He had given her too much. He had given her everything.

There's always a bit of truth in each rumour, the trouble is finding out which bit. - Tayend

The first rule of world-building is available physics, which basically means that if you want it to feel real, it has to follow the same rules as this world, from gravity to how human behaviour works. If you have a fantasy element that doesnt obey the laws of physics, make sure that it has a fantasy explanation.

How am I going to make friends with these people if all I can think of is how easy it would be to rob them?

Though I can’t help feeling a sudden death cheats you of something. Death is an experience of life. You only get one death. I would like to be aware it was happening, even if that did mean enduring pain and fear.

I wound up studying art and design, got a job at Lonely Planet Publications as a designer, cartographer and illustrator.

Better to know the quick pain of truth than the ongoing pain of a long-held false hope.