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
Self-Sacrifice, Redemption and The Grail Quest
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…” – Sydney Carton, The Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens There are many heroic ways to die: for a cause you believe in, in defence of your country, or going to the aid or rescue of others. Circumstances…Read More
Free Will: Real or Illusion?
“I am a determinist. As such, I do not believe in free will…I am, nevertheless, compelled to act as if freedom of the will existed. If I wish to live in a civilized community, I must act as if man is a responsible being.” – Albert Einstein Free will is a central theme in both…Read More
New Cover and Series Title for Graëlfire
With the release of Graëlfire’s sequel coming up, I’m excited to share with you the updated book cover for Graëlfire, which also features a new series title. Throughout history, the Holy Grail has been a prize sought by kings, knights, and adventurers. Myths about the Grail are many. Some claim it’s the cup Christ drank from at…Read More
World Building
“World building has two parts. One is the actual creation. The other is bringing the world into your story. Everything you create should not be in your story.” – Patrick Rothfuss In my blog post about the suspension of disbelief, I describe how writers of speculative fiction must persuade readers to let go of reality…Read More
