Helen Lowe's Blog, page 91
April 2, 2017
Lessons Learned From The Process of Writing and Plotting A Series
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This is really a follow up to last week’s question on the hardest part of writing a quartet, although the questions were asked by different interviewers in distinct interviews, both at the time Daughter of Blood was published.
Today’s question came from Civilian Reader, who asked (in full): Three books in, what lessons have you learned from the process of writing and plotting the series? Is there anything you wish you could have done differently?
To which I replied:
“I think the...
March 31, 2017
Inside Middle Earth: Braided River
The Hakatere aka Ashburton River
Just for a change of scene (literally 
March 30, 2017
Last Chance To Vote! Will the Lady Mouse’s Tale Win Through?
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Yes, today is the very last day of voting for the shortlist for the Gemmell Legend Award — 31 March, UK time.
As you know, Daughter of Blood has been nominated for the Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novel of 2016 — but will it make the shortlist?
Or will the Lady Mouse be overlooked in favor of bolder heroes and heroines?
DAUGHTER readers will know that Myr the Mouse is retiring and self-effacing. However, if you as readers feel that her tale deserves the accolade of the Legend Award...
March 29, 2017
About The Characters: Meet The Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series — Terithis
USA
Recently I’ve resumed my “About the Characters” posts that focus 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.”
The feature is posting every second Thursday, alternating with A Geography of Haarth.
Today’s character is Terithis from The Heir of Night.
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Terithis: an initiate priestess, serving in the Temple of Night
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What indeed, thought Mal...
March 28, 2017
On Supernatural Underground Now: Meet “Daughter Of Blood” Characters
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I have a new post on the Supernatural Underground right now, featuring some of the major characters from Daughter Of Blood.
All part of doing a little something extra to mark Daughter getting the Gemmell Award longlisting nod. 
March 26, 2017
What Is the Hardest Part About Writing A Quartet?
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I was asked the question in the title when interviewed by Romantic Times when Daughter of Blood was published last year. Here’s what I told them:
“Someone famous (I don’t know who) is supposed to have said that there are two main ways of writing. The first is to “sit on the porch and rock” until you get the story complete in your head and then just write it. The second is to “write and throw away”, repeating as required until you get the story done.
With the Wall of Night series...
March 22, 2017
A Geography Of Haarth: Aralorn (Updated)
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 will include updates of previous entries as well as new listings. Today’s entry is an update.
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Aralorn:...
March 19, 2017
Introducing “The Wall of Night” Series To Potential Readers
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Book blogger, Stefan Fergus, aka Civilian Reader, asked me this question when Daughter of Blood was published last year: “How would you introduce the series to a potential reader?”
Here’s what I came up with:
“The Twitter-length synopsis for the series is that it’s a story about a people who believe themselves to be champions of good but are divided by prejudice, suspicion, and fear. (Not to mention xenophobic, socially rigid, and prone to fratricidal blood feuds.) They are also...
March 15, 2017
About The Characters: Meet The Minor Players in “The Wall Of Night” Series — Ter
Recently I’ve resumed my “About the Characters” posts that focus 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.”
The feature is posting every second Thursday, alternating with A Geography of Haarth.
Note: In terms of being “minor” the characters must at least have a walk-on part and a few lines to say, but “minor” can also simply mean “not a lead protagoni...
March 12, 2017
About The Gemmell Awards — A Little More Info
UK/AU/NZ
A few weeks back I posted the exciting news that Daughter of Blood (The Wall Of Night Book Three) has been longlisted for the Gemmell “Legend” Award for Best Fantasy Novel 2016 — and public voting is now open to decide which five books will make the shortlist, right here:
www.gemmelawards.com/award-voting-2017/If you don’t know much about the Gemmell Awards, here’s a little more information:
About the Gemmell Awards:The Awards were established to honor epic fantasy author David Gem...
