The cover of City of Bones, a young adult fantasy by Cassandra Clare, caught my eye several months ago, but I didn’t buy it until just recently, on the strength of a snippet of dialogue quoted on somebody’s blog. (Sorry, I’d love to give a little link love, but I can’t remember whose it was.) …
Tag: fantasy
What I Just Read: Midnight Never Come
I recently (before I started blogging books) read Bill Bryson’s excellent short biography of William Shakespeare, and so I was well-prepped to enjoy Midnight Never Come, a fantasy novel by Marie Brennan, predicated on the notion that Queen Elizabeth’s court and rule over England above was mirrored by a fairy queen of equal power and …
What I Just Read: A Darkness Forged in Fire
A Darkness Forged in Fire is a new fantasy (the first in a series collectively called The Iron Elves) by a new writer, Chris Evans. I receieved a free copy from the publisher for some reason or other, and was glad to get it. I won’t bother with a synopsis–you can get that from Amazon–but …
Juvenalia III: Romance!
You asked for it (OK, maybe you didn’t, but you’re going to get it anyway): here are romantic scenes from my three high school novels, The Golden Sword (Grade 10), Ship from the Unknown (Grade 11) and The Slavers of Thok (Grade 12). For those joining the party late, I’ve previously posted the opening pages …
Juvenalia II: Action!
Proceeding with my sudden urge to bare all…er, literarily speaking…I present three action scenes from my high school novels, beginning, once again, with The Golden Sword. This is from page 144 of the manuscript, quite near the end: *** Suddenly there was a cry of triumph from the doorway and Cotin spun to face Kyle …
Juvenalia
One of the panels I’m scheduled to be on at Denvention 3, the World Science Fiction Convention in Denver August 6 to 10, is called “Writers reading from their juvenalia.” Juvenalia is defined by Merriam-Webster as “compositions produced in the artist’s or author’s youth.” But not everyone who reads this blog will be in Denver. …
"Grow up, SF people!" says Richard Morgan
SF writer Richard Morgan has a terrific post about the curious need within the SF&F community to denigrate those within the community who write or read stuff that we, ourselves, might not choose to write or read. Me, I’m pretty eclectic in my SF&F tastes, as both a writer and a reader, so I’m with …
Spirit Singer available for Kindle
My YA fantasy novel Spirit Singer (Awe-Struck), winner of the Regina Book Award for best book by a Regina author at the 2002 Saskatchewan Book Awards, and also winner of a 2002 Dream Realm Award (young adult category) for excellence in e-publishedscience fiction, fantasy and horror and winner of the 2002 EPPIE Award for best …
Aurora Award finalists announced
The finalists for this years Aurora Awards, Canada’s national awards for science fiction and fantasy, have been announced: Best Long-Form Work in EnglishMeilleur livre en anglais Regeneration : Species Imperative 3, Julie E. Czerneda (DAW Books)Children of Chaos, Dave Duncan (Tor Books)Smoke and Ashes, Tanya Huff (DAW Books)Sun of Suns : Book One of Virga, …
Prydain: The Website
Yesterday I posted about the death of Lloyd Alexander, author of the Chronicles of Prydain, one of my favorite all-time young adult fantasy series. Today I discovered this gorgeous website about Prydain. (Via Kids Lit.)
Lloyd Alexander dies
Lloyd Alexander has died. From SF Scope: Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 30 January 1924, he was a children’s fantasy author for half a century (though he did also write several adult novels). He won the 1970 Newbery Award, and was a National Book Award Finalist, for The High King. His books include three well-known …
Fantasy interruptus
I spent the last week or so writing three “audition” chapters for a book packager looking for an author for a new kids’ fantasy series. They provided a detailed outline, I provided the words. It was a lot of fun, actually, and I really got into it…so much so that, now that my three chapters …
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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… -
Episode 155: Matthew Hughes – A God in Hiding & The Emir’s Falcon
A chat with award-winning author Matthew Hughes about his newest fantasy novel, A God in Hiding, and his recent young adult outdoor adventure tale, The Emir’s Falcon (Shadowpaw Press). Websitearchonate.com Facebook@hapthorn Amazon Links A God in HidingAmazon.caAmazon.com The Emir’s FalconAmazon.caAmazon.com Publisher’s Book Page for The Emir’s Falcon About the Books A God in Hiding In…
