Karen Azinger's Blog: The Silk & Steel Saga, page 5
February 22, 2014
Books and Movies that inspired The Silk & Steel Saga
I became a writer because I love to read. I discovered the library in fourth grade and was instantly smitten by the magic and wonder of books. Reading has been a lifelong passion, a magic carpet whisking me away on many adventures. I long to don burnished armor and fight for justice, to search for treasure in a faraway land, to explore secret passages of a ruined castle, to find love on a windswept mountain. Reading has given me so much pleasure that I wanted to pay it back by contributing my own verse, The Silk & Steel Saga.
I believe "you are what you read." So I thought I'd share with you some of the books and movies that inspired me to write my own epic fantasy saga. Perhaps you'll recognize echoes of these works in my writing...but only echoes, since I put my own twist on everything.
First and foremost is George Martin's Game of Thrones. Reading this epic medieval fantasy is what caused me to put pen to paper (actually fingers to keyboard) and start writing The Silk & Steel Saga. After reading Game of Thrones I wanted more but could not find it on the bookstore shelves, so I decided to write my own saga. I love George's style of writing, where each chapter is deep in the point-of-view of an individual character, so I used that same style for my saga. This style lets both the reader and the writer get deep into each character, so you truly understand their needs, their wants, their secret desires. This depth of character makes everything seem more real. Deep characterization is what draws the reader into the rabbit hole.
The second work that inspired me is JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. LOTR is the saga that made me fall head-over-heels in love with epic fantasy. I longed to live in a land of elves, wizards and enchanted forests. For me, LOTR is the masterwork of fantasy world building. Middle Earth is a world you long to explore, from the mines of Moria, to the halls of Rivendale, to the towering Argonath, it lives and breathes in our imaginations. Inspired by LOTR, I strive to add magic and enchantment to the kingdoms of Erdhe, from the illuminated manuscripts covering the walls of the Kiralynn Monastery, to the towering forests of the Deep Green, to the shimmering battlements of Castlegard, and the fearsome magic of the Gargoyle Gates. I hope you will agree that Erdhe is a land brimming with wonder, a feast for the imagination.
The third work that inspired me is Frank Herbert's Dune. To me, Frank Herbert is the master of incorporating themes like environmental science, religion and politics into the weave of his story, turning Dune into a classic. Theme is the underlying message. Theme is what elevates a good book to a great read. Themes resonate with the reader, drawing us back to read the same book over and over again. Inspired by Dune, The Silk & Steel Saga has many themes woven through it. One of the main themes is to explore the mechanisms of evil. Evil is not just a horde of ugly orcs brandishing swords. In my saga, those who walk on the Dark side are beautiful, smart, and manipulative…which makes them scary as hell. The avatars of good must recognize evil and foil their mechanisms in order for good to have a chance to prevail.
Another book that caught my imagination as a young reader was Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is a plot twist in Dracula that I think is positively brilliant and you'll find echoes of it in The Silk & Steel Saga. There is one character in particular whose story arc is inspired by the original Dracula...but I'm going to let my readers figure this one out for themselves.
One of the movies that inspires my writing is Braveheart. The underlying theme of Braveheart is 'it's our wits that make us men'. I love how all the battles in Braveheart are about strategy, advantage, and alliances, not just sword and brawn (although there is plenty of that too). Inspired by Braveheart, The Silk & Steel Saga is brimming with medieval battles, swords and spears and shields, but all of the battles have some twist dealing with strategy, advantage and alliances. In my saga, victory is often achieved more by wits than by swords.
And last but not least, another movie that inspired my writing is the Highlander (especially since it stars Sean Connery...be still my beating heart). In the Highlander, the immortals are battling for 'the prize.' In The Silk & Steel Saga, the dedicates of the Dark Lord are battling for more lifetimes, but each lifetime must be earned. What would you do for another lifetime, another youth, another hundred years?
I hope you'll read The Silk & Steel Saga and let me know what echoes you find in my writing! Enjoy!
I believe "you are what you read." So I thought I'd share with you some of the books and movies that inspired me to write my own epic fantasy saga. Perhaps you'll recognize echoes of these works in my writing...but only echoes, since I put my own twist on everything.
First and foremost is George Martin's Game of Thrones. Reading this epic medieval fantasy is what caused me to put pen to paper (actually fingers to keyboard) and start writing The Silk & Steel Saga. After reading Game of Thrones I wanted more but could not find it on the bookstore shelves, so I decided to write my own saga. I love George's style of writing, where each chapter is deep in the point-of-view of an individual character, so I used that same style for my saga. This style lets both the reader and the writer get deep into each character, so you truly understand their needs, their wants, their secret desires. This depth of character makes everything seem more real. Deep characterization is what draws the reader into the rabbit hole.
The second work that inspired me is JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. LOTR is the saga that made me fall head-over-heels in love with epic fantasy. I longed to live in a land of elves, wizards and enchanted forests. For me, LOTR is the masterwork of fantasy world building. Middle Earth is a world you long to explore, from the mines of Moria, to the halls of Rivendale, to the towering Argonath, it lives and breathes in our imaginations. Inspired by LOTR, I strive to add magic and enchantment to the kingdoms of Erdhe, from the illuminated manuscripts covering the walls of the Kiralynn Monastery, to the towering forests of the Deep Green, to the shimmering battlements of Castlegard, and the fearsome magic of the Gargoyle Gates. I hope you will agree that Erdhe is a land brimming with wonder, a feast for the imagination.
The third work that inspired me is Frank Herbert's Dune. To me, Frank Herbert is the master of incorporating themes like environmental science, religion and politics into the weave of his story, turning Dune into a classic. Theme is the underlying message. Theme is what elevates a good book to a great read. Themes resonate with the reader, drawing us back to read the same book over and over again. Inspired by Dune, The Silk & Steel Saga has many themes woven through it. One of the main themes is to explore the mechanisms of evil. Evil is not just a horde of ugly orcs brandishing swords. In my saga, those who walk on the Dark side are beautiful, smart, and manipulative…which makes them scary as hell. The avatars of good must recognize evil and foil their mechanisms in order for good to have a chance to prevail.
Another book that caught my imagination as a young reader was Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is a plot twist in Dracula that I think is positively brilliant and you'll find echoes of it in The Silk & Steel Saga. There is one character in particular whose story arc is inspired by the original Dracula...but I'm going to let my readers figure this one out for themselves.
One of the movies that inspires my writing is Braveheart. The underlying theme of Braveheart is 'it's our wits that make us men'. I love how all the battles in Braveheart are about strategy, advantage, and alliances, not just sword and brawn (although there is plenty of that too). Inspired by Braveheart, The Silk & Steel Saga is brimming with medieval battles, swords and spears and shields, but all of the battles have some twist dealing with strategy, advantage and alliances. In my saga, victory is often achieved more by wits than by swords.
And last but not least, another movie that inspired my writing is the Highlander (especially since it stars Sean Connery...be still my beating heart). In the Highlander, the immortals are battling for 'the prize.' In The Silk & Steel Saga, the dedicates of the Dark Lord are battling for more lifetimes, but each lifetime must be earned. What would you do for another lifetime, another youth, another hundred years?
I hope you'll read The Silk & Steel Saga and let me know what echoes you find in my writing! Enjoy!
January 4, 2014
Minor Characters: A lesson from George Martin's Game of Thrones
Minor Characters, a lesson from George Martin’s Game of Thrones
As writers we stand on the shoulders of every book we’ve ever read, learning the good, the bad and the ugly way to tell stories. When I started writing my epic fantasy, The Silk & Steel Saga, I looked to my favorite authors for lessons in writing. Here’s another lesson I learned from George Martin’s Game of Thrones.
A really good author can make a minor character memorable in just a few chapters.
If you look up the definition of a minor character in literature, you’ll find something like this: “Minor characters support the main character in a story. They play a lesser role. They do not grow or change. They are also known as two-dimensional characters or flat characters.” In other words, they’re boring. They play a minor role and then quickly disappear from the book’s pages as well as the reader’s memory. But does it have to be this way? Wouldn’t a book be so much richer if the minor characters also made an impact on the hearts and minds of the readers?
In Game of Thrones, as well as in my own Silk & Steel Saga, there are legions of characters. Most of these characters are little more than names, knights that died in battle, ladies in waiting, pages and squires that serve, but a few of these ‘minor’ characters sometimes take on rich and surprising roles. A great example of this in Game of Thrones is Syrio Forel, a water dancer from Braavos who Ned Stark hires to teach is daughter Arya the art of fencing. Syrio only appears in a few chapters yet he is a unique and interesting character. Syrio has his own distinctive voice, imparting wisdom as well as sword play to Arya. When the queen’s guards come to capture Arya, Syrio does something surprising, something indelibly heroic. With nothing more than a wooden practice sword, Syrio holds off the guards buying Arya the chance to escape. Since wood is no match for steel, it is implied in the book that Syrio died, but his heroism and unexpected daring leaves readers praying that he survived. Whether Syrio still lives somewhere in Martin’s saga remains a mystery, but he certainly lives in the minds and hearts of Martin’s readers, a great example of a minor character leaving an indelible mark on the story.
But how did Martin do it? In just a few short chapters, he created a unique and interesting character and then he let that character make a choice, a choice that made a difference to a main character and to the overall arc of the story. Syrio Forel is a minor character in terms of the number of chapters in which he appears, but he is not a flat, cardboard character who does not change. Because the author gave him a choice, Syrio Forel matters. Syrio is an example of why Game of Thrones is such a rich read.
So while you are writing your sweeping, epic fantasy with a cast of thousands, challenge yourself to write a few minor characters that remain small in terms of the numbers of chapters ascribed to them, yet are large in terms of the impact on the hearts and minds of the readers. Your story will be so much richer for it. If you are looking for more examples of these types of ‘minor’ characters, consider reading The Silk & Steel Saga.
As writers we stand on the shoulders of every book we’ve ever read, learning the good, the bad and the ugly way to tell stories. When I started writing my epic fantasy, The Silk & Steel Saga, I looked to my favorite authors for lessons in writing. Here’s another lesson I learned from George Martin’s Game of Thrones.
A really good author can make a minor character memorable in just a few chapters.
If you look up the definition of a minor character in literature, you’ll find something like this: “Minor characters support the main character in a story. They play a lesser role. They do not grow or change. They are also known as two-dimensional characters or flat characters.” In other words, they’re boring. They play a minor role and then quickly disappear from the book’s pages as well as the reader’s memory. But does it have to be this way? Wouldn’t a book be so much richer if the minor characters also made an impact on the hearts and minds of the readers?
In Game of Thrones, as well as in my own Silk & Steel Saga, there are legions of characters. Most of these characters are little more than names, knights that died in battle, ladies in waiting, pages and squires that serve, but a few of these ‘minor’ characters sometimes take on rich and surprising roles. A great example of this in Game of Thrones is Syrio Forel, a water dancer from Braavos who Ned Stark hires to teach is daughter Arya the art of fencing. Syrio only appears in a few chapters yet he is a unique and interesting character. Syrio has his own distinctive voice, imparting wisdom as well as sword play to Arya. When the queen’s guards come to capture Arya, Syrio does something surprising, something indelibly heroic. With nothing more than a wooden practice sword, Syrio holds off the guards buying Arya the chance to escape. Since wood is no match for steel, it is implied in the book that Syrio died, but his heroism and unexpected daring leaves readers praying that he survived. Whether Syrio still lives somewhere in Martin’s saga remains a mystery, but he certainly lives in the minds and hearts of Martin’s readers, a great example of a minor character leaving an indelible mark on the story.
But how did Martin do it? In just a few short chapters, he created a unique and interesting character and then he let that character make a choice, a choice that made a difference to a main character and to the overall arc of the story. Syrio Forel is a minor character in terms of the number of chapters in which he appears, but he is not a flat, cardboard character who does not change. Because the author gave him a choice, Syrio Forel matters. Syrio is an example of why Game of Thrones is such a rich read.
So while you are writing your sweeping, epic fantasy with a cast of thousands, challenge yourself to write a few minor characters that remain small in terms of the numbers of chapters ascribed to them, yet are large in terms of the impact on the hearts and minds of the readers. Your story will be so much richer for it. If you are looking for more examples of these types of ‘minor’ characters, consider reading The Silk & Steel Saga.
December 10, 2013
Erdhe Days of Christmas!
For fantasy lovers out there, my version of the Erdhe Days of Christmas!
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
12 Knights a clashing
11 Dark priests chanting
10 Sea Lords rowing
9 Counselors scheming
8 Monks a scribing
7 Runes foreseeing
6 Secrets hiding
5 Magical books!
4 Ravens cawing
3 Swords a sharpening
2 Poison feasts
And a Princess wielding a very sharp sword!
For Honor and the Octagon!!! Enjoy the season!
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
12 Knights a clashing
11 Dark priests chanting
10 Sea Lords rowing
9 Counselors scheming
8 Monks a scribing
7 Runes foreseeing
6 Secrets hiding
5 Magical books!
4 Ravens cawing
3 Swords a sharpening
2 Poison feasts
And a Princess wielding a very sharp sword!
For Honor and the Octagon!!! Enjoy the season!
November 22, 2013
Knight Marshal Giveaway!
Sign up to win an autographed copy of The Knight Marshal on Goodreads Giveaway! This Giveaway applies to the US, Canada, Australia, and several countries in Europe! Best of luck to you!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
November 2, 2013
The Knight Marshal Update
I've just approved the cover artwork for The Knight Marshal, the fifth book of The Silk & Steel Saga!!! The e-book of The Knight Marshal will be published on Amazon and Barnes&Noble on Thur Nov 7th with the trade paperback to follow in another week. As a lead up to the release, I'll be having a sale on The Steel Queen, the first book of the saga on Amazon Kindle Select (Nov 3 to Nov 7). This is a great time to start reading this epic medieval adventure, a tale of knights and swords, castles and monasteries, sorcery and seduction. Please pass the word and tell your friends! I hope you enjoy this fifth book of The Silk & Steel Saga! For Honor and the Octagon!
September 26, 2013
You-tube Interview with Karen Azinger
I just wanted to share this You-tube interview where I talk about The Silk & Steel Saga and the inspiration I took from George Martin's Game of Thrones. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIExvr...
September 23, 2013
The Knight Marshal
The Knight Marshal, the fifth book of The Silk & Steel Saga, is on schedule to be published by the end of October 2013! Here's an advance look at the back of the book blurb for The Knight Marshal.
"The Octagon Knights have fallen. The king is dead. The knight marshal leads a ragged band of survivors, waging a desperate winter war against the Mordant’s hordes. Sorely beleaguered, the knights fight with valor, but this battle is much more than a contest of swords…it is a battle of souls.
In the far north, Kath’s great victory becomes a dire trap as winter closes its deadly fist. In the south, still reeling from the Flame War, Queen Liandra struggles to rally her kingdom, unaware that Darkness converges on her city like a strangling noose.
Plots thicken as old alliances reform and new temptations arise. The players are being positioned for the Battle Immortal, an epic struggle of Light and Dark where all of Erdhe hangs in the balance."
"The Octagon Knights have fallen. The king is dead. The knight marshal leads a ragged band of survivors, waging a desperate winter war against the Mordant’s hordes. Sorely beleaguered, the knights fight with valor, but this battle is much more than a contest of swords…it is a battle of souls.
In the far north, Kath’s great victory becomes a dire trap as winter closes its deadly fist. In the south, still reeling from the Flame War, Queen Liandra struggles to rally her kingdom, unaware that Darkness converges on her city like a strangling noose.
Plots thicken as old alliances reform and new temptations arise. The players are being positioned for the Battle Immortal, an epic struggle of Light and Dark where all of Erdhe hangs in the balance."
August 29, 2013
Steel Queen SALE!!!
End of summer sale of The Steel Queen on Amazon for $2.99. This sale extends to Amazon UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, India and Japan!!! Enjoy! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
August 22, 2013
Art Cards of Erdhe
Ever since I first held a crayon, art has always been a beloved hobby. I’ve dabbled in many art mediums, from drawing, to acrylic painting, to ceramics, to rubber stamping, to fused glass. Art has always been pure pleasure, distinct from my work until now. Having taken up the epic task of writing a fantasy saga, I got the idea to combine my love or writing with my love of art. I’m just an amateur artist, but I thought it would be fun to give my readers a chance to see the author’s artistic interpretation of the characters and settings of The Silk & Steel Saga. Inspired by Artist Trading Cards (ATC), I set out to stamp a deck of cards to express the spirit and theme of my books. I had so much fun with this project that I ended up stamping more than ninety cards. Some cards depict settings like Pellanor, Castlegard, Hammer Glacier, Castle Seamount, and the Kiralynn Monastery. Other cards depict characters like Queen Liandra, Kath, the Priestess, and the rangers of the Deep Green. Some of my Art Cards of Erdhe have been published in a national magazine (Rubberstampmadness). If you are interested in seeing some of my cards, you can find many of them on my website for The Silk & Steel Saga while others are posted on my Facebook page for The Steel Queen. I hope you will stop by and check out my Art Cards of Erdhe!
http://www.karenlazinger.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-St...
http://www.karenlazinger.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-St...
July 31, 2013
Announcement about The Silk & Steel Saga!
Sound the trumpets! Send forth the heralds! The Silk & Steel Saga will be six books not five! The fifth book, The Knight Marshal, will be published sometime in October 2013, and the sixth and final book, The Battle Immortal, will be published in May/June 2014! I've been working really hard to finish the saga but there is just too much for one book and I don't want to leave anything out, so I decided to break it into two. This way you won't have to wait so long for the next book. Look for The Knight Marshal in October!!!!!
The Silk & Steel Saga
Hello! I'm the author of The Silk & Steel Saga, an epic medieval fantasy full of plots, battles, romance, and schemes that will never let you underestimate the ‘weaker’ sex again. Writing fantasy has
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