Tag Archives: Todd Fahnestock

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: The Hill-Top at Hastings

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Week 40 of 2021

Greetings all

Been a great week here. Of course, we’ve been pleased with the response for Talons & Talismans I. It includes stories from a passel of great authors like Kevin J. Anderson, Rick Partlow, and D.J. Butler, of course, but I’m especially pleased with the stories from our open call. The story by J.T. Evans might be my favorite of the 15 stories, but the story by Scott Huggins about a medusa is right up there.

The House Between Worlds
The House Between Worlds

But that’s not all. I got to reveal the amazing cover of The House Between Worlds on Monday. This is the fourth in the Milesian Accords series by Jon R. Osborne, and it comes out on the 26th.

This cover, by the way, was done by Alexandre Rito. Absolutely gorgeous.

I’ve made a bunch of progress this week on The Door Into Winter, my next Shijuren novel. This will release in April.

Why that far away? Because Shijuren, as I’ve mentioned a time or two, is now part of the Eldros Legacy shared universe. The first novel in this world will be Todd Fahnestock’s Khyven the Unkillable and it’s fantastic. That comes out on the 7th of December.

But if you want more content in that world sooner, you can get a bunch of Eldros Legacy stories in Talons & Talismans II, which includes stories from Aaron Rosenberg, Quincy J. Allen, Todd Fahnestock, and a special story from D.J. Butler that follows his story in Talons & Talismans I. That anthology comes out on the 2nd of November.

As you can see, it’s an exciting time for me with all sorts of things happening.

What I’m Listening To

Peyton’s Places, Peyton Manning’s show about football. It is an amazing show, even, I suspect, for people who aren’t football fans. It’s so much about the people, not the game.

Quote of the Week

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. This is a special day in Calontir, the SCA kingdom that includes Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and a part of Arkansas. This is, of course, my home kingdom, so I can’t post an update today without quoting the song Calontir is most famous for singing, though ironically it was written by Malkin Gray (Debra Doyle) and Peregrynne Windrider (Melissa Williamson), who are not from Calontir.

Still, these words are special to us.

Draw up the spears on the hill-top at Hastings,
Fight till the sun drops and evening grows cold,
And die with the last of your Saxons around you,
Holding the land you were given to hold!
– Malkin Gray (Debra Doyle) and Peregrynne Windrider (Melissa Williamson)

New Mythology Works in Progress

Current open anthology calls:

I’m currently working on Quincy J. Allen’s new Eldros Legacy story, Seeds of Dominion. This is a full-length novel starring Rellen of Corsia, who many of you saw in both When Valor Must Hold and Songs of Valor. I know a bunch of you read those stories, because there were a number of people asking for more with Rellen. Well, on 4th of January, you’ll get it.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • The Door Into Winter (16,981)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Lots to get to this week. First, Aaron Rosenberg has released the fourth and final book in his Time of the Phoenix series entitled Cross the Road. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HX2WJCV.

If you haven’t read the earlier books in that series, by the way, Aaron has also released an omnibus version which includes all four stories in one efficient package entitled Time of the Phoenix. You can find this here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HZNP6MP.

Next we have book 3 in the the Luna Free State series by John E. Siers. This one is entitled Valkyrie’s Daughter, and you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FR8ZXF9.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 332.0

Updated Word Count: 284,475

Shijuren Wiki: 797 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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: The Bon Homme Richard

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Weeks 36-7 of 2021

Greetings all

Oh, hey, where did last week go? I looked up and suddenly it’s Thursday. The next Thursday.

Sorry about missing an update, but it’s been a really good time around here.

The big news is the release of It Takes All Kinds, an anthology in the Salvage Title universe created by Kevin Steverson. It includes my story “Careful With That Axe, E.U. Gene.”

My, what an interesting title, and clearly obvious to Pink Floyd fans where it came from. In fact, I put 232 intentional band name and song title references into the story (Not lyrics, that goes against copyright laws). I also put in an occasional historical rock reference.

Here’s the deal. The first person to send me a list of all 232 correct references will receive a free gift copy of all six of my fantasy novels. Yep, that’s right, I’ll send all six to your Amazon account for free (can’t do other accounts because of KU restrictions).

To enter, track the references in my story and send me an email to rob at rob howell dot org. You find all 232 references and you get 6 free novels. If, after 15 October, no one has found all 232, the person who’s send me the most will win, so if you only found 226, send it over. Who knows, you might be the one.

I might have had a little fun writing that one.

Last week, with the help of Chris Kennedy, we got Talons & Talismans I in the can. I’m even starting to get some things back from the advance reviewers and they like it. I’m not surprised.

I finished a story last week, which of course I’ll talk about at the right time.

I’ve been working on The Door Into Winter, which is starting to shape up. That should be done at the end of December. This is my first entry in Eldros Legacy / Shijuren, starting a new series entitled the Legacy of Legends. This will be a four book story arc and, with the help of Mark Stallings, Marie Whittaker, Todd Fahnestock, and Quincy J. Allen, will culminate with big doings in Ertha (the new world name as opposed to the continent of Shijuren).

In the meantime, I’ve been hammering away at New Mythology projects, which I’ll touch on soon.

What I’m Listening To

Perry Mason episodes. The sweetie is working from home and it’s one of her favorites.

Quote of the Week

It’s the anniversary of the Battle of Flamborough Head. What else could today’s quote be, but:

“I have not yet begun to fight!”
– John Paul Jones, from the deck of the Bon Homme Richard.

Cool Stuff In Eldros Legacy

Khyven the Unkillable is about to reach the final editing stage. This is Todd Fahnestock’s first in his Legacy of Shadow series. That comes out in December.

Quincy J. Allen has been hammering away at Seeds of Dominion, the first in his Legacy of Demons series. Expect that one in January.

New Mythology Works in Progress

Talons & Talismans I is in the can. Go Team! Not only that, but check out this amazing cover art!

Talons and Talisman I
Talons and Talisman I

Talons & Talismans II is in the final editing stage. I’ll show you that cover in a couple of weeks.

The House Between Worlds, book 4 in the fantastic Milesian Accords series by Jon R. Osborne, is almost done. I’ll be looking for advance readers next week.

Wow, that’s a lot! And more coming.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • The Door Into Winter (5,337)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • SOTI (9, 761)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Not just one, but two new Salvage Title books.That’s what happens when I miss a week around here.

First, It Takes All Kinds, an anthology of new beings in the universe including my Rolling Stones in “Careful With That Axe, E.U. Gene.” That one is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FZVXQ8M.

Then there’s Salvage Mother, by Kevin Steverson and Kacey Ezell. That one is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G9HW68Q.

Then there’s a new 4HU novel by Casey Moores, Rise of the Bull. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FNV6XRF.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 334.2

Updated Word Count: 282,946

Shijuren Wiki: 791 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

Weekly Update Archive

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Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: The Eldros Legacy

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Week 34 of 2021

Greetings all

This is one of the most important updates I’ve sent out. I’ve said many times that big things are happening in my world and we’re ready to spill the beans of the sooper-seekrit project.

Welcome to the Eldros Legacy!

What is the Eldros Legacy? It is an expansion of Shijuren, which is only one of five continents in the world of Ertha. Quincy J. Allen has created the continent of Daemanon, Todd Fahnestock brings us Noksonon, Mark Stallings with Drakanon, and Marie Whittaker with Pyranon.

The characters you’ve grown to love in the earlier Shijuren series are still a part of the Eldros Legacy. Irina, Ausartxango, and Geirr have to complete tasks unfinished in None Call Me Mother . Edward has many more cases to solve in Achrida and the Empire of Makhaira. However, they’re now part of a larger, more vibrant world.

Starting in December with the release of Khyven the Unkillable by Todd Fahnestock, you’ll get an action-packed story on the first Tuesday of each month.

Yes, we are serious about giving you a novel or anthology a month staring in December 2021 and that means we’ll need help. This is a huge shared world project that will include many other authors before we’re done. You’re going to love what we’ve got planned.

Welcome, fans of the Eldros Legacy. And congratulations, fans of Shijuren. You got in on the ground floor of something special.

Thanks to Quincy, we’ve built a brand new website, and we will have a newsletter for fans just of the Eldros Legacy. It’s here: https://www.eldroslegacy.com/.

If you want to sign up for that one, go here: https://www.eldroslegacy.com/contact/newsletter/.

Or, even better, if you’d like to get a free collection of short stories to get a taste of the Eldros legacy while joining the mailing list, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/qabsr57lq3+.

Man, have I been wanting to talk about the Eldros Legacy for a long while. The five of us started working on this project in January so we could make sure we’d be able to deliver what we promise. Khyven the Unkillable is essentially in the can (expect an artwork reveal soon), and Seeds of Dominion by Quincy, Embers & Ash by Marie, The Forgotten King by Mark, and The Door into Winter by myself will follow in succeeding months.

Whew. Time to take a breath.

Because I’ve got lots more going on. The first Talons & Talismans went out to the editor today. The second is almost complete and should be ready at some point next week. I’ve got a story in that called The Shield of the Innocent.

Lots more stuff about New Mythology below.

I’m still playing with stuff for The Door into Winter, which now you all know is not only another Shijuren novel, but also an Eldros Legacy novel.

I’ve got a short story coming out in a few weeks as well in It Takes All Kinds, an anthology of stories set in Kevin Steverson’s Salvage Title universe. It’s titled: “Careful with that Axe, E.U. Gene,” and when we get to the release date, I’ll spill the beans on its special feature.

With that, I think it’s time for Jack Stack’s BBQ (Mark Stallings’ favorite place) with my sweetie.

What I’m Listening To

Been a good day of music at Brewbakers. Also a bunch of the regulars. Something about seeing the same faces. There aren’t many theme songs like that of Cheers that get the human condition quite so well.

Quote of the Week
Today, in 1964, Alvin York died. This is a fairly famous quote, but I love it.
I had orders to report to Brigadier General Lindsey, and he said to me, “Well, York, I hear you have captured the whole damned German army.” And I told him I only had 132.
― Alvin York.
Cool Stuff In Eldros Legacy

The final edits for Khyven the Unkillable by Todd Fahnestock are in process and we’ll be showing of the amazing cover art by Rashed AlAkroka soon.

New Mythology Works in Progress
Current open anthology calls:

I’m currently working on The House Between Worlds, the fourth in Jon R. Osborne’s Milesian Accords series. This is going very quickly because Jon’s a great writer.

Also, as mentioned, I sent off the first Talons & Talismans to the editor. You can expect the cover reveal for that in next week or so. The cover is by Jake Caleb, who did the great covers for When Valor Must Hold and Songs of Valor.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • The Door Into Winter (1,043)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • SOTI (7,948) (Formerly MON)

Upcoming Events

  • FactoryCon, 22-24 October, Coinjock, NC
    Details in the CKP – Factory Floor on Facebook.
  • 20BooksTo50K, 8-12 November, Las Vegas, NV
    http://20booksvegas.com/

New Releases

This week we have China Mike, the second in Paul Piatt’s ISMC series. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DJQH2N9.

Tracked ItemsToday’s Weight: 334.8

Updated Word Count: 184,964

Shijuren Wiki: 767 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

Author of the Shijuren-series of novels

Weekly Update Archive

If you think you received this email incorrectly or wish to be unsubscribed, please send an email to shijuren-owner@robhowell.org

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Ye Jacobites By Name

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Week 32 of 2021

Greetings all

The lineup for the two Talons & Talismans anthologies is here! You can find the full list for both of them here: https://chriskennedypublishing.com/2021/08/16/talons-talismans-lineups/.

As you can see, it’s a great pair of lineups and I’m honored to be a part of it. I’ve spent the past week editing and all the stories of the first anthology will be sent out tonight. I’ve also made progress in the second anthology. By next update, I hope to have all the stories edited and back to their authors, if not in the final document.

The covers for these are in progress and I’m excited to say they’ll be by Jake Caleb, who did the fantastic covers for When Valor Must Hold and Songs of Valor, among many others.

I’m really looking forward to the next project, too. This will be The Door into Winter, and it will continue the stories of Irina, Ausartxango, and Geirr. I should also mention big changes are coming to Shijuren which I’ll talk about next week.

With that, I have to finish another short story of my own, which will come out in the fall.

Lots of projects here, which is just the way I like it.

What I’m Listening To

No Rain by Blind Melon on the overhead at Brewbaker’s. That’s a surprisingly good album, with No Rain being an example of a good song that earned radio airplay but not close to being the best one on the album. Tones of Home is that for me, but I’ve talked with others who picked something.

Also, I’m listening to Todd Fahnestock blather along. He’s in town for Planet Comicon and we’re writing together.

Two writers at one table. This bodes ill…

Quote of the Week
The Second Jacobite Rebellion, or the 45, started on 19 August 1745. It’s Charles Stuart’s attempt to regain the throne for James Stewart.
From this came a song we still sing at SCA events. Here’s a chunk from Robert Burns’ version.
What makes heroic strife, fam’d afar, fam’d afar?
What makes heroic strife, fam’d afar?
What makes heroic strife?
To whet th’ assassin’s knife,
Or hunt a parent’s life
Wi’ bluidie war.
― Robert Burns
New Mythology Works in Progress
Current open anthology calls:

Hey, have you guys heard we’re going to publish a couple of anthologies in the fall?

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • The Door Into Winter (0)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • MON (3053)

Upcoming Events

  • FactoryCon, 22-24 October, Coinjock, NC
    Details in the CKP – Factory Floor on Facebook.
  • 20BooksTo50K, 8-12 November, Las Vegas, NV
    http://20booksvegas.com/

New Releases

Someday the Stars, Book 2 of the Lunar Free State series by John Siers is out. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CCSXNX5.

And there’s a heck of a giveaway going on including a couple of CKP titles. Go here: https://scifibridge.com/ and get yourself in the drawing for a slew of stuff.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 334.6

Updated Word Count: 183,244

Shijuren Wiki: 753 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

Author of the Shijuren-series of novels

Weekly Update Archive

If you think you received this email incorrectly or wish to be unsubscribed, please send an email to shijuren-owner@robhowell.org

Four Horsemen Universe, Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Thursdays

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Week 11 of 2021

Greetings all

The big news this week? Well, I took some time off to spend some time with the sweetie. We drove over 600 miles on Saturday, all the way from KC to Hebron, NE and back. Along the way, we visited 9 quilt stores as part of a quilt shop hop.

After the 9th opportunity for my sweetie to buy fabric, I decided she might be in a good enough mood to say yes. And she did. We’re engaged. The ceremonial stuff will happen in 2022, but we’re one step closer to becoming “official.” 🙂

As you might imagine, I didn’t do any work over the weekend and I was still a bit distracted on Monday. So, I really only got 3 days of writing in, but I still managed over 2k per day on The Ravening of Wolves. I’m now over 70k, counting snippets waiting to get put back in. The first four sections are essentially complete (though I will probably pull some stuff from Part V back into earlier sections), and all I’m writing now is the big epic battle.

It’s military SF, the big epic battle should be 20-30k words. Or more. I’m having, if you will pardon the pun, a blast writing it.

I also made progress on another book for New Mythology. We’ll probably announce the details late this month.

Right now, we’re focused on the Watcher of Moniah series, which has received great reviews so far. You can find Watchers at War, the conclusion, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XNF13ZH/. The whole series is here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TV9L1J5

Next week is Songs of Valor, come out on the 19th. This is a fantasy anthology of heroic deeds and valorous acts. It includes stories by Larry Correia, David Weber, Jon Osborne, and many more.

There’s also an Indrajit and Fix story by Dave Butler. If you haven’t heard me gush about those stories, they remind me of a sharper, more colorful Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.

However, my favorite story in there is from a series I’ve loved for a long time, from one of my favorite writers. I will say I bounced up and down a bit when Glen Cook sent me a Black Company story. It’s all there, too.

So, yeah. Big names. Check. Great series. Check. The five stories from our short story contest. Check. Epic deeds. Check. Swords, spells, and intrigue? Check, check, check. And yes, this is the second of the Libri Valoris, the Books of Valor, so it’s got people standing valorously against foes they cannot hope to defeat, but still must try.

You’re going to love it.

What I’m Listening To

Speaking of valorous deeds, I’m currently listening to Sabaton’s The Last Stand. If you’re interested in historical-themed symphonic metal, this or The Art of War are the albums to start with.

Currently, it’s playing Shiroyama, which is about the Battle of Shiroyama in 1877.  You may very well have seen something about these events, as The Last Samurai is loosely based on the Satsuma Rebellion, of which Shiroyama was the final battle.

The Sabaton version is much more accurate than the movie, which isn’t a surprise, but nonetheless, I really enjoy both.

Quote of the Week

Today happens to be the birthday of Douglas Adams. He’d be 69 today.

You might think this is an awesome person to provide today’s quote. And you’d be right, except for the fact there are too many snippets of sheer genius in his corpus of written works. The number is almost as mind-boggingly big as is space which, as we all know, is much bigger than the walk to the chemist’s.

However, it does seem like there’s one in particular that’s eminently suitable for today’s update.

“This must be Thursday,’ said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer. ‘I never could get the hang of Thursdays.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy

New Mythology Works in Progress

I mentioned this last week, but it never hurts to announce it again a few times.

New Mythology Press Anthology Announcement

New Mythology is pleased to offer another open call for four spots in our anthology scheduled to be released in late October.

Deadline: 31 July
Words: 7k-10k
Manuscript: In .doc or .docx file format, Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 spaced
Send To: rob@chriskennedypublishing.com

Prompt: Write a fantasy story involving a beast or monster. While the story can include elements of horror, it should not be a horror story; it should be a fantasy and lean toward the heroic. Feel free to make the beast or monster your protagonist, but if not, the creature must be a central figure, (like Grendel in Beowulf).

As mentioned, we will choose the top four stories out of those submitted to add to the anthology. This is especially aimed at newer authors, though authors of any experience can enter.

  • Just Released: 1 March: The Watchers at War (Book 3 of the Watchers of Moniah Series by Barbara V. Evers)
  • 19 March: Songs of Valor (Book 2 of the Libri Valoris anthologies with Larry Correia, David Weber, Glen Cook, Dave Butler, and Sarah Hoyt)
  • 12 April: Accepted (Book 2 of the Balance of Kerr series by Kevin Steverson.
  • 21 May: Across the Endless Ocean (Book 1 of the Endless Ocean series by G. Scott Huggins)

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • The Ravening of Wolves (44,113)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • Cynewulf (8,642)
  • Gato (2,312)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Lots happening this week. First, Luck is Not a Factor, an anthology in the 4HU, is available for free on Kindle for a little longer at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K2BKLR9/. This includes my story “A Sword for Striking,” about the battle on Peninnah between the Foresters and the Zuul.

Also free for a day or two more is Reclaiming Honor, Book 1 of The Way of Legend series by Marc Edelheit and Quincy Allen. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z6JTTKV/.

Quincy and I, by the way, are working on a sooper-sekrit project right now.

I’m also working on a sooper-sekrit project with Todd Fahnestock. He normally writes fantasy, but he spent a goodly amount of time walking the Colorado Trail and then writing a book about it. You can find Ordinary Magic here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Y64MZQH.

Finally, this was the release week of Redacted Vice by Kevin Ikenberry and Kevin Steverson. Of course, it seems like you all know that already. It went straight to the top of the new release chart by 4am on release day. Wow! Anyway, if you haven’t gotten your copy, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XX1R1YX. At this rate, Amazon might run out of e-copies, so you might want to hurry up 😉

Whew, what a week.

Today’s Weight: 339.6

Updated Word Count: 11,020

Shijuren Wiki: 725 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

Currently Available Works
Shijuren

Nick Patara, PI

  • Silent Knight (Nick Patara, PI, Book 1)
  • Under a Midnight Clear (Nick Patara, PI, Book 2) (Forthcoming)
Four Horsemen Universe
The Phases of Mars
Short Stories

If you think you received this email incorrectly or wish to be unsubscribed, please send an email to shijuren-owner@robhowell.org