Shaman’s Tales
The idea of the whelkies and South Coast shamans is one of the aspects of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper universe that has captured people’s imaginations.
Whelkies are based on the idea of the Native American Zuni fetishes. I liked the idea of having a similar kind of idea based on the wood and shell available on the beaches along the South Coast of St. Cloud.
In South Coast, the first book of Shaman’s Tales, we meet the boy who will grow up to be Sarah Krugg’s father. I needed to start back that far in order to layout the background of what the shaman practice is like and how it looks. I also wanted to explore the role of the Company on a company owned planet to give some more background on this important aspect of the Universe’s culture. In the Trader’s Tales, we spend a lot of time talking about Company planets, but in South Coast, we actually see one.
In Cape Grace, what I hope will be the second book of Shaman’s Tales, we’ll meet Sarah Krugg and see what happens when the Shaman’s Gift takes an unexpected direction. Watch for Cape Grace in mid-2008 on podiobooks.com.
Comments
Comment from SynapticJam
Time: December 23, 2007, 9:40 am
All I can say, is that I’m extremely impressed by your ability to “spin a yarn”. Your vocalizations are very well done too. Extremely entertaining. Thanks again for all the hours of listening, and from the sounds of it, there will be many more to come. Perhaps some fanfic in the “age”?
Comment from Manny
Time: January 4, 2008, 11:46 am
Great job Mr lowell these novels were some of the best I have ever listened to. I trully became engaged with all of the characters. You are a novelist and story teller. Keep up the good work much lusk to you with the next book.
Comment from Chris
Time: February 18, 2008, 1:59 am
Hi Nathan,
I have listened to all the books - they are so enjoyable! I have been Sci-Fi fan for 50+ years - you have captured the style from the golden years so well - so much more about people and relationships than hi-tech wizardry. I also love your narration - you have a very pleasant voice - which greatly enhances the story - because you are so welcoming and easy on the ear. I look forward to each new book as it becomes available.
Comment from Pete
Time: February 29, 2008, 4:54 pm
In the middle, and I like it.
Just one thing. In the first chapter are you replying too much on stereotypes to set the scence. Evil Jewish law firm? Italian mob muscle (denials by the muscle aside)?
I have a friend who stopped listening after the law firm was named. He didn’t want to hear you dig that hole deeper.
I’m still listening, but I’m uneasy about what new stereotypes with appear.
Not good to insult members of the audience.
Comment from Nate
Time: February 29, 2008, 5:29 pm
Interesting and thanks for bringing that to my attention.
I hadn’t made the connection with “evil Jewish law firm” … Shylock is a Shakespearean reference to a money lender, not a lawyer altho — yes — Jewish. I wasn’t aware that “shyster” had an etymology that related it to “Jewish lawyer.” The definitions I’m aware of relate it “pettifogger” and “unscrupulous politician” without reference to any religious affiliation. I picked that particular collection of terms because it was the most likely set I could think of that would be a derogatory diminutive of the firm’s actual name - “Simon, Stevens, and Sylvester.” If your friend stopped listening before chapter 14, s/he probably never heard that name at all.
And as far as the mob - with all the attention given to the Soprano’s I felt like I needed to address the issue by making sure listeners understood that they weren’t Da Mob. Yes, I *could* have picked some other name so it wasn’t two Italian guys talking in the office and then the whole idea of “we’re not the mob” wouldn’t have even come up but I’m not sure that ’s really any better.
You’re right. It’s not good to insult members of the audience, but it’s also inevitable that — one way or another — you will. Thanks for pointing these instances out to me, tho. I really wasn’t aware that “shyster” carried a religious overtone. Had I known, I might have picked a different set of names. Maybe Dewey, Cheatam, and Howe.
Pingback from Time Well Wasted » Blog Archive » South Coast
Time: May 2, 2008, 7:03 am
[...] to Nathan Lowell the Welkies and South Coast Shaman captured the imagination of his listeners. Don’t know what [...]
Comment from Joan
Time: June 8, 2008, 8:21 am
Hi Nathan! Just wanted to send general good wishes and thoughts of encouragement while you are busy creating “Double Share” and “Cape Grace”. You have spoiled us badly, Nathan, with your speedy output and excellent writing! I am so looking forward to your next book. It is a great credit to you, that while we wait, we relisten to the earlier novels and keep on enjoying them! I’ll keep checking in and wishing good things for you, especially that you the book deal you deserve. BTW - I had my mother (aged 78) listen to “South Coast” and she enjoyed it as much as we did. You really do have a wide appeal (12 to 78 in our family!). Take care, Joan
Comment from Nate
Time: June 8, 2008, 9:05 am
Thanks, Joan.
I know that these books aren’t for everybody, but I’m glad to know that so far, I’m writing stuff that people enjoy hearing.
I’m really anxious to get the Share series finished by the end of the summer so that I can have November’s National Novel Writing Month to do Cape Grace. It’s not as much as I ‘d hoped for this year, but if I manage to do it, it’ll be 8 novels in two years.
It’s do-able, but .. I need to get back to it 
Thanks again for the comment.
Comment from osmia
Time: December 17, 2007, 9:12 pm
Cape Grace, yet another, to look forward too. Yay!