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Rebecca Alasdair
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
    • HOLDING UP THE SKY
    • GRACEBORN (SERIES)
  • BLOG
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  • updates

    That’s a wrap! January 2019

    Rebecca Alasdair / 31 January 2019 / No Comments

    One month down, eleven to go! January has blown past, but I managed to make some decent writing progress as well as read 8 books. Read on for all the juicy details in my first wrap-up post for 2019! →

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  • fantasy fridays

    Playing God: Incorporating religion into your fantasy world

    Rebecca Alasdair / 25 January 2019 / No Comments

    Religion plays an integral role in shaping history and society, and is therefore an essential consideration when it comes to world-building for a fantasy novel. In this Playing God post, I explore the key types of belief system, some interesting religious themes, and give a sneak peek at the religion in my own WIP! →

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  • goals & reflections

    Ten tentative targets for 2019

    Rebecca Alasdair / 12 January 2019 / No Comments

    Happy New Year! We’re already almost two weeks into 2019, but I’ve been enjoying some time off before launching myself into what will no doubt be a very busy 12 months. Goal-setting is going to be a challenge this year, but here’s my best shot! →

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  • goals & reflections

    2018 in review

    Rebecca Alasdair / 28 December 2018 / No Comments

    In a few short days we will bid farewell to 2018! This will be my last blog post for the year, and I'd like to take the opportunity to reflect on my key accomplishments. Come and share what you've achieved in 2018!! >>

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  • excerpts,  goals & reflections,  holding up the sky

    Holding Up the Sky: NaNoWriMo + snippets + plans!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 5 December 2018 / No Comments

    Did you participate in NaNoWriMo in 2018? I did, and I finished the 3rd draft of my WIP Holding Up the Sky!! Learn more about how NaNo unfolded for me, read some celebratory snippets, and find out what my plans are next! >>

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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: November 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 30 November 2018 / No Comments

    I think I'm still alive after this insanely busy November!! Between my university exams, NaNoWriMo, and preparing for some big things at work, there's been so much to do! Find out what I've been up to, how I went in NaNo, and what books I've read, and share with me your accomplishments!! >>

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  • fantasy fridays

    Playing God: Understanding your WIP’s world cosmology

    Rebecca Alasdair / 23 November 2018 / No Comments

    In today's Playing God post, we go back to basics and take a look at world cosmology: what it is, what types there are, and why it is important to consider when writing in the fantasy genre. Includes a quick peak at the cosmology in my WIP—and I'd love to hear about yours! >>

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  • fantasy fridays

    How to make a fantasy map with GIMP

    Rebecca Alasdair / 16 November 2018 / No Comments

    At the end of September, I put up online a map I had created for my WIP fantasy series Graceborn. I was touched by everyone's enthusiasm and I received a LOAD of questions about how I made it. So here it is—the post I promised on how to make a fantasy map using GIMP!! >>

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  • about me,  on writing,  tags and top posts

    The Writers Tag: Let’s connect!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 6 November 2018 / No Comments

    I've been tagged in the Writers Tag by Ari Meghlen and M.L. Davis! Thanks guys! Come join in the fun and learn more about me, my writing journey, and my WIPs. >>

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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: October 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 30 October 2018 / No Comments

    I am UTTERLY EXHAUSTED after this October! It's been a month of uni assignments from hell, so my writing and reading progress hasn't been great, but here I talk about what I HAVE managed to accomplish. Also: my thoughts on Kingdom of Ash and my favourite quote, so come and fangirl with me!! >>

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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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What is the most common/popular paperback trim siz What is the most common/popular paperback trim size where you live?

Here in Australia, at least in my city of Melbourne, the most common is the "B format" 129×198mm (about 5.1x7.8"). A lot of fantasy novels initially release in the larger 6×9" format, which I genuinely dislike because it's so damn big in my small hands, but these tend to be replaced by the smaller B format version after a year or two.

But I'm curious about what size(s) are most common in other places, especially the US and UK, as I ponder what size to publish my epic fantasy series in. What size do you prefer? Would the B format (my fave) seem strange to you?

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#bookdesign #bookformatting #booksize #bookstagram #booklover #indieauthor #authorsofig #writerslife
R is for the Red Plague! 👇 This next post in R is for the Red Plague! 👇 

This next post in the A to Z of worldbuilding elements in the #GracebornSeries is all about plagues. What's a fantasy world without a good plague—either current or historical.

In my world, the Red Plague was a highly contagious and fatal plague that devastated the Ten Dominions around three centuries after the Fall of Corraidhin. A cure was eventually found by Follain the Healer, but not before the population had been decimated. People still fear the Red Plague even now, and Graceborn Healers are constantly on the lookout for a resurgence.

What's the most interesting plague or illness you've come across in a fantasy novel? 🤒🦠

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#worldbuilding #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #fantasywriter #fantasyauthor #indieauthor #writersofig
Look, I'm sure it feels great to have your book hi Look, I'm sure it feels great to have your book hit a bestseller list, but there's something to be said for the quiet achievements.

"Success" in writing and publishing looks different for everyone, and it's not all about the number of copies sold. I would LOVE for my upcoming epic fantasy series to do well, but as I work through my line edits, I feel pretty damn proud of the story I've told. And that's worth celebrating. 😊

What do you think?

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#writingquotes #writinginspiration #writersofig #authorsofig #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #writerslife #authorlife
Line edits are in! Wish me luck as I dive into the Line edits are in! Wish me luck as I dive into them over the next few weeks and polish this book off. 😅

There's still plenty of work to do to get it ready for publication, but it finally feels like I'm creeping closer!

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#amediting #bookedits #writerslife #authorlife #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasyseries #gracebornseries
Happy 1st birthday to the bestest writing buddy a Happy 1st birthday to the bestest writing buddy a girl could ask for 💜🥳

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#birthdaygirl #birthdaydog #dogsofinstagram #minischnauzer #writingbuddy #writerslife #writersofig #indieauthor
Say hello to Tora Kolmarden, a key character in th Say hello to Tora Kolmarden, a key character in the #GracebornSeries...

...or don't. You might want to run and hide, actually. Most people do when they hear Tora's name. She's something of an enforcer for the Council of Eight: cold, ruthless to the point of cruelty, and her tongue is as sharp as her blades.

But this death-wielding warrior has her reasons. She has her secrets, her hidden dreams. And her arc throughout the series is not what you might expect. I can't wait for you to meet her in book 1, "Blood of Old", in (hopefully) 2026!

Another big thank you to the talented @sophielouisedraws for capturing Tora so perfectly!! 🤩

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#characterart #characterartwork #artreveal #digitalart #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy
Are you ready? There's only one more sleep until m Are you ready? There's only one more sleep until my next piece of character art is revealed! 😱

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#characterart #characterartwork #artreveal #digitalart #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #gracebornseries
Q is for qava! 👇 In today's post on the A to Q is for qava! 👇 

In today's post on the A to Z of worldbuilding elements in the #GracebornSeries, I wanted to talk about food and drink in fantasy novels.

Do you enjoy seeing new types of food or drink—or even new names for known types of food or drink—in the books you read? I find it adds a certain richness and depth to the worldbuilding in fantasy fiction.

I haven't been all that creative in my own epic fantasy series, but I have come up with a drink called "qava", which you may note bears a striking resemblance to coffee... 🤣☕️

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#worldbuilding #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #fantasywriter #fantasyauthor #indieauthor #writersofig

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