Category Archives: Uncategorized

Everything else.

Rob’s Update: Happy Groundhog’s Day Eve

Week 5 of 2024

Greetings all

There’s no big news this week. I’m plugging away at tasks for bigger projects like Okkorim and Paladins of Valor. I was very productive, but it’s one of those weeks where I can’t point at a major item of note.

Between editing and writing, I dealt with something like 60,000 words this past week, which is nice. However, as I say, they’re tasks within an overall project.

I spent a goodly amount of time straightening up in the garage and shop areas. Still a long way to go, but my goal of getting the shop going in April or so for some woodworking projects is on track. Plus, I have a special plan for a chunk of the garage.

I think that’s it for this week. It’s a short update, I know, but this was one of those boring yet necessary and productive weeks.

Have a great week, everyone!

New and Cool

It’s not new and cool, but I’ve been rewatching Babylon 5. Such a good show.

Quote of the Week

Happy Coronation day to Edward III on this day in 1327.

And here’s his parenting technique with his son, the Black Prince.

Also say to them, that they suffre hym this day to wynne his spurres, for if god be pleased, I woll this journey be his, and the honoure therof.
– Edward III

Dragon’s Tidings

We had a great game night this past Monday, and I know the word is spreading. This past week we started a 5E campaign in the Firehall Sagas.

Also, the Beginning Quilting class has been a big hit so far. Session 3 tonight.

Oh, and we’re starting to see more longarm quilting jobs. If you’re interested in that service, you might want to reach out. At some point, there’ll be a wait for her to get started.

Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm

New Mythology Works in Progress

Of note, this now includes our recent releases, so if you’re not sure what we’ve put out lately, you can go here and check.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)
  • Okkorim (58,116)

Upcoming Events

Freebies and Cool Stuff

February: Free Fantasy & SciFi

https://books.bookfunnel.com/fantasyscicifebruary/8nf2hq0590

February Sci-Fi Giveaway

https://storyoriginapp.com/to/l1SsMIe

New Releases

This week we have Stolen Dreams from Dennis M. Myers, the 4th and final book in his Rise of the Automated Empire. Get it here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0CT5V8G8M.

This week’s pre-release is Wolf Legion by William S. Frisbee, Jr., the ninth book in The Last Marines. Holding Earth continues to get harder, and everyone is against the last Marines, but will they give up? Never! Check out the entire series here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5WRRMPB.

Tracked Items

My Weight Today: 371.0 lbs

Updated Word Count: 21,114

Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: New Year, New Update

Week 1 of 2024

Greetings all

Here’s hoping you all had a great new year! We had a tame New Year’s Eve, having chucked our plans and lounged on the couch. 2023 was a great, but exhausting year.

As we move to 2024, I’m making some renovations to the update list. First of all, I’m replacing the What I’m Listening To to New and Cool. Often, this will be books, music, and shows that are new to me, but can be all sorts of things I think are cool. That might be some happening in Anthony, too, as I got rid of that separate category.

Judging by the feedback, you guys like the Quote of the Week section, so that’s staying, as is Rob’s Riddles, which I plan to start doing that regularly again soon.

The New Mythology Works in Progress section is going away as a separate section. Why? Well, we have some really cool announcements to make on that front down the road. Also, I’ll be talking about it more in this portion.

In its place will come Dragon’s Tidings, which will have something of interest from Red Dragon Quilts and Dragon’s Den Books. I’m also bringing back the Freebie Section. This is where you can download some free stuff, including something from me.

Now back to the what I did this week. A short story went to the editor on Tuesday and I wrote about 5k in Okkorim. I’ll have a fun update on that soon.

I’ve started sending out edited stories for Paladins of Valor. Still a long way to go to climb that hill but it’s a beautiful vista ahead of us.

And with that, time to get back to work.

New and Cool

Sabaton is 25 years old this year, and if  you haven’t listened to them before, they’re the best Swedish symphonic metal specializing in military historical themes I know of.

25 years? That’s pretty darn cool.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Jacob Grimm, born on this day in 1785. You might remember him for his fairy tales, but I’ve grown fascinated by his linguistic laws. Here’s a link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimm’s_law.

He also seems to have been a man after my own heart.

“A good friend doesn’t let you do stupid things …. alone.”
― Grimm

Dragon’s Tidings

We have our first classes at Red Dragon Quilts! These include Beginning Knitting on the 13th, English Paper Piercing on the 16th, and 2 8-week long courses on Beginning Quilting.

Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm

New Mythology Works in Progress

I had an incredibly hard time choosing the winners of this year’s open call for Paladins of Valor. So many stories I wanted to publish, but here are the four I finally selected as the best.

  • Chris Hepler with High Water Mark
  • Nathan Balyeat with Welcome to Detroit
  • David Birdsall with The Passing of the Mantle
  • Chad Boyer with Apprentice in Trouble

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

Freebies and Cool Stuff

Free Science Fiction Books

Free Science Fiction Books
Free Science Fiction Books

mybookcave.com/g/free-science-fiction-books/?bcsrc=m96pfh

New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebies

New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebies
New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebies

books.bookfunnel.com/newyearscififantasyfreebies/ukebd39of3

New Releases

This week we have book 8 in the Last Marines series by William S. Frisbee, Jr. It’s entitled Wolf Emperor and you can get it here amazon.com/dp/B0CR1TXG61.

Your pre-release this week is Prince Conqueror by Fred Hughes. This is book 7 in his Prince of Britannia series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CRD7CL1V.

Tracked Items

My Weight Today: 364.4 lbs

Updated Word Count: 678

Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: The Opening Was Grand

Week 50 of 2023

Greetings all

Last Friday was our Grand Opening, and it was great! A bunch of people made it happen, and we thank all of them.

Here’s a couple of pictures thanks to Kari at Harper County EcoDev.

Grand Opening Red Dragon Quilts
Grand Opening Red Dragon Quilts
Grand Opening Dragons Den
Grand Opening Dragons Den

We’re going on an adventure!

To be honest, much of this week was spent on recovery. I did work on a story for the upcoming 4HU Bureau 42 anthology. I also did a bunch of stuff for Okkorim. However, it wasn’t my most productive week overall.

Monday is, of course, Christmas. I hope you all have a fantastic holiday season. We get more time with the grandbaby, which is really all the present I need. This will be our first Christmas with the baby and how cool is that?

One last thing. Thanks to all of you for following along on my journey. 2023 did not go as anticipated, but I’m so glad of how it went.

Wow, a fairly brief post from me. I guess that’s my present to you all.

What I’m Listening To

Rams v. Saints. It’s been a fun game to watch.

Quote of the Week

Today is December 21st, or as the Europeans would write it, 21/12.

Sure it’s the solstice, but it’s International Rush Day!

What can this strange device be?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It’s got wires that vibrate, and give music
What can this thing be that I found?

See how it sings like a sad heart
And joyously screams out its pain
Sounds that build high like a mountain
Or notes that fall gently, like rain.
– Rush, 2112

New Mythology Works in Progress

I had an incredibly hard time choosing the winners of this year’s open call for Paladins of Valor. So many stories I wanted to publish, but here are the four I finally selected as the best.

  • Chris Hepler with High Water Mark
  • Nathan Balyeat with Welcome to Detroit
  • David Birdsall with The Passing of the Mantle
  • Chad Boyer with Apprentice in Trouble

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Ruriksaga (52,626)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week is something new in the Four Horsemen Universe. It’s Thicker Than Water from Michael Morton and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CQ5TC144.

Your pre-release this week is Broken Trust, third book in the Rise of the Automated Empire series by Dennis M. Myers. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CKVRTSQQ.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 365.8

Updated Word Count: 373,065

Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: On the Move

Week 15 of 2023

Greetings all

I promised big news last week on a non-writing project and here it is. Before I get to that, I have another announcement.

Huge congratulations to Sheellah Kennedy for being unremarkable! Well, she’s not, as you know. She’s awesome, but in this case, it means that she’s on top of her health issues. The warning signs noted by the doctor were, in turns out, unremarkable.

Which is wonderful to hear.

Hunting the Hart
Hunting the Hart

Now onto the big announcement… errr… after another one.

Hunting the Hart, book 5 in Jon R. Osbourne’s modern fantasy series The Milesian Accords, is now available to pre-order for Audible.

Pre-order it here: audible.com/pd/Hunting-the-Hart-Audiobook/B0C24XX31G.

OK, now onto the big announcement, and this time I mean it.

The wife and I are on the move. We closed on a great building in Anthony, KS where we can open up the quilt/craft/yarn/weaving store she’s always wanted and I can have a bookstore.

That means my writing/editing has suffered as I pack frantically. We’ve got the movers coming on Monday, and we want to make sure we have enough stuff packed to make the expense worthwhile.

This just in, we have too many books. And skeins of yarn. And games. And and and.

Normally, we’d take time to pare through stuff and see what we’re willing to part with. However, the new place is so big, we don’t have any space issues and we don’t have time to pay that much attention.

Sooooo… if you wanna come help us pack on Sunday, you’re welcome to volunteer.

I’m late this week on a number of projects. I didn’t get my riddle sent out, which I’m aiming to fix today. I didn’t get much writing or editing done.

However, I’m taking my own advice. I tell my writers that there’s a difference between reasons and excuses. Avoid excuses, even to the point of chastising yourself when you use them.

But reasons? Just accept they exist and power through them. The most important thing when you’re dealing with reasons is to prevent yourself from getting angry with yourself. That leads to a spiral that ruins your productivity for a long time.

I’m puttering with writing and editing when I can, and hopefully this is just a blip. Lots of fun plans for the summer, when everything settles down a bit.

In the meantime, welcome to my madness!

What I’m Listening To

Speaking of madness, I’m currently listening to Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears, which has one of my favorite bass lines by Bob Daisley.

Quote of the Week

One of the great events in Japanese history happened today in 1612: Miyamoto Musashi defeated Sasaki Kojirō at Funajima island. Since we haven’t had a quote from Musashi in a while, here’s one of many great quotes by him.

Also, it’s relevant to the reasons/excuses thing. So much of writing is keeping your head in a good place. Give what’s in yourself a chance to be awesome.

“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.”
Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

Rob’s Riddles

I have a Patreon where I write Old English style riddles and provide snippets of my work. You can find it here: patreon.com/rhodri2112, along with a sample riddle.

First Line of Next Riddle:

I have saved a realm       Riding on the waves

Latest Snippet: Chapter 5 of Farewell, My Ugly

New Mythology Works in Progress

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (72,812)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week we have Children of the Fall, by J.P. Chandler. It’s a new release in the excellent post-apocalyptic Fallen World universe. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C1J99413.

Your pre-release this week is Mike Jack Stoumbos’ first foray into the 4HU, Defender’s Rise. This book gives you a look at the elSha and opSha, a couple of races that—until now—have been secondary in nature, so it’s not to be missed. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/1648557058.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 351.0

Updated Word Count: 109,884

Firehall Sagas Archives: 737 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: A Distraction for the Ages

Week 9 of 2023

Greetings all

I had a productive week going until something came up on Wednesday and I’ve gotten very little done the last couple of days.

Julieana Joy
Julieana Joy

Oh, well, you only get your first grandchild once. Everyone, meet Julieana Joy. Feel free to help me spoil her.

I focused this week in getting back into the groove with Farewell, My Ugly, and I did very well. I’m almost at 60k, which I’ve been sitting at for a while, but I went back and edited a bunch so I could get a better grip on the story.

I aim to have have that done by the end of March and I’m on schedule.

I did a bunch of prep work for Planet Comicon, which is coming up in a couple of weeks. New promo stuff, banners, cards, etc.

I did a bit of editing on Where Now the Rider. I’m making solid progress on it and I’ll have it done by the end of the month as well.

To be honest, I know I did more stuff but I’m still a bit tired from all the travel and cool stuff this week, so I’m going to cut it short this week.

What I’m Listening To

NFL Combine Coverage. Yes, I’m strange, but having it on in the background is really a good way for me to soak in who I’ll pick for pet cats in April.

Now, the big question. Do I go to the draft? At least opening night? It’s in KC this year.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Dr. Seuss.

Also, I’d be a horrible clam, but I’m certainly a ham.

I am lucky to be what I am! Thank goodness I’m not just a clam, or a ham, or a dusty jar of sour gooseberry jam! I am what I am – that’s a great thing to be!
– Dr. Seuss

Rob’s Riddles

I have a Patreon where I write Old English style riddles and provide snippets of my work. You can find it here: patreon.com/rhodri2112, along with a sample riddle.

First Line of Next Riddle:

Love have I waged                   War have I wooed

Latest Snippet: Chapter 3 of Hunting the Hart.

New Mythology Works in Progress

Hunting the Hart is out!!! This is book 5 in the Milesian Accords by Jon R. Osborne, and here is it’s blurb:
Magic has returned to the world, but so has an ancient foe.

Erin Donnelly, descendant of Cu Chulainn and Champion of the Folk, searches for Nechtan—her lover cursed to live as a stag for a year and a day. Enlisting the aid of allies, Erin maintains a vigil, turning back hunters and predators who might harm Nechtan in the wilds of the magical otherworld.

But when Stangr Iron-skinned escapes his imprisonment in the River of Time, he has one thing on his mind—revenge on Nechtan. Stangr’s thirst for vengeance takes him from the Seelie courts of the otherworld to the windswept Great Plains.

Can Erin find Nechtan before Stangr tracks him down? Erin beat Giwargix the Dragon-Slayer, but can she defeat a jotunn-blooded Viking impervious to blades and bullets?

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (59,940)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Jon R. Osborne’s Hunting the Hart, fifth in his excellent Milesian Accords series. The modern world and the magical world collide, with magic, technology, and mythology all swirling in a fast-paced story of heroes. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/product/1648556477.

We have book 6 from William S. Frisbee’s The Last Marines series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BWHFLXC1.

Your pre-release this week is D.T. Read’s Running from the Gods, book 4 in her Seventh Shaman series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BHCMKH2L.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 344.2

Updated Word Count: 105,360

Firehall Sagas Archives: 737 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: At MarsCon

Week 2 of 2023

Greetings all

I’m at MarsCon, who honored me with naming me an official guest!

First time as official guest, and I hope I live up to their expectations. I know I have a great schedule:

  • Friday 1-2pm: Creating Alternate World Histories
  • Friday 5-6pm: Worldbuilding: Food and Drink (Moderator)
  • Friday 8-9pm: Researching for Your Story
  • Saturday 3-4pm: Finding Your Bliss Later in Life – Advice for the Late Bloomer
  • Saturday 5-7pm: CKP The Year Ahead
  • Sunday 10-11am: How Many Jobs Has That Author Had? (Moderator)
  • Sunday 12-1pm: “I Got A Great Idea For A Book!”

Going to be a blast. Thanks to Joel Lyons, Dave Cleric, and Erin Cram for all their help.

This was also my first week publishing a riddle on the Patreon. I’m really excited how this is going to go.

On the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month, I’ll post a new riddle. On the other Mondays, I’ll post a snippet from a Work in Progress. I’ll only charge for the riddles, by the way. The snippets are free to all subscribers.

Here’s the first line to this week’s riddle:
In me souls are seen     And once were stolen

I’ve gotten a bunch of work done on Bonds of Valor this week. The cover names are Jody Lynn Nye, Glen Cook, Todd McCaffrey, Sarah Hoyt, and D.J. Butler. What a great list!

This comes out on the 24th of March at FantaSci.

I also started working on Hunting the Hart. This is book 5 in Jon R. Osborne’s excellent Milesian Accords series. I’ll have a release date for this soon.

And with that, I need to go. I’m at the con hotel and there’s schmoozing to do.

What I’m Listening To

The History of English podcast. I wish the podcaster wasn’t so repetitive, but it’s a great thing to listen to as you drive 1000 miles.

Quote of the Week

On January 12th, 1969, the New York Jets shocked the world and changed pro football forever.

I’ve got news for you. We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.
– Joe Namath

The Riddles!

I have a new Patreon where I write Old English style riddles and provide snippets of my work.

You can find it here: patreon.com/rhodri2112, along with a sample riddle.

First Line of Current Riddle:

In me souls are seen     And once were stolen

Latest Snippet: Chapter 1 of Farewell, My Ugly

New Mythology Works in Progress

I’m pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 FantaSci Short Story Contest open call.

Of note, I’m running behind on edits with all the other things going on. These winners will be back before next week.

Bloodheart, by Justin Doyle
Stars and Shadows, by B.A. Ironwood
The Unwanted Legion, by Casey Moops
The Coward’s Shadow by Fiona Grey

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (58,812)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

The new release this week is Prince: War Leader by Fred Hughes. This is the third is his action-packed Prince of Britannia series. Get it here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRMRHX97.

Your pre-release this week is book 5 in William S. Frisbee, Jr.’s Last Marines series, Genocide of Mankind. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BS443W6S/.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 337.6

Updated Word Count: 1,836

Firehall Sagas Archives: 738 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: Happy New Year

Week 53 of 2022

Greetings all

It’s been an eventful 2022, I think, for all of us. I hope things went as well as possible for all of you and that 2023 is your best year yet.

Pandora's Box
Pandora’s Box

Speaking of best yet, I think the release of Christopher G. Nuttall’s Pandora’s Box was the best release of any book I’ve published so far. It’s been an honor to work with him, and I’m so pleased to be a part of the Heirs of Cataclysm.

Get Pandora’s Box here: amazon.com/dp/B0BNPQ61DX.

With me moving on from both the Eldros Legacy (which you should still read) and the Dudes in Hyperspace (which will hopefully have a show here and there), I find myself with some extra time.

I’m going to fill that time by writing Old English-style riddles. Here’s an example:

I reared my mother                       after madness sent her to me
Then I moved mountains           and made monsters fear me
Time I have carried                       taming it to my purpose
Against the glacier’s wrath       I guard mighty empires
Yet the least hold me captive   kept in loneliest thrall
I do not delay                                   when dooms are decided
Health and life I shield                holding against harm
Great, gallant, and                        gracious have I grown
My back is broken                         but I bear the dreams of all
I carry a magical world               so say what I am called

Every couple of weeks, I’ll write another one, as well as provide the answer to the previous one.

How can you get these riddles? Great question! I’ve created a Patreon. Every subscriber will get a riddle on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, starting on January 9th. Plus, I’ll add snippets and other tidbits of works in progress or whatever seems interesting.

At higher tiers, subscribers will get free books. At the highest tier, they’ll also get an illuminated manuscript of a personalized riddle suitable for framing.

What’s the answer to this riddle? Well, you can find out in two ways. One, you can subscribe. Two, since you subscribe here, I’ll pass on the explanation next week. I appreciate all who’ve been along for this ride too.

Anyway, we’ll see who can guess this one. Oh, yeah, I have some fun things planned for those who guess it before I send out the answer.

Join the Patreon here: patreon.com/rhodri2112.

Firehall Sagas
Firehall Sagas

I also spent a bunch of this week getting the new website for the Firehall Sagas ready to go! Check it out here: firehallsagas.com. Thanks to Kevin Fritz Fotovich for creating cool new artwork and logos. Also, I should have thanked Kate Gill many years ago for her photos, but she also took a fantastic one of me performing part of Beowulf in Old English at Pennsic.

I was in a firehall performing a saga. It had to be on the website.

I did a bunch of editing the week. All in all, it was one of my most productive weeks in a long time, even though I took Christmas off to spend time with the folks.

Tonight, I’m watching the rest of Dallas against the Titans, then back at it tomorrow.

What I’m Listening To

The Cowboys are playing on a Thursday. Is there any doubt I’m watching it?

Quote of the Week

“If I pass away one day, I am happy because I tried to do my best. My sport allowed me to do so much because it’s the biggest sport in the world.”
– Pele

As you may know, Pele passed away today. Godspeed, O Rei. Your best was truly amazing.

Dudes In Hyperspace

Follow the Dudes In Hyperspace here:
bleav.com/shows/the-dudes-in-hyperspace-podcast/

We give our swan song in a truly dude-tastic show. We’re taking a break, though don’t be surprised we have episodes coming occasionally down the road. Also, I’ve developed a taste for podcasting, so who knows what will happen.

New Mythology Works in Progress

I’m pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 FantaSci Short Story Contest open call.

Of note, I’m running behind on edits with all the other things going on. These winners will be back before next week.

Bloodheart, by Justin Doyle
Stars and Shadows, by B.A. Ironwood
The Unwanted Legion, by Casey Moops
The Coward’s Shadow by Fiona Grey

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (58,812)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week we have the 18th book in The Fallen World, The Guilted Cage. Post-apocalyptic mayhem by Casey Moores. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BQRQYL86.

I’m still celebrating the release of Pandora’s Box from Christopher G. Nuttall. This is book 2 in his Heirs of Cataclysm series. You can get that one here: amazon.com/dp/B0BNPQ61DX.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 334.2

Updated Word Count: 428,364

Firehall Sagas Archives: 737 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

Rob’s Update: Moving On Up

Week 44 of 2022

Greetings all

I teased last week about some changes. The first, and biggest change around here is that the Eldros Legacy is moving on up to from its own publishing house. They’re taking that franchise to a new level.

I said, “they’re” because I’m opting out, however. This is because I simply can’t be a major force in two publishing houses and still write my own stuff. I’m proud of what we’ve done, but there’s not enough time in the day.

So, we’re slicing Shijuren out of the Eldros Legacy to become, once again, it’s own setting.

This will, not surprisingly, require more than a bunch of fiddling, but the basic TL:DR version is that they’re building something cool, and I’m building something cool, but we’re building two different things.

This is one reason why, as I mentioned last week, I’m freshening up A Lake Most Deep. In fact, I’ll be freshening up all seven of the Shijuren novels and all the short stories as well. Got one of those edited this week, in fact.

I’m also going to rename the universe. Shijuren will stay, but instead of The World of Shijuren, I long ago realized I need a much stronger universe name. Here are the four I’m considering at the moment:

  • The Kolossoi Chronicles
  • The Firehall Sagas
  • The Reckoning
  • The Wyrdlinga

If you like any of these, let me know. If you don’t like any of these, especially let me know.

This is part of a new branding for the universe. One of the things I did very poorly as a new writer is think about branding. Well, that’s not entirely true. That implies I actually thought about branding, which I did not. I scrambled to do some of that as time went on, and in the process of making the Eldros Legacy, I learned a ton about branding. With this split, I have the opportunity to, essentially, start from scratch.

Over the next couple of months, I’ll be creating a world logo, setting up a particular style for all the covers, and getting it all arranged to reflect many of the lessons I’ve learned over the years.

I’m incredibly excited about that, by the way. As I mentioned last week, I’m loving going back through A Lake Most Deep again. It’s a fun story, and now that I know more of what I’m doing, I’m excited to see where I can take it.

It was either Clarke or Asimov who said something like, you only know what you’re doing after the first million words. Well, I exceeded that a while ago, not to mention over two million words worth of editing.

Time to make my production match the quality of my imagination.

What I’m Listening To

The Prince of Denmark’s March. If it ain’t Baroque, don’t fix it, I always say.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Teddy Roosevelt, perhaps my favorite president ever. Certainly, one of the most quotable, and here’s one I love.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
– Theodore Roosevelt

Dudes In Hyperspace

Follow the Dudes In Hyperspace here:
bleav.com/shows/the-dudes-in-hyperspace-podcast/

The latest show includes a great conversation with Sarah Burris and what libraries can offer.

Cool Stuff In Eldros Legacy

Get five free stories and signed up with the Eldros Legacy mailing list! Here There Be Giants is at: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/qabsr57lq3+.

Currently available:

Get all the Eldros Legacy novels at: amazon.com/dp/B09Z9WVKYV

New Mythology Works in Progress

2023 FantaSci Short Story Contest open call.

The theme is Bonds of Valor, and you story must include deeds of valor centered around bonds between characters. This could be a romantic relationship, a buddy adventure, oaths to kings, or whatever you can come up with.

Deadline: November 30th, 2022
Word Count: 7-10,000 words
Specifics: Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1.5 line spaced.

Current Schedule of New Mythology Press

Giveaways

Celebrate Spooky Season
Celebrate Spooky Season

Celebrate Spooky Season

storyoriginapp.com/bundles/a38c5180-4056-11ed-b896-2b25f4dc3ff7?bundleLinkId=vppIALO

Cyberpunk for Kindle
Cyberpunk for Kindle

Cyberpunk for Kindle

storyoriginapp.com/bundles/ed9315f6-2347-11ed-b81e-cfc44d75a42b?bundleLinkId=Vc2GpEx

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • arewell, My Ugly (38,428)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Your pre-release this week is The Last Stand. This is a new series from Chris Kennedy and Kevin Ikenberry. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BJNW843S/.

There is no pre-release this week as everyone was busy at FactoryCon. It looked like a fantastic time.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 333.2

Updated Word Count: 397,958

Eldros Legacy Archives: 813 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Founder in the Eldros Legacy series

Rob’s Update: God Rest the Queen

Week 37 of 2022

Greetings all

I had a number of things to talk about this week, but as I’m sure all of you have heard, Queen Elizabeth II has passed away.

It is, of course, no tragedy. The death of anyone who lives until they’re 96 and is as spry and active as she was up to the end is rarely, if ever, a tragedy.

But she was a pillar of stability in a world that needs such. Something like 85% of every person living today has never experienced a world without her on the throne until today.

She served in World War II as a mechanic. From everything I read, it was a task she enjoyed, not just performed dutifully. It’s hard to imagine a royal of any type enjoying that sort of work these days, but she was something special.

For many reasons, she always reminded me of my mom’s mom. Elizabeth was younger than my grandmother, but not by that much. More importantly, my grandmother had that same look, that same feel, that same background in some ways.

My grandmother grew up as the daughter of a wealthy British-Canadian family. She was trained to be the same kind of a woman as the queen. She was always proper, always elegant, always exquisite.

And I think that’s one of the things I’ll remember most about both women. They were classy *and* strong.

I am really glad at this moment that I named my mercenary unit in the Four Horsemen Universe the Queen Elizabeth’s Own.

Farewell and Godspeed

What I’m Listening To

The Yew Tree from the Battlefield Band.

It’s a neat song, but what’s relevant today is that the yew tree in the song exists. I’d be shocked if Queen Elizabeth never went to it.

Quote of the Week

If you’ve never done so, go take a look at the list of quotes from Queen Elizabeth II. She was quite a sensible woman, as you can see with this one.

Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.
– Queen Elizabeth II

Dudes In Hyperspace

Follow the Dudes In Hyperspace here:
bleav.com/shows/the-dudes-in-hyperspace-podcast/

The latest show includes David Hayes and a breakdown of the upcoming NFL season.

Cool Stuff In Eldros Legacy

Get five free stories and signed up with the Eldros Legacy mailing list! Here There Be Giants is at: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/qabsr57lq3+.

The Pain Bearer by Kendra Merritt comes out on Tuesday!

Currently available:

Get all the Eldros Legacy novels at: amazon.com/dp/B09Z9WVKYV

New Mythology Works in Progress

2023 FantaSci Short Story Contest open call.

The theme is Bonds of Valor, and you story must include deeds of valor centered around bonds between characters. This could be a romantic relationship, a buddy adventure, oaths to kings, or whatever you can come up with.

Deadline: November 30th, 2022
Word Count: 7-10,000 words
Specifics: Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1.5 line spaced.

I’m finishing The Chimera Coup by Christopher Nuttall which will come out on the 27th of September. I’m also doing the final touches of Heart, Wings, and Fire from Trisha Wooldridge, which comes out the following week on October 4th.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (23,151)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (4,127)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

Want magic? We got that with book two in Kayla Krantz’s The Witch’s Ambition series, The Elemental Coven. It came out on the 6th. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BCXYC4JC/.

No Game For Knights, an anthology of noir in speculative fantasy settings, also came out on the 6th. Kacey Ezell and Larry Correia, the editors, have both appeared in New Mythology anthologies, but Chris Kennedy, Dave Butler, Scott Huggins, and myself also appear in this. Get it here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0B57DS9JD.

This week’s early release for my mailing list readers is The Futility of Intent by Mike Wyant, Jr. This is the 4th book in his Anisian Convergence series, and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BDDHLTG2.

Our last release for this week is The Ghosts of Xicotepec by James Tarr. This is the 3rd book in his Echoes of Pangaea series and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BCHX1XKR.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 327.8

Updated Word Count: 152,981

Eldros Legacy Archives: 813 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Founder in the Eldros Legacy series

Rob’s Update: T-Minus 9 Days

Week 24 of 2022

Greetings all

No, the title doesn’t refer to the release of Todd Fahnestock’s Lorelle of the Dark. That one’s only 4 days, 4 hours, and 38 minutes away.

If you haven’t heard it’s the direct sequel to Khyven the Unkillable. By the way, you may notice that Khyven has a new cover, and it might get yet another at the end of the month. It is currently a finalist for the Colorado Book of the Year, which will get announced at the end of the month.

It’s also a great book to nominate for the Dragon Awards.

Speaking of which, if you have put in your nominations, you should go do so. Here’s the link: dragoncon.org/awards/.

Anyway, this week’s title refers to the running joke of late between me and my sweetie. That’s how much time we have left to “escape.” She even downloaded an app that will give the time down to the seconds.

We have similar, dark senses of humor, which is why we’re suited to each other.

Anyway, this past week has been wedding prep and editing primarily. I did get one day of writing in, but no more. Things will switch down the road, though.

At Lilies, I’ll be doing a bunch of work but not on my computer. Just to let you all know, I will probably do a placeholder update in two weeks, as I’ll still be there.

Tonight, though, there’s more editing.

What I’m Listening To

Jethro Tull’s Thick as a Brick, the full 22:40 minute long song. I love the short version that you hear on the radio, but the full version is so much more

Quote of the Week

Today is Keith Laumer’s birthday. He was one of the greats and sometimes doesn’t get enough recognition. The Retief series is brilliant space opera satire. The list of authors who’ve written in his Bolo Universe is like looking at the 1927 Yankee lineup, a huge list of all-timers.

Anyway, here’s a quote that has always been true.

“Baby, after considerable thought I’ve reached the conclusion that the only conceivable legitimate answer to the Universe as constituted is a peal of hysterical laughter.”

– Keith Laumer

Dudes In Hyperspace

Follow the Dudes In Hyperspace here:
bleav.com/shows/the-dudes-in-hyperspace-podcast/

The latest show includes a great interview with the effervescent Marisa Wolf.

Cool Stuff In Eldros Legacy

Get five free stories and signed up with the Eldros Legacy mailing list! Here There Be Giants is at: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/qabsr57lq3+.

Lorelle of the Dark by Todd Fahnestock is coming on the 14th!

Currently available:

Get all the Eldros Legacy novels at: amazon.com/dp/B09Z9WVKYV

New Mythology Works in Progress

2023 FantaSci Short Story Contest open call.

The theme is Bonds of Valor, and you story must include deeds of valor centered around bonds between characters. This could be a romantic relationship, a buddy adventure, oaths to kings, or whatever you can come up with.

Deadline: November 30th, 2022
Word Count: 7-10,000 words
Specifics: Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1.5 line spaced.

It must also be a fantasy story. Any type is welcome, urban, epic, high, western, gothic, whatever, it just have to have magic. Finally, it cannot have been published anywhere else before.

I’m currently working on The Forgotten King, the next Eldros Legacy novel.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (xx)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (10,739)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

This week you can get a new 4HU novel, As My Witnesses! This one is by Sandra L. Medlock and Casey Moores with Robert E. Hampson. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall with those planning sessions.

And remember, Lorelle of the Dark comes out Tuesday the 14th!

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 324.6

Updated Word Count: 142,243

Eldros Legacy Archives: 813 entries

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Founder in the Eldros Legacy series