Tuesday, November 24, 2009


Writers Should Read - Why not read faster?

Part of learning to write is to develop a love of reading. Reading the classics and different genres, or types of books, will expand your vocabulary and give you a taste of various writing styles. My problem, and what many run into, is limited free reading time. If you could read faster, you could read more of those books or articles you have put on hold.

With an iPhone or iTouch you're in luck, there's a handy app called QuickReader. This speed reading program works to train your eyes to jump across each line. As your speed increases, you can adjust the highlighted words per minute and the line pauses. There are display options for color, size, and fonts, so the program modifies to fit your needs.


Another thing I liked about QuickReader is try before you buy option using the 'Lite' version.

The site address is: http://www.quickreader.net


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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Writing Tools

Randy Ingermanson, the Snowflake Guy, has released a new and improved version called SnowflakePro version 1.0.3. The previous version required the storyteller to enter and edit the story outline to create a better story plan. SnowflakePro lets you enter directly into the program and follow the steps to expand the plot and characters until you have a strong synopsis. The part I like is the ability to create a separate synopsis - either short or long - for use in a proposal. Randy has recorded a nice introduction that plays within the program.


SnowflakePro is on sale through Midnight Friday, November 20th, for $20. That's 80% off the normal $100 price, so this is the week to check it out. Two bonuses are free lifetime upgrades and a five-user family license to cover more than one computer.

http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/info/snowflake_pro/96a.php
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BLOG TOUR - DAY 3
The Good, the Bad, and the Drefids


Curse of the Spider King
by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Wayne Thomas Batson’s blog - http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/
Christopher Hopper’s Web site - http://www.christopherhopper.com/
The Prophecies of Berinfell series Web site - http://www.heedtheprophcies.com

(Click book for Amazon link) or

Amazon Link:



Today's title comes from the character group traits in Curse of the Spider King. Before the destruction of their world the Elves focused on beauty, and goodness. They strove to express their appreciation for a higher existence through their music, arts, buildings, and their lives. In contrast, the Spider King and his forces strove to destroy the works of the elves, not for any reason other than destruction for the sake of destruction. Where the Elves worshipped light, the Spider King's army worshipped the darkness that they might hide their actions within it. The Elves cared for the sick and wounded, the Spider King forces enjoyed causing pain and suffering. Over time, these twisted feelings and emotions twisted the Drefins and Gars in body too.

That's where the last group in the title come in. Inner darkness had spread throughout body and soul; disfiguring them for so long and so completely they lost the ability or desire to follow their conscience. Drefids looked like hags with long bony fingers that extended out into sharp blades along their knuckles. War Spiders are gigantic arachnids that are capable of carrying Gar soldiers on their backs. Even when the Elves had a war spider backed against the wall didn't mean the spiders could be counted out. War spiders climbed impossibly steep walls, and used their legs like eight lances against the enemy.
Further confusing the battles are the Wisps. At any moment an Elf might turn to find those they thought of as a friend literally stabbing them in the back. These wisps reminded me of dopplegangers. They took over someone else's identity, but were able to pickup the person's knowledge and speech. Now the Elves fight those attacking from the front while watching for those nearby who might attack.
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009


BLOG TOUR - DAY 2
E.T. - Elfin Terrestrials!


Curse of the Spider King
by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Wayne Thomas Batson’s blog - http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/
Christopher Hopper’s Web site - http://www.christopherhopper.com/
The Prophecies of Berinfell series Web site - http://www.heedtheprophcies.com

(Click book for Amazon link) or

Amazon Link:



Today's blog tour title comes from the fact that the seven elfin children have been dropped off on Earth. Each has grown up on Earth, and yet while in the world they are not from or of this world. I took this idea as an allegory of sorts in Curse of the Spider King. Seven young elfin children are raised on Earth, yet they still feel separate from others around them. Like the elfin seven, we are admonished to be in the world and yet not of the world. In the case of the elfin children, though they grew up here on Earth, each wanted some more. Each knew a better place awaited them.


That better place is Berinfell, their true home and that of their ancestors, the great Elven Lords. The people of Berinfell looked to the Elven Lords for protection, when the city fell and the Lords destroyed nearly all hope was lost. Yet some kept to their faith that the lost offspring of the Lords might one day return and defeat the Spider King. While only a few years passed on Earth, hundreds of years pass in the Elven lands. Through diligent faith and expectation of their Lords return, the elves held to a slim hope of deliverance from the Spider King. The problem was, the elves didn't know when the Lords might return, and for a long time, if they would return.

When at last the children are found, Elven warriors must do their best to protect their young charges by keeping them hidden until the proper time. The elves soon noticed that the Spider King's own troops also searched for the children, and not with the children's best interst in mind. Gateways connecting our two worlds allowed passage between, but the Spider King's minions watched these in case the world housing the children was found. With time running out, elven waarriors must locate all the children and return them safely to their true home. The Spider King has other plans and means to destroy the last of the elven people once and for all.
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Monday, November 16, 2009


BLOG TOUR - DAY 1
Anacrophobia with an attitude!


Curse of the Spider King
by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Wayne Thomas Batson’s blog - http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/
Christopher Hopper’s Web site - http://www.christopherhopper.com/
The Prophecies of Berinfell series Web site - http://www.heedtheprophcies.com

(Click book for Amazon link) or

Amazon Link:



Curse of the Spider King begins with a neat premise. A group of average
children find the reason for most of them not fitting in is that they don't really belong here. At first this sounds like a bad thing, but the world they came from is so much better there is no comparison between our world and their home world. There's just one little problem, the seven children don't know why they feel different and someone named the Spider King wants them removed; permanently.

This first book in the series centers around special books of Berinfell history that come to life. The authors handle back story in an interesting way, touching the writing word in each book transports the reader into that scene in Elven history. Talk about bring a book to life. Closing the book severs the story connection, returning the reader to normal life. Of course, reading certain sections at night with most lights out isn't a good idea.

These scene shifts between the two worlds seemed a little confusing at first. But, the back story is important to explain where the seven children came from and why they must survive. Without the seven, the Elven race can't hope to win against the Spider King. One thing I enjoyed about the settings for the seven Elven children are the differences in environments. One came from a rich human family, one from a poor one. One possessed athletic skills, and another musical gifts. One child even had a condition that set her apart from other students. Yet, with all their differences, each had a connection in the common goal.
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