Following Devon Book Club’s #fantasyfortnight event, my reading list has grown substantially. In turn I’ve been able to share some of my recommendations, including the titles in this blog. I have my local St Thomas library to thank. I’ve always regarded libraries as an essential hub of the community, and in the time of a global pandemic, they came to the fore. Courtesy of the library’s online click and collect service, I’ve been able to get my hands on some really great reads.
Each Monday evening at 8pm I tune into Devon Book Club on Twitter, following the conversation at #devonbookhour. Perhaps less personal than a face-to-face book club, although with members from Devon and beyond, as far as New Zealand, it gives an interesting perspective on all things books. And every so often there are themed events, like #fantasyfortnight beginning next week. Since I am a resident writer and reader of the fantasy genre, I have been asked to co-host, and to prepare an accompanying video introducing the event, some personnel recommendations of mine, and a snippet intro. of my own work.
It’s an interesting way to start the year, which was also accompanied by a new book delivery to replenish stocks of Return of the Mantra. I do love the sight of a box of new books.
Happy reading, happy writing, and if Twitter is your thing, feel free to join Devon Book Club for #fantasyfortnight – Worlds Beyond Borders: from folklore and fairytale to demons and dystopia.
I hadn’t expected to be attending World Fantasy Convention 2020, set to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah. But with Covid-19 stamping out social gatherings, the organisers created a virtual event, that I was pleased to attend from the comfort of home.
I had the opportunity to give readings from Blood Gift Chronicles. In Return of the Mantra, we heard from Suni, a young woman who has to come to terms with the fact that the fate of her homeland depends on her. This was followed by a sneak preview of the sequel, The Warder, where we face the question: are they gifts, are they curses, are they both? It was heartening for the readings to receive such a warm reception, and for the themes to evoke discussion and questions that kept me on my toes.
It is Monday morning of what promises to be a busy week, not least because World Fantasy Convention 2020 is due to start in just a few days. I’m thrilled to have been given a reading slot to read from Return of the Mantra.
(News Update: Free delivery worldwide on Return of the Mantra from Book Depository.)
Just over two years ago, Return of the Mantra was released into the world: the first in the series, Blood Gift Chronicles. Now, with the edits complete and book cover plans underway, it’s exciting to see Book 2, The Warder, reaching its final milestone.
Reviews are a gift to a writer, and so I like to do my bit, especially when it’s a book I’ve particularly enjoyed. For any book lovers out there yet to discover Goodreads, I highly recommend it as a treasure trove for championing books and discovering new reading material.
Two dystopian titles come to mind when I think about recent great reads.
Susie comes from Yorkshire and has a varied background of support work and teaching. After four years living and working in the Sudan then South Africa, she settled in Exeter, Devon, and got serious about writing.
via Women In SFF Author Spotlight – Susie Williamson — The Fantasy Hive
It’s Return of the Mantra’s two-year anniversary. Here’s a snippet of where it all began:
Chapter One
I’ve been busy with edits for The Warder, honing in on the detail, polishing, steadily working towards publication. There’s a theme running throughout this novel: Transformation.
Prior to publication of Return of the Mantra, brainstorming book cover ideas with the publishers, I came across Adinkra symbols from West Africa. It’s not an idea we went with, but I surprised myself, managing to reduce a story to one word. I have three stories so far in the series, Blood Gift Chronicles:
It’s been a busy few days, beginning on Saturday when I went along to Wincanton Book Festival. Reading an extract from Return of the Mantra, I chose the scene when Suni first meets a mysterious young boy who doesn’t speak. It reminded me of the tenderness that develops in this parent/child type relationship; a relationship that continues to grow in the sequel. Needless to say it was a lovely day promoting all things books, and as I chatted to interested people, I thought more about the complexities of my female protagonist, a girl who struggles to find her place in the world, who survives and adapts and learns to fight to save her homeland.
