Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Description by Proximity: a wordsmith workshop

This post is part of a series to augment the Tips for Writing Fiction available for free download.

This and other writing workshops are gathered in my Workshops Directory for you to explore.

Find my world workshops in the Worldbuilding Directory.



When I'm editing my novel manuscripts, I'm often struck by how awesome the English language is. For this workshop, we'll take a look at how you can describe something without actually using descriptors like adjectives and adverbs to do that description. Take a look at this sentence, from my initial draft of Broken:
Example 1: Larin slipped from the city in Jorn's absence, a note awaiting him beneath his door at the inn.
It's a perfectly decent sentence, right? Larin slips from the city, and a note awaits Jorn. Easy peasy. But now take a look at this improved sentence:
Example 2: Larin drifted from the city in Jorn's absence, a note slipped beneath his door at the inn.
This sentence provides a more pungent verb in the place of awaiting him in Example 1. But why exactly is this sentence better? How is it more descriptive than the previous rendition?


Check these Tips for Writing Fiction to see more workshops!


When you read a sentence, your brain parses the words and uses the rules of syntax to stitch together the overall meaning of the sentence. In Example 2, the word slipped describes the note, not Larin, even though Larin is the one who did the slipping.

But though the word slipped does not syntactically apply to Larin, the connotation of slipped rubs elbows with the connotations of all the other words in the sentence, before the rules of syntax divide those connotations into parcels. Larin may have drifted from the city, but she also slipped [from the city] by proximity.

Example 2 better characterizes the note itself, too. Instead of awaiting him like some faithful pet, the note is slipped like an avoidant breakup letter in the back of a classroom. Without revealing events from my Tales of the Known World saga, I can say this simple word change makes the note seem less positive and more foreboding. While not actively sinister, the note now seems to contain some less-than-good news.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest writing workshops for more.

Download Tips for Writing Fiction here, or start your adventure below.






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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Launching Apollo's Raven: an inspired collaboration

This post is Part 6 of a series to augment the Guest Resources available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other guest-inspired content is gathered in my Guest Directory for you to explore.

Find my personal inspirations in the Spark Directory.



After connecting in Part 1 of this series, I worked together with Linnea Tanner to create a map of ancient Britannia for her new book, Apollo's Raven. I kept in touch with Linnea after the map was done, and when the time came for her book to launch, I reached out to her to see if I could help promote her book. I loved Linnea's concept of a historical fantasy set in the world of the ancient Celts, and I wanted to do my part to help her unique concept reach its audience.

To promote her launch and ease the pressures of troubleshooting her new author website, I spruced up my original blog posts about our collaborations. Linnea was kind enough to let me mirror my two guest posts from her website onto mine. My three-part series about my work with Linnea expanded to five posts, but I wasn't done yet. I wanted to read and review Linnea's book.


Check out these Guest Resources for more inspirational content!


I was going to wait and purchase her book after its launch, but I realized my review wouldn't be very supportive if I published it so late. Through my work with the Tales of the Known World saga, I learned that a book launch goes best when there are reviews ready beforehand. But I didn't know how many Linnea had already accrued, so I asked her what her preference would be.

In order for my review to be ready for her book launch, Linnea sent me an advanced reading copy of her novel, which I read in a matter of days. After writing my review, I shared it with her along with some of the insights I learned about publishing through Amazon. Then I prepared to publish my review and detailed book report for Apollo's Raven on the same day as her launch. Meanwhile, Linnea wrote her own story about our collaborations, and we awaited the book launch eagerly.


You can connect with Linnea
at LinneaTanner.com here.

And be sure to subscribe to Linnea's awesome blog, if you haven't already!


That's it for this post! Up Next: My review for Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner...

Download the Guest Resources here, or start your adventure below.






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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Great Questions: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more consciousness content in my Cosmic Directory.



In high school, the addled grief of my teenage world finally drove me to seek answers to the great questions about life. Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Without a family religion to foster answers for me, I started my quest in scientific discovery. Surely mankind with all its technology could unlock the mysteries of the universe. I delved into quantum mechanics, and learned that the core particles of matter are just energy waves that pop in and out of material state.

Then I learned that the energy waves were actually clouds of potential energy waves that sometimes collapse into physical form. Then I learned that it's the act of observing this cloud that causes it to collapse. Like a marshmallow left unwatched in the microwave, every speck of matter in the universe swells up and expands into an unstable cloud, only to deflate when you open the door to peek. Something about perception causes non-physical energy to condense into physical matter. Why did observing the world affect the world?


Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!


As I explored this mystery, I encountered a growing mass of scientific evidence proving that human focus directly affects the physical universe. Extensive experiments with random number generators over the past 50 years have repeatedly shown that focused attention affects the randomized output of these electric circuits. Countless studies demonstrate that when people ask the program to generate more of a certain number, the output is skewed in their favor. Since electricity is just the flow of electrons, and electrons are just clouds of potential energy, I concluded that something about human thought was affecting how those energy clouds condensed into particles inside the computer circuits.

I started exploring philosophy and psychology, trying to unravel the mystery behind how thoughts affect the universe. I read about Behaviorism, Dualism, Solipsism, and other philosophies of the mind. I studied cognitive and developmental psychology, sociolinguistics and cultural anthropology. While I developed my Tales of the Known World saga, I immersed myself in humankind's innumerable ideas about life, God, and the universe. I began scrutinizing my own mind - how were my thoughts causing changes in the world around me? The answer I stumbled across was simplistic and profound.


That's it for this post! Up Next: My path to the great awakening...

Download the Author's Manifesto here, or start your adventure below.






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Monday, March 13, 2017

Darkmage by M.L. Spencer: a book review ★★★★

This post is Part 5 of a series to augment the Book Reviews by D.N.Frost available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other reviewed content is gathered in my Book Reviews Directory for you to explore.

Find more guest-inspired content in my Guest Directory.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



★★★★


Four stars! This great story revealed something I didn't see coming.

★★★★

Potent, savage, and unique!

With duty and the letter of the law at bitter odds, an honest man must do something so hard, it devours him.

Grotesquely genuine, Darkmage by M.L. Spencer explores the tortures of a hard-pressed hero who must become evil so he can destroy evil itself. His redemption is his own damnation, and his ethical struggles resolve with bittersweet satisfaction.

A raw descent into madness, heroism, and sacrifice.

- D.N.Frost, author of Tales of the Known World ★★★★

Want to read this novel?
Buy your copy now.


★★★★


Darkmage by M.L. Spencer is Book One of The Rhenwars Saga, an epic fantasy spanning a millennium, two realms, and all the ethics of the human condition.

This book is Spencer's debut novel, published before the prequel that I reviewed in Part 1 of this guest series. When the prequel was first published, this novel was billed as Book Two, but has since reverted to Book One.



Check out these Book Reviews by D.N.Frost for more story ratings!



This is the story of a man who's lost everything, a raw descent into madness, heroism, and sacrifice. With duty and the letter of the law at bitter odds, this honest man must do something so hard, it devours him.

Grotesquely genuine, this artful story explores the tortures of a hard-pressed hero who must become evil so he can destroy evil itself.

His redemption is his own damnation, and his ethical struggles resolve with bittersweet satisfaction. Spencer's work is potent, savage, and unique in its examination of the human condition.


Please buy your copy of
Darkmage by M.L. Spencer here.

Have you read this novel? Help the author and write your own review.


That's it for this post! Up Next: My detailed report on Spencer's debut novel...

Want a review of your own book? Check out my Services for Authors.
You deserve a mindful reader and an honest book review.

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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Darkmage by M.L. Spencer: a style analysis

This post is Part 2 of a series to augment the Tips for Writing Fiction available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other writing workshops are gathered in my Workshops Directory for you to explore.

This post is also Part 6 of a series about M.L. Spencer. Start with Part 1 here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



I first connceted with M.L. Spencer in Part 1 of this guest series, and in Part 5 of this guest series, I provide the actual book review! The long-form style analysis below goes into much greater detail, diving into many aspects of storycraft, worldbuilding, and wordsmith techniques. I wrote my first style analysis for M.L. Spencer in Part 1 of this workshop series.

Darkmage by M.L. Spencer is Book One of The Rhenwars Saga, an epic fantasy spanning a millennium, two realms, and all the ethics of the human condition. This book is Spencer's debut novel, published before the prequel that I reviewed here. When the prequel was first published, this novel was billed as Book Two, but has since reverted to Book One.

★★★★


Four stars! This great story revealed something I didn't see coming.

★★★★

Returning home after two years in exile, acolyte mage Darien Lauchlin receives his magic powers mere moments before the city is destroyed in an act of heinous betrayal.

Driven by ever more dire threats to his homeland, Darien must shoulder the terrible burdens of his station, alone in a world rife with suspicion and abomination.

His ultimate end: to seal a deadly portal by surrendering his own soul to the Netherworld. Staring down this infernal eternity, Darien struggles with grief, ethics, and ultimately his own humanity as he fights to save a homeland he no longer deserves to be part of.

As with Spencer's prequel, Darkmage was a pleasure to read. The manuscript was polished, descriptive and engaging. Spencer's writing style continues to bring to life her fantasy world with exquisite detail.

Spencer paints her world with deft strokes and has a special knack for describing the natural surroundings of each scene. Stormy skies, brilliant sunlight, sweeping prairie, and sere mountain views formed the anchor within which Spencer's unfolding plot came to life.

Both Spencer's novels so far have explored the boundless gray areas between right and wrong, and how much the human spirit can endure while navigating those tricky and unrewarding waters.

I loved Darien's character the whole way through, and I'm impressed with the way he evolved from a swarthy acolyte in love to a responsible and potent mage determined to save his homeland from destruction.



Check these Tips for Writing Fiction to see more workshops!



But when it came time for Darien's final turn from responsibility into depravity, the change felt somewhat sudden, though not as sudden as the character changes I noted in my prequel review.

Darien's shifts in personality were well-primed and inevitable. They felt justified, necessary, even reasonable. But there's always something painful about a beloved character slipping into the tarnished depths of amorality.

Like any defining moment, Darien's turning point felt too brief, too haphazard, too irrevocably final. But despite the change and its inherent suddenness, I still loved Darien all the same.

Another parallel I noticed between both Spencer's novels was the way she crafted each story's opening. In the prologue of each book, a character dies, the death sending ripples of implication throughout the rest of the story.

Though a thousand years apart, the start of each book also depicts a similar scene -- a stormy night in a mountain city, and a woman alone in the rain. Even the women's names seem similar, Meiran in Darkmage and Merris in the prequel.

Of course, parallels like this are intentional, and I found myself contemplating Spencer's reasons. The stories of both books are a thousand years distant from each other, and yet the stories were instantly correlated, connected in some transcendent way.

I cannot attest to what she hoped to achieve, but for me, this sense of continuity established an expectation as I read, the expectation that the stories would somehow continue to be correlated as the book progressed.

What a great delivery! The novel maintained that sense of connection to Spencer's first book as the story unfolded. Not only did the events of the prequel have an impact on the events of Darkmage, but even some of the long-dead characters from the prequel made appearances, otherworldly and imminently crucial to the tale at hand.

Whether or not this sense of connection was Spencer's intention as she crafted her books, I can say that it enhanced my enjoyment of this book, and it also enhanced my appreciation of the prequel.



Check these Tips for Writing Fiction to see more workshops!



While the plot of Spencer's saga focuses on apocalyptic dangers and the hard-pressed souls who must avert those dangers, aspects of her fantasy world are reminiscent of the Game of Thrones series.

In Darkmage, Greystone Keep stood for five hundred years at the Front, holding the Pass of Lor-Gamorth against the invasions of the chaotic Enemy who dwell in the Black Lands.

Fans of George R.R. Martin may notice parallels to the icy Wall that barricades the chilling Others of the north, and fans may sense the sworn fraternity of his Black Brothers within Spencer's men of Greystone.

In addition to these features of Spencer's world, her story is one of mortal anguish and political intrigue, themes omnipresent in the Game of Thrones series.

A proud and beloved theme in fantasy depicts the unwilling union of nations to defeat the most vile threat of all, and Spencer's novel Darkmage resounds with this triumphant reluctance.

But unlike the infamous works of Martin, magic is more prevalent in Spencer's diverse society, and a number of her cultures have adapted to the presence of magic in everyday life.

The magic of Spencer's world is itself a wonder. Of all the ways to express magic in a fantasy world, Spencer envisioned a planet pulsating with a magic field. Similar to the magnetic field of Earth, Spencer's magic field flows around the planet, all-encompassing but also variable.

Earth's magnetic field fluctuates from place to place, stronger in some regions and weaker in others. Spencer's magic field follows similar force lines, converging into powerful vortexes in some locations and canceling out into magical dead zones in other places.

I found Spencer's unique planetary field as a really great expression of magic, and I loved how she showcased the specific areas where the field was absent or too violent to wield. In the null zones with no magic, mages can neither be detected nor empowered by the magic field they rely upon so heavily.

In contrast, the magic vortexes are cacophonies of flowing power, and mages foolish enough to draw in that power are obliterated in its wake. I love how Spencer's mages must take special care to shield their minds from the magic field within these vortexes, endangered by the very field that empowers them elsewhere.



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I was also delighted to meet the Jenn, a nomadic tribe of horsemen reminiscent of a now-extinct culture from the prequel. I really liked that earlier culture, and I was sad to learn that after an apocalypse and a millennium, they had not survived. But though Spencer doesn't outline the history or ancestry of the Jenn, I have hope that they are somehow descended from that beloved tribe wiped out long ago.

Other aspects of Spencer's world-building were equally delightful. Her numerous deities feature prominently in the cultures of the Rhen. While there is no overt interaction with deities themselves, Spencer accentuates the reality of these gods through the magic and miracles witnessed in her unfolding tale.

My favorite deity was Isap, the goddess of death, whose priestess is a prominent supporting character. The undeniable reality of the goddess's power gives credence to every deity in the Rhen, leaving the reader in true trepidation about the unknowable whims of very-real gods.

Though Spencer frames the whole of Darien's painful quest in no uncertain terms, I was gratified by how much room for surprise she maintained within the story.

And when Darien offered up his beautiful and poignant parting gift for the two he loved most in life, I loved how he graced them with an undying legacy that would both remind them of his love and remain with them for all their days, as he himself could not.

Overall, this book was potent and raw, a laudable novel that makes me look forward to the release of Spencer's remaining books in the series.


Please buy your copy of
Darkmage by M.L. Spencer here.

Have you read this novel? Help the author and write your own review.


That's it for this post! Up Next: My review of Darklands by M.L. Spencer...


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Puzzles and Sequels: an inspirational resource

This post is Part 4 of a series to augment the Guest Resources available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other guest-inspired content is gathered in my Guest Directory for you to explore.

Find my personal inspirations in the Spark Directory.



After I reviewed Melinda's first book in Part 1 of this series, I found myself wanting to read her second book too. I'd already fallen in love with her cool maps, particularly the marked differences between her Book One map and her map for Book Two.

I found her second book on her website, where I read a preview of the book and enjoyed a cool puzzle app where I could assemble the book's cover.

I loved the idea of turning my own book's maps and art into fun puzzles, so I did a little homework and tried making a few puzzles myself. Turns out it's really fun and addictive.

For a while, my Maps of the Known World mini-series contained a fun puzzle of each map to assemble! I'm grateful to Melinda for inspiring this idea, and I hope my own fans enjoyed puzzling along with their favorite maps while they could.


Check out these Guest Resources for more inspirational content!


After I played around with puzzles for longer than intended, I returned to Melinda's web page for Darkmage. There I saw that her second book is available in paperback and for Kindle. However, I didn't have a Kindle, and though this free Kindle reading app lets you read Kindle ebooks on any device, I didn't know about it at the time.

I contacted Melinda about other formats for her second book, and Melinda graciously offered either an EPUB or PDF format for her book. Of the two, I preferred PDF ebooks, mostly because EPUB files required a clunky reading app that I didn't like to use.

Since I was straightforward about my intention to write another in-depth review on my website, Melinda was kind enough to send me the PDF free of charge. I'm excited to be reading another book by M.L. Spencer, and my full review of the novel will be available soon.


You can read more about
M.L. Spencer here.

And be sure to subscribe to Melinda's reader group, if you haven't already!


That's it for this post! Up Next: My review of Darkmage by M.L. Spencer...

Download the Guest Resources here, or start your adventure below.






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Saturday, March 11, 2017

M.L. Spencer: an inspired collaboration

This post is Part 3 of a series to augment the Guest Resources available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other guest-inspired content is gathered in my Guest Directory for you to explore.

Find my personal inspirations in the Spark Directory.



In Part 1 of this series, I wrote a review for Darkstorm, Book One in The Rhenwars Saga, an epic fantasy series by M.L. Spencer. I first met Melinda in an authors group on Facebook, and we shared some fun conversations about maps. I am a huge proponent of maps, and Melinda's two maps were super cool in how they related to each other.

Her map from Book One showed a southern continent divided by a mountain range, as it was during the time of that story. But her second map showed the same continent a thousand years later, to set the stage for her events of Book Two. I loved the way Melinda made a millennium of drastic change so visual on her maps, and we inevitably began discussing the plot events that led to the changes in her world.


Check out these Guest Resources for more inspirational content!


I also showed her a few of my maps from Awakening, particularly the map of Old Ryerin. Included in my book for its relevance, this map shows the realm of a now-extinct forest and the high civilization of tree elves who used to dwell there.

In all my other Maps of the Known World from Book One, the region where Old Ryerin once stood is now a vast desert referred to only as the Badlands. This intentional discrepancy between my maps followed similar motivations as Melinda's two maps of her southern continent.

After we chatted about our maps and their plot-related intentions, Melinda and I agreed that we'd enjoy reading (and reviewing!) each other's books. A common practice among indie authors, this classic review swap helps each author get a new review, which in turn helps their online visibility and marketing efforts. In exchange for the promise of fresh praise, Melinda sent me a free copy of her ebook, and I sent her a free copy of mine.

Note that I don't always agree to a review swap, even when one is offered to me. The obvious trouble with review swaps is that each author is practically obligated to give the other a great review. If I don't feel confident I'll enjoy the book, I decline a review swap.

And if I read the book and can't give it at least four stars, I contact the author prior to writing my review, to respectfully rescind our review-swap arrangement. For me, it's important that my review is both honest for readers and helpful to the author.

As expected, Melinda's great story was a pleasure to read, and I had no trouble writing honest praise for her work. And in exchange, Melinda wrote some great Praise for Awakening after she finished reading my novel. We each shared our reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and for a while we left it at that.

However, I also wrote a detailed book review much too long for Amazon, since I had long-term plans to feature reviews of good books on my website. After I got things configured for my book reviews mini-series, I contacted Melinda with a preview of her feature and got permission to use her book's cover image within my review post.


You can connect with Melinda
at M.L. Spencer Fiction here.

And be sure to subscribe to Melinda's reader group, if you haven't already!


That's it for this post! Up Next: Inspired to read Melinda's second book...

Download the Guest Resources here, or start your adventure below.






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Friday, March 10, 2017

Guest Resources: an inspiration directory

This post is part of a series to augment the Guest Resources available for free download.

This and other guest-inspired content is gathered in my Guest Directory for you to explore.

Find more content navigation in my Resource Directory.



Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in the people who inspire me. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, fictional cartographer, and avid reader. As I work to share my Tales of the Known World saga with the world, I encounter a number of different people with assorted interests. When our interests coincide, I get inspired to write about them, and sometimes we end up collaborating together!

Whose work has inspired me so far? I love hearing good stories and learning new things. I've benefited from some great resources on writing, storytelling, history, and running a creative business. To get to know the people and projects that inspire me, please enjoy this collection of short project memoirs and guest recommendations.


Download your inspirational content guide Guest Resources here.


These are stories of my collaborations with and appreciation for other people. You'll learn about my projects with other platforms, discover my favorite online resources, and find out who's inspired my own work. Whether you are a world-builder, a fantasy fan, or an indie author looking for new connections, this download introduces you to the best hidden gems the web has to offer.

This resource directory also links to a number of guest inspirations and longer blog posts, so you can delve deep into your favorite content. I'm proud to offer you this compilation of great people from around the web, and I hope you use this resource to broaden your own horizons.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest guest-inspired content for more.

Download Guest Resources here, or start your adventure below.






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Thursday, March 9, 2017

Darkstorm by M.L. Spencer: a book review ★★★★

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Book Reviews by D.N.Frost available for free download.

This and other reviewed content is gathered in my Book Reviews Directory for you to explore.

Find more guest-inspired content in my Guest Directory.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



★★★★


Four stars! This great story revealed something I didn't see coming.

★★★★

A tumultuous tale of intrigue and sacrifice.

Faced with an impending apocalypse, scholars become villains and cowards become heroes as M.L. Spencer examines the riddled contours of the human psyche.

Darkstorm blurs the lines between good and evil, calling into question just how far people will go to justify what they've deemed best.

This thought-provoking romp through Spencer's unique fantasy world leaves you craving a brighter future for as all.

Absconds with your senses!

- D.N.Frost, author of Tales of the Known World ★★★★

Want to read this novel?
Buy your copy now.


★★★★


Darkstorm by M.L. Spencer is the prequel to The Rhenwars Saga, an epic fantasy spanning a millennium, two realms, and all the ethics of the human condition.

This book is her second novel, but it was originally published as Book One of the saga due to its chronology. I first connected with M.L. Spencer when we agreed to exchange author reviews.



Check out these Book Reviews by D.N.Frost for more story ratings!



In this tumultuous tale of intrigue and sacrifice, Spencer brings to life a magical world divided. Two nations on the brink of war clash, their cultures disparate and their values at odds. But an unforeseen catastrophe threatens them both.

Faced with evidence of an impending apocalypse, scholars become villains and cowards become heroes as Spencer examines the riddled contours of the human psyche.

Darkstorm blurs the lines between good and evil, calling into question just how far people will go to justify what they've deemed best. This thought-provoking romp through Spencer's unique fantasy world absconds with your senses and leaves you craving a brighter future for us all.


Please buy your copy of
Darkstorm by M.L. Spencer here.

Have you read this novel? Help the author and write your own review.


That's it for this post! Up Next: My detailed report on Spencer's writing craft...

Want a review of your own book? Check out my Services for Authors.
You deserve a mindful reader and an honest book review.

Download Book Reviews by D.N.Frost here, or start your adventure below.






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Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Darkstorm by M.L. Spencer: a style analysis

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Tips for Writing Fiction available for free download.

This and other writing workshops are gathered in my Workshops Directory for you to explore.

This post is also Part 2 of a series about M.L. Spencer. Start with Part 1 here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



In Part 1 of this guest series, I provide the actual book review! The long-form style analysis below goes into much greater detail, diving into many aspects of storycraft, worldbuilding, and wordsmith techniques.

Darkstorm by M.L. Spencer is the prequel to The Rhenwars Saga, an epic fantasy spanning a millennium, two realms, and all the ethics of the human condition. Though it is her second novel, it was originally published as Book One of the saga due to its chronology.

★★★★


Four stars! This great story revealed something I didn't see coming.

★★★★

I tend to read books in serial order, but though I haven't read Spencer's debut novel, I felt confident reading Darkstorm since Spencer billed it as Book One at the time.

The story takes place one thousand years before the events of her first book, and I found the story easy to follow despite it being a prequel. In truth, I had no idea the book wasn't Spencer's first until I set out to write this post and discovered my prequel/sequel mix-up.

Reading the story was a pleasure, and I finished the book in a matter of days. As with most books, I noticed prose that I would have worded differently, but as an author myself I can appreciate a variety of writing styles without judging them against my own.

My only qualm came at a major turning point in the story, where a leading protagonist descended into betrayal.

The character's change of behavior was late in the book, well-explained but suddenly staged. In retrospect, perhaps the change would be anticipated by readers of Spencer's debut novel, and not seem sudden at all.



Check these Tips for Writing Fiction to see more workshops!



When Spencer delved into the character's darker facets in the final chapters, I felt compassion for the character's flaws, and I actually felt more connected with that character.

But Spencer used that inner exploration to stage and justify the character's rapid changes, and my favorite character's revealed depths then culminated with betrayal. I felt dismayed - but perhaps that was Spencer's intention all along.

Ultimately, Spencer's tale was an engaging, independent prequel. The prose was unpretentious and descriptive. The characters had depth and personality, and the master conflict was nuanced yet explicit. It began on a rainy night in a mountain city, and it quickly progressed into the discovery of a dire conspiracy.

I loved how Spencer showcased the diversity of her Southern Continent. Not only did she contrast the cultures of two nations, but she contrasted a scholarly urban culture to the rural nomads under the same rule. Spencer also evoked a sub-culture of those gifted with magic compared to those who had none.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel, and I went on to read Spencer's original book. After I shared my review with Spencer, she wrote this Praise for Awakening in exchange.


Please buy your copy of
Darkstorm by M.L. Spencer here.

Have you read this novel? Help the author and write your own review.


That's it for this post! Up Next: How I first connected with M.L. Spencer...


Want a review of your own book? Check out my Services for Authors.
You deserve a mindful reader and an honest book review.

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Formatively Foreign: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more linguistic content in my Language Directory.



Language has always fascinated me. When I was in preschool, my teacher spoke French and, like any young kid, I picked it up readily. It helped that my paternal grandmother also spoke French. However, I stopped using French when I started elementary school, and by second grade, I could hardly remember the old songs in French that I'd learned.

About that time, my older brother was learning basic Japanese at school. I was so jealous! I felt like Japanese was such a cool language, and I yearned to understand its crazy symbols. But it wasn't offered at my grade level, so that yearning went unquenched for the time being. Then, halfway through second grade, my family moved from Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas. Instead of language options like French or Japanese, my new elementary school delivered only Spanish.


Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!


My indignation quelled itself in time. Due to my experience with French, the Spanish language seemed familiar and frankly, boring. When I ascended to junior high, I omitted any foreign language class at all, hoping that in three years, high school would have more interesting languages to offer. They did, in a way. I had to choose between French, Spanish, and ancient Latin. No Japanese, and not even talk of adding Japanese in the future. In fact, I believe the school was thrilled to be adding German to the list sometime in the next few years.

I went with Latin. I'd read lots of Greek and Roman mythology as a kid, so learning Latin seemed to be a good idea. As I began working on my Tales of the Known World saga, I discovered that my favorite part of the Latin courses was learning the Roman history and culture surrounding their language. I felt like I understood the ancient Romans through their lifestyle and society, and it instilled in me a sure knowing that language and culture are inextricably linked.


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Sunday, March 5, 2017

Celtic Tarot Card Meanings: an inspired contribution

This post is Part 4 of a series to augment the Guest Resources available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other guest-inspired content is gathered in my Guest Directory for you to explore.

Find more tarot-related content in my Tarot Gallery.



In Part 1 of this series, I first connected with historical fantasy author Linnea Tanner. We soon collaborated on this guest post for her Celtic history blog. I originally wrote this piece in July 2015, and it has been reposted here with permission.

UPDATE 2022: Since the writing of this post seven years ago, Linnea's site has undergone extensive upgrades and overhauls. My original guest post is no longer available on her site, but is preserved in full below.





It is a great pleasure to reintroduce D.N.Frost who has graciously agreed to provide another guest post about the rich symbolism of nature used in Celtic tarot cards. She is a talented fantasy author, cartographer, and world builder with a passion for Celtic mythology and traditions. I’ve had the privilege of working with her to create a map and world for my current project on Apollo’s Raven.

Welcome D.N.Frost! I encourage everyone to learn more about her ongoing projects on mapping and world-building and her epic saga Tales of the Known World which you can download electronically from her site.

Guest Post: D.N.Frost |Celtic Tarot Card Meaning | Apollo’s Raven


Hello there! My name is D.N.Frost, and I’m the fantasy author, cartographer, and world-builder behind the epic saga Tales of the Known World. I love delving into the mythology and traditions of different cultures, and this guest post for Linnea Tanner was inspired by my love of Celtic mysticism. Enjoy!


The world of the ancient Celts teemed with layers of meaning and symbols drawn from nature. Many of these assorted myths and traditions were amassed in detail by Anna Franklin, a well-known Celtic Pagan authority in the British Isles. One of her books accompanied a Celtic-themed tarot deck, and though tarot only dates back to the 15th century, the book and cards are steeped in ancient Celtic heritage.

This Celtic Tarot card depicts a Celtic shaman, alone in the forest with his familiar, the wolf.

The Shaman. Image from Celtic Tarot Card Meanings: symbols of the ancient Celts www.DNFrost.com/guest An inspired contribution by D.N.Frost Part 4 of a series.
Celtic Tarot Card: The Shaman

Wearing deerskin, this shaman sits at his cauldron, beating his bodhran drum to call to the spirits. He brews a potion that helps him engage the spirit world, and a few of the potion’s ingredients surround him, notably the sacred herb vervain.

The path of the Celtic shaman was strongly tied to the land and the cycle of the seasons. By honoring the spirits of nature and learning their wisdom, a shaman sought to transform himself and expand his awareness. Conscious of the subtle connection between all things, Celtic shamans recognized the sacredness within everything, allowing them to form a bridge between the spirit world and the human world.

This shaman is shown brewing a sacred potion called the Cauldron of Ceridwen, which was believed to inspire eloquence and prophesy in those who drank it. This magic potion contained a number of ingredients, including rowan berries, sea foam, “Taliesin’s cresses, Gwion’s silver, flixweed, and vervain” picked on moonless nights (Franklin, 83). This potion was also used to create the Gwin or Bragwod drink used in sacred initiations, though the initiates drank it mixed with wine and barley meal.



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The Celtic goddess Ceridwen is said to have captured the wisdom of the Three Realms in her potion. She charged the youth Gwion to keep the fire going beneath her cauldron, and one day he splashed three drops onto his finger. When he put his finger into his mouth to soothe the burn, Gwion instantly became one with the past, present, and future of all things. The knowledge frightened him, and Ceridwen decided to test his worthiness by appearing as a terrifying beast. Gwion fled, taking on the forms of different animal familiars, and these animal spirits helped him integrate his new knowledge. The goddess continued chasing him until Gwion took the form of a grain of wheat, and Ceridwen ate him. Nine months later, she gave birth to him as Taliesin, meaning “radiant brow.”

This legend of consumption and rebirth symbolized how shamanic initiates had to be absorbed into the womb of the goddess before emerging wiser and forever changed. The harvest festival of Samhain celebrated the two aspects of this divine womb, both the dormant seed that lies within, and the wisdom shared from the spirit world. This celebration used the herb vervain, an ingredient in Ceridwen’s potion and one of the most sacred herbs for the Celtic druids. Vervain was only gathered on moonless nights when the “dog star” Sirius was rising, and Celtic lore associates the wisdom of this herb with the wisdom of the wolf.

Ancient Celts viewed the wolf with awe and respect. Considered very wise, the wolf only chose to share its wisdom with certain people, and many shamans sought the wolf as their familiar. The wizard Merlin was said to have an old wolf companion during his years as a forest hermit. The white wolf Emhain Abhlac once met the druid Bobaran, who threw three rowan berries at the wolf, three into the air, and three into his own mouth to receive the wolf’s wisdom. The Gundestrup cauldron shows a wolf beside the horned god Cernunnos, and the goddess Brighid is often shown with a wolf nearby. The wolf was a totem guardian of Britain, and one of Brighid’s four sacred animals.

According to the ancient Celts, the winter quarter of the year was ruled by the wolf. Winter was a dead time, a time of purification while the earth rested in darkness and grew ready for the rebirth of spring. This period stretched from Samhain in October to the Imbolc festival in February, which celebrated the goddess Brighid with a giant feast. In ancient Gaelic, the month of February was known as Faoilleach, which can translate to “the wolf month,” “the storm month,” or “the month of bleak death.” For the Celtic shaman, the wolf taught about instincts and psychic intuition, as well as the cyclical powers of the moon. The wolf’s wisdom guided shamans to trust their inner voice and to seek their answers within.

This Celtic Tarot card depicts the warrior queen Boudicca of the equestrian Iceni people.

The Chariot. Image from Celtic Tarot Card Meanings: symbols of the ancient Celts www.DNFrost.com/guest An inspired contribution by D.N.Frost Part 4 of a series.
Celtic Tarot Card: The Chariot

Boudicca led the Iceni tribe to fight the ancient Romans as they sought to conquer Britain. With woad spirals on her face, she cracks a whip from atop her chariot, drawn by one black horse and one white horse.

Horses were known as the chosen mounts of the gods, particularly the sun and moon deities. They symbolized the virility of the land itself, as well as strength and swiftness. The Iceni tribe derived their name from the word for horse, and Britain’s horse cults predate the arrival of the ancient Celts. Horses were shown on the earliest Celtic coins, and they were common god or totem creatures through the Iron Age and into the Bronze Age. For ancient Celts, horses represented the instinctive aspects of humanity, which often needed to be tamed and controlled. The horse’s master used the bit and bridle to control his horse, and this symbolized the intellect that tempered destructive impulses. While horses symbolized raw life-force, the reigns betokened the willpower and intelligence needed to harness this life-force effectively.

Fal, the Celtic god of horses and hounds, symbolized light within the darkness. In the cycle of the year, the northern quarter was called the Plain of Fal, associated with wisdom and truth. The Stone of Fal was the station of the yearly cycle connected with the winter solstice, when the midwinter sun was reborn. Ancient Celts believed this was when the horse goddess Rhiannon gave birth to her son. White horses represented the sun and were affiliated with the light of spring and summer. Like other white animals, white horses symbolized sky deities to the ancient Celts, while black animals were correlated with Underworld deities. Black horses, generally considered unlucky, were connected with the darkness of autumn and winter, as well as with the Underworld. They were an omen of death, symbolic of funerals and of chaos. A black horse was said to rule the twelve days of midwinter chaos between the old and new year.

Modern Celtic folklore still honors horses, and the horsing ceremonies of midwinter depict a play of death and resurrection. Also, May’s Beltane festival features the Hobby Horses of Padstow and Minehead. A black horse winds through town in a musical parade, and it falls to the ground whenever the music stops. Each time, the horse rises again when the music resumes, until the parade dies down at midnight. Then the sinister horse is considered truly dead, until it is born again in the fall.

This Celtic Tarot card depicts the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire, England.

Diplomacy: The 7 of Swords. Image from Celtic Tarot Card Meanings: symbols of the ancient Celts www.DNFrost.com/guest An inspired contribution by D.N.Frost Part 4 of a series.
Celtic Tarot Card: Seven of Swords

The hillsides of Britain are carved with many chalk horses, but this is the oldest carving, dating to around 1400 BCE. Sacred to both the ancient Celts and the earlier peoples of Britain, horses fostered the spread of Celtic civilization with their swiftness and strength.

Though ancient Celts carved the Uffington horse, the site was important to Britain’s Neolithic people. Well before the carving, the hill was part of a ley network said to harness dragon power. In fact, there is some dispute that the Uffington horse is really a dragon, since it looks down on Dragon Hill, where St. George allegedly slew a mighty dragon. It is said that nothing will grow where the dragon’s spilled blood poisoned the ground, and to this day there is a bare patch atop the hill. Near the head of the Uffington horse is a Bronze Age burial mound, and less than a mile away is a Neolithic burial chamber known as Wayland’s Smithy. There, legend has it, a magical blacksmith forged the shoes for the giant Uffington horse.

Ancient Celts believed that dead souls rode to the Underworld on horseback, and that horses carried living souls to and from the spirit world. Gods and shamans traveled through the axis mundi, or World Tree, and they tethered their horses to this tree before making the journey. Famously, the hero Conan traveled to the Otherworld on Aonbharr, the steed of the sea god Manannan. Aonbharr was said to make her rider invulnerable to any attack. According to Celtic lore, the white horse of the elf queen took Thomas the Rhymer to the land of the fairies, and Tam Lin stole a white horse to escape that fairy realm.


I hope you enjoyed this foray into the world of the ancient Celts! For more fun with prophesy and magic, visit me at DNFrost.com, on Twitter @DNFrost13, and on my Facebook page.

My love of cultures and mythology inspired an epic fantasy saga.

Let me send you my free ebook today!



References

1. Anna Franklin, The Sacred Circle Tarot: A Celtic Pagan Journey; Llewellyn Publications, 2000.
2. Paul Mason, The Shaman; Mixed media illustration. Sacred Circle Tarot: A Celtic Pagan Journey; Llewellyn Publications, 2000.
3. Paul Mason, The Chariot; Mixed media illustration. Sacred Circle Tarot: A Celtic Pagan Journey; Llewellyn Publications, 2000.
4. Paul Mason, Diplomacy: The Seven of Swords; Mixed media illustration. Sacred Circle Tarot: A Celtic Pagan Journey; Llewellyn Publications, 2000.




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Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Eyes of the Sea by Alberto Guaita Tello: a book review ★★★★★

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Book Reviews by D.N.Frost available for free download.

This and other reviewed content is gathered in my Book Reviews Directory for you to explore.

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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



★★★★★


Five stars! This great story delivered something I've never seen before.

★★★★★

A true testament to the courage of the human heart.

Alberto Guaita Tello blends the magic traditions of African animism with notions of advanced technology and space-warping portals between planets.

Woven with breathtaking heart, The Eyes of the Sea captures the raw spirit of Africa, but Guaita Tello's work is a human story most of all - of love and loss, hope and pain, generosity and deceit, ambition and resourcefulness.

Classy, witty, and insightful!

- D.N.Frost, author of Tales of the Known World ★★★★★

Want to read this novel?
Buy your copy now.


★★★★★


The Eyes of the Sea by Alberto Guaita Tello is Book One of the Twins of Telluria series, originally written in the author's native Spanish.

This book was published in 2015 under the title Los Ojos del Mar with the same cover image. The English translation was released in 2016, and I first connected with Alberto Guaita Tello when we agreed to exchange author reviews.



Check out these Book Reviews by D.N.Frost for more story ratings!



In this savvy futuristic fantasy, Guaita Tello blends the magic traditions of African animism with notions of advanced technology and space-warping portals between planets.

It is classy, witty, and insightful, steeped in rich details and woven with breathtaking heart. Guaita Tello's unconventional storytelling also honors the oral traditions of Africa, weaving his novel through both prose and tales expressed in dialogue.

This book captures the raw spirit of Africa, probing the history of a plundered continent, the savage violence of warring nations, mistrust and the resilient kindness of people to whom life has not been kind.

But Guaita Tello's work is a human story most of all - of love and loss, hope and pain, generosity and deceit, ambition and resourcefulness. The Eyes of the Sea is a true testament to the courage of the human heart.



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Friday, March 3, 2017

The Eyes of the Sea by Alberto Guaita Tello: a style analysis

This post is part of a series to augment the Tips for Writing Fiction available for free download.

This and other writing workshops are gathered in my Workshops Directory for you to explore.

This post is also Part 2 of a series about Alberto Guaita Tello. Start with Part 1 here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



In Part 1 of this guest series, I provide the actual book review! The long-form style analysis below goes into much greater detail, diving into many aspects of storycraft, worldbuilding, and wordsmith techniques.

The Eyes of the Sea by Alberto Guaita Tello is Book One of the Twins of Telluria series, originally written in the author's native Spanish. This book was published in 2015 under the title Los Ojos del Mar with the same cover image. The English translation was released in 2016.

★★★★★


Five stars! This great story delivered something I've never seen before.

★★★★★

When a young healer chances upon an injured man outside her Cameroon village, she learns his strange appearance is because he is from another world.

As he recovers in her care, their love ignites an adventure that spans twenty years and two worlds.

This very clever book is translated from the original Spanish, and though I'm not a Spanish speaker, I could tell that the English translation of this novel kept true to Guaita Tello's original Spanish manuscript.

Each word felt pithy and well-intended, and the turns of phrase we use in English were adapted nicely from their Spanish equivalents.

Occasionally, I'd have to read a particularly long sentence over again to get its full meaning, but these instances were only because some English sentence constructions are bulkier and more long-winded than their Spanish counterparts.

The story itself goes far beyond what the novel's synopsis and book trailer lead me to believe.

The tale starts with the young healer and her grandmother assisting an injured stranger, but it quickly progresses through time. Their love is not really the focus of the story, but rather its inception.



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The true star of this story is their teenage daughter, featured on the book's cover, who attempts to unite her divided family against a growing tide of local animosity.

I loved the way Guaita Tello used verbal storytelling as an active element in his novel. Inspired by the bonfire stories of his youth in Africa, Guaita Tello expressed his tale partially in dialogue.

In contrast to the book's standard dialogue, the strange traveler told stories about his world that were vivid and flush with detail.

Vibrant modern Africa gleamed in Guaita Tello's prose as well; his colorful imagery made Cameroon come alive.

Overall, I was blown away by this epic fantasy crossover, and I look forward to more in Guaita Tello's series. I was so excited after finishing Guaita Tello's book that I emailed him my review before I'd even posted it online. Now I eagerly await Book Two!



Have you read this novel? Help the author and write your own review.


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