-
Exploring Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Fantasy fiction is easily one of the most popular forms of genre fiction, falling into the top five of sales year after year. It’s also a style of storytelling that has become increasingly popular in visual storytelling (television and movies) with each passing decade. I wrote an article that, in part, tells some of the history of the genre here, along with how my own books fit into the large and multi-faceted genre. Of all the genres in the world of literature, fantasy fiction is one genre that gets dismissed the most quickly by readers who consider themselves to be serious, intelligent, and discerning. Or put another way, “too pragmatic” to…
-
Exploring Genre: Historical Fiction
My last post explained why you should love reading along with all the benefits that come from reading, so I thought it might be worth exploring the many genres of fiction. (You’re on your own for non-fiction.) Sometimes even readers need a push to try things they haven’t tried before, and new readers might be intimidated by what kinds of books are even out there. There are relatively few kinds of stories in the world in terms of story structure, but an infinitesimal number of variations of stories can come out of those structures. Authors who study story structure usually specialize in specific types of structures. Readers will recognize these…
-
Here’s why you need to read more…
Approximately 2 million books are published (both traditionally and independently) every year across the globe, and about half of those come from the US. The increase in self-published books along with the proliferation of e-book readers and online retailers has made it increasingly easy for readers to find almost any kind of book imaginable, from one niche genre to the next. The rise of social media and online marketing has made it possible for self-published authors to reach a wider audience and promote their work more effectively, matching readers wanting a certain kind of book with the authors who write them. The book market is more diverse and dynamic than…
-
Sumer – For Further Reading
For those who might be curious about my process learning about Sumer, who want some recommendations for further reading, or are just curious how extensive my research was, here is the compiled list of works I read when learning about ancient Sumer. My most recommended items are in bold lettering. Alfonso Archi. Tradition and Innovation in the Ancient Near East : Proceedings of the 57th Rencontre Assyriologique International at Rome, 4-8 July 2011. Eisenbrauns, 2014. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=944010&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Allen, Diogenes. Philosophy for Understanding Theology. Westminster/John Knox Press, 1986. Bottéro, Jean. “The Culinary Tablets at Yale.” Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 107, no. 1, 1987, pp. 11–19. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/602948.…
