Monthly Archives: May 2023

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Forward, March!

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Week 21 of 2023

Greetings all

I’m up and operational! Not fully, in the sense of everything arranged, but I’m at the point where I can work then procrasticlean. I’ve an office, and maybe I’ll take a picture or two of it next week

Most importantly, I’ve been working, actually working, instead of simply moving.

I spent much of this week working on Shadow, Ash, and Prophecy, by Trisha J. Wooldridge. This returns to here lush, intricate setting of The 27 Kingdoms.

This comes out on June 20th, if I’m remembering dates correctly. Stay tuned next week for a cover reveal.

I had a great time at Anthony’s Balloon Fest. We had a beautiful day for meeting people, watching a parade, and selling a few books. I expect it’ll be a normal thing for us going forward.

We have a couple small things left at the old house, but they’re so minor, I’ll worry about them over Lilies.

It’s such a relief to finally be settling in. Tonight is my first night having a late worknight in my new office, but right now, it’s time for a beer at the Idle Hour. Probably a Stone Arrogant Bastard, because I clearly need to be more arrogant!

What I’m Listening To

Langt Nord I Trollebotten by Lumsk. This is one of my favorite songs, a combination of intricate Scandinavian folk styles and crunching guitar riffs. I stumbled upon it, and Lumsk, from a Pandora selection. The song was so good I immediately bought the album.

Here’s a YouTube of the song: youtube.com/watch?v=wjtIgTpc2qc.

Quote of the Week

We’ve had a number of celebrity deaths of late, including the amazing Tina Turner. However, you might have missed the passing of Rick Hoyt. He and his father formed Team Hoyt. The father ran marathons pushing his son Rick, a paraplegic.

Rick said that during these events, around 1000 races, he felt like his disability disappeared. He also said this, and it doesn’t get much more powerful.

“The best that has happened to me in my life has come from handling the worst that’s happened to me in my life.
– Rick Hoyt

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.

Back on track on Monday!

New Mythology Works in Progress

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (73,704)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week’s release is We Dare: Old Age and Treachery, a new MilSF anthology edited by Jamie Ibson. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C5H9HHXT/

Your pre-release this week is C.S. Ferbuson’s The Province of Danger, book 2 in his Transhuman War. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C665BS1P.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 346.8 (Not a typo. Amazing what happens when I’m not driving all the time)

Updated Word Count: 113,461

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Overtime

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Week 20 of 2023

Greetings all

On Wednesday, I made a double trip, meaning I went up to Olathe, filled my car, and came back to Anthony in a day. That’s about 8 hours of driving, plus load time.

It’s notable because that was basically the last time I’ll be at that house after a dozen years.

I’m so glad that we have everything down in Anthony, and that nearly everything is done to make the house sellable. Now all we have to do is unpack and arrange everything.

I started arranging my office today and at some point soon I’ll have my full workspace up and operational. I’ll get back in the normal rhythm of writing and editing on Sunday or Monday.

Man, am I ready for that.

And you know, if I’ve gt a ton of procrasticleaning I’ll need to do to help me take breaks.

This was the final push, so I haven’t even tried to do any real work. Part of that is I’m exhausted. One reason for that fatigue is Two Men and a Truck.

A week ago Wednesday, I was to get another truck from them. I wasn’t entirely pleased with the way they packed the first two trucks, but they certainly worked hard.

The last truck, however, had a crew that didn’t want to do anything. They packed the truck half-full, gave half effort, and in fact only gave me 10 of the 20 hours I paid for. I registered a complaint. The local management gave half attention, and frankly gave me an insulting amount of recompense. I’ll take it, but my advice is never use Two Men and a Truck.

This meant that on Saturday, I was up at 5am. We left from Anthony to Olathe, where we rented a UHaul. Then we spent 5 hours packing it, then drove it back down to Anthony, and unloaded it halfway by 9pm.

Thank goodness we had a couple guys we’ve been paying to help us. We wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for them.

However, we spent about twice on Saturday what Two Men offered us to repay their lack of service, not counting our time. The good news is I got to use my Pennsic Packing Tetris skills.

But if Two Men had done their job, I wouldn’t have had to go to overtime. But we’ve got everything here. Now we have time for me to get back to work.

What I’m Listening To

Playoff hockey. Better yet, overtime playoff hockey. It’s the most exciting and dramatic of all sports in overtime. Only thing more exciting is a Game 7 overtime playoff hockey gae.

Quote of the Week

Wayne Gretzky is one of the commentators during the intermissions, so let’s have a quote from him. It’s relevant to us right now, by the way, because the ethos here is behind our move to Anthony.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

– Wayne Gretzky

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.

I apologize for the hiatus on the move. Back to full speed soon, hopefully next Monday. Thanks for everyone’s patience.

New Mythology Works in Progress

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (73,704)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

A new 4HU novel! This one is Companion of Darkness, by Casey Moores. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C4V1Z4LR.

Your pre-release this week is We Dare: Old Age and Treachery, a new MilSF edited by Jamie Ibson. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C5H9HHXT/

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 354.2

Updated Word Count: 112,868

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Delays

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Week 19 of 2023

Greetings all

As you can see, I’m a day late to sending this week’s update. There have been some delays in the moving process and I just didn’t have time yesterday.

Overall, buying the house has been a smooth process, but the move has been awful, thanks in part because of our amount of stuff. However, we have not been helped by our moving company. They basically screwed up to this point and we *still* have a truckload of stuff.

I’m giving them a chance to make it right, so I won’t name them yet, but I’m incredibly pissed off right now.

But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if I have to rent a UHaul on top of all this, it’ll all fit at this point. At some point, very soon, we’ll have everything in Anthony and be settling in. I anticipate a good week of work, real work, next week.

Also, this is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, and my mom’s birthday falls around Mother’s Day every year so it’s a double chance to tell mom how awesome she is.

She is awesome, by the way.

As for work, I’m nibbling away, doing maintenance level stuff. I’ve lost basically a month of production, which, to be honest, was to be expected.

So everything is delayed, but as I tell people, there are reasons and excuses. A move is a reason. Boy, is it a reason.

Time to take advantage of Brewbaker’s and do some editing. Have a great week, everyone.

What I’m Listening To

The sounds of Brewbaker’s. I’m going to miss this place. It’s been a really productive writing home. If you’re ever near 95th and Renner in Lenexa, KS, you should try it out. Their truffle fries are really good, as is their southwest chopped salad, especially with extra fresh jalapenos and avocado.

I’m eating that right now, in fact.

Quote of the Week

May 12 is a huge day for birthdays, including not just one great quote machine, but two, Yogi Berra and George Carlin. Also born on the 12th is Katherine Hepburn, Ving Rhames, Burt Bacharach, Florence Nightengale, Emilio Estevez, Tony Hawk, and a host of other fairly big names like Lou Whitaker and Leslie Charteris. Also, who knew Mary Kay had a last name. It’s Ash, by the way.

But I have to give a double-shot since how can I pick between George and Yogi?

“Meow” means “woof” in cat.”
― George Carlin

He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.
― Yogi Berra

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.

I apologize for the hiatus on the move. Back to full speed soon, hopefully next Monday. Thanks for everyone’s patience.

New Mythology Works in Progress

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (73,704)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

A new 4HU novel! This one is Companion of Darkness, by Casey Moores. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C4V1Z4LR

And there’s a ton of things going on with CKP, so many I can’t really get to them all. You should also subscribe to Chris’s email list *and* get a free story. Go here: chriskennedypublishing.com/newsletter and sign up.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 354.0

Updated Word Count: 112,158

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: A Man, A Plan

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Week 18 of 2023

Greetings all

I bet you all are tired of hearing stuff about the move. Good news we now start the last week of getting out of the old house. Yes, it’ll take months, many months, to fully organize the new place, but getting everything down to one house will be a huge victory.

One more week of bouncing up to Olathe or down to Anthony about once a day. That’s 3.5 hours each way, by the way. I’m ready to be done with it.

I’m also ready to really get back to proper work. We’ve been pushing through this move at warp speed, and I’m glad because I’d hate it if it really dragged. I mean, when I look at what we’ve done since April 11th, I have to say, it’s been impressive, especially since neither of us truly believed we’d get the house in Anthony until close actually happened.

We’re ecstatic about the new house and I daresay you’ll get some cool pictures as we get rooms and things organized. I’m hoping to have my main working area arranged by next Thursday and have a full week of work starting then.

I’ve been nibbling at Shadow, Ash, and Prophecy, book 2 of the 27 Kingdoms series by Trisha J. Wooldridge. I’m behind, but making progress. I hope to have that ready to publish at LibertyCon.

Partially, that’s because the art is done and it is awesome.

Anyway, I need to get back to packing. Have a great week everyone.

What I’m Listening To

La Villa Strangiato by Rush. Seems apt for my life right now. Intricate, amazing, and long.

Quote of the Week

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.

In 1904, work on the Panama Canal started. I had the great pleasure of transiting the canal in 2016, and much of The Eyes of a Doll was written on that cruise, so here’s a quote by Teddy about the accomplishment.

“A finer body of men has never been gathered by any nation than the men who have done the work of building the Panama Canal; the conditions under which they have lived and have done their work have been better than in any similar work ever undertaken in the tropics; they have all felt an eager pride in their work; and they have made not only America but the whole world their debtors by what they have accomplished.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

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.

I apologize for the hiatus on the move. Back to full speed soon, hopefully next Monday. Thanks for everyone’s patience.

New Mythology Works in Progress

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 Hunters and Hijinks, a new Salvage Title novel by Nick Steverson and Melissa Olthoff. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C3KVXYS6.

Also, it’s not a new release, but there’s a sale on The Last Stand, book 1 of the Guardian Covenant by Chris Kennedy and Kevin Ikenberry. Get it here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJNW843S. Get it for half off now!

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 352.4

Updated Word Count: 111,491

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