Myth and Magic

Who were the Saxons? Where did the Battle of Badon Hill take place? Why do some people declare they descend from Anglo-Saxons to justify ideologies based on patriotic Englishness? And did King Arthur ever defeat them?

Everything you needed to know about angels and angelology. The angelic hierarchy and the difference between seraphs, cherubs and archangels

What is a damsel? What is the Godzilla effect? What is dark fantasy and what are the challenges in writing a good dark fantasy novel? What is the difference between a myth and a fairy tale?

Hidden within the physicality of rock & wood is the ineffable numinous nature of the universe. This is animism. Inanimate objects once spoke to our ancestors — does everything have spiritual essence? What is the difference between a warg and a direwolf? Also, this week —7 types of storyline

How did suspense writer Dean Koontz predict the coronavirus outbreak? An interesting article about the natural & supernatural abilities that authors might have to mysteriously predict the future. What role does the muse play in their divination? Also, what is the difference between an oath and a pledge? And what are the phases of a quest?

What is Beltany? How should you use threnody in fantasy fiction? The definition of knighthood. What is the Order of the Hatchet? Wildflower of the week: Henbane

What is an æsc? What is a maeven? Also, what makes a peasant? How should you describe the peasantry (serfs and villeins) that are found in your fantasy fiction villages?

Who was Hippocrates and what did he believe in? What are paranormal beliefs and how would you use them in your fantasy fiction? And the definition of a dragon.

Where does the word Easter come from? Who was Ēostre? What exactly is a King? What is genius loci and how would you use it to create atmosphere in your fantasy fiction? Wildflower of the week: Violet

What is epic? What are the ingredients that make fiction epic?  Tips on how to write your own epic. Also, advice on creating chimaera and my own list of fabulous creatures for my bestiary. Plus in this show, anchorites & anchorholds. The wildflower of the week: bluebell

The definition of wonder and how to use the emotion in your fantasy fiction. Also, tips on how to use the wonder-equation to provide a truly wonderful reading experience for your audience. Plus: Create a robust & credible magic system for your fictional project. Wild flower of the week: anemone

The imagery of feathers. What is sorcery (maleficium) and how should you use it in your fantasy and fiction project? What is an existential crisis? New science about vampires. Wild flower: Primrose

Everything you need to know about using swords & swordplay in your fantasy fiction project.  Also, how to use a talisman in your story. Plus, how many St Patrick's were there? What was he like? Who or what was Lorelei? What is Betony?

The definition of magic: What is sympathetic magic? What is ceremonial magic? Wildflower of the week: the enchanting Daffodil

In this show I provide indispensable advice for all fantasy fiction writers. I'm worried that some of you might have lost contact with the transmundane.  So, l provide the definition of magical & give useful tips that will help you conjure-up bewonderment before your  next fantasy project. Also, in this show, find out why reading Dickens is good for your mental health. And take a closer look at th...

Visit Broadstairs on the mysterious & ancient Isle of Thanet to discover if Victorian author Charles Dickens was the world's first author-blogger and wattpadder. Was he the world's first successful authorpreneur? Also, what is Ash Wednesday? What does Shrove mean? Where does the word quarantine come from?

Discover the best route to writing your fantasy fiction project. Visit Jamaica Inn. Learn how the Romans absorbed the Greek civilization and eventually the enslaved became the masters

In this bumper edition we visit the land of Canti, and while we are in the Kingdom of Kent, we visit the haunted towers of Reculver. For your writing project, we analyze — in depth — the different types of P.O.V. that you might want to use for your fantasy fiction project and we talk about their advantages and disadvantages. And continuing the series on Rome, we look at the expansion of the Roman...

How to conjure a truly three-dimensional fantasy character for your novel . Go out on an Apple Wassail in rural England to meet The Apple Man. Investigate the Pantheon of the Roman Gods as we continue exploring the foundation of the Roman civilization. Also, who is Numa? Did he have a water nymph as a girlfriend?

L ook at seven fantasy plot-lines and discuss the plotter approach to compare it with the pantser approach. Decide which plot you will use for your next writing project. Begin a study into classical Rome by asking: who was there before the Romans arrived? Also, consider the possibility that we still live in "Roman times."  And compare the Romans with The Borg from Star Trek!

This special New Year edition has tips for starting your own fantasy fiction project — I provide you with thematic suggestions to get you started. What is your big idea?  Also, I look into Hogmanay, find out who Enki was and discover the ancient origins of January.

Is Father Christmas a deep folk memory of the ancient Yulefather? Are Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, Saint Nicholas of Myra, and Sir Christmas all memories of this same pagan character? How do reindeer figure in the Christmas tradition? What is Yule? What is a Yule Goat? When is the Night of Mothers? Who is Zwarte Piet? Who is Krampus? Where do the Christkindl celebrations originate? And what's so magi...

Visit Dozymary pool in Cornwall and discover why The Enchantress, Coventina, Vagdavercustis, Ceridwen, Viviane / Nimue and even Saint Brigid of Kildare might all be the same character: The Lady of the Lake.

Discover why Harry is a warlock and not, strictly speaking, a wizard. Delve into the earliest origins of Wōden Wizard mythology before examining the definition of a warlock and touch upon witch trials in early-modern Scotland. Take a look at Daemonologie. Think about the Roman roads of Britannia and how they probably influenced the Kingsroad (and other straight roads) in fiction. Also, as a fantas...

What is the definition of a wizard? Here we examine the origin of Merlin the wizard and see how he is curiously connected with all later wizards — both imaginary and real — from Faust to Nostradamus, to Doctor John Dee and Sir Edward Kelley  — and onto Gandalf, Dumbledore, The Doctor (Who) and even Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Also in this episode we look at The Staffordshire Hoard and learn how this discover...