Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 21

Out and About on the Food For Love Blog

 

Shared a favorite recipe with Jill Culiner on the Food For Love Blog.  Stop by and learn how to make Lokse.  And there is a special excerpt from FIRE AND AMULET.

Shared a favorite recipe with Jill Culiner on the Food F...

 

Shared a favorite recipe with Jill Culiner on the Food For Love Blog.  Stop by and learn how to make Lokse.  And there is a special excerpt from FIRE AND AMULET.

ThursdayThirteen - Trials and Tribulations of Naming

This Thursday Thirteen is about creating the names of fictional characters. A note. Since I usually write fantasy and science fiction, not all the tips apply to other genres.


Keep the names unique. Don't have characters named Jay, Jake, Jacob, and James in the same work. Too similar names can make it too hard to keep the characters straight and confuse them to the point where they are thrown out of the story.
Track names. Although a pen and paper works, a digital spreadsheet makes sorting names easier. Seeing the characters in alphabetical order helps prevent repetition.A two-part character database based on the spreadsheets forms the basis of my tracking system. Part one is the spreadsheet with a complete list of the characters with a few important pieces of information such as physical description and a brief personal history. The second part features only the mains characters and goes into detail about the main characters and their traits.


Keep a pad close at hand to capture names that catch your interest. If a name from television credits seems appropriate for a current or future project, make a note of it.
Your character’s name can hint at their personality. One of the ways I do it is to take one of the character's traits, then convert it into the language the world is based upon.
Careful when choosing a name. You don’t want to give a character a name that sets up the wrong expectation in your readers. Or if you do, then it needs to be clarified in the beginning of the novel. No serial killers called Fluffy, please.
An exception to the no similar names rule is when a names is used to indicate a family relationship. In the Windmaster Novels, Lord Dal's mother is Eilidh. named after her grandmother. When the grandmother is referenced, it is as MarEilidh. The names are similar enough to accomplish the desired effect, yet different enough that the readers wouldn't get confused.
Two of my favorite resources for creating the names for a character are a English-to-foreign language dictionary and a baby name book. Sometimes the book is supplemented by an online list of popular baby names. An online random name generator is another valuable resource. When using a name generator, be careful to select names that not only work with your setting, but can be pronounced by humans without stumbling over their tongues.You want your reader to enjoy the story, not focus on the pronunciation.Don't make all the character names long, multi-syllable. It can exhaust the readers. If you've found a name but it doesn't quite work, reverse a couple of letters to create a new sounding name. A final consideration is whether or not the name has been widely used or is a contemporary popular character. Googling the name can save you embarrassment or possibly even a lawsuit. I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen. I hope you will come back again. Click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and buy links. And of course, be sure to visit the http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/ to see other thirteens.

~till next time, Helen

Cover your Ears #MFRWhooks

 

In the next of the series of posts introducing some of my favorite people (or people I love to hate) from the fantasy romances of the Dragshi Chronicles, you are invited to meet Waljan, aka the Parant, who appears in Hatchling's Mate and Hatchling's Vengeance.

Physical Description

Long straight gray hair emphasizes his age. While the leather band worn around his head like a crown states his role as the cult's leader known as the Parant, a clue to his real personality is the grubby soutaine he wears.

Background 

Two of Waljan's kin have run afoul of the dragshi. He is distant kin of Broch, whose determination to wed Branin for the power and prestige of bedding a dragon lord led her to a life of crime and the attempted murder of Branin's intended mate, Anastasia. (Dragon Destiny, Hatchlings Curse) Waljan is also the uncle of Haldric. His obsession with the dragshi revolved around only one of the dragon lords, the Lady Lexii Beylnea. (Hatchling's Mate, Hatchling's Vengeance)

Waljan hates shifters because his wife died in childbirth and he blamed the dragshi whose healing fire failed to save them. He taught members of his cult that the dragons and dragshi are the cause of everything from failed crops to drought.

More About Waljan (Secrets or Public)

Talann, son of Lady Anastasia Jessian and Lord Branin Llewlyn, becomes the focus for Waljan's hatred of the dragon lords when he goes undercover in the Parant's cult.

The Parant is able to mesmerize people using his voice. After attending a service in the audience room, his followers will give him all of their belongings. Women will willingly go to his bed. At his command, a follower will leap to their death in the darkness of the pit behind the altar.

Waljan's control was so strong that if he clapped his hands, the believer would feel the blow as if flesh struck flesh.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to the Parant  Find excerpts for Hatchling's Mate and Hatchling's Vengeance by clicking on the covers in the banner.

Buy Links: One click to sellers  Hatchling's Mate  /   Hatchling's Vengeance

Weather Reflections on BWL Blog

 

 

Over on the BooksWeLove Blog, I'm sharing thoughts on the new year. Hope you'll stop by.

~till next time, Helen

Thursday Thirteen - Backlist, WIP, and More

For a change of pace, this post is trying something new. This Thursday Thirteen is focused on titles. The genres range from fantasy to romance fantasy, science fiction, and non-fiction.  Some are things published. Others are in progress, or merely in my dreams.

Fire and Amulet - The 2022 dragon magic release Fire and Redemption - work in progress of the next chapter in Trelleir's search for his own kind
Windmaster - A romance-filled, action-packed fantasy described by readers as "a fascinating story that will keep you up all night turning the pages." Revenge set Ellspeth, captain of Sea Falcon, on the path to her destiny, but prophecy controlled the journey.
Windmaster Golem - "Ms. Henderson’s prose captivates and paints pictures of the beautiful, and sometimes traitorous, landscapes." 5 stars

From the Back Street to Main Street: And Beyond - a Chronicle of the Society of Methodists of Middletown Point from its early beginnings with circuit rider preachers to the modern congregation who suffered a loss on 9-11-2001
Around Matawan and Aberdeen - my first full-length work is this pictorial history of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan, Aberdeen, Freneau, and Cliffwood

Of Town and Field: Matawan and Aberdeen - this comprehensive history followed Around Matawan and Aberdeen, and included historic pictures not included in the pictorial history complemented by contemporary pictures




Dragon Destiny - the first of the Dragshi Chronicles, a major challenge in converting this work from a short story to a full-length novel was aging the main character

Hatchling's Vengeance - "the story lingered long afterward in my mind and thoughts … a lovely, exciting read," 5 Stars

 First Change: Legends From The Eyrie, a mixed genre anthology, unlike the other works in the Dragshi Chronicles series, not all the tales pulled from the mists of time have a happy ending


Hearth and Sand - one of two mixed genre anthologies, from the past to worlds of tomorrow, stories of those who serve on the front lines or preserve the homefront.
Imprisoned in Stone - dipped my toes into the darker aspects of fantasy


Made of Clay - originally planned as the definitive work on the New Jersey industries that used clay as architectural elements. However changes in life, the antiques field, and the intended publishers put the work on the back burner. In the near future, the research collection of art tiles will be sold to allow a focus on fiction. I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen. I hope you will come back again. Posting is done regularly as part of the MFRW.org hops. If any of the published titles intrigue you, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links.

~till next time, Helen




http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/ nnn

A Secret Identity

For the next in the series of posts introducing some of my favorite people (or people I love to hate) from the fantasy romances of the Dragshi Chronicles, you are invited to meet Glyn from Hatchling's Mate and Hatchling's Vengeance.

Physical Description

There are two sides to Glyn. The public side is that of a 23-year-old male. Women of the world have long hair, often worn in a braid. For more formal occasions the braid can be woven around the head and held in place by jeweled pins to make a glittering crown. In contrast, Glyn wore her wavy dark hair short to match the male persona. 

Background 

Glyn was born somewhere in the Revarn Mountains. Orphaned when her parents were lost at sea, her kin, the trading clan, Clan Miller, took her to Cloud Eyrie, the home of the dragshi. Lady Eirwen, leader of the dragon lords, chose Glyn to be a companion for the newest of the dragshi, Lady Lexii Beylnea. At the time it was decided that Glyn would pretend to be a boy.

The oath of loyalty to the Dragshi that was given by her kin was later re-affirmed by Glyn when she became of age. But the responsibility did not come without some advantages. Fine clothes and food were her commonplace lifestyle. However, it was the education at the Ceoltier Hall given her that she appreciated the most. Reading and writing, and learning in the arts was complemented by lessons in tactics and history. Natural talent made her a skilled swordsman and marksman with bow and arrow and helped fulfill her role as bodyguard to Lexii.

More About Her (Secrets or Public)

Glyn lived in fear that her friends would discover her true sex--and the fact that she had lied to them her entire life.

Although men ride a stallion or gelding, Glyn rides a seidheirn mare. When anyone comments why does a man would ride a "woman's horse," the answer that the mare is a companion for Lexii’s mount answered the question. However, not the challenge to Glyn's masculinity or pride. To keep Lexii safe and to maintain her disguise, Glyn fought more than one bully. And if the challengers were too numerous for one person, no matter how skilled, to defeat. Then Glyn's friends Talann and his bodyguard/companion, Kynan, would join in the foray.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Glyn. Find excerpts by clicking on the cover in the banner.

Buy Links: One click to sellers  Hatchling's Mate   /  Hatchling's Vengeance

Meet the Characters of the world of Windmaster #MFRWHooks

I thought to start off the year with an introduction to the characters of the Windmaster Novels. You've might have met them when the posts where originally published. Or if you missed meeting Captain Ellspeth or Lord Dal, or any of their friends or enemies, you can click on the name to meet the characters including their secrets and plans, what they look like and more.

Then for excerpts and a free read of the first chapter, click on the covers in the top banner. If if you haven't read the paranormal, romance, fantasies and are interested to learn more, buy links are provided at the bottom of the post.
  From left to right: Captain Ellspeth, Lord Dal, Lady Kia, Lady Pelra
 

 

Dal (Posed for the Windmaster Legacy cover)

Ellspeth (With knife in hand, ready to repel borders on the deck of Sea Falcon)

Bashim

Kiansel (Her beauty graced the cover of Windmaster Golem)

Brodie

Relliq

Pelra (Come swim with the dolphins as does Lady Pelra on the cover of Windmaster Legend)

Iol

Leod

Find the Windmaster Novels are your favorite online store including Amazon / Smashwords / More Sites

 

 

 

Reflections on 2022

To start off 2023, presenting a post looking back on the highlights (and sometimes the low lights of 2022.

A highlight of 2022 was the publication of the dragon magic novel, Fire and Amulet. The short story of Trelleir and Deneas evolved and grew into a novel. Although the immediate story ended, readers wished for it to be the beginning of a series.

One of the difficulties of last year was that I seemed to lose my connection to my stories. I had every intention to have the next book after Fire and Amulet ready for publication in 2023. Instead, I found the characters hiding from me and the plot remained elusive. To refill the well of creativity, I worked on interviews and blog posts and completed the 2022 A to Z in April Challenge.

Thankfully as the year ended, things started to gel and the first scenes written. My goal for 2023 is to finish the work tentatively titled Fire and Redemption.

My personal life also had some high points and some chaos. A low point when when excessive heat and caregiving prevented me from being part of the Rock Steady boxing/therapy program at the local gym. The holidays were different this year. I didn’t decorate the house, and instead helped nieces decorate their grandmother’s house and tree. This year the holidays were more subdued as a result of my mother’s loss just prior to the holidays. 

RIP Miss Betty, a wife, mother,
grandmother, great-grandmother
and wielder of a wicked left hook and right cross.

Goals for 2023 are to resume my cornerman duties at Rock Steady and to continue with the reorganization and cleanup of the house. Wishes for the upcoming year are to resolve some health issues which reared their head late in 2022.  

And the final resolution.

 

So to all my writer friends, that is also my wish for you. 

And for the readers my wish is for you to find a new favorite author and to enjoy your old ones.

~till next time, Happy New Year. In the upcoming days,

 May your troubles be less,

And your blessings be more.

And nothing but happiness come through your door.

 Helen

Fair Skies and Following Seas

 May your holidays be full of peace and joy. 

And from Lady Ellspeth, Lord Dal,
and the rest of the world of Windmaster
a Turn's End Wish for 

a new year full of fantasy.