Author Archives: E. C. Ambrose

About E. C. Ambrose

I spend as much time in my office as I possibly can--thinking up terrible things to do to people who don't exist.

Ancient Aliens vs. Good, Hard Work

Posted on February 27, 2015

While recovering from recent illness and exhaustion (and under duress by another family member) I wound up watching a couple of episodes of a program designed to convince us that many of the great ancient monuments of the world were … Continue reading →

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Defense Against the Dark Arts: Warding off Witchcraft

Posted on February 18, 2015

This month’s Archaeology magazine has some photos from Knole House in Kent showing a series of hatch marks carved into the floor beneath where the protestant King James I would have slept in the early 1600’s.  The marks are intended … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical medicine, history, magic, medieval, religion, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finding a Balance: Cultural Appropriation and Under-representation

Posted on February 12, 2015

Writing fiction has lately become a bit of a minefield where, if you write about another culture, you risk charges of appropriation, and if you fail to include representatives of other cultures, then you are exclusionary. I have always operated … Continue reading →

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The Arisia Convention and Interstitial Genders

Posted on February 4, 2015

If you have attended a science fiction and fantasy convention lately, especially here on the East Coast, you may have notice a fair number of people wearing pronoun ribbons.  Badge ribbons in general have been quite the rage, usually advertising … Continue reading →

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The Year of the (dead) Goat: astrology and inner Asian sports

Posted on January 28, 2015

Chinese Astrology follows a twelve-year cycle of animals who represent the character of the year ahead, and may have an influence over individuals, based on their own astrological animal, (and all kinds of other factors).  The Wall Street Journal welcomed … Continue reading →

Posted in essays, history, Mongolia, research | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GalaxyQuest and the Everyday Hero

Posted on January 24, 2015

I’d been wanting to watch “GalaxyQuest” again after quite a long time, and finally made the chance last night.  Yes, it’s just as much campy Trekkie fun as it was before, but this time, I was paying attention in a … Continue reading →

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The Mentor Who Knew Too Much

Posted on January 8, 2015

I often read unpublished manuscripts, either because I am paid to critique or edit them, or because I am trading beta-reading with author friends.  Recently, I’ve read several manuscripts with a common flaw:  a secondary character who knows almost everything, … Continue reading →

Posted in character development, essays, fantasy, fiction, movies, writing, writing advice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment