ARMA

For anyone interested in fencing, I highly recommend visiting the ARMA's, the association for renaissance martial arts, site.

Rapier

The rapier is Amir’s weapon of choice. It is a slender, single-handed sword used mainly for thrusting attacks in duels.

To see how those swords were used, check out the two fencing examples below.

Rapier Fencing From ARMA

Stage Combat Rapier and Dagger

Girls can kick ass too!

New reviews of The Princes of the Golden Cage

Kimber An has posted a really nice (and wonderfully humorous) review of The Princes of the Golden Cage at Enduring romance. Here’s a snippet: “The difference between ‘Like’ and ‘Love’ for me when reading a novel is usually the speed at which I read it. If I ‘like’ a novel, I read the first half at regular speed and then speed-read the last half. If I ‘love’ a novel, I’m gripped by it from the first page to the last. PRINCES OF THE GOLDEN CAGE by Nathalie Mallet had me by the jugular to the very end.” Please do read it.

L.E. Modesitt Jr. recomends The Princes of the Golden Cage

I can’t believe I missed this! In the piece entitled “Fantasy Book Critic’s 2007 review/2008 preview: a writer’s perspective”, Robert Thompson reports that L.E. Modesitt Jr. recommends my book (loud squeal of excitement). Here’s the section in question.

L.E. Modesitt Jr.WHO: Highly prolific science fiction and fantasy author of several series including The Saga of Recluse and the Corean Chronicles.
2007 FAVORITES:1) “The Princes of the Golden Cage” by Nathalie Mallet. “Of the more than thirty books I've read in the field this year, only one that I'd recommend was actually published in 2007 and that was the debut novel by Nathalie Mallet.”
ON THE HORIZON: Mr. Modesitt Jr. has three books scheduled for 2008 hardcover release including “Viewpoints Critical: Selected Stories” (March 18, 2008), “Mage-Guard of Hamor” (July 2008-a Recluse novel), and “The Lord-Protector’s Daughter” (December 2008-a Corean Chronicles short novel). Will also be appearing at the Virginia Festival of the Book (March-Charlottesville), CONduit (Salt Lake City-Memorial Day Weekend), WorldCON (Denver), and the World Fantasy Convention (November-Calgary).
2008 BOOKS:1) “Mad Kestrel” by Misty Massey (March 4, 2008)

Meet Honey

Honey is a Lhasapoo, a cross between a Lhasa Apso and a Poodle. She is the only company I can tolerate when I write, because she is as laid-back as can be—Honey enjoys sleeping on the lounging chair of my office while I work. This sweet little dog joined our family rather by default. Years ago, my husband and I went to the SPCA with the intention of adopting a cat. They didn’t have any kitten that day, so we retuned home with Honey—who was a ten-month-old pup at the time—and we never regretted it. Now Honey is almost seventeen years old. She is somewhat blind, half-deaf and completely rotten. Yeah, we do spoil the old girl quite a bit.

This is Duffy, Honey’s little friend and neighbor. He likes to dig!