Helen Lowe's Blog, page 210

A Geography Of Haarth: Highvert

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 explore more of “H.”

—

Highvert: castle of the Lord Warden of Emer’s Vertward

.

“The Normarch company was placed on the far right of the Duke’s retinue, immediately adjoining the guards, where they had a good view of the Highvert road. The trumpeter unslung his silver instrument as the Duke moved his hors...

Some Gemmell Award Links — And Another Giveaway!

USA

On Monday, I linked through to a Gemmells Award’s shortlisting interview with the fabulous Ruth Todd, featured on Beatties Bookblog, as well as to my regular Supernatural Underground post where I’m doing a book giveaway that’s open until Sunday.

Today I have two more Gemmell Awards’ related links for you:

An interview with YA author, Kate Forsyth on her blog:

Interview: Helen Lowe, Author Of “The Gathering Of The Lost“

UK/AU/NZ Cover

And a Q&A on US genre site ismellsheep — with another giveawa...

Book Review: “Existence” by David Brin — Reviewed by Andrew Robins

Introduction:

As a longtime David Brin reader, I am very pleased to bring you a review of his latest novel, Existence, from regular “…on Anything, Really” reviewer, Andrew Robins.

—

Book Review: Existence by David Brin (Orbit, 2012, Paperback edition, 659 pp) — Reviewed by Andrew Robins

Existence is a big book in every sense of the word.

It took David Brin more than ten years to write the 659 pages that deliver this powerful and compelling story. So the book is both physically big, and obviously im...

Tuesday Poem: Ellen’s Vigil by Lorna Staveley Anker

Ellen’s Vigil

……..Benjamin……..Isaac…….Tom

Passchendaele…..Ypres…and Somme

…………….three ovals float

…………….on the cold wall

plastered whiter

………………………………..than their bones,

young, khaki’d,

…………………..their bud-tender eyes

…………………..premonition filled.

.

Ellen,

her three boys gone,

………………transplanted seventy years

……………………from Lurgan’s linen

no longer counts crops

……………………………………in season

…..but digs, diligently, delicately,

…………………………………….digs down

……………………………………….further down

…..her spade searching

……………………her garden f...

A Supernatural Underground Giveaway — Plus More Happening Here & Elsewhere!

USA

My regular 1st of the month feature has posted on the Supernatural Underground — and this month I’m celebrating The Gathering Of The Lost being shortlisted for the international David Gemmell Legend Award, plus there’s a giveaway and a shoutout about the US price break — yup, the Gathering ebook is just .99c (US only) until September 30 when legend voting closes.

To find out all about it, click on:

Gemmell Legend Award Good News — Plus A “Super” Giveway & E-book Price Break!

—

Ruth Todd

Speakin...

Comment Of The Week: from Jennifer Moore

“I absolutely loved this series and couldn’t put it down as soon as I started reading. I’m usually picky (unfortunately)about the books that I like and really get into, and this had me hook, line, and sinker. I finished it in about a day and a half and am almost done with book 2. Can’t wait for book three! Thanks for writing such a captivating and exciting series”

—

Jennifer’s comment posted on last week’s “What’s Happening” post.

As with Rosie’s comment, featured last week, I do appreciate Jenn...

A Writers’ Tea Party, 8 September — & More Frankie McMillan!

The indefatigable Bernadette Hall is convening another Writers’ Tea Party in support of the Hurunui District Libraries. The jury is currently out on whether Mad Hatters, March Hares, or Dormice will be in attendance, but we do know that there is to be a fine line up of guest writers:

Jarrold Gilbert, the author of Patched: The History of Gangs in New Zealand, which has just won the People’s Choice Award in the NZ Post Book Awards

.

Geoff Cochrane, author of poetry collection, The Bengal Engine’s...

A Geography Of Haarth: High Tor

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 venture further into “H.”

—

High Tor: a landmark in the Emerian hills

.

“The chieftains exchanged a sidewise glance; Hirn stroked his tattooed chin. “We pledged to your foster brother that there would be no more war in the Hills. But the long rivalry between our two clans is well known. What was unknown i...

Just Arrived: “Gleam” by Sarah Broom

I am absolutely delighted to have just received a copy of Sarah Broom’s newly released and long awaited second book of poetry, Gleam, from Auckland University Press.

Sadly, Sarah Broom died on 18 April this year, before Gleam was published; my tribute to her is here. I also featured a poem from her first collection, Tigers At Awhitu, on the Tuesday Poem hub on 18 December last year: All my life.

As I said in my tribute, for me Tigers at Awhitu was one of the outstanding poetry collections of 20...

Big Worlds On Small Screens: Rebecca Fisher Discusses “Xena: Warrior Princess”

by Rebecca Fisher

Introduction:

Back in the nineties two shows vied for the privilege of featuring Television’s Most Influential Feminist Icon: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena Warrior Princess. Now, the last thing I want to do is pit these shows against one another. I love them both, albeit for different reasons. But it is interesting to note the differences between them, and in one respect, Xena was markedly unlike Buffy.

The Warrior Princess and her handy chakram (think of it as a shiny roun...