Helen Lowe's Blog, page 226
March 28, 2013
A Geography of Haarth: The Barren Hills
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth series features locales and places from The Wall of Night series’ world of Haarth.
This week we’re starting on places in the world that begin with the letter “B.” 
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Barren Hills: uninhabited hills to the south of the Border Mark.
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“Malian’s dark, slender brows were drawn together, the set of her young mouth thoughtful as she spun the table surface slowly round, so that the Wall and surrounding Gray Lands gave way...
March 27, 2013
Just Arrived: “Of Blood and Honey” & “And Blue Skies From Pain” by Stina Leicht
As I know I have said before—so please excuse me for saying it all over again!—one of the great things about the internet is that it facilitates communication with fellow authors, even those on the far side of the world.
Those of you popped in last week will also see that this communication has recently led to my participation in the newly formed BookSworn — whom the “Welcome” post declared “today’s hottest new authors in fantasy.” (I like that! Say it again please!)
One of my fellow BookSworn...
March 26, 2013
Good News for “The Heir of Night”
UK/AU/NZ mass market paperback
Last week I received word that the mass market edition of The Heir of Night is being reprinted in the UK — that’s the very best kind of news for any book and author!
My sincere thanks to everyone in the UK who has supported The Wall of Night series by buying the book.
Because at the end of the day, that is the only thing that keeps books, series, and authors “in the game.”
And so long as I am telling tales that people enjoy reading, I do very much appreciate being a...
March 25, 2013
Tuesday Poem: “Ti”
Ti
Akaroa Heads
Cordyline on a windswept point stark
each frond stabbing
sharp as a taiaha’s blade
defying the elements
facing down the ocean – that vast expanse
conquered first by Kiwa
the far voyaging salt encrusted
sculpted by endless distance
always looking ever longing for land
lying over the next line of horizon –
the darker smudge of blue
lifting to green above the deep swell
the first sighting eyes shaded
of that solitary tree piercing sky
above a coastal headland marking
the moment of transition
the...
March 24, 2013
Celebrating “The Gathering of The Lost”: R is for Romance
UK/AUS/NZ
With the mass market edition of The Gathering Of The Lost recently published in the UK, I’ve been re-posting a few of the features from last year’s Blog Tour.
Today’s feature was first published on the Supernatural Underground on 1 April 2012 — almost but not quite a year ago!
I alluded to it in this month’s post on the Supe, as well, as part of my 1 March feature on “High Romantic Fantasy”, which I maintain is something quite different from Romance per se. (I also followed up with a f...
March 23, 2013
A Book Quote for Sunday from Carl Sagan
“Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of magic.”
~ Carl Sagan
March 22, 2013
Read and Enjoyed: “The Fractal Prince” by Hannu Rajaniemi
Andrew Robins did a “proper” review of Hannu Rajaniemi’s The Fractal Prince recently, so this is going to be a very brief reading report, not a reiteration of that review.
But you’ll also recall that I read and enjoyed Rajaniemi’s The Quantum Thief last year, so I was very keen to read the second book in the series for myself. Like The Quantum Thief it is set in a future solar system in which human beings and the societies they inhabit have become as much virtual as real. There also appears to...
March 21, 2013
A Geography of Haarth: Arun-En
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth series features locales and places from The Wall of Night series’ world of Haarth.
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“Arun-En: a town on the Wildenrush river, on the boundaries of The River Lands .”
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“‘The whole world comes to Ij in the springtime’—isn’t that what they say?” He addressed the gray-clad rider cheerfully. “Just my luck to be going the other way as the festival’s beginning! But Arun-En, on the Wildenrush, has lost its minstrel and s...
March 20, 2013
Just Arrived: “Prickle Moon” by Juliet Marillier
I sometimes think “…there is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so…” much fun as receiving new books in the post!
Last week’s book fun was an advanced review copy of Juliet Marillier’s first short story collection, Prickle Moon, which is due for release in April (2013) from Ticonderoga Press.
The book contains 14 tales, many previously published but 5 written specifically for this collection, including the eponymous Prickle Moon.
One of the previously published stories is Juggling Silver, which y...
March 19, 2013
Welcome To The BookSworn: Spinners of Tales, Weavers of Worlds!
Welcome To The World Of The BookSworn:Who are not just spinners of tales and weavers of worlds—although we are all that!—but 16 newer Fantasy-SF authors from the USA, UK and NZ.
The new BookSworn site will be a (mostly) Fantasy “coffee house” where we host giveaways, announce news about our books and our writing, and discuss writing in the fantasy genre.
But Wait, There’s More: A Masked Ball & Bookpalooza Giveaway!
Yes right now, we’re hosting our grand launch event — a combined masque and 15 bo...
