Lita Burke

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Harpy

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle. harpy [ˈhärpē ] noun, c.1400; < L harpȳiae (plural) < Gr hárpȳiai (plural); literally, “snatchers” probably associated with harpazein, personification of hurricanes and whirlwinds. Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard world. A lovely, woman-shaped…

Review: The Experiment

The Experiment by Cristian A. Solari is a début science fiction story about a galactic alien observer named Geb Saar who champions a fledgling race growing in a cosmos-sized petri dish. Geb, a member of the super-intelligent Universe Confederation, agrees to transform his alien appearance so he may enter the restricted area of space called…

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Mermaid

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle. mermaid [ˈmər-ˌmād] noun, c.1300-1450; OE merewif (see wife) < ME mermayde from mere “sea, lake” + maid; c.1600 merman; also siren, merman (male equivalent), and merfolk (both sexes). Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard…

Care of a Fey-Folk Fairy (Part 2)

Here is more about Tinker Bell’s naughtier cousins—the fairies flitting about in the woodlands near Lita’s castle. This post is the second of two (go here to see the previous one) with tips on how to care for fey-folk. Last time, Gentle Reader learned the practical aspects of fairy care. Today’s topics focus on their magical matters.…

Care of a Fey-Folk Fairy (Part 1)

Meet Tinker Bell’s naughtier cousins—the fairies flitting about in the woodlands near Lita’s castle. Today, Lita talks about the worldly fairies that go with Kadmeion on his wizard-for-hire adventures. These wee magicians fly in, lavish their wizard with effervescent pixie dust, and give him spicy relationship advice. Despite the frivolity, these pretty spell casters harbor…

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Dragon

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle. dragon [drag-uh n] noun, 1175–1225; ME < Old Fr < L dracōn < Gr dracon; also fire lizard. Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard world. A four-legged winged magician, covered with scales and sporting…

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Demon

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle. demon [dee-muh n] noun, 1350–1400; ME < L daemonium < Gr daimónion; also minor demon and daemon. Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard world. An imp-sized spirit that lives in the nether plains until…

Through the Eyes of Spell Casters

Lita talks about time today, by way of the Enchanters of Sye world. Sye is a diverse and multi-faceted magical world. It entwines storylines about magicians, Enchanters, and Magic Guild workers. The reader plunges into a deep magical well and loses track of time. What of time flow in a story? How should an author keep pesky…

Halfway: Glitter Ponies

Welcome to Lita’s castle here in the Northern Realms. Step into her magical laboratory and see what’s on the slab. Lita has reached the midpoint of the draft for the next story, Glitter Ponies. In this Clockpunk Wizard tale, Lady Luck’s young daughter helps Wizard Kadmeion discover the cause of a mysterious unicorn illness. Despite that…

Sciomancers

Gentle Reader travels to the Enchanters of Sye world today. We stop by the Old Burial Yard in the northeast side of Isor Town and visit one of the Church’s offices–the magical custodians of Sye’s ghosts. The Church’s specialty magicians for crypt and ghost spells are Sciomancers. They call ghosts at will, bind the spirits to prepared…