When Does Halloween Begin?
When does Halloween really begin? An old Celtic way of measuring the day offers a wonderfully strange answer—and some irresistible possibilities for fantasy writers.
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If Magic Were Real, We’d Regulate the Hell Out of It
What would really happen if magic suddenly appeared in our world? If our experience with AI is any indication, forget tidy guilds and sensible rules. Expect workplace upheaval, regulation, witch hunts, criminals, questionable business models—and somebody levitating his swimming pool for fun.
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The Woods Have Teeth
Fairy tales were dark long before modern fantasy came along. Behind the witches, wolves and enchanted forests were very real dangers—and some surprisingly practical survival advice. Perhaps the woods had teeth for a reason.
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The Weight of Prophecy
Why do we believe a prophecy? The best ones don’t simply predict the future. They arrive carrying centuries of history, belief, argument—and consequences.
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Sigils in Snow Is Out in Street Magic IV!
My newest contemporary fantasy story, “Sigils in Snow,” is out now in Street Magic IV. This time, I brought the magic home—to the snowy streets and ordinary neighbourhoods of Edmonton.
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Once Upon A Time, I Thought I Was Writing Urban Fantasy
I thought I wrote urban fantasy—until readers pointed out that the Alberta foothills aren’t terribly urban. So what *is* the difference between urban and contemporary fantasy? And just how far can contemporary fantasy stretch when the impossible collides with the world we know?
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How Many Books Is Too Many for a Fantasy Series?
How many books is too many for a fantasy series? From ACOTAR’s hefty volumes to Pern, Discworld, and the long wait for George R.R. Martin, perhaps the real question isn’t how long a series gets—but whether the story ever actually ends.
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International Cat Day: Why Fantasy Needs Cats
Today is International Cat Day, which seems the perfect excuse to talk about one of fantasy’s most enduring companions: the cat. From mysterious familiars and talking felines to shape-shifters and ghost-watchers, cats have always belonged in fantasy. Join me as I celebrate nineteen-year-old Strider—our gloriously opinionated Norwegian Forest Cat—and explore why cats may have been magical long before fantasy writers ever noticed.
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Surprise! “Sigils in Snow” Is Out Today!
Sometimes publishing throws you a delightful curveball.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that my new fantasy short story, “Sigils in Snow,” had been accepted for the Street Magic IV anthology. I expected to tell you about it later this summer.
Instead…it’s available today!
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Not One, But Two Dark Ages
Most people know about the Dark Ages that followed the fall of Rome. Far fewer realise there was another, even earlier collapse that wiped out kingdoms, shattered civilizations, and left historians scratching their heads three thousand years later. Discover how the mysterious Bronze Age Collapse—and the equally mysterious Sea Peoples—inspired the hidden history behind the Magorian & Jones series.
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