Category Archives: fantasy

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Warding off Witchcraft

Posted on February 18, 2015 by

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 →

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GalaxyQuest and the Everyday Hero

Posted on January 24, 2015 by

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 by

I often read unpublished manuscripts, either because I am paid to critique or edit them, or because I am trading beta-reading with author friends.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 →

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Fan Fiction: intrusion or flattery?

Posted on December 17, 2014 by

I belong to a number of writers’ networks, and the topic of fan fiction arises on all of them from time to time.  Fan fiction, for the non-writers out there, is when a fan writes his or her own stories … Continue reading →

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Technology in Medieval Fantasy, thanks to Steampunk

Posted on November 12, 2014 by

I have just returned from the World Fantasy Convention, held this year in Arlington, VA, where I got to hang out with many other authors and readers, sharing our knowledge and celebrating the realm of fantasy writing. One of my … Continue reading →

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Book Promotion: Nobody Cares about your Crazy Names (sorry!)

Posted on October 29, 2014 by

Once again, I have had the opportunity to read someone’s blurb for their fantasy novel.  You see these things all over the place–on advertising materials at conventions, on the back covers of books, on blogs or in emails asking you … Continue reading →

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Review: Home for the Holidays, discovering voice

Posted on October 3, 2014 by

Home for the Holidays by Randee Dawn My rating: 5 of 5 stars I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a local convention last year some time, and actually won this book when I attended her reading. I … Continue reading →

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