Helen Lowe's Blog, page 35
June 26, 2022
A Quote To Start Your Week — from Author, Kate Forsyth
—
I love this quote from Kate Forsyth. It’s not about writing, but I think it’s very apposite to the writing art, especially “may my spirit be brave.” Because books can, and do, challenge authors to be more and do more.
credit: B Miller
June 22, 2022
Q&A Thursdays Reprised #5: Chris’s Question
Just by way of a reminder, the Q&A Thursday featured awa’-away back in 2019, when I invited readers to submit questions on Daughter of Blood in particular, and The Wall Of Night series by extension.
Currently I’m reprising the series and today’s refeatured question came from Chris. 
USA
Chris: What Would Have Happened If Tirael Hadn’t Come To The Camp’s Aid When He Did? Did Kalan Have Any More Tricks Up His Sleeve?
I think we can probably agree that Kalan and the camp’s defenders had done amazin...
June 19, 2022
Haiku — “after the funeral”
after the funeral
…………freeing a bee
…………from the spider’s web
© Helen Lowe, 2009
.
Highly Commended, NZ Poetry Society International Haiku Competition, 2009 (Judge, Sandra Simpson)
Published in moments in the whirlwind, Ed. Barbara Strang, New Zealand Poetry Society anthology, 2009
~*~
Refeatured from 2013: The Tuesday Poem series.
June 15, 2022
About The Characters: Meet The Minor Players In “The Wall Of Night” Series — Meet Malar
UK/AU/NZ
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 alph...
June 12, 2022
Sayonara
The winter nor’wester
sweeps in
across plain and city,
gusts leaves
into sodden drifts, rattles
at the french doors.
Every tree bends
beneath a mourning sky:
I carry your loss.
.
© Helen Lowe, 2022
June 8, 2022
The Book Covers of Patricia McKillip
Recently, I’ve posted two tributes to Patricia McKillip, 1948 – 2022:
In Memoriam: Patricia McKillip, 1948 – 2022
Patricia McKillip: Marvels and Magic
As I first wrote, then posted them, illustrating both with covers from some of Ms McKillip’s many publications, I couldn’t help thinking that she really did have the most gorgeous book covers.
On balance, I think Kinuko Craft was her most enduring cover artist, delivering many fine covers like the one previously featured for Ombria in Shadow — and...
June 5, 2022
Poetry of Joanna Preston
Last week, I mentioned that Joanna Preston’s second poetry collection, Tumble—which recently won the Ockham NZ Book Award for Poetry—had just arrived on the To Be Read table.
I also mentioned that I am a huge admirer of Joanna’s poetry.
In fact, I’ve shared Joanna’s poems here on the blog more than once — with her permission, of course! When guest editor on The Tuesday Poem blog, I also featured Joanna as a guest poet.
Here’s the list of those posts so you, too, may share in the goodness and e...
June 1, 2022
On Supernatural Underground Now: What Makes A Hero #4 — Courage
How can it be June already? Welp, it is — and on the plus side, although it means we’re racing through the year, it also means I have a new post on Supernatural Underground.
Moreover, it’s post #4 in the What Makes A Hero (In Fantasy) series, and this month’s theme is Courage.
Essential to the making of a hero? Well, I think so…
Katniss Everdeen: courage personnified
In the way of such things, here’s a snippet to get you started:
“…today’s post is zeroing in on Courage. Because in order to be ...May 29, 2022
Patricia McKillip: Marvels and Magic
Two weeks ago, I posted a personal tribute to the great Patricia McKillip, who recently passed away.
In that tribute I mentioned her powerful gifts of storytelling and language, worldbuilding and characterization—but as I continued to revisit her books over the intervening period, I realized that I had left out something really important.
You’ll know from the title that it’s something to do with magic. Specifically, I realized that Patrica McKillip’s ability to create worlds where magic is not ...
May 25, 2022
A Quote For Thursday, by Leonard Cohen, 1934 – 2016
~ from Stories of the Street, Leonard Cohen, 1934 – 2016
~*~
I love this quote, from the closing lines of Stories of the Street, on Leonard Cohen’s debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (Colombia Records, 1967.). The balance of the lines is so perfect and encapsulates the ache of our human existence so well.
No surprises there, of course—because this is Leonard Cohen with his lifetime of contributing amazing and gorgeous words.
I just ...
