Patricia Leslie

I’ve been doing some reading into magic, myth, conceptual theming, and core character / personality realisation, encompassing the historical aspects of setting and external forces. Historical fantasy commands underlying currents and deep pools to supply the forces that not only propel the story forward, but also take the reader along with it. So this month, my round up is in someway indicative of future storytelling – the ongoing Crossing the Line series and beyond. First up

I was asked by my publisher to provide some book club questions for all three of my novels. Interesting task. Especially for The Ouroboros Key, which I haven’t read since the day I signed off on the galleys, and which I haven’t written or talked about in a couple of years. Then there’s the realisation that my only experience with book clubs is watching the Jane Austen Book Club (a couple of times, in fact. What can I say. I’m a romantic at heart). Time to do some research. Di

This article was originally posted at Anne Marie Andrus's site: Monsters and Angels What is the draw of magic in stories? Why does it attract us? What does it say about the human condition that no matter who or where we are in this world, we so love a story with magicians and witches, elves, sorcerers, and various monsters causing mayhem? Magic is the potential of dreams and desires. We wish for our heart’s desire as we blow out candles and after a successful hunt for a four-

Heart of Brass is a fun, historical steampunk fantasy set across London and Australia in the 1850s. Author, Felicity Banks has managed to combine all the elements of a great story in such an innovative way, the series as a whole is destined to take pride of place in everyone’s family fantasy collection. Emmaline Muchamore is a well-bred young woman from an eccentric London family. Determined to move past the stain on their reputation (and economic status) brought about by the

It is with great pleasure that I announce that my new novel, Keeper of the Way, is nearly here! The cover was revealed last week and the book will be available for purchase next week. Pre-orders are available now from my publisher, Odyssey Books. Keeper of the Way is book one of a three book series collectively title, Crossing the Line, which explores history, time, women’s magic, myth, journey, and connection; wrapped up in a fictional adventure in Sydney of 1882. Book one b

Not long ago I had a solid three days of writing and am now approximately half way through my manuscript. I say approximately, because I’m aiming at around the 80,000 word mark while quietly hoping for closer to 100,000. I’ve also given myself a deadline for completion of the first draft so I really need to get cracking and find more blocks of concentrated writing time. I’m sure my boss would prefer I didn’t have a 3-day weekend every week! While I had planned for this weeken

Today was the kind of sunshiny, blue skies day where the winter neglected garden calls for some much needed attention. I thought a touch of weeding wouldn’t go astray so I wandered outdoors to spend half an hour soaking up the sun. Several hours later, after I filled our Green Recycle bin to the brim with weeds and wild vines, I dragged myself indoors to sit down for a rest, watch some Olympics action, and research pagan magic (as you do). There are some wonderful pages, comm