Tag: fantasy
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Mythic Artifacts & Ancestral Objects
With a mythic artifact, shiny blades, fireworks, and forbidden knowledge may come to mind. Our history is rife with artifacts, from Poseidon’s trident to King Arthur’s Excalibur. These relics have earned a place in history, as they do in the world of fiction. Mythic Artifacts In stories, artifacts are a trope used to further the […]
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Fantasy Food in Fiction
“Sure enough, when they entered the Gryffindor common room it exploded with cheers and yells again. There were mountains of cakes and flagons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface. —Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Everybody loves a good feast. Even better, readers salivate (quite literally) over feasts in fiction. The best […]
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Fantasy Maps: A Gateway to Adventure
The other day I stumbled upon the map you see above. It had me thinking how maps play into stories, and how vital they are to the worldbuilding process. Not only do they offer a reference for author and reader, maps add depth, immersion to that universe. I’ve written on making maps in GIMP and […]
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2021 Top Five Favorite Reads
Another chapter in the history of Earth passes! Reviewing my year in reads, I’ve determined my top five favorite novels. # 1: Divine Summons Divine Summons was a blast to read. I finished the whole series quickly. Despite its odd PoV preferences, I was hooked. Its hard fantasy setting and solid characters were excellent, coupled […]
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Official Cover Art for Blade of Dragons
I’m excited to announce the official cover art of Blade of Dragons! The first piece of the puzzle is down, and as I turn to the next, I’m eager to get this book ready for publication. Although I may go the long route and set up several novels to release them all within a few […]
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Book Update: Upcoming Cover Reveal, Promotional campaigns, the Ethereal Seals Fantasy Club?
That’s right! Blade of Dragons, the first book of the Ethereal Seals series, will have its cover debut on December 21st; about two weeks from now. Above is the second teaser of Pepper Slyhart, the main protagonist of the story. I had a great experience working with the cover artist, Cherifox, on Fiverr—and she didn’t […]
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Hard Magic, Soft Magic: How to Use Them in Creative Fiction
Magic—a word tossed around by authors and wordsmiths for decades. Magic is an abstract phenomenon with incredible potential, and such power usually comes with a cost. As a widespread tool in worldbuilding, when misused, it can wreck havoc on a story, figuratively and literally. Magic in Creative Fiction Your ability to solve problems with magic […]
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Ethereal Seals: Character Sketch Showcase!
Aside from writing, I enjoy hand sketching, with some digital art on occasion. I’m no virtuoso, and I don’t sketch on a routine basis—but my skill has improved over the years. Below, I’ll share some of my work on the characters in the Ethereal Seals series. 🙂 Pepper Slyhart My first sketch of Pepper many […]
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The Hero’s Journey in Fiction
Years ago, I read a fantastic book named The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. In it, the author details the Hero’s Journey. This is a powerful story element that every writer, artist, or spiritual seeker should understand. It illustrates a protagonist’s adventures, from a safe haven to the darkest dungeon—be they literal or figurative. The […]
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Book Review: Divine Summons
During my break from non-fiction research, I stumbled upon this jewel on Goodreads. I was impressed by the strength of the prose and the story. Rebecca P. Minor did a pleasant job at it. Let’s delve into the details, shall we? Premise & Worldbuilding Divine Summons has a classic fantasy atmosphere with elves, dragons, monsters, […]
Ethereal Seals 