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Time grows short to enter the Cosplay Contest, with entries due this coming Monday, August 1. Competition is fierce already, and I have heard rumblings of more awesomeness to come.

But no one has done more than the fantastic Birte in Germany, who in her first entry dressed as Leesha, Rojer, and Renna. Now, for her second entry, she has done an AMAZING young Arlen:

Hello Peat,

I decided to enter a second time. It’s just too much fun to miss out. This time I really WILL keep it short!

These are picures of me dressed up as young Arlen in Miln, at the age between 13 and 15. The pictures show him during his fight training in Ragen’s yard. He trains with a sword (the one in the picture is a japanese training sword), a staff and the fight without weapons. Unfortunately I don’t own a spear.

The pictures with the dog show Arlen in a short break in the training. I took these because it shows him in a rather peaceful state compared to his concentrated and (on the outside) darker self.

I used my knowledge of martial arts to make these photos as real as possible. They show pieces of ninjitsu, kung fu and tae kwon do along with my own ideas of what might look good on a photo.

I hope you like them!

regards

Birte

PS: Peat, I had a new idea about the ward music I’m writing. I won’t tell you now exactly what that idea is, but I promise, when I have them finished, it’s gonna be really great!!!

(Click pictures to enlarge and scroll)

Posted on July 27, 2011 at 12:38 am by PeatB
Filed under Contests, Cosplay, Craft, Fan Art, Fans, Germany, Warded Man
3 Comments »

Megan, who entered the Cosplay Contest a week or so ago with a simply gorgeous Leesha entry, has graced us with some more images from that shoot, via her deviant art page, which is well worth checking out. And yes, I think the hairstyle works.

Here is a another Leesha Paper cosplay, from Peter V. Brett’s books, “The Warded Man” and “The Desert Spear”

I have received a few emails from people wanting to see more photos of the cloak/cape worn in previous photos.

In response to those emails, I will post up some amateur (very, very amateur) photos of me, in my parent’s backyard, showing off the cloak.

I took all the photos by myself which can be the explanation for the slightly…so-so quality.

Also, NEW LEESHA HAIRSTYLE IDEA! I had done my hair earlier this morning and as I was putting on the cloak to take the photos, I realized, this hairstyle could be quite fitting of Leesha. Y/N?

Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm by PeatB
Filed under Contests, Cosplay, Craft, Fan Art, Fans, Warded Art
2 Comments »

Did I blog about how I met French Jess in Paris during my visit in May? She met us at the hotel and spent the whole day with me, Dani and Cassie. We rode the Bateaux Mouches along the Seine, and visited the Musee D’Orsay. It was a fun day, and she even gave Cassie a fantastic hand-made warded bunny (Le Roi des Lapins):

She and her friend Marilia, the co-creators of my French Web Forum, also attended the party/signing Bragelonne threw for me and the awesome Trudi Canavan:

Well, with still almost a week left to entry the Cosplay Contest, one entry wasn’t enough for French Jess. Oh, non. She followed up her amazing Inevera entry with all the awesome I have come to expect from her.

Hi Peat

As promised, here is my Renna Cosplay for the contest. I’ve wanted to do a Renna Cosplay for a long time, and here it is.

I’m sorry to send so many photos, but it took me so much time to make, that I wanted to have a lot of memories from it, and I like these pictures.

I chose to make Renna waiting for twilight,  fully warded.

I made the necklace myself. I warded every beads two time in case they turn so I let you imagine the amount of time it took me. I could’nt afford a knife with a bone part, so I bought a simple knife and modeling porcelain, and I made the handle with it. I warded it with incising wards. I took an old top and cut it to make a proper outfit, and I added eyelets and leather rope. The skirt is a leather barbarian skirt I already had. I cut a wig but it was more difficult than I thougt and didn’t look like I wanted it to but I kind of like it like that.

But what took us a lot of time was to ward myself. I say us because I warded a lot myself in a mirror but I had to ask Jonathan to ward my back, my neck and my right arm! I can tell you we are expert warders now!

I had fear I wouldn’t finish in time so I’m happy I could. I hope you like this cosplay and these pictures, like always it was much fun to enter this contest.

French Jess

Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:26 am by PeatB
Filed under Contests, Cosplay, Craft, Fan Art, Fans, France, World Traveler
2 Comments »

SF Signal did an amazing podcast this week about going to SF conventions, with a pretty varied group of panelists talking about their congoing experiences, both as fans and as professionals. They also give a pretty good list of the major conventions along with the pros and ah, cons of the different conventions. It’s interesting how just as the panelists all go to cons for different reasons, they have different things they don’t like as well. One person’s favorite con can be firmly on another’s nix list. If you’re interested at all in ever going to a convention, I highly recommend you give it a listen.

I just got back from a weekend at Readercon, which I thought was a nice, low-key event, but maybe a little dry for my taste. What I’m really looking forward to are a couple of the upcoming conventions.

Worldcon

Aug-17-21, 2011

Reno, Nevada

As Gail Carriger mentioned in the podcast, Worldcon is one of the better mixed conventions, with a focus on both fans and professionals. I went last year in Melbourne, and it was a chance to not only meet hordes of my Australian readers, but also to geek out a bit myself, getting to have dinner with George RR Martin, go to the Taronga Zoo with Mur Lafferty, and hit casino bars with Gail Carriger and China Meiville.

Worldcon really has a good blend of young readers, people in colorful fun costumes, and serious creators looking to discuss their craft. It’s a blast to go to the dealers’ room, see panels and event’s, or just stalk your favorite author.

I will be at Worldcon again this year, in Reno, Nevada next month. If you’re interested in meeting me, that’s a great place to do it. Due to my recent shoulder surgery, I wasn’t able to commit to the con until late, so I missed the window to sign up for formal programming, but I will do a signing, and you’ll definitely find me at the bar, hanging out with Brent Weeks, Sam Sykes, Gail, and the rest of the young malcontents in this industry.

If people attending are interested, we could also schedule an informal time to just meet at the bar en masse. Any takers?

DragonCon

I was thinking about going to this one. It’s another big con for both fans and pros, with lots of costumes and fun and a really vibrant, growing crowd. My buddy Myke Cole is going, I’ve always wanted to see Atlanta, and I hear the city even gives the con a parade. Alas, being September 2-5, it is right after Worldcon, and I think it will be too much to do both. It will probably have to wait until next year.

World Fantasy

October 27-30, 2011

San Diego, California

This is a much more pro-based convention, with the membership limited and mostly exclusive to SF professionals. I believe you CAN, however, get in to the mass signing whether you are a member or not. If you’re in the San Diego area and want a chance to take an autograph book into a room with like every SF author ever, check the website and look into that. I may also do a signing in town on the 26th at San Diego SF milestone the Mysterious Galaxy book shop. Someone remind me to set that up.

So if you’re looking to meet me, hang out a bit, get your books signed, etc, these are great opportunities to do so. Anyone showing up in Demon Cycle Cosplay get’s a special prize!

Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:01 am by PeatB
Filed under Appearances, Musings, World Traveler
5 Comments »

Entries are starting to flow in a bit faster in the Cosplay Contest, with lovely newcomer Megan entering with a really strong Leesha. There is a Disney Princess vibe here that I really love. Leesha has always had a little Belle in her, but touched with real sadness. Such a great picture.

Contest ends August 1. Two weeks left to enter!

Hello Peat!

As an immense lover of “The Warded Man” and “The Desert Spear”, I have decided to get into the spirit of things and join in on this cosplay contest!

Leesha is my character choice and the scene in this photo is one of Leesha looking for flowers and herbs in the forest near her cottage in the second book. (Maybe she is contemplating the idea of going to visit Jardir’s camp?) The cloak was hand-sewn by me and I am quite proud of it!

I really hope you love the cosplay as much as I loved putting it all together.

Thank you!

-Megan

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:00 am by PeatB
Filed under Contests, Cosplay, Craft, Desert Spear, Fan Art, Fans, Warded Art, Warded Man
2 Comments »