Ask the Author: H.M. Clarke
Answered Questions (15)
H.M. Clarke
Lord of the Rings and Death before Dragons series
H.M. Clarke
This reply is a little late... Mark of Fate, Mark of Service and the final book - Mark of Freedom are all out now. :)
H.M. Clarke
Book 3 will be coming out in May 2022, and Book 4 not long after that.
H.M. Clarke
Too many to count really...I would like to re-read Lord of the Rings, and maybe Dragonflight.
H.M. Clarke
I would say they are YA to Adult and they have no written sex scenes - the Sci Fi does have 1 implied scene which happens 'off camera' - the 'fade to black', but that's the extent of them.
H.M. Clarke
There's nothing so lonesome, so morbid or crook. Than to stand in a room, of a store with no books...
H.M. Clarke
The Mark of Fate will be out Feb/Mar 2020 and will be followed by The Mark of Freedom.
H.M. Clarke
If you like Fantasy, I would suggest you start with The Kalarathri - it's the first book in my Way to Freedom series and it is free on all retailers, and if you sign up for my mailing list, you can get the 2nd book - The Dream Thief as a free download :). The first 5 books of this series are also collected into a box set as well.
If you like Sci Fi, then read The Enclave, for Weird Western, read Howling Vengeance and for Urban Fantasy, read Winter's Magic.
I am also blogging my current WIP on my website if you want to take a look at that on https://www.hmclarkeauthor.com/age-of...
If you like Sci Fi, then read The Enclave, for Weird Western, read Howling Vengeance and for Urban Fantasy, read Winter's Magic.
I am also blogging my current WIP on my website if you want to take a look at that on https://www.hmclarkeauthor.com/age-of...
H.M. Clarke
I already live in the US, but alas I have not yet found a position devoted to test tasting cheesecakes...It seems to be a very undervalued skill.
H.M. Clarke
Hi Sarah. I am very glad that you liked The Enclave. There will be more to the series, as well as some stand alone stories about life on The Verge. Book 2 is currently in development and I hope to have it out in a couple of months time.
H.M. Clarke
Nice to see someone else from Port Augusta! I grew up on Chinnery Street (west side), though my Nan lived around the corner from the ESTA pools. I was living in Adelaide until I moved to the USA. I miss being able to drive into the Adelaide Hills though. I love JRR Tolkein and C.S. Lewis.
The idea of the Kalarthri is actually based off of the Mamluks of Egypt, so if you know a little about their history, you will have a good idea in which direction this series is heading.
Cheers -Hayley :)
The idea of the Kalarthri is actually based off of the Mamluks of Egypt, so if you know a little about their history, you will have a good idea in which direction this series is heading.
Cheers -Hayley :)
H.M. Clarke
My strategies for dealing with writer's block can be either very simple or extremely extravagant. Strategies that I use regularly are:
1) House cleaning – it does help getting your mind off the hurdles in your writing and then gives you time to look at things from a fresh perspective and can actually be helpful in the long run.
2) Baking – This does the same thing as house cleaning except you get cakes, biscuits and cookies at the end of it.
3) Research – This can be anything ranging from historical to scientific or basically fact finding in general. This again can be helpful in both finding plots and ideas for future stories, or for finding examples that can get you out of your writing quandary.
4) Taking the family on a day trip – This also does the same thing as house cleaning, except that you also get exposure to daylight and spend quality time with your family.
5) Television – Um, television really is the procrastinators’ friend. I never get anything useful done when the TV is on. Unless I’m watching something in connection with point 3.
6) Internet – Same point as Television. It is an incredible tool for procrastination. But it can also help overcome your issues by going to relevant blogs, websites, and friendly communities that might help you by discussing issues or reviewing the piece of work or idea that is troubling you. There are many of these writing communities around; it’s just a matter of finding one that suits you and your genre. Also be aware when trying to find a writing community that there is a difference between constructive criticism and being downright mean.
1) House cleaning – it does help getting your mind off the hurdles in your writing and then gives you time to look at things from a fresh perspective and can actually be helpful in the long run.
2) Baking – This does the same thing as house cleaning except you get cakes, biscuits and cookies at the end of it.
3) Research – This can be anything ranging from historical to scientific or basically fact finding in general. This again can be helpful in both finding plots and ideas for future stories, or for finding examples that can get you out of your writing quandary.
4) Taking the family on a day trip – This also does the same thing as house cleaning, except that you also get exposure to daylight and spend quality time with your family.
5) Television – Um, television really is the procrastinators’ friend. I never get anything useful done when the TV is on. Unless I’m watching something in connection with point 3.
6) Internet – Same point as Television. It is an incredible tool for procrastination. But it can also help overcome your issues by going to relevant blogs, websites, and friendly communities that might help you by discussing issues or reviewing the piece of work or idea that is troubling you. There are many of these writing communities around; it’s just a matter of finding one that suits you and your genre. Also be aware when trying to find a writing community that there is a difference between constructive criticism and being downright mean.
H.M. Clarke
My most recent book - THE ENCLAVE - was written a decade ago when there was the uproar in Australia about refugees coming into Australia illegally via boat to gain asylum status and how this sensitive issue was twisted to suit political election needs at the time by both major parties.
Because of this I decided to put the issues of refugees as a background story into the Science Fiction manuscript I was writing at the time. And I think my MS benefited greatly from the addition.
Even though this story was originally written in 2004, this issue is still a burning topic in Australia, and in most other parts of the world, today. I do not consider myself a refugee advocate, but I do believe in people's (and children's) fundamental human right to be treated as a person first and not a criminal.
Because of this I decided to put the issues of refugees as a background story into the Science Fiction manuscript I was writing at the time. And I think my MS benefited greatly from the addition.
Even though this story was originally written in 2004, this issue is still a burning topic in Australia, and in most other parts of the world, today. I do not consider myself a refugee advocate, but I do believe in people's (and children's) fundamental human right to be treated as a person first and not a criminal.
H.M. Clarke
The only real advice I can give is to write. And to read. Both are essential to making a career as an author. Also gaining life experience can benefit your writing as it can help characters and situations be more believable to the reader.
H.M. Clarke
I am currently working on a Paranormal Romance Novel called Winter's Magic. Which will be the first in a new series called The Order. Here is a brief description:
Adelaide.
Anthony Trollope called it the ‘City of Churches’, with it’s picturesque skyline and the wide, green bands of park land.
But under the pretty facade lies hidden a dark underbelly…
And The Order is watching.
The first book in an urban fantasy series set in Adelaide, South Australia. Based around Kaitlyn Winter and the investigative unit she is attached to which protects the ‘straights’ from all the nasties that go ‘bump’ in the night…
Due out end of August 2014
Adelaide.
Anthony Trollope called it the ‘City of Churches’, with it’s picturesque skyline and the wide, green bands of park land.
But under the pretty facade lies hidden a dark underbelly…
And The Order is watching.
The first book in an urban fantasy series set in Adelaide, South Australia. Based around Kaitlyn Winter and the investigative unit she is attached to which protects the ‘straights’ from all the nasties that go ‘bump’ in the night…
Due out end of August 2014
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