Move Over Harry Potter, Fantasy Novels Just Got Sexy!
by Lydia Quinn
For several decades, the alluring world of Fantasy novels was dominated by such stalwart offerings such as the classic Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. In recent years, huge hordes of readers surged towards the imaginative magical world of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. In both cases, the genre of fantasy novels was redefined and extended to include new visions of fantastic locales, amazing characters and new styles of storytelling for this popular genre.
Now, thanks to a newly published effort by American author R. Leigh, called The Winds of Asharra, the Fantasy fiction genre has been radically redefined once again, this time for grownups seeking fantasy characters with some sizzle and sex appeal. In short, The Winds of Asharra is genre bending, a combination of Fantasy and Romance novels, with equal parts adventure and sizzle. It's enough to fog Harry Potter's glasses or make Tolkien's hobbits blush.
The Winds of Asharra is 600+ pages long, set in the sensual world of Asharra, a place with twin suns and a purple sky. Unlike traditional fantasy fiction, there's not a wizard, witch or troll in sight. Instead, the reader is treated to such unique and diverse characters as evolved feline-like creatures, intelligent telepathic trees, musical dragons and dream inducing mystical crystal beings. The main characters, two 18 year old Earth teenagers, Victor and Zoe, unexpectedly arrive on the surreal and sensual land of Asharra and embark on a journey of self discovery in a world where adventure, love, sex and home all have new meanings. When Ionera, a troubled Asharran girl with a mystical secret enters Victor's life, his priorities turn upside down and new challenges present themselves including the beginning of an epic quest which will benefit all of Asharra if successful.
While these elements, although unique, sound appealing, there are two reasons why The Winds of Asharra represents a distinct change in popular Fantasy Fiction. Apart from the adventure elements, WOA (as its fans refer to it) adds great romance and humor to its story, elements which are often lacking in modern fantasy fiction. In fact, we found it difficult to categorize the Winds of Asharra. Was it Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance or something else? In any case, it's Fantasy fiction for adults, definitely not for the pre-teen set.
The final reason why WOA should be regarded as decidedly different is the successful effort to develop and insert a complex fantasy philosophy into the book. Much like L Ron Hubbard had done in years ago with Dianetics, Author R. Leigh introduces a plausible philosophy of the Asharrans into WOA, a creative, positive, life affirming worldview that is refreshingly optimistic in these troubled times.
Even the author of WOA is decidedly different and uniquely mysterious as the back cover of the book suggests: "Author R. Leigh is a mystery to local neighbors, appearing enigmatic and ageless, and wearing an ever present red crystal pendant. Some have guessed this author's secret other-worldly origin, speculating that the tales of Asharra might somehow be true. Outskirts Press does not confirm this and will not comment on rumors that the manuscript for this novel appeared in our offices out of nowhere. We urge you to read this book and decide for yourself." True or not, this made us smile and secretly hope that there are elements of the fantastic in our world, waiting to be discovered.
In conclusion, The Winds of Asharra is unabashedly different, worthy of examination by any graduate from the Harry Potter books who is eager to take the next step into a new fantasy universe, the world of Asharra.
Showing posts with label : Cartoon - Children book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label : Cartoon - Children book. Show all posts
2008-04-13
7 Ways To Educate Yourself
7 Ways To Educate Yourself
by Trudy Van Buskirk
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." ��" Henry Ford
Educating yourself is probably something you did to start your business and don’t do now. You may think you don’t have time for it since you’re too “busy†with your existing clients or finding new ones. The truth is that you should never stop learning (whether you own a business or not) because it has been shown in countless studies that it keeps you young.
Research and Development or education doesn’t have to take much time nor even be formal like courses that give you letters. It doesn’t have to cost a lot either. Like marketing, a little bit can be done every day.
Here’s the way you can educate yourself ��" painfree.
1. Learn to read and understand your financials and all analysis (your website and your newsletter) of your business. You don’t have to become an accountant or a web designer or any kind of “techie†to do this.
2. Read magazines for small business. These always have an article to teach you something. Look at the ads and see what others are doing. They could be your competition or even your clients. If the writer or advertiser is a client then you have a reason to email them and stay in touch.
3. Subscribe to and read email newsletters. There are at least three kinds ��" those with topics you want to learn about, your competition’s, and your client’s. You always want to be learning or keeping up. You want to see what your competitors are doing. You want to learn what your client is doing. Remember that these can be just online versions of the magazine. Do similar things here but check out the links they suggest, too.
4. Read newspapers. Many of these are going away and being made available online, you never know what you’ll learn in them. Do the same things as you did in #2 with magazines.
5. Read books. This may seem like using “old†technology but it really works. Some people (like me) love to read. In fact, we are even known to read the cereal box in the morning! You can buy or borrow books in countless ways. Go into a bookstore to browse, get a book from one of the online bookstores, borrow from someone else (just be sure you return it) or go to the library. Yes, they still exist and people use them.
6. Participate in teleclasses. These are seminars by phone. Be sure of two things ��" have cheap long distance and know what kind of teleclass you’re taking. Some are at no charge but have advertisements in them and some cost money. Decide if it’s something you want to learn and it’s at a time you can listen.
Many teleclasses are recorded so even if you have something else at the same time, you can download the recording to your computer��" if you sign up.
7. Attend live seminars to get new ideas and skills and to network with the others present. You may or may not have the time or money so put one in your budget for next year and go.
All of these activities can take up a lot of your time so know how much you’ll do of each one daily.
Put time and money in your plan under R&D (or education). Do some every week.
by Trudy Van Buskirk
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." ��" Henry Ford
Educating yourself is probably something you did to start your business and don’t do now. You may think you don’t have time for it since you’re too “busy†with your existing clients or finding new ones. The truth is that you should never stop learning (whether you own a business or not) because it has been shown in countless studies that it keeps you young.
Research and Development or education doesn’t have to take much time nor even be formal like courses that give you letters. It doesn’t have to cost a lot either. Like marketing, a little bit can be done every day.
Here’s the way you can educate yourself ��" painfree.
1. Learn to read and understand your financials and all analysis (your website and your newsletter) of your business. You don’t have to become an accountant or a web designer or any kind of “techie†to do this.
2. Read magazines for small business. These always have an article to teach you something. Look at the ads and see what others are doing. They could be your competition or even your clients. If the writer or advertiser is a client then you have a reason to email them and stay in touch.
3. Subscribe to and read email newsletters. There are at least three kinds ��" those with topics you want to learn about, your competition’s, and your client’s. You always want to be learning or keeping up. You want to see what your competitors are doing. You want to learn what your client is doing. Remember that these can be just online versions of the magazine. Do similar things here but check out the links they suggest, too.
4. Read newspapers. Many of these are going away and being made available online, you never know what you’ll learn in them. Do the same things as you did in #2 with magazines.
5. Read books. This may seem like using “old†technology but it really works. Some people (like me) love to read. In fact, we are even known to read the cereal box in the morning! You can buy or borrow books in countless ways. Go into a bookstore to browse, get a book from one of the online bookstores, borrow from someone else (just be sure you return it) or go to the library. Yes, they still exist and people use them.
6. Participate in teleclasses. These are seminars by phone. Be sure of two things ��" have cheap long distance and know what kind of teleclass you’re taking. Some are at no charge but have advertisements in them and some cost money. Decide if it’s something you want to learn and it’s at a time you can listen.
Many teleclasses are recorded so even if you have something else at the same time, you can download the recording to your computer��" if you sign up.
7. Attend live seminars to get new ideas and skills and to network with the others present. You may or may not have the time or money so put one in your budget for next year and go.
All of these activities can take up a lot of your time so know how much you’ll do of each one daily.
Put time and money in your plan under R&D (or education). Do some every week.
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