I've finished reading three fantasy novels this month -- that's much more like it! The slight drawback to this has been the wrecking of my sleep patterns. In my determination to find books to immerse myself in, I forgot the part where this means I keep reading to 3 or 4 or 5am... which in … Continue reading Three fantasy books by Aussie women for January
ASH My eyes feel as though they are clamped shut, but I force them open. At first the light is dazzling, but gradually the puckered faces of my companions resolve themselves. They are leaning over me, all four of them. Above is a dappled canopy of trees. The forest. Yes. I remember. The pressure in … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: In which Ash loses part of her soul and gains a wolf
Last October I took this photo in Exeter UK during our 'wall walk' -- a self-guided journey along the ancient Roman/medieval wall that once ringed the town, but which now meaders through the central city area. I love the composition of this image, which is almost exactly in thirds. It's a juxtaposition of crisp, living, … Continue reading Juxtaposition
Says Chenna the devilcat: Capricious. That's what she called me! Recalcitrant too. Like there are rules I'm supposed to be following. Where, may I ask, does it say I have to sleep in the same place all the time? Is there some lodging contract I signed? (No!) Is there a notice on the wall? (No!) … Continue reading Diary of a Devilcat: I’ll sleep where I damn well want
It’s been good to finally get my teeth into some contemporary epic fantasy in the form of Australian author Jo Spurrier's Winter be my shield (Children of the Black Sun - Book 1). From the very start this novel gripped me in its icy vices and – even if perhaps it faded a little in the … Continue reading Book Review: Winter be my shield
Here's a quick tip for reading big fat fantasy novels on e-readers. Particularly fantasy books with a MAP (or maps) at the front. Take a digital photo of the map with your phone. This makes it so much easier to refer to the map while you're reading the novel. The lack of navigability of e-readers is their biggest … Continue reading Quick tip for reading fantasy on e-readers
This year I thought I'd dig around in my archives a bit; resurrect and breathe some life into some of my older posts from a time when no-one read this blog. There's some good stuff buried back there. Well, I think it's good. Seems a shame for no-one to have read any of it. This … Continue reading In the minds of readers…
Today I'm playing with the WordPress weekly photo challenge, where the theme is WINDOW. Now I daresay most participants will probably be focusing on what's on the other side of the window. Not me. For me it's all about the architecture. On my recent trip to the UK I found myself taking multiple photos of … Continue reading Four windows
In celebration of my 300th post, today I'm going to talk about ice cream. Indeed, it seems a rather fitting subject, since it's hot and muggy here in Melbourne this evening, and I have already consumed a generous quantity of the yummy awesomeness. (I'm not overly sure how I managed to put some back in … Continue reading Taste test: Cookies and cream ice cream
ASH Day 1 After we reluctantly agree to play guard duty for our latest ally, the dodgy necromancer Dulgahar, he goes down to his mysterious underground lair and we explore this strange dilapidated building. What can it be about this place that attracts so much interest? The rooms are dusty and empty -- and then … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Fast talking and fast walking
Ellen Gregory 