Helen Lowe's Blog, page 57
May 31, 2020
My Side Of The River
Yep, it’s autumn here…
Although it’s started to get a little chillier and more autumnal over the past week, here in Christchurch NZ we’ve had some fabulously mild autumn weather over April-May: almost an “Indian autumn”—as opposed to “Indian summer” since the latter is well behind us now with today being the first day of winter. We’ve had some fabulous auutmn colour, too, with the likes of the cherry tree (of the ‘wild white’ variety, nuthin’ fancy-dancy) in my garden putting off its usual autum...
May 27, 2020
Inside the Writing Life: “Naturally Self-Isolating” :-)
Shutters closed.
Over recent months, my posts have coalesced around several themes, including “Writing In a Time of Corona Virus“, especially when NZ was in its Level 4 Lockdown. (We’re currently in Level 2, with all digits somewhat tightly pretzelled that we’ve “done enough” to stay here or go to Level 1 — now wouldn’t that be grand?)
The second theme is writing-centric (my own writing, that is) and has included reflections on writing the long form (aka novels and series) and a commitment to w...
May 24, 2020
What I’m Watching: “The Letter For The King”
Although I read widely as a young reader, The Letter For The King by Dutch author, Tonke Dragt, was not one of the books that made it into my avid hands. In fact, I only learned about it a few years back when Marion Drolsbach, who translated The Heir of Night into Dutch for Luitingh, gave me a copy of what has—since it was first published in 1962—become a Dutch childhood classic.
So having become acquainted with the book quite recently, I was keen to see the television series. I also felt that, ...
May 20, 2020
About The Characters: Meet the Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series — Meet Jharin
The Wall of Night Series map; artist Peter Fitzpatrick
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 Gather...
May 17, 2020
What I’m Reading: “Daughters of Chivalry — The Forgotten Children of Edward 1” by Kelcey Wilson-Lee
Last week, when I posted on the nine muses and the overlap to my own writing, I observed that: When it comes to The Wall of Night series, I am always aware that its epic scope and more tragic aspects are strongly informed by history.
Research is the obvious way in which history informs my writing, e.g. I research historical periods, armour, weapons and warfare; diseases and medicine; and technological and cultural norms and/or changes when they seem relevant to my fantasy world. I also read...
May 13, 2020
Inside The Writing Life: About Those Muses Then
So-o, aways back on April 20 when I posted on Writing The Long Form and WALL #4 Progress, I also mentioned the Muses.
More precisely, I referred to the Muses plural, rather than my muse singular, and added the following note:
*Muses: re why plural and not singular, tis because traditionally the Muses are a sisterhood of nine:
Clio of history
Euterpe of lyric poetry
Thalia of comedy
Melpomene of tragedy
Terpsichore of choral dance and song
Erato of erotic poetry and mime
Polymnia of the...
May 10, 2020
An Interview With AJ Fitzwater, Author of “The Voyages Of Cinrak The Dapper”
AJ Fitzwater
I first got to know AJ Fitzwater when we both had stories appear in Tales for Canterbury (Random Static), away back in 2011. I really enjoyed AJs story My Dad, The Tuatara and subsequently got to know them in person through the (then) newly formed SpecFicNZ.
Since then AJ has clocked up an impressive track record of short fiction publications, so I was unsurprised, but very pleased, to learn that a collection of linked short stories, The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper...
May 6, 2020
About The Characters: Meet the Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series — Meet Jarna
The About The Characters post series focuses on the minor characters in The Wall Of Night series, in large part because:
I think its the presence of the smaller characters that makes a story, creating texture around the main points of view.
Initially, the series focused exclusively on characters from The Heir of Night, but now Im continuing on with minor characters from both The Gathering Of The Lost and Daughter of Blood in alphabetical...
May 3, 2020
On Supernatural Underground: Worldbuilding In Fantasy #4 — “Palimpsest” by Catherynne M Valente (Plus A SU Giveaway)
This year on Supernatural Underground Im celebrating the wondrous and wonderful worldbuilding of Fantasy literature with a closer look at some of my favourite worlds.
On 1 May, I featured Palimpsest by Catherynne M Valentethe world and the book share the same name. I had forgotten quite how much I loved the world, and also the novel, until I reread Palimpsest ahead of doing the post.
Anyway, to find out why I love it so much, please do go and have a read I dont think youll be disappointed...
April 30, 2020
Inside The Writing Life: A Little About The Writing Itself
Inside the Writing Life
On April 20, I posted a few Reflections On Writing the Long Form & WALL#4 Progress, as part of which I talked about posting a little more from inside the writing life.
I was reflecting further on how to kick off this topic when The Wall Of Night readers took the matter out of my hands with a few comments on the blog post, and a few more on Twitter. All of which, just by the way, confirmed my view expressed in the post: that WALL readers (and Im quite sure Thornspell...
