Tom Deitz

Author Tom Deitz died earlier this week, so I'm posting this article I wrote on him.

A part of rural Georgia has mysterious golden tracks leading to other worlds, propelling young people into fantastic battles with magical beings. In the near future, humans and Selkies fight shapeshifting whales out to destroy humanity. Tom Deitz is the Fantasy author of some of these scenarios. He writes Contemporary Fantasy set in the South where magic impinges on reality. Other books are about the near future. His books are full of adventure with strong plots, realistic characters and powerful themes.

Windmaster's Bane is the first book in the series introducing David Sullivan and his friends. David lives in a rural section of Georgia with his family. He discovers he possesses Second Sight. One night, David and his younger brother see the Sidhe riding along the track near their home. This starts the first encounter with the magical creatures of Fairy. Subsequent books mix Native American fantastic elements with Celtic to create further adventures for David and his companions. The rest of the books in the series are: Fireshaper’s Doom, Darkthunder’s Way, Sunshaker’s War, Stoneskin’s Revenge, Ghostcountry’s Wrath, Dreamseeker’s Road, Landslayer’s Law, and Warstalker’s Track.

Deitz's next series is the "Soulsmith" trilogy. This series tells the story of a group of people with strange powers. Set in the South again, the "Soulsmith" series is told in the books: Soulsmith, Dreambuilder and Wordwright.

The next two books are Science Fantasy. They take place in a near future Earth. Selkies and other magic creatures ally with humans to fight against shapeshifting whales. The whales want to destroy humanity because of the destruction of the environment by man. Above the Lower Sky and Demons in the Green are the two books in this series.

The Gryphon King is a stand alone novel. It's about some students at a college. They raise Satan during a mummers play. The students must fight to get rid of Satan.

His newest work is Bloodwinter. It's an Epic Fantasy and the start of a new series. In this book, two kingdoms fight for survival in a vicious winter. Characters in the book discover a gem with supernatural powers that drinks blood. They are drawn on a quest that may start a war between the two kingdoms. The book ends in a cliffhanger with lots of loose ends for the next book. This is a different subgenre for Deitz, but one he fulfills nicely.

Tom Deitz is a Fantasy author with a great imagination. He creates detailed books with a realistic edge and strong sense of wonder. His realistic characters, interesting plots and contemporary settings combine into thought provoking explorations of Fantasy worlds. Readers will enjoy their journeys through Deitz's books.

Interview with Sara Douglass

This interview appeared at my old Suite101 site a few years ago that I thought I would share again. Sara Douglass is a Fantasy author with interesting and varied books. She is an Australian author with a unique voice in the genre. Her books are vivid tales with compelling characters, interesting themes and gripping plots. Among her many books she is best known for the “Wayfarer Redemption” series consisting of: The Wayfarer Redemption, Enchanter, Starman, Sinner, Pilgrim and Crusader. Many of her other books take place in this world or are set in other worlds she has created. More information about Ms. Douglass can be found at her web site: http://www.saradouglass.com

Debbie Ledesma: How did you decide to become a writer?

Sara Douglass: Because I enjoyed it, and because I had trained as one. Writing was something I had always done well, and something I had always been at ease with, since I was a child. I always wrote: I kept diaries, I penned letters, I wrote novels, theses, lectures, talks, articles, non-fiction books. I don't think I ever 'decided' to become a writer. I just did it as a part of my daily life.

DL: Why did you choose the Fantasy genre?

SD: Again, because I had the background and the skills for it. I was never a particular fan of reading fantasy, but I enjoy writing it. I have been trained as a medieval historian - thus I am comfortable with alternate worlds - and I was trained as a writer as part of my training to be a historian. Many fantasy writers come from medieval teaching backgrounds. It's a natural breeding ground for fantasists!

DL: What authors, Fantasy or otherwise, influence your writing?

SD: None that I am aware of. I read a huge amount of material, mostly
non-fiction, and everything I read influences me in one way or the other, but there has never been a single author, or group of authors, who I can point to and say, "That author/book has influenced me".

DL: Does living in Australia influence your writing?

SD: Short answer: No. If it influences me to be any different than any
other nationality of writer then I am not aware of it.

DL: Have current events like talk of the war, 9/11, etc. influenced your writing?

SD: Not that I am aware of.

DL: Are you planning to branch out into other genres?

SD: Who knows what the future holds! At the moment I have no plans to
'branch out', but I can never rule out the possibility. I tend to write, and other people tend to categorize me. I send in a manuscript to a publisher, and someone in their wisdom says, "This is fantasy!" or "This is historical drama!" and I just shrug and say, "OK, if that's what you say" and go along with the entire publicity campaign.

DL: What themes or modern day issues do you include in your works that you want to share with readers?

SD: Hmmm. There are probably many 'issues', although not necessarily modern day ones. It's often been said that the entire Axis Trilogy (which the USA has as the first 3 books of the Wayfarer Redemption) is one gigantic diatribe against the medieval Christian Church, which is certainly true. The medieval church preached endlessly about the evilness and dangers of untamed territories (forests and mountains) and the majority of the environmental problems we have today are as a direct result medieval teaching (ever noticed how we always talk about landscape in war like terms? 'Conquering' mountains, for example. Most extreme sports are in effect war against the natural environment, man against land, which derives from our medieval past. I always have a go against organized religion, in whatever form, because I see it only as a form of social control (again, highly apparent in the first 3 books of the Wayfarer Redemption, and more particularly apparent in a series called The Crucible).

DL: I love books with mythic themes. Do you use any mythology sources for your writing?

SD: Not in any coherent sense. I would probably tend to use medieval
romance epics more than mythology, but then romance epics draw on
mythology. I generally take elements that appeal to me and mix them
up higgeldy piggedly, which annoys the Fact Nazis!

DL: What do you think about the current state of the Fantasy genre. Do you think that many books are too derivative?

SD: I have no idea what is happening in the current state of the Fantasy
genre! I haven't read a fantasy book for at least 20 years (unless
for a blurb). Like so many genre authors, I stay away from reading
within my own genre. Who wants to read for pleasure what they've
been slogging away at for 8 hours a day? It is also, I think (and this
view is also shared by many authors, and I've heard it stated many
times) highly dangerous to read within your own genre to any large
extent. This is for 2 reasons: 1) who can stay fresh if you are constantly reading what everyone else is doing?; and 2) the possibilities of unconscious plagiarism are massive (and in the current climate of suing for any mild reason, no author wants to plagiarize). You read something - a scene, a piece of dialogue - think that it's fabulous, and then 12 years later you unwittingly use that in one of your own books. Next thing you know you're in court. I read a great deal of crime, but at least then I am far more away if I am trying to transpose something admirable from a crime book into a fantasy book (having to change the AK47 into a magical sword, for instance. :))

DL: What do you think is the important function of Fantasy?

SD: I enjoy writing it, beyond that I honestly don't know. I don't try to rationalize or justify what I enjoy! :)

DL: With the success of Fantasy movies like “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter,” do you think any of your books would make good movies?

SD: Movies leave me stone cold dead. I don't think I’ve been to the movies in over 5 years. Any one of my books might, I suppose, make a good movie, but authors generally get such a rotten deal out of movie rights that, quite frankly, I would rather not know about it!

DL: What themes do you find most compelling to include in your writing?

SD: Well, the constant diatribe against organized religion, which I loathe ... and a good brutal birth scene normally always features somewhere! I also like to investigate the nature of evil. I hate it when the entire experience of life gets brutalized down to the simplistic good against evil. Neither inherent good nor inherent evil exist. We are all a mixtures of both. Life is nothing but a myriad shades of grey. I very much enjoy taking a set of 'good' characters at the beginning of a series and turning them into 'evil' characters by the end of the series merely by changing the readers' perceptions of 'good' and 'evil' (I don't do this so much in the
Troy Game, but I certainly do it in the last 3 books of the Wayfarer Redemption, and very particularly in The Crucible).

DL: The Wayfarer Redemption books have been published in the U.S. What other Fantasy books have you written?

SD: There are another 3 books in the Wayfarer series (Sinner, Pilgrim and Crusader), plus a trilogy called the Crucible (made up of The Nameless Day, The Wounded Hawk, and The Crippled Angel), a standalone called Threshold, another standalone called Beyond the Hanging Wall, and a non-fiction (and somewhat anti-fantasy!!) book called The Betrayal of Arthur (which debunks the entire Arthurian legend). There's also Hades’ Daughter, of course, available in the USA!

DL: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

SD: Write. If you want to write, then ... write. There is so much advice
everywhere that everyone forgets the simple rule; all it takes to be
a writer is to write. You may not be a publishable writer, but at
least you will be a writer.

DL: What books are in your future?

SD: The final three books of The Troy Game! Beyond that I haven't
thought.

DL: Thank you very much Ms. Douglass for this interview.


P.S. Recent news on Sara Douglass is worrisome. She has been diagonosed with ovarian cancer. My prayers are for her to beat this terrible disease.

Alan Garner

Imagine. A group of children fight magical forces in another world. Ghostly hunts cross the skies, hounds baying for their prey. A silver tea service is the key to breaking an ancient curse. These images are part of the Fantasy worlds of author Alan Garner. He is a talented writer that brings magic to life with descriptive words. Though he hasn’t produced any books, the existing ones are all Fantasy gems.

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is the first of Mr. Garner’s books. It tells the story of two youngsters, Colin and Susan, that move to a country home in England. While wandering through the woods, they are captured by dangerous creatures. A wizard named Cadellin rescues them. The children help him by going on a quest and are helped by the magical stone of the title.

In the next book, which is a sequel, The Moon of Gomrath, Susan and Colin release the Wild Hunt. The wizard Cadellin helps them again. Colin must save his sister from the effects of an ancient magic. Some Arthurian elements slip i nto both books with the king and his warriors sleeping under the hill. Mr. Garner imbues both books with vivid images of imaginative detail.

Elidor is a Contemporary Fantasy that straddles two worlds. The story begins in a depressed neighborhood of Manchester, England. Some youngsters find their way into the Fantasy world of Elidor. They are needed to save this world and restore its magic. The children flee back to our world with magical objects and the unicorn Findhorn, pursued by evil. A suspenseful tale ensues with Mr. Garner’s usual descriptive talent.

Perhaps his most powerful book is The Owl Service. This Fantasy possesses a mythic quality that resonates deeply with the reader. The story takes place in a Welsh village where the inhabitants are curse Ød to repeat the tragic myth of the woman made of flowers. Allison, Gwyn and Roger find an old bunch of plates with owls on them. One of the owls disappears, setting the myth in motion. The three young people must strive to break the curse before it ends in tragedy again. The characters are well drawn and the setting of the Welsh village is very realistic. This is a Mythic Fantasy not to be missed.

Alan Garner is not a prolific author, but his few books are gems in the Fantasy genre. Do not let the Young Adult label deter you either. He uses vivid descriptions and images to bring his worlds to life. Welsh and Arthurian myths blend with realistic British settings to create memorable stories of ordinary characters. Mr. Garner is an author worth seeking out. Hopefully, he will create more stories in the future.

Other books:

The Strandloper

The Voice That Thunders - This is his biography.

Louise Cooper

Imagine breaking a forbidden rule and being responsible for the destruction of your people. Or, imagine living in a world where gods of order and chaos vie for supremacy. These and many other Fantasy worlds are the creations of British author Louise Cooper. Her works are filled with memorable characters, imaginative plots and complex themes. She is an author every lover of Fantasy should read. Whether part of a series or stand alone books, she leaves an impact on readers.

One of Ms. Cooper's longest series tells the story of Indigo. This character is a young woman, like Pandora, who sets demons loose in the world out of her curiosity. Her people are killed and she is given immortality until she defeats all the demons she set free in the world. Indigo is helped by a sentient female wolf called Grimya. In each book, they travel to different parts of their world to fight one of the demons. The eight books are: Nemesis, Inferno, Infanta, Nocturne, Troika, Avatar, Revenant and Aisling.

Ms. Cooper's other series books are part of her Chaos and Order world. The seven gods of Chaos and Order struggle for a delicate balance of control. The stories of the complex characters of Tarod, Cyllan, Yandros and many others unfold in two trilogies. The first consists of The Initiate, The Outcast and The Master which tell the stories of Tarod, Cyllan and Chaos restoring the balance to their world. The next trilogy is about the battle to stop a powerful Chaos demon's daughter from conquering the world. The books here are: The Deceiver, The Pretender and The Avenger. A prequel trilogy was not published in the United States except the first book called Star Ascendant.

She has written many stand alone books too. Mirage is a Dark Fantasy. It tells the complex story of the city Haven and the troubled characters locked in a final battle. Most of the other books are Young Adult Fantasies and not available in the United States. This is a shame since she is an excellent writer for any age.

Louise Cooper is a Fantasy writer of great imagination and story telling ability. She uses her interests in music, folklore, mythology and comparative religion to weave entertaining stories with difficult themes. Her books are worth seeking out and reading. More information on Louise Cooper can be found at her web site: http://www.louisecooper.com

Patricia Briggs Interview

I did this interview with Ms. Briggs several years ago, but thought readers would enjoy it again.

Debbie Ledesma: How did you decide to become a writer?

Patricia Biggs: I’m not sure it was ever anything so definite as a decision - except perhaps this last year when I began to write full time. I’ve always loved books. When I ran out of horse books to read I started reading my sister’s collection of Andre Norton and branched out from there. Writing just seemed like a natural extension of reading.

DL: Why did you choose the Fantasy genre?

PB: If you could look at my collection of books, you’d know just how good a question that is. I read anything from philosophy to romance and most things in between.

When I was a child, my older sister spent several years reading a different fairytale to me every night. By the time I was out of elementary school I’d read all of Andrew Lang’s color fairy books twice over, as well as all the fairy tale books in the local library. My degree is in history, and I really loved the Middle Ages. I had this wonderful professor who used to bounce up and down on his heels as he described the final moments of the average black plague victim. Finally, I’ve always been a
horse person. It took years for my mother to explain to me that most people like to talk about other things than horses. So when I decided to take the plunge and write a book; folklore, history and horses seemed to point to Fantasy.

After I started to write I found that it was a better choice than I’d expected.
Fantasy is among the least restrictive of all genres. My books can be mysteries, war stories, romances... whatever I feel like writing and they are still fantasies. I read articles about authors who complain how hard it is merely to switch from time-travel romance to contemporary romance because each subgenre has a different readership. Fantasy readers seem to be more forgiving than that. The person who reads Robert Jordan, for instance, probably would still enjoy Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks. I believe the kind of person who opens themselves to different worlds is too adventurous to restrict themselves to one subgenre: Fantasy readers allow authors a lot of leeway.

DL: What authors, Fantasy or otherwise, influence your writing?

PB: Holy, cow. Who didn’t? Not that I planned it that way. When I wrote my first book, I felt like I had done it on my own. Which is particularly silly, in retrospect, because I wrote Masques as an exercise to find out if I could actually write a book from beginning to end. I purposefully chose the most classic plot of fantasy, evil wizard tries to take over the world while the valiant underdogs strive to stop him. So even before I read Tolkien’s LOTR he had a tremendous effect on my writing. For those
of you who caught the implications, yes, this does mean that I read LOTR after I was a published writer - actually it was just this year. I must have read The Hobbit a bizillion times, but I tried to read LOTR when I was too young and unfortunately never got past it. I used to hang my head at SF Conventions...

When I started writing, I turned to other authors’ works to see how to do things - how to punctuate conversation, for instance. The only teacher I had, and I had many wonderful teachers, who taught proper punctuation of conversations was my second grade teacher, Mrs. Searle. To see how to get a conversation to flow, I picked up a few of my favorite character-building authors and picked apart their conversations: Dick Francis, Barbara Hambly, Robert Parker, Jayne Anne Krentz, Anne McCaffery and a dozen or so others.

But the most influential writer would have to be Andre Norton, because if my sister hadn’t taken Black Beauty (which I recently read to my children and realized that I still have large sections of it memorized) forcibly out of my hands and replaced it with Beast Master - I would never have discovered how much fun adventurous reading
could be.

DL: Are you planning to branch out into other genres?

PB: I don’t think so. As I mentioned earlier, Fantasy allows me tremendous scope. When Demons Walk was a mystery with a light touch of politics. Hob’s Bargain was a fairy tale and an apocalyptic/survival novel (which I would have had a hard time selling in
the traditional genre of apocalyptic novels, SF). Dragon Bones is a coming of age novel and a survival story in its own right. I do try to stretch and grow as a writer with each novel, both to keep my interest up and to keep my books from being repeats of earlier books, so I suppose changing genres is not out of the question, just unlikely in the near future.

DL: Do you use any mythology sources for your writing?

PB: Absolutely. Northern European Folklore was steeped into me from childhood. I read a lot of folklorist’s books, including the invaluable Encyclopedia of Fairies by Katherine Briggs (no relation) before I wrote The Hob’s Bargain to brush up on my knowledge of the lesser-known fey. Though I have to confess that I used the pooka
Harvey (from the old movies of the same name) as a basis for my Hob. One of my only two short stories is a retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin" called “The Price” which appears in the Datlow-Windling anthology Silver Birch, Blood Moon. That anthology, BTW, won
the World Fantasy Award for anthologies.

I have read/studied many other mythologies - I even taught Greek and Roman mythology. But other than “The Price” and The Hob’s Bargain, I don’t recall deliberately using mythology in a story.

DL: How long did it take you to write your first book and how long did it take to get that book published?

PB: My first book, Masques, took me about a year to write, once I quit rewriting the first ten pages over and over again. It’s a short book, about 75 or 80,000 words which, set in a small font, came out as just under 200 pages in a book format. It still takes me about a year - except for When Demons Walk, which was a sheer romp. I sent a synopsis and three chapters out to all the Fantasy publishing houses with a letter telling the editors I had a complete novel and asking them if they’d like me to submit the book (submitting a book to multiple publishers at the same time is a Very Bad Thing). After about six months I got back letters from all the publishers except for Ace. Everyone said no except for Del Rey who said - we don’t read samples, either submit this or don’t bother us. So I did another polishing run on the whole book, printed it out ready to send to Del Rey, when I got a letter from Laura Anne Gilman at Ace. (She’s now running the editorial show at Roc.) I submitted it to her. She wrote
me back for revisions, which I did. Miracle of miracles, she bought it. It was probably a year from when I finished Masques until Ace finally made an offer on it, and I took another year before they published it.

Most authors don’t sell their first book -- or even first few books, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t. Luck can compensate for skill -- I was lucky that there was an editor at Ace who liked the kinds of books I write. Laura Anne babysat me through the editing process - and most editors don’t have the time to do that. But skill will compensate for lack of luck as well, it just takes longer.

DL: What do you think is the important function of Fantasy?

PB: This question usually comes up in some variant as a panel topic at science fiction conventions, and I’ve even been a participating panelist on it a time or ten - and I think that the answer varies with the author, the book and the reader. There are some things that Fantasy can do very well - and like its siblings SF and horror - has traditionally done. The first and most obvious is escapism. Allowing people to put aside the trials of their lives to live in a different world is valuable. Art reminds us that there is beauty in the world when our world looks pretty bleak. Sometimes that makes people angry; because art can point out the joy that is lacking in their world. But the best art, whether books, paintings, or music can console us and lift our expectations. I am a firm believer that if you want to be happy, you have to snatch happiness and fight for it. When I was in high school, I used to take Christopher Stasheff’s wonderful novel, The Warlock In Spite of Himself with me to dentist visits - or any other high stress times. I wore out five or six copies -- that was in the days before he made a big splash so those copies were hard to find. No matter how upset I was, I could always laugh when I read that book. It saved me a lot of Valium. When I
write, I try to offer hope. I want people to feel better when they finish my books than when they started them.

Another traditional role of fantasy is to disguise some current issue and examine it from an angle not possible if you were to write about it directly, the style this takes varies from satyrical to serious. In speculative fiction (the genre containing SF, horror, and Fantasy because in them the author speculates about worlds that operate under different laws than our own) we are allowed to change the society that is viewing the subject and use that to try to change the attitudes of our readership. Take the issue of homosexuality for instance. If you take the social stigma away from being
homosexual, how does that change matters? In our society, being homosexual is not only a sexual decision - it is a cultural one, with established roles to play: butch, transvestite and the like. To be homosexual in 2002 in the US is to make that single facet of a person's life the most important single thing about them. But in a different world where such things are normal, how does that change the participants?
How much of that familiar culture is caused by being homosexual, and how much is a reaction to society’s rejection? There are certainly non social issues for homosexual couples -- the most important one is that they cannot have children together without help. Sometimes taking away the familiar norms of our world allows us to see things in a different light. We might disagree about the answer, but posing the question in a different manner might just make us think about it instead of clinging to easy answers we were given by someone else.

Which brings me to another important function fiction, any kind of fiction, does: It allows the reader to see the world through different eyes. When I read, I can be a black man or a young child. I can be an old woman or a deer named Bambi. That doesn't mean that I think hunting is a bad thing -- but I do have sympathy for the deer -- and the little old woman who backs up traffic as she shuffles across a busy intersection. Psychologists say that one of the common difficulties shared by child molesters is the inability to empathize with another human.

Between faster communication and growing population, our world decreases in size every day. In the light of 9/11, it is important for us to be able to “walk a mile in another’s moccasins”. Books are, in my opinion, the single best medium to develop the understanding necessary to live together on our earth.

DL: There are a lot of books by authors like Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Terry Goodkind, etc. that are popular. Do you find a lot of the Fantasy books hitting the bestseller lists derivative? Do you think they’re helpful to further the field?

PB: To a certain extent, all books are derivative. The subgenre of Epic Fantasy is one of the few genres of fantasy that traditionally produces bestselling novels - meaning that people who don’t read fantasy will read Epic Fantasy. We owe this in a large part to the reputation of Tolkien, whose torch was first taken up by Terry Brook’s The Sword
of Shannara, which was the first trade paperback to hit the NYT Bestselling Lists. Now, publishing houses look at epic fantasies and say, “Gee, this might be a bestseller.” So they promote it as a bestseller - and the promotion helps make it come true. Because most of these books are epic fantasies, they share certain similarities. To me a good book is a good book, whether it is a Terry Brooks novel or a Laurell K. Hamilton. I like most of the bestselling fantasy books, and when I don’t like them, it’s not because they were too much like another book I’ve read.

Authors are not in competition with each other. Any author who can pull in readers, benefits the industry as a whole -- as well as their readership. I have a friend who had never read a book since high school. Last year she picked up a Nora Roberts book and liked it. Now she reads all the time, and not just Nora Roberts. The Harry Potter books have brought a lot of young readers into the genre. What do you think of this? Is it helpful to the genre?

I am for almost anything that can get children to read. Sometime in the eighties I read that 1/3 of adult women were functionally illiterate - meaning that their reading level was third grade or below and they could not fill out a job application. The article mentioned that the figure for men wasn’t quite as bad. Reading is such a basic skill, and it takes practice. If peer pressure forces children to read - especially good books like Harry Potter, then I’m all for it.

While Harry Potter fans are eagerly awaiting the next installment, they might try Tamora Pierce, Jane Yolen, or Brian Jacques. Some of them will continue to read Fantasy decades from now - and without Harry Potter, they might never have tried reading anything at all. The more children who read Fantasy now, the more adults will be reading Fantasy in the future. How can that be bad?

DL: Movies are a different medium, but do you think any of your books would make a good movie?

PB: If a good producer and a good scriptwriter (not me) got involved, found good actors and cinematographers, yes. When Demons Walk, in particular had a number of very visual scenes -- though I’m afraid the temptation would be for a producer to turn it into a horror movie. I’d like to see what the special effects people would do for Caefawn’s tail in The Hob’s Bargain . But to be a good movie, the stories would be different. Any industry that can take Andre Norton’s Beast Master and turn out the movie they did (which I enjoyed - but it had very little to do with the novel) is not to be trusted lightly with any book. Just look what they did with “Beast Master 2” & even worse 3! (Although I have to admit laughing myself silly at BM2 about 2am and had a wonderful time as visions of “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” ran through my head.)

DL: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

PB: Make sure you are doing this because you want to write - not because you want to be a writer. You can always sit down and write, but you can’t always publish. The publishing world is not a kind one. There are many, many authors who only ever publish one book, and still more who never publish any.

If you can’t take criticism learn how. Or don’t show anyone your book, ever. I’ve yet to see a book that hasn’t garnished a few nasty comments from someone.

Then write and read. Don’t pay anyone money to doctor your manuscript in the hopes it will be publishable afterwards. It is possible to about how to write that way, but there are less expensive and more effective methods. Don’t pay anyone to publish your book and expect to make money. No matter what they say. Don’t send your manuscripts to agents who charge reading fees. If they’re not making enough money off of selling books, they’re not good enough agents and try elsewhere. Don’t expect to become rich from writing. Some people do ‹ but the average person who claims writing as their main career makes something like $1200/year: that’s with Stephen King’s millions added into the mix.

Write - and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.

DL: What books or stories are in your future?

PB: I’ve finished the sequel to Dragon Bones. It's called Dragon Blood and is scheduled to come out from Ace in January of 2003. Right now I’m working on a trilogy proposal for Ace, just to try something new. I’m aiming for an Epic Fantasy novel, but I can never really tell until the book is finished.

Guy Gavriel Kay

Many authors write books in the genre that are full of action, magic and adventure. A few of these authors carve niches for themselves by having different views that set them apart. Fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay is a unique voice in the fantasy genre. His books create vivid fantasy worlds and stories that live on in a reader's thoughts and hearts for a long time.

The “Fionavar Tapestry” trilogy mixes Celtic, Arthurian and other mythologies for a deeply moving Epic Fantasy. Five college students from our world are transported to the world of Fionavar. They each must play a role in the battle to stop the evil power trying to take control of this world. There is tragedy and triumph throughout the books. The trilogy consists of: The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road.

Later Mr. Kay turned to historical fantasy with magic and mythic elements. These books take place in some historical period or alternate historical period but have fantastic events happening and interesting characters.

Tigana is set in an alternate medieval kingdom sort of like Italy. The kingdom of Tigana is under a curse due to the soldiers killing the sorcerer’s young son Stevan. Many of the characters fight to free the kingdom from the curse so they can regain their memory. This book is different from the usual battles between good and evil. There are many shades of gray. Mr. Kay produces a beautiful book of depth, plot and character.

Inspired by medieval France, Mr. Kay wrote his next book A Song for Arbonne. The book’s plot weaves around the the themes of art, religious strife and courtly love. The story is vivid take on a time that is romantic to modern day readers. Kay proves his talents again in writing a memorable story for readers.

In his next book, The Lions of Al-Rassan, readers are treated to an alternate medieval Spain with cultures similar to the Moors, Christians and Jews of that period. The author uses the legends based on EL Cid and others to frame a powerful story in this alternate world. There is no obvious magic in the book, but the reader gets Kay's usual depth of character and themes as his other books.

Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors belong to the duology called the "Sarantine Mosaic". Crispin is a mosaicist (an artist that makes pictures from colored tiles) who travels to Sarantium and gets caught up in political intrigue. This is a rich story of characters and themes set in an alternate Byzantine empire.

Next, Mr. Kay explores the ancient world of the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, and Celts in Last Light of the Sun. This alternate historical fantasy follows the struggles of three people’s as they learn to coexist in a different Britain. Bern Thorkellson must come to grips with his past as he travels to a new land. King Aeldred struggles to control his capricious children while dealing with threats to his kingdom. The Celtic-like character, Alun ab Owyn, must deal with the strange fairy creatures he encounters. Mr. Kay weaves a dark book of a bloody period in the world’s history.

Mr. Kay’s most recent book is Ysabel, which won the World Fantasy award. This book is a Mythic Fantasy set in modern day Provence, France. Nick Marrinner is a fifteen year old boy who travels with his father to the region. He must face mythic creatures from the Celtic and Roman battles of the past that threaten him and his family. The author demonstrates his great writing skills to present readers with a thought provoking, memorable book.

Whether writing Epic Fantasy or Historical Fantasy, Guy Gavriel Kay is a fantasy author of high quality. He weaves complex themes and subjects like mosaics, poetry, and music into fantasy worlds of unforgettable beauty. His use of mythic elements makes each book a powerful read. Each of his books should be read by lovers of fantasy. More information can be found at the web site dedicated to him at: http://www.brightweavings.com

On Writing Fantasy: Adding a Mythic Quality to Your Writing

Why do some Fantasy works like Lord of the Rings stay with us for years while others fade away and disappear? The books and stories that stay with us have a mythic quality to them. Writers draw from myth for inspiration and to create works that become timeless for readers. Each reading of such a work provides the reader with new insights about humanity or ourselves. Mythic themes give Fantasy a unique quality of wisdom that persists in the mind and become part of an individual for life. If you write Fantasy, trying to include such a quality in your work is helpful. To do this isn't easy and takes some effort on the part of a writer. To incorporate myths into their works, Fantasy writers need an understanding of the relationship of myth to Fantasy, knowledge of mythology and to use their life experiences in their writing.

First, writers of Fantasy need an understanding of the relationship of myth to Fantasy. Myths from many different cultures teach us about the human experience. They provide ways for people to work through problems, help with life changes and try to explain what we don’t understand. The relationship of the Fantasy genre to myth is that it performs the same function as myths in our present day. With this understanding, writers add a greater depth to their work and possibly create new myths. “In this way, the body of modern fantasy-and this true of fantasy by men as well-comes to resemble a mythology: that is, a compilation of narratives that expresses a society’s conception of itself, its individual members, and their place in the universe.” (Attebery, 89) This powerful relationship establishes strong, timeless works of incredible resonance. These works can stay relevant to different times and people; put simply, they last for generations. Once this understanding is accomplished, writers need to acquire knowledge about mythology.

Having a working knowledge about mythology is necessary for Fantasy writers. Without it, books and stories become lifeless forms of entertainment, losing their sense of wonder after one reading. A Fantasy writer needs to spend some time learning about mythology. An awareness of mythic themes and symbols creates more vivid works because: “Take myth away, and the magic in a Fantasy book is nothing more than special effects, or Le Guin’s phallic staff of wish-fulfillment. The myth is the magic, moving us through the dark, through the fire, flaying flesh from bone. By following myth to its end, the hero of the tale, and the reader, and the writer, all participate in the final rebirth--putting us back on the road to the east with tobacco seeds in our pocket.” (Windling, 26)
Acquiring knowledge of myths is easy but time consuming. There are many good sources; reading books on mythology, researching the Internet and reading Fantasy works that incorporate myth very well can provide writers with considerable knowledge. (A list of mythology and books can be found at the end of this article.) Along with knowledge of mythology, writers should use their life experience.

People’s hopes, dreams, life changes, education and everything that makes them who they are is a part of life experience. Writers should use their life experience in their works because most Fantasy literature is rooted there:
“What we do need is to remember that Fantasy (even more than other kinds of fiction) is a rites-of-passage literature--whether its themes are based on collective battles or on private, individual ones. The best Fantasy is rooted not only in myth but in life experience--while the worst draws experience secondhand from film, television and other books.” (Windling, 24)
It's hard to avoid the influences from other media. A writer must consciously avoid this trap, but let it blend with their own life experience and imagination to produce powerful works. This is an obligation to readers. Fail this obligation and readers are left with poor, lifeless stories. “As fantasist, we must look to the quests, ordeals, and trials that form (as Susan Cooper says) the shape of our own imagination and all its unconscious preoccupations. Through myth, symbol, and metaphor, the true fantasist transforms the personal into the universal--creating stories that not only entertain but provide the mythic tools we need to face the ordeals, the monsters, the wolves, of our modern age.” (Windling, 24)
This is not too much to ask of the Fantasy writer.

Without the presence of a mythic element in Fantasy, books and stories are sometimes little more than empty, flashy entertainment. Writers can create powerful works by understanding the relationship of myth to Fantasy; having a knowledge of mythology and epic cycles; and putting life experience into their works. Blending realistic characters, mythic themes and fantastic settings using the three things mentioned previously could give Fantasy readers timeless works to last through the ages.

Works Cited:

Attebery, Brian .Strategies of Fantasy., Bloomington and Idianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1992.

Windling, Terri. “Unriddling the World:Rites-of-Passage Myths and Fantasy Tales.” Realms of Fantasy Volume 6 #2 (December 1999): 21-2

Books on Mythology:

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

The Golden Bough by James Frazer

Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung

Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Mythology Sites on the Internet:

http://legends.dm.net Covers Fantasy and Arthurian Legend

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/myth.html Link page to many mythology pages.

Maggie Furey

Do you like strong women characters in your books? Do you want adventure stories with lots of action and magic? The Fantasy worlds of Maggie Furey have these things and much more. Ms. Furey writes books filled with vivid images, powerful characters and plenty of magical action. Her worlds have plots that move quickly, leaving a reader wanting more.

Aurian is the first book of Ms. Furey’s series “The Artefacts of Power.” Aurian is a young woman mage. She is sent to the city of Nexis to get training. In this world mage-folk are the rulers and do not mix with normal humans. Aurian breaks these rules by befriending many humans. She falls in love with Forral who is a mortal warrior. When she becomes pregnant, Miathan the archmage gets angry. He uses the Cauldron, one of the recently discovered ancient artefacts, to kill her lover and place a curse on her unborn child. She flees the city with a slave named Anvar and ends up in the southern continent.

The second book is Harp of Winds. Aurian’s pregnancy is slowly taking her magic away. She and Anvar are negotiating the dangerous southern continent with several companions searching for the other Artefacts of power to thwart Miathan’s plans. On their search, they meet new races such as the Skyfolk. These are people with wings that add another complication with their own intrigues.

Sword of Flames continues Aurian’s and Anvar’s stories as they search for the Sword of Flame. They must contend with Miathan’s continued machinations and hatred. Aurian’s son is still trapped with a curse. Their companions and allies battle over two continents in an effort to defeat the evil mages. Then, enters the wild card of the Phaeries, which ends the book in a real cliff hanger for the conclusion.

Ms. Furey brings the series to a rousing conclusion with Dhiammara. Aurian defeated one of her enemies, but now must face the powerful weather mage Elliseth. She has many obstacles, including dealing with the soul of her first lover now residing in Anvar’s body. With her companions, she must travel to the southern continent again to fight Elliseth at the ancient dragon city of Dhiammara. The series is neatly wrapped up with some vivid battle scenes and a lot of action. Readers are left with memorable characters and a satisfying conclusion.

Ms. Furey begins the new series of “The Shadowleague” with the The Heart of Myrial. This is a new world where the different realms are separated by curtains of magic. The curtains are breaking down, creating massive climatic changes and allowing stronger species to cross into zones of weaker ones, resulting in chaos. The Shadowleague sends out a Veldan her firedrake Kazairl to find the heart of Myrial. It is the only place to solve the problem of the Curtain Walls. This is a fascinating beginning to a new series that will be as interesting as her previous books.

The second book, Spirit of the Stone, continues the story of the world of Myrial. Deadly winged monsters have attacked the city Tiarond, leaving death everywhere. While survivors flee the devastation, a group of warriors try to reach the kingdom of the Shadowleague with important information. They have the knowledge of a Dragon Seer with them that could save the world. Ms. Furey keeps the middle book exciting with plenty of action and setting readers up for the last book.

Echo of Eternity wraps up the series of the “Shadowleague.” The struggle to save the world of Myrial is still continuing. With the Curtain Walls gone, the scattered members of the Shadowleague try to gather together. A man with the knowledge of the Dragon Seer is missing. Two warriors and their firedrake companion seek him in order to save the world before it is too late. The author brings the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion with her usual vivid descriptions and interesting characters.

Maggie Furey is a talented Fantasy author of imaginative worlds. She creates strong women characters to sympathize with and interesting creatures to populate her worlds. Her style of writing is concise but filled with dazzling images, plenty of magic and tight action plots. Readers will find her books entertaining. The books are hard to put down. Check out her books for a great reading experience. Ms. Furey has a new book, Heritage, coming out soon that returns to the world of Aurian.

Review: _On the Prowl_

Paranormal Romance or what I call Romantic Fantasy is growing popular among fans. Authors mix fantasy elements with romance to create new types of stories. Readers looking for some shorter Fantasy with romantic elements will find it in On the Prowl. This book consists of four stories from various authors that blend Urban Fantasy and Romance.

First is “Alpha and Omega” by Patricia Briggs, expanding her Urban Fantasy stories set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson books. Anna Latham is an abused, submissive werewolf. Something terrible is going on in her Chicago pack. Things change for her when she meets Charles, a werewolf sent by his father to investigate what is happening with her pack. Charles is a dominant aloof man until he meets Anna. She has a special magic that is rare in werewolves. Ms. Briggs provides an entertaining story to her Urban Fantasy with two new interesting characters.

Kia is a Gifted woman living in a small Texas town. She faces prejudice and danger in “Inhuman” by Eileen Wilks. Magic has entered the modern world. The Gifted are people with magical talents of various kinds. They face hatred from humans who have no magic. Kia is a telepath who sees people’s thoughts in color. Nathan is her friend. He is a police officer and has a secret that Kia keeps. When a murderer begins killing Gifted people, Kian and Nathan must work together to stop the killer. The author writes an enjoyable story with likable characters and an interesting plot.

In “Buying Trouble” by Karen Chance, Claire becomes an unwilling part of an auction. Different people want to buy her because of her magic power to nullify magic. She finds herself on the run with a Fey lord in an action action chase through Faery. Claire discovers her heritage and destiny in the land of Faery. Ms. Chance gives readers an entertaining story full of action.

The final story is “Mona Lisa Betwinning” by Sunny. This story is part of an ongoing series about the Monere, a group of shapechangers who get power from moon. Lisa is the current queen of the Monere, who must deal with picking a mate to ensure her people’s future. Dontaine is one of her body guards that loves her, but she chooses to ignore. An added complication to Lisa’s problems is the involvement of demons in Monere business. The author provides readers with an intriguing story that is sexually explicit.

On the Prowl is a good book to sample the subgenre of Romance Fantasy. The four stories in this book by different authors offer a variety of entertaining stories to experience a growing subgenre. Al the stories are by popular authors with good imaginations. Readers might want to seek out the other books that continue the further adventures of the characters in the stories from this book.

William Morris

J.R.R. Tolkien brought the Fantasy genre into prominence in the Twentieth century with Lord of the Rings. This book inspired many authors to try capturing the feel of the book with their own creations. Before Tolkien, there were many authors who wrote Fantasy too. One of these authors was William Morris. He was a multitalented writer, furniture designer and publisher of the late 1800’s. Living during the Victorian era in England, he was a socialist and wrote several books of Fantasy, which formed the major works of his fiction.

The Glittering Plain is a story revolving around the theme of immortality. The Undying King kidnaps the heroine because of his desire for her. The hero, trying to rescue her, faces obstacles like the people refusing to help him out due to fear of the king. The novel has an underlying core of humor, which the author provides with obvious clues.

The author’s most complex Fantasy is The Well at the World’s End. The four king’s sons draw lots to see who stays behind from the quest. Ralph loses the contest, but leaves in the night to begin it anyway. He must undergo several trials to reach the well and his redemption. Ursula joins Ralph on the quest in search of her fulfillment. They both change and grow as people. It is a very good book, but a little difficult in the language because Morris tried to write in an older style of language.

The author’s next book is a little different. The Wood Beyond the World is a dark tale set around the theme of faithlessness. It begins with a painful marriage in trouble that sends the characters off on hard journeys. There is a terrible evil to be overcome by any means. This book is short, but contains many vivid images created by the author.

Mr. Morris created a woman character to follow in The Waters of the Wondrous Isles. Birdalone is kidnapped from her family and becomes the slave of a witch as a child. She escapes from her island prison on a magical boat. The book tells her story through several magical adventures as she reaches maturity to become a strong, fully realized woman. It is an early book of women’s liberation with fantasy elements.

The Sundering Flood was the author’s last book, finished a few days before his death. Mr. Morris attempted to write a mythic fantasy with this book. The theme is about separation. Two lovers are separated by a river. There is a magic sword and they are helped by a virtuous knight. This last book is an interesting end to a creative career.

William Morris is one of the founding fathers of the Fantasy genre. He wrote many memorable Fantasy romances in the late 1800s of Victorian England full of strong characters, vivid settings and compelling themes. Multitalented, he wrote books, designed furniture and was a publisher with his famous Kelmscott Press. Many authors such as Tolkien and Lewis found inspiration from his books for their works. He is a challenging, but important author to read. Some of his texts can be found online at: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au

_Kar Kalim_ by Deborah Christian

So you are tired of the standard fantasy novel and want something different? Try Kar Kalim by Deborah Christian. It is very different from the norm. The book is full of rich descriptions, interesting magics and a different plot.

Inya is a powerful sorceress living in the tower of Moontooth. She is the guardian of the gates to other worlds in her tower. Mistress of great powers, Inya is arrogant, aloof and overconfident. She greets visitors by wearing masks, awing them with her mystique.

One day, a young man comes to her tower to be an apprentice. He angers Inya with his binding spell upon her. She agrees to train him in order to use him to get a legendary crystal of power. They become lovers, but Inya is uncomfortable with Amrey's powers. He goes on her quest, but brings back a fake crystal. She seals the portal door behind him after he flees.

Years later, the gate is shattered open. A man comes through with his followers. He captures Inya, making her a prisoner in her own tower. Kar Kalim, conqueror of worlds, begins his bloody conquest of Draakmil..

The book has a lot to say about the darker side of human nature and power. This book has some very descriptive scenes of violence. I recommend it for those looking for something different in fantasy. My major qualm is the characters. Neither Inya or Kar Kalim are people you can sympathsize with very easily. Both are arrogant creatures of power. Be patient though and you will be rewarded.

This book was published several years ago. It’s out of print, but used copies are available.

Review: _The Tainted_ by Glenda Larke

Blaze Halfbreed returns in the final book of the “Isles of Glory” to save a friend from a terrible fate. She is helped by other characters is this rousing book of adventure. The Tainted by Glenda Larke is an action packed conclusion to an immensely entertaining trilogy. The author brings the trilogy to a satisfying climax through the setting, characters and plot.

First, the setting helps the book be entertaining with its realistic portrayal. Ms. Larke creates strong images with the different island kingdoms and cultures that sound like they could exist. One island has its main city built into a cliff along a bay where the palace is at the highest level and the poor live at the lowest. Even more interesting is the island with Tenkor and the Hub. Messages, passengers and cargo are transported up an inlet on the tidal bores. The author's thoughtful creation of the setting energizes the sense of wonder.

Next, the characters bring the book to a satisfying climax b being memorable. Blaze has a part, but it is other characters that are on the main stage in this book. Ruarth Windrider begins his new life following Flame the woman he loves. She is subverted by dunmagic and treats him horribly. He must overcome Flame’s bad treatment and coming to terms with dramatic changes to his life. Elarn Jaydon lives in Tenkor. He is a tide rider, a person who rides the tidal bore to deliver messages up and down the inlet. His father disapproves of him because of his sylv magic talent. These characters interact with Blaze and others that help them grow. Ms. Larke creates memorable characters with interesting lives through strong descriptions and dialogue.

Lastly, the author brings the story to a satisfying conclusion with the plot. The book starts with Ruarth on a shop with Flame, dealing with his new circumstances. He does not understand Flame’s behavior. She heads to an island kingdom to marry a man she hated in previous books. Elarn meets the daughter of the head Keeper. She convinces him to learn to use his sylv power and to help her with her ideas. Events in the lives of these characters pile up to a rousing end involving all the haracters from the other books. Ms. Larke weaves the plot together deftly to provide an interesting, exciting climax to the book.

The Tainted by Glenda Larke is the final book of the “Isles of Glory” trilogy. The trilogy is brought to a satisfying conclusion in this book through its setting, characters and plot. Ms. Larke is a creative writer using her experiences from living in Malaysia and Australia to create imaginative books that stay with readers for a long time. This book was no exception.

Review: _Chronicles of the Last War_ by Laura J. Underwood

Laura J. Underwood is an author who creates interesting worlds and characters for her stories. Her stories set in the world of Keltora are vibrant with magic, adventures and memorable characters. Chronicles of the Last War is a collection of three stories of Keltora featuring the characters Eithne, Conor and Michan in a land torn by war.

“The Black Hunter” begins the story of these three characters as they meet for the first time. Eithne is a True Healer but her father decrees that she marry a man of his choosing for an alliance. She flees her family to become a healer. After her training, she joins a group of healers with the king’s militia on the war front. Conor Manahan is a sergeant in the militia. As warrior he feels something is wrong in the caste where the militia are staying. Michan is a battle mage who befriends Conor after someone tries to kill him. These three friends must fight a supernatural foe as their relationships grow in interesting directions.

In the next story “Willowherb,” the three main characters return to face new conflicts. They are on the battle field in a camp. Conor and Eithne must deal wit their budding romance. Michan senses a blood mage close by the camp along with the presence of a demon. When the demon attacks the camp, men are killed and the militia leader wants volunteers to kill the blood mage. Other problems put a strain on the characters, creating tension mixed in with the adventure of the story.

The last story, “Wyrd,” follows Eithne and Conor years later. Conor is a guard with a caravan. Eithne and their mageborn son Rhoyd travel with him. Every day the caravan gets closer to a certain place on the route that triggers dreams in Conor. He must deal with a past tragedy while fighting threats to the caravan. This is a bittersweet story with a nice ending.

Chronicles of the Last War by Laura J. Underwood has three entertaining stories set in the Celtic style fantasy world of Keltora. This Celtic Fantasy follows three people during a last fierce war. Supernatural creatures, magic and strong warriors created by Mx. Underwood provide vivid stories of interesting characters for readers. The book is available from Yard Dog Press at : http://www.yarddogpress.com

Review: _Fall of a Kingdom_ by Hilari Bell

Three young people from different social classes face trials and threats to their kingdom. Fall of a Kingdom by Hilari Bell is the first book of the “Farsala” trilogy. The cultures depicted, the characters and plot weave together to provide an entertaining first book.

First, the author creates different cultures that makes the book entertaining. Farsala is a kingdom of tribal clans ruled by one house at a time. The deghans have a cultures based on horses and is Middle Eastern in flavor. Another culture is made up of desert nomads called the Sud. They have a strange magic that relies on talking with the spirits of things. Then there are the Hrum made up of a great empire that conquers other nations, constantly expanding. Ms. bell’s cultures have neat interactions that make the story more powerful.

Next, the characters help the story to be entertaining by being realistic. The three main characters are in their late teens and early twenties. Kavi is a peasant peddler who has suffered at the hands of the deghans. His resentment spurs in making difficult decisions that threaten his soul. Jaain is the illegitimate son of the deghan Merahb. His father has him as an aid and teaches him tactics. He must shoulder a difficult borer in the story. Soraya is the deghan’s daughter. She is tough, but arrogant and must learn to temper the arrogance to succeed in her endeavors. Ms. Bell imbues the characters with realistic traits of growth and keeps readers interested in their exploits.

Ultimately, the plot makes the book entertaining by telling an interesting story. The plot begins in the city of Setasafon where the deghan Merahb is trying to stop a political rival who demands the sacrifice of Soraya. Her father needs to stop the rival to retain command of the army. He knows the Hrum are planning to attack Farsala. Soraya goes along with her father’s plan to help him. She is hidden away in the mountains where she meets the Suud who teach her their magic. Kavi crosses paths with the commander ad is coerced into checking on Soraya periodically. He comes into trouble when captured by the Hrum. Jaain follows his father into the battle with the invaders which changes his life dramatically. Ms. Bell’s vivid descriptions bring the story to life with action.

Fall of a Kingdom by Hilari Bell is the first book of the Farsala trilogy. This young adult fantasy follows the story of three young people whose lives are in upheaval. Jaain, Soraya and Kavi must save Farsala from the invading Hrum. Interesting cultures, characters and plot keeps the book entertaining until the end. The adventures of these three characters continue in Rise of a Hero and concludes with Forging the Sword.

Review: _Karavans_ by Jennifer Roberson

The people of Sancorra flee their homeland in Karavans to be free of the conquering Hencari. Strange men of the Shoia mingle among the humans with their own agendas. A giant magical forest awakens, threatening humanity with its movement. These are a few of the enticing plot threads of Karavans by Jennifer Roberson. The book is an interesting beginning to a new Epic Fantasy series because of its characters, plot and themes.

To begin, the author creates fascinating characters to impel readers into the story. Rhuan is a guide for the karavan. He is a member of the Shoia, a mysterious people with the ability to revive after being killed. Many problems plague Rhuan like remaining secretive, being feared and being on an enigmatic personal journey. His cousin Brodhi is an opposite personality who must overcome arrogance and contempt for humans. Women characters are fascinating too. Ilona is a diviner who reads hands to tell people their futures. She struggles with her feeling for Rhuan and curiosity about his background. Audran is pregnant and has her family. She fights to protect her family from the uprooting of their lives. All of these characters are intriguing thanks to the creativeness of Ms. Roberson.

Next, the compelling plot keeps readers engaged in the story told in the book. Audran, her husband and children arrive at the settlement where karavans leave from to go to other nations, fleeing the cruel Hencari. They need to join the karavan so her unborn child can be born in a new land as diviners prophesied. The karavan master Jorda will not let them join unless his diviner Ilona says it is all right. Rhuan backs the family joining too. On the road, Davyn, Audran’s husband, plans to leave the karavan and take a shortcut to their destination. The guide Rhuan counsels against this plan, saying the route will take the family too close to the perilous deepwood. Alisanos is a large dark forest that looms over people’s lives. Humans trapped in Alisanos never return or come back changed. The forest is alive, periodically moving without warning. This is about to occur again, increasing the tension and suspense of the book. Ms. Roberson weaves a gripping plot that holds readers until the end.

Finally, the themes of the book keeps he interest level high for readers. One of the themes is journeys taken that bring on change. Rhuan is on a journey to acquire his fondest desire. Audran’s family and others journey to find peace. These journeys are threatened by the chaotic force of Alisanos. Another theme is relationships and how they are affected by chaos. Relationships are challenged by the ever changing situations of the characters. The author presents the themes subtly in her vivid descriptions of the plot

In the end, Karavans by Jennifer Roberson is a fascinating, suspenseful Epic Fantasy. Characters, plot and themes combine to create an impressive first book of a new series. Ms. Roberson’s new series is a departure from her previous books and will be interesting for readers. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next ones in the series.

Review: _Something Magic This Way Comes_ edited by Martin H. Greenberg & Sarah A. Hoyt

Science explains the way the world works most of the time making it sound very mechanical in many aspects. Human civilization has grown to its present day modernness thanks to scientific advances. Still, people have imaginations. Many wish for a touch of magic in the world. Something Magic This Way Comes edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Sarah A. Hoyt is an anthology of stories where magic touches the world. The short stories range from creepy to humorous and readers will find many of them entertaining.

A woman finds her life turned into chaos in “Raining the Wild Hunt” by Katie Paulk. Megan is jogging on a forest trail when an injured elf appears out ot the air in front of her. The elf, Delorias, tells her the Wild Hunt pursues him. She was the previous victim of an abusive husband, but is now tough and resolves to help Delorias. This story of survival continues as Megan strives to escape from Athaniel the Hunt leader. Ms. Paulk provides a thrilling story with a strong woman character.

“The Case of the Allergic Leprechaun” by Alan L. Lickiss is a humorous story combined with a private detective story. The detective, Frank, has a short man walk into his office asking him to find out who he is. When the man sneezes, Frank’s secretary disappears. Frank must solve the mystery and deal with magic to rescue his secretary. Mr. Lickiss writes a funny story that leaves readers smiling.

In “Firebird and Shadow” by Darwin A. Garrison, Missy Watkins hides in an alley beside a dead body of a friend. She is a young girl with magic powers, alone and fearing the attack of shadow people who will drain her power. A man tries to kidnap Missy, buy is stopped by the powerful mage Ms. Gerard. The story contains a nice magic duel to save Missy from danger. Mr. Garrison creates an entertaining story through vivid descriptions and intriguing characters.

Walt Boyes’s “A Midsummer Nightmare” is the story of a group of people trying to stop a dangerous ritual from being carried out on the summer solstice. Harry Wilson is an insurance investigator. His Native American friend George calls him for a meeting. George tells Harry that someone is setting up a ritual that is disturbing the supernatural world. Events lead up to the appearances of a god and the Wild Hunt before things are settled. Mr. Boyes gives readers a nice story with some touches of humor.

The last story in the anthology, “Regency Sprite” by Dave Freer, is set in England during the Regency period. Told in the first person point of view of the main character, the story begins when a drunk Arthur stumbles home and finds a trapped fairy in the alley. He helps the fairy, but ends up in a struggle to stop an evil mage. Though the ending leaves readers wanting more, Mr. Freer contributes a clever story to entertain readers.

Something Magic This Way Comes edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Sarah A. Hoyt is an anthology of stories where magic touches our world in various ways. The stories range from serious to creepy to humorous with many of them entertaining reads and some thought provoking. Readers will find some enjoyable and memorable Urban Fantasy stories in this anthology.

Review: _Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses_ by Diane Duane

Elves are immortal. They are beautiful perfection too, making humans envy them. Humans resent and hate them for this emotion. Someone murders an elf and that sets off the mystery in this book. Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses by Diane Duane is an entertaining Fantasy that keeps readers intrigued with mystery and action. Setting, characters and plot combine to provide an engrossing book.

To begin, the setting gives the book a strong sense of place to get readers into the story quickly. The setting is a set of seven alternate universes where science and magic exist side by side. Different beings travel between the universes through gates run by fairy gold. There different versions of cultures in each universe. Earth and Lose Angeles is where the main characters live. Magic works in this world and justice manifests as a real force. Alfheim is the home universe of the elves, which is protected jealously by the elves, remaining mysterious to humans. Ms. Duane presents a vivid setting that draws readers into the book.

Next, the characters are interesting and likable for readers to want to follow. Lee Enfield is a forensic lanthanomancer dedicated to Lady Justice. She uses her power of Sight to see the truth and visions of crimes to give information to the DA’s office. Lee is conflicted by a recent break up, making her unsure of her ability as she is drawn into a dangerous situation. Her partner is Gelert, a madra or large white intelligent talking dog. He is extremely smart and loyal to his friend. These two main characters are made likable by the author through dialogue and plot.

Finally, the plot has plenty of action to keep readers going with the book. An elf is murdered on night. Lee and Gelert are called in by the DA to get visions of the crime. She sees a second killer present who is an elf too. This is curious because elves do not kill their people. While continuing the investigation, Lee receives a phone call from a stranger telling her to search for the elf king’s roses. This mystery draws Lee and Gelert into events that could destroy all of the universes.

Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses by Diane Duane keeps readers intrigued with mystery and action. The book remains entertaining by being engrossing through setting, characters and plot. Ms. Duane is a great writer that creates interesting books with appealing, thought provoking stories.Readers picking up any of her books will not be disappointed.

Review: _Cry Wolf_ by Patricia Briggs

Fantasy author Patricia Briggs has done it again. She has added a new offshoot to her Urban Fantasy books with the beginning of the “Alpha and Omega” series. Set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson books, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs is an entertaining beginning due to the point of view, characters and the plot.

The author begins this new series by providing a different point of view. In the Mercy books, readers learn about the werewolves from an outsider’s view. This book lets readers see the werewolves from inside the pack. Readers get an inside look into pack dynamics from their viewpoints, helping make the book a strong, interesting start for the new series. Ms. Briggs brings the book to life with this shift of point view. The new viewpoint strengthens the characters too.

The characters make the book entertaining by having interesting lives. Anna Latham has been a werewolf for three years. Her life is in upheaval by finding herself in a new place with a new mate. She must deal with learning to be an Omega wolf and trying to overcome victimization from her previous life. Charles, Anna’s mate, is a dominant wolf. He is the son of the pack leader Bran and considered the wolf who cleans up messes. His Native American heritage gives him an edge with some magic ability. Having a new mate changes him throughout the book. Ms. Briggs creates realistic characters with understandable problem for werewolves.

Finally, the suspenseful plot makes the book a good beginning to the new series. The book starts with Anna arriving in Montana with Charles. She attends a funeral and gets confronted by pack members. Her discomfort increases with her many doubts of fitting into the new pack. Charles is sent after a rogue werewolf near the pack’s territory. Anna goes along to get to know her mate better. Another pack member has a problem with a witch, adding more complications to the situation. Exciting events happen that lead to a satisfying ending thanks to the author’s deft weaving of the plot.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs is an entertaining beginning to the “Alpha and Omega” series. A different point of view, interesting characters and suspenseful plot brings the lives of werewolves in this Urban Fantasy to life. The book stars with Anna And Charles in Montana, but another first story can be found in On the Prowl. This story tells how Anna met Charles. Ms. Briggs delivers another thrilling Fantasy for readers.

Review: _Gilfeather_ by Glenda Larke

Write what you know is a motto writers follow using their knowledge and experience to bring their fiction to life. Glenda Larke uses what she knows to create a vivid, engaging story in her “Isles of Glory” trilogy. In the second book Gilfeather, Glenda Larke invents a gripping, exciting book through setting, characters and plot.

The setting makes the book exciting by being interesting. Ms. Larke is an Australian living in Malaysia. She uses her knowledge from these places to bring the story to life. Her setting is an archipelago of islands made up of different cultures. Magic consists of two groups, sylvs who can heal and dunmagickers who destroy and blight people’s lives. A third group are the Aware who can see magic and are immune to magic. The story starts on the island of Mekate, which has a tropical coast and the highland part of the island inhabited by independent minded people that herd selvers. The Plainsmen have a unique sense of smell that plays a major role in the story. The Xolchas Stacks is an interesting island group made of columns of land where the people live. These stacks will occasionally fall into the sea. Both islands add an intriguing touch to the book due to Ms. Larke’s unique ideas.

Next, the characters are realistic with flaws that keep the book suspenseful. This book focuses on the character Gilfeather. He is a Plainsman and physician from Mekate. His life changes after his path crosses with two women and he must deal with a crisis of conscience. Blaze and Flame return with problems still dogging them. Blaze must deal with worry for her friend’s increasing nasty behavior. Flame is consumed with killing the Dunmaster who corrupted her. These characters are brought to life by Ms. Larke’s wonderful descriptions.

In the end, the book's plot keeps the story exciting for readers. The book starts with Gilfeather traveling to a town because of his wife. She is going to be stoned for adultery. He meets Blaze and Flame, finding himself a fugitive because of them. Gilfeather gets caught up on the women’s pursuit of the Dunmaster Morthred to kill him. His people do not believe in magic or murder. Wanting to live quietly in exile, Gilfeather finds himself drawn to helping Blaze and Flame for various reasons. The plot continues at a rapid pace until reaching a gripping conclusion. Ms. Larke weaves a strong plot that keeps readers interested to the end.


Gilfeather by Glenda Larke is the interesting second book of the “Isles of Glory” trilogy. Setting, characters and plot blend the create a gripping, exciting story. This keeps the middle book of the series from being slow and uninteresting. The author leaves enough events up in the air for the last book, The Tainted. I look forward to reading the last book soon.

Review: _The Silent Strength of Stones_ by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

A troubled teenage boy lives by a lake with his father running the store while his father manages the motel. One day a girl enters the store and magic enters his life, bringing changes. The Silent Strength of Stones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman is a delightful Urban Fantasy by a talented author. Characters, themes and plot keeps the book entertaining for readers.

The characters keep the book interesting by being sympathetic. Nick Verrou is a seventeen year old boy with some problems. He feels desperately trapped in his situation, used by his father to runt eh store, but dreams of leaving one day and never returning. Nick also has a strange power he does not understand. Into his life comes Willow and her brother Evan, two teenagers with magical powers. They have problems too such as being sent away by their parents to strict relatives to learn control of their powers. Evan is rebellious and needs stability in his life while Willow needs to learn not to enslave people. Ms. Hoffman makes these young characters sympathetic through dialogue and descriptions of their relationships.

Next, the themes explored in the book makes it entertaining because readers can identify with them. Abandonment is explored in all of the young people’s lives. Nick is dealing with his mother leaving four years before without explanation. He also feels abandoned by his father who always yells at him. Evan and Willow suffer abandonment by being sent away by their parents. Another theme is loneliness. Nick feels alone without friends and living in an isolated place. This feeling drives him to wanting to leave. He feeds his desire for friends by watching people. The author weaves these themes deftly into the story delicately.

Lastly, the fast paced plot of the book keeps it entertaining. Events begin moving when Nick comes back from his lunch to find a piece of his grandfather’s fishing equipment gone. The lady who spells him during lunch sold it to a man staying at a cabin by the lake. Nick’s father gets angry and demands him to get the piece back. When Nick tries to get it back, He encounters Willow and witnesses magic. Then Nick finds a friendly wolf which changes his life and precipitates further mysterious encounters. Nick must try to save Willow and Evan by the end of the book. Js. Hoffman creates an interesting plot by keeping events moving quickly to make it an enjoyable read.

The Silent Strength of Stones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman is an entertaining Urban Fantasy novel. The entertainment comes from the author’s talented handling of characters, themes and plot. The story of Nick’s coming of age and overcoming his problems is good. Though aimed at young adults, readers of any age will enjoy this book.