Helen Lowe's Blog, page 120
March 3, 2016
More Reader Feedback On “Daughter Of Blood”
USA
Daughter of Blood has been out in the wide, wide world of readers and reading for a month now and I posted some early feedback here.
Today I thought I’d share a few of the more recent comments that have come in via email and Twitter:
“I just want to say that your writing has really grabbed me and my imagination.” — via email
“Sometimes I find it some stories don’t hold my attention, but the series has. Cheers!” — via Twitter
UK/AU/NZ
“I’ve just finished Part II of Daughter of Blood … It’s...
March 2, 2016
It’s Interview Time!
UK/AU/NZ
I have not one but two interviews “live” in the wild right now.
The first is with the outstanding Tarran Jones, who is both a book lover and now writer herself. Although resident in Adelaide, I met Tarran at the Melbourne Worldcon in 2010 and we have stayed in touch ever since.
Naturally she asked many insightful questions, including seeking my author’s insight into my main characters and what I thought made Malian and Kalan special. A hard question for a naturally self-effacing Kiwi...
March 1, 2016
Big Worlds On Small Screens & “Fantasy Films From the Eighties That Weren’t That Bad”—Rebecca Fisher Discusses “Ladyhawke”
~ by Rebecca Fisher
It’s a simple but powerful premise: two lovers are under a curse – she a hawk by day, he a wolf by night. In this way they’re always together, but eternally apart.
It’s a deeply resonant idea for a story, one that seems so entrenched in fairy tale tradition that many fans of Ladyhawke remain under the impression it’s based on an ancient folktale. In truth, it’s entirely the creation of screen-writer Edward Khmara, who eventually received a cash settlement and official apo...
February 29, 2016
“Leaving The Red Zone” — A Standing-Room-Only Book Launch
Yesterday evening I went to the launch of Leaving The Red Zone, an anthology of poetry edited by James Norcliffe and Joanna Preston, and published by Clerestory Press, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the February 22, 2011, earthquake that devastated much of my home city of Christchurch, killing 185 people and injuring many more.
The large venue (The Laboratory, in Lincoln) was filled to capacity, standing room only in truth—a sign, I believe, of the importance of this collection to th...
February 28, 2016
Finally Got There: I’ve Seen “The Martian”
It’s taken me a while but I finally saw the film The Martian (based on the novel by Andy Weir) over the weekend — and I liked it a lot.
In many ways it’s a retelling of the classic Robinson Crusoe story, combined with a “rescue mission”, giving both a space twist. But as I’ve said before, since there really is no such thing as a truly original story, it’s what you do with it that matters — and I liked what The Martian did with these themes.
Firstly, I think Matt Damon did a great job as the “...
February 27, 2016
“Leaving The Red Zone: Poems from the Canterbury Earthquakes” — An Interview, Plus Tomorrow’s Launch
Leaving the Red Zone, an anthology edited by James Norcliffe and Joanna Preston, and published by Clerestory Press, is being launched tomorrow night, at 7 pm, at The Laboratory in Lincoln.
The anthology has been put together to mark the 5th anniversary of the February 22nd earthquake that devastated Christchurch (NZ) in 2011. It comprises:
“…148 poems from 87 poets: here are sorrow, resignation, defiance, stoicism, humour black and wry, and everything in between.”
You can listen to an intervi...
February 26, 2016
58 Eridani: Episode 11
~ by Andrew Robins
Be it so noted that on this day which in this reference is designated as Day 54 of Mission 14, I, Glandin Frutnok van Glomzimmer, do claim rights of salvage upon the “New Ragusan Republic Naval Vessel Lepanto” on behalf of the shareholders of the Mistral Trading Combine .
As witnesses I name the following parties:
Dr Didi Turner of the Ramadan Collective, and all surviving members of her circle; The shareholders of the Mistral Trading Combine, being Amelia Delaware, Robert...February 25, 2016
Grab-Bag From A Writer’s Bookshelf
When writers have a book come out we tend to get asked about the books we like reading, or what books we consider have particularly influenced us, usually over time.
I tend to focus on Fantasy novels in my reply, because that’s what I write and with a new book out that’s very much the ‘focus’ of interviews and guest spots.
However, today I thought I’d take a “grab bag” from my writers bookshelf of books that I’ve particularly loved on first encounter and where the love affair has proved endur...
February 24, 2016
Why I Like Patricia McKillip’s “The Riddlemaster of Hed” So Much
Lately, I’ve done a lot of interviews, which is just what happens when you have a book come out. (Daughter of Blood, The Wall of Night Book Three: released into the wild on 26 January 2016 — just for those who might not know!)
And it’s great — I very much appreciate the time interviewers and podcasters put in. Nonetheless, when the interviews start coming thick and fast, sometimes the questions and answers blur into each other just a bit — not unlike colours running. Don’t get me wrong, I def...
February 23, 2016
Suddenly, On The Interwebs — Gigs with Fantasy Faction, Functional Nerds, & SF Signal
Of course, it only seems sudden — sekretly I’ve been preparing for weeks! 
UK/AU/NZ
Fantasy FactionFirst off the blocks, I have a guest post and The Wall of Night Series giveaway on Fantasy Faction. To read the post click on:
Five Legendary Swords Of Fantasy FictionAnd believe me, these swords all rock!
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Functional Nerds Podcast: Episode 264 — with John Anealio, Patrick Hester, & Me! (You’ve got to read that intro like Neil Young’s “Marlon Brando, Pocahontas, and me.” )
Seriously though,...
