Posts tagged Fiction
Meta Monday 13: A Foundation of Air
Jan 11th
illustration by jeloid
Fantasy writing must be grounded in both truth and life experience if it is to work. It can be as inventive and creative as the writer can make it, a whirlwind of images and plot twists, but it cannot be built on a foundation of air.
- Terry Brooks in The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing
Let us strive this week to find foundations in all that which is solid: our characters, plots, magics, worlds, and lives. Take hold of what you know can hold your weight and jump.
Fiction Friday 8: Conifer Rosin
Dec 4th
photo by robert young
The following is an excerpt from an early draft of Daughters of Oyr, my fantasy novel-in-progress.
The world around him moved at a crawling pace. The crowd of people were nearly still, save for a slight sway, like blades of grass pushed by the slightest breeze. One serving woman eased through the crowd, tray raised high. With each step the wine swished within glasses upon her serving tray, her curled bangs bounced. A patron lifted his arms, adjusting the straps of his devil mask. A disguised thief reached out and casually plucked the coin-purse from the patron’s exposed belt. In that long intake of breath Prince Weathermark was able to perceive all these things and more at once. But he pushed it all aside as this woman approached, the groping hands of patrons brushing upon her. He focused intensely upon the breeze of her passing. She smelled mostly of fine conifer rosin, of tarragon and other herbs, and vaguely of a dark, feminine musk. When he released his grip upon the Rhythm, much time passed instantly. Many of the patrons who had been standing around him were no longer there. The woman cleared the twenty some feet between her and the stage in an instant, and was being hefted onto stage by a man wearing a jackal mask. Prince Weathermark heard nothing but an intense ringing for a few moments as his ears adjusted to the passage of time.
As always, all original fiction is copyright Keith Potempa 2009. If you enjoyed this passage, check out more here.
Dragon Re-Born E-Book Cover
Dec 1st
Last month, I posted the cover art to the Wheel of Time’s second book, The Great Hunt. The whole series is being re-released in e-book form, with newly commissioned cover art that is significantly better than its former. I’ll keep posting the new artwork as it become available.
Today Tor posted the artwork for the Dragon Re-Born. Though not as powerful The Great Hunt’s, this piece of artwork by renowned artist Donato Giancola still blows most fantasy covers out of the water.
Shall we compare them side-by-side again? I’ll admit, I miss the dirfy glowing sword…
