Helen Lowe's Blog, page 3

Your Publication Date Questions

In my most recent work-in-progress update, I advised that Part 1 of the manuscript revision process is now complete and that I’m now into Part 2. If you haven’t already read it, the link will take you there.

Yep, there was an update recently.

Subsequently, a few readers have come back to me regarding a publication date, so I’ve realized that it’s time for a reprise on the whys-and-wherefores of publication dates in traditional publishing. Chiefly that it’s the publisher, rather than the author,...

Meet Princess Coreil: Meet The Minor Players in “The Wall of Night” Series

USA

The “Meet the Minor Players” post features the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series. One of the reasons for posting this series is because the major characters always get featured and discussed, but: —

“I think it’s the presence of the smaller characters that (also) “makes” a story, creating texture around the main points of view.”

~ Helen Lowe (from my Legend Award Finalist’s Interview)

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m conti...

Inside Middle Earth: ‘Something About Auckland’

Just for something different, here are a couple of “inside NZ” (aka Middle Earth, albeit some time ago now!) photos of Auckland in the “sunny north” — finally seeing the sunshine, which I gather has decidedly not been the case of late.

And to go with the photos, a poem I wrote around 2003, when I was struck by exactly the qualities the photos show.

Devonport, on Auckland’s North Shore, looking back toward the city centre.

Something About Auckland

Shelly Bay, Midwinter 2003

There definitely is s...

“South of My Days” (Excerpt) by Judith Wright — from the “Tuesday Poem’ Backlist

South of My Days , by Judith Wright, is one of my favourite poems. I love the language of this poem, which was first published in 1946, and the vivid evocation of landscape and sense of place, which speaks strongly to an Australian ethos and also to aspects of its history.

I first shared it as part of the Tuesday Poem community, but like Monday’s post, I believe it merits the refeature. It’s timely, too, since it’s very much a winter poem and we’re in the midst of the Southern Hemisphere winter...

“Portent & Fate: The Mythic Aspect of Dream in Contemporary Fantasy” — From The Backlist

The last few weeks have seen a few ups and downs in the writing life, so I’m currently working hard on rebuilding revision momentum — and falling back on a “From The Backlist” post to aid that cause.

Although I do believe it’s a reasonably interesting post, as well as very relevant to the WALL series, so worth refeaturing in its own right. I do hope you agree!

Portent & Fate: The Mythic Aspect of Dream in Contemporary Fantasy

Dream magic plays a relatively significant part in both Thornspell an...

A Writing Quote of Excellence from Stephen King

Description begins in the writer’s imagination but should finish in the reader’s.

Stephen King

If this quote were part of a diptych, I think it’s “partner” quote would be AS Byatt’s, from the novel, Possession:

“Think of this – that the writer wrote alone, and the reader read alone, and they were alone with each other.”

What’s Up on Supernatural Underground?

In addition to my latest “Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction” post, that is — which as you’ll know from last week, is honing in on a great leader who’s the antagonist rather than a hero. Still a great leader, though! So just in case you missed it, the post is here:

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #6: Ulric in David Gemmell’s Legend

But wait  — there is definitely moar! Starting with Kim Falconer’s two-part post on The Art of Adaptation and Monsters:

Part 1 looks at Fantasy’s traditional ...

New on Supernatural Underground for July: It’s Leadership #6 — With A Twist

I’ve just posted my July post on Supernatural Underground. Huzza!

I’m sticking with my leadership theme, but this month it comes with a twist, which is that for the first time, I’m looking at the villain of the piece, who also happens to be a great leader.

The leader is Ulric, from David Gemmell’s epic-heroic classic, the novel Legend. (Yep that’s the same Legend the one-time award was named for. You may recall The Gathering of the Lost was a finalist in 2013.)

Anyway, to read all about Ulric ...

Celebrating Book Openings #5: “1984” by George Orwell

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”

~ 1984, by George Orwell, 1903 – 1950

Having featured Wifedom: The Invisible Life of Mrs Orwell on Monday 16, I had to feature the opening line from George Orwell’s 1984 as my next opening line.

I believe it may be among the most famous opening lines in English literature. It’s also exceedingly powerful, simultaneously grounding the reader in the reality of a “bright cold day in April”, with all the hope that spring mon...

Meet Prince Ilvaine: Meet The Minor Players in “The Wall of Night” series

UK/AU/NZ

The “Meet the Minor Players” post features the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series because:

“I think it’s the presence of the smaller characters that “makes” a story, creating texture around the main points of view.”

~ Helen Lowe (from my Legend Award Finalist’s Interview)

Sometimes, as I’ve indicated with other posts in this series, a character may be “minor” in terms of their part in the overall Wall story, but still cut a swathe where they appear. I believe Prince Ilvaine is...