Flawed Femmes wielding Whips, Guns, and Blades
I finally figured out my genre is flintlock fantasy, or rather that’s the genre that most closely fits Lady Merreth’s world. Her world has matchlocks, flintlocks, and (eventually) even rifles. However, in Western Watch the predominant ranged weapon is the Read More …
Your characters need to eat. In novels with a modern, urban setting this isn’t usually a problem. Hungry? Drive-thru, supermarket, or delivery; there are a plethora of choices. Historical and — more particularly — fantasy novels is where things get Read More …
Novels typically involve several different characters appearing over the course of scores, if not hundreds of pages. Authors need to be consistent in character depiction, personality and dialogue. A character reference sheet is immensely helpful in this regard. I thought Read More …
The surrounding nobles are silent, fidgeting, fingering weapons, and exchanging glances. The commoners say nothing. Only Kasspar’s snuffles break the silence. He holds his chin up, his red-rimmed eyes downcast off the end of the crossbow. Merreth wants so Read More …
Tiandraa shifts in her saddle. Stone-faced Red Hand nobles stare hard at Merreth, pausing while reaching for sword or crossbow. A mount snorts, bends its neck, begins cropping the dried scrub grass along the roadside. The breeze off the river Read More …
Agaric runs a hand over his face. It comes away slippery with sweat. He frowns at the faint blue tinge on his fingers. The Shaman’s mark is rubbing off. The chests and faces of his warriors also show their wards Read More …
Lady Merreth’s world is one where early gunpowder weapons are just coming into their own. As a writer, I was gratified to stumble across Jack Kelly’s Gunpowder, Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive that Changed the World. Read More …
Chaos swirls around Agaric and his warriors as they bring their mounts under control. The frightened horses scream, buck, and try to flee, only to be brought up short by jerked reins. Smoke and an acrid burning stench fill Read More …
Welcome to part 18 of my series: Let’s Make a Book Trailer. The list of previous parts is getting a bit long, so I will merely link to the first and most recent posts: Part 1 and Part 17 respectively. Read More …
“Fire!” Bhenny ducks as a collection of flaming branches spins through the window and hits the floor, throwing up sparks. He tries to stomp it out, sending flecks of glowing wood skittering across the room. Narrius kicks a small Read More …
