Where to begin? Not with my favorite author, the inimitable Tom Robbins, and not even with my favorite sci-fi authors, Ian M. Banks or William Gibson. A fleeting mention possibly, at this stage, to Frank Herbert’s DUNE, my first “unputdownable” novel, but really I’d have to start with Robert E. Howard – a fantasy author (amongst other genres) naturally. DELYRIUM is, after all, predominantly a fantasy novel. (more…)
Dialogue is one of the most difficult aspects of writing. At least it is for me. First of all, there’s the punctuation. Then there’s the way a character speaks and with it, all the related mannerisms – these have to be consistent throughout. Then, is the character actually speaking at all or am I relating thoughts, not words, passing through his/her head? Then there’s the nature of the character. Good or bad? Yes. Really. It’s important to me. Is it just me? (more…)
(definitely not to be read by prospective agents/publishers)
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …” (more…)