Ned Marcus — Blog
Below are the most recent posts on NedMarcus.com.
Apr 22, 2024
What makes you give up on a book?
For me, it's boredom, poor writing, or a story going in a direction I'm not interested in. Mostly, I'd never buy these books. Not after reading a sample. After I buy a book, I'll usually try to push on for a few more chapters, even if I'm bored. Some books, like Dune Messiah, have slow starts but become brilliant later.
If a book is loved by many people, I'll push on a bit further than I otherwise would just in case I'm missing something.
In practice, I don't often give up on books I've bought.
How about you?
Mar 22, 2024
Value of Submitting Short Stories to Magazines
Recently I had an online discussion with another writer who said that we shouldn't accept sub-par payment from fantasy and SF magazines.
I respect this writer for the help he gives other writers, and I agree the payment isn't worth the time and effort put in—not directly. But I disagree that it's therefore not worthwhile submitting short stories to magazines.
There are indirect payments that can potentially be worth much more.
First, is the practice you get writing.
Second, you're tested. And some of the comments from magazines can be quite blunt. On the other hand, when your stories start reaching the final round of consideration more often, you learn which stories are working, too.
The third benefit comes from getting your stories in front of people who would never normally see them. It's a form of marketing that may pay back in the future.
Recently, I've had a sudden increase in people visiting this website from a short story I wrote years ago—The Boatmen—that was originally published in a fantasy forum, and has since been republished as a reprint (and audio). While I don't expect anything to come from it except perhaps an extra sale or two, it's an example of the possible marketing value of submitting stories to magazines.
Mar 15, 2024
Original Blue Prometheus Cover
The original Blue Prometheus cover. Now only to be found in a handful of secondhand bookshops in Taipei.
Mar 13, 2024
All My Novels Available on Kobo Plus!
Kobo Plus has recently expanded to Taiwan and Hong Kong (this post links to the HK store). Most recently, it's expanded to South Africa and Ireland.
All my novels are there!
Mar 11, 2024
AI God
One of my fears about AI is that it will become a new god, but a god controlled by a rich elite.
Mar 07, 2024
The Intelligent Alien Species
"But, most of all, I wanted to meet the intelligent alien species that lived hidden in the great primeval forests of the planet. Of course, now I know it's the humans who are the aliens."
From Young Aina
Mar 04, 2024
Frank Herbert on AI
“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”
Frank Herbert, Dune
Mar 03, 2024
The Flowers Glow in Greeting
In the dark forest, the flowers glowed in greeting. Britain had changed.
From The Orange Witch
Mar 03, 2024
Smashwords Read an Ebook Week
50% off The Darkling Odyssey and The Orange Witch on Smashwords for one week.
Young Aina is free!
Click over to the Smashwords store and buy at discounted prices!
Mar 01, 2024
The Orange Witch is Summoned
The Orange Witch begins in a ruined church surrounded by an alien forest that has appeared on Earth.
Feb 26, 2024
Mythical London
My current work in progress is set between two versions of London: a slightly futuristic London that's falling apart and a mythical London that coexists with it.
Both the pictures below are intended as the magical version.
Feb 23, 2024
Falling into the Depths of the Planet
They fell through the hot and sticky liquid rock, their combined magic lighting them up like a rocket shooting into the depths of the planet.
From The Darkling Odyssey
Feb 19, 2024
Into Mythic Fiction
My books are always behind me because I change faster than I can write and publish. Looking at my older novels feels like looking back into history.
The novel I'm writing now keeps transforming. Originally, contemporary fantasy, it's becoming closer to mythic fiction. There's a single sci-fi element, too.
Feb 18, 2024
Deception and Terror in the Land Where the Moon Always Shines
Deception and terror in the land where the moon always shines.
I'm playing with different prompts to see how the AI mind interprets them. This one was inspired by a short story I've written.
Feb 16, 2024
C.S. Lewis on Tolkien
I've been reading about English folklore and came across something C.S. Lewis wrote about a remark Tolkien once made to him. It's a very different way of seeing life from nowadays. And fascinating.
Tolkien once remarked to me that the feeling about home must have been quite different in the days when a family had fed on the produce of the same few miles of country for six generations, and that perhaps this was why they saw nymphs in the fountains and dryads in the woods – they were not mistaken for there was in a sense a real (not metaphorical) connection between them and the countryside. What had been earth and air and later corn, and later still bread, really was in them. We of course who live on a standardised international diet (you may have had Canadian flour, English meat, Scotch oatmeal, African oranges, & Australian wine to day) are really artificial beings and have no connection (save in sentiment) with any place on earth. We are synthetic men, uprooted. The strength of the hills is not ours.
Feb 15, 2024
More on Genres
The first choice for most readers was epic fantasy. Contemporary fantasy came second. This doesn't really surprise me. I enjoy both of these.
Since asking, I've been considering other possibilities. Some of them are very different from each other. Two such genres are historical fantasy and science fiction. I like both, but probably one of the stories I most enjoyed writing was a historical fantasy short story set in 7th century Britain.
I enjoyed the research, and the actual task of putting a fantasy story within a real historical period. The historical details, I made as accurate as I could. The fantasy is obviously fantasy, but I tamed down the magic a lot. Actually, I can't imagine writing any big magic in a historical fantasy.
Feb 12, 2024
Your Favourite Genres!
Which do you prefer: science fantasy, contemporary fantasy, epic fantasy, or planetary romance?
Or something else?
Leave a message at the bottom of this page or on my social media...
Feb 10, 2024
Blue Prometheus Reaches Top 10
Blue Prometheus has reached the Top 10 on Kobo UK for fantasy and sci-fi!
You can try it here for just £0.99!
Jan 29, 2024
Fantasy in Chinese for Language Learning
As well as journaling and using my own stories to help me learn new languages, I also like reading easy stories that I used to love as a child, but in Chinese or Spanish.
When I was a child, I absolutely loved C.S. Lewis's Narnia books. I read and reread them so many times. Using a similar approach when learning a foreign language also works well. Just as children (and sometimes adults too) love to reread their favourite stories, making them their own, so it's really useful when you want to make a new language your own.
Here are a couple of examples I've been using with my Chinese learning.
The first is a simple children's book. To be honest, the story's not too exciting for me, but it's useful as I can understand about 85% of the characters. Often, this approach is known as using comprehensible input to learn a language. Although I feel a little bored with the mummy book, it does give me useful practice.
With the Narnia book—A Horse and His Boy—my understanding drops a lot. This is a kind of 'incomprehensible' input. I open the book to a random page, and then read what I can. My understanding drops to about 15%, but I slowly recognise more characters. And, in this case, I actually do like the story, even though I'm no longer a child.
I'd love to hear if you've ever used fantasy (or SF) to learn a foreign language.
Jan 25, 2024
Language Learning with My Stories
Recently, I've been experimenting with new ways of learning languages. I've always enjoyed journaling in English, and I've begun to do the same in the two languages I'm working on at the moment.
Making another language your own is one of the best ways of learning it. I've come across people who create stories to practice the vocabulary and grammar in the language they're learning. I want to do the same in the future, but I also thought it'd be fun to translate some short stories—or parts of them—that I've written in English into other languages.
I've used Google Translate. It's quite good, but not perfect. I'll check the details later, but I'm enjoying playing the audio version. The next step will be to work on the written form.
Here's the very beginning of Young Aina in Chinese:
我很早就醒了，從床上跳了起來。 那是我十二歲生日，父親答應帶我飛越山牆，飛到下面的山谷。 我高興得幾乎要叫出來，但當妹妹在睡夢中醒來時，我及時制止了自己。
And in Spanish:
Me levanté temprano y salté de la cama. Era mi duodécimo cumpleaños y mi padre había prometido llevarme en avión más allá de la pared de la montaña y hacia el valle. Casi grité de alegría, pero me detuve justo a tiempo cuando mi hermana menor se despertó en sueños.
Do you learn or speak any other languages?
Jan 21, 2024
3 Books in Kobo Sale!
25% off The Darkling Odyssey, The Orange Witch, and the complete Blue Prometheus boxset on Kobo until the 29th January!
Add the promo code JANSALE at checkout to receive the discount.
Jan 18, 2024
Around Shiding
A walk to the shops near my house. My best ideas come when I'm taking break.
Jan 17, 2024
Kobo Sale!
25% off The Darkling Odyssey, The Orange Witch, and the Blue Prometheus boxset on Kobo from the 19th to 29th of January!
A good opportunity to buy the second book in each series, or the first series boxset.
Links to The Darkling Odyssey.
Jan 16, 2024
A Re-enchanted World (2)
Another image from my work in progress. The re-enchanted world is being brought alive through people's desires, and through increased drug use.
The result may not be as attractive as it seems.
Jan 02, 2024
A Re-enchanted World
In 2024, I want to focus on longer fiction after spending a lot of time last year experimenting with short stories.
My new novel's a story about the re-enchantment of the world. Faeries and other supernatural creatures have returned, partly because of the collapse of values and increasing chaos in the human world. The increasing use of drugs society only accelerates the problem.
Dec 28, 2023
Young Aina on Sale!
Young Aina is on sale at Smashwords—till January 1st. Reduced from $0.99 to free!
Aina and her father are pursued deep into the ancient forest by a deadly enemy. To her father’s concern, the forest speaks to his daughter, awakening a natural magic within her. Will Aina’s magic awaken in time to save the lives of both her and her father?
Dec 14, 2023
An Offer of Redemption
When an investigative reporter arrives at the house of a corrupt politician, one who's rumoured to practice black magic, he's surprised to see a woman standing in his living room challenging him.
Dec 11, 2023
An Orange Flower Glowed in Greeting
She touched an orange flower, and it brightened in response.
From The Orange Witch
Dec 05, 2023
The Magic of Charm
Charm was one of the most enjoyable types of magic, and she waited while her magic worked its way into the man. His energy was dense, and warmth was alien to him. He began to brush off her charm, but she sensed cracks in his armour, and through those cracks she poured love. Nothing sentimental or romantic. Simply the fulfilment of need, of which this deprived man had many. For a moment, she became a healer. Confused, he blinked away a tear, and she entered the lower reception.
From The Orange Witch
Dec 01, 2023
A Flight of Rocs
A flight of rocs landed breathing fire. Each of the birds radiated power, and each stood twice the height of a human.
From Fire Rising
Nov 26, 2023
Hobs n Dogs
Hobs n' Dogs is a short story in which an old man is visited by two hobs who entrust him with the care of some very unusual creatures
Nov 25, 2023
A Gathering in the Inn of the Sixth Heaven
In a candlelit inn, on a hidden lane in London, a gathering of magicians, princes, seers, and spies takes place.
An imagined scene from my work in progress, which I'm writing as part of the Nanowrimo month.
Nov 23, 2023
A Telepathic Dog
“Food?” the dog asked in the True Language.
Lucy was taken aback. It was rare for an animal to initiate a telepathic conversation with a human. “No, I’m sorry.” Unsure what else to say, she waited.
From Fire Rising
Nov 22, 2023
Nineteen Eighty-Four
I'm currently rereading Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. It's been a long time since I last read the novel. It's a bit dry, but still good. I'd forgotten the secret romance.
In part, it's research, because my new novel also has some dystopian themes.
This is the old Penguin edition.
Nov 21, 2023
Rock Magic
He studied the crystals. They were midnight blue and beautiful. Their life pulsed in his hand, and he stroked them with soft rock magic, polishing them. “They want to grow.”
Thomas using rock magic, from Fire Rising
Nov 17, 2023
Lucy is Concerned about Thomas's Dark Dreams
“She’s dead, Thomas. If she was reborn, she’d be a baby. How would you find her amongst the millions of babies born every day? And then she wouldn’t know you. Thomas, stop this. You’re worrying me.”
From Fire Rising after Lucy tells him that dreams don't raise the dead.
Nov 16, 2023
Dreams Don't Raise the Dead
“Dreams don’t raise the dead.” Lucy was sweating heavily; she wiped dirt from her face.
“The Aina you saw was spirit.”
“But . . .”
From Fire Rising
Nov 13, 2023
A Golden Dragon is Born
Far away, in the distant peaks of the Eastern Rim, a golden dragon was born. She shone in the early morning sun, her scales glittering brightly as she crawled from her cracked egg towards the frothing pool.
From Fire Rising
Nov 12, 2023
Sailing through the Inner Sea to the Planet's Core
The shore faded from view, and they sailed deeper into the red sea, towards the bright yellow sphere in the centre of the planet.
From The Darkling Odyssey
Nov 11, 2023
Albino Troll with Mystical Tattoos
An albino troll, red-eyed with long white hair, blocked his way. Tattoos of mythical scenes covered his half-naked muscular body. And Thomas sensed more than physical power.
From The Darkling Odyssey
Nov 10, 2023
Blue Prometheus Series Sale on Kobo
The Blue Prometheus boxset is on sale on Kobo. 40% off the regular price. Click on the link and then to to the 'fantastical adventure' section. You'll need to enter NOV40 at checkout!
Nov 07, 2023
Red Eyes Stared from the Cave Walls
Lucy screamed and scrambled away from the wall, wiping saliva from her face as a large snout pushed out of the rocks. Bright red eyes stared and then vanished back into the rocks.
From The Darkling Odyssey, when Lucy and Thomas journeyed to the centre of the planet.
Nov 04, 2023
Journey to the Centre of the Planet
They fell through the hot and sticky liquid rock, their combined magic lighting them up like a rocket shooting into the depths of the planet.
From The Darkling Odyssey when Thomas and Lucy journeyed through the mantle and then into the core of the planet—a place with its own magical life.
Recent Articles
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What makes you give up on a book?
Apr 22, 24 09:09 AM
For me, it's boredom, poor writing, or a story going in a direction I'm not interested in. Mostly, I'd never buy these books. Not after reading a sample. After I buy a book, I'll usually try to push o… -
The Orange Witch
Apr 15, 24 08:56 AM
One of my favourite images of the Orange Witch.
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A Walk by the River
Apr 11, 24 05:19 AM
Taking a walk near my house.
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