Redwall is the heart-warming, inventive, and epic adventure of a monkish mouse turned warrior named Matthias. In the vein of Wind in the Willows and Watership Down, it presents a world of anthropomorphized animals who inhabit a medieval abbey and its surroundings. The peace of its inhabitants is threatened right from the earliest chapters by …
Winston Churchill’s phenomenal statesmanship was built upon a bulwark of words. He was one of the most pithy figures in all of history and that is never more on display than in this quote about writing. Churchill, author of 43 books, certainly knew a thing or two about writing and I think most every author …
Writers love inventing words. William Shakespeare, arguably the most famous writer of all time (in English anyway) is said to have invented over 1700. I am no different when it comes to this predilection. That’s one of the reasons I love writing in the imagination genres (fantasy and science fiction.) Because there are so …
Today we’re going to take a look a two dystopian visions for the future. But before getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a step back and think about stories in general and what their purpose is. Fiction works somewhat like a funhouse mirror. It gives us a different perspective, but ultimately we are still just looking …
I’m honored to welcome fellow author J.L. Mbewe to the site today. J.L. is not only a talented writer, she’s also a very kind and giving person, constantly encouraging other writers and artists in their journey. I’ve followed her blog for a couple of years now and I can’t tell you how many other authors …
Ever need a kick in the pants? Or just a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter’s day? Sometimes it feels like life is stuck in butter-churn mode—lots of work and going nowhere. If you’re like me every once in a while you need a wake-me-up call or a reminder of what life’s all …
Of all the other planets besides Earth, Mars is probably the one most often featured in science fiction. I’m not sure when this trend began, but A Princess of Mars is probably one of the first and certainly one of the best. Tracking the adventures of the unforgettable John Carter, “gentleman of Virginia” and civil …
“A house without books is like a room without windows.” Horace Mann The more I read and muck about with words, the most amazed I am by the simple act of printed pages, bound in lovely tomes. The profundity of the fact that the weight of worlds sits on my shelves is not lost upon …
