Helen Lowe's Blog, page 33

Q&A Thursdays Reprised #7: Jason’s Question

Currently I’m reprising a Daughter of Blood  (and by extension The Wall Of Night ) Q&A series that first featured in 2019—with some really great questions that I’m enjoying getting to read and think about again.

Today’s I’m refeaturing Jason’s question on weapons and the names thereof. 😀

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Jason: In The Lord of The Rings almost all the weapons have personal names, like Sting and Glamdring and Narsil. I’ve noticed you don’t do that, except for Malian’s helmet. Why is that?

Traditionally, in the...

On Supernatural Underground Now: What Makes A Hero? #7 —Chivalry

Yep, on 1 September I posted Instalment #7 in the What Makes A (Fantasy) Hero series.

This month’s theme is Chivalry — although the real question now is, can I keep the C-themed posts going until year’s end? Watch this space…

The chivalric King Arthur

‘As we do’. by way of a lead-in, here’s some text to get you started:

“I could argue that chivalry is a uniquely Medieval concept, centered on heroes such as King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Roland and Oliver, and Robin Hood. Howev...

“Orison” — For NZ Poetry Month (Belated)

I was intending to get a post in for NZ Poetry Month, which was August, and realise it has swooped on by me with nary a poetry post to show for it.

And then I thought, well isn’t every month Poetry Month, for a poet, and every day, Poetry Day?

So in that spirit, I am posting a poem for you today. I’ve chosen one that’s in the spirit of Inside the Writing Life.

The writer at the centre of the poem is Katherine Mansfield, who is among NZ’s most renowned authors internationally.

Although I’ve feat...

Just Arrived: “The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot” by Margaret Cronin

New entries for the TBR (To Be Read) stakes never stop coming—which is entirely as it should be for any enthusiastic reader—and the newest contender in mine is The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, the debut novel by Margaret Cronin, published 2021.

I already know this book is a 2022 winner of the Alex Award, given by YALSA (the Young Adult Library Services Association, I believe) in the USA, and has proven hugely popular internationally.

From the synopsis, it’s a heartwarming but (I stron...

“The Hobbit” / “The Heir of Night” Giveaway Result

The Sorting Hat sorted and Random spoke, delivering a recipient for The Hobbit / The Heir of Night giveaway that closed on August 15.

The recipient is:

James Price

Congratulations, James! My thanks, also, to everyone who entered for your interest and enthusiasm.

And yes, I do promise to do it again in future (though maybe not with The Hobbit ) — probably closer to the time WALL #4 is published.

Another great reason to keep gambaru-ing to reach that happy day!

The Wall Of Night #4 (“The Chaos Gate”) Update: August 2022

Update time…

So-o, looking back to April (yes, I know, where do the months fly away to?), I reported that WALL #4 was in its denouement phase, with end sequences coming together, “but without being quite there yet.”

On July 11th,when deferring this update, I advised that I was in the middle of writing “…an important but proverbially thorny passage”

What I did not say then, was that the writing since April has been consistently stormy and thorny. So in fact I know exactly where the months have go...

About The Characters: Meet The Minor Players In “The Wall Of Night” Series — Meet Manan

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The About The Characters post series focuses on the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series, in large part because:

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

~ from my Legend Award Finalist’s Interview, 2013

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m continuing on with minor characters from both The Gathering Of The Lost and Daughter of Blood — in alphabeti...

This ‘N’ That

Final Giveaway Reminder:

Firstly, The Hobbit/The Heir of Night giveaway closes today – at midnight (NZ time) to be precise, for any who may still be debating whether or not to enter.

A couple of those entering have asked why the 10 day gap between the giveaway closing and announcing the recipient. Although it seems a long time, sometimes it takes a while for the winner to claim the giveaway, and at least once I’ve had to redraw, so now I like to allow time for any wrinkles to get ironed out.

Ov...

A Giveaway Reminder – Plus “The Rings of Power: Second Age” Is Nigh!

Just a reminder that I’m currently running a belated Tolkien Reading Day giveaway of The Hobbit, together with The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night, Book One), which closes on at midnight, next Monday 15 August (NZ time.)

 

To enter, email me at contact[at]helenlowe[dot]info with “Giveaway” in the subject line and your name and contact details in the body of the email.

For full details, click here.

I’ll announce the recipient here on Thursday 25 August.

~*~

At which time, dear readers, it will ...

Further Reflections On Recent Posts…

Over the past week I’ve been reflecting on the last two weeks’ Monday posts:

“The Hobbit”, Tolkien’s Legacy — & A Giveaway!“The Hobbit”: There & Back Again – 85 Years On!

Yes, exclamation marks are much in evidence, but that’s not the source of my reflections.

Chiefly, I’ve been mulling further on eighty-five years and legacy – for all the reasons set out in the two posts, which is really why I wanted to write something that recognized it, as well as about the gift book that sparked everythi...