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Rebecca Alasdair
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  • on reading

    What makes a book cover a GOOD book cover?

    Rebecca Alasdair / 14 September 2018 / No Comments

    I am an unapologetic cover snob. When it comes to books, one way to catch my eye is to dress them up in pretty clothes. But what, exactly, makes a book cover a GOOD book cover? This is my take on it all! >>

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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: August 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 31 August 2018 / No Comments

    August 2018 has been BUSY BUSY BUSY! I've celebrated not one but TWO birthdays, made some excellent writing progress, and read MANY more books than I intended. Find out all the details, as well as my favourite bookish quote, in this month's update post! >>

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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: July 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 31 July 2018 / No Comments

    July 2018 has been a blast! Not particularly productive on the writing front, but that was a price I was willing to pay. Find out what I have been up to, what I read, and what bookish quote I loved the most in this month's update post! >>

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    MONTHLY UPDATE: June 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 30 June 2018 / No Comments

    June 2018 has been exam month, so a large proportion of the last few weeks has been focused on study...though I did console myself by reading eight books! Find out what I read, what progress I made with my writing, and much more in June's monthly update post! >>

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  • on reading

    Firsts & favourites: Books with LGBT+ themes

    Rebecca Alasdair / 13 June 2018 / No Comments

    To celebrate 🏳️‍🌈Pride Month, I share some of my favourite LGBT+ books and those that played an early role in my LGBT+ reading experience. What LGBT+ books are significant to you? >>

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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: May 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 30 May 2018 / No Comments

    May 2018 has passed in a blur of university reports, crises at work, and increasingly chilly weather. As a result, motivation levels have been low and fatigue levels high...but I've still managed to read and write and blog and do all sorts of other things. Find out more here! >>

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  • tags and top posts

    Top Ten Tuesday: Best character names

    Rebecca Alasdair / 22 May 2018 / No Comments

    Today's Top Ten Tuesday theme (and my first attempt!) is Best character names, which gives me a chance to indulge my obsession with names! Here are ten of my favourite character names...and a kind of embarrassing realisation I had at the end of the list. >>

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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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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: April 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 30 April 2018 / No Comments

    The third Update's a charm! Find out what I've been up to during the 30 days of April, where I'm at with my WIPs, what great books I've read, and which was my favourite quote of this month. >>

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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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ARCs for my upcoming epic fantasy novel have start ARCs for my upcoming epic fantasy novel have started going out, but there is still time to apply for a copy! Just head to the link in my bio and complete the form! 😀

Much has been lost, but blood does not forget. And while the Old Blood remembers, what once was may yet be again...

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#arcreaderswanted #arcreader #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #gracebornseries
How do the KDP and IngramSpark versions of my pape How do the KDP and IngramSpark versions of my paperback compare?

𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Both have a matte cover, and the artwork and colours look awesome. The cover on the KDP version does curl quite a bit at the moment, but hopefully it will settle over time?

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽. Ugh. The KDP version has been coming out 3mm thinner than their specs say...which is still within their enormous "acceptable" error margin of 3.2mm. This throws out the cover wrap so some of the spine ends up on the cover. The IngramSpark version is PERFECT.

𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲. The IngramSpark version uses groundwood paper, which makes the book lighter and is closer to trad pub paper. The KDP version has nice smooth cream paper, which is denser. This makes the book heavier, but I don't find it TOO heavy.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿. The KDP version has very crisp text on the cream paper. Because the groundwood paper is more textured, the ink in the IngramSpark version sinks in a bit more and makes the text a bit softer. Still looks good though.

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁. I like the IngramSpark version better. It is better quality and feels more professional; this is the version that will be available everywhere except Amazon. The KDP version is still pretty damn good though, and will probably be cheaper (even though I'll set the same price) for those who want to buy through Amazon.

"Blood of Old" will be out on 01 December 2026, and I hope to have preorders up next month!!

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#paperbackbook #fantasybooks #indieauthor #selfpublishing #gracebornseries
What do you like to see in a mentor character? Th What do you like to see in a mentor character?

Three of the key secondary characters in "Blood of Old" act as mentors for the MCs, and I just LOVED writing their relationships. We have...

Myrrine, the former princess who knows a lot about governing a nation (or so she thinks) and has her own plans for MC Asa.

Tora, the snarky warrior who doesn't approve of Myrrine's interference and gets lumped with Asa's "unteachable" brother, Kael.

Endrid, the struggling Weaver who just wants everyone to get along and could do with a nice long nap.

Can't wait for you to meet them all at the start of December!

🎨 Art by @sophielouisedraws

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#characterart #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #gracebornseries
Who is the traitor sowing dissent in the ancient c Who is the traitor sowing dissent in the ancient city-state of Asphodel?

I love a good betrayal arc, so of course I had to include one in my fantasy series! It's a bit of a slow-burn subplot, and I hope to keep people guessing who is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

What is the best betrayal arc you've come across in a fantasy series before?

🗺 Map by @cartographybird 

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#fantasymap #fantasybooks #fantasyauthor #indieauthor #gracebornseries
Is it completely shameless of me to capitalise on Is it completely shameless of me to capitalise on this?? 🤭

Social media has been melting down over the last few days following the title and cover reveals for ACOTAR 6 and 7. I had a chuckle to myself when I saw one of the tag lines is "What was lost will be reclaimed", since that's a key line of a prophecy in my own fantasy series!

Now, the #GracebornSeries is not the same sub-genre as ACOTAR, being epic fantasy rather than romantasy. But it really does go to show how similar themes and elements can occur across a broad variety of fantasy books.

If you're looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for ACOTAR 6, would you like an eARC of "Blood of Old"? See link in my bio for details 😊

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#fantasybooks #fantasyseries #fantasyauthor #indieauthor
Kael O'Dair is not the type of MMC everyone likes Kael O'Dair is not the type of MMC everyone likes to fawn over...

There's no quiet brooding, no cunning plans masterfully executed, no sauve confidence and posse of loyal followers.

This guy is a prickly, whiny risk-taker who would love to kill you if only someone would teach him how. His bark might be worse than his bite, yet chaos always trails in his wake.

Request an eARC of "Blood of Old" now through the link in my bio!!

🎨 Art by @sophielouisedraws

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#indieauthor #fantasyseries #fantasybooks #epicfantasy #gracebornseries
Z is for Zamkhulis! 👇 We have finally made it to Z is for Zamkhulis! 👇

We have finally made it to the very last post of my A to Z of worldbuilding elements in the #GracebornSeries! I can't believe it's been going for YEARS!

To celebrate, I thought I'd talk about...celebrations. There are two main celebrations that mark the calendar in the world of Graceborn:

🎉 Zamkhulis, which occurs at midsummer. The longest day, the shortest night, in the very middle of the year on the full moon of summer’s second lunation. It's a vibrant time for celebrating life and the Maker's blessings.

🎉 Zamtaris, which occurs at midwinter. The shortest day, the longest night, on the full moon of winter's second lunation. It is a quiet, reflective time, marking the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

What is the most interesting type of festival or celebration you've come across in fantasy fiction? 🤔

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#worldbuilding #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #fantasyauthor
Guess what I'm working on at the moment! That's r Guess what I'm working on at the moment!

That's right, formatting of the ebook for "Blood of Old" is well underway! I'd originally planned to use Atticus to produce my ebook this time but found it didn't let me get down to the nitty gritty as much as I wanted. So I'm back to using trusty old Calibre. Kindle Previewer is also great for seeing what it will look like on different screens.

In other ebook-related new, eARCs will be going out in only a few short weeks! If you'd like to register for one, head to the link in my bio for more info and to fill out the form. 😊

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#bookformatting #ebook #indieauthor #fantasybooks #freebooks

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