In Pursuit of My Own Library

Even though I studied History in my undergraduate, I have vast holes in my knowledge base. There are just too many eras to learn about, though I have tried. I largely focused my knowledge on the medieval dynasties of China and Japan since I felt those nations were horribly misrepresented in my high school education. It was a great learning experience that sparked my research of other nations outside the typical suburban educational experience. This is what makes historical fiction a genre that draws me for me "fun" reading.  It blends my reading passion with a love for learning.   The Code Bearers by John Westwood Brilliant piece of historical fiction. Mr. Westwood takes a moment in history and builds a relationship to the modern reader. He invests the audience with a sense that this really did happen and it was more involved than a textbook can explain. Instead of boring stoic fact (while having their purposes in recording the "truth" of what happened, they ca

From my review of the Lady of Devices series, you may recall I am not a fan of alternate history. I enjoy historical fiction knowing that the researchers have taken great liberties with the information they have uncovered. Besides the standard dialogue, the authors have given personalities to historical figures based on the written word left behind of them. At the root however, the facts are historically accurate and taken from deliberate research.  Alternate history on the other hand can be a dangerous balance. The steampunk genre seems to hang on its edge quite precariously. You can use the iconic figures of the past combined with the fun of the "what if" game, but I feel authors should have a certain responsibility to not pollute the education of the public. If you are going to write an alternate history, then please make sure it is obvious you have altered the timeline by adding dragons or magic, for instance. A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway I truly enjoy

My favorite authors throughout history have made the list by pulling me into a world of escape. They create characters I can relate to and imagine having in my life; they make worlds with landscapes, vivid development, and maps; they have a magic system that is completely reliant on the terrain; they even sometimes create their own language. In other words, they are completely self-sufficient and complete universes. Every character serves a purpose and the dynamics of a functioning relationship. That was the majesty of Tolkien and his Middle Earth. That is what I feel building with Silevethiel. Silevethiel by Andi O'Connor Make sure to keep a Celtic and Spanish dictionary next to you. Her elven language has structural similarities to Spanish and her names have pronunciation similar  to Gaelic. While the floweriness can trip you up sometimes, I find it to be a positive to the creation of an (what I have deemed) "authorverse." But I'm also just a sucker for the old

I have recently been reading quite a few galleys recently. I am not yet able to post full reviews but I can say that the fall has a great line up of books releasing.  I would suggest heading to your local store and requesting a pre-order for the following novels: Emma Jane Holloway's A Study in Darkness (I previously encouraged the first in the series and have now made it through the second. No less impressive and can probably safely say the third will be worth the pre-order as well.) Andi O'Connor's Silevethiel (A great beginning to a promising epic fantasy in the veins of J.R.R. Tolkien). Also take a moment to go to my good friends blog and learn more about her attempts to get into the published word. She has some amazing blurbs for her upcoming works.  http://chmcfarland.wordpress.com/writing-projects/ Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. Enjoy!