Amy Laurens's Blog, page 104
February 28, 2014
New Story: Purity
Whee! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks full of late nights and hard work, so I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting both the blog and the stories. But! I finally have another story for you :) Liana posted one yesterday too, so if you’re in the mood there are TWO new stories for you! Yay!
Mine, naturally, is about a deathly unicorn and purifying rainwater that’s about to destroy the town. As you do. Click here to go read it straight away, or continue below for the beginning ;)
The parking lot is cov...
February 13, 2014
Create-A-World Clinic Discount
So, long-time readers will know that I am a HUGE fan of Holly Lisle’s how-to-write materials. She is an excellent teacher, and breaks down not just the writing process, but also the brain processes behind it, allowing you to harness your creativity in a much more effective way. Writing + brain science + imagination + creativity? ADORE.
Anyway, Holly has just released her incredibly epic Create A World Clinic, which she’s been working on for the last seven years (although somewhat sporadically...
February 12, 2014
Because Of You
A somewhat sappy title, but it’s the truth: there are days when the only thing keeping me going with this whole writing thing is the fact that I have people reading the blog who have, if not expectations, then at least knowledge ofmy expectations, which is nearly the same thing, and I hate to disappoint people.
Which is not to say I don’t love writing!! It’s just extremely hard to make the time right now, and I am exhausted, and it is lovely to know that there is possibly maybe an actual reaso...
February 6, 2014
Confessions
Well, I missed last week but I am back again today with another flash fic on the Twins blog. Hurrah! I am trying to make this a weekly habit, but I’ve given myself permission to skip a week when I need to, as long as I don’t skip two in a row.
Anyway, today’s story came almost literally from nowhere. I’d read this post by Holly Lisle the day before, and when I tried to write a story I’d been kicking around in my head for a while for this week’s post and it didn’t work, I turned to the techniqu...
January 20, 2014
Magic Rises
You know how sometimes you read a book, especiallyas an author, and you close it, and you just want to applaud the author for their brilliance? Yeah. That. I finally got to read Magic Rises last night, the latest instalment in Ilona Andrews’s Kate Daniels series.
Oh. My. Word.
You guys! THIS is how pacing is supposed to be done!
I know the book benefits from the weight of 6 previous novels and 3 previous novellas – and do not underestimate the emotional weight that that can carry – but seriously...
The Other Carly
Last week’s short fiction is up over at The Twins of Darkness & Light. I did WRITE it on time, I just couldn’t post it because I had no computer internet. I have mixed feelings about this one; I feel like the ending, although it heads in the general direction I wanted it to atmosphere-wise, is too similar to another story I once read specifics-wise. But never mind. It’s rough, it’s unedited, but yay! A weekly piece of story! :)
The door to my hiding place slid open and I burrowed deeper under...
January 14, 2014
The Limits Of Humanity, Or, Why I Love Speculative Fiction
Science fiction, fantasy, dystopian and other forms of speculative fiction are, at their heart, explorations of what it means to be human. They take humans, pick them up and plonk them down into the most unimaginable circumstances, and seek to know what we would be.
Historical fiction explores humans as they were; contemporary, humans as they are. But speculative fiction dwells in the liminal spaces, seeking the limits of humanity.
If we could wield incredible power, bend blood to our will, shi...
January 9, 2014
Cherry Blossom Cover Reveal!
…Okay, that was freaky. Right as I typed the title, the TV in the next room said ‘cherry blossom tree’. Not just that, obviously, it’s part of some sitcom or movie, but still. TIMING.
*ahem* Anyway.
So! It is January! If you have been one of the sneaky few who has acquired a Cherry Blossom bookmark, you will know that this is the month in which the second of my short story collections releases! Except actually, due to some hiccups, it probably won’t be released until February. Sorry about that....
New Stories For You!
I think, when I did my mini book reviews the other week, I did not adequately ramble about the brilliance and amazingness that is The Curiosities. Really. You should read it. I have never, ever enjoyed a collection of short stories more. They are incredibly tight, well-written stories written by superlative authors, and if you like urban fantasy or mythology with a contemporary twist, you will love them. It’s very rare to be able to say that you enjoyed every single story in a collection, but...
December 29, 2013
Nine Things
Because I have found Fun Things recently, and if you really expect me to write a thinky post between Christmas and New Year’s, you’re madder than I am.
1) Nine traits of creative people. This is, somewhat surprisingly, a very insightful article that made me sit back, smiling, and give the happy sigh of the Understood.
2) Photos from the 18 & 1900s of various dog breeds. While some pics demonstrate the sad lengths that breeders will go to, I feel somewhat vindicated by the fact that Labradors lo...
