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Rebecca Alasdair
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
    • HOLDING UP THE SKY
    • GRACEBORN (SERIES)
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • on writing

    5 web tabs to keep open while writing

    Rebecca Alasdair / 2 October 2018 / No Comments

    The internet is a writer's greatest resource! It has SO MANY uses, and today I discuss the five key websites I almost always have open in my web browser when I actually sit down to write. What tabs do YOU keep open while writing? >>

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  • fantasy fridays

    Playing God: The essential elements of world-building

    Rebecca Alasdair / 21 September 2018 / No Comments

    When it comes to writing a good high fantasy story, there is little more important than having strong world-building to back it up. But what are the essential elements of world-building? Here I go through a list of what I believe to be important...and I'd love to hear what YOU think!! >>

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  • goals & reflections,  updates

    BLOGIVERSARY: Celebrating 1 year of Rebecca Alasdair!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 14 August 2018 / No Comments

    Today marks ONE WHOLE YEAR since I officially launched my website and thus Rebecca Alasdair was born! Can you believe it? I can't. I have two special Things planned for my very first blogiversary, so join with me to celebrate!! >>

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  • on writing

    How to write compelling “happy” characters

    Rebecca Alasdair / 9 August 2018 / No Comments

    What on earth are "happy" characters? Why can they be so hard to write? How can you make them more dynamic? Are there any good examples out there? Here I present my answers to these questions...but what are yours? >>

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  • graceborn,  on writing

    How to make character portraits with Rinmaru Games

    Rebecca Alasdair / 20 June 2018 / No Comments

    Unlike some very fortunate writers, I am NOT also a drawer. This has been a cause for frustration when it comes to sketching my characters, but I have FINALLY found a way to bring my brain children to life! In this post, learn how to create anime portraits of your characters with Rinmaru Games. >>

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  • fantasy fridays

    Magic & magic-users in high fantasy – Part 2

    Rebecca Alasdair / 18 May 2018 / No Comments

    Magic-users. Those who have magical powers and/or practice the often deadly art of magic. Here, I explore 10 different types of magic-user found in popular fantasy novels, corresponding to the magic systems discussed in Magic & magic-users in high fantasy - Part 1. >>

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  • fantasy fridays

    Magic & magic-users in high fantasy – Part 1

    Rebecca Alasdair / 11 May 2018 / No Comments

    Magic. The power of apparently influencing events using mysterious or supernatural forces, and one of the key elements of modern fantasy fiction. Here, I explore 10 different types of magic found in popular fantasy novels. >>

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  • on reading,  on writing

    Exploring mental illness in YA literature

    Rebecca Alasdair / 18 April 2018 / No Comments

    Mental illness is one of the most pressing health concerns of the modern age, and YA literature has a role to play in opening up the conversation on this long-tabooed subject. Here I discuss some of the things to remember when writing about mental illness, and what YA books are currently out there. >>

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  • on writing

    The delicate art of naming characters

    Rebecca Alasdair / 4 April 2018 / No Comments

    Choosing names for our characters is no easy task. We want them to be memorable, meaningful, and representative of the story we're trying to tell. Here, I share how I name my characters, and some of the tips and tricks I've picked up during my writing journey. >>

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  • about me,  on writing

    JOURNEY PART 4: Adding fuel to the fire

    Rebecca Alasdair / 27 September 2017 / No Comments

    Between two projects is a tricky place to be. The story of feeling lost and the lightbulb moment that changed it all. >>

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Welcome! I'm Rebecca Alasdair, an Australian indie author whose one true love is fantasy—the more epic, the better.

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The information on this website / blog is authentic to the best of my knowledge, and as such, it may contain errors or be absent some key information. Any opinions expressed are my own. Content is generated for entertainment and informative purposes, and is not to be perceived as professional advice. I am not responsible for the comments made by visitors to this site, and will act quickly to remove any inappropriate comments. Abuse and harassment may be reported and the perpetrator’s personal information disclosed in accordance with my Privacy Policy.

Serious question: What day of the week do you thin Serious question: What day of the week do you think is the best day to publish/release a book? And why? 🤔

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#indieauthor #indiepublishing #writeralife #authorlife #writersofig
"I'm not afraid of you, Tora," he said quietly. H "I'm not afraid of you, Tora," he said quietly.

Her face twisted. "You think that makes it easier? Kael, that makes it worse!"

I can't wait for everyone to meet these two later this year! They had my beta readers TORN! 😁

🎨 Art by @sophielouisedraws

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#indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #epicfantasy #gracebornseries
The author. The first page. The book. I'm usually The author. The first page. The book.

I'm usually far too late jumping on trends, but I think I've made it this time! 

No, I don't show my real author face online, and no, I don't have a final cover for this book yet, but "Blood of Old", first in the #GracebornSeries, is coming later this year!! 😱

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#authorsofig #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #epicfantasy
Here are some sound bites from my incredible beta Here are some sound bites from my incredible beta reading team! ☺️

Seriously, every time I start to doubt myself and whether my upcoming fantasy saga is worth seeing the light of day, I have to dig these out. They help me remember that most of those who have read book 1 so far have loved it. You guys are legends!!

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#betareading #fantasybooks #epicfantasy #fantasyauthor #gracebornseries
What do my characters think about each other or th What do my characters think about each other or themselves?

And who are YOU most interested to meet when book 1 in the #GracebornSeries comes out?

🎨 Art by @sophielouisedraws

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#fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #epicfantasy #characterart
U is for Uylesia! 👇 I'm back with another post in U is for Uylesia! 👇

I'm back with another post in the A to Z of worldbuilding in the #GracebornSeries, and we're getting towards the pointy end. Quite literally, today, as I wanted to talk about magic weapons.

I LOVE seeing magical weapons in fantasy, so of course my world has a few. They're not common, but they do play an important role in the series.

An example is the Circle of Swords, a set of eight blades capable of combating the Shadow. One such blade, the Sword of Harmony, is the feature of this post. I can't wait to see my readers discover the many mysteries of this weapon! 😀

What's your favourite magical weapon/s from a fantasy book or show?

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#worldbuilding #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #fantasyauthor
What are your goals for 2026? I didn't achieve ma What are your goals for 2026?

I didn't achieve many of my goals last year, so a lot of them have been carried over to this year. I'm trying to embrace the unexpected, but I do like having an ambitious plan to strive for! 😅

This will be a big year for my epic fantasy series. I plan to publish book 1, finish the first draft of book 3 and send it to my alpha readers, and start working on the third draft of book 2 after receiving reader feedback.

I also hope to create a new reader magnet for my author newsletter—maybe even more than one!—and get back into the habit of reading. We'll see how we go! 😀

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#authorgoals #writinggoals #goalsetting #goals2026 #writerslife
A little snapshot of what it looks like to work on A little snapshot of what it looks like to work on multiple books in a series at the same time...

Why do I do this, you might ask? It takes me a loooong time to write these epic fantasy books, so I want to make sure I've got the first three partway there before I start publishing. Also, this first half of the series has more scope to change things in response to feedback, so I didn't want to jump the gun!

Do you think this approach will pay off? 😅

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#fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #fantasywriter #fantasyauthor #indieauthor #writersofinstagram #gracebornseries

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