B. Throwsnaill's Blog, page 6
April 29, 2012
Action Brings Good Fortune
Photo by cybaea . licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.Today is one of those days where writing feels like a labor instead of a liberating trip into the exalted sky of the mind. You may be wondering why I am bothering to write then? A fair question. I'm writing because I am hoping that by doing so I may again discover that spark that will lead to inspiration. There is a passage in the I-Ching that was quoted by Syd Barrett in a Pink Floyd song...
April 21, 2012
Go Big or Go Home
I've started working on Hemlock Book III. So far it's been equal parts intimidating and reassuring. On one hand, I know what to expect in terms of process. I'll be reusing the process I used with Book II. And this time I'm closer to the end of the story arc that I have planned for the series, so there is less uncertainty about plot and structure. But Book III is probably going to be the final volume in the series... My magnum opus, if you will. That aspirat...
April 1, 2012
Knight Vision
Photo by Diveofficer . licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.I've continued to indulge my Bigfoot fetish over the past few weeks. I watch a television show called "Finding Bigfoot", and I always enjoy it. Despite being skeptical that Bigfoot are real, I enjoy the possibility that they could be real; and watching these people who seem to genuinely believe they're real makes it easier for me to suspend disbelief. Plus, I enjoy the vicarious experience of the wilderness ex...
March 26, 2012
Hemlock and the Dead God's Legacy Released!
The sequel to Hemlock and the Wizard Tower has been released! Amazon Link. It is priced at $0.99 for one week in appreciation of those who have been waiting for it and giving me encouragement during the process of developing it. It will rise to $2.99 around 4/1/12. I can sure use some reviews and/or "Likes" if anyone is so inclined!Hemlock and the Dead God's Legacy
Hemlock realizes that the life of a leader is more complex and tiresome than she anticipated. Feeling burdened by her many resp...
March 13, 2012
Towers
I'm writing this blog post from inside the Wizard Tower. It's an imaginary place, of course--a place where I might see a wizard stroll by; or hear the call of an exotic animal echoing through the halls, as it is the subject of some bizarre, magical experiment.So, as I sit here imagining myself in a tower, how do I feel? Empowered? Protected? Isolated? I look out over the teeming City and the sense of height is palpable. Here the concept of governance leaves the realm of the abstract as I...
February 28, 2012
Free Falling (or Falling in Love with Free)
Photo by Kheel Center, Cornell University. licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.I did my first Amazon.com free book promotion over the weekend through their KDP Select program. I have to say as a sort of weak disclaimer that I dislike the monopolistic flavor of the Select program, but I felt I had to try it. It seems to me that free is the new $0.99 in the world of indie publishing (I'm glad there isn't a way for indie authors to pay readers to read their books, because...
February 24, 2012
Hemlock and the Wizard Tower free this weekend!
Just a quick update this week to announce that Hemlock and the Wizard Tower is going to be free on Amazon (click here) tomorrow (Saturday 2/25) and Sunday (2/26). Please grab a free copy if you are so inclined!
February 18, 2012
Cover of Hemlock and the Dead God's Legacy!
Here is the work in progress cover art for Hemlock and the Dead God's Legacy! I'm super excited to unveil it! We're still reviewing it, but it's very,very close. I'm still working through the revisions of the ending of the new novel. All I can say is: "God bless President's Day!" In a stroke of good fortune I've been granted a precious day off on Monday that I'll be able to use to write uninterrupted! What timing!
So I'm rushing around like a busy little wizard adding new ending scenes, ...
February 10, 2012
Bigfoot Blues
Photo by Wayne Parrack. licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.
Whenever I am trying to take a nap I like to put on the TV and tune into a show about history or the paranormal. History is good to sleep to because it already happened. It's not like you're going to miss something if you sleep through it. Plus the monotone narration is also soothing to the ear.
When I'm drowsy I also like to tune in to these Bigfoot hunter shows. For one, like history shows, I am certain noth...
January 25, 2012
Asceticism in Fantasy
Photo by shioshvili. licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.Thanks to Ilil Arbel's fascinating blog post on the Essenes, an ancient ascetic order, for inspiring this post.
Asceticism is a pillar upon which many of the real world's religions are based. The core concept is that the ascetic is able to be closer to God by depriving themselves of earthly (sensual) pleasures. In a certain sense fantasy has embraced this concept with the archetype of the reclusive wizard and the f...
