twitter@5minmedievalist Facebook@5MinMedievalist Instagram@5minmedievalist YouTube@5MinMedievalist Amazon Links for Chivalry and CourtesyAmazon.caAmazon.com Danièle Cybulskie’s Amazon Page About the Book Medieval people are often portrayed as having poor hygiene and table manners—licking their knives or throwing chicken… -
Episode 157: Marie Brennan – The Market of 100 Fortunes (Legend of the Five Rings Book 3)
A chat with Hugo-nominated author Marie Brennan about her Legend of the Five Rings trilogy, which just wrapped up with The Market of 100 Fortunes. Websiteswantower.com Bluesky Patreon Amazon Links for The Market of 100 FortunesAmazon.caAmazon.com Marie Brennan’s Amazon Page About the Book Enthralling fantasy mystery from the world of Legend of the Five Rings as two… -
Episode 156: Douglas Smith – The Lost Expedition (The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3)
A chat with Canadian author Douglas Smith about his young adult fantasy trilogy The Dream Rider Saga, which has just culminated in Book 3, The Lost Expedition. Websitesmithwriter.com Facebook@WritingtheFantastic X/Twitter@smithwritr Instagram@douglassmithwriter Amazon Links for The Lost ExpeditionAmazon.caAmazon.com Douglas Smith’s Amazon Page About the Book The Thrilling Conclusion to the Multi-Award-Winning Trilogy Will is the Dream…
