Helen Lowe's Blog, page 203

“Here’s SpecFicNZ–Wellington”: Featuring Sally McLennan

Introduction:

On October 31 I began a new “mini-post” series titled “Here’s SpecFicNZ Wellington.” As explained, effectively my fellow SpecFicNZ-ers are introducing themselves using a series of common headings:

Here’s Who: a short, first person introduction to the member

Here’s Why: the member writes or works in speculative fiction

Here’s What: an example of the member’s work

Here’s Where: you can find out more about the writer and their work—and I really hope you will!

And now I am very pleased to...

Guest Post: “What Lies At the Heart Of Heartwood” By Freya Robertson, Author Of “Heartwood”

Introduction:

Freya Robertson is a fellow speculative fiction author based right here in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and although she has written other books, her first epic fantasy, Heartwood, is “just out” in the USA and UK.

I recently interviewed Freya on SF Signal, and when I also asked her what what she considered to be the major theme or idea behind the book, we decided the best way to answer that question might be for her to do a guest post on the topic.

I am very pleased to welcome Freya here...

Tuesday Poem: “Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry” — Traditional

Roll of thunder

Hear my cry

Over the water

Bye and bye

Ole man comin’

Down the line

Whip in hand to

Beat me down

But I ain’t

Gonna let him

Turn me around.

~ Traditional

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This “poem” comprises the lyrics from a traditional, Black American spiritual of the American South, probably most well known now for its association with the Newbery Medal winning novel, Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.

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To read the featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub and other great poems from fellow Tuesday poets fr...

Awesome Words From Eleanor Catton On “Worth” And “Value”

On October 17 I posted my congratulations to Eleanor Catton, who was my immediate predecessor as writer-in-residence at the University of Canterbry, on winning the Booker Prize for The Luminaries.

I also said that I loved what I heard of Eleanor’s acceptance speech, where she spoke of “worth” and “value” — so much so that I am posting the relevant excerpt from the speech here. I hope it resonates for you as much as it did for me — but I feel her words speak eloquently for themselves so shall o...

Comment Of The Week: From Kate Forsyth

“I am reading Thornspell by NZ writer Helen Lowe – an utterly enchanting retelling of Sleeping Beauty & I’m madly in love with it.”

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Kate made this comment on Twitter, as she was reading Thornspell — a hugely gratifying response from a writer of Kate’s calibre.

A Writing Quote for Saturday, From Joyce Carol Oates

“By honoring one another’s creation we honor something that deeply connects us all, and goes beyond us.”

~ Joyce Carol Oates, in an interview with the Paris Review

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I share this sentiment very strongly, which is why I had to feature this quote.

A Geography Of Haarth: Keep Of Stone

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.

After a brief sojourn in “J”, it’s onwards into “K.”

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Keep of Stone: fortress stronghold of the Derai House of Adamant

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“The Earl paused again, a deep line between his brows as his right hand clenched into a fist. When he resumed speaking, his voice was harsh. “Your mother was sent to the Keep of Stone and no wor...

Guest Post: “Why This Story” By Aimee L. Salter, Author Of “Breakable”

Introduction:

Aimee Slater is a fellow member of SpecFicNZ who has recently returned to the United States. She is also in the process of releasing her self-published novel, Breakable. I am delighted to have her here today to tell you a little about her book and what led her to write the Breakable story.

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Aimee L. Salter, author of Breakable: Why This Story?

On the surface, Breakable is the story of a seventeen-year-old named Stacy who can look in the mirror and talk to her future self.

It’s clear...

Stop-Motion November: Rebecca Fisher Discusses “Coraline”

by Rebecca Fisher

Introduction:

Some collaborations are a match made in heaven. That Neil Gaiman’s novella Coraline was adapted into a stop-motion film by Henry Selick (who also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas) is a dream come true, melding Gaiman’s creepy fairytale with the stunning visual brilliance of Selick’s imagination. The result is one of those rare movies that enhances and enriches the original source material, making the two versions of the same tale virtually inextricable whe...

Tuesday Poem: Haiku — “Having Slept, the Cat Gets Up” by Kobayassi Issa

Having slept, the cat gets up,

yawns, goes out

to make love.

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– by Kobayassi Issa, 1763-1827

I have previously posted two of Issa’s haiku, the world of dew and spring rain, both in 2011. In both I noted that Issa is one of the great haiku masters and I very much the elegance of his work.

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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 Quill icon in the sidebar.