J. R. R. Tolkien greatly inspires my writing. I first encountered his work at the age of eight, when I was in an intensive care unit after having a brain stem stroke. I could not move or speak, my body had completely shut down, and I was barely conscious. But…

Carl Tighe lists some of the main responsibilities facing writers in his book Writing and Responsibility. To tradition, to power, to accuracy, to kitsch, to censorship, and to political correctness. Personally, the responsibly to literary tradition and fiction genres seems the most resonant to me. If a piece of writing…

I believe poetry can be an invaluable tool in primary education. It allows the child to play with words, to have fun with them, to think of them much more dynamically than other forms of literature allow. Poetry can be something very meaningful and individual, but it can also be…

Introduction The Volsunga saga follows the fortunes of the Volsung family, a family of legendary Norse heroes descended from the chief deity of Norse mythology, Òđin. It was first written in Iceland around 1250 AD, although its origins are likely to be much older. …

Introduction The Volsunga saga follows the fortunes of the Volsung family, a family of legendary Norse heroes descended from the chief deity of Norse mythology, Òđin. It was first written in Iceland around 1250 AD, although its origins are likely to be much older. …

Shadows filled the Raven’s Roost, but in the furthest corner was the most mysterious shadow of all. They said he came up from the south earlier that day, leading a chestnut mare, and he had been at the tavern ever since. The tavern keeper anxiously rearranged bottles of ale in…

‘Get back George, don’t let them see you,’ Maggie whispered. The old man stepped back behind the curtain. ‘We don’t want to give away the surprise too early; we should at least let them get through a few eulogies first.’ Maggie peered through the crack. She was surprised at how…

My only memories of him were from ten years ago; while my little sister was at her violin lesson, I was sent to stay with him at his house. We didn’t speak at first, he just watched me read my books. He seemed perfectly happy with that. …

The shriek sliced through the labyrinth. ‘Gorgons,’ Maya said. ‘Quick! Close your eyes, they could be anywhere. One look at them, and you would turn to stone.’ I closed my eyes, clasping the handle of my sword, fearing the monster would spring on us at any moment. I had fought…