Dual Timeline Stories
“Every why hath a wherefore.” – William Shakespeare. Dodging the Information Dump Writers sometimes take their readers back in time to promote a better understanding of the story. We use several techniques to achieve this goal, such as prologues, flashbacks, or dual timeline threads. These reveal background information through dramatized scenes rather than a character…Read More
Achilles’ Heel: The Art of Vulnerability
“Achilles, without his heel, you wouldn’t even know his name today.” – Stan Lee. Speculative fiction is full of heroes and villains who have superhuman powers. From sorcerers to warriors, their strength, speed, and skill dazzle us. But while these mighty figures might appear exciting, their appeal would dwindle without a flaw or weakness to…Read More
Antiheroes: Breaking Stereotypes
“I may be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for one second that I am one of them” – Sherlock Holmes, in the TV series Sherlock. In the realm of storytelling, heroes and villains often occupy opposite ends of the spectrum. But there is a captivating alternative: the antihero. Take Han Solo…Read More
The Grail Quest: A Journey of Self-discovery
“The most extraordinary journey is the one you take to find yourself!” – Mehmet Murat ildan. The Essence of a Grail Quest Grail quests have been popular in literature for centuries. These stories often involve knights or heroes embarking on a quest to find the Holy Grail, but they are about much more than epic…Read More
Are Prologues Necessary?
“What is past is prologue.” – William Shakespeare What is a Prologue? Authors and filmmakers use prologues as introductions to a story. Prologues focus on events that occurred prior to the main narrative to provide background and context. J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, and George R. R. Martin all wrote…Read More
Creating Great Book Covers
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” – Fred R. Barnard “Never judge a book by its cover,” we’re told. This may be sound advice, but it totally misjudges the jacket’s importance. Truth is, readers do it all the time, and a writer ignores this at their peril. A book’s cover consists of three related…Read More
My Road to Writing Fantasy
“Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life” – Stephen King Hitting the Road: My journey to writing fantasy began at a young age when a relative of mine gifted me a Rupert Bear annual for Christmas. Rupert is an anthropomorphized—or humanlike—young bear who lives with his parents in a house in a fictional…Read More
Available Today: Graëlstorm (Cathar Grail Quest Saga, Book Two)
I’m excited to announce the release of my new fantasy novel, Graëlstorm. A thrilling new twist on Grail myth, Graëlstorm is the sequel to Graëlfire and the second instalment of the Cathar Grail Quest Saga. About the Book: A unique kind of woman A cosmic feud A secret that threatens her existence Lena Dubois is…Read More
Creation Myths and World Building
“In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.” – Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies. I have written how myths aren’t simply stories, but an attempt to explain why the world is the way it is. And since all cultures share a quest to understand where they came from, it’s no surprise that many have forged…Read More
Graëlstorm Cover Reveal and Publication Date Announcement
I’m thrilled to reveal the cover of my upcoming fantasy novel, Graëlstorm, which is the sequel to Graëlfire and the second book of the Cathar Grail Quest Saga. Graëlstorm will be released for sale on 28th February 2023. I hope you find the cover’s image as emotive and arresting as I do. And if you’re…Read More
