Helen Lowe's Blog, page 219

A Geography Of Haarth: Conservatory

The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick

The A Geography of Haarth series is traversing the full range of locales and places from The Wall of Night world of Haarth—and we’re now in “C.”

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Conservatory: the main performance hall of the College of Minstrels, in the River city of Ij

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“There were no signs of a storm that evening, when a huge crowd shifted and glittered beneath the glass roof of the Conservatory, the main entertainment hall of the College of Minstrels. Glass doors on...

“To Hell And Back”: Translating Dan Brown’s “Inferno”—Part 2, by Dutch Translator, Marion Drolsbach

Introduction:

Yesterday, I posted the first part of Dutch translator, Marion Drolsbach’s inside story on translating Dan Brown’s Inferno—and today Marion completes her account with how she got swept up into The Netherlands launch, as part of the world-wide release on May 14.

Again—enjoy!

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To Hell And Back: Translating Dan Brown’s Inferno — Part 2, The Netherlands Launch

by Marion Drolsbach (one of the three Dutch translators working on the project.)

D-Day

Weeks went by, and Erica, Yolande and I soo...

“To Hell And Back”: Translating Dan Brown’s “Inferno” by Dutch Translator, Marion Drolsbach

Introduction:

On Monday I promised you something extra special—the inside story on translating Dan Brown’s Inferno, from Dutch translator Marion Drolsbach, (who was also the translator for The Heir of Night—Kind van de Nacht). As I said then, I felt this wasquite a story and offers an insight into the world of mega bestselling titles, so I’m delighted Marion is willing to retell it for you here. The account carries on into the launch of the book in The Netherlands, which is why the story will...

“Here’s SpecFicNZ–Christchurch”: Featuring Tim Stead

Introduction:

Over the past seven weeks, I have been running a post “mini-series” titled “Here’s SpecFicNZ-Christchurch”, in which my fellow SpecFicNZ-Christchurch authors introduce themselves using a series of common headings:

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

Here’s Why: the writer writes speculative fiction

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

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

Today I am very pleased...

Tuesday Poem: ‘I meant it to be a poem about sparrows’—A Collaboration Between Artist, Claire Beynon, & Poet, Helen Lowe

The Sparrows

I meant it to be a poem about sparrows

and how the silence that followed

the February 22nd earthquake

included their absent voices —

& not just sparrows but the starlings

and blackbirds, the finches and wax-eyes

that normally fill the day with their bustle

about the business of living …

……………………………. all fallen silent,

hidden away, or gone further to find food

since half the city was covered

in a slick of water and mud. I threw

old bread onto the island of grass

in our own grey sea and waited …...

What’s Coming up “On Anything, Really”: A Great Week!

Yes, have I got some fun stuff for you this week!

Tuesday Poem Ekphrasis

The fun starts with the ultimate ekphrastic poem post as tomorrow’s Tuesday Poem. This series, focusing on poems in response to works of art, began on March 26 with my poem Ti, and will finish with an art work from friend, artist & fellow poet, Claire Beynon, in response to one of my earthquake sequence poems: great stuff!

Here’s SpecFicNZ-Christchurch

Another series I’ve been running for the past six weeks is Here’s SpecFic...

Now On The Supernatural Underground: Holding Out For A Hero

The 1st of the month (US time) is my regular guest post day on the Supernatural Underground—and this month I’m holding out for a hero in the realms of darkness, love and danger that are my own books:

“And as all of us who frequent the Supernatural Underground know, when venturing into realms of magic, mystery, and danger, then at some stage your story—if not your heroine, since heroines are a feisty and independent breed these days—will be holding out for hero…

So here’s a few of the heroes fr...

“Fun With Friends” On SF Signal: I Interview Gillian Polack

My regular “Fun With Friends” interview has now posted on SF Signal — and my May guest is Australian author, editor, academic and fan, Gillian Polack.

Gillian has many interesting observations on whether there is an distinctive Australian voice in SFF, the big issues for SFF literature right now, the cross-genre/genre bending essence of her novel Ms Cellophane, and the importance of food in culture and SFF fandom…

…but check it out and see for yourself:

Fun with Friends: Helen Lowe Talks with Gi...

A Geography Of Haarth: Cloud Hold

The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick

The A Geography of Haarth series is traversing the full range of locales and places from The Wall of Night world of Haarth—and as of last week we’ve stepped into “C.”

Today we return from the Southern Realms to the Wall of Night.

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Cloud Hold: a satellite fort of the Keep of Winds.

“And Teron came from the family that had always commanded Cloud Hold for the House of Night, a family as famous for their unswerving loyalty and courage as they...

Currently Reading: “Of Blood & Honey” by Stina Leicht

Stina Leicht's "Of Blood and Honey"

As noted Monday, in my book report on Patricia Briggs’ Frost Burned, I am currently rath-er behind on da reading!

That is because most of the literary effort is currently going into completing Daughter of Blood, The Wall Of Night Book Three: authorly virtue!

But reading is relaxation for me, so although slower than usual, I do keep plugging away.

So the current read is Stina Leicht’s Of Blood and Honey, The Fey and the Fallen series (Night Shade, 2011.) I did a...