After a couple of queries from readers unsure if they're visualising the Einarinn runes as intended, here are photos of the cardboard set I made to use when I'm writing a piece of fiction that involves them.

Hopefully these should clarify things.

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

Do you remember Tales of the Emerald Serpent? The shared world anthology I’m part of, funded by Kickstarter? With its interlinked stories by a host of great writers, further enhanced by truly splendid artwork? All set in the mysterious city of Taux with inspirations drawn from ( Read more... )

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

Let’s just have a quick look…

Well, as of this morning, 6th June, here in the UK, we’re already a third of the way to our first target in under twenty four hours. Whoo hoo. Though of course, that’s not nearly the sum of our collective ambition. As you will see from the stretch ( Read more... )

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

Do you remember Tales of the Emerald Serpent? The shared world anthology I was part of last year, alongside Lynn Flewelling, Harry Connolly, Todd Lockwood, Mike Tousignant, Martha Wells, Julie Czerneda, R Scott Taylor and Rob Mancebo? Successfully funded via Kickstarter?

( Read more... )

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

In haste and in passing - but I want to flag up this particular review of Tales of the Emerald Serpent - among the good many favourable notices the book has been getting.

Lou Anders likes it and says why and pretty much sums up why I am so proud to be part of this project.

( Read more... )

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

Being involved in a Kickstarter is a decidedly unusual experience. Writers have not tradtionally stood up and asked directly for money for their work. We contract that out to our lovely agents, publishers, booksellers and so on. British writers especially are pretty reticent ( Read more... )

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

My sons have grown up with me writing epic fantasy. They can browse the bookshelves for non-fiction titles on biological warfare in the ancient world, women scientists in the Enlightenment, the folklore of trees, modern asymmetric warfare and that’s just some of what I can see ( Read more... )

Originally published at Juliet E. McKenna. You can comment here or there.

When I was invited to write a story for Tales of the Emerald Serpent, I was sent some fascinating background material on the city and its inhabitants. My attention was instantly drawn to the Lowl, described as ‘dog-headed humans’, taller than an average man, with some fire ( Read more... )