Helen Lowe's Blog, page 87
August 13, 2017
Why I Write, Reprised
I’ve already touched on this topic twice this year, most recently (on to honor the 200th anniversary of my US publisher, HarperCollins, via #hc200):
That piece referenced another post from earlier this year, on March 6:
Clearly, you may say, the topic is much on my mind!
However, I’m reprising it today because recently a reader, Chris, wrote to me via my website, as follows:
“I love your books and don’t want you to stop writing. But after reading about what a slog it can...
August 9, 2017
A Geography of Haarth: Dread Pass
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth post series explores the full range of locales and places from The Wall Of Night world of Haarth.
From January 25, 2013 to November 25, 2014, the posts traversed locations encountered in The Heir Of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost.
Now the series returns to gazette the geography of Daughter Of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three.) The new series comprises updates of previous entries as well as new listing...
August 6, 2017
What I’m Reading: “The Haunting” by Margaret Mahy
Margaret Mahy is one of the few authors who has won the Carnegie Medal twice. One of the winning titles was The Changeover, which I read and discussed recently on both the Supernatural Underground:
Book of Magic: “The Changeover” by Margaret Mahy
and here (on m’own blog):
More Thoughts On Margaret Mahy’s “The Changeover” — A Tale of “Layers”
The other (and first, chronologically) winning title was The Haunting, published in 1982. Like The Changeover, it has been re-released this year by Hache...
August 2, 2017
About The Characters: Meet The Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series — Amarn
USA
This year, I’ve resumed my “About the Characters” post series that focuses on the 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.”
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 simultaneously — in alphabetical order, of c...
July 30, 2017
Rereading Rosemary Sutcliff: A Shoutout for “Frontier Wolf”
1984 cover
I grew up reading and rereading Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical novels, “probably” the most famous of which are two of her Roman-Britain novels, The Eagle of the Ninth, which I believe has been dramatised twice, and The Lantern Bearers, which won the Carnegie Medal in 1959.
Sometimes, the books you’ve loved as a junior or young adult reader don’t withstand a more adult scrutiny, but I’ve found Rosemary Sutcliff’s do stand the test of time. I believe this is because her historical re...
July 26, 2017
A Geography of Haarth: Court of the Rose
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth post series explores the full range of locales and places from The Wall Of Night world of Haarth.
From January 25, 2013 to November 25, 2014, the posts traversed locations encountered in The Heir Of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost.
Now the series returns to gazette the geography of Daughter Of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three.) The new series comprises updates of previous entries as well as new listing...
July 23, 2017
Late to the Show, But — Saw “Moana”, Loved It!
As the title suggests, it’s taken me a while to finally check out Moana, despite positive recommendations from several friends. I guess I’m just a late adaptor—but, now I have seen it and I loved it.
I particularly liked the graphic visualization of the story, which was both realistic and beautiful, and the overall characterization. I also like that it was a Pasifika story throughout and one that seemed to by and large respect the Maui myth material. Perhaps the trickster aspect of Maui coul...
July 19, 2017
About The Characters: Meet The Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series — Aiv
UK/AU/NZ
This year, I’ve resumed my “About the Characters” post series that focuses on the 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.”
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 simultaneously — in alphabetical order,...
July 16, 2017
Just Arrived: “The Haunting” by Margaret Mahy
Recently, I read and posted about my reading of Margaret Mahy’s The Changeover via two posts:
Now I have a copy of the author’s latest re-release, The Haunting, to read and I hope enjoy as much.
The Haunting is also a Carnegie Award-winning book, although I believe it is aimed at a slightly younger age group: Junior...
July 12, 2017
A Geography of Haarth: Cloud Hold (Updated)
The Wall of Night Series map; design by Peter Fitzpatrick
The A Geography of Haarth post series explores the full range of locales and places from The Wall Of Night world of Haarth.
From January 25, 2013 to November 25, 2014, the posts traversed locations encountered in The Heir Of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost.
Now the series returns to gazette the geography of Daughter Of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three.) The new series comprises updates of previous entries as well as new listing...
