Guest Blog: Rayne Hall and the Ten Tales Anthologies

One of the great things about The Creativity Cauldron loop that I started (after requests from many of the folks who took my writing classes, for a place for people to stay in touch once the classes were over) is that there are so many really creative people there. Big surprise, right?

Among those folks is Rayne Hall, who has come up with a fabulous idea for a group of anthologies, some of which include a few other folks from the Creativity Cauldron loop (among others). I asked Rayne if she would like to come by my blog and share a little bit about those anthologies.

Take it away, Rayne:

A Taste of Ten Tales

Anthologies are wonderful. Like boxes of chocolate, they hold a variety of delightful flavours.

In the “Ten Tales” fantasy anthologies, all ten stories explore the same theme, each from a different angle. Every author has a different vision, a different writing style and a different approach to storytelling, so every reader will find something to their taste.

For example, Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft contains ten stories about witches of all kinds, while in Spells: Ten Tales of Magic the authors share their idea of what magic is and how it works.

Readers sometimes tweet or email to tell me which stories they like best... and every reader has a different preference. Many readers discover a new favourite author they hadn't heard of before, and  read that author's novels next.

As the editor, I look for variety. The stories need to have the theme at their core. For example, in Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft the stories had to revolve around witchcraft, and not just mention it in passing.  At the same time, they need to interpret the theme in an original way; I don't want ten similar stories.

Where possible, I choose stories with main characters of different ages, ethnicities and physical abilities. This allows the readers to experience life from a new perspective. I also like stories set in a variety of cultures.

Strangely, most writers feel compelled to write about handsome able-bodied white twenty-somethings in New York, and a whole anthology with just that type would be dull. When I see a story whose main character is a blind child in the slums of Brazil, or a seventy-year old Japanese wheelchair-user, my interest perks.

I like stories which play with imaginative “what if?” scenarios,  which make the reader think or which explore ethical issues in a non-preachy way.

The Ten Tales are about horror and fantasy, and many involve magic. This may be real magic, based on an existing system - whether  that's modern Wicca or medieval Alchemy, Mongolian Shamanism or ceremonial magic of the Golden Dawn - or something fantastical the writer has invented.  Invented magic systems can be a joy to read in fantasy fiction, but they have to be believable.

With fantasy magic, I want to understand where the power comes from and how the mage directs it, what its limitations are and what ethical dilemmas it may stir. A story in which a wizard can achieve anything by merely pointing a wand is boring, and won't get into a Ten Tales book.

The Ten Tales books have become known for quality fantasy stories as well as for variety, and many readers who have enjoyed one book come back for more. Published so far are Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates, Scared: Ten Tales of Horror, Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies, Spells: Ten Tales of Magic, Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft.

https://sites.google.com/site/raynehallsdarkfantasyfiction/about-rayne-hall/ten-tales-themed-multi-author-fantasy-horror-anthologies

Book Trailer for Beltane Anthology

About Rayne Hall

Rayne Hall has published more than forty books under different pen names with different publishers in different genres, mostly fantasy, horror and non-fiction. Recent books include Storm Dancer (dark epic fantasy novel), Six Scary Tales Vol 1, 2 and 3 (mild horror stories), Six Historical Tales (short stories), Six Quirky Tales (humorous fantasy stories), Writing Fight Scenes and Writing Scary Scenes (instructions for authors).

She holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Currently, she edits the Ten Tales series of multi-author short story anthologies: Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Scared: Ten Tales of Horror, Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates, Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft, Spells: Ten Tales of Magic, Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies and more. 

 https://sites.google.com/site/raynehallsdarkfantasyfiction/

 

Which tales tempt you the most? I want to read the ones about witchcraft, of course...

Happy Anniversary, Creativity Cauldron!

As most of you know, I teach a couple of popular online writing classes, "Witchcraft for the Paranormal Author" and "Beyond Fangs: Creating New and Interesting Paranormal Characters." I've been giving these workshops for a while now, and they are both fun and rewarding.

And not just for me, apparently.

After I gave the first "Witchcraft" class, a bunch of the students said that they'd had such a great time with the class, they didn't want it to stop. They wanted to keep in touch with each other and with me, and asked if I would consider starting some kind of loop for former students.

I said no.

I was thrilled, of course, that they'd gotten so much out of the workshop, and agreed that the group of people the class had brought together was extraordinary. But I was too busy. Just couldn't add one more thing to the pile. They understood, and apparently tried to start up something without me, but it didn't last.

Then I gave the next workshop, and got the same request. To be honest, I was kind of amazed. And even more thrilled than the first time--less that people wanted to keep in touch with me (which they can easily do through my blog, or Twitter, or Facebook), but that I had somehow been able to create this environment that made people so comfortable that they didn't want to leave.

I said no again anyway.

It was a tougher decision this time around, but I still didn't have the time and energy to run a loop on top of my day job, making jewelry, writing, blogging, etc.

Then I gave the next class...and got the SAME request again. But this time, something was different. A couple of the folks involved actually volunteered to create and run the loop, so I didn't have to. All I had to do was show up. The lovely Holly Atkinson, in fact, did just that. And so The Creativity Cauldron was born.

A year and two days ago, we sent out invites to the folks who had taken that just-finished workshop, and got our first set of Cauldronites. People have been joining us ever since; mostly those who have taken my classes, with a sprinkling of folks who heard about the loop from one of their friends. The Creativity Cauldron is a gathering place for anyone who writes paranormal fiction in any form--newbies and bestselling authors, people who write middle grade fantasy and people who write erotic paranormal romance. Together, we gather around the cauldron to support and encourage each other, helping out in whichever way suits us best. We post daily writing challenges to motivate everyone. I sometimes give free mini-workshops, and other loop members have been known to do the same. It is a warm and friendly place, which is all I really wanted.

So happy anniversary, Creativity Cauldron! And happy anniversary Holly--thanks for everything you do for all of us.

In case you are interested, here is the place you can go and sign up:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativityCauldron/

And just so you know, here is the contest we're running to celebrate our anniversary:

Writers Write - 3 Day Challenge: Post your daily word count for at least three of the five days.
Add your favorite line or paragraph to share with the group.

Writers Character Builder - 3 Day Challenge: Post at least three characters in the five days.
Add detailed description of them as well as a clip of your favorite dialog with this character.

The winner of the writing challenge will get a $10 Amazon Gift Card.
The winner of the character challenge will get the signed Deborah Blake book of their choice!
(Yes, even if you live out of the US.)
Feedback from the Creativity Cauldron gang is welcome, so vote for the ones you enjoy.
The final decision will be made on April 5, 2011 by Deborah and Holly.

And yes, I am still thrilled.

Giving Thanks

I try to give thanks every day, but on this day--Thanksgiving--I thought I'd share a few of the things I'm grateful for...

I'm grateful for my wonderful family (all of whom, alas, live too far away for me to spend the day with them), my amazing friends (who keep putting up with me, year after year) and my beloved cats--Magic, Mystic, Minerva, Angus and Samhain (who was kind to me today and sat very still for her fluids, even after I stuck her twice with the first, dull, needle).

I am grateful especially for the ladies of Blue Moon Circle, who make my life extra magical, and to the fabu Lisa DiDio, Queen of the Critique Partners, who has brought more to my life than I can ever put into words, much of it having nothing whatsoever to do with writing. Thanks for everything, including bringing out the Uggs when I need my butt kicked :-)

I am grateful for the writers who stir the cauldron with me at Creativity Cauldron--thanks for liking my online classes so much that you never wanted them to end. You make me feel very special.

Thanks too, to the Betties at LucyMarch.com for all the FGBV's, the bacon, the sex, and OMG, the Old Spice Guy. [For everyone not a Betty, and currently confused, well, all I can say is, it makes sense if you're in on the joke.] And I am uber-grateful to Lucy herself, for the community, and for the personal support. You rock, Lucy! (And your little bald Betty, too. And Jenny, whose writing inspires me.)

I am thankful for home, and health, and a job I like (mostly)--in fact, in these days, I'm thankful to have a job at all. Thankful for the food on my table, and those who work and sacrifice to put it there.

Thankful for the creativity that allows me to follow my dreams.

And REALLY, REALLY thankful for my agent, Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency. Together, we're going places.

I hope that whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, you will take a moment out to say thank you for whatever good things you have in your life. And know that I am thankful for you--my readers, fans, friends, and followers. You people rock, big time.

Here's wishing you a lovely, relaxing day.