Make sure to save this for later on Pinterest! John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as J.R.R. was born on January 3, 1982, in South Africa to English parents. As a boy, he attended King Edward’s School located in Birmingham where he transcended modern and classical languages. In 1911, he studied Old English, Germanic, Classics,Continue reading “J.R.R. Tolkien—One of the Most Iconic Creators of All Time”
Author Archives: Dave Reed
Monstrous Momentum
Big doings here at Monster HQ. Book one of the Temple of Vengeance series is in copy edits with the lovely and talented Shayla Raquel. The talented and gracious Janey Merry has joined the team to manage the looming Kickstarter in September for the limited edition hardcover of Raven Queen, Arise and other cool swagContinue reading “Monstrous Momentum”
And So It Begins
This past week, I found the woman I think will be my editor for Raven Queen, Arise. After chatting for an hour or so, I think we’re on the same page with regards to what the book needs and how we’re going to go about it. (Yes, I’m a Story Grid Certified Editor. Yes, IContinue reading “And So It Begins”
Grim & Terrible & Beautiful
For the record, I have no idea how I got sucked into Carnival Row. It’s tone and aesthetic are about my speed, but… I generally hate all things Victorian. I’m not really a fan of steampunk. I won’t even state for the record how I feel about fucking faeries. But… The first season of thisContinue reading “Grim & Terrible & Beautiful”
Needful Misfortune
The tragedy. The cautionary tale. The prescriptive tale. They’re all synonyms to me. They describe the importance of bad things happening in fiction. Sometimes to good people. Sometimes to bad people. Sometimes karmically due. Sometimes unfortunately raw and undeserved. So it is with everything that happens in Jemisin’s The Fifth Season. I loved this bookContinue reading “Needful Misfortune”
Light + Shadow = Hero
Heroic agency in literature and in life is often discussed as a dual nature: light and shadow. The tension is typically drawn between a creative force and a destructive force. In this construction, a hero is a two-sided coin with a light side and a dark side. There’s even a pop culture meme about aContinue reading “Light + Shadow = Hero”
Beautiful Monsters
Every monster is at least a little scary, but not every monster is ugly. I happen to think everyone is beautiful in their own way. Take me, for example. I’m an ogre with delusions of magi, and I’m cool with that package. I don’t even aspire to troll level handsome. I embrace my fire plugContinue reading “Beautiful Monsters”
Demons vs. Mental Health
For the record, I’m not your parent, counselor, attorney, father confessor, shrink, or any other authority on your life. All I do is tell you entertaining stories. Please bear that in mind. Or be careful about baring your mind. Or both. You have been warned. I’mma also state for the record that I don’t thinkContinue reading “Demons vs. Mental Health”
Revenge Is Not A Side Dish
I don’t know why Revenge plots are my jam. But Revenge plots are my absolute fav, hands down. I don’t even care what the setting is most of the time. Whether it’s a case of generalized vigilantism a la The Punisher or a woman-in-jeopardy thriller when she flips the metaphorical table and goes hunting forContinue reading “Revenge Is Not A Side Dish”
Monster with a Problem
Even monsters have issues from time to time.