Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 49

Haanta Series Zip-It!

While Crab Asaan was at PAX, he was kind enough to bring me a souvenir: a word game called Zip-It, made by the creators of Bananagrams. I had played neither game before and was therefore most ready and happy to give Zip-It a try. The game can be played with one or two people. Each player received twelve block pieces, each of them with differing letters on the six faces. The goal of the game is to create a small crossword using all twelve blocks within a few seconds. The person who succee...

The Adventures of Crab Asaan

I never go on vacation, mostly because I have no interest and partly because I have too much to write to be bothered with all the horrors of travel. Haanta Series mascot Crab Asaan, however, is an accomplished world traveler. This past weekend, he decided to troll PAX in Boston. At first, decided to hide himself with a clever disguise, but once he realized that he could use his reputation to his advantage, he gloried in being the mighty, the petulant, the terrific Crab Asaan. Here are the hig...

Story for the Day: Rithea's Morning

We all have mornings where we don't want to move. For me, that is very morning. For Rithea, it is whenever she and High Commander Bryeison are together. 
As the sun made its gradual ascent over Frewyn's capital, the white rays of morning light flooded the bedchamber through the small window and roused Rithea from a most pleasurable slumber. The golden hints and subtle amber hues of the passing sun tinctured her sinuous skin and lighted the crevices of Bryeison's scarred and hardened flesh. A s...

Story for the Day: Tirlough's Bluff

Frewyn has many romantic legends, one of the most prominent being the history behind Tir Bryn, or Tirlough's Bluff. Tirlough was General to Brave King Breian, the king responsible for winning the First Galleisian War. Thanks to Tirlough's excellent tactics, the war was won in a week and thence Frewyn enjoyed a long period of peace. After the war, however, an injured Galleisian woman was found near Westren, Tirlough's home. His clan nursed her back to health, and just as Tirlough was about to...

Haanta Lessons: What is Dhenjhavaas?

My hair as bound by my DenjhavhariThe Haanta have many rites of passage, but none so important as taking their first major step into Ambisaraas, or adulthood. When Haanta have discovered their purpose in the world, or their Mivaala, and are honoured with their designation, it is customary for the one entering adulthood to bind his hair. Dhenjhavaas, or hair-binding, is perceived as a sacred ritual, and bound hair stands as symbol for those embarking on their life journey. The hair is continua...

Story for the Day: The House Centipede

We have many insects that look terrifying but are in truth quite harmless. House centipedes here, though rather horrid-looking, are not as horrific as they are on the islands. Alasdair relished the notion of the giant shedding tears over his precious treasure being taken from him. It should be an excellent retaliation for all his smiles and unwarranted remarks. And why should he not be fatigued and sweating in such a Gods-forsaken place? was Alasdair's mocking cogitation. The astonishing...

Story for the Day: Hallucinations

I was writing a piece in one of the later books in which Rautu has a hallucination. Twisk and I both discussed what would be his worse nightmare. Here it is: 
There, swirling along the beams of the stone ceiling, were two large floating strawberries. They seemed in want of his attention, making silent beckoning to be touched, to be admired, to be tasted. They drifted nearer, bouncing about with weightless oscillations. This cannot be real, was the giant's first cogitation, but the closer they...

Reading the Classics: Review of Robert E. Howard's "Spears of Clontarf"

Illustration by John WatkissI have never been one for Historical fiction, mostly due to my inability to read anything without much of a fantastic element involved. While history is filled with violence, romance, adventure, and intrigue, I tend to wander toward mythology as my claim to the past. Historical Fantasy, while babbling in legend and magic, is usually a genre that I don't enjoy, but after reading Spears of Clontarf, I am convinced that Robert E.Howard can reconcile me to anything.

How...

Story for the Day: Dimoni Shalla - Demon Spice

Lucentia's cuisine is considered in general to be excellent, if not a little strange at times. Ladrei loves eating out with Arkastino because he can persuade him to eat and drink anything. Rautu, though ever a friend to food, must examine something before putting it into his mouth, especially if Ladrei has recommended it. Sometimes his suspicions are justified.
Checking himself and brooking his ill sentiments, and forcing a smile which though beginning as feigned soon was become a true...

Story for the Day: The Prince and the King

Alasdair and Lamir, though alike in their rulership, are completely opposite in character. Though Alasdair technically has a higher rank than Lamir, he still feels that he has much to learn from the ancient ruler.


Alasdair engaged with Lamir, the party were inclined to leave the two sovereigns to themselves, the one austere and decisive, and the other all good-nature and concern that he should offend his host. Though the customs of Lucentia were a novelty to the Frewyn king, Lamir's stern...