• Southscript Press
Rebecca Alasdair

Official Website

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

    NaNoWriMo 2018: A different kind of goal

    Rebecca Alasdair / 25 October 2018 / No Comments

    Are you participating in NaNoWriMo in 2018? I am, but I've decided to adjust the rules the suit the fact that, for us Aussie students, November is also EXAM MONTH! Here I reveal my NaNo goal...and I'd love to hear all about yours!! >>

    Read More
  • fantasy fridays

    Playing God: Let there be light! // Writing a creation story

    Rebecca Alasdair / 19 October 2018 / No Comments

    Today, we head right back to the beginning and take a look at writing creation stores: what they are, why they're important in high fantasy, and what different types of "creation myth" are out there. Includes a sneak preview at the creation story in my WIP—and I'd love to hear about yours! >>

    Read More
  • 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? >>

    Read More
  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: September 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 30 September 2018 / No Comments

    This September, I mastered the art of procrastination—from my uni assignments, that is. I read a ton of excellent books and made some great progress on my WIPs. Find out all the details, including my new Graceborn map, in this month's update post! >>

    Read More
  • 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!! >>

    Read More
  • on writing

    How to make a “mock cover” for your WIP

    Rebecca Alasdair / 5 September 2018 / No Comments

    One of my favourite things to do—and one of my favourite ways to procrastinate from actually writing—is to create "mock covers" for my WIPs...and today I share the process I use when crafting them! Do you make covers for your WIPs? >>

    Read More
  • 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! >>

    Read More
  • excerpts,  graceborn

    Old Blood: *New* title + cover + excerpt!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 24 August 2018 / No Comments

    If you've been following my blog and/or reading my posts, you've probably heard me mention my WIP fantasy series and its first book, Old Blood. Today, I am announcing Old Blood's NEW TITLE and presenting its NEW MOCK COVER, and to celebrate I also have a BRAND NEW EXCERPT for you. So come and check it out!! >>

    Read More
  • 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!! >>

    Read More
  • 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? >>

    Read More
1011121314

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

Search site

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Threads
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest
  • Goodreads

Sign-Up to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email!

Categories

  • about me
  • excerpts
  • fantasy fridays
  • goals & reflections
  • graceborn
  • holding up the sky
  • on blogging
  • on publishing
  • on reading
  • on writing
  • tags and top posts
  • the layers beneath us
  • updates

Archives

  • 2025: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2024: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2023: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2022: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2021: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2020: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2019: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2018: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 2017: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Disclaimer

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.

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?

•
•
•

#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? 🤒🦠

•
•
•

#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?

•
•
•

#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!

•
•
•

#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 💜🥳

•
•
•

#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!! 🤩

•
•
• 

#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! 😱

•
•
• 

#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... 🤣☕️

•
•
•

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

— SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER —

© Copyright 2017-2025 Rebecca Alasdair. All Rights Reserved.