Sebastien de Castell's Blog, page 7

My favourite thing about living in the Netherlands temporarily is just how easy it is to hop on a cheap flight to some of my favourite places in Europe.

Highlights this time around were:

Christina and I having lunch in the atrium of the British Museum.

A visit with some of the team at Quercus to discuss the launch of Saint’s Blood.
An excellent lunch to discuss Spellslinger with the fine folks at Bonnier.
Seeing the terrific play, Nell Gwynn in Leicester Square.
A quick stop at the British Museum for a wonderful tour of the new room featuring collections from the Enlightenment.

The map of Tristia, the country in which the Greatcoats series is set.

Aline: A young girl of Rijou, daughter of Lady Tiarren

Bal Armidor: A traveling storyteller, rumoured to be one of the Bardatti.

Beatta: A young girl of Chevor in the Duchy of Baern.

Bellow: A Greatcoat.

Boxer: A young hoodlum of Rijou.

Brasti Goodbow, the King’s Arrow: A Greatcoat. Also, a poacher, a drunkard, and, on at least one occasion, a thief.

Cairn: A young man of Rijou and a member of the so-called ‘New Greatcoats’.

Cole: A man of Rijou and a member of the so-called ‘New Greatcoats’.

Dara, the King’s Fury: A Greatcoat.

the Khunds: An Eastern tribe.

Barret: One of the lesser noble families of Rijou.

Calabrian, Irobel: A nobleman of Rijou.

Caeolo the Mystery: A man rumoured to be a mage from an older time and councillor to King Ugrid.

Cunien from Orison: A Greatcoat turned brigand and one of the original twelve Cantors.

Dergot: Dead son of King Greggor & Queen Yesa; King Paelis’ half-brother.

Ethalia, of the Order of Merciful Light: A woman of Rijou.

Etricia: A woman of Rijou and a member of the so-called ‘New Greatcoats’.

Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the Greatcoats, the King’s Heart: A man of Pertine.

Fost: An axe-wielding mercenary.

Feltock, Captain (once General): A former soldier in the Ducal Armies, now a caravan captain.

Greggor, King: Deceased King of Tristia, father to Paelis.

Hajan: A monk of Gazia

Heimrin: The King’s Armourer.

Holm, Duke: Former Duke of Luth, now deceased.

Humber, Richel: A nobleman of Rijou.

Isault, Duke of Aramor.

Jakin: A Greatcoat.

Jillard, Andreas, Duke of Rijou: A Duke who brought the tradition of the Blood Week to his Duchy.

Kest, the King’s Sword: A man of Luth and a Greatcoat.

Kreff: A caravan guard.

Kurg: A caravan guard.

Laetha: An apothecary of Rijou, supposed daughter-in-law of Aline’s nursemaid, Mattea.

Laffariste, Lady: A confidante of King Paelis.

Lorenzo: A swordsman of Rijou, leader of the so-called ‘New Greatcoats’.

Lynniac, Captain: A Knight of Aramor.

Mixer: A sharpney dog. Also sometime bodyguard to Venger.

Morn: A Greatcoat.

Mott: A man of Rijou, one of the so-called ‘New Greatcoats’.

Murrow: A swordmaker of Luth, father to Kest.

Nile, the King’s Arm: A Greatcoat.

Old Tobb: a Greatcoat.

Oldeth, Mallia: A noblewoman of Rijou.

Paelis, King: Now-deceased King of Tristia.

Parrick: AGreatcoat.

Patriana, Duchess of Hervor: Ruler of Hervor and the instigator of the removal of King Paelis.

Perault, Duke of Orison.

Pimar: Valet to King Paelis.

Quillata: a Greatcoat and one of the original twelve Cantors.

Radger: An apothecary and supposed son of Mattea.

Ran: A Greatcoat.

Shana: A Greatcoat.

Shiballe: Chief councillor to the Duke of Rijou.

Sulless: A woman of Rijou and one of the so-called ‘New Greatcoats’.

Yerren: A minor noble family of Rijou.

Quistellios: A minor noble family of Rijou.

Tailor, the (also known as Mattea): A woman of Tristia, councillor to the King and creator of the coats worn by the Greatcoats.

Tiarren, Lady: A noblewoman of Rijou and the mother of Aline.

Tommer: A boy of Rijou and son of Duke Jillard.

Tremondi, Lord: One of the Lords Caravaner.

Trin: A young woman of Hervor and maidservant to Valiana.

Ugh: A torturer in the dungeons of Rijou.

Ugrid, King: A once King of Tristia.

Valiana: A woman of Hervor.

Venger: young leader of a gang of hoodlums in Rijou.

Winnow: A Greatcoat.

Yesa, Queen: Second wife to King Greggor

Yered, Duke of Pertine: Now deceased.

Zierry: A noble family of Rijou.

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We spent Christmas this year cycling around the Atlas Mountains in beautiful Morocco. One of the highlights was actually spending time on a camel. I tried to give mine a royal name but he told me to bugger off.

This will be my first Eastercon, my first Manucon, my first trip to Manchester. Much overdue, I’d say!

Here’s what’s going on:

Panel Discussion: Twisting the Story

When: Friday March 25 02:30 PM to 04:00 PM (1 hour 30 minutes)

Where: Hilton Deansgate – Room 8&9

Intrigue! Betrayal! Revelation! All these options and more are available to the writer looking to take their story up a notch. But what is the key to making a good twist work, and work as SF or fantasy? Is it primarily a question of making the reader care about a character? Is it about managing and playing with the reader’s expectations, particularly in those stories which draw on established structures, such as a heist or a procedural? Is it about the logical but unexpected implication of the speculative setting? Or is it something else entirely?

The Panel: Gillian Redfearn (Moderator), Susan Bartholomew, Sebastien de Castell, Charles Stross, David Tallerman, Chris Wooding

 

Launch of Saint’s Blood!

When: Saturday March 26 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM (1 hour)

Where: Hilton Deansgate – The Presidential Suite (isn’t that swanky?)

Launch of the highly anticipated Saint’s Blood, latest of book in the Greatcoats series. There will be wine, maybe a little food, some nice conversation, and…books!

 

Kaffeeklatsch with Sebastien de Castell

When: Saturday March 26 08:00 PM to 09:00 PM (1 hour)

Where:Hilton Deansgate – Room 10

A chance to sit and chat in a small group with Sebastien de Castell, author of the Greatcoats series and nominee for the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut. Sign up in advance at Ops.

 

Panel Discussion – All Roads Lead To King’s Landing

When: Sunday March 27 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM (1 hour)

Where: Hilton Deansgate – Room 8&9

Of all the challenges inherent in writing epic fantasy, perhaps one of the most significant is choreography: the need to ensure plotlines converge in the appropriate place, at the appropriate time, in the appropriate way. How can writers make sure their epic narratives stay coherent, and what do they do when their characters have other ideas?

Speakers

The Panel: Fiona Anderson (Moderator), Sebastien de Castell, Adrian Faulkner, Freda Warrington, Adrian Tchaikovsky

Wow, what a ride this book has been so far. It’s the first in a new series and I’m excited to see how people take to it!

Yes, the rumours are true: this year I signed an eight-book deal with Bonnier Publishing. It’s an exciting development because, well, it means I have a job for another four years! The first six books will be the Spellslinger series which will come out under the Hot Key imprint.

Jo Fletcher Books just released the cover for Saint’s Blood. It’s a beauty! The skillful Nicola Budd kept the process on track efficiently while still letting me provide creative input–something that isn’t always easy to get as an author. I’m really delighted with it. What do you think? Do you have a favourite Greatcoats cover? Here’s the whole set of UK covers.

My wife and I visited South Africa in August and did all the things one does: walked with lions, met elephants and assorted other animals, and I bungee jumped for the first time. Lots of wonderful things to do in South Africa. Of course, I spent the first week in the hotel room re-writing the same 5000 words of Saint’s Blood over and over again while my wife was at an International library conference.