Helen Lowe's Blog, page 192
March 1, 2014
Comment Of The Week: From Julie
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Julie’s comment posted on a Daughter Of Blood Update post—and as I said in reply there: “When readers give me feedback like this, I can assure you that all the hard work is absolutely a pleasure.” 
February 28, 2014
“Judging A Book Buy Its Cover: A Few Favourites” — Featured Now On the Supernatural Underground
The first of the month is my regular post day on the Supernatural Underground — and this month’s feature is:
Judging A Book Buy Its Cover: A Few Favorites
“With a new season of the TV series, A Game Of Thrones, currently being promo’d, I was reminded that one of my all-time favorite book covers is the Steven Youll cover for A Game of Thrones. I remember the first time I saw it…”
Rock on over now to check out the compleat post!
February 27, 2014
A Geography of Haarth: Old Keep
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth post series is traversing the full range of locales and places from The Wall of Night world of Haarth. Each locale is accompanied by a quote from either The Heir Of Night, The Gathering Of The Lost, or both.
And now we’re in “O”!
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Old Keep: the original Keep of Winds (stronghold of the House of Night), now abandoned.
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“Loose tiles rattled and slid, bouncing off tall towers into the black depths below, and the wind...
February 26, 2014
“What’s ‘Wrong’ With Epic Fantasy?”: Puzzled, But Also Curious…
Recently, SF Signal ran another of their fabulous Mind Melds, this one on the topic “What ‘Wrong’ With Epic Fantasy?”
The range of contributing opinion is well worth a look as always—but I must admit I couldn’t help wondering why this question is asked so consistently in relation to epic fantasy (since I know the reason da Signal asked it is because it is topical!) Yet my perception is that I rarely see posts that ponder: “What’s wrong with…” Fantasy (generally), say, or Steampunk, or Dark Fan...
February 25, 2014
Big Worlds On Small Screens: Rebecca Fisher Discusses “Orphan Black”
by Rebecca Fisher
Introduction:
I was initially rather reluctant to do a write-up on Orphan Black, as I honestly think that the less you know about it, the more you’ll enjoy watching it. So if you want to simply take my word that this is one of the best shows I’ve seen in years, then stop reading now and go track it down!
But if you want a little more bait to go with that hook, I would recommend Orphan Black by saying it has a compelling premise, an incredible lead actress, and a riveting scienc...
February 24, 2014
Tuesday Poem: “quiet along the river”
quiet along the river –
running water, insects
wind in the poplars
© Helen Lowe
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Toward the end of last year I spent upward of 5 weeks in a remote coastal location, working on my current book.
I also wrote a number of haiku during that time, which I am currently featuring as Tuesday Poems. As these are works in progress, your feedback/critique is welcome.
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To read the featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub and other great poems from fellow Tuesday poets from around the world, click here or on the Qu...
February 23, 2014
Yet Another Terribly (Un)Important Thought On Writing…
On January 23 I began sharing what I like to call a few “Terribly (Un)Important Thoughts” on writing.
Last week I followed up with another—all subject to the same codicil: ‘from my experience of the art’ (which may not reflect anyone else’s, at all, at all!)
In last week’s post, I commenced by mentioning that “we hear a great deal about the importance of routine and writing every day.”
I then went on to talk about what I see as the importance of not getting locked into an unvarying routine, bu...
February 22, 2014
Comment Of The Week: From Rodger (Christchurch)
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This comment came to me via webmail from Rodger, who is a fellow Christchurch, NZ resident. 
As a longtime Tolkien and Moorcock fan, I am honoured to have my books share “shelf space” with their work.
February 21, 2014
Commemorating February 22nd, 2011
Today is the third anniversary of the earthquake that devastated my home city of Christchurch on Tuesday February 22nd, 2011.
I must admit that I am trying to move on from those events, even though it’s difficult with the the after-effects still very evident in every aspect of life: physical and emotional, psychological and social.
So no big post for today, but I did chart the earthquake and its aftermath through the Earthquake Reports and Earthquake Poems (just click on the links or look under...
February 20, 2014
A Geography Of Haarth: Old Empire
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth post series is traversing the full range of locales and places from The Wall of Night world of Haarth. Each locale is accompanied by a quote from either The Heir Of Night, The Gathering Of The Lost, or both.
This week we enter the marvelous realms of “O.”
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Old Empire: the empire said to have existed prior to the Derai arrival on Haarth and to have stretched from the hills of Jaransor in the north to the desert bo...
