Myth and Magic

This week we look at how boundaries between our earthly world and the netherworld become blurred during the liminal period of Hallowe'en and during Diwali. we also discover the origin of Jack o' Lantern and look at Yalis. Magical plant: Neeps.

Take a closer look at the life of Roald Dahl to see how his lifetime experiences probably helped to shape his fictional worlds. Also study, in some detail, the historical differences between a Duchy, a County and a Shire — to learn how these administrative terms began, so you can use them confidently in your own fantasy fiction title.

Think about keywords for your Gothic fiction project. Go on a pilgrimage to Whitby, North Yorkshire where the very first person to write in the English language - the Anglo-Saxon poet Cædmon - once sat upon the clifftop to create his song. There's exciting news about Andrzej Sapkowski's series: The Witcher Saga. And we define what it is to be Bohemian. We take a closer look at Bogles or Boggarts....

Prepare for a trip to Whitby by learning about the origins of vampires. Think about the season of Asgard Fall and find out why Pirates tend to speak with a zummerzet or mummerset accent. Look at Conkers dropped from a Horse Chestnut tree, also known as Buckeye.

This week we consider creating toponymy for your notional world by first visiting Ad Pontes and then providing tips on naming places when you begin your world-building. We also visit Old Windsor and look at Britain's Minsters. We learn about the Forbes list of Best YA Fantasy Novels Of All Time; We study therianthropy, we check-out Skinwalkers and take a closer look at Selkies and Finnfolk. The ma...

Start prepping for NANOWRIMO as you begin plotting your fantasy fiction novel, and look at the various stage of a Hero's Journey and consider Markstein's criteria when constructing your fantasy universe. Visit the Celtic Way and consider the race of Celts. Discuss the Guardian list of the 100 best books of the 21st century and imagine what books might be added to Gwyneth Paltrow's (empty) bookcase...

Go high onto the moors and heaths this week when I travel to Exmoor to explore how moorland habitats have been used by fiction writers to convey the sense of wilderness, wildness and magic. Learn about Pixie mythology and visit the ancient village of Withypool where Lorna Dorne was written. I think about using scrying in fantasy fiction plots and talk about floating timelines. I also examine ABCs...

This week I visit the tower that inspired the story of the trapped maiden in a tower: Rapunzel. I visit Chateau Brametourte, in Lautrec, for my daughter's wedding. I look at Apotropaic marks a.k.a. witch marks. I also consider cryptids and I discuss the work of Michael Swanwick. My wildflower of the week is the Sunflower

This week I describe four darkly magical castles of England before I head off to France to stay at the 11th century Chateau de Brametourte. I visit the Cerne Abbas Giant to see the big cleanup, I think about Indigo Children, discuss synchronicity and look at the cockatrice. The magical wildflower of the week is Belladona.

This week I visit Oakley Court castle, where the Rocky Horror Picture Show was filmed. This leads me to think about how science fiction differs from fantasy fiction. I discuss the origins of science fiction, a genre that goes back further than you might think! I also discuss standing stone circles and introduce fantasy fiction fans to the remarkable similarities between aliens and faeries. And, an...

This week I consider Old Father Thames and have a conversation about other river gods and later go deeper into the river Naiads. I visit the Lammas Fields and look out how, at Lammastide, the local medieval monks potentially inspired our image of Father Time and also, even, death. I discuss the Grianan of Aileach and talk more about the Wanderer (Woden) who probably inspired the fictional figures...

This week I take a trip to Shrewsbury in the Welsh Marches via The Wrekin — the landscape that inspired Tolkien's Middle Earth and there I talk about the Horned God and the origins of the Arthurian legends. I visit Eaton... the "real" Hogwarts for my birthday and I discuss the life of Toni Morrison (RIP). Later I discover the magical power of True Names and study the three types of myth. My fabulo...