In preparation for the steppes of Mongolia where there be horses

There's a rumor going around that my next big adventure will be in Mongolia. Horse trekking in Mongolia. On the steppes. The steppes of Mongolia. On horseback. With horses. For two weeks. (And then some.) Except it isn't a rumor. It's tremendously exciting. The scenery should be amazing, the culture fascinating -- and, oh, the … Continue reading In preparation for the steppes of Mongolia where there be horses

D&D Chronicles: The Green Man

Recap: Our party has spent the past couple of weeks (game time) stumbling around a tiny island, summoned by a mage who wants us to retrieve certain magical scrolls from a secret stronghold inside a forested volcanic crater. The first time we attempted this, we lost our mage, Calwyn. Then we tried to leave the … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: The Green Man

Cherry Crow Children ~ A fantasy collection from Deborah Kalin

Today I'm joined by my friend and fantasy author Deborah Kalin to celebrate the impending Easter launch of her collection, Cherry Crow Children from Twelfth Planet Press. I'm reliably informed they are four dark and disturbing stories, but they are also full of heart and emotion and beautiful imagery. I've spent hours writing in cafes … Continue reading Cherry Crow Children ~ A fantasy collection from Deborah Kalin

D&D Chronicles: Back to the crater where there are centaurs

ZILLAH We're back at the cursed crater. The one where Calwyn was killed by Ammonite. That odd local fellow, Squirrel, has accompanied us, along with two of his friends, Xolra and Ragal, who were the ones to approach us and persuade us to return. I'm regretting it already. But at least they acquired us some … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Back to the crater where there are centaurs

D&D Chronicles: Calamity in the forest, disaster at sea

ZILLAH At first light I lead our group into the crater forest. It's dark and muted. Eerie. An overgrown track threads its way through thick undergrowth roiling beneath towering trees. Progress is slow as we clamber over fallen logs and try to avoid touching a dark and scaly lichen I have never seen before. This … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Calamity in the forest, disaster at sea

D&D Chronicles: The island, the mage and the volcano

ZILLAH We have made it to the island of Mycross -- but we have no weapons. This is not a good thing. I do have my dagger and necklace of exploding beads around my neck. And my bracers. But we are forced to trust an unknown organisation that our weapons will be returned to us... … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: The island, the mage and the volcano

Thoughts on The Hobbit – Battle of the Five Armies

And so we come to the third and final installment of The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies, which wraps up this humble little story well. In the context of the first two Hobbit movies I was not disappointed. It's always wonderful to sit back and experience a few hours in Peter Jackson's … Continue reading Thoughts on The Hobbit – Battle of the Five Armies

D&D Chronicles: A puzzle solved and then a test

ZILLAH It's taken us four more days, but finally we have retrieved the final two silver items we need to defeat the sorceress. Four days in which we have trekked and crawled all over this awful dungeon, back and forth, in and out. It's been one enormous puzzle. We found the silver chime swiftly enough. … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: A puzzle solved and then a test

What I read in November

Here's my wrap up of books read in November... One for the money - Janet Evanovich This is the mega best-selling first novel in Janet Evanovich's widely acclaimed Stephanie Plum crime series, which is now up to book #21 or something... I've been intrigued to read it for a while, and was thrilled when one … Continue reading What I read in November

Journal ~ Lying on the couch doing nothing (and why it’s important)

I am lying on the couch doing nothing. At least, I was before the urge to tell everyone about my state of nothingness rose to the fore and I grabbed my computer out of the bag that’s never too far from my side. Nothing. Mulling. Daydreaming. Writing in my head. This is one of the … Continue reading Journal ~ Lying on the couch doing nothing (and why it’s important)