Some Helpful Hints for Writers

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

I’m often asked for advice on writing fantasy, so I thought a few suggestions might be helpful. Here are some pitfalls you should try to avoid.

Don’t bombard your readers with outlandish names. If you write a sentence like this, you’re asking for trouble: “Froobish the Saffronesian dismounted in front of the Temple of Quor and prayed a silent prayer to Poogle-Mo-Pooble that he would find High Priestess Botchygaloop in a forgiving mood.” Oh, I can imagine your objections. “No way, man! Lord Dunsany always wrote like that! So did Clark Ashton Smith–and what about all those crazy monikers J.R.R. Tolkien came up with? He had a character named Legolas, for cryin’ out loud!”

Yes, part of the fun of fantasy is making up the names. All I’m saying is, don’t overdo it. Besides which, great artists like Dunsany, Smith, and Tolkien can get away with things that the rest of us can’t.

Continue Reading “Some Helpful Hints for Writers” →

A Brief Political Comment

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

I don’t like to do politics on this site, but occasionally some “leader” makes a remark that’s so asinine, it just has to be answered.

Our president says, of the Occupy Wall Street dingbats, “I understand the frustration… People feel separated from their government.”

No, dude–no! You couldn’t be more hopelessly, cluelessly wrong!

We are not separated enough from our accursed government!

The Cellar Beneath the Cellar Review by AT Ross

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

“The Cellar Beneath the Cellar is better than the first, and flows with a tighter, more focused narrative. The characters all come into their own, the scope and details of the world are more fully fleshed out, and we learn more about Obann and its history.”

Read more HERE.

 

The Thunder King: The Plot Thickens (A Review by Forrest Schultz)

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A review of  Lee Duigon The Thunder King (Vallecito, CA:  Storehouse Press, 2011)
$14.00   289 pp   ISBN: 978-1-891375-56-9

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz

Like the second book, the third one in the Bell Mountain saga adds more plot elements to the mix and provides deeper discussions of their significance.  Perhaps there are some critics who may judge the result to be too advanced for a juvenile reader, but, in the immortal words of Mortimer Adler, “We need something over our heads to lift us up!”.

We learn more about the significance of the ringing of the Bell and about the decadence of t he Temple, especially that of its First Prester, who is first in wickedness, not in piety.  And we see ever more clearly the parallel between the teaching in the Secret Scrolls and the doctrines in the Bible, and between the history of Obann and the history or Israel and the Church.

But it needs to be borne in mind that the story is a fantasy — a story in its own right — not an allegory. As the biographical sketch of the author on the rear jacket makes clear, Lee Duigon loves both fantasy literature and sound theology.  And, contra much of popular opinion, there is no discord between the two because, after all, God is the greatest story-writer of all — history is His Story, because it is His fantasy that became reality when He created the world.  Amen!

The Thunder King on Amazon

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Great news! You can now purchase The Thunder King (The Bell Mountain Series, Book Three) on Amazon or on Chalcedon’s Store!

A New Computer (Groan!)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

I have a new computer. Heaven help me!

They changed everything. So at this writing I don’t know how to send email, or reply to email–and this new keyboard is the worst example of built-in silliness I’ve ever seen. Two days ago I could do all those things, and more. But now I can’t. I’ll have to learn everything all over again.

Wouldn’t it be great if they made cars like that? If every time they brought out a new model, you had to go back to driving school?

(I absolutely hate, loathe, and abhor this keyboard!!! It was obviously designed for elves, not human beings.)

All I can ask is that my dozens of readers please bear with me while I try to orient myself…

Ta-dah!

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

OK, I have finally finished writing Book #5 of my Bell Mountain Series, The Fugitive Prince. Meanwhile, #3, The Thunder King, is almost ready for release, and artist Kirk DouPonce has been tapped to create a cover for #4, The Last Banquet. I love the work he’s done so far.

The arc of the story demands another two books, at least. I wonder what they’ll be like!

Meanwhile, readers of this blog might enjoy my articles on News With Views, and maybe even the postings on my “Playground Player Chess Forum” on chessgames.com . There have been some pretty sharp discussions on that forum, none of which have anything to do with chess.

‘Fugitive Prince’ Coming Down the Home Stretch

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Book #5 of my Bell Mountain Series, The Fugitive Prince, is finally heading toward completion. Whew! I think it’ll wind up with 55 chapters or so.

There’s nothing quite like watching these books take shape under my hands–often a surprising shape. You know I don’t map them out ahead of time, but rather rely on Our Lord to give me the story He wants me to tell. This can be nerve-wracking for the writer, but the rewards of this process far outweigh the drawbacks.

Meanwhile, Book #3, The Thunder King, should be published by the end of the summer. I think I can safely say the climax of this book will knock you for a loop! Oddly enough, the climax was the very image that I started with. Getting there, though, was quite a wild ride.

The Cellar Beneath the Cellar Review by Steve Wilson

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Latest Review (7/9/11) – The Cellar Beneath the Cellar by Lee Duigon

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality: 5/5         Writing Style: 5/5         Plot: 5/5             Characters: 5/5   Aesthetics: 5/5

If you’re not reading Lee Duigon’s Bell Mountain series, you need to be! It’s absolutely one of the best out there!

In this amazing second volume, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar, First Prester Reesh, the leader of the entire organized “Church”, is purposely misinterpreting Scripture to serve his own ends while a barbarian army streams into Obann, hungry for the slaughter.

Meanwhile, the Bell has rung and God has continued to call His chosen ones to a great and final purpose. He is speaking through the Toddler Prophet, has gifted the Old Man Missionary, has strengthened the Flail of the Lord, has commissioned the Finders of Lost Scripture, and has anointed the Boy King.

With so much going on, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar can’t fail to be an intriguing read for any fantasy-lover. Lee’s writing is refined, his characters deep, his action non-stop, and his vision big. This is indeed an epic worth following.

It all starts with Bell Mountain, continues in The Cellar Beneath the Cellar, and then on into the soon-to-be-released The Thunder King. I can’t wait for it to come out!

Okay, I’m done gushing, but as you can tell, I’m giving The Cellar Beneath the Cellar a big recommendation of Excellent and personally guarantee that this will be one of the best series you’ve ever read. Check it out today!

The Cellar Beneath the Cellar is available in print from Amazon.com.

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Bell Mountain Review by Steve Wilson

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality: 5/5             Writing Style: 4/5              Plot: 5/5                 Characters: 5/5        Aesthetics: 5/5

God is at work in Obann.

A thousand years ago, King Ozias, the last king, placed a bell on top of Mount Yul. Scripture says that when someone rings that bell, God will hear it.

But no one ever has rung the bell.

Until now.

Many people, from the head priest to a small-town teacher, have felt God stirring their heart to ring it, but the only ones obedient enough to answer that call are two children – Jack and Ellayne.

Jack is a poor boy, a child of misfortune; Ellayne is a rich girl, child of the town’s chief councilor. Together they will make it to the top of the mountain and fulfill their calling.

Bell Mountain is such a fun read for people of all ages. It’s interesting and moves at a quick pace with lots of action and adventure. As you read, you’ll meet new creatures, an expert assassin, Helki the Rod, Obst the Hermit, and Wytt the…? (Well, you’ll just have to read about Wytt.)

It’s a perfectly clean read with a ton of depth and good Christian messages. One of my favorite themes was the question of how we should treat Scripture. Is it to be taken at face-value and treated seriously, or is it just a collection of myths and metaphors?

I give Bell Mountain an enthusiastic recommendation of Excellent and will look forward to diving into the sequel, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar.

Bell Mountain is available in print from Amazon.com.

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