-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- CD Covington on U8: Alexanderplatz (1989)
- Kiwi on U8: Alexanderplatz (1989)
- Conni on Book review: No god but God
- Karen on Book review: No god but God
- Karen on So you like male writers. So what?
Archives
- December 2016
- April 2016
- December 2015
- July 2015
- March 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
Categories
- 2012 hugos
- 2013 hugos
- 2014 hugos
- anime
- anime recommendation
- beer
- berlin
- book review
- books
- books i love
- cons
- costumes
- feminism
- food
- german
- germany
- guest blog
- health care
- language
- life
- link
- meta
- movies
- nanowrimo
- News
- poetry
- politics
- publication
- rant
- readercon 24
- readercon 26
- recommendation
- review
- stuff
- tai chi
- travel
- tv
- viable paradise
- vp17
- where to go in germany
- work
- writing
- year in review
Meta
Category Archives: link
Guest blog: Beth Matthews (E.D. Walker)
Hello. I’m a buddy of Conni’s from the Viable Paradise workshop, and she was kind enough to invite me to her blog today to talk about my medieval fantasy romance THE BEAUTY’S BEAST, which was just re-released this week.
My novel is a retelling of “Bisclavret,” the medieval poem/fairy tale about a cursed werewolf knight written by Marie de France. I was captivated the first time I read her story and immediately decided to write my own version of it, mixing in a little bit of Beauty and the Beast too because I just can’t resist a fun fairy tale retelling.
I thought a good way to help introduce y’all to my book would be to tell you about some of the books I’ve read that helped inspire me. 🙂
Spindle’s End and Beauty by Robin McKinley
I didn’t discover Robin McKinley until my late teens, but once I did I went on a tear and read at least half her backlist in one go. I’ve always been a fan of fairy tale retellings (which is part of why I wrote one…), but these two books made a big impression on me. I loved the wry humor in her characters and their brusque practicality. Another one of my favorite elements was the slow build of the romances in Spindle’s End; there’s a proposal scene in this novel that has to be one of the most romantic things I have ever read. I also loved, loved McKinley’s world-building and all its intricate, well-thought out detail.
The Brother Cadfael Series by Ellis Peters
Growing up I was always asking my mom for stuff to read, and I remember when she handed me my first Brother Cadfael mystery I was totally sucked into the world, and I binge-read the entire 20+ books in the series. Brother Cadfael is a cozy mystery series set in a Benedictine abbey during the English civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maude. The historical period is a little earlier than the one I’m writing in, and some of the research by Ellis Peters is out of date now, but I still remember how wonderful I thought Cadfael’s world was, the history, the community. And Cadfael himself, of course. He’s a wonderful hero and one of the characters in my book (the wry and worldly court magician Llewellyn) is a sort of homage to Cadfael. This charming series was a huge influence on me and a big part of the reason I wanted to write my own medieval-set story. (Of course minehas werewolves…)
The Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey
(Especially The Serpent’s Shadow and The Gates of Sleep)
This was my favorite fantasy series for a little while and the first two books were a big influence on how I wanted to write my own historical fantasies. I loved how Lackey would twist existing history to fit her fantastical elements in. I also appreciated how she incorporated various magical creatures like sylphs, fairies, and even Puck himself into her stories. But, of course, my favorite aspect was how she twisted the basic elements of each fairy tale. She changed things in new and interesting ways so that the bones of the original story were still there, and yet by the end the reader had something totally new and wonderful to enjoy.
If youlike fairy tale retellings and historical fantasy THE BEAUTY’S BEAST is currently available for the Kindle and in paperback. Click here:
Thanks again for having me, Conni.
Happy reading, everybody! 😀
E.D. Walker
(a.k.a. Beth Matthews)
@IAmBethMatthews
Posted in books, guest blog, link
Comments Off on Guest blog: Beth Matthews (E.D. Walker)
Guest blog: Beth Matthews (E.D. Walker)
Hello. I’m a buddy of Conni’s from the Viable Paradise workshop, and she was kind enough to invite me to her blog today to talk about my medieval fantasy romance THE BEAUTY’S BEAST, which was just re-released this week.
My novel is a retelling of “Bisclavret,” the medieval poem/fairy tale about a cursed werewolf knight written by Marie de France. I was captivated the first time I read her story and immediately decided to write my own version of it, mixing in a little bit of Beauty and the Beast too because I just can’t resist a fun fairy tale retelling.
I thought a good way to help introduce y’all to my book would be to tell you about some of the books I’ve read that helped inspire me. 🙂
Spindle’s End and Beauty by Robin McKinley
I didn’t discover Robin McKinley until my late teens, but once I did I went on a tear and read at least half her backlist in one go. I’ve always been a fan of fairy tale retellings (which is part of why I wrote one…), but these two books made a big impression on me. I loved the wry humor in her characters and their brusque practicality. Another one of my favorite elements was the slow build of the romances in Spindle’s End; there’s a proposal scene in this novel that has to be one of the most romantic things I have ever read. I also loved, loved McKinley’s world-building and all its intricate, well-thought out detail.
The Brother Cadfael Series by Ellis Peters
Growing up I was always asking my mom for stuff to read, and I remember when she handed me my first Brother Cadfael mystery I was totally sucked into the world, and I binge-read the entire 20+ books in the series. Brother Cadfael is a cozy mystery series set in a Benedictine abbey during the English civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maude. The historical period is a little earlier than the one I’m writing in, and some of the research by Ellis Peters is out of date now, but I still remember how wonderful I thought Cadfael’s world was, the history, the community. And Cadfael himself, of course. He’s a wonderful hero and one of the characters in my book (the wry and worldly court magician Llewellyn) is a sort of homage to Cadfael. This charming series was a huge influence on me and a big part of the reason I wanted to write my own medieval-set story. (Of course minehas werewolves…)
The Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey
(Especially The Serpent’s Shadow and The Gates of Sleep)
This was my favorite fantasy series for a little while and the first two books were a big influence on how I wanted to write my own historical fantasies. I loved how Lackey would twist existing history to fit her fantastical elements in. I also appreciated how she incorporated various magical creatures like sylphs, fairies, and even Puck himself into her stories. But, of course, my favorite aspect was how she twisted the basic elements of each fairy tale. She changed things in new and interesting ways so that the bones of the original story were still there, and yet by the end the reader had something totally new and wonderful to enjoy.
If youlike fairy tale retellings and historical fantasy THE BEAUTY’S BEAST is currently available for the Kindle and in paperback. Click here:
Thanks again for having me, Conni.
Happy reading, everybody! 😀
E.D. Walker
(a.k.a. Beth Matthews)
@IAmBethMatthews
Posted in books, guest blog, link
Comments Off on Guest blog: Beth Matthews (E.D. Walker)
Monday miscellany
I haven’t finished any books recently to review, and this weekend I didn’t have time to read much at all, because I worked at the Festival of Legends all weekend, 9-6 both days. Saturday was gorgeous, Sunday was horrid and cold and raining. I started W… Continue reading
Book review: Behind the Curtain
I reviewed Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football by Jonathan Wilson for Bundesliga Fanatic.Have a read over there, if you’re interested. Continue reading
Free fiction!
It’s really hard to place a reprint of flash fiction. Not many markets want pieces that short, and not many want reprints, anyway. So I’ve put U8: Alexanderplatz (1989) up on my website. It’s got a little paypal button at the bottom, if you want to dro… Continue reading
Posted in link, publication
Comments Off on Free fiction!
Free fiction!
It’s really hard to place a reprint of flash fiction. Not many markets want pieces that short, and not many want reprints, anyway. So I’ve put U8: Alexanderplatz (1989) up on my website. It’s got a little paypal button at … Continue reading
Bull Spec issue 6 is available
It’s got my review of Germline in it. You can get the pdf here (for free or a price you choose; suggested donation of $2). I really liked the book, and I hope more people buy it and read it. … Continue reading
Bull Spec issue 6 is available
It’s got my review of Germline in it. You can get the pdf here (for free or a price you choose; suggested donation of $2).I really liked the book, and I hope more people buy it and read it. If you like gritty military SF with a realistic set of politic… Continue reading