The Unexpected Talikae
I’ve heard about TV shows hiring an actor for a two-bit role that becomes more. Perhaps it is just a line at first, maybe two, but in their brief moment…
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The Unexpected Talikae
Tyranny of the One and the Many
As the last act of “Tears from Iron” gains momentum into the climax, the Empress Kayrstana worries about the undercurrents of the Syraestari imperial court. From these concerns, she makes…
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Tyranny of the One and the Many
Stick Figures from Iron
As Christmas fast approaches, this article will take on a lighter tone than recent ones.In one of my first articles, I commented on how I’ve always wished I could draw. …
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Stick Figures from Iron
A Yearning for the Epic: Belarrin’s Path
**********WARNING! This article discusses core plot and theme ideas, including major spoilers of what occurs in the climax of the story. I strongly encourage that you only continue reading this if…
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A Yearning for the Epic: Belarrin’s Path
A Yearning for the Epic II: The Last Stand
Last article, I began the discussion of how we all yearn for the epic and, even if our lives are more mundane than our childhood dreams, the paths we choose…
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A Yearning for the Epic II: The Last Stand
A Yearning for the Epic
I think there is a part in all of us that yearns for the epic. It begins with the unfettered dreams of childhood with aspirations to be an astronaut, a…
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A Yearning for the Epic
The Ritual of Writing
Every fiction author works in a different way, even if the final output (at the broadest level) is the same… words on a page formed structurally into a story. I…
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The Ritual of Writing
Blooms from Iron II
Last article, we looked at the role of smelting in “Tears from Iron.” This time, we’re taking a step back to ask not only what smelting is, but why it…
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Blooms from Iron II
Blooms from Iron
The Kaliaer settlement at Nahirazith and, more specifically, its smelting camp, served as one of the major settings for “Tears from Iron.” In the next two articles, we’ll be diving…
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Blooms from Iron
He Who Knows No Fear
After spending the past couple months delving into fantasy races, monsters, and the nature of villains, I thought it was time to change things up a bit. Let’s return to…
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He Who Knows No Fear