The latest episode in my Valley of Magic, Watchman serial is live over at Altered Reality Magazine. This one has quite a bit of action (and some dry humor). Check it out here: https://www.alteredrealitymag.com/end-game/ If you haven't read the beginning episodes, you can find the full list here: https://www.alteredrealitymag.com/serials/dangerous-games-by-jm-williams/ Hope you enjoy the story! ~JM
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Of Metal and Magic: Compendium One and Book Reviews
One of the OMAM authors whose work you can find in our recent compendium.
REBLOG: I’ve Been Busy!
Kit Campbell has released some great writing resources, and they are currently on sale. Check it out!
Sorry for the single post this week, squiders, but it’s for good reason! The first books for the Writers’ Motivation series are out! And despite the many technical issues, I also got my new SkillShare class up and published.
It’s been exhausting.
(I also finally bought boots for my costume. Hooray!)
But now I have lots of things to share!
Let’s do the SkillShare class first. This one is called Story Writing: Keeping Track of Your Story Ideas and is about setting up an idea storage system for writing ideas. It’s available here and is about 25 minutes long.
(I think I’m going to need to get a new camera before I film any more. Also apparently our local library has a recording studio you can rent out, so there’s something to ponder. But I’m not even going to look at the next class til December or, more realistically, January.)
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SF Microfiction
I've been rather busy of late working on my big project. But there are still a few things going down on the side. For one, I've got a new microfiction posted over at The Arcanist. Enjoy! https://thearcanist.io/green-dawn-7a18163bd9f3
Great Fantasy Books for You
That’s a humbling review of Iric. And seems I am in good company here. It is certainly true that translation can be difficult. As others have commented, after translation, it is no longer the author’s voice. But more than that, translation requires a complex understanding of culture. That’s why you can have several PhD’s, who spend their lives studying Greek culture and myth, rendering different translations of the Iliad and Odyssey. And it might also explain why fan subs of anime are often more popular than the official ones; the publishing companies often westernize the cultural references, which causes much of the complexity and nuance and even characterization to be lost.
Here are three more great fantasies I read:
- Magic at Midnight — Could you pretend to be boring and self-absorbed if it would save someone you loved?
- The Adventures of Iric — Iric, Watchman of Marudal, City of Magic, is fascinating.
- A Hero is Born — less fantasy than fantastical, this is the stunning epic of China from the 1200’s to the reign of Genghis Khan
A note about my reviews: I only post reviews about books I liked so don’t be surprised to see lots of 4/5 and 5/5. If I don’t like the book, I won’t spend time writing about it.
Magic at Midnight
by Ronel Janse van Vuuren
5/5
In Ronel Janse van Vuuren’s Magic at Midnight (2019), Amy has an unusual job. She takes care of a herd of Pegasi–cleans their stables, feeds them, befriends them, and keeps them safe. It’s hard work and takes all…
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£0.99 Deal: A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook
This is a great opportunity to grab an excellent writing guide for a steal. Richie Billing is also an Of Metal of Magic author, so I work with him closely. He knows his stuff, especially fantasy. You owe it to yourself to get a copy of A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.
Good people of the world, for the next 48 hours you can get yourself a copy of the acclaimed A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook for just £0.99!
Why should you part with your hard-earned pound for this book? Well, here are the views of a few reviewers…
You can read a bunch more reviews by clicking here or the Goodreads logo below.
Go on, take a punt, you might learn something new. I hope you do anyway. Here are the relevant buying links… and if you do happen to buy a copy (thank you!) I’d be ever so grateful if you could leave a review! They don’t half help us writers out.
Amazon.ca
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Amazon.es
Amazon.it
“Webs”–read by the Author
One of my flash stories was recently featured on the AntiSF Radio Show. This was one of the first stories I wrote for this blog. The text of the story can still be found on the AntiSF homepage HERE. I love the AntiSF Radio Show. Not only does it feature some great (and usually humorous) … Continue reading “Webs”–read by the Author
A March of Indignation – 3LineTales
Lord Bubblesworth strutted along the seawall, admiring the vastness of his domain, breathing in the salty air, eyeing the fish which hid just under the surface. He marched on, to his other palace, where the servants did not call him Bubblesworth. He was a lord, after all, and a lord could only bear so much … Continue reading A March of Indignation – 3LineTales
The Lure of the Sea – FFfAW
Darrin gazed out dreamily at the small boats bobbing in the water. He was supposed to be on vacation, but he couldn't shake off the depressed thoughts in his mind. He hated being an accountant. He hated the gray walled-office, his cubicle in the center of the room. Why even bother with those thin desk walls … Continue reading The Lure of the Sea – FFfAW
No Such Thing as Too Many – 3LineTales Week 69
Tommi dashed up the blue-carpeted stairs, only looking back once to make sure the robbers were following close behind. With a pull of a rope, a thousand tiny yellow caltrops scattered across the floor, catching the barefoot thieves by complete surprise; one fell over, both howled in pain. And to think, just this morning his mother … Continue reading No Such Thing as Too Many – 3LineTales Week 69
JM Williams 