Helen Lowe's Blog, page 94

Homegrown: 5 Fun Ways NZ Features In “The Wall of Night” Series

People here (in Nu Zild) not infrequently comment on the fact that The Wall of Night books are epic fantasy and set in an alternative world, as well as being published overseas to boot, so in that sense are not really New Zealand stories. To which I reply (in classic Kiwi style): “Now hold on a minute, mate. These are books written in New Zealand, by a New Zealand born and bred author – you can’t get much more “homegrown” than that!”

I would also argue that there is plenty of New Zealand in...

Homegrown: 5 Fun Ways NZ Features In “The Wall of Night” Series

People here (in Nu Zild) not infrequently comment on the fact that The Wall of Night books are epic fantasy and set in an alternative world, as well as being published overseas to boot, so in that sense are not really New Zealand stories. To which I reply (in classic Kiwi style): âNow hold on a minute, mate. These are books written in New Zealand, by a New Zealand born and bred author â you canât get much more âhomegrownâ than that!â

I would also argue that there is plenty of New Zealand in...

It’s Summer time…

… & here are some photos from one of my favourite gardens, The Giant’s House in Akaroa. Enjoy!

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Happy New Year, Here & On the Supernatural Underground — & Some Good News for “Daughter of Blood”

Happy New Year, my friends.

I have a January 1 post up on the Supernatural Underground, in which I marry the real life and epic fantasy traditions of “road trip” — with photos, no less. A spot o’ fun for the first day of the year, which you can check out via the following link:

Happy New Year, Supernatural Undergrounders

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And a nice bit of news that came through on the tail end of the old year was that Daughter of Blood made Fantasy Literature.com’s Best Books of 2016 list — very exciting an...

The Most-Read “…on Anything, Really” Posts of 2016

It’s the time of year for lists and I can think of no better day to share the Top 10 posts that featured here “…on Anything, Really” this year.

To mix things up a bit year I’m listing them chronologically, so I hope you have fun with that.

An Avid Viewer Special: Rebecca Fisher’s Five Most-Anticipated Films of 2017

Regular visitors here will know Rebecca from her regular Big Worlds On Small Screens column and shared my pleasure that she returned from her sabbatical (focusing on her studies) to share her Top 5 shows of 2016.

You can read that post on:

Rebecca Fisher’s Top 5 Shows of 2016

Today Rebecca’s back to share the 5 films she is really looking forward to watching in 2017.

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Rebecca Fisher’s Five Most-Anticipated Films of 2017 Moana

Coming of Age / Fantasy-Adventure

Okay, I’m cheating a little cons...

An Avid Reader Special: Karen McMillan’s Most-Anticipated Books of 2017

Yesterday, Paul Weimer let us in on his 5 “most-anticipated” books of 2017. Today, Karen McMillan is here to share what she is looking forward to, reading-wise, in the coming year.

If you missed it earlier in the month, Karen’s Top 5 fiction reads for 2016 are featured here:

Karen McMillanâs Top 5 Reads Of 2016

As with Paul’s post yesterday, relevant covers or cover images may not be available yet, in which case I shall either deploy one from an earlier book in a series, or use none.

Now, onw...

An Avid Reader Special: Paul Weimer’s Five Most-Anticipated Books of 2017

Earlier in the month, Paul Weimer, Karen McMillan, and Rebecca Fisher shared their Top 5 books and/or shows of the year with us. Over the next three days, they’ll be sharing their most eagerly anticipated books or (in Rebecca’s case) shows coming up in 2017.

Relevant covers or cover images may not be available yet, in which case I shall either deploy one from an earlier book (or show) in a series, or use none.

So here, without further ado, is reader, reviewer, podcaster, gamer, and photograph...

An Avid Reader Special: Paul Weimer’s Five Most-Anticipated Books of 2017

Earlier in the month, Paul Weimer, Karen McMillan, and Rebecca Fisher shared their Top 5 books and/or shows of the year with us. Over the next three days, they’ll be sharing their most eagerly anticipated books or (in Rebecca’s case) shows coming up in 2017.

Relevant covers or cover images may not be available yet, in which case I shall either deploy one from an earlier book (or show) in a series, or use none.

So here, without further ado, is reader, reviewer, podcaster, gamer, and photograph...

Tuesday Poetry: “The Curve of the World”

The Curve of the World

Summer breathes
through marram grass, salt-tough
where the southerly whips in
off the Pacific, light &
shadow all the way out
to the distant smudge
of albatross feedingâat night
you see lights dance,
squid boats fishing
the same spot.
The larger ships, too,
follow the albatross road,
tall towers disappearing
beneath the curve
of the world â

The wind sweeps in, recounts
tales of ships, albatross,
men with eyes bleached
to seams â tells
it all to the salt grass
and drift...