One Often Overlooked Element of World-Building
A Guest Post & Cover Reveal by Melissa McPhail
Every author should understand world-building. Whether engaged in the writing of genre or literary fiction, an author crafts a unique world with each novel. Even when set in the present day, the novel’s events layer a new dimension upon our visible reality. It’s the dimension of those characters, of that story, but it should feel as real to the reader as his own tangible environment.
One overlooked element in world-building is religion. Often when religion isn’t factoring into the plot of the story, the author may fail to mention it. Yet when we take a look at how religion influences our daily lives—even when we ourselves may practice no particular faith—it’s clear that religion of some nature is part and parcel to nearly every culture that inhabits this earth.
Religion influences our daily interactions with others (moral codes, traditions) and for many, it determines at least in part the way they spend their mornings, nights or weekends. It even influences the words we swear (or curse) by.
Religious symbols and icons are prevalent in society, from cathedrals to dollar bills to the skylines of Earth’s most ancient cities. Sadly, in today’s culture, the subject of religion provides unending fodder for politicians, litigators, pundits and malcontents; yet these detractions aside, the belief in something greater than ourselves continues to offer spiritual succor for a majority of the world’s population.
Whether you as the author practice any faith, it’s impossible to escape the cultural foundations the world’s religions—from the pagan to the divine—have established through the centuries. Why would life be any different for other cultures, other worlds, other lands? Or for your magical vampire hunter detective?
Don’t overlook this valuable tool for making the world of your novel more real to the reader. The inclusion of some religious mention—whether mystical, magical or mythological—can bring greater depth to any story and create instant bonds of reality between the reader and your characters.
With that said, happy writing!
The Cover Reveal & Giveaway
Are you ready for the reveal of the new Cephrael’s Hand cover? Because here it is! What do you think? Does it do a good job conveying the fantasy genre? Is it a book you’d be attracted to in the store? Does it make you want to learn more?
Thank you for helping us celebrate! If you’d like to see the new covers for books 2 and 3 in the series stop by www.MelissaMcPhail.com, and check them out.
Guess what else? The author is offering a special giveaway as part of this grand event. Check out the Rafflecopter form below (it’s also available at www.novelpublicity.com/cephrael-cover-reveal/) to find out how you can win a Kindle Fire. Hooray!
Oh, and don’t miss learning more about Cephrael’s Hand and where you can pick up a copy—that’s below too.
“All things are composed of patterns…” And within the pattern of the realm of Alorin, three strands must cross:
In Alorin… three hundred years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor’s brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D’Lacourte’s mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he’ll have to find him.
In the kingdom of Dannym… the young Prince Ean val Lorian faces a tenuous future as the last living heir to the coveted Eagle Throne. When his blood-brother is slain during a failed assassination, Ean embarks on a desperate hunt for the man responsible. Yet his advisors have their own agendas, and his quest for vengeance leads him ever deeper into a sinuous plot masterminded by a mysterious and powerful man, the one they call First Lord.
In the Nadori desert…tormented by the missing pieces of his life, a soldier named Trell heads off to uncover the truth of his shadowed past. But when disaster places him in the debt of Wildlings sworn to the First Lord, Trell begins to suspect a deadlier, darker secret motivating them. Honor-bound to serve the First Lord in return for his life, Trell continues on his appointed path, yet each day unveils new and stranger secrets that eventually call into question everything he knows.
Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever awesome eBooks are sold!
Be sure to visit all the blogs featured on the tour page so that you have more opportunities to win. This giveaway is open worldwide, and I will be honest–I have won in Novel Publicity’s giveaways before! They are a great book tour company, and they have some of the best giveaways. So enter below!
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51 Comments
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Want to win this giveaway.
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Its very eyecatching.
Madonna recently posted…Pinterest Pin of the Day Tuesday 7-29-14
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It’s very eye-catching that’s why I want to have the copy of the book. =)
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Mysterious cover, it suits the book.
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The cover is good, it would catch my attention in a bookstore.
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The cover is fantasy-awesome 🙂 and I love this genre (actually, its the only genre I read… lol!
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The cover is great. I”m sure many ppl would be curious to read the book with cover like that
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Love the cover !
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Seriously, it looks amazing! Like a block-buster poster!!!
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Well,let’s say that this kind of cover would make me stop in a library and take my time to read the plot and the author’s pages c:
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It’ enchanting !!
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Great colours & obvious hints of darkness, shadows and light.
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it’s really amazing!
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eye catchungand intriguing
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I like ,it very beautiful
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omg looks super cool i showed this to my daughter (who hates reading)and she asked me to buy her the book
so catchy good job -
Nice cover!
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Its a interesting and mysterious cover.
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I like it but I will prefer a photo with more shades of purple. Red and blue are very common. I like his face but I will prefer to see his entire body.
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I loveee the book cover! It’s so eye-catching and dark! It’s perfect for a fantasy novel and would certainly make me want to at least pick it up!
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Great book cover1
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I think it’s so intriguing!! It really draws me in to want to read the book! Well done!
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very catchy cover to make it stand out from the rest
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Cover design nicely done.
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Amazing cover! So mysterious!
