James Hockley's Blog, page 4

Book Review: Champion

Book three of the Sanctuary Series By Robert J Crane

Sanctuary’s reputation has grown over time, led by the human General, Cyrus Davidon.  But it is Vara, another officer with a curious prophecy attached to her, who stirs the most interest.  She is targeted by a group of assassins, and is forced to flee home.

Back in the Elven kingdom, Cyrus fights to keep Vara safe.  And in the hostile familial atmosphere, they may actually come to accept each other for who they are.  But the world is a pla...

Author Newsletter: June 2017

So, it’s been a little while since I’ve done one of these. January in fact. What’s new? Well, it’s been a pretty busy first six months of the year, and here are the highlights:

My little family grew by one: a little girl! A complete re-write of ‘Fear’s Union’. In fact, it’s so different, it won’t even be called Fear’s Union. A new series is born (and sadly, the old series is being retired before it gets going); A complete second edit of a ‘romantic comedy’ tentatively titled ‘Destination Hap...

Book Review: Salvation’s Dawn

Book One of the Eve of Redemption By Joe Jackson

The mother of all wars is over, but there is no rest for Kari. Her religious order calls her to investigate curious happenings, and the threat of another war looms large.S

She joins a group of mercenaries, heading off around the world. But this will not be only about the mission. There is a darkness lying deep inside Kari, and it trumps anything she might be called to battle with a sword. It is time she faced up to it.

Overall I like this boo...

Salvation’s Dawn

Book Review: Salvation’s Dawn

The mother of all wars is over, but there is no rest for Kari. Her religious order calls her to investigate curious happenings, and the threat of another war looms large. She joins a group of mercenaries, heading off around the world. But this will not be only about the mission. There is a darkness lying deep inside Kari, and it trumps anything she might be called to battle with a sword. It is time she faced up to it.

Get it at Amazon

Overall I like this book....

Beagle’s Blot 15 | Making ‘Zon

We hopped for twenty-seven days and twenty-six nights.  Twenty-six.  Fifteen of those evenings were spent in suitable establishment hovels along the boggy coast, but eleven were spent under the stars.  In the open.  Exposed to the elements.  That was both incredible and terrible.

What was incredible?  The stars.  Only the Uncle knew it was that breathtaking.  Being a keen enthusiast of Celestia, I’ve always prided myself on my knowledge of the heavens.  But out there, with no man-made light t...

The Authorial Ventrilaquist

He’s back with the cryptic headings! What does this one mean? If you’ve read previous blogs, then you’ll know what this is about, but [image error]for those who don’t know, it’s all about “head-hopping” (which is a writing problem rather than something you do at a festival).

Now, this is part of a series of blogs I’m writing where I’m applying the principles outlined by Marcy Kennedy in her fantastic book: A Busy Writer’s Guide to Deep POV. So far I’ve taken a wider view and then grappled with that age-ol...

Beagle’s Blot 14 | Hopping

Two days later, I was ready for my first hopping experience.  I had studied the map extensively and done numerous calculations, but could only conclude one thing: it was a long way.  A damned long way.

Now, the official measurement in Mandaria is called a quart, though they don’t seem to be aware of this in the First Fist.  A quart is what you get if you split the island of Mandaria into quarters and then measure from the centre along the line of one of those quarters.  A quart is therefore a...

Show me the … err, action?

As you may (or indeed may not) have worked out from the title, this blog is about that age old piece of writing advice: “show don’t tell”. T[image error]his blog is actually a part of a wider series of blogs on implementing deep POV (from this little beauty of a book by Marcy Kennedy), but “showing vs telling” goes much further than just deep POV. It is at the cornerstone of writing, whatever writing perspective is chosen, and it is therefore very important.

It’s also something I really struggle to get wo...

Beagle’s Blot 13 | The First Foot

It’s fair to say that my first impressions of the First Fist are not great. This is First Foot, the place where it all began, and yet it is nothing to speak of. There was greater luxury on the boat.

Now, to put this in context, when the Jinq landed in Ahan, the place at which they landed eventually became the city called Jinalas. I have heard a great many things about Jinalas, but now I think on it, I have never heard anything fine about First Foot. Or indeed anything about First Foot. I now...

Book Review: Northern Lights

Book One of His Dark Materials By Philip Pullman

Lyra is a wild child amongst a family of scholars. She has no known parents, but when her mysterious uncle comes to the university, her mischievousness saves his life. And her eyes are opened.

A deep yearning to follow her uncle and follow him north stirs, but no. She must stay where she is. That is until the fabulously cosmopolitan Mrs Coulter offers her the same opportunity. She leaves, but not before she is given a strange golden compass.

B...