Helen Lowe's Blog, page 249
August 16, 2012
Thoughts On Space Opera: Women Authors
Yesterday I wondered whether I was really right about space opera…
And I concluded by observing that: “I did notice something else when I was putting together my non-exhaustive list of contemporary space opera authors—any guesses?”
No takers, alas—weeps quietly in corner, fun spoiled—but fear not, I am going to tell you anyway! 
What I noticed (ta-da!) was that the off-the-top-of-my-head-names that I came up with for contemporary space opera writers were universally male: John Scalzi; Iain M Ba...
August 15, 2012
Hmm, I Wonder, Am I Really Right About Space Opera?
On 6 August I hosted a guest post by Rowena Cory Daniells titled “Fantasy: The Poor Cousin of Science Fiction” — and as sometimes happens with feature posts the comments took on a life of their own.
The general trend of the comments was that it was actually the other way around, that science fiction, with the possible exception of near-future dystopia, has become the poor relation of fantasy in all its various expressions—the big fantasy epics, steampunk, and vampire fiction—on the shelf. (Row...
August 14, 2012
Three New Reviews
Recently, I’ve had word of three new reviews — but the cool thing about this is that rather than all being for the latest book out, there is one review for each of my three books currently published: Thornspell (Knopf, 2008); The Heir of Night (Harper Voyager 2010; Orbit 2011) and The Gathering of the Lost (Harper Voyager US; Orbit UK/AUS/NZ 2012)
The review for Thornspell was by Australian editor Tehani Wessely and appeared on Good Reads. You can read the review here.
.
UK/AU/NZ mass market pap...
August 13, 2012
Tuesday Poem: “Night’s Magic” by Helen Heath
Night’s Magic ……………………………………………….. Sir Isaac Newton (1643 –1727)
"Newton was not the first of the age of reason.
He was the last of the magicians." – John Maynard Keynes.
When Isaac closes his eyes
he is hanging, arms outstretched
only faith keeps him
from falling – a magic trick.
In his left hand is the Book of Revelations
in the right, the Book of Nature,
written in geometry.
He opens his eyes to take note
of God’s will in action. Observations
must be interpreted –
bodies in motion, fruit from the tree.
R...
August 12, 2012
A Passion for Fantasy
On Saturday I visited the Hagley Writers’ Institute and one of the questions I was asked included whether or not the fact that I write Fantasy fiction meant that I had a passion for Fantasy.
Those of you who follow me will know that I have spoken of my love for the style of fiction characterized as Fantasy on several occasions, including how that love evolved and the journey to writing my own books. Some of those posts include:
My recent Gemmell Award essay, “Why I Chose To Write Fantasy & Writ...
August 11, 2012
Go The Poem: ‘Stepping Into Rain’ In The Press
On Friday I posted that I hoped to see my poem ‘Stepping Into Rain’ (first line) featured in the Christchurch Press—and here it is! Photographic evidence, no less.
‘Go the Poem’ indeed!
And go The Press for featuring poems once a week. Seriously, that rocks “in my book.”
About the poem — ‘Stepping Into Rain’ is entirely a story, a fictional ‘slice of life’ told in poetic form.:)
To read more of my poetry, you can look here – as well as under the Poetry Category in the far right side bar, here (An...
August 10, 2012
Today I’m At The Hagley Writers’ Institute
Today I’m taking time out from writing Daughter of Blood, The Wall of Night Book Three to visit the Hagley Writers’ Institute where I’ll be presenting on the topics of:
my writing career generally (he-he)
finding an agent
the publication process
promotion
and writing routine
Southern Ocean beach (Credit: P Fitzpatrick)
Hmm, on reflection, am hoping the students won’t be too bored…
I think maybe I shall add in a bit about being tucked away in this tiny corner of the world: and it really is tiny, guys,...
August 9, 2012
A Week For Wonderful Features…
This has been something of a week for guest features:
FSF author Rowena Cory Daniells featured on Monday with her guest post titled “Fantasy, The Poor Cousin of Science Fiction” — & there have been some great comments, with discussion, here.
.
Helen McKinlay
Tuesday is Tuesday Poem day, and this week I featured a poem by fellow Tuesday Poem community poet, Helen McKinlay. The poem is “Juice of Nelson Haven” — check it out here.
I also very much enjoyed the featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub — s...
August 8, 2012
A Guest Post by Ripley Patton—”Ghost Hand: Why ‘This’ Story?”—Plus, Ripley’s Kickstarter
Introduction:
I was privileged to get to know Ripley Patton when she was living in Christchurch and taking the initiative to “kickstart” SpecFicNZ into life. Yes, it took an American to do it, even though we have plenty of people actually writing fiction of the SF/Fantasy/Horror variety here in Aotearoa-New Zealand. So kudos to Ripley, and her original core team, for making it happen.
Ripley has since moved back to the United States with her family, but while in New Zealand she was working on h...
August 7, 2012
What’s Coming Up: Tomorrow & Friday
Ripley Patton
Just a reminder that on the blog tomorrow I shall be featuring a guest post by from Ripley Patton who—as some of you may already know—is currently embarked on a kickstarter for her YA novel Ghost Hand.
I’ve invited Ripley to come on “…Anything, Really” and post on what she was trying to achieve, as an author, with the Ghost Hand story.
—
photo credit
And on Friday 10, I “should” have my poem ‘Stepping Into Rain’ featured in the Christchurch Press. I hope that those of you who have ac...
