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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Myth & History
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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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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How Do They Know When the Solstice Is?
How do astronomers know the exact moment of the summer solstice? The answer is both less mystical and more magical than you might think. From ancient stone circles to modern orbital calculations, the solstice marks a precise celestial moment that has inspired myths, festivals, and fantasy stories for thousands of years.
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When Fantasy Creators Become Legends
What happens when fantasy creators stop feeling like ordinary authors and actors and begin to resemble legends themselves? From Tolkien’s mythic life story to Christopher Lee’s astonishing wartime history and larger-than-life presence, fantasy fandom has a habit of turning its creators into part of the mythology. On Biographer’s Day, we take a look at why fantasy readers love biographies almost as much as they love dragons.
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Why Bridges Are Always Trouble in Fantasy
Bridges look simple, but they quietly reshape the world around them. From Tolkien’s Last Bridge to the rainbow span of Bifröst, bridges in fantasy turn geography into decisions, create natural chokepoints, and mark the crossing from one world into another. As history shows—from Roman Corbridge to the Rhine in 1945—who controls the bridge often controls the story. Which may be why so many unforgettable fantasy moments happen right in the middle of one.
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Rain, Ruins, and Red Dragons: Why I’ll Always Write with a Bit of Wales in My Blood
Wales has been haunting my stories for years — not literally (though that would be on-brand), but mythically. From the Mabinogion to my Welsh grandfather’s voice, the land and legend of Cymru have steeped themselves into my writing. If you’ve read Magorian & Jones, you’ve heard the echoes. And no, I don’t plan to stop.
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I Solemnly Swear I Will Not Write That Trope Again… (Until I Do)
We all have our limits. Some writers say they’ll never write a love triangle. Others swear off the “Chosen One.” Me? I have declared, with great solemnity (and perhaps a touch of arrogance), that I will not fall into certain well-worn fantasy tropes.
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Jewels of the River: The Lost Offerings of Old Britain
If you ever find yourself on the banks of the River Thames at low tide, keep your eyes on the mud. You might spot the usual debris of history—ceramic pipe stems, brass buttons, coins worn smooth by centuries. But if you’re lucky, you might find something far rarer: a deep red gemstone, glinting among the
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