Helen Lowe's Blog, page 4

A WALL #4-Relevant Writing Quote from Darcy Pattison

“The function of the first draft is to help you figure out your story. The function of every draft after that is to figure out the most dramatic way to tell that story.”

~ Darcy Pattison

Darcy Pattison is a US children’s author and publisher, whose work has been translated into nine languages. You can find out more about Darcy, and her work, here.

As for why this quote today, having just said “done” to the first half of the WALL finale, it does seem relevant.

Particularly as it’s spot on in te...

Behind The Scenes On The Blog

With the recent WALL #4 update done and dusted, I’m also doing some necessary but invisible upgrade work behind the scenes on the website and blog.

Here’s hoping there’s no going dark…

I believe there should be no loss of service, but just in case there is, it should be temporary.

In the (unlikely, I sincerely hope) event of catastrophic failure, I’ll put contact information on my Twitter where anyone can see it (without having to have an X account.)

All digits pretzelled for that smooth run!

R...

What I’m Reading: “Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life” by Anna Funder

I’m reporting early on Wifedom, by Anna Funder (published in 1923) — just a month after the Just Arrived post, in fact, which may be close to a record for reading and posting.

Wifedom, as I noted then, constitutes “an exploration of the life of Eileen O’Shaughnessy, who married Eric Blair — better known to most of us by his penname of George Orwell.” I also quoted the book’s back cover, which indicates that Anna Funder was exploring the writing and life of George Orwell, when she realized that...

Updates & Sneak Peeks

Monday’s post was the longawaited update on WALL #4 revision progress.

Having dubbed Part 1 (of the ‘Book of Two Halves’) a wrap, I feel a sneak preview may be in order. Nothing spoilery, of course, but what I believe builds on your knowledge of the WALL #1 – #3 story.

As noted with last year’s feature of the WALL #4 Tuckerization character, June Gum Young, the final version may vary — but I believe the essentials should remain.

Otherwise, it’s just a small reconnection with Faro and Taly. Enjo...

Update: The Wall Of Night #4 Revision — Part 1 Done

First of all, I’d really like to thank you all for your patience, as I know many of you have been hanging out for an update. I also apologise, because I know it’s been a long time coming.

It’s update time…

As you know, I wanted to do the update when I had something tangible to report — beyond “still revising, not done yet”, that is. So I was as frustrated as any of you when getting to a stage where I could finally say “the milestone-in-progress is ‘definitely done’ ” took far longer than I ever ...

WALL Update Monday — Plus A Nietzsche Quote

That’s a “definitely” (no ifs, no buts, no maybes, no weather eyes on Mt Parnassus and mercurial muses definitely) posting Monday for the long-awaited WALL #4 update .

I had hoped to get it done today, but things have been just a tad too busy, so Monday it is.

In the meantime, here’s a Nietzsche quote to see you through the end of the week:

“We have art so we shall not die of reality.”

~ Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844 – 1900

I like the yin-yang mix of irony and truth.

‘It was meant to be a poem a...

New On Supernatural Underground for June — Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #5

It’s June 2 and that means I’m rocking on with the Great Leaders of Speculative Fiction post series on Supernatural Underground.

This month’s post hones in on moral leadership as exemplified by Katniss Everdeen, of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games fame:

Katniss

While it may be argued that Katniss is more hero and champion than leader, I believe she’s definitely a leader, too — but you’ll have to head on over to the SU to find out why.

Great Leaders in Speculative Fiction #5: Katniss Everdeen ...

Meet Prince Ath: Meet the Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series

USA

Just to run over the “Meet the Minor Players” drill it focuses on the minor (or more correctly, sometimes “more 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, 2013)

Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now I’m continuing on with minor characters from both Th...

What’s Up On The Supernatural Underground?

Monster adaptations, what happens when we “add magic”, and a breakdown of the mystery genre, from “fluffies” to “hardboiled”, and beyond — that’s what!

Plus, of course, my May 2 post in the leadership in SpecFic series. But here’s a ‘proper’ listicle:

Great Leaders of Speculative Fiction #4

An in-depth look at the great John Aversin in Barbara Hambly’s Dragonsbane. (An ab-fab classic, imho, & tho’ I’ve heard the rumours of sequels, for me there can be “only one.” )

The Art of Adaptation — Fa...

What I’m Reading: “What You Are Looking For Is In the Library” by Michiko Aoyama

Last week, when penning my Just Arrived post for Wifedom by Anna Funder, I realized that not only was my last Just Arrived post way back in November, but that I had only posted on one of the four books mentioned — the indomitable Pinch Perkins.

Starting today, I’m rectifying my neglect of the other three works by posting on Michiko Aoyama’s What You Are Looking For Is In the Library, translated by Alison Watts.

As mentioned in November, it was a Times bestseller and one of Time magazine’s Top 1...