Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 50

Story for the Day: Connlaith Arrtacht

I have a document which contains every nation's history, leaders, customs, government, and holidays across the Two Continents. This is an incredibly large document and serves as my groundwork for many chapters throughout the books. Characters often discuss the history of their given nations with one another, venerate holidays, and even enjoy reenactments of their nation's legends and myths. Today is Connlaith Arrtacht, the day that Frewyn won the First Galleisian War with the help of a woman...

Reading the Classics: Review of Robert E. Howard's "Conan the Barbarian"

In 1932, pulp fiction author Robert E. Howard had a short story published in Weird Tales magazine featuring a raven-haired, blue-eyed giant barbarian named Conan the Cimmerian. At this point, Howard had been writing for many years and had been trying to break out of the then popular world of pulp magazines and into the world of genre fiction. Though he tried to achieve success with other tales, such as Kull and the Frost-Giant's Daughter, his professional triumph came by way of The...

Story for the Day: Tales of Intrigues

I love choose-your-own-adventure books. Frewyn's most popular fiction series is a choose-your-own-adventure series called Tales of Intrigues. There are at least fifty in the series, all of them written by a few authors in Westren. Once the war is over and the press resumes business, the latest novel is printed and distributed across the kingdom, much to Alasdair's happiness. He has read every volume in the series, and when the latest book finds its way into his hands, he absolutely can do...

For the Love of Giants

My first crush. Yes, I'm serious.I have always been in love with giants. This is probably due to my being a small woman, and as a small woman am therefore fascinated with everything that towers over me. Even when I was young, however, and was the same size as every other seven-year-old, I was always mesmerized with the notion of there being enormous creatures (I consider seven feet enormous) in the world merely awaiting discovery, and though reading Mother Goose and Grim tales reinforced this...

Story for the Day: Alasdair's Pleasures

Alasdair loves patrolling in his First Captain's uniform. True, many people do recognize him as Frewyn's king, but this only allows him to know them on a more personal level. From the forthcoming book in the series "The Diras Castle Keep", here is Alasdair at his best. Enjoy!
King Alasdair and Queen CarrighThe commander may have laughed at her own suppositions, but Alasdair did not stay to hear it. He was gone and hastening down one of the adjoining lanes before any of the women strolling...

Ethnaa, Hakhaas, and Kaatas: Writing about Illness

Many people ask me the motivation behind various concepts in the series. A reader recently asked how the ideas for ethnaa, hakhaas, and kaatas came about, the Haanta affliction, their meditations, and their physical practices respectively.


Ever since I was young, my body seemed at odds with me. I was often ill, often in pain, and often felt like a wight trundling through life. No doctor could find reasons for my various illnesses and therefore no cures could be offered me. I struggled for many...

Khantara now in paperback!

Back of the bookHot off the press:

Khantara is now available in gorgeous paperback!

Big thanks to my publishers, Red Willow Press, for the wonderful job they did on the print. Special thanks to Twisk and Marcin who worked tirelessly to create all the artwork for the insert and covers.

Khantara is one of my favourite stories in the Haanta world. I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Read the free chapters in the Other Books tab.
Grab in now on Amazon!

Head Cleric Rithea: WIP

Head Cleric Rithea by Twisk (c) 2012I know Twisk is going to kill me for showing it without it being absolutely finished, but I had to show it to you. Here is Head Cleric Rithea. I'm all astonishment and happy awe! And she made this after claiming she could not draw old people. Pff! When she's all done, I'll be adding her to the character page and place her bio. The finished version can be seen in a few days on Twisk's art blog.

Story for the Day: Mureadh's Sisters

Mureadh Farhayden has thirteen sisters. I don't know how he manages just one.
Once the carriage was settled, the horses were put by to rest, and the porter was sent to the inn to convey their luggage, the remainder of the large Farhayden family came to join their brother and indulge his every wish of a complete family gathering. Mureadh stood from his place, pretended not to be crying, though his glimmering eyes and red nose told a different story, and collected all of his sisters into his...

Story for #ValentinesDay: Teague and Qwynlin's #Love

Teague, as drawn by Twisk I  love Teague and Qwynlin's relationship. Here for Valentine's Day (Brigid's Day in Frewyn) is a small slice from an upcoming book featuring the two of them. Enjoy! She had apprehended the true meaning of his expression the moment he stood from the table. She had been feeling the same for some time, though would never be the one to make the first confession. She, too, had lost all hope of meeting anyone who might secure her happiness and affections. Karnwyl afforded ...