Hi everyone!
I’m going to talk a little bit about reading and writing in this blog – I hope you don’t mind! I just thought it would be fun to talk about all the literary things in my life. I might also chat a bit about other interesting projects I’ve been involved in. ⚔️ 🛡
Writing ✍️
As you may know, I signed with an agent earlier this year – and I’ve also signed a three book deal with a publisher.
I’ve finished the structural edit and waiting for the publisher to come back to me with the copy edit. So in the meantime, I’ve been writing book 2 of the series – which is coming along nicely.
I’ve been using nanowrimo to help me, although don’t expect to reach the 50k target. If I made it to half of that, I’d be delighted!
Is anyone else doing nanowrimo this year? If so, let me know how you are getting on!
Reading 📚
I haven’t read too much this month. I’m blaming nanowrimo. However, this is what’s come out of the TBR pile.
Finished Reading
Full review to come – but I have to say, I really enjoyed this. If anyone hasn’t started the series (starting with Senlin Ascends), you really should.
The Arm of the Sphinx starts right where Senlin Ascends ended. However, the problem is no longer finding a way out of the tower, it’s finding a way back in.
I’ve never read any Wild Card stories before, but was intrigued when Mark Lawrence posted this short story, called The Visitor, and I thought I’d give it a go.
As usual, Mark tells a wonderful tale – his prose is beautiful and it pulled me in immediately.
The main character is Angela, a young woman who is severely disabled and living in a care home. Various carers are disinterested, some are horrible. Some are evil.
One of her carers, however, makes Angela’s world so much brighter – simply by caring for her properly and treating her like a friend. (Betty is a legend!)
The set is up is brilliant and puts the reader very much in the head of Angela, who is bright and sweet, and notices everything that is going on around her, even though some of the carers don’t expect this.
Angela’s existence is quite mundane, but then one day something very strange happens, and Angela realises she has a secret power.
I won’t spoil the story, but it’s just so good. At a mere 48 pages, it packs quite an emotional punch – a tear (or two) might have been shed!
And it’s also wonderful to have disability represented so accurately as part of a mainstream fantasy series. I’d recommend this story to anyone. In fact, I’d go as far to say, (given the social care issues that are ever increasing)it’s a must-read.
Currently reading
These are my two current reads.
The Red Wolf Conspiracy is a readalong with Blaise @ under the radar SFF books. If you’re interested in doing the readalong, join the discord group he has set up.
I’m not very far in, but getting Malazan vibes already. There are lots of interesting characters (not all of them human) and a gigantic ship that’s about to set sail. It seems that not everyone wants this ship’s voyage to be a success.
The Path and the Way is a SPFBO semi-finalist, and I’ve heard lots of good reviews already. I’m finding the concept very intriguing and like the magic system in place. It’s very original and I especially enjoy the link between Kyira and the land she lives on.
I’m not sure what I will read next. There are quite a few on my TBR, but I know I’ll be doing the copy edit in December. If I fit another book in (after these two) before the end of the year, I’ll be happy!
NORSEVEMBER ⚔️🛡
This year I wrote a post for Norsevember – all about the Vikings in Ireland.
See – https://shaunalawless.com/2021/10/31/norsevember-the-vikings-in-ireland/
A big thanks to Alex@blogspells for organising. There are lots of other amazing posts by Alex, Sue Bavey, Bjorn Larsen, Lyra Wolf, J.C. Duncan and Thilde Kold Holdt. If you follow the #Norsevember tag on Twitter, you will be able to read them all.
Thanks for reading! If you want to follow my blog and my writing/publishing journey, please subscribe!
BIO
Shauna Lawless is an author and her upcoming series is a historical fantasy set in 10th century, Ireland. She lives with her husband, three children, and a cheeky sproodle called Chewy.
Shauna Lawless is writing 