Helen Lowe's Blog, page 196
January 20, 2014
A Poetry Quote For Tuesday, From Robert Frost
“Poetry is what gets lost in translation.”
~ Robert Frost, 1874 – 1963
January 19, 2014
The Tao Of Writing: “The Book That Can be Spoken Of Is Not The Book” — AKA A “Daughter Of Blood” Update
Well, it’s been a while—quite a while…And one reason for that is the quote in the title, which derives from Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. I have paraphrased the opening line, which (in my edition) reads:
“The Way that can be spoken of is not the Way.”
One interpretation of this is that the Tao or Way that can be spoken of or described is not the true Tao, which by implication can only be directly experienced.
The reason I’ve titled this post “The Tao Of Writing: ‘The Book That Can Be Spoken Of Is Not...
January 18, 2014
Tis The Season For Award Nominations: The Sir Julius Vogel Awards
The Sir Julius Vogel Awards are New Zealand’s own science fiction and fantasy awards, which are given annually by SFFANZ.
The nomination period is open from 1 November 2013 to 15 February 2014, for works published in the 2013 calendar year — and anyone may nominate. In 2012, I posted on the Sir Julius Vogel Award nomination process, which may be worth a look if you’re thinking about nominating and have questions about eligibility and “how to” in particular.
SFFANZ also have a FAQ on How To Nomi...
January 17, 2014
January 16, 2014
A Geography Of Haarth: Main Road
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.
This week, together with the New Year, we enter “M”— the halfway point, alphabetically at least, of the series.
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Main Road: the road that runs the length of the River lands, which is maintained by the Company of Engineers from Ar and kept safe by the Patrol.
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“Spring came to the River in a flurry of blustering wi...
January 15, 2014
Top Anticipated Fantasy Books For 2014 – Readers’ Choice From Fantasy Faction
Genre site Fantasy Faction posted their Top 30 Anticipated Fantasy Books For 2014 on January 1 — and Daughter Of Blood, The Wall Of Night Book Three clocked in at No. 18: pretty cool huh?!
You can check out the full post by clicking here:
Top Anticipated Fantasy Books For 2014 – Readers’ Choice
January 14, 2014
Big Worlds On Small Screens: Rebecca Fisher Discusses “Pushing Daisies”
by Rebecca Fisher
Introduction:
Imagine that you had the power to revive the dead with a touch of your finger. What would you do with this gift? How would it affect your relationships? What kind of person would it make you?
Airing between 2007 and 2009, Pushing Daisies explores these questions through its unique central premise: an otherwise ordinary man who can wake dead things by simply touching them. Created by visionary Bryan Fuller, the mind behind Dead Like Me and Wonderfalls (equally quir...
January 13, 2014
Wrapping Up The Most-Read Posts Of 2013—& Back To Routine :)
Yesterday was the last of 2013′s “most read” posts, which I’ve been posting over the past ten days. Here’s the complete list as posted (in random order):
Tuesday Poem: In Memory of Sarah Broom, 1972-2013
My Favourite Standalone Novels
An Interview with Elspeth Cooper, Author of “The Wild Hunt” Series
Tuesday Poem: “Female nude” by Joanna Preston
One Of My “Most Disliked” Tropes Of SFF / Epic Fantasy
Celebration: “The Gathering Of The Lost” Makes The David Gemmell Legend Awar...
January 12, 2014
The Most-Read Posts of “…On Anything Really” from 2013: “Is Epic Fantasy Currently Enjoying A Resurgence?”
This, the tenth and final entry in the “Most-Read Posts” series (which you will recall has been put up in ‘no particular order’) was sparked — like January 7′s feature, “What Makes Fantasy Epic?” — by having made the Gemmell Legend Award shortlist (January 10′s feature.)
As with ‘”What Makes Fantasy Epic?”, I feel the interest lies in the discussion — and apparently you do, too. Anyway, to complete the relook at “…on Anything, Really’s” most-read posts for 2013, here’s a reprise of the questio...
January 11, 2014
The Most-Read Posts of “…On Anything Really” from 2013: “Five Books That Changed Me”
As it also says in the long title: “Warning, This Is Not An Exclusive List!” 
“I saw this question “oot thar” somewhere on t’interwebs and thought—what fun, I should do it on “…Anything, Really.” So here goes…”
Anyway, it was nice that you all seemed to find it fun and/or interesting, too. 
To check out or refamiliarize yourself with the five books, go to:
Five Books That Changed Me (Warning: This Is not An Exclusive List!)
