by Jason Joyner | Nov 2, 2010 | Blog, speculative fiction, Stephen Lawhead, The Skin Map
In Which The Blogger Attempts To Understand Why Someone Would Put A Map On Their Skin…
Yesterday I introduced the latest book in the pantheon of great CSFF blog tours: The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead. Just the idea of a map tattooed on someone is intriguing. But wait, there’s more!
The book follows Kit Livingstone, a rather boring and average Brit, on his way to his average and boring girlfriend’s flat. That is, until he ends up in a little alleyway in London, soaking wet from a fierce storm, confronted by his great-grandfather, seeming to be pretty spry for a dead guy.
His great-grandfather Cosimo explains that people have discovered a way to travel to alternate dimensions or universes via “ley lines.” Cosimo and Kit have this unusual ability, and it is up to them to find the Skin Map. The most prolific traveler had the routes tattooed on his abdomen so it would be secure. Or so it would seem.
Kit doesn’t know what to think of this crazy old man, but he does know his no-nonesense girlfriend Wilhelmina isn’t pleased by his late arrival due to a dimensional detour. When he tries to show her how it works, he loses Mina into an alternate timeline, and the race is on to find Mina and the Skin Map before too much chaos is caused. Unfortunately, the Lord Burleigh and his “Burley Men” are also on the hunt for this map, and they are not reserved in how they pursue it.
So what are these ley lines? It seems that many geographical features built by ancients in Britain follow straight lines and patterns. An enterprising fellow in the 1920’s noticed this, and it has become a favorite of New Agers and other kooky types, although there is apparently a strange energy associated with them. The ley lines are certainly good fodder for such a speculative fiction book. Blogging buddy Matt Mikalatos has a more information on them, so why duplicate his good work?
For more information, you can check out the book’s website. I’ll have my review of the book tomorrow, but if you just can’t wait, check out the rest of the inmates for more on The Skin Map.
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
George Duncan
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson
by Jason Joyner | Nov 1, 2010 | Blog, fantasy, sci-fi, Stephen Lawhead, The Skin Map
How do make sure you will never, EVER lose your way?
A map would be nice. Then again, a map can be lost.
What if you put the map on something you could never lose? What would that be? It would be…a skin map.
The Christian Sci-fi and Fantasy Tour is featuring an intriguing book, the latest from well-known author Stephen Lawhead, The Skin Map.
Lawhead is an author I’ve been talking about since my first involvement with the CSFF tour. He has carved out a strong niche writing fantasy and historical novels alike. He loves the mythic aspect of stories, and he has played with some of the big ones in his King Arthur epic The Pendragon Cycle and his unique take on Robin Hood in The Raven King Trilogy.
But to hear Lawhead in his own words, nothing may compare to what he has in store with the planned five volume Bright Empires series:
‘I have not read or written anything quite like it,’ says Lawhead. ‘It’s been forming in my mind for at least fifteen years. Now I am finally writing it, because I think I can finally do justice to such an intricately woven storyline.
BRIGHT EMPIRES is the most challenging work I’ve ever undertaken, and I’m alternately exhilarated and terrified by it.’
I would be challenged too, by a work of time travel and crossing into alternate dimensions involving skin maps, Burley Men, and good coffee.
But more on that later.
Until tomorrow, see what clues you can follow in my fellow travelers below:
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
George Duncan
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson
by Jason Joyner | Nov 1, 2010 | Blog, fantasy, sci-fi, Stephen Lawhead, The Skin Map
How do make sure you will never, EVER lose your way?
A map would be nice. Then again, a map can be lost.
What if you put the map on something you could never lose? What would that be? It would be…a skin map.
The Christian Sci-fi and Fantasy Tour is featuring an intriguing book, the latest from well-known author Stephen Lawhead, The Skin Map.
Lawhead is an author I’ve been talking about since my first involvement with the CSFF tour. He has carved out a strong niche writing fantasy and historical novels alike. He loves the mythic aspect of stories, and he has played with some of the big ones in his King Arthur epic The Pendragon Cycle and his unique take on Robin Hood in The Raven King Trilogy.
But to hear Lawhead in his own words, nothing may compare to what he has in store with the planned five volume Bright Empires series:
‘I have not read or written anything quite like it,’ says Lawhead. ‘It’s been forming in my mind for at least fifteen years. Now I am finally writing it, because I think I can finally do justice to such an intricately woven storyline.
BRIGHT EMPIRES is the most challenging work I’ve ever undertaken, and I’m alternately exhilarated and terrified by it.’
I would be challenged too, by a work of time travel and crossing into alternate dimensions involving skin maps, Burley Men, and good coffee.
But more on that later.
Until tomorrow, see what clues you can follow in my fellow travelers below:
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
George Duncan
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson
by Jason Joyner | Oct 26, 2010 | Blog, writing craft
That was embarrassing.
I had a friend return some chapters of my story this week for a critique. He was kind and thought the overall flow and trajectory of the story was good. He had some comments on point-of-view, sentence structure, and details like that. He also had one comment that was worth its weight in gold for my writing.
“You use the word ‘little'” a lot.”
He circled several instances where I had done this. Nothing more needed to be said there. I realized that my diplomatic nature was kicking in, and I have a bad habit of pulling back from saying something strongly by adding qualifiers such as seems, little, possibly, etc.
I knew I’d better search my whole project for “little”. Ctrl-F is a good friend to a writer.
But this was a “little” ridiculous.
I had four or five instances of “little” on each page, it seemed. Not only that, it usually did nothing but water down my writing by pulling back the force of the words. “She was getting a little more used to the pace.” “He couldn’t help a little grin.”
What does a weak word like “little” add to a novel? NOTHING. I won’t pull back here. Certainly it has a place. My main character is the younger sister, so sometimes she is fighting against the “little” sister stereotype.
My advice then is this: look for those words you run to to fill space. We all have our pets. I can’t believe how many times I have read over some of these chapters, and “little” has never caught my eye. Also, make sure you use strong words and don’t be afraid to say something. It is almost a nervous tic for me to soft-pedal, and I hate it sometimes. So check your writing with an eagle eye. Have someone else read it to help you find those blind spots. And don’t go weak on your description. Be bold, use the right word for the right situation, and don’t even give in to temptation a little!
—
by Jason Joyner | Oct 26, 2010 | Blog, writing craft
That was embarrassing.
I had a friend return some chapters of my story this week for a critique. He was kind and thought the overall flow and trajectory of the story was good. He had some comments on point-of-view, sentence structure, and details like that. He also had one comment that was worth its weight in gold for my writing.
“You use the word ‘little'” a lot.”
He circled several instances where I had done this. Nothing more needed to be said there. I realized that my diplomatic nature was kicking in, and I have a bad habit of pulling back from saying something strongly by adding qualifiers such as seems, little, possibly, etc.
I knew I’d better search my whole project for “little”. Ctrl-F is a good friend to a writer.
But this was a “little” ridiculous.
I had four or five instances of “little” on each page, it seemed. Not only that, it usually did nothing but water down my writing by pulling back the force of the words. “She was getting a little more used to the pace.” “He couldn’t help a little grin.”
What does a weak word like “little” add to a novel? NOTHING. I won’t pull back here. Certainly it has a place. My main character is the younger sister, so sometimes she is fighting against the “little” sister stereotype.
My advice then is this: look for those words you run to to fill space. We all have our pets. I can’t believe how many times I have read over some of these chapters, and “little” has never caught my eye. Also, make sure you use strong words and don’t be afraid to say something. It is almost a nervous tic for me to soft-pedal, and I hate it sometimes. So check your writing with an eagle eye. Have someone else read it to help you find those blind spots. And don’t go weak on your description. Be bold, use the right word for the right situation, and don’t even give in to temptation a little!
—
