Raven Oak's Blog, page 70

January 9, 2015

Flashback Friday: Andre Norton

For this week’s Flashback Friday post, I’m honored to have author, Veronica Scott, here for a guest post on how Andre Norton‘s works influenced her as a writer.

Thanks for having me as your guest today!

Catseye by Andre Norton Book CoverThe earliest influence on my writing was Andre Norton. Her books were favorites of my science-fiction loving Dad and he gave me Catseye at around age seven or thereabouts. He figured cats, outer space, archaeology – why wouldn’t I love it? And I did…

I read every book of hers that I could find, i...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 09, 2015 09:00

January 8, 2015

Book Cover Throwback: Magician Apprentice

This week’s Book Cover Throwback: Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist. This is the cover I first read this novel in, and it’s one of my favorites! (I also wrote about this in my Flashback Friday here.)

Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist Book CoverWhat I Love about this Cover: The fantasy elements of the cover scream fantasy, right down to the wizard with a dragon, the bad weather outside, and a young hero in search of help.

What I Don’t Love about this Cover: Orange? On a wizard? Really? Ugh.

Click here to view other Book Cover Throwba...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 08, 2015 08:35

January 7, 2015

Book Reading & Signing Event!

WHO: You!

WHAT: A reading from my new epic fantasy, Amaskan’s Blood, along with a short reading from my upcoming sci-fi, Class-M Exile. Afterward, I’ll sign copies of Amaskan’s Blood. Copies will be available for purchase at the event.

WHEN: Saturday, February 21st from 8-10 PM.

WHERE: Wayward Coffeehouse @ 6417 Roosevelt Way NE #104 Seattle, WA 98115 (Click address for a map or check their website for details www.waywardcoffee.com)

WHY: Like you need an excuse to geek out about SF/F, fandom, and...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 07, 2015 15:14

The Evolution of Women in Space Opera

Raven says Guest Post Time Today’s stop in my blog hopping is on sci-fi author, Michelle Murrain’s page for a look at the Evolution of Women in Space Opera.

This is a subject worthy of many dissertations! Limited to a short article online, I’m looking at where we’ve been and where we’re going in the world of sci-fi, specifically space opera.

Space opera is full of adventure, often slapstick humor, and rampant sexism. So how do we change that?

Read the article here.

The post The Evolution of Women in Space Opera appeared...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 07, 2015 11:40

January 6, 2015

When Words Fail a Writer

When Words Fail a Writer by Raven Oak article on Wannabe Pride websiteI’ve got a guest post today over on Wannabe Pride called “When Words Fail a Writer.” The article addresses my thoughts on how I became a writer. I hope you’ll head over to Wannabe Pride and enjoy the read.

What made you enjoy writing and/or reading?

The post When Words Fail a Writer appeared first on Raven Oak.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 06, 2015 10:35

January 5, 2015

Monday Night Gaming: Arkham Horror

This week’s Monday Night Gaming: Arkham Horror.

My husband is about to die in this game. Monday Night Gaming: Arkham Horror.

My husband’s character, Monterey Jack, is about to die.

For my birthday, my husband got me Arkham Horror, which not only comes highly recommended in the land of tabletop gaming, but he knew I’d love it because it’s based on H. P. Lovecraft‘s Cthulhu Mythos.

Keep in mind, this review is based off my first play through. I suspect that my rating and thoughts will change as I play it more and with more players.

# of Players: 1-8*

*The game says 1-8 playe...
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 05, 2015 16:08

Scene & Sequel

Raven says Guest Post TimeThe amazing folks over at Writers helping Writers have me over there for a guest post on using Scene and Sequel to write better fiction, control pacing, and ensure that every scene matters. Please check it out and leave a comment or three.

And if you writers out there haven’t checked out Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi‘s books, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, and The Negative Trait Thesaurus, you should. They are three of the most helpful writing tools I know.

Click the...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 05, 2015 11:28

January 3, 2015

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time — How I Wrote Amaskan’s Blood


Once upon a time.


Growing up, those were words uttered by mothers right before bedtime. They were synonymous with family, with love.


Picture of me and my father once upon a time

My Dad & I


When staying over at a friend’s, the mother would crack open a storybook to read to us, something my father didn’t have the time to do. Once upon a time meant an escape—a dive into another world where adventures and magic existed, where mothers didn’t disappear or lie, where I didn’t have to raise myself. But...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 03, 2015 01:00

January 2, 2015

Flashback Friday: The Wall-to-Ceiling Shelf

For this week’s Flashback Friday post, I’m honored to have author, Luna Lindsey, here for a guest post on how the family library and thus, her father, influenced her as a writer.



Galaxy Sci-Fi MagazineMy writing is influenced by every book I have ever read. The family library is my greatest influence.


The entire wall of my childhood living room was decorated in a wall-to-ceiling shelf perpetually filled with books. Just the presence of the shelf was an inspiration, even if I had never read any of them. But read them...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 02, 2015 09:00

January 1, 2015

Great Review of Amaskan’s Blood

As midnight rolled around last night, I transitioned from a full-time writer to a published author. 2015 is set to bring about many changes and projects, but thinking about Amaskan’s Blood being out there in the world makes me grin. Cheshire Cat Style.


Amaskan's Blood by Raven OakReviews are slowly rolling in, which also gives me reason to grin. In fact, 100 Pages a Day posted their review this morning. A great review of Amaskan’s Blood.


Stephanie gave it 4/5 stars and called it, “an exciting epic fantasy filled with intr...

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 01, 2015 16:24