Rob’s Update: Planet Comicon

Week 11 of 2023

Greetings all

Wynnifred On My Shoulder
Wynnifred On My Shoulder

My supervisor was looking over my shoulder all week.

She’s not a bad boss, but man, does she have to use her claws?

In any case, it’s been a solid week here. Good progress on Farewell, My Ugly. I’m now over 70,000. I had aimed at 80,000, but I think it’s going to run to about 100,000 after all. Oh, well. I should still have a full draft at the end of April.

I also wrote another femtostory for another anthology in the vein of Postcards From Mars. This one had a steampunk theme, and Cedar Sanderson gave me a great image as inspiration.

I call them femtostories because to me, a microstory is about 1000 words. These are 50. Picostory is probably more correct, but I think femto- sounds more fun.

If you want to see the image, I will put it up on my Patreon site on Monday along with a new snippet from Farewell, My Ugly.

Bonds of Valor
Bonds of Valor

The big thing this week is the cover reveal of Bonds of Valor. J. Caleb Studios did another excellent job, as you can see by this cover.

Take note of the amazing list of authors. It’s an incredible honor to work with such masters as Todd McCaffrey, Jody Lynn Nye, and Glen Cook.

This is another Black Company story, and as I’ve mentioned before, it’s so fun to publish these as that’s one of my favorite series.

By the way, many of these authors will be joining us on CKP YouTube on Tuesday, the 21st.  The YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/live/r4M0qkZWU4s.

I hope you’ll join us.

I also hope a bunch of you join us for the release of Bonds of Valor at FantaSci is about a week. Where has the time gone!

Side note, Sarah’s story is my favorite story I’ve had the pleasure to edit.

With that, I better go to bed. It’s going to be a long, exhausting weekend at Planet Comicon.

I can’t wait.

What I’m Listening To

My computer hum. I was chatting with Becca Gardner, who’s a great writer and an even better arranger of publicity. She’s really helped Todd Fahnestock, who’s also staying here for the con. However, she went off to do projects and I’m enjoying the white noise.

Quote of the Week

I love William Butler Yeats. He has such a vivid way of sending emotions through the reader with his poetry.  Here’s a quote I love. every fantasy author should know.

Seriously, how good is this?

“Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame.”

– William Butler Yeats

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 swirl and I swoop          Swiftly striking my prey

Latest Snippet: Chapter 3 of Farewell, My Ugly

New Mythology Works in Progress

Bonds of Valor comes out next Friday! Here’s the blurb:

A private eye saves his dead friend.

The Black Company deals with something fishy.

Deathmages, space mages, and forgotten magic.

It’s all here in fourteen stories of valor, heroism, and bonds that tie folk together, for good or ill. There are bonds of love, oaths to gods, and life-long friends.

Will the old, crusty worn-out veteran find his new partner just might be something? Will the knight learn humility from those who serve him? Will Indrajit and Fix restore the path of true love?

Or will the bonds between characters break under the pressure of evil wizards, ancient enemies, or massive dragons?

Come find out.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (70,064)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

We have a new 4HU novel from Jason Cordova and Kevin Ikenberry entitled The Misfits. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BXWJGNDG.

And The Chimera Coup, book 1 of Christopher G. Nuttall’s amazing Heirs of Cataclysm series, is now out in audiobook. Get it here: books2read.com/u/bxrG6d.

Your pre-release this week is The Last Argonaut, by Ian J. Malone. I’ve been waiting for this warball novel in the Salvage Title universe for months! Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BYHP4RX2/.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 350.8

Updated Word Count: 106,969

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

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