We are once again joined by Brodi Ashton, author of the upcoming Everneath.
Our first topic today is writing groups: why are they important? How do you find one? What do you do if you’re not a good fit and need to get out? (The image for this episode is Brodi’s writing group, dubbed The Six.)
Then we bring back our Appendix Book Club, where we all talk about the great books that we’ve read lately. And then Marion talks about the TV he watches, and then we talk about movies, and we can’t stay on topic and it’s just like a real book club.
And then: Bad Romance, involving a mummy curse, a werewolf named Howly, and a one-night stand with a vampire.
To listen, use the media player below, or download here, or subscribe to us on iTunes.
I guarantee that if you read the right literary novels that your writing will improve. The difficulty is finding the right ones. My default contemporary recommendation is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. For mid-century, I’d recommend The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov (the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation). For older stuff, I’d recommend Henry James, but that’s probably pushing it for most modern readers.
Also: Wodehouse is fantastic.
Also also: you all should list the books and shows that you talked about here on the blog post so we can easily find/remember them
What a fabulous podcast! I love that it a little longer, too. More listening pleasure!
I love what Sarah and Brodi said about reading within their genres to enhance their own writing. ITA, do you have any suggestions for YA Thrillers? (I think that’s what I’m writing right now.) I’ve googled it, but I’m having trouble finding suggestions for genuine YA Thrillers rather than simply books that contain paranormal elements and have therefore been stuck on a list labeled “YA Thrillers” even though they’re more like YA Paranormal Romance. If you have any suggestions, thank you so much in advance.
I love how Marion said the 2nd best thing for your writing is a writing group, and the first is actually writing. Very happy to be in a great writing group (though we’re finding that Google+ has better audio than Skype).
@Heidi — I know it’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but a lot of dystopian books contain thriller-like aspects. The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games (especially the second half) are high-adrenaline.
Thanks, Mike! I loved the Hunger Games trilogy, of course, and THE MAZE RUNNER is on my bookshelf in my TBR stack right now.
I missed this one last week. Very fun episode!
Bryceomer, though a distant cousin to King Theoden and an esteemed noble in his own quarter, has been cursed since childhood, when his father traded a sacred chalice to the dragon Ormarr, in order to protect his city from the beast’s torment. Once a month, Bryceomer enters Ormarr’s lair to drink from the chalice, sing the ancient song, and painfully shed his skin. Eating the skin will give another year of life to the dragon. If for any reason Bryceomer doesn’t hold to this, his eyes will yellow and slit, his skin will scale, and the dragon will have a new brother to hunt with.
Though Bryceomer’s mother urges him to take a wife, he would not ask it of any woman, nor does any woman come to tempt his hand. But the royal line will die without an heir, along with any hope of removing the curse. For it was believed that if a woman whose heart belonged to a dragon drank from the chalice and shed her own skin, a most painful process, the curse would lift.
Haleywen has been Bryceomer’s friend since before the curse was wrought. Raised by her father, who was a warrior from the wars of the Ring and is now the sheriff of the city of Rown’s Heath, Haleywen is more a warrior than a lady herself. Outwardly, she finds Bryceomer’s curse a plague against their hunting and training time. Inwardly, she wishes nothing more than the curse to be lifted from her friend, and resents his father for making such a trade. Bring on the dragon, she thinks.
Haleywen’s twin brother, Haloden, however, is a gambler, and when he cannot pay a very large debt, is held ransom by a grove of uncharacteristically impatient Ents. When Bryceomer hears of it, he offers Haleywen the demanded amount. She refuses, and offers to work for him. Bryceomer, who has always denied loving Haleywen, will not hire her as a servant, so asks if she will accept a position more equal to that of her father. She accepts, and finds herself married, the dowager princess of Rown’s Heath, a position of power next to that of sheriff. As her husband, Bryceomer is bound to pay the debt, her brother is freed and receives counseling, and Haleywen finds herself with child. Bryceomer continues with the curse, and they both anxiously await the birth of their son, not knowing if the curse will be passed down, and vowing to love the child as they have loved each other.
The child is born, a dragon. Haleywen’s heart nearly breaks, when she remembers the hope. In the night, she steals away to Ormarr’s lair, and enters. She finds the chalice, sings a song of her heart, and drinks. Pain worse than birth fills her and her skin is shed.
The dragon wakes, furious to find the intruder, but Bryceomer has heard her pain, and just as Ormarr is about to devour Haleywen in her weakness, Bryceomer slays him, the curse has lifted, and Haleywen is restored. The chalice is returned to the city, and the baby is changed to human form, though even as a dragon, he owned his mother’s heart.
The End.
Heh.