A Fantasy Writeblr

[mlcoates]

I finished The Ministry of Time.

*cries, throws up, is generally in awe of this masterpiece*

[mlcoates]

Do not, whatever you do, set foot inside the circle.

Concept art of a ring of mushrooms in a forest glen by night.

Many European folklore traditions mention mushroom circles in connection with fairies. Now a quaint and Disneyfied idea for entertaining children, fairies were referred to euphemistically in Irish traditions as 'the Good People' or simply 'Them', out of a deep respect and fear.

Some fairy tales follow foolish travellers who, from either curiosity or oblivion, step inside the circle and are magicked away, or 'fairy-struck', or fixed in time, or killed.

[mlcoates]

Vol I: The Astrolabe

Concept sketch of a navigational device called an astrolabe, specifically a French renaissance one, used heavily in my first book (so far). They were invented in Persia and co-opted by Europe, and were a combined clock, calendar, compass and astrological calendar.

Judging by the design, I believe the astrolabe it was also the inspiration for the alethiometer in Philip Pulman's His Dark Materials.