“Remembrance of things past”

This post on memories exhibits such subtle wordage and what memories she has. Read it, enjoy and be inspired.

Something about Kathryn...

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past.”

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 30.

When I moved house a year ago one box mysteriously went missing. The removal company packed absolutely everything; I packed none of it. Nothing was left behind in the flat I vacated – I know because I cleaned it afterwards. There was nothing left in the removal company’s lorry either according to the person I spoke to on the phone. Nevertheless several months after moving I discovered a few things were missing. Initially I thought perhaps I’d mislaid them somewhere, then as I missed more things I began to realise exactly what I’d lost. I still don’t know everything that’s gone. Every so often I remember something else I’ve not seen.

 

The main thing I’ve lost is a box labelled “memorabilia” containing theatre programmes, tickets, flyers, souvenirs and various other bits…

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EXPLORING THE CREATIVE PROCESS- PART I: An interview with Prue Batten, author of “The Gisborne Saga”

An interview kindly conducted by Armitage Authors, a fan base of the actor Richard Armitage, and who have all taken to creative writing for a broad audience.

The Armitage Authors Network

When Trudy and Julia invited me to join their blog last April, I was thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate on an endeavour that seeks to celebrate creativity within Richard’s fandom and acknowledge with a grateful nod the man whose wonderful characters have been an inspiring muse to budding and experienced authors alike.

Being a writer myself, I’ve always been interested in the process of creation and how it’s approached by my fellow authors. Although there are dozens of manuals in the market with tips and recipes to write a novel, there’s nothing like going to the source, the novelists themselves, to unveil the magic behind the stories and characters that invite us to dream, feel and think.

A few years ago, while writing for another fandom, I was asked some really interesting questions on my writing process, and they somehow made their way into my introductory interview for Armitage…

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AUTHOR INSIGHT: MEET JULIET MARILLIER

One of Australia’s best and nicest fantasy writers. I stumbled across Juliet’s novels in Dymocks a long time ago and began with Book One of my favourite series – Sevenwaters. I’ve read everything she’s written and am delighted that Blackthorne and Grim are a series. Her YA novels are a delight as well. Her work is measured, intense and thoughtful and it is the steady pace and beautifully constructed language that delights me, as well as the obvious allusions to celtic folklore which is a love of mine. It’s a pleasure to re-blog this great interview…

Write Note Reviews

Juliet Marillier is a New Zealand-born writer of fantasy, focusing predominantly on historical fantasy. Juliet is currently working on the Blackthorn & Grim series of historical fantasy/mysteries for adult readers. Her earlier books include the Sevenwaters series, set in early medieval Ireland, the Viking duology Saga of the Light Isles, the Bridei Chronicles, set in the kingdom of the Picts, and two series for young adults, the Wildwood books and the Shadowfell books. She has also written a stand-alone novel, Heart’s Blood, based on the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, and a collection of short fiction, Prickle Moon. Visit the Books page for further details. Juliet’s short fiction can be found in various anthologies. Juliet has won many awards for her writing, including five Aurealis Awards and four Sir Julius Vogel Awards, as well as the American Library Association’s Alex Award and the Prix Imaginales. Juliet will be my guest at…

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My Monday Guest – Prue Batten

A wonderful interview done with me just as I finished writing Tobias!

Robin Carter (Parmenion) Guest Blog

A super interview from one of the freshest reviewers on the online book scene currently – the progression from a youthful fantasy reader to a professional reviewer and beta-reader.

With Pen and Sword

Robin Carter AKA Parmenion

Why Historical fiction?
My journey to become a reader of Historical Fiction is one that started firmly rooted in Fantasy.
My early reading of series such as Narnia (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe etc.) began my exploits in all things magical, before I entered the teenage wasteland and stopped reading for a few years, wasted years now from a reading perspective, but enjoyable ones none the less.

When I became a single parent aged 19 I found myself with time, more time than I wanted, my days were taken running from here to there with all the tasks that small babies create. But evenings could have become couch potato TV heaven. Instead I turned back to the library. Here I found a new set of friends, David Gemmell, Tad Williams, Julian May and many others.

Within a space of months I found myself…

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Leicester is risen!

A simple and beautifully written post on the funeral and interment of Richard III – a must read.

Something about Kathryn...

Forgive the long break, but I’ve finally got my new home straight and the computer unpacked and plugged in. I’ve been spending my short Easter break sitting at my new desk in my new study – so many bookcases it’s practically a library – and indulging in some family history research. It’s proving to be more frustrating than anything else but that’s the nature of genealogy. Anyway, I digress.

 

Leicester Cathedral illuminated by the Richard III logo, with the statue of Richard III looking on. My photo.

 

Unless you’ve been in some kind of media black out zone over the last few weeks you’ll know that Leicester has been hitting the headlines. And although I’m obviously biased I have to say “didn’t we do well?” I could not be more proud of my city.

 

One of my favourite headlines from the flood of newspaper articles and suchlike appeared…

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Writing historical locations – guest post by S.J.A. Turney, author of Praetorian: The Great Game

The power of a good location in a narrative is explained so very well by SJA Turney.

For winter nights - A bookish blog

This week, Praetorian: The Great Game was published. A new novel by S.J.A. Turney is always a cause for celebration for all those who enjoy Roman military or Byzantine historical fiction and I am delighted to be able to mark the publication with an author’s guest post. Simon’s novels are meticulously researched, written by an author who loves to travel and see in the wild the locations that he is then able to describe so vividly. I am particularly interested in how historical fiction is rooted in the remains and archaeology that is found around us and below us (I am a keen archaeology tourist myself) and so I am really pleased that this is the subject for the post below. I now have lots more travel ideas! The photos were taken by the author.

Writing Historical Locations by S.J.A. Turney

Have you ever read a novel and just not…

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An Open Letter to Peter Jackson

Sad to think the money moguls have no vision.

RAFrenzy

November 3, 2014

Sir Peter Jackson
Wingnut Films
Wellington, NZ

Re: Kiwi Dwarf Cast’s Inclusion in the BOFA World Premiere

Dear Sir Peter:

This last weekend I wasn’t sure what to think about the BOFA premiere controversy concerning the Kiwi actors. Facebook pages and fan websites are not the most accurate places to determine what’s going on. Oh, they can be at times, but they aren’t always, and with something this inflammatory, I withheld an assessment until a more reliable source came to the fore.

Yesterday morning I read the NZ Herald, and it became obvious the powers that be at Warner Brothers have made a faux pas, and it doesn’t matter what has gone before. It doesn’t matter if these actors did or didn’t negotiate travel expenses for a trip to the final premiere, or whether WB ever intended to send them or not. The important thing here is…

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S J A Turney: Marius Mules VII The Great Revolt (Review)

SJA Turney – one of the best out there. Read and learn, people. In so many ways…

parmenionbooks

Author Bio: in his own words

I live with my wife, son and daughter, and two (close approximations of) dogs in rural North Yorkshire, where my wife and I both grew up, surrounded by friends and family. A born and bred Yorkshireman with a love of the country, I cannot envisage spending my life anywhere else, though my anchor is sometimes tested as the wanderlust hits and we travel wherever I can find the breathtaking remains of the classical world. I have a love of travel and history, architecture and writing and those four interact well enough to keep me almost permanently busy.

Since leaving school and University, I have tried a great number of careers, including car sales, insurance, software engineering, computer network management, civil service and even paint ing and decorating sales. I have lived in four counties and travelled as widely as time and budget allowed and find myself…

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Interview with B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree Author Prue Batten

So thrilled with this interview from Layered Pages…