This article is by Frank LaVoie. Don’t be mistaken. Writing in the fantasy genre is not the same as working in other types of literature. They each have their complexities, and I’m sure you could argue for the inclusion of some of my points below in one kind of writing or another. But, the overall depth … Read more
This article is by Bets Davies. I always felt straight jacketed by fantasy’s strict genre expectations. Got a little too much romance or sex in your fantasy novel? Sacrilege. That is Romance. Wait. What if I am talking about two guys? Gay and Lesbian, then. All the way. Got frat boy zombies who want to … Read more
I’ve been at the helm of the Twitter account (@MythicScribes) every Sunday to live tweet about True Blood (using the hash tag #TrueBlood, along with the show-specific hash tag if HBO specifies one). Generally speaking, I haven’t been very interested in erotic fantasy writing, movies or television. When my wife tuned to HBO for the … Read more
This article is by Brian Wood. The Harry Potter era is over. The final movie has entered theaters and I, for one, am more than a little bit sad. I figured there was no better time to talk about the genius of JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series. I have never read a series … Read more
This review is by Frank LaVoie. I was around since the inception of Dreamworld, Book 1 in Brian Wood’s The Chronicles of Trayvian James. I’d like to take some credit, but I can’t. I’d like to say that I gave him this idea, or offered an inspiration for that character, but I didn’t. What I … Read more
I was, and still am, a professed Lost devotee. Although I was less than thrilled with the series finale, the show remains one of my favorites. At the end of each episode I experienced a strong, almost compulsive drive to know what happened next. No show made me hunger more for answers. And when an … Read more
There are many components to a good novel. An intriguing plot, relatable characters, suitable setting, fluent prose – to name but a few. And also suspense. To keep a reader, you need them to want to know what is going to happen next. You need them to have this constant curiosity, this yearning to find … Read more
A key element of any successful novel is a cast of vivid, compelling characters. I recently discussed the topic of character development with author Frank LaVoie, whose debut novel Firesoul has been praised for its colorful characters. We also chatted about the special importance of characterization in the sub-genre of High Fantasy. You are an … Read more
This article is by Frank LaVoie. For those of you not familiar with the YA moniker, it refers to the genre of Young Adult literature. In the realm of publishing, it is most often coupled with the word ‘fantasy’, thus denoting a fairly specific breed that has proven its popularity in the form of the Harry … Read more
For every first time author, finding the right publisher for your novel can seem like an impossible feat. I recently had the opportunity to chat with fantasy and science fiction author Terry W. Ervin II, whose debut novel Flank Hawk has received impressive reviews. Terry was kind enough to share his own journey to publication … Read more