Writing Women Characters into Epic Fantasy without Quotas

By Kate Elliot The cold equations of “realism,” some claim, suggest there is little scope for women taking an active and interesting role in epic stories set in fantasy worlds based in a pre-modern era. Women’s lives in the past were limited, constrained, and passive, they say. To include multiple female characters in dynamic roles […]

Book Review: Pavane by Keith Roberts

Pavane by Keith Roberts My rating: 5 of 5 stars Read for the Science Fiction Masterworks Book Club. Who’s this Keith Roberts guy? I wondered. I had never heard of him. But lots of people I had heard of had, because they all did blurbs for this edition of this book: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, […]

On Being An “Older” Female Writer – Cat Rambo

Cat Rambo, in addition to having the coolest name ever, has been an active part of SF/F for about as long as I can remember. She’s served in SFWA, and is currently running for president of the organization. She edited Fantasy Magazine. She’s a prolific author. And she has the best hair! I’m happy to welcome her to […]

Sports in the Wild West

Matt Braun, one of the most significant names in Western fiction, gives us a rundown of what competitive sports were like in the Wild West! By Matt Braun You mention the word “sports” in the same breath with the “Old West,” most people will give you a blank stare. Yet sports were as much a […]

So You Want to Have a War?

Originally posted on The Toy Soldier Saga:
By Django Wexler I am, I have to admit, a war buff. I read military histories for fun, the kind with fold-out maps covered in little colored arrows and notations like “Kollowrath (40,000)”. As I am also a fantasy novelist, the nature of war in fantasy fiction has…

Call for Submissions: Gunsmoke & Dragonfire

A hybrid writer is calling for submissions for Gunsmoke & Dragonfire: A Fantasy Western Anthology. Submissions open immediately. This is a collaborative project in which each contributor (writer, editor, etc.) will receive one share of profits, if any. Contributors are encouraged to make best use of their collective resources for marketing (social media, blog, YouTube […]

Music of the Troubadours

I uploaded an album called Music of the Troubadours a few years ago, which is a collection of songs of the troubadours and trovieres. I just thought it was worth sharing. I’ve been listening to it because it’s a good soundtrack for the story I’m writing. Enjoy!

Diane Morrison

Speculative Fiction Writer

December 2018

Historical Fantasy