document.write("\n\n
\n
\n

\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Quill & Quire gives Edward Willett's new YA fantasy Song of the Sword a rave review

\n
\"\"The September issue of Quill & Quire, Canada’s magazine of book news and reviews, contains a rave review for Edward Willett's upcoming young adult fantasy Song of the Sword (Lobster Press), first book in a five-book series collectively entitled The Shards of Excalibur. Robert J. Wiersema writes:

Authors who incorporate, interpret, or subvert Arthurian legends in works of contemporary fantasy take a huge risk: the failure rate of such books is staggeringly high. Every so often, though, a writer is skilled enough to utilize the stories of King Arthur and Camelot to significant effect. Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry trilogy is definitely on the list. So, too, is Song of the Sword, the impressive new YA novel from Regina writer Edward Willett.

His penultimate paragraph:

It’s an audacious conceit and a daring subversion of the Arthurian mythos, and Willett backs it up with a taut, compelling narrative, well-drawn characters, and a keen sense of genuine peril and true wonder. It’s a powerful, fun, engaging read, and it’s the first of a series, so readers have much to look forward to.

\n
\n
\n
\n

Five Star Ratings for Lorina Stephens

\n
Midwest Book Review has given five star ratings to Lorina Stephens' And the Angels Sang, and From Mountains of Ice.
And the Angels Sang is an anthology of short, speculative fiction stories author Lorina Stephens has penned over the course of twenty-five years. Some were previously published in periodicals or writers' workshops; all offer snapshots of the human condition. From the titular story of how a pious man perceives angels even as he suffers unspeakable torture and execution, to the devious negotiations of a \"dragonslayer\" who has more expertise at selling life insurance than wielding a sword, And the Angels Sang is a cornucopia of fractal glimpses into the mysterious, the fantastic, and surprises that lurk beneath the surface. Also highly recommended is Lorina Stephens' historical novel Shadow Song.
The life of a bowyer won't seem so bad. From Mountains of Ice tells the story of fallen noble Sylvio, as he returns to the courts of Simare and finds that he's being dragged into a world of murder and insanity. Set in an Italian renaissance inspired world, From Mountains of Ice is an entertaining and original fantasy from Lorina Stephens, highly recommended.
 
Lorina Stephens will be reading from, and signing copies of From Mountains of Ice, as well as And the Angels Sang and Shadow Song, this coming Saturday, August 28, 2010, at Chapters Bayview Village, 2901 Bayview Ave., Unit 132, North York, ON, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
 
Lorina's books are available in both digital and print format from booksellers globally, and through the Espresso Book Machine.
 


View Larger Map
\n
\n
\n
\n

Writing Coach Gives Free Webinar

\n
Nina, the Writing Coach
Author and writing coach Nina Munteanu joins editor-journalist Vernon Oikle for \"Toolkit Talks\", a FREE Webinar hosted by Writer's Digest University to discuss the common issues faced by writers wishing to publish. Nina shares some of her best tips on how to get published in this entertaining and very educational one-hour long conversation with award-winning newspaper editor and journalist Vernon Oikle.

Nina and Vernon cover over twenty questions posed by Writer's Digest editors on important writing topics that range from inspiration, keeping the muse, focus issues and getting started to tools of craft, marketing and promotion.


You can still register to view this free webinar and learn some of the secrets writers use to jumpstart and keep their career in upward motion. Register for Nina's free webinar by August 15, 2010 and you may be eligible for additional materials.

Click here to register and view \"Toolkit Talks\" on Writer's Digest University.
\n
\n
\n
\n

The Bloodlight Chronicles

\n
\"\" Steve Stanton's debut novel has now gone to the printer and will be in bookstores soon, with back-cover blurbs by Elisabeth Vonarburg and Matthew Hughes. This postcyberpunk \"techno-thriller\" is published by ECW Press in Toronto, the first book in a contracted sci-fi trilogy. Steve Stanton's short fiction has been published in twelve countries and nine languages, and he currently serves as the vice-president of SF Canada.
\n
\n
\n
\n

Edward Willett offering electronic galley of Song of the Sword to reviewers

\n
\"\"Edward Willett now has an electronic version (a non-printable PDF) of his upcoming YA fantasy Song of the Sword (book one in the five-book series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Lobster Press) available for bona fide reviewers (for online sites or print publication) interested in reading and reviewing the book leading up to its October launch.

If you review books, and you'd like to review Song of the Sword, contact Ed at ewillett(at)sasktel.net.
\n
\n
\n
\n

Cover art for Edward Willett's upcoming YA fantasy

\n
\"\"Here's the cover art for Edward Willett's upcoming fantasy Song of the Sword, first book in the five-book series The Shards of Excalibur. The book is due out in mid-October from Lobster Press. Here's the description:
Before the Lady called her, Ariane's life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call.Ariane learns that she descends from the Lady of the Lake, and soon the stories she thought were legend become a real life nightmare. She and her unexpected companion, Wally Knight, are charged with finding the scattered shards of Excalibur before Merlin can get his hands on them. The infamous magician, known in this world as software tycoon Rex Major, is trying to recover the pieces of Arthur's sword so he can reforge it and restore his limitless power. Suddenly, Ariane's life seems to have a purpose and a clear direction – but how can a troubled teen and her brainy sidekick outwit the ancient, ruthless sorcerer?
\n
\n
\n
\n

Jeanne Robinson (1948-2010)

\n
SF Canada member Jeanne Robinson passed away peacefully at home on May 30 surrounded by family and spiritual advisors. She was a professional dancer and choreographer, a lay-ordained Soto Zen Buddhist, and co-authored the science-fiction trilogy, Stardance, Starseed and Starmind with her husband Spider Robinson. The original novella, \“Stardance,\” won the Nebula and Hugo Awards in 1978.
http://www.spiderrobinson.com/jeanne.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Robinson
\n
\n
\n
\n

Lorina Stephens at Indigo, Kingston

\n
This coming Saturday, May 15, Lorina Stephens will appear at Indigo Books and Music, 259 Princess St., Kingston, ON, between 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. She will be signing copies of her latest novel, From Mountains of Ice, a cultural fantasy set in the Italian Renaissance world of Simare.


The novel, Lorina's fifth publication, tells the story of an unlikely hero, Sylvio di Danuto, a back-country bowyer fallen from grace, exiled, dispossessed, the former minister of security for his prince and student, Carmelo. Now Sylvio finds himself summoned back to court for the Festival de Nerezza, the annual autumn remembrance of the dead. The summons carries with it portends of danger, issued by a prince Sylvio suspects is a patricide and insane, a bone-speaker like himself and therefore a rare and potentially powerful force.

From Mountains of Ice is available in both print and digital format from booksellers globally, as well as signed directly from Five Rivers.


View Larger Map
\n
\n
\n
\n
RSSbox powered by rssinclude.com
\n
\n
\n
\n \n
");