Helen Lowe's Blog, page 207
October 4, 2013
A Writing Quote for Saturday, from Mark Twain
“You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God’s adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by.”
Mark Twain — in a Letter to Orion Clemens, March 1878
October 3, 2013
A Geography of Haarth: Ij
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. Today we’re into our very first entry for “I” — and what an entry it is!
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Ij: the Golden, the greatest city of the River, built on the delta between the river Ijir and the sea
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“And after that? Malian wondered. But she said nothing, just slipped off the bed and walked over to look at the map, turning the tableto...
October 2, 2013
Book Review: “Shaman” by Kim Stanley Robinson — Reviewed by Andrew Robins
Book Review:Shaman by Kim Stanley Robinson — Reviewed by Andrew Robins Orbit, 2013, Trade Paperback edition, 456 pp
Last year, I reviewed Kim Stanley Robinson’s excellent 2312. I very much enjoyed that book, so when the opportunity came up to review Shaman, I stuck my hand up and said, “yes please.”
Shaman is a very different book, in a very different setting. This the Earth of 30,000 years ago. Ice grips the planet, and Mankind’s hold on life is uncertain– but some of the themes explored in th...
October 1, 2013
“North” Featured On “Small Marks” Blog
I am delighted that my poem North was featured on fellow Tuesday Poet, Elizabeth Welsh’s “Small Marks” blog yesterday.
You can read North, my “about the poem”commentary and Elizabeth’s response, all here:
North on “Small Marks”
Enjoy.
September 30, 2013
Tuesday Poem: “Old Pet” by Barbara Strang
Molly is a useless pet,
nervous, unfriendly.
She will not sit on my knee.
Molly is not sleek any more
she is middle-aged
and shows it.
She is greedy and fussy,
she won’t eat
bargain meat.
Sometimes she rubs
against my leg,
purrs after dinner.
She is drawn round the face,
her belly sags
from kittens she bore –
she is past all that,
she is past her best,
I know it.
She lies all day in the garden,
her rusty coat blends with the weeds,
I hardly notice her.
She and I
in the large backyard –
and only me to miss he...
September 29, 2013
What’s On This Week of 30 September
The Legend Award
Yes, today is the Very Last Day you can vote for the final round, closing 11.59 pm, UK time — so if you haven’t already done so, but would like to support The Gathering Of The Lost or another of the shortlisted books to win, the link is here:
http://www.gemmellaward.com/page/the-legend-award
(Click on the ‘Author Name – Book Title’ of your choice, then click ‘Vote’ to confirm.)
And again, if you haven’t already checked it out, my fin...
September 28, 2013
Comment Of The Week: From Paul Weimer
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Paul made the comment on this week’s “A Geography Of Haarth” post. Paul is an SF Signal regular, posting reviews, and convening Mind Melds. He also contributes to Functional Nerds and has recently had a story published in Tales Of Eve.
September 27, 2013
Reminders: AKA It All Ends 30 September!
USA
UK/AUS/NZ
Just a reminder not to forget the following, which all end 30 September:
Giveaways
Earlier this month I did a Legend Award Q&A with US genre site ismellsheep, including a signed giveaway of Thornspell, The Heir of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost and you can still enter here.
Last week, I posted with RisingShadow on Magic In The Wall Of Night World — with a giveaway of The Gathering Of The Lost only and again you can still read the post and enter here
US E-Book Price Break
Finally,...
September 26, 2013
A Geography Of Haarth: Hills Of the Hawk
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. Today is the last entry for “H.”
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Hills of the Hawk: an alternate name for the range of hills called Jaransor
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“She walked on alone to the edge of the trees, staring out over the wild terrain to the west and the steep, bush-clad heights bathed in evening amber—and was struck again by the immensity of the land, a...
September 25, 2013
More Fun Stuff: Guest Posts
USA
USA
On Monday, I mentioned the conversation between Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue and Malian of Night from my own Wall of Night series, which is currently featured on Kristin’s blog:
Bitterblue Talks With Malian Of Night
Something else that’s very cool on Kristin’s blog is one of her featured quotes, which is from The Tricksters, by NZ’s very own Margaret Mahy:
“Then, at last, sitting on her stretcher-bed, she took from the very bottom of her pack an old peacock-blue scarf folded ar...
