Writing School In the beginning, the author created… When I first began writing historical fantasy, I was inspired by times and places rooted in our own familiar world – but…Continue readingHow to build a world, word by word
I was astonished and utterly delighted to discover that my nearly-20-year-old novel “The Secrets of Jin-Shei” still has wings – it has been picked as the read-along book by Matthew,…Continue readingA well-loved book
In the beginning, the author created… When I first began writing historical fantasy, I was inspired by times and places rooted in our own familiar world – but leavened…Continue readingHow to build a world
Hard cover of U.S. HarperCollins edition An ebook version of “The Secrets of Jin-shei”, a historical fantasy that I wrote in a white heat in 2002, was released this year…Continue readingThe “Blessed Book”
A few years back, a blog called ‘Universal Historicals’ interviewed me and asked some of the most interesting questions I’ve ever been asked. Some excerpts: What’s the one thing that…Continue readingInside a writer’s mind
“Dune” did it to incredible effect. Asimov’s Foundation series did it beautifully. There are other books where this was used to enhance and deepen the worldbuilding. I am talking about…Continue readingWhy epigraphs?
Alma’s Bookshelf: “The Secrets of Jin-shei” One of a series of essays on writing referencing my own books for examples — I spend half my life living in dreams, in…Continue readingALL fiction is fantasy
From Lovereading infographic The Lovereading site explains that they love epic books with swathes of characters creating a wonderfully complex plot, but ask rather plaintively: “Sometimes is it all too…Continue readingToo many characters?
It is a a writerly thing. Some of us have dogs, to be sure, but the classic writerish badge of belonging to the scribe tribe is…a cat. In some ways…Continue readingOde to the literary cat
As I was shopping at the local store to pick up a few things after my physio appointment, this little old lady stops pushing her cart a few steps ahead…Continue readingSo tell me!