I’ve always been a voracious reader. Even now I’m reading more than one book, thanks to my iPad and I always find it easy to get right back into each of the stories with ease, no matter where I’ve left off. But since starting my MA Creative Writing degree, I’ve been distracted from reading the kind of books that set my imagination on fire. Thank fully, this past January, I’ve graduated with said MA degree but I’ve also started an MFA degree. Nevertheless, I’m determined to read often this year.
I know when I have a good book because I can ‘see’ the action of the book in my mind as I’m reading. In other words, while I’m reading the worlds on the page, my mind translates those same words into moving pictures, much like a movie. Come to think of it, that is exactly how I write. I visualize my story, literally, then try like the dickens to translate all those moving pictures in my mind into words on the page, with the hope that by the end of the novel, the words on the page match the pictures in my head.
In an effort to re-stimulate my imagination, I’ve found a few books that I’m eagerly waiting for. I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of these authors’ previous works so I know what to expect. And while some of the authors are new to me, the plots of the books are enough to reel me in.
What gets me salivating, are stories containing some kind of magic, sword fighting, set in Asia, with a strong protagonist. A double bonus for me if the novels include original world building or the author has embellished the world the stories are set in. I’ll reap a few happy, happy, joy, joy moments with these wonderful books I’ve found. Drop me a note, let me know if you agree with my choices.
Without further ado, here’s my list:
1. Prophecy: The Dragon King Chronicles (bk.1) by Ellen Oh (set in ancient Korea – DEBUT NOVEL – Winter 2013)
2. Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon (set in ancient China’s Xia Dynasty – SEQUEL to her debut novel SILVER PHOENIX – 3/29/11)
3. The Dragon and The Pearl by Jeannie Lin (set in ancient China’s opulent Tang Dynasty – tentive title – )
4. Eona by Alison Goodman (set in an ancient mixed Chinese/Japanese culture – 4/19/11 )
5. The Unremembered by Peter Orullian (high fantasy DEBUT NOVEL – 4/12/11)
6. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey (Elemental Masters fantasy series – 6/7/11)
7. The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (sequel to his debut novel In The Name of the Wind – 3/1/11)
8. The Desert of Souls by Howard A. Jones (2/15/11)
Namaste
Chelle Ang 