Today's the day! 08-08-08 marks the release date of the next Billibub Badding's mystery (The Case of the Pitcher's Pendant by Tee Morris), as well as Philippa Ballantine's Digital Magic. Check these two out via http://www.amazon.com/ and add 'em to your shopping cart. Enjoy.
Here are my brief reviews:
I am not a baseball fan, but that doesn't matter when it comes to The Case of the Pitcher's Pendant. If you like witty dialogue and clever plot twists, then this is a must-add to your library. Tee Morris skillfully weaves Chicago, lit noir, and fantasy into a kick-butt narrative of angsty fun. If you haven't giggled or tee-hee'd in a while (no pun intended), then definitely purchase this puppy. You won't regret it.
Carefully crafting a dark world of paranoia, rage, and destruction, Ballantine manages to weave in those bits of silver lining that we all crave. Although Chasing the Bard was a delightful frolic and immensely enjoyable, Ballantine has upped the stakes and taken her writing to a new level in Digital Magic that fairly screams masterful finesse. Don't miss out on this 'through the glass darkly' adventure.
Friday, August 8, 2008
D.M. McReynolds: up & coming
[Note: This is my first in a series of posts on up-and-coming authors. Whether newly published, in the process of selling a manuscript, or still looking for an agent, these are authors who -- through word-crafting, plot-building, or sheer poetry of action -- have captured my mercurial and selective attention.]
Book One of the trilogy The Fate of Port Goldsend, Alliance, pits new ways against the established culture, drawing in the various threads of Dragon Riders, Fate Changers, Map Makers, the Barter Lord himself, and young painter Rainbow. Against the backdrop of a bustling port city, we watch the various backstories intertwine into one compelling narrative.
McReynolds skillfully weaves believable characters, exquisite imagery, and a cause worth fighting for into a world where many humans still have ties to their animal brothers. It is the complexity of character that draws the reader in: we empathize with the very human desires of the antagonist; we question the motivations of the protagonist; we secretly root for the cause of the rebels.
When an author can give us a fun romp while bringing us face-to-face with some of our long-held convictions, the uncomfortable squirming is worth the ride. D.M. McReynolds delivers meaning with dexterity, not stooping to preach, but rather providing fodder for thought.
Book One of the trilogy The Fate of Port Goldsend, Alliance, pits new ways against the established culture, drawing in the various threads of Dragon Riders, Fate Changers, Map Makers, the Barter Lord himself, and young painter Rainbow. Against the backdrop of a bustling port city, we watch the various backstories intertwine into one compelling narrative.
McReynolds skillfully weaves believable characters, exquisite imagery, and a cause worth fighting for into a world where many humans still have ties to their animal brothers. It is the complexity of character that draws the reader in: we empathize with the very human desires of the antagonist; we question the motivations of the protagonist; we secretly root for the cause of the rebels.
When an author can give us a fun romp while bringing us face-to-face with some of our long-held convictions, the uncomfortable squirming is worth the ride. D.M. McReynolds delivers meaning with dexterity, not stooping to preach, but rather providing fodder for thought.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Five Lines to Live By: Wisdom from my Father
[Note: this is not a posting on theme]
As writers we have a special privilege (& responsibility) to provide depth and clarity through our work. This doesn't mean being preachy or even being weighty; it simply means having larger meaning. Writing that is all candy doesn't stick with you -- it'll even make you a little nauseous, wish you hadn't gobbled quite so much. Weaving in bits of wisdom, golden nuggets of common sense, or slices of epiphanies means writing with substance. A little goes a long ways, but it's the bit that will stick with your reader long after the catchy plot fades.
My father is my hero, which means I tend to listen to his advice or at least take it into consideration. Here are five lines I've heard him say countless times over the years:
1. Don't be selfish.
2. Think before you act.
3. Life is a series of stepping stones.
4. Motherhood is mankind's highest calling.
5. In the end, all that matters is who you love and who loves you.
There are exceedingly long stories, sermons, and sandwiches wrapped up in all of these, but who cares what they mean to me. What do they mean to you? What are the proverbs, words of wisdom, or reality checks that your role models have handed down to you? Add your two cents worth via comments, and maybe we'll end up with a compendium of wisdom that outlasts us all.
As writers we have a special privilege (& responsibility) to provide depth and clarity through our work. This doesn't mean being preachy or even being weighty; it simply means having larger meaning. Writing that is all candy doesn't stick with you -- it'll even make you a little nauseous, wish you hadn't gobbled quite so much. Weaving in bits of wisdom, golden nuggets of common sense, or slices of epiphanies means writing with substance. A little goes a long ways, but it's the bit that will stick with your reader long after the catchy plot fades.
My father is my hero, which means I tend to listen to his advice or at least take it into consideration. Here are five lines I've heard him say countless times over the years:
1. Don't be selfish.
2. Think before you act.
3. Life is a series of stepping stones.
4. Motherhood is mankind's highest calling.
5. In the end, all that matters is who you love and who loves you.
There are exceedingly long stories, sermons, and sandwiches wrapped up in all of these, but who cares what they mean to me. What do they mean to you? What are the proverbs, words of wisdom, or reality checks that your role models have handed down to you? Add your two cents worth via comments, and maybe we'll end up with a compendium of wisdom that outlasts us all.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Shared Worlds, Wizards of the Coast, and Fleetwood Robbins
I had always wondered what it would be like to write a shared world novel, but I had never considered doing so until I met Fleetwood Robbins, an editor at Wizards of the Coast. Slightly rumpled, an air of distraction, and ever-so-boyish mannerisms assure you at once that he is the real deal. I have no doubt that his mind works in overdrive while everything about him runs interference, lulling the unsuspecting into a false sense of security. Still waters run deep.
As I made my pitch for Ceilyn's Calling, I barely noticed what words poured out of my mouth. I was more interested in watching Mr. Robbins in action; sometimes you learn more from observing how others behave. When he asked if I had any questions, I blurted out (in front of five other aspiring authors) that my questions were more about him and his experiences in publishing. I almost expired from the embarrassment. My only salvation is that he no doubt forgot me the moment our ten minutes were up.
I did learn some items of importance, however:
1. Wizards of the Coast will accept non-agented work. This is good news for anyone who hasn't found or doesn't want an agent.
2. Writing for shared-world fantasy is not about building your story or your characters into an established D&D or Forgotten Realms storyline or setting. In fact, they won't accept unsolicited manuscripts for their shared-world fiction line.
3. Instead, write a character-driven, fast-paced, high fantasy or sword & sorcery novel. Send it in. Impress them. And they will then solicit your manuscript.
4. If you want to write Young Adult fantasy, simply submit to the Mirrorstone imprint. Although they're no longer looking for series proposals or standalones, they welcome writing samples from writers who wish to work with them on a work-for-hire basis.
5. And, finally: Nulla dies sine linea. Never a day without a line. Go forth and conquer, fellow writers. Life's too short to put off your goals for even one moment.
As I made my pitch for Ceilyn's Calling, I barely noticed what words poured out of my mouth. I was more interested in watching Mr. Robbins in action; sometimes you learn more from observing how others behave. When he asked if I had any questions, I blurted out (in front of five other aspiring authors) that my questions were more about him and his experiences in publishing. I almost expired from the embarrassment. My only salvation is that he no doubt forgot me the moment our ten minutes were up.
I did learn some items of importance, however:
1. Wizards of the Coast will accept non-agented work. This is good news for anyone who hasn't found or doesn't want an agent.
2. Writing for shared-world fantasy is not about building your story or your characters into an established D&D or Forgotten Realms storyline or setting. In fact, they won't accept unsolicited manuscripts for their shared-world fiction line.
3. Instead, write a character-driven, fast-paced, high fantasy or sword & sorcery novel. Send it in. Impress them. And they will then solicit your manuscript.
4. If you want to write Young Adult fantasy, simply submit to the Mirrorstone imprint. Although they're no longer looking for series proposals or standalones, they welcome writing samples from writers who wish to work with them on a work-for-hire basis.
5. And, finally: Nulla dies sine linea. Never a day without a line. Go forth and conquer, fellow writers. Life's too short to put off your goals for even one moment.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Brave Soul & Intrepid Traveler
I had just mentioned to our exchange student that I've been disconnected from all news the past seven days. When Mechanical Hamster brought to our attention via blog that Alexander Solzhenitsyn had passed away on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008, I was stunned. I wasn't ready for him to die. I had yet to stand in his presence or shake his hand. But, then, it's not about me, is it?
Several months ago, in her keynote address at Wenatchee's Write on the River, Elizabeth George had mentioned that she was reading The Gulag Archipelago. I was suitably impressed and immediately went out and purchased her latest book. After all, anyone reading Solzhenitsyn couldn't be all bad, right?
Several months ago, in her keynote address at Wenatchee's Write on the River, Elizabeth George had mentioned that she was reading The Gulag Archipelago. I was suitably impressed and immediately went out and purchased her latest book. After all, anyone reading Solzhenitsyn couldn't be all bad, right?
Setting and the Creation of Magic
Although comprehensive world-building is something you should do before you write an entire novel, I'm still going to participate in this activity post-Ceilyn's Calling. The novel takes place entirely in a monastery, so thus far Ceilyn has not encountered the world at large. His "journey" is an internal one, both within his own psyche and within the structure of the building.
The world of Renaciman is a mixture of the sub-genres high fantasy and sword & sorcery, with requisite struggles of good versus evil, fantastical creatures, and doses of magic use. It's all very medieval in nature, with swords, crossbows, and magic potions. So what makes it unique in nature? How is Renaciman any different that any other high fantasy novel?
Ceilyn's Calling, unbeknownst to the reader (and perhaps never openly revealed), takes place in America in the year 3050. Instead of being a futuristic, science fiction piece or a dystopian literary rage against societal ills, this book explores a post-apocalyptic world without any of the angst. In fact, all that the citizens of Renaciman know are their current lives, spent -- for the most part -- within the same village they were born in. History has been left in the dust of the ages; the religious institutions are embroiled in their own intrigues; and a god-king is attempting to usurp all power for himself.
In order to explore the world, we need to understand the nature of magic. This was actually the most difficult part of my novel, because, after all, how many people ponder the nature of magic? It just is, right? But how can magic come into being somewhere down the road in a future America? Well, in most cultures there is an tacit agreement that magic is or consists of energy. We know that energy exists on a sub-atomic level. Therefore, in my definition, magic is simply the ability to shift, control, or manipulate energy on the sub-atomic level. And that cleared a lot up for me.
Once I penned a post-nuclear Planet Earth where survivors developed the ability to control different forms of energy, I understood how I could interject a scientific form of magic (scientific used loosely).
Over time, some survivors focused their new-found abilities to rid themselves and others of radiation sickness, keloids, and tumors. They became known as 'healers' within the society. Others, who were either simply curious or desirous of exploiting new-found powers, experimented, studied, and learned many skills outside the scope of healing, becoming known as 'mages.' Notice the reliance on known concepts or words within the English language.
None of this exists within the novel Ceilyn's Calling. Instead, the only remnant of past civilizations are the village stones that hold the last waning vestiges of radioactivity, now vital for any magic user. Some stones have disintegrated; others have been lost; still more are being plundered by the king's soldiers who have been instructed to haul every stone they find to the palace. The only other place that has its magic intact is the monastery, where Ceilyn has grown up using spells and chants. He does not know that the world around him is gradually losing its access to power.
The second novel, Ceilyn's Curse, details his journey from monastery to palace -- one place of powerful magic to another -- and the emptiness between. He must learn to rely upon himself and the skills of his friends if he hopes to survive without magic along this circuitous and dangerous route. Once he arrives at the palace, of course, he uses this new-found confidence and self-reliance to outwit the most powerful mage and enemy of the people, Lord Xavier. What else could he do?
The world of Renaciman is a mixture of the sub-genres high fantasy and sword & sorcery, with requisite struggles of good versus evil, fantastical creatures, and doses of magic use. It's all very medieval in nature, with swords, crossbows, and magic potions. So what makes it unique in nature? How is Renaciman any different that any other high fantasy novel?
Ceilyn's Calling, unbeknownst to the reader (and perhaps never openly revealed), takes place in America in the year 3050. Instead of being a futuristic, science fiction piece or a dystopian literary rage against societal ills, this book explores a post-apocalyptic world without any of the angst. In fact, all that the citizens of Renaciman know are their current lives, spent -- for the most part -- within the same village they were born in. History has been left in the dust of the ages; the religious institutions are embroiled in their own intrigues; and a god-king is attempting to usurp all power for himself.
In order to explore the world, we need to understand the nature of magic. This was actually the most difficult part of my novel, because, after all, how many people ponder the nature of magic? It just is, right? But how can magic come into being somewhere down the road in a future America? Well, in most cultures there is an tacit agreement that magic is or consists of energy. We know that energy exists on a sub-atomic level. Therefore, in my definition, magic is simply the ability to shift, control, or manipulate energy on the sub-atomic level. And that cleared a lot up for me.
Once I penned a post-nuclear Planet Earth where survivors developed the ability to control different forms of energy, I understood how I could interject a scientific form of magic (scientific used loosely).
Over time, some survivors focused their new-found abilities to rid themselves and others of radiation sickness, keloids, and tumors. They became known as 'healers' within the society. Others, who were either simply curious or desirous of exploiting new-found powers, experimented, studied, and learned many skills outside the scope of healing, becoming known as 'mages.' Notice the reliance on known concepts or words within the English language.
None of this exists within the novel Ceilyn's Calling. Instead, the only remnant of past civilizations are the village stones that hold the last waning vestiges of radioactivity, now vital for any magic user. Some stones have disintegrated; others have been lost; still more are being plundered by the king's soldiers who have been instructed to haul every stone they find to the palace. The only other place that has its magic intact is the monastery, where Ceilyn has grown up using spells and chants. He does not know that the world around him is gradually losing its access to power.
The second novel, Ceilyn's Curse, details his journey from monastery to palace -- one place of powerful magic to another -- and the emptiness between. He must learn to rely upon himself and the skills of his friends if he hopes to survive without magic along this circuitous and dangerous route. Once he arrives at the palace, of course, he uses this new-found confidence and self-reliance to outwit the most powerful mage and enemy of the people, Lord Xavier. What else could he do?
Friday, August 1, 2008
World-building Month
Today is August 1st, the first day of World-building Month. Following Nils' lead, I'll give a brief overview of who I am and what I wish to accomplish in the off chance that you stumble upon this blog and wonder, "What the heck is World Building?" or "Who the heck is Alex Moore?"
I'm Alex Moore, writer of young adult fantasy novels. I've been exploring the idea of expanding the world I've written about in The Chillwane Chronicles to incorporate more adult themes. Ultimately, I intend to write a novel of high fantasy based in the same world.
I'll be using the month of August to work on the world of Renaciman. More as thoughts unfold.
I'm Alex Moore, writer of young adult fantasy novels. I've been exploring the idea of expanding the world I've written about in The Chillwane Chronicles to incorporate more adult themes. Ultimately, I intend to write a novel of high fantasy based in the same world.
I'll be using the month of August to work on the world of Renaciman. More as thoughts unfold.
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