Patrick Bran's Blog, page 2

Charlatan’s Magic: Cover Art Reveal

I wanted the cover of this book to be dark and dirty, like the cobbled streets of Rathlera late at night. The shadowy figure of Ming Loo was always the right choice for me as far as who to feature. It isn’t simply because he is the titular charlatan. His …

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The Pen, Mightier Than the Keyboard?

This article by Holly Lisle titled How to Revise a Novel is an excellent read. There are lots of good ideas and it’s well worth your time. I would like to focus on one particular part of her process that is entirely alien to me. Ms. Lisle makes prodigious use … read more

Critique My New Cover Art

In anticipation of launching Wind Rider in print, I have created a new cover image. My first image struck me as cartoonish once I starred pruning it out and looking at proofs . This time I chose to go with an image I created originally for the header of my … read more

Please Critique My New Cover Art

In anticipation of launching Wind Rider in print, I have created a new cover image. My first image struck me as cartoonish once I starred pruning it out and looking at proofs . This time I chose to go with an image I created originally for the header of my … read more

Washer Woman (The Baen Nighe)

I must sneak away. I am no brute to harm an old woman. Her work is harsh for she beats at the cloth on the stone, oblivious of my presence. She plunges it into the flow, shaking it about like a dog with its teeth on a rabbit's neck. Continue

Nails on a chalkboard

We all get this feeling. Just looking at the picture starts a shiver going down my spine. But it’s not just the chalkboard that does it. It’s different for everyone, those things that grate on our nerves. For me it’s the shrill and uncontrolled laughter of pre-teen girls. Live with … Continue

Mystery vs. Suspense

I recently reexamined an old episode of Writing Excuses on the subject of suspense. They cite Alfred Hitchcock’s famous “bomb under the table” analogy to explain the difference between surprise and suspense. The former is a brief and powerful emotion experienced when an explosion shocks the unsuspecting audience. Suspense is … Continue

Distractions, distractions

If it’s not the job, it’s the kids. If it’s not the kids, it’s the… Sound familiar? I could fill in the blank with a ton of different things. Most of them would only prove that at heart I’m just a lazy bum. Well, the job is a must. The … Continue

What I’m Reading: The Saxon Stories

With the impending October  release of the sixth novel in Bernard Cornwell’s fascinating “Saxon Stories” series, “Death of Kings,” I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at the books that have come before. I’m a sucker for a good first person narrative, especially when the character … Continue

On the Completion of a Novel

The inaugural post for this blog has been a long time coming. It was initially scheduled along with Wind Rider being made freely available on the site. Something big got in the way of that plan. I began work on the sequel, Deep Dweller. Now that draft one is complete … Continue