Tag: bell mountain series by lee duigon

What’s In a Name?

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Ancient King Images – Browse 251,414 Stock Photos, Vectors ...

(Why won’t it let me post an image?)

Our “Name a Character” contest is off to a slow start. Oh, well.

Sometimes all you’ve got to start with is a name. A new character enters the story, looking for a role in the plot. A catchy name might clinch it for him. Or her. Queen Gurun’s name comes from an Icelandic saga. Ryons, from Arthurian legend. Ozias, from the Bible. And some just come out of the blue–like Uduqu.

God willing, I’ll soon finish Prince Enthroned and move on to King Betrayed. The field’s wide-open for new characters. Who knows? A name you dream up might lead to an epic.

(Now I’ll try one more time to post an image. Good luck with that, Leester.)

[The old laptop let me post an image.]

‘My Fantasy Tool Kit’ (1)

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From the classic BBC production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I’ve been expecting, any day now, word that my Bell Mountain novel No. 15, Ocean of Time, has been printed and is ready to be put on sale.

So let’s push the nooze aside and talk about fantasy.

My Fantasy Tool Kit (1)

(Well, now my computer is acting up. Wanna write a real fantasy that’s going to blow your readers’ minds? Write about a computer that actually works! Grrrr!)

Anyway, you need realistic characters or your fantasy ain’t goin’ nowhere.

How do you achieve realism when you’re writing about non-human characters you just made up?

It took me a very many years to learn this rule, but I’m giving it to you now for free:

Where realism can’t go, consistency will find the way.

Coming Soon: ‘Ocean of Time’

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OceanTime

Permit me a moment of exultation. “Hooray! (There, that takes care of that.)

Bell Mountain No. 15, Ocean of Time, is soon to go to press–which means it’ll be available in time for Christmas.

You’ve got to love that cover by Kirk DouPonce. He’s really outdone himself this time.

So! The Winged Bull, the insatiable conqueror of Western lands across the sea, has launched his fleet at Obann. The city of Durmurot, lovely but defenseless, will be his first target. Can it possibly be saved?

An artifact recovered from the distant past may have power to to save the city–or to destroy it. What are its powers? What will happen if King Ryons’ chieftains try to use it? The fleet is on its way, and Obann is running out of time.

All 14 of my earlier Bell Mountain novels are available from the Chalcedon store, at http://www.chalcedon.edu/resources/books . And of course you can see them all here in this blog. Just click “Books.”

 

How Could I Forget the Map?

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General Map of Middle-earth - Tolkien Gateway

One of Tolkien’s maps of Middle-Earth

When I started writing fantasy novels, as a teen in high school, the very first thing I did, every time, was create a map. I’d be writing about imaginary places, after all: so I would need a map.

The other day one of my editors, working on Ozias, Prince in Peril, asked why there wasn’t a map to go with it.

Oh, that’s easy! ‘Cause I forgot! I forgot the freakin’ map! How that could be, I don’t know.

The tricky part: the Obann depicted in this map would be 2,000 years older than the one shown in the published maps. (Yes, all the other books in the series have a map!)  A lot of names can change in 2,000 years. I trust the physical features won’t change too much–although that can happen in real life, and it ain’t too pleasant when it does.

Sit outside, now, and THINK! Map needed! And there’s no one can provide it… but me.

‘Ocean of Time’: Gotta Write the Blurb

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OceanTime

Well! It looks like we’re trying to publish Ocean of Time in time for Christmas; so I have to write a cover blurb.

It feels like I’ve had to wait quite a while to do this: the ol’ Pandemic didn’t do much for our publishing schedule. This is Bell Mountain No. 15. And after that comes a trilogy set two thousand years in Obann’s past, focusing on the life and adventures of King Ozias, King Ryons’ ancestor.

I’ll start tackling that back cover today, although I doubt I’ll finish it until a few days later.

Meanwhile, it’s time for another thrilling episode of Joe Collidge.

‘How to Ruin a Fantasy’ (2015)

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Laying it on a bit thick, dontcha think?

I guess you could say writing fantasy novels is my day job. I’ve been writing them since I was 12 years old, always learning, beating my head against the stone wall of publication until I finally achieved it… Anyway, I know what I’m talking about.

Why do I find so many fantasy novels sabotaged by their own writers?

How to Ruin a Fantasy

What’s with some of these writers? They want you to think you’re in an imaginary world, they want it to seem real to you–and then the Elf turns to the Dwarf and sez “We have to learn to value each other’s lifestyle.”

Run screaming to the sidewalk. Toss book into the nearest fire.

Never, never, never do this! Your created fantasy world must have integrity!

And that’s it for me, I have to rush off to the doctor’s office…

‘Writing a Novel Is Like…’ (2014)

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The Glass Bridge (Bell Mountain, 7)|eBook

I’m currently trying to write Ozias, Prince Enthroned. Not having all the pieces is hard enough. Now I’m looking at–shall we call them “health challenges”?–looming up in front of me. I finished the fourth chapter set yesterday. Maybe it was a miracle. Distractions are not good for novel-writing.

Writing a Novel is Like…

So please pray for me: I just want to be able to carry on with my work, in an atmosphere of peace and normalcy. I have another Ozias book to write after this one. And after that–

Well, we’ll just have to see.

‘How an Ancient Artifact Scared the Daylights Out of Jack’ (2019)

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See the source image

Heidi requested this excerpt from Bell Mountain No. 5, The Fugitive Prince:

By Request: How an Ancient Artifact Scared the Daylights out of Jack

What would a boy and girl living in, say, 11th-century Norway think if they found a functioning cell phone… with someone from the 20th century at the other end of the line?

I like to print excerpts from my books, on those rare occasions when I get them.

‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 7

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Bell Mountain Series

The contest’s halfway over and already running out of gas.

*Sigh* As I see it, one’s happy memories are in the front line defending sanity. Let’s share some more of them, shall we?

And there’s a prize–an autographed book of your choice, or a snappy red T-shirt that says “If they have to kill us, they’ve lost.”

Anyone can play! Enter as often as you like. I’ve put these posts up to provided you with a handy place to post your entries. Some of you out there who are new to this blog–c’mon, jump in, the water’s fine!

 

Time to Edit ‘Oceans of Time’

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OceanTime

Ooh-ooh! Progress! Time to edit the next Bell Mountain book, Ocean of Time.

We’ll have several people working on that project, including me. When it comes to quality of editing, Chalcedon’s books are second to none.

So… What happens when the ruthless conqueror across the sea decides to ship his armies east… to conquer Obann? The peaceful, defenseless city of Durmurot lies directly in his path. Is there any way to save it?

Anyway, I’ve got to tackle that project this afternoon, so I’ll be busy for the next few hours.

But first, a cigar.