The Week in Review – January 11, 2025

I've been thinking a lot about social media of late, and a friend mentioned how with all the social media platforms essentially turning into garbage, we need to relook how we reach out to the people in our circles. I've been a veteran of social media since MySpace days. I even had a Livejournal, though dog alone knows where the login is – possibly tied up with one of my abandoned and now-defunct email addresses. That being said, I've been consistently blogging on this platform since before Facebook even took off, so maybe it's time I look at that again. 

While I do dabble in video content, the written word is still my forte. I'm most certainly not one of these bright-shiny influencer types who's going to slap on a face of cosmetics and do trout pouts for the camera. And now that the Meta platforms are becoming increasingly useless and unwieldy, and the least said about Twitter (I refuse to call it X), the better. I find writing newsletters incredibly stressful, and I'm not in a mood to learn anything new. So that's a no for Substack. I am thinking of perhaps dusting off my Patreon at some point, but let's be honest – I don't have the spoons for that right now.

So, if you've read this far, thank you. You can likely expect more of this from me going forward. 

For those of you who are following my activities on social media, you'll see I've just had my annual pilgrimage to the Karoo. The whole world and their wife visits Cape Town during the festive season, which makes living here in Cape Town's far south quite perilous and frankly unpleasant. The roads become (even more) congested and you can forget about going to the beach or enjoying a simple breakfast in Kalk Bay.

And I get it. The Cape is beautiful. I am incredibly fortunate to live here. But there's a small part of me that remembers how quiet it often used to be, and then my heart starts hankering after open spaces – hence me braving 40°C in the Klein Karoo.

I need to give a shout-out to our hosts for this past week – Ashley and Andre over at Wolverfontein Karoo Cottages. We love staying in Zara Cottage, which is done up in wonderful boerekitsch with a heavy dollop of Tretchikoff vibes. Wolverfontein is a small patch of land boasting its own volstruispaleis (ostrich palace) near the Touwsberg, on the banks of the Touwsrivier between Barrydale and Ladismith off the R62. It's here that I can hear the silence. 

To quote Samwise Gamgee, "Well, I'm back."

I can't say I've missed Cape Town, but I do rather love our little home, and I've missed all my birds and plants, and I realise I'm very lucky in that our little hood feels like a little village. So I have the best of both worlds out here. Close to the city but not *in* the city. And I do intend to motivate the husband creature for us to go away for weekends a bit more this year. Last year was hectic, to say the least.

Work wise, I still have a backlog of editing from 2024 that I need to finish. For those of you still needing work from me, I'm on it. Just approaching it sensibly and sanely. Since the implosion of Now Novel, the company for whom I did coaching, I have retained a few of my writers that I enjoyed working with, and have limited spaces available this year if you are looking for a writing coach/accountability buddy/editor person. Do reach out to me at nerinedorman@gmail.com if you think this is something you want to explore.

Writing is going apace – I'm still very much in the midst of revising book 2 of The Splintered Fool. I don't have a firm release date for The Raven's Path, but know that Toby and I are working on it. I'm also ghostwriting for gentleman whose broad vision has a nine-book science fantasy series. It's been a wonderful experience for me thus far, and I truly appreciate such a good client who trusts me with their ideas. And other than that, I'm busy writing a MG fantasy novel that I'll be translating into Afrikaans for the Lapa competition that closes on November 25 this year. I'm being a bit more clever about it by writing it in English first and translating it afterwards. But yeah, watch this space – let's see how that works out.

Anyhow, for those of you who are on Bluesky and Threads, I'm not leaving the Meta platforms, as I believe in fighting for the space I've carved out, but I am going to be more active on Bsky here on in as many of my friends are now going to be there rather than on the Meta platforms. Do come find me on Threads or Bluesky.

If you follow me on any of my social media and/or this blog, do consider showing your support by either purchasing one of my novels or sharing about ones that you've read. Go check out my work on Amazon.

A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester

I'm no scholar, but I deeply fascinated by history, and as an author of science fiction and fantasy, I take pains to do a lot of research – so when A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester turned up on my Audible inclusions, I gave it a whirl, thinking, "Hey, I can learn something". 

Manchester, a journalist, initially set out to write a biography of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, but then went down a rabbit hole researching the time period that led him to write a work of much broader scope in which he explores the history of western Europe.

My initial assessment was that this was luridly fascinating and chock-full with fascinating factoids, and until I perused Goodreads to see what other readers thought, I reckoned this was a good book for folks wishing to get a start into understanding this very broad time period.

And it was like ahem, okay then. Some *actual* historians on the time period weighed in with their opinions on Manchester's research and opinions, so I've revised my initial thoughts.

Thing is, Manchester has a turn of phrase that makes his writing accessible, but gets a bunch of facts horribly wrong and expounds on a bunch of half-truths with his assumptions. That's the crux of it. He's written some titles related to the modern period, which may be worthwhile looking into, because he *can* write, and does so in a way that is compelling and informative. Just that some of his information is not quite as accurate for this to be considered a work that is a paragon of historical greatness. One of the criticisms lobbed at him is that he didn't base any of his research on primary sources. Which might present a problem.

Anyhow, I guess this is a case of "Reader Beware",

Well, that's a wrap...

I generally don't get around to doing these 'year in review' type blog posts, but I'm feeling the need to give a little bit of a glance in the mirror for all that happened during the year. I can safely say that I've been *busy*, which is a good thing – I've had paid work during a time when many creative folks are struggling, and for that I'm insanely grateful to my brilliant clients who've helped me keep the lights on.

While I'm still doing a fair amount of graphic design professionally, this work is gradually moving away from straight-up graphics to more layout work, which is my wheelhouse. I've had the opportunity to do interior layouts and even a little cover design for some fiction projects. I get a real kick in helping authors figure out, step by step, how to get their projects from concept and Word document to a physical object they can hold in their hands. This sort of process never gets old for me.

Fiction editing remains one of my mainstays, and I've had an absolute blast editing not only for my indie authors, but also taking on work for assorted small presses. I firmly believe in charging editing rates that won't break my clients' bank accounts but still brings in enough income to make this worth my time. I love my work, and it makes me so excited to see the books I've worked on toddling out into the world. I've also transitioned to coaching writers privately, something I really enjoy doing, so if you think this year coming that you'd like to give writing a shot, but have no idea where to begin or how to go about this, drop me a mail and let's chat – my rates are entirely reasonable, and I have two decades' experience in the industry to share.

In terms of writing, I've been insanely busy. Work continues apace with The Splintered Fool, a five-book series that I co-authored with Toby Bennett. Book 2 is currently in the layout stage, but you can go pick up book 1, which was a semi-finalist in this year's Self Published Fantasy Blog Off. If epic swords-and-sandals quests with plenty of snark between characters plus absolutely bonkers world building curls your toes, then do go take a look. What has been taking up much of my time is an epic science-fantasy series I've been ghostwriting for my client. It's been a weird mental shift to have someone pay me for my writing – and to show up in terms of consistent output, but it's been incredibly good for my confidence and also developing stamina for this kind of work. I'm currently delivering 7.5k words a week, and if you'd told me I'd manage this a few years ago, I'd never have believed you. Lastly, I'm currently working on a shorter bit of writing for the younger market that I'm intending to translate into Afrikaans for a big writing prize. So, that's something new, a little different, and lots of fun.

Plans for 2025? Honestly, I'm not going to make any wild promises. I'm more interested in continuing on an even keel. That's all I can ask for. For those of you who've supported me, offered encouragement, I thank you. I'm sure we're going to have many 'exciting' things to add to our bingo card for 2025, but let's go into the year with kindness. To ourselves. And others. We're going to need it.

What I've read...

My favourite books for 2024 are a mix of titles I've worked on as well as those I've reviewed or simply read for pleasure. Some are new, having come out in the past year, while others are a little older. I've presented the books in alphabetical order by author.

Inside Your Body There Are Flowers by Diane Awerbuck

Honestly, if you have not yet picked up a copy of this book, you're so missing out. Sadly, I suspect most folks overseas are going to fall in this category as the book is (at time of writing) only available in South Africa. Diane remains one of my favourite local authors, and I may be a little biased as I have in the past edited two of the stories that appear in this collection of hers. Her stories are darkly witty, have a cutting sense of black humour, and seamlessly blend magical realism with the day to day. What is criminal is that this collection of short fiction hasn't been nommed for bunches of literary prizes.

Cassiel's Servant by Jacqueline Carey

I've been meaning to reread Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart for ages now. The books in that series were hugely influential on me wanting to write darkly lush stories. While Carey's writing remains a known quantity for me, I find it curious how I view her style now that I'm older and have a few novels under my belt. There is much to love here, even if I feel the plot wears a little thin in places. Odd couple Phèdre and Joscelin remain among my favourite pairings, and it was lovely to see a beloved story retold through the eyes of Joscelin. I'd recommend this for those wishing to embark on the rather daunting body of work in this world.

Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott

This one came out a while ago, and if it's a measure of how dire my TBR pile is, it's taken me ages to get around to picking it up. I eventually listened to the audiobook version, and it was everything I needed in a fun, action-packed space opera full of twists and turns. This is best described as a gender-bent Alexander the Great in space, and it's chock full of unforgettable characters. Kate's been one of my long-time favourite authors, and her writing is strong on all fronts, especially her world building.

The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston

Whenever I pick up one of Cameron's books, I know I'm going to have a cracking time. And I seem to be on a roll for loving gender-bent books. This one is best described as Die Hard by way of the Bronze Age, with a hard-bitten, older female protagonist who is honestly so over certain men in her line of work as a guard. This is pulpy, fun, and action-packed, with loads of the old ultra-violence. Also, Cameron's one of my favourite people online. 

The Tilted Pentagram by Matthew MacDevette

Righty, so a good while back, the publisher at Mirari Press requested a reader report from me for this book. I was convinced Matt wrote this book with me in mind, because I was practically begging the publisher to let me edit if he contracted this. The premise makes me think a lot of Robert Harris's Fatherland, but in this case the concept asks, "what if the Catholic Church never had its Reformation?" We enter a world of fire-wielding witches, inquisitors, and forbidden magic. I will say no more, but if you're looking for a tense, dark read with a strong female lead, then this one will have you clawing at your chair. Yes, I got to edit this book. Matt is a fantastic author worth keeping an eye out for.

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

This is possibly one of the cleverest books I've read in a long, long time. Elif effortlessly tells three tales that are woven together so that at first you wonder how they are connected ... until they spin together. I really don't want to spoil this by giving too many details, but I will say that she writes with great compassion about some truly difficult subjects. It's a story about people whose lives are separated by years yet are connected by water, by rivers. It's about history, about the stories we tell, and it's about people saving each other. 

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I've been promising myself that I'd read this book ever since it came out, and don't cast shade, but this year I finally got around to it. It's epic in scope, verging on Tolkienesque, and I loved the world building immensely. And yes! Dragons! My only complaint is that I feel that Samantha underbaked the ending a wee smidge. Some of the threads could have been developed more. But overall, I'm definitely on board for more of her writing. Characters, setting, world building – it's great! And epic! Definitely scratching my itch for fantasy with a big scope for story.

Remnant by KR Solberg and CR Jacobson

I've been itching for some fresh voices in epic fantasy,  and I'm very excited to have discovered Solberg and Jacobson. Their writing is fresh, the characters are intensely relatable and likeable – and who doesn't love a story about the underdog rebelling against an evil empire. This feels like a massive D&D world that's come to life but in the best of ways. There's a sense of history and place in a gloriously multicultural setting filled with magic and the kinds of bad guys you love to hate. I gave the audiobook a spin, and was immediately sucked in, and I will shamelessly plug this book – plus there's more to come. Some excellent storytelling here.

Bunny by SE Tolsen

I don't read horror nearly as much as I would like to, and while I've seen  my fair share of short horror fiction, it's been a while since I've dipped into a novel-length work. I must congratulate the writing duo behind this book for creating a story that has successfully creeped me the heck out. I never considered that it might be possible to put jump-scares into a work of fiction but they have managed to do so. This is a creepy blend of landscape and cosmic horror with all-too-human darkness – and most certainly deserves the spot in my top ten. Goober is the best boi. 

Waypoint Seven by Xan van Rooyen

Another bit of bias creeping in here because this is one I edited. I am a huge fan of Xan's writing, and if our stars ever align one day, we will hopefully collaborate on a work together as our aesthetics are what I'd consider a perfect match. This is a wonderful queer science-fantasy story that spans solar systems. Found family and friendships are foregrounded here, with hints of a world much broader in scope than what is revealed here. I hope Xan revisits this setting in the future.

All the Devils by Catelyn Wilson

Dark academia with serious gothic vibes is always my jam, so I was totally on board to give All the Devils by Catelyn Wilson a shot. We join Andy as she embarks on a mission to solve the mystery of her sister Violet's disappearance. Violet might apparently be dead and buried, I mean, heck, Andy even saw her body before she was interred. But one clue – a missing tattoo – has set Andy on Violet's footsteps that lead to the rather gloomy Ravenswood Academy that is bursting at the seams with secrets. And yes, a rather enigmatic love interest who has a Huge Secret.

As a reader, I enjoyed the mystery element, and most certainly the setting, and things do get rather out of hand in terms of the chthonic weirdness factor – and in a way that I found rather aesthetically pleasing. I did feel that the characterisation for Andy is a little thin on the ground in terms of interiority – she's very much in the present, but there's not enough sense of how she connects with a larger world in terms of parents and friends, and her past. So it's more or less like having a first-person viewpoint for the present, which is fine, but I could have used a bit more interconnectivity and layering. This is a fault I've found with quite a fair amount of YA, that has characters existing almost in a narrative vacuum. Not a dealbreaker here as I quite enjoyed the story. I also feel that as a main character, she could have been a bit more proactive, but then again, that's also just me. 

In terms of world building, this is all pretty generic on the surface mix-and-match – so nothing earth-shattering in terms of fresh takes on assorted standard mythologies. This may annoy some. Didn't blow me out of the water, but as stated earlier, I enjoyed the aesthetics, even if I'd have liked a deeper dive. It did mean, eventually that the pacing/suspensive payoff was a bit underwhelming for what was otherwise an enjoyable story.

Vetplantfeetjies deur Fiona Moodie, Antjie Krog en Ingrid de Kok

Vir die wat vir my goed ken, sal julle weet ek is kompleet betjoinks oor vetplante. Ek versamel hulle al vir jare – aalwyne, kaktuse, euphorbias – allerande soorte. Toe ek sien dat die boekie Vetplantfeetjies uitgeryk is, moes ek toe 'n kopie kry. Dis nou rerig 'n oulike boekie díe, deur Fiona Moodie geillustreer en met die teks deur Antjie Krog en Ingrid de Kok. Wat meer kan 'n mens vra vir van so 'n samewerking?

Kyk, die ding met Afrikaanse gedigte is dat die woordespel net te pragtig is. Dit klink soms ook better as die Engelse vertalings – en die rympies in hierdie boek moet hardop gelees word vir hoe die woorde oor mekaar kabbel. En die konsep is wonderlik. Toe ek klein was, was ek dol oor die Flower Fairy boeke van Cicely Mary Barker, en Vetplant Feetjies is 'n eg Suid-Afrikaanse weergawe hiervan. Ek dink ook aan die DJ Opperman digte bundel waaruit my ma vir my voorgelees het – die rympies in Vetplant Feetjies het dieselfde gevoel.

Elke paar bladsye is toegewy aan 'n plant – meestal inheems, soos Euphorbia, Boophone disticha, Lithops, Crassula, en Kalanchoe, maar ook Echeveria. Die feetjies is so skattig, en die illustrasies onthul meer detail elke keer as ek hulle bestudeer. Dis 'n boekie wat ek in my permanente versameling gaan hou – vir inspirasie en net omdat dit so flippen mooi is. As jy kleingoed het of sommer net van mooi gedigte hou, en jy is lief vir vetplante, is dit nou 'n boek om in die hande te kry.

The Book of Atrix Wolfe by Patricia A McKillip

Part of what I love about trawling my local secondhand bookstore, which reminds me rather a lot of the store that we see in the opening of The Neverending Story film that traumatised me as a child, is that I'll often find books there that won't stray to my local Wordsworth. The Book of Atrix Wolfe by Patricia A McKillip is one such, and I really wish I'd read her writing sooner.

McKillip sadly passed away in 2022, and I feel that she's one of the voices in fantasy fiction who is chronically underrated in the genre, and one I'll happily hold up next to the likes of Ursula K Le Guin and Tanith Lee. 

The Book of Atrix Wolfe is a lush, nuanced tale, and the real treat is really the way that she crafts her story – the poetry in each paragraph, the images, sights, and sounds that beg you to keep this book on your shelf to reread at a future date. The story itself is deceptively simple, involving a wizard who, in his hubris, wreaks great destruction that unleashes a darker magic, and a faerie queen who loses her husband and daughter, and how a young wizard must work to right an ancient wrong.

And it's McKillip's magic in describing the environment, food, and the smaller details of the lives of the folks in the kitchen of a great castle that shines for me. So much exquisite detail. This book is very much a primer for fantasy authors who wish to craft beautiful prose. Or for readers who wish to immerse in a slowly unfolding fairytale filled with awe and wonder to be savoured.

Sins of the Past by JD Franx

So, JD Franx is one of my recent discoveries off Audible, and while JRR Tolkien they are not, there's something to be said for their pacing and ability to hold an action-packed tale that is engaging, and that makes you care about the characters. Sins of the Past is a prologue for their The Darkness Within saga, and gives you the backstory and setup for Yrlissa Blackmist. She's an elven assassin and she's gone deep undercover. The only problem is, she's fallen in love, settled down, and started a family – while on the job.

This obviously presents a problem for not only those who deployed her, but also means that her family is now vulnerable to forces beyond their ken.

One of the bones that I do pick with fantasy is that often we don't see enough emotional conflict for characters who're constantly on the go with their adventures vs. their personal lives – so this is the kind of high stakes vs. personal stakes story that really introduced some great conflict. This being a prologue, it's more a teaser, really, and gives you a little background for a character without dumping reams of exposition on you. I'm most certainly invested in Franx's writing, and if you're looking for an accessible fantasy series, this is is one of them. Their writing is easy on the eye and ear (depending on whether you're going for the Audible editions), and while not overly complicated at least has sufficient depth to the setting and characters' motivations to keep things engaging.

Of course I must add that I initially picked up this title because I'm a HUUUUGE fan of narrator Simon Vance, who could read me a telephone directory and my ears would be happy.