Assaph Mehr's Blog, page 33

Latona and Aula (of From Unseen Fire, by Cass Morris)

Dear readers, tonight with me are two women from a world reminiscent of our Ancient Rome, but with one distinct difference: she is a sorceress, a mage of Spirit and Fire.

Tell us a little about growing up in the Temple of Juno. What was it like there?

Latona: Blissful. Not all the priestesses and acolytes live in the house behind the Temple, of course, but my family thought it best, since my magic was so strong, that I stay with Gaia Claudia so that she could guide me. I missed my mother an...

Hot off the… err… Scribe: Ancient News Roundup

A few things on the agenda today, from ancient Roman wine-making to expensive coins, from functional shields to decorative helmets, and even some ancient military humour!

Wines today and in Roman times

This article about ancient wine popped up in my feed: We Drink Basically The Same Wine As Ancient Romans — And That’s Not So Great

The title is, of course, misleading and a click-bait. The research talks purely about genetic variance of the grapes. That, as any vintner will tell, is no...

Marissa LaRoche (of A Sea of Broken Glass, by Sonya M Black)

Dear readers, tonight with me is a woman who endured weeks of torture after being convicted of witchery. She is her to tell us about her escape, and about being hunted by the Darkness and the Lady for the magic that sings within her.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I grew up in Greendale which is a lovely little town surrounded by flax fields. My father had a lot of trouble keeping me in line. I was a bit of handful. It’s a good thing Bran and Aeron were ar...

Paul Moore (of Hell Of A Deal, by Mark Huntley-James)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a Master of the Dark Arts, a demonic broker who runs a shop supplying witches. He’s here to tell us about fighting through life, death, demons and trying to survive a first date.

Tell us a little about growing up in Barrowhurst. What was it like there?

Sorry? An interview? Right now? Are you insane?  Haven’t you noticed those damned demons have dragged Barrowhurst into hell and Mickey-F****ing-Twitch is about to kill me. And this bloke here needs...

Igmar (of The Ashen Levels, by CF Welburn)

Dear readers, tonight we print an interview with a member of the supporting cast of a fantasy novel. The interview was conducted on his home fantasy world by native crones, and discusses the protagonist and the Good Company, swords and sorcery, and the ashen.

Igmar blinked.  “Where am I?”

“The island has no name. Though, some call it Coal.” He squinted as two figures swam into focus before him. The one who had spoken was a withered crone, all crows’ feet and brown teeth; the other, a g...

Book Review: Three Nights in Faral-Khazal, by David Samuels

I like indie fantasy, and with the credentials behind the novella (finalist in Baen Fantasy Adventure finalist, and an honourable mention in Writers of the Future) this looked very promising.

What to expect

A novella-length collection of three short stories. The story that won the above awards is the first one – Deadliest Dish. Each short is in a different tone, with different characters but set in the same fantasy city. The world has a wonderful Arabian-nights vibe, though it borrows...

Det. Celeste Hackstraw (of Ghostkiller, by Marc Vun Kannon)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a police homicide detective, who assisted the world’s original medium and ghost hunter in unravelling a very strange case.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

Are you sure you don’t want to ask about John? He’s much more interesting than I am. Two childhoods, for example. He was originally born centuries ago, somewhere in Europe, raised by a sorcerer and left to make his own way when he was about fifteen. His...

Lady Gwenhwyfar (of A Cup of Blood, by Troy A. Hill)

Dear readers, tonight we print an interview carried in an alchemist’s shop, in an alternate history where the Arthurian legends are real.

The woman strode into my shop, head and back erect. Dressed in light green woolen dress of an early medieval cut. The sleeves and neck were embroidered with the swirling points of Celtic patterns of olde. I waved her to a chair.

“Toss your cloak on the rail, milady,” I said, giving the cauldron a final stir and taste before I raised it...

Fionn and Harland (of The Withered King, by Ricardo Victoria)

Dear readers, tonight we are privy to something unique. We are lucky to get a glimpse at how these interviews are conducted in the myriad alternate universes of books.

From a fantasy world where magic and science intermingle and anything is possible, please meet a immortal hero and his interviewer.

Fionn entered the room. He was still nursing a headache, even after the shower. The past days had been, to put it mildly, an odyssey. The worst part hadn’t been the fight, but dealing with the af...

Who is that spotlight aimed at, anyway?

As most of you would know (at least, those on the mailing list), I’m very close to finishing the first draft of In Victrix. In fact, I just killed someone — someone who was there from the start, and I always knew had to die… Horribly, violently so.

It was a sheer bloodbath, and I could only get over it with Scotch and chocolates (comforts unfortunately missing in Ancient Rome). I wanted to Instagram a photo of the laptop and said emotional crutches, but my hands were shaking...