Tag Archives: character

Respecting Dan Brown

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

If you read Elisha Barber all the way to the end, you’ll find an Acknowledgements page. One of the first names on that page is Dan Brown. Yep, the same author everyone’s talking about this week, with the release of … Continue reading →

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Review: Songs for a Machine Age

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

Songs for a Machine Age by Heather McDougal My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is a delightful journey through an unusual fantasy world where machines and magic co-exist. While I didn’t find the heroine initially engaging, her talent … Continue reading →

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The Next Big Thing Blog Hop: Elisha Barber

Posted on January 2, 2013 by

I was tagged to participate in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop by the marvelous Heather Albano, author of two (so far!) steampunk novels you can learn more about at her post:  http://www.heatheralbano.com/2012/12/26/the-next-big-thing-blog-hop/ So without further ado: What is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Barber, fantasy, fiction, historical medicine, history, magic, medieval, The Dark Apostle, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Great Characters of the Middle Ages: Cola di Rienzo

Posted on November 20, 2012 by

Part of the fun of researching other times and places is discovering fascinating people who have, for one reason or another, failed to rise to the attention of the wider public, even those with some interest in the milieu.  “Great … Continue reading →

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Racism and the Problem of the Hybrid Hero

Posted on November 14, 2012 by

It has been said that there are really only two plots:  A stranger comes to town, and someone leaves home.  What I want to look at today is the first one, the stranger–but not just any stranger, the stranger who … Continue reading →

Posted in character development, fantasy, fiction, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

. . . From a Certain Point of View

Posted on September 26, 2012 by

Hands up everyone who immediately recognized the source of my title quote?  Okay, that was an easy one. In a post a couple weeks ago, I referenced the special difficulty of writing a book in a single point of view … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, writing, writing advice, writing process | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Avengers” and the vulnerable superhero

Posted on September 19, 2012 by

I went to see “The Avengers” again recently. Don’t ask how many times I’ve seen it–I’m not an addict, I can quit any time.  Really. The film got me thinking about the role of vulnerability in heroes.  Any time you … Continue reading →

Posted in character development, fantasy, fiction, movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Review: Thieftaker

Posted on July 29, 2012 by

Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson My rating: 4 of 5 stars A tense, engaging read. There’s been recent interest in historical fantasies with American settings, and this was a nice addition to that elite group. Jackson creates an off-beat character with … Continue reading →

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Review: The Man Who Loved China: Joseph Needham & the Making of a Masterpiece

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

The Man Who Loved China: Joseph Needham & the Making of a Masterpiece by Simon Winchester My rating: 5 of 5 stars A thoroughly entertaining background to the creation of one of the world’s great series on the history of … Continue reading →

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The Writer’s First Job: Why Should I Care?

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

Again last night, I tossed aside a book after reading a couple of chapters and flipping idly through the ending to see if it turned out as I expected.  The book seemed pretty well written, the setting was clear, characters … Continue reading →

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