Derek Leman

I’m not writing that kind of fiction. I’m writing fantasy set in a world like Mesopotamia. Now you’ve made me aware, I’m still not seeing how my stories could speak to the tragedy of your people. Of course, it is crucial for your people’s story to be made known. Also, mine are set in a Bronze Age.

Oh no! So sorry to hear that!

Nur, how awesome to meet you! My impoverished knowledge of Iraq and Mesopotamia comes through books. Never been there. Been to Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. Didn’t know there was a kind of ethnic identity known as “marsh Arabs.” I’d love to know more. I’m no expert on modern history in that region.

The best books sometimes have to be slowly sipped.

Sounds like the game designers knew some mythology!

Image of Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld holding scepter with double lion head and with his foot on a person in the underworld.

Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld. Old Babylonian cylinder seal. Double lion-head scepter. With his foot on a departed soul. Inscription is a dedication to the god by the king of Larsa.

On a steel horse you ride?

An image of the Omega symbol. Found in Mesopotamian images of goddesses.

The Omega sign often found with goddesses in #mesopotamian art. Related to the Omega Nebula, a sign of deity in the sky. It suggests the profound power of Creatrix goddesses. See Vanessa Lavallée, Ancient Goddess Magic.

Image of the goddess Ninhursag, a Sumerian Creatrix.

Ancient Goddess Magic #3. The Creatrix.

www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...

A high fantasy with no magic? Not criticizing, just curious.

Image of Nergal, Mesopotamian god of the underworld, instructing a demon in punishing a sinner.

Religion as theodicy. #mesopotamia Nergal, god of the underworld, instructs a lion-demon in punishing a sinner. A supernatural explanation of illness.

How’d you do it?

Just bought it yesterday. It’s not intuitive. I must say. Atticus had a glitch and lost some of my content so I am now trying Scrivener. What do you like about it versus Word?

Fer realz? Never heard of this one.

“We experience life as feelings. . . . It’s funny, then, that so much fiction is written to minimize feelings or leave them out altogether.” — Donald Maass

A short essay on Writing Emotion: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...

Image in black and white of a young woman crying.

“… great storytellers are able to make emotions as compelling as anything else on the page.”

- Donald Maass

Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...

Voting for the 2024 Indie Ink Awards is now open. If you enjoyed The World-Maker Parable you can cast your vote using the link below.

indiestorygeek.com/story/6594

Image of Ninsubur, minister / attendant of the gods. Mesopotamian.

The #mesopotamian gods had a minister / attendant. Ninsibur. A clay figurine of Ninsibur was often buried beneath the dais of the cult statue. He was associated with the constellation Orion.

Statue of the demon Pazuzu. Mesopotamian demon.

As spine-chilling as any demon in the AD&D manuals, Pazuzu was a god among demons. #mesopotamia #fantasy #myth

Visited mom today. 7 hours driving for a 5 hour visit. Fun and tiring.

Close-up detail from art by Felix Ortiz for the upcoming cover of Once Upon a Time in Haral. Shows a young witch in the foreground and a seer coming up in the background. The leg and talons of a griffin also show in the image.

Throughout the land of Haral, people say, “A witch has cursed us.” When their crops wilt or their wombs shrivel, they believe we have caused it. And they ask, “Where does their spellcraft come from?” The answer seems obvious to them: demons, the very spirits they pray for protection against.

Congratulations!

Maybe Circe using flowers and herbs to make magic. Not sure if that is Madeline Miller’s concept or if there is warrant for it in ancient sources.

Promises to be an amazing anthology of sci-fi!

Hey, your book Classical Mythology A to Z is arriving tomorrow. Excited to read it. I will DM you.

Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails.

Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails. In omenology, if entrails looked like the demon face, bad things were about to occur! Will do more posts on demons. Fascinating. #fantasy #myth #divination

Ordered in hardcover. Looks amazing. Are the Mesopotamian gods and goddesses included?

A hand-drawn map of the world my #fantasy stories occupy, a world called Haral.

I have hand-drawn this map two dozen times. I have an artist’s rendering as well. But I find the imperfect one to be charming. #fantasy #worldbuilding

Yeah, I looked at your profile and I thought, this is right up his alley!

You and me both, brother.