BLADES OF ELSINGR (Lore of the Reluctant #2) is Out Now! Also, an explanation...

Things moved quickly this week! The cover art was completed and I was able to get the second story in the Lore of the Reluctant series published this morning. Check out the link above for the Amazon Kindle version.

So, since this has been a long time coming, and I've gotten a couple stories published since the first book, let me explain what this series is and what it's attempting to be:

A little over three years ago, I set a goal for myself. I would self-publish at least three novels, regardless of subject/genre, in an attempt to 1) Learn the process of getting a novel to the market, 2) Build a kind of portfolio to show that I can continuously produce full-length projects, 3) Basically just keep myself writing and learn from whatever feedback I was able to get.

The result was the Lore of the Reluctant series, something I've been kicking around for years. Three friends from our world who wake up in a high fantasy realm, complete with everything they'd need to quest without incident. New bodies, new memories, and entire lives to draw upon so that they'd never miss a beat. By the time the series picks up, they've been at it for a while and they're getting kinda bored with the whole prospect. If they can't get back to Earth, they just want to settle down in a quiet city somewhere, but the Realm of Shiloft has other plans for them.

Each book is meant to be a light, standalone "day-in-the-life" story in the vein of the old Conan and Red Sonja novels. Almost nothing plot-wise carries over between novels expect for location and the trio's wanting to just quit the whole thing. My goal is to write at least three of these, keep them short enough so that they can be read casually, ensure the novels don't lean too heavily on each other, and hopefully make them funny as hell.

BLADES OF ELSINGR is the second entry, with one more being written as we speak. I have other projects in the air right now (that I've mentioned here before at one point or another). Work on it will probably progress in earnest over the winter break.

That's it! Please give the story a look if you can, post some feedback if you have the time. Otherwise, I'll see you next update!

ALIEN ARTIFACTS - Out Now!

ALIEN ARTIFACTS, a sci-fi anthology which features my weird western short story, is out in stores now! Here's the description:

What might we run into as we expand beyond Earth and into the stars? As we explore our own solar system and beyond, it seems inevitable that we’ll run into aliens … and what they’ve left behind. Alien artifacts: what might they reveal about us as we try to unlock their secrets? What might they reveal about the universe? 

In this anthology, nineteen of today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors explore how discovering long lost relics of alien civilizations might change humanity. Join Walter H. Hunt, Julie Novakova, David Farland, Angela Penrose, S.C. Butler, Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin, Juliet E. McKenna, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Andrija Popovic, Jacey Bedford, Sofie Bird, James Van Pelt, Gini Koch, Anthony Lowe, Jennifer Dunne, Coral Moore, Daniel J. Davis, C.S. Friedman, and Seanan McGuire as they discover the stars and the secrets they may hold—both dark and deadly and awe-inspiring.

My contribution, "The Haint of Sweetwater River," is about an alien device that just might have had an influence on the run-in with the stockgrowers of Wyoming and Ella "Cattle Kate" Watson. Digital copies can be purchased just about anywhere, while the paperback edition can be had on Amazon and Zombies Need Brains official store. (I think copies will end up in Barnes and Noble, but can't be sure there.) Check out the "My Books" section for your options.

Additionally, my publisher, Zombies Need Brains, is running a Kickstarter for their newest round of anthologies. If you like what they've released so far, and wouldn't mind reading more stories about robot invasions, encounters with Death, and underwater civilizations, then consider supporting their project.

Bye for now! (And wish me luck on the upcoming semester!)

"Gunfight at the Thornmount Colossus" - First Runner-Up (Second Place) in the 2016 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award

EDIT (8/15/16): Press release!

About a month ago, I mentioned one of my short stories made it through to the finals in the Baen Books 2016 Fantasy Adventure Award. Welp! Happy to say it made it through to the final three and placed second! Really happy, in fact.

I love the idea that one of my stories is getting some eyes on it from published authors, and I'm really hoping to keep this momentum going. The downside is, obviously, that the story won't be released through the Baen Books website. However, it does free me up to get it out into the world via other avenues, all of which I'm currently exploring.

As for what I'm working on currently:

- BLADES OF ELSINGR is still in a holding pattern due to unforeseen circumstances, but I'm still combing through it in the meantime. Would still like to get it published before the end of the year.

- I have a volley of short stories ready to be sent out to answer the call of open submissions for a few publications. Fingers crossed that one of them gets hooked.

- I'm not quite committing my full attention to it yet, but I'm poking at a novel based on the same weird western universe in which both "The Lonesome Dark" and "Gunfight at the Thornmount Colossus" take place. Still in the research/pre-production phase.

As far as other news, ALIEN ARTIFACTS, which includes my weird western short story, "The Haint of Sweetwater River," is on track to being published by the end of the month! I'll make another post when that date rolls around.

Take care!

"Gunfight at the Thornmount Colossus" - Finalist in the 2016 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award

Hey, all!

With the publication date of ALIEN ARTIFACTS right around the corner, I got a nice little surprise a few weeks ago. One of my most recent short stories, "Gunfight at the Thornmount Colossus," is a finalist in the 2016 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award! Neat-o!

This story is an indirect sequel to "The Lonesome Dark," which was published by Ragnarok Publications in the ebook version of BLACKGUARDS: TALES OF ASSASSINS, MERCENARIES, AND THIEVES. Both stories take place in a fantasy world very reminiscent of the American Old West, which pulls upon all kinds of legends, folklore, and good ol' fashioned history texts to create a magically-charged patchwork where gunslingers are the new knights-errant.

Fingers crossed "Gunfight" makes it through to the grand prize, but there are nine other (very) talented authors in the running, as well, so I'm just flat out enthused to be up there with them.

Take care!

"The Haint of Sweetwater River" - Available in ALIEN ARTIFACTS by ZNB Publications

It's official! My weird western short story, "The Haint of Sweetwater River," has been selected for publication in ALIEN ARTIFACTS, a sci-fi anthology by the good folks at Zombies Need Brains.

They're aiming for an August release date and I believe it'll be available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you're interested in supporting the publisher right just now, you can preorder the limited edition Kickstarter version HERE.

Thanks again to ZNB for the opportunity! Recently read David Farland's weird western short, "Hellfire on the High Frontier" and loved it, so I'm pretty jazzed to have a story alongside his.

For the final Table of Contents, cover art, and synopsis of ALIEN ARTIFACTS, here's the Kickstarter update.