Now available in print! Space Eldritch: The Haunted Stars
Please, think of the hungry shoggoth (my kids) and buy a copy.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Now in PULP = (print) SPACE ELDRITCH: The Haunted Stars
Now available in print! Space Eldritch: The Haunted Stars
Please, think of the hungry shoggoth (my kids) and buy a copy.
Monday, October 28, 2013
SPACE ELDRITCH II: The Haunted Stars
Just in time for Halloween reading!The cold of interstellar space is again closer than you think as eleven authors -- including New York Times bestseller Larry Correia, Nebula winner Eric James Stone, Amazon #1 bestseller Michaelbrent Collings, and multiple Hugo nominee Howard Tayler -- explore what happens when space opera meets Lovecraftian cosmic horror.
Contents:
A Darklight Call’d on the Long Last Night of the Soul – Michaelbrent Collings
Dead Waits Dreaming – Larry Correia
The Implant – Robert J Defendi
Plague Ship – Steven L. Peck
From Within the Walls – Steven Diamond
Space Opera: Episode Two—The Great Old One Strikes Back – Michael R. Collings
The Queen in Shadow – David J. West
The Humans in the Walls – Eric James Stone
Seed -- D.J. Butler
Full Dark – Nathan Shumate
Fall of the Runewrought – Howard Tayler
I've been pretty pleased with all the feedback I received for my first Space Eldritch tale, Gods in Darkness, online reviews generally said it was the best or the worst in the collection, which I just take to mean I am doing something right. I was tempted to do a sequel of sorts but ultimately opted not to, instead I decided to twist up a few expectations = instead of the protagonist going insane upon discovery of the Eldritch horror, I thought what if the Elder Thing was insane???
Hope you all enjoy and purchase SPACE ELDRITCH II here on Amazon or here on Smashwords.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Why Crows Steal Shiny Things
My latest story , Why Crows Steal Shiny Things, a tale of exactly 100 words was just published in 100 Worlds by Dreamscape Press-a collection of 100: it's all 100 word Drabble tales of sci fi and fantasy.
Check it out Here
Check it out Here
Monday, September 30, 2013
Artifacts and Relics: Extreme Sorcery
Artifacts and Relics: Extreme Sorcery
is now available here. This promises to be quite the sword and sorcery collection. I'm honored to be included in these ranks.
Inside the table of contents...
Fred C. Adams
Colleen Anderson
James Beaman
Joe Bonadonna
Steve Goble
Jonah Lissner
David C. Smith
Bill Ward
David J. West
John M. Whalen
as well as a tale by Clark Ashton Smith!
is now available here. This promises to be quite the sword and sorcery collection. I'm honored to be included in these ranks.
Inside the table of contents...
Fred C. Adams
Colleen Anderson
James Beaman
Joe Bonadonna
Steve Goble
Jonah Lissner
David C. Smith
Bill Ward
David J. West
John M. Whalen
as well as a tale by Clark Ashton Smith!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Solomon Kane
Solomon Kane, directed by Michael Basset and starring James Purefoy was released everywhere else back in 2009. I've wanted to see it for years and yet avoided watching it on youtube or other possible sites. I guess I just wanted to see it theatrically first - of course it never came to Montana, so I had to wait for DVD, and even that took me longer than it should have but... I've been a fan of Robert E. Howard's grim puritan avenger for years, I'm sure I like him more than Kull, and I was not disappointed. Great action, atmosphere and all.
As much as I despise pointless origin stories, this one doesn't bug me. Its quick, its easy and its entertaining. There was no wasted effort and pointless pandering on how and why I should understand Kane's motivations. And I have to add that I'm pretty happy with the casting. Purefoy is magnificent in everything from Mark Anthony in ROME to Marshall in Ironclad, so his Kane is perfect. And most of the supporting cast are well played too.
While this movie is outside the REH cannon, I felt like it was reasonably true to the character - certainly more so than the recent Conan movies - and the S&S elements are well done. Listening to Bassett and Purefoy's commentary on the DVD I do hope that sequels happen, I'd love to see a merging of "The Moon of Skulls" and "Hills of the Dead".
Having a rather dim view of film for the last couple years, I enjoyed this one despite its non-cannon material. Here's hoping for more.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Book Review: Prince of Thorns
Prince of Thorns, by Mark Lawrence
I think I first read about this over at Keith West's Adventures Fantastic blog, and it sat in the back of my mind for awhile and I noticed several copies at my local used book store a month ago, but I decided to buy a brand new paperback copy a week ago rather than a trade paperback to get into in my Locke Lamora/Red Seas Under Red Skies withdrawals. Its just handier to read on the plane ride and I don't have to power down the kindle that I got from my girlfriend for my birthday - Thanks Babe.
SO . . .
Prince Jorg, the Prince of Thorns is different, he is nastier and a definite anti-hero but we come to understand why he is the way he is and even side with him in his vengeful cause.
The book is gritty like Abercrombie and GRRM, but I never did feel like Lawrence was too gratuitous or took things too far - we get the idea and that's plenty.
The world building was enchanting and as we learn more we hunger to learn more about the history of the realm, you are in for some good surprises.
I really hate to give away too much, I suspect if you were already thinking maybe on this one, because of its similarities to those other fantasies, you will enjoy this very much. I'll be getting a copy of King of Thorns soon enough.
I think I first read about this over at Keith West's Adventures Fantastic blog, and it sat in the back of my mind for awhile and I noticed several copies at my local used book store a month ago, but I decided to buy a brand new paperback copy a week ago rather than a trade paperback to get into in my Locke Lamora/Red Seas Under Red Skies withdrawals. Its just handier to read on the plane ride and I don't have to power down the kindle that I got from my girlfriend for my birthday - Thanks Babe.
SO . . .
Prince Jorg, the Prince of Thorns is different, he is nastier and a definite anti-hero but we come to understand why he is the way he is and even side with him in his vengeful cause.
The book is gritty like Abercrombie and GRRM, but I never did feel like Lawrence was too gratuitous or took things too far - we get the idea and that's plenty.
The world building was enchanting and as we learn more we hunger to learn more about the history of the realm, you are in for some good surprises.
I really hate to give away too much, I suspect if you were already thinking maybe on this one, because of its similarities to those other fantasies, you will enjoy this very much. I'll be getting a copy of King of Thorns soon enough.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Thunder Rolls...
I didn't have a table of contents until a day or so ago and now that the ebook for both volumes of Thunder on the Battlefield are available here it is.
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sorcery
Featuring
Jeffe Kennedy: “NEGOTIATION”
Alex Hughes: “THE FOURTH RULE”
Selah Janel: “THE RUINS OF ST. LOUIS”
Steve Grassie: “MARK OF THE WARRIOR”
James R. Tuck: “ANGELS OF SCRAWL”
M.B Weston: “THE CHERUBIAN, THE LINDWORM, AND THE PORTAL”
Brady Allen: “GRINDING THE GEARS”
S.H. Roddey “BLACK ICE”
Steven S. Long: “THE TWO FIRES”
D.A. Adams: “ACROSS THE WILDS”
Mark Taverna “DARK GENESIS”
Steven L. Shrewsbury “WHORE OF JERICHO”
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sorcery
Featuring
Jeffe Kennedy: “NEGOTIATION”
Alex Hughes: “THE FOURTH RULE”
Selah Janel: “THE RUINS OF ST. LOUIS”
Steve Grassie: “MARK OF THE WARRIOR”
James R. Tuck: “ANGELS OF SCRAWL”
M.B Weston: “THE CHERUBIAN, THE LINDWORM, AND THE PORTAL”
Brady Allen: “GRINDING THE GEARS”
S.H. Roddey “BLACK ICE”
Steven S. Long: “THE TWO FIRES”
D.A. Adams: “ACROSS THE WILDS”
Mark Taverna “DARK GENESIS”
Steven L. Shrewsbury “WHORE OF JERICHO”
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpuf
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword
Featuring
G. Jerome Henson: “THE HORDE”
Jay Requard: “PAPER DEMONS”
D.T. Neal: “THE WOLF & THE CROW”
John F. Allen: “FOREST OF SHADOWS”
Marcella Burnard “EMISSARY”
David J. West: “THE DOGS OF WAR”
Alexis A. Hunter: “THE RED HAND”
James R. Tuck “WHERE THE RED BLOSSOMS WEEP”
Loriane Parker: “THIEF OF SOULS”
W. E. Wertenberger: “THE GNAWED BONE”
Stephen Zimmer “ALL THE LANDS, NOWHERE A HOME”
J.S. Veter “THE WITCH OF RYMAL PASS”
- See more at: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/08/full-list-of-authors-for-both-thunder.html#sthash.72Z2d87q.dpufTuesday, August 6, 2013
Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword & Sorcery
“HARK!
to the sounds of battle. Mighty men and women who take their destinies
with the strength of their arm and the sharpness of their blades. These
are tales of warriors, reavers, barbarians, and kings. Lands of wonder
populated with monsters, black-hearted sorcerors of Stygian power, and
heroes who have blood on their hands and on their steel.
This is SWORD AND SORCERY.”
Available this Thursday in eBook formats, and mid August in print,
SSP is proud to offer a 2 volume anthology edited by James R. Tuck,
author of the Deacon Chalk Novels.
Introducing Thunder on the Battlefield: Sword, and Thunder on the
Battlefield: Sorcery, featuring two dozen brand new, hard-hitting sword
and sorcery tales! My tale The Dogs of War features Tyr, a viking mercenary and the Templat poet - Wolfram Von Eschenbach - more of them will be available soon in a sequel of sorts Whispers of the Goddess.
Here are the two covers from artist Enggar Adirasa! Stay tuned for more information on this exciting release week! I was hoping for a table of contents list but I don't have one just yet. I'm excited to see who else is in the books.
Here are the two covers from artist Enggar Adirasa! Stay tuned for more information on this exciting release week! I was hoping for a table of contents list but I don't have one just yet. I'm excited to see who else is in the books.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Book Review: Red Seas Under Red Skies
Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch
Any regular reader of mine knows I've been off my game this year and I decided I better throw something into the July spot before its gone and why not the best fiction I've read this year???
Indeed Lynch delivers an excellent sequel, I may have actually enjoyed Red Seas more than Lies of Locke Lamora, which was awesome. I read the book in about 5 sittings - almost all in the air jet setting to see my Lady in LA. A good book does make the flight go quick, so WIN, WIN, WIN.
We pick up right in the middle of tense action with Locke and his partner in crime Jean, in the coastal city of Tal Verrar and sevreal intrigues are in motion. They are planning a heist and as we meet interesting characters and witness some great world building, do our pair of heroes get the grief shoveled on them. Lynch is a master at keeping you turning pages and I think he outdoes himself with this sophomore effort.
I just don't have it in me to give more detail at the moment, other than to give this my heartiest recommendation for anyone who enjoys fascinating characters and gritty fantasy (not quite Abercrombie/GRRM gritty but still) all with great suspense and action and being a trilogy I don't think its too long for those who are reluctant to bite off on those massive fantasy series. I am gonna have to grab the third Republic of Thieves very soon.
Any regular reader of mine knows I've been off my game this year and I decided I better throw something into the July spot before its gone and why not the best fiction I've read this year???
Indeed Lynch delivers an excellent sequel, I may have actually enjoyed Red Seas more than Lies of Locke Lamora, which was awesome. I read the book in about 5 sittings - almost all in the air jet setting to see my Lady in LA. A good book does make the flight go quick, so WIN, WIN, WIN.
We pick up right in the middle of tense action with Locke and his partner in crime Jean, in the coastal city of Tal Verrar and sevreal intrigues are in motion. They are planning a heist and as we meet interesting characters and witness some great world building, do our pair of heroes get the grief shoveled on them. Lynch is a master at keeping you turning pages and I think he outdoes himself with this sophomore effort.
I just don't have it in me to give more detail at the moment, other than to give this my heartiest recommendation for anyone who enjoys fascinating characters and gritty fantasy (not quite Abercrombie/GRRM gritty but still) all with great suspense and action and being a trilogy I don't think its too long for those who are reluctant to bite off on those massive fantasy series. I am gonna have to grab the third Republic of Thieves very soon.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Another 100 Horrors!!!
Another 100 Horrors is released today. This is a collection of flash fiction all weighing in at the staggering 100 word mark. My piece is "The Problem of Magick" a master and apprentice learning experience.The TOC is as follows...
Black Talbot by Paul Chown
Abductia by Andrés Abel
In the End was the Word by Gary B. Phillips
Messages from Ourselves by James Bojaciuk
Old Friend by Niccolo Skill
Creative by Ryan Tandy
Night Terror by Teresa Hawk
Kill Your Gods by Allen Ashley
Together Forever by M. Thomas Smith
Sweet Dreams by Aaron Z. Hawkins
Curiosity Piqued by Allan Kalupar
All-Star by Dan Larnerd
National Rip-off by Alex Grover
Tap Door Run by Mark Smith
Seeker in the Dark by Brandon Barrows
Meat Race by Nicky Peacock
His Heart by Vivian Caethe
Th Hunt by Essel Pratt
The Backseat Check by Michael E. Grant
The Fort by C.J. Meirick
Walking to the Store by Keith Deininger
The Lost Limb by Jay Esou
Plumber by Chris Blinn
White Collar Necropolis by Christopher Cornell
No Light in the Attic by the Word Rummager
Drink by Dawn Nikithser
Riders on the Storm by Dorothy Davies
Dark Glass by Gary Budgen
Winter of Abomination by Mark Lewis
Black Mantle by Justin Powell
The Temple by McKynzie Bair
The Last Tattoo by Ross Baxter
Endlessly Falling by David Turnbull
Cuts by Irvine Harker
Intervention by Robert Laseur
Dear Devil by Teddy Vork
Hide-and-Seek by Erin Cole
The Asylum of the Dead by Jaimie M. Engle
The Boarder by Kathy Ferrell
Clockwork Offal by Stephen Kozeniewski
What Lies Beneath by Jerry Scarbrough
After The Slaughter by Julie R Kendrick
Water Is My Home by Tiffany A. Robbins
Man-na by Sharla Anderson
Night Walk by John Kujawski
Birth by L.R. Bonehill
Shackles by Dan Howarth
Kage by Chad Case
On Reflection by C. C. Adams
Endless Loop by Christopher Shultz
Sister Knows Best by Kevin G. Bufton
Tears of Blood by Val Gryphin
Habit by Dirky Henkel
A Change Too Far by Adam Millard
100 Worries by Shaun Avery
Mr Whippy by David Marr
Miss Ham and Eggar by Lance Manion
Dog Days by Rose Blackthorn
Mouse in the House - Cara S. Cobb
The Hunter by K. Trap Jones
FLURG by Ken Goldman
Dead Man's Chest by Scott L. Vannatter
Meeting the Family by Jennifer Mccullah
The Problem with Magick by David J. West
Tiny Gifts by Matt Kurtz
The Standing Appointment by R.Y. Brockway
Greed by Paul S. Huggins
Schrödinger's Mistress by Phil Ambler
While You Sleep by Bruce L. Priddy
Closer by Chris Yodice
Asylum by Oonah V Joslin
Dress Up by Aurelio Rico Lopez III
One Last Dance by Paco
Knock Out by Kristal Stittle
The Witch's Dilemma by David Edward Nell
The Bridge by Angela Pritchett
In Deep by Sheri White
Giggles by Gabino Iglesias
The Little Fat Man's Curiosity by Stuart Conover
Self by Jay Wilburn
Breaking Free by Donald Jacob Uitvlugt
Arachne by Matt Moody
Rye by Joshua Rupp
Jerky by Allen Jacoby
Feast by Mark Slade
Shipwreck by Cameron Suey
Effort Number Eighty-Seven by Nathan Robinson
Howl by Angel Zapata
Sacred Vows by Jon McAchren
Corpse Mother by J. Rodimus Fowler
The Hose by Tim Tobin
Bruise by TJ Oneal Antley
Victim #93 by Rocky Alexander
Snap by Kerry G.S. Lipp
Strange Noises by Lisamarie Lamb
Severance Package by Cameron Johnston
Procession by A.R. Aston
Mummy by Jonathan Ward
Stuck by David Williamson
One Hundred Pairs of Eyes by Jillian Robinson
A few more links - Amazon (US) - www.amazon.com/dp/1489514279
Amazon (UK) - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1489514279
Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day
I don't post nearly enough these days, and I am way behind on everything I said I was gonna do - that's life..but I did want to post a Memorial Day tribute, and give thanks to those that have given their all...
Some of the most inspirational people I have known are veterans and most all my heroes are veterans of one sort or another. Thank you
Thursday, May 9, 2013
I got my EYE on you
I'm gonna be at the LDStorymakers Writers Conference in Provo, Utah this weekend. Life being what it is, I don't have any of the new projects quite ready for sale there ~ I had hoped to have BLESS THE CHILD and WHISPERS OF THE GODDESS available but distractions have come up...beautiful distractions.
Anyway, gorgeous distractions that want their privacy aside for a moment, I'm still going to try and have these writing projects out soon enough - definitely before my birthday late next month when I turn 40. Just a few more accomplishments I want done before that.
I've already done more traveling this year (and it ain't nearly over yet) than I have for years. Had to share this sculpture of Polyphemus I took at the Getty Villa and recreation of the Temple of Hercules just outside of LA last weekend.
Right after I took the shot, security told me photography wasn't allowed in that wing, oh well, I already had the shot.
Here's a few more just because...
Anyway, gorgeous distractions that want their privacy aside for a moment, I'm still going to try and have these writing projects out soon enough - definitely before my birthday late next month when I turn 40. Just a few more accomplishments I want done before that.
I've already done more traveling this year (and it ain't nearly over yet) than I have for years. Had to share this sculpture of Polyphemus I took at the Getty Villa and recreation of the Temple of Hercules just outside of LA last weekend.
Right after I took the shot, security told me photography wasn't allowed in that wing, oh well, I already had the shot.
Here's a few more just because...
Monday, April 22, 2013
In the Works...
Life has made my blogging this year incredibly erratic (did I completely miss February?)
But projects are coming along, The Mad Song in Artifacts & Relics shouldn't be too far off, and The Dogs of War in Thunder on the Battlefield will be shortly behind that I think, Rolling in the Deep in A Flame in the Dark: Monsters should be out anytime as will Make A Monkey Outta Me in Heavy Metal Horror and The Problem with Magick in Another 100 Horrors. Wish I knew something more on the Rogue Blades Entertainment Challenge antho = The Serpents Root and the rumored Sword & Sorcery League collection which supposedly has accepted Sailing to Valhalla, but alas I know nothing on either project.
I still need to format Whispers of the Goddess, so that delay is all on me and I did finally receive the edits on Bless the Child, so I will absolutely have a sword & sandals novel out this year - I'm hoping in the next few weeks but can't promise anything since I honestly don't know what I'm doing with formatting yet.
Bring the Fire (tentative title) for The Barbarian Coast is coming along nicely = almost done. And I have dreamt up my story for Space Eldritch 2 I just have to write it now.
Two more projects demand near immediate attention, one is a Sci-Fi sure thing, the other is a limited invitational Fantasy submission, best 10 out of 25 (good odds), and both MIGHT get published through Baen, so that's cool.
I'm also sitting on a half dozen finished spec tales that I need to just get off my butt and submit somewhere - and then there are the fifty plus starts to tales I need to finish...and then there are the books I need to finish, I wish I was half as prolific as I sound.
Part of the writing problem has been the busy family life and drama but it seems the Muse has returned ~
One thousand ships launched astern
For you, the flames they burn
Scarlet lips and hands to hold
Passion unfurled and courage bold
Swords are raised as bridges crossed
One thousand moments count and lost
Two for the neck, one for the heart
Hopes blaze that we may never part
All for you my queen, so regal
I shall be cloaked dark with eagle
Stricken in the heart and the heel
I write to forge what I feel
To be with you again I hope and pray
And win but a kiss today
No tears, no pain, no sorrow
All so I may win the war tomorrow
With sacred horse and a tour deforce
The gates will fall and I’ll tear down your wall
Chariots race and dooms embrace
Will open the path to proceed
And truly fulfill that primal need
To be as one and never ever come undone
Also, it seems I am getting 5 times the hits to this blog from Iran than I am from the usual suspects = The US of A, Canada, Germany and the UK - What the Hell? Can I be so interesting to the Persians? Or is it just the Spartan thing??? I've barely been posting this year - what's so interesting???
But projects are coming along, The Mad Song in Artifacts & Relics shouldn't be too far off, and The Dogs of War in Thunder on the Battlefield will be shortly behind that I think, Rolling in the Deep in A Flame in the Dark: Monsters should be out anytime as will Make A Monkey Outta Me in Heavy Metal Horror and The Problem with Magick in Another 100 Horrors. Wish I knew something more on the Rogue Blades Entertainment Challenge antho = The Serpents Root and the rumored Sword & Sorcery League collection which supposedly has accepted Sailing to Valhalla, but alas I know nothing on either project.I still need to format Whispers of the Goddess, so that delay is all on me and I did finally receive the edits on Bless the Child, so I will absolutely have a sword & sandals novel out this year - I'm hoping in the next few weeks but can't promise anything since I honestly don't know what I'm doing with formatting yet.
Bring the Fire (tentative title) for The Barbarian Coast is coming along nicely = almost done. And I have dreamt up my story for Space Eldritch 2 I just have to write it now.
Two more projects demand near immediate attention, one is a Sci-Fi sure thing, the other is a limited invitational Fantasy submission, best 10 out of 25 (good odds), and both MIGHT get published through Baen, so that's cool.
I'm also sitting on a half dozen finished spec tales that I need to just get off my butt and submit somewhere - and then there are the fifty plus starts to tales I need to finish...and then there are the books I need to finish, I wish I was half as prolific as I sound.
Part of the writing problem has been the busy family life and drama but it seems the Muse has returned ~
Storming the Gates of Troy
For you, the flames they burn
Scarlet lips and hands to hold
Passion unfurled and courage bold
Swords are raised as bridges crossed
One thousand moments count and lost
Two for the neck, one for the heart
Hopes blaze that we may never part
All for you my queen, so regal
I shall be cloaked dark with eagle
Stricken in the heart and the heel
I write to forge what I feel
To be with you again I hope and pray
And win but a kiss today
No tears, no pain, no sorrow
All so I may win the war tomorrow
With sacred horse and a tour deforce
The gates will fall and I’ll tear down your wall
Chariots race and dooms embrace
Will open the path to proceed
And truly fulfill that primal need
To be as one and never ever come undone
Also, it seems I am getting 5 times the hits to this blog from Iran than I am from the usual suspects = The US of A, Canada, Germany and the UK - What the Hell? Can I be so interesting to the Persians? Or is it just the Spartan thing??? I've barely been posting this year - what's so interesting???
Friday, March 22, 2013
W.I.P.'s
I just submitted The King in the Wood to Alchemy Press
I'm putting some final touches on Whispers of the Goddess
Still waiting on edits for the novel Bless the Child
Still sitting on my hands when it comes to Blood of Our Fathers and for that I apologize, it is the plan to get on that soon...
but in the meantime I have to get to work on my tale for Space Eldritch 2 - its gonna be a bigger collection, more authors etc etc and I have to get on that...
I also have to finish up Bring the Fire for the Barbarian Coast collection, taken way too long already...
A good number of other stories are accepted but I have no idea when they will be available, I won't let those slip by unspoken though.
Monday, March 18, 2013
If there was any Doubt as to how I feel Lately
Almost the only writing I have been able to do as late are these...
In The Garden
I thought I was Adam and you were Eve
Blaming the serpent, that he did deceive
Forgetting that there was another
Lilith, that first wicked mother
But Eve, she stood by her man
You, just turned and ran
Each of us into the wilderness cast out
I pray for rain and you curse the doubt
Lies your cloak and despair your hood
Truth, your bane and doing what you should
Now I wipe the children’s tear’s
And chase away your demonic fears
The flaming sword, I would lay down
and return to you, your exalted crown
if you could but be my Eve
but No, you chose to leave
The Empty Throne
You sat beside me in the Temple and ruled our home,
but you stole the scepter and dashed the crown,
all so you could roam.
Will I ever trust you again?
Not while every lie you speak, pierces my heart and steals my life.
Not while you try to play upon me like a fife.
Not as you proclaim love but plant pain,
you seed hate and reap one great black stain.
Can I ever love again?
With every truth spoken and my fired soul awoken.
With every fiber of my being, I’ll gain a queen and be a king.
And the throne beside me will be empty no more,
free from you, my dirty little whore.
To A Woman
After the silken threads that you spun
and the cords you’ve woven come undone
the lines you drew without care but rage
they will combine to craft your gilded cage
For the lies you told are freedom not
but slavery holding fast til you rot
An anchor round your slattern neck
driving you to your fated wreck
Satan has no servants but slaves alone
You are foremost his, soul, body and bone
Doom holds thy deceitful hand and black heart
with a curse upon your lips and tainted parts
You, the bride of darkness, despair and fear
fully selfish and cowardly, it is quite clear
Play the tortured soul, haunt the dark places
Weep crocodile tears and toy with many faces
But you shall stay and will ever be
the most evil person known to me
Karma is a Bitch and So is She
She lies and she lies
She cries and she cries
My hopes rise and they rise
But my heart dies and dies
I know what I want is what I want
I know what I deserve ain’t what I got
I know that I seem to be asking a lot
And I know that she is going to rot
Karma is a bitch and so is she
Thinks she can keep up the charade
Thinks she can keep me hanging onto her strings
I was blind but now I see
She thinks I’m broken but I’m remade
She thinks I’ll be waiting keeping her rings
No, Karma is a bitch and so is she
A lie must exit her mouth
A stab must enter my heart
Someday, someway she will see
The damage done her life gone south
Our union ends and my life will start
Two Reasons
Two reasons you can’t sleep:
Either you have a soul and conscience, and twist about at night in the agony of what has been done…
Or you are bereft of soul and conscience and thusly not even fit to dream…
I know which you are…
In The Garden
I thought I was Adam and you were Eve
Blaming the serpent, that he did deceive
Forgetting that there was another
Lilith, that first wicked mother
But Eve, she stood by her man
You, just turned and ran
Each of us into the wilderness cast out
I pray for rain and you curse the doubt
Lies your cloak and despair your hood
Truth, your bane and doing what you should
Now I wipe the children’s tear’s
And chase away your demonic fears
The flaming sword, I would lay down
and return to you, your exalted crown
if you could but be my Eve
but No, you chose to leave
The Empty Throne
You sat beside me in the Temple and ruled our home,
but you stole the scepter and dashed the crown,
all so you could roam.
Will I ever trust you again?
Not while every lie you speak, pierces my heart and steals my life.
Not while you try to play upon me like a fife.
Not as you proclaim love but plant pain,
you seed hate and reap one great black stain.
Can I ever love again?
With every truth spoken and my fired soul awoken.
With every fiber of my being, I’ll gain a queen and be a king.
And the throne beside me will be empty no more,
free from you, my dirty little whore.
To A Woman
After the silken threads that you spun
and the cords you’ve woven come undone
the lines you drew without care but rage
they will combine to craft your gilded cage
For the lies you told are freedom not
but slavery holding fast til you rot
An anchor round your slattern neck
driving you to your fated wreck
Satan has no servants but slaves alone
You are foremost his, soul, body and bone
Doom holds thy deceitful hand and black heart
with a curse upon your lips and tainted parts
You, the bride of darkness, despair and fear
fully selfish and cowardly, it is quite clear
Play the tortured soul, haunt the dark places
Weep crocodile tears and toy with many faces
But you shall stay and will ever be
the most evil person known to me
Karma is a Bitch and So is She
She lies and she lies
She cries and she cries
My hopes rise and they rise
But my heart dies and dies
I know what I want is what I want
I know what I deserve ain’t what I got
I know that I seem to be asking a lot
And I know that she is going to rot
Karma is a bitch and so is she
Thinks she can keep up the charade
Thinks she can keep me hanging onto her strings
I was blind but now I see
She thinks I’m broken but I’m remade
She thinks I’ll be waiting keeping her rings
No, Karma is a bitch and so is she
A lie must exit her mouth
A stab must enter my heart
Someday, someway she will see
The damage done her life gone south
Our union ends and my life will start
Two Reasons
Two reasons you can’t sleep:
Either you have a soul and conscience, and twist about at night in the agony of what has been done…
Or you are bereft of soul and conscience and thusly not even fit to dream…
I know which you are…
Monday, March 11, 2013
Whispers of the Goddess is Coming
I haven't been around, all my regular readers know why, but finally my first project of the year is almost here.
I need to figure out all the nuances and get it put together but WHISPERS OF THE GODDESS my novella from the departed Roar of the Crowd is coming soon.
Here is the back cover blurb I recently put together, (and thanks to Angie Lofthouse for helping polish it)
"Warships of the Fourth Crusade surround Constantinople threatening murder, rapine and worse.
The only option left the impotent Emperor to avoid the sacking of the great city, is to secretly give away a sacred relic.
Enter Tyr a red-handed Swedish mercenary and Wolfram von Eschenbach the Templar poet, together charged with retrieving the holy artifact and escaping the city.
What they don’t know is that arcane forces, old as myth, are marshaled against their mission. The old gods of multiple nations war with the New.
And Ragnarok is coming to Greece."
Here is the cover by the talented Carter Reid - he also did the SPACE ELDRITCH cover.
In other news, the prequel of sorts for Whispers of the Goddess, The Dogs of War, has been accepted into the Thunder on the Battlefield, Sword & Sorcery collection edited by James R. Tuck, so if you like one tale I hope you will like the other and we can get some cross-pollination going.
I need to figure out all the nuances and get it put together but WHISPERS OF THE GODDESS my novella from the departed Roar of the Crowd is coming soon.
Here is the back cover blurb I recently put together, (and thanks to Angie Lofthouse for helping polish it)
The only option left the impotent Emperor to avoid the sacking of the great city, is to secretly give away a sacred relic.
Enter Tyr a red-handed Swedish mercenary and Wolfram von Eschenbach the Templar poet, together charged with retrieving the holy artifact and escaping the city.
What they don’t know is that arcane forces, old as myth, are marshaled against their mission. The old gods of multiple nations war with the New.
And Ragnarok is coming to Greece."
Here is the cover by the talented Carter Reid - he also did the SPACE ELDRITCH cover.
In other news, the prequel of sorts for Whispers of the Goddess, The Dogs of War, has been accepted into the Thunder on the Battlefield, Sword & Sorcery collection edited by James R. Tuck, so if you like one tale I hope you will like the other and we can get some cross-pollination going.
Monday, January 28, 2013
SPACE ELDRITCH reviewed in the new AMAZING STORIES
Very excited to be among the first reviews in the newly relaunched Amazing Stories http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2013/01/dead-cosmonauts-and-other-eldritch-horrors/
so check them out and bask in the latest glorious review of the macabre masterpiece.
Thanks again Keith! and I'm sure its is a distant, swords-winging relative back in the days of Solomon Kane that we are related to.
so check them out and bask in the latest glorious review of the macabre masterpiece.
Thanks again Keith! and I'm sure its is a distant, swords-winging relative back in the days of Solomon Kane that we are related to.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Getting Back in the Saddle
I'm having a real hard time getting the notion to write at the moment, too much heartache and shock at the sudden departure of my own Delilah.But while I may have been blind and ultimately powerless to stop her betrayal and self-degradation, I have not lost my own strength. I have been spending more quality time with the kids, starting working out again (to lose the writers gut) and I have noticed that while before I used to agonize over every moment lost not writing, now I just don't fret about it anymore. Life is still more about living than recording it for prose.
I know I will write again when the healing is done and I know I will be better than I was before. More projects are lined up even with me doing nothing at the moment and that's OK, in time the words will flow like a mighty river and I will climb that mountain and I will be back on top.
And it hurts now, but I know that like the dawn, Love will rise again.
Friday, January 4, 2013
My Love Life
“All fled, all done, so lift me on the pyre;
The feast is over and the lamps expire.”
The feast is over and the lamps expire.”
| — | Robert E. Howard |
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Let's See IF I Can't Win It Again
One of my best friends in the world was heading up the operation and I had a rather relaxed duty. Hunt down any trouble that comes along and take care of it.
I felt uniquely qualified over some of the more respectable Church Elders who came along, because I know what a trouble-making teenage boy is actually going to go do. If boys were missing I knew where to go along the beach to find them (where the girls are). When some boys insanely shredded hot dogs in an effort to "bear-bait" I tracked them down - (they were sent home early)
And I also had my sympathies for the bad boys, I used to be one.
When several were caught and got a royal browbeating from the Elders, I stepped in and whispered for them to look "Sorrier" and say sorry to get it over with. I didn't fault them for looking for a good time, it's what I would have done, it's what I did.
But there is a time and a place for everything.
I was later awarded by the boys, Bachelor of the Year: Boys Camp 2000.
At the time it was bittersweet, I was flattered they thought of me like that, but I was 29, single and thought my prospects were gone (we are stupid in our youth, we are always stupid) - you get like that some times when you realize all your best girlfriends are already married, whores or dead.
But I was married come two years later and that trophy then sat somewhere on the book shelf gathering dust.
Ten years, four months later it is time to take down the trophy and dust it off, because I am forced to start 2013 as single father.It ain't gonna be easy-but it's what she chose. Not I.
I'm going to throw everything I've got in 2013 into my kids (who will stay with me) and my writing which I hope will stay with YOU.
I will have my own kingdom and my own queen to sit beside me someday, even if today I am full of gigantic melancholies.
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