Oct/Nov/Dec Update
Happy Holidays! I have a lot to talk about in this update. Some of this was in my recent newsletter (for those who subscribe), and some is new and/or tweaked.
Status of Cursebreaker (Heretic Gods #2)
Of course, the biggest news this time is that the e-book of Cursebreaker is now available! It's also available on Kindle Unlimited.
You miiight have noticed the shiny new cover over there! ICYMI, the official cover reveal was hosted by RockStarlit BookAsylum on November 11th, and I encourage you to check it out in full here.
I'm stoked about this book being out, which you might think is obvious. But no, seriously. I had a ton of fun writing this sequel and am stupidly excited for fans of Banebringer to read the next installment of Vaughn and Ivana's story. One earlier reviewer calls it "the perfect sequel," and, well, I rather think so. Read the whole review here.
For those who are wondering, I hope to have the paperback available by the end of January 2020 and the audio sometime Q2 2020.
Banebringer (Heretic Gods #1) Audio Version
The Banebringer audio is now available! It's an understatement to say that I'm pleased with how it turned out. Narrator Eric Bryan Moore did a fantastic job bringing this story and the characters to life, so much so that if you've ever thought about reading Banebringer a second time (say...in preparation for reading Cursebreaker!?) and have Audible credits burning a hole in your pocket, I'd encourage you to try the audio out this time!
Sweetblade and SPFBO5
Alas, it is the end of the SPFBO road for Sweetblade, which I announced last time had been chosen as a semi-finalist for superstardrifter's group. However, both judges for superstardrifter gave it very nice reviews, so I encourage you to go read them.
This book had a great atmosphere, professional prose, and a lot to offer for readers who already enjoyed Banebringer.
- Esme, superstardrifter
When you're done, go add (at the least) the finalist Kalanon's Rising to your TBR! I've heard it's very good and it's on my personal list of hopeful 2020 reads.
A World Broken (The Chronicles of the Lady Sar #1)
“In every end, there is a beginning.” So said the wisest of the Emethi scholars, at least, and it was notoriously difficult to argue with an Emethi.
- From "The Chronicles of the Lady Sar," as quoted in Rythe's Histories: Volume I
That brings me to something I've been teasing at for some time now. Well, the time is drawing near...we're less than a year away from the release of the first book in a new epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of the Lady Sar. I'm targeting May/June of 2020 for release (just in time for SPFBO, what do you know!?). Right now, I'm doing my own last-pass edits on the manuscript before shipping it off to my editor.
So, what is this one about? There's this classic epic fantasy trope where X number of years ago (where X = Lots of YearsTM), the world was irrevocably broken/changed/destroyed/blah blah blah. Chronicles, rather than being a story set those Lots of YearsTM later, is a story about those events. It's epic fantasy in the classic sense; i.e., wide in scope, being literally about the end of the primordial golden age.
However, it's also at its core a character story. I just lied when I said this is a story about those events. Actually, it's a story about the people who are part of those events and who, Lots of YearsTM later, will be viewed as legends and/or even myth (in case you're wondering, yes, I do have plans to one day write the story Lots of YearsTM later for this world). It's also at its core a love story--in a different way than Heretic Gods.
Odds n Ends
Bloodmaster
It seems crazy, but I suppose it's already time to start talking about the final book in The Heretic Gods trilogy, titled Bloodmaster. Right now, there isn't much to tell you. I'm working on an outline and plan to start on the first draft in January! I'm aiming for a release in the first half of 2021.
Interviews
I've had two interviews since my last update, one at Fantasy Book Critic and one audio interview on the Under a Pile of Books podcast. Check them out!
Writing Vlog
I have tentative plans to start a writing vlog in early 2020. My concept for this (such as it is) are quick, 5-10 minute videos wherein I ramble about writing and the author life. It's not supposed to be instructional or informative--more like an "insider view" of what it's like to be an independent author (or, at least, this independent author!) by talking about what I happen to be working on or doing or thinking about at any given moment (the "given moment" being when I make the video, of course). If anyone has any thoughts, suggestions, or things they'd like to see, feel free to drop me a line!
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Go forth and read books!