Helen Lowe's Blog, page 48

As Promised, A “The Wall Of Night” Book #4 (The Chaos Gate) Update

Last week I confirmed, among other matters, that:

The Wall Of Night series

1. Yes (evile rumour notwithstanding) I am still working awa’ on WALL #4. (Huzza!)

2. And no, WALL #4 is not titled The Golden Fire, but – as per the end note in Daughter of Blood – its working title is The Chaos Gate (TCG).

1, of course(!), is the key takeaway at this stage but the purpose of today’s post is to give you a little more idea of where I’m at with the “working awa’ ”

The last major update was December 28 (202...

On Supernatural Underground Now: Magic Systems In Fantasy #4 with Kristin Cashore — Plus That “Winterkeep” Giveaway for NZ Readers!

Following on from yesterday, my Magic Systems In Fantasy interview with Kristin Cashore is now live on Supernatural Underground.

Here is the opening salvo, just to increase your eagerness to read on.

“Helen: The Graceling Realm series involves several realms, from the Seven Kingdoms, the Dells and Pikkia, and now the Torla continent that includes Winterkeep. How important is the associated magic in making each realm distinct, but also connected? 

Kristin: It’s true that as I’ve expanded my wor...

Coming Up Later Today: An Interview With Kristin Cashore on Supernatural Underground — Plus a Giveaway of “Winterkeep” for NZ Readers!

Later today, when the calendar turns over to April 1 on US Eastern Standard Time, I’ll be posting an interview with Kristin Cashore on the Supernatural Underground (SU.)

The interview will be the fourth of the Magic Systems In Fantasy series that I’m currently posting in my first of the month blog spot. We’ll be talking the magic of Kristin’s Graceling Realm series as well as her recently published Winterkeep, which is the fourth novel in the series.

As the interview will post on the SU reasonab...

For The Wall Of Night’s UK & Commonwealth Readers: Book #4 (The Chaos Gate) Will Be Available To You!

As noted last Thursday, it has recently come to my attention that questions have arisen around the availability of The Wall Of Night Book #4 (The Chaos Gate) in the UK & Commonwealth.

To reiterate what I said then, thank you to everyone who has gotten in touch to seek clarification. If you had not done so I would still be writing on, blissfully unaware. O-o.

As is often the way, there are several wrinkles to be ironed out. So let’s take them from the top.

1. The Wall Of Night Book #4, “The Gold...

What’s Coming Up…

Well, quite a lot, is the short answer! Now for the detail.

The Wall Of Night Book #4 (The Chaos Gate) Availability in the UK & Commonwealth

It has recently come to my attention – so thank you, everyone that got in touch to clarify! – that rumors are circulating around the availability of The Chaos Gate (The Wall Of Night Book #4) in the UK and Commonwealth.

So I’ll be posting a “statement from the source” clarification next Monday, 29 March, which I hope will clear this up and provide reassura...

Gorgeous Words: John Preston and “The Dig”

A few weeks back I shared that John Preston’s The Dig had arrived on my TBR table.

In the meantime, yes, I have been reading it and yes again, it’s full of gorgeous words. The Suffolk countryside is very much a presence in the story and the related writing is always evocative.

The sequence that struck me most profoundly, though, was the concluding paragraphs of the main story (as opposed to the epilogue that follows.)

“Beyond Rendlesham, they were burning stubble. The columns of smoke were visib...

Just Arrived: “Winterkeep” by Kristin Cashore

UK cover

As recently as March 1, I believe I may have said that: “When I’m writing, I often don’t like reading in the same genre, particularly the precise subgenre of epic fantasy…”

The qualifying phrase is my out, because Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore has not only arrived on my TBR table but is clearly fantasy. I would argue, however, that it is not epic fantasy and therefore I am not departing from my writing regime — because, dear readers, I not only fully intend to read it but to do so soon....

March 15 Terror Attacks: Remembrance — Ko Tatou, Tatou, We Are One.

Hearts on trees, Linwood Avenue, for March 15

Only three weeks ago, I was reflecting on the tenth anniversary of the February 22nd, 2011, earthquake that devastated Christchurch and the adjoining Canterbury region.

Eight years and three weeks later, the terror attack on two Christchurch mosques was equally devastating, particularly for the immediate families and community of those who died or were severely injured, but also for the entire Christchurch and NZ communities.

Today, my thoughts are v...

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

USA

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...

Van Gogh Alive In Christchurch — & Some Marvelous Quotes

Over the weekend I went to see the interactive show Van Gogh Alive, which is currently here in Christchurch.

It really was amazing and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is able to get along. The show immerses the viewer in both Van Gogh’s art, as it evolved over his lifetime, and also in his life — including his words, which wowed and moved me as much as his art.

Here are three quotes that really resonated with me. The first is on the essentials of the writing life:

“To do good work one mu...