Tag Archives: fantasy

How I Created a Magic System in Six Easy Steps

As part of my avoidance strategies to prevent myself from finishing my manuscript in a reasonable amount of time – ahem – I mean as part of my research – I stumbled across an article form the Well-Storied blog. (link at the bottom of the post). The article was really well written and made meContinue reading “How I Created a Magic System in Six Easy Steps”

I forgot to add Basil!

I saw this today and, having just finished the first draft of a children’s horror novella, it did make me smile. I miss every single criterion from this graphic: my hero is very flawed, this journey is less than heroic, my antagonist isn’t ruthless – well, not totally amoral, and I apparently forgot to includeContinue reading “I forgot to add Basil!”

Caged Fox – Chapter One published today (for free!)

Although delayed by holidays in the very top of England (or the very bottom of Scotland, depending on how you look at it), here is the final instalment of the first chapter of Kingdom of the Lion. Read about a poor chap, a victim of both circumstance and hopelessness, and the compatriots he is thrownContinue reading “Caged Fox – Chapter One published today (for free!)”

Let’s review: Noah (2014)

Sat in a caravan over the holiday, with the rain whipping down, Netflix was my friend. One of the films that piqued my interest was Noah. The film is more than a faithful retelling of the Judo -Christian Bible story or the Mesopotamian legend uncovered on cuneiform tablets by the British Museum. Instead, I takeContinue reading “Let’s review: Noah (2014)”

Let’s review: 13 Bullets

So first, an admission. I picked this book up for a quid in WHSmiths for my holiday and didn’t have high expectations. It was just something to fill the time while I waited to come home to my WiFi. I picked it up because it had a cool blurb and was on clearance. I amContinue reading “Let’s review: 13 Bullets”

Lets Review: The Dark Crystal

So it isn’t a book. I know. I have, in my few years upon this Earth figured out the difference between a movie and a book, but having recently watched this film again on Netflix, I really wanted to celebrate some of the things that I think the story and the production achieved well. IContinue reading “Lets Review: The Dark Crystal”

Lets Review: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Hobbit – It is the bar against which almost all other children’s fantasy is judged, and much adult fantasy fiction too.  Published in September 1937, it has endured as the most influential novel in the genre coupled with the Lord of the Rings trilogy which came out seventeen years later.  What better book isContinue reading “Lets Review: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.”